AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER By and Among AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL PROPERTIES, INC., ARC PROPERTIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., THUNDER ACQUISITION, LLC, AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL TRUST IV, INC. And AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP IV, L.P....
Execution version
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
By and Among
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL PROPERTIES, INC.,
ARC PROPERTIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.,
THUNDER ACQUISITION, LLC,
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL TRUST IV, INC.
And
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP IV, L.P.
Dated as of July 1, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 2 | |
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 2 |
ARTICLE II THE MERGERS | 14 | |
Section 2.1 | The Mergers | 14 |
Section 2.2 | Closing | 15 |
Section 2.3 | Effective Time | 15 |
Section 2.4 | Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity and the Surviving Partnership | 16 |
Section 2.5 | Tax Consequences | 16 |
Section 2.6 | Subsequent Actions | 17 |
ARTICLE III EFFECT OF THE MERGERS | 17 | |
Section 3.1 | Effect of the Mergers | 17 |
Section 3.2 | Proration | 20 |
Section 3.3 | Election Procedures | 20 |
Section 3.4 | Deposit of Merger Consideration | 22 |
Section 3.5 | Delivery of Merger Consideration | 23 |
Section 3.6 | Share Transfer Books | 23 |
Section 3.7 | Dividends with Respect to Parent Common Stock | 23 |
Section 3.8 | Termination of Exchange Fund | 24 |
Section 3.9 | No Liability | 24 |
Section 3.10 | Equity Awards | 24 |
Section 3.11 | Withholding Rights | 24 |
Section 3.12 | Lost Certificates | 25 |
Section 3.13 | Dissenters’ Rights | 25 |
Section 3.14 | Fractional Shares | 25 |
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 25 | |
Section 4.1 | Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries | 26 |
Section 4.2 | Organizational Documents | 27 |
Section 4.3 | Capital Structure | 27 |
Section 4.4 | Authority | 29 |
Section 4.5 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents | 29 |
Section 4.6 | Permits; Compliance With Law | 31 |
Section 4.7 | SEC Filings; Financial Statements | 31 |
Section 4.8 | Disclosure Documents | 33 |
Section 4.9 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 34 |
Section 4.10 | Employee Benefit Plans | 34 |
Section 4.11 | Labor and Other Employment Matters | 35 |
Section 4.12 | Material Contracts | 35 |
Section 4.13 | Litigation | 37 |
Section 4.14 | Environmental Matters | 37 |
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Section 4.15 | Intellectual Property | 39 |
Section 4.16 | Properties | 39 |
Section 4.17 | Taxes | 42 |
Section 4.18 | Insurance | 45 |
Section 4.19 | Opinion of Financial Advisor | 45 |
Section 4.20 | Takeover Statutes | 45 |
Section 4.21 | Vote Required | 46 |
Section 4.22 | Brokers | 46 |
Section 4.23 | Investment Company Act | 46 |
Section 4.24 | Affiliate Transactions | 46 |
Section 4.25 | No Other Representations or Warranties | 46 |
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB | 46 | |
Section 5.1 | Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries | 47 |
Section 5.2 | Organizational Documents | 48 |
Section 5.3 | Capital Structure | 48 |
Section 5.4 | Authority | 50 |
Section 5.5 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents | 51 |
Section 5.6 | Permits; Compliance With Law | 52 |
Section 5.7 | SEC Filings; Financial Statements | 52 |
Section 5.8 | Disclosure Documents | 54 |
Section 5.9 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 55 |
Section 5.10 | Employee Benefit Plans | 55 |
Section 5.11 | Labor and Other Employment Matters | 56 |
Section 5.12 | Material Contracts | 56 |
Section 5.13 | Litigation | 58 |
Section 5.14 | Environmental Matters | 58 |
Section 5.15 | Intellectual Property | 59 |
Section 5.16 | Properties | 60 |
Section 5.17 | Taxes | 62 |
Section 5.18 | Insurance | 65 |
Section 5.19 | Opinion of Financial Advisor | 66 |
Section 5.20 | Vote Required | 66 |
Section 5.21 | Brokers | 66 |
Section 5.22 | Investment Company Act | 66 |
Section 5.23 | Sufficient Funds | 66 |
Section 5.24 | Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities | 66 |
Section 5.25 | Takeover Statutes | 67 |
Section 5.26 | Affiliate Transactions | 67 |
Section 5.27 | No Other Representations or Warranties | 67 |
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS | 67 | |
Section 6.1 | Conduct of Business by the Company | 67 |
ii |
Section 6.2 | Conduct of Business by Parent and Merger Sub | 72 |
Section 6.3 | Preparation of Form S 4 and Joint Proxy Statement; Stockholder Meetings | 75 |
Section 6.4 | Access to Information; Confidentiality | 77 |
Section 6.5 | Acquisition Proposals | 78 |
Section 6.6 | Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings | 82 |
Section 6.7 | Notification of Certain Matters; Transaction Litigation | 83 |
Section 6.8 | Public Announcements | 84 |
Section 6.9 | Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance | 84 |
Section 6.10 | Certain Tax Matters | 86 |
Section 6.11 | Dividends | 87 |
Section 6.12 | Merger Sub; Operating Partnerships | 87 |
Section 6.13 | Section 16 Matters | 87 |
Section 6.14 | Stock Exchange Listing | 87 |
Section 6.15 | Voting of Shares | 87 |
Section 6.16 | Termination of Company Restricted Stock Plan | 88 |
Section 6.17 | Financing | 88 |
Section 6.18 | FIRPTA | 88 |
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS | 88 | |
Section 7.1 | Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party | 88 |
Section 7.2 | Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub | 89 |
Section 7.3 | Conditions to the Obligations of the Company | 90 |
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER | 92 | |
Section 8.1 | Termination | 92 |
Section 8.2 | Effect of Termination | 94 |
Section 8.3 | Termination Payment | 94 |
Section 8.4 | Amendment | 97 |
Section 8.5 | Waiver | 98 |
Section 8.6 | Fees and Expenses | 98 |
Section 8.7 | Transfer Taxes | 98 |
ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS | 98 | |
Section 9.1 | Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties | 98 |
Section 9.2 | Notices | 99 |
Section 9.3 | Interpretation; Certain Definitions | 100 |
Section 9.4 | Severability | 100 |
Section 9.5 | Assignment; Delegation | 101 |
Section 9.6 | Entire Agreement | 101 |
Section 9.7 | No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 101 |
Section 9.8 | Specific Performance | 101 |
Section 9.9 | Counterparts | 102 |
Section 9.10 | Governing Law | 102 |
iii |
Section 9.11 | Consent to Jurisdiction | 102 |
Section 9.12 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 102 |
Section 9.13 | Consents and Approvals | 103 |
EXHIBITS | |
Exhibit A | Company Tax Representation Letter |
Exhibit B | Parent Tax Representation Letter |
Exhibit C | Parent Section 368 Opinion |
Exhibit D | Company Section 368 Opinion |
iv |
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of July 1, 2013 (this “Agreement”), is made by and among American Realty Capital Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Parent”), ARC Properties Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of Parent (the “Parent Operating Partnership”), Thunder Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), American Realty Capital Trust IV, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and American Realty Capital Operating Partnership IV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of the Company (the “Company Operating Partnership”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company is a Maryland corporation operating as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes that holds interests in properties through the Company Operating Partnership and is the sole general partner of the Company Operating Partnership;
WHEREAS, Parent is a Maryland corporation operating as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes that holds interests in properties through the Parent Operating Partnership and is the sole general partner of the Parent Operating Partnership;
WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to effect a business combination transaction in which (i) the Company will be merged with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub being the surviving entity (the “Merger”), and each outstanding share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Company Common Stock”), of the Company will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the MGCL and the DLLCA, and (ii) the Company Operating Partnership will be merged with and into the Parent Operating Partnership, with the Parent Operating Partnership being the surviving entity (the “Partnership Merger” and together with the Merger, the “Mergers”), and each outstanding Company Partnership Unit will be converted into the right to receive the Partnership Merger Consideration, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the DRULPA;
WHEREAS, the Company Board and the Parent Board have each separately approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and declared that this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable;
WHEREAS, the Company, as the sole general partner of the Company Operating Partnership, and Parent, as the sole general partner of the Parent Operating Partnership, have each separately approved this Agreement, the Partnership Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and declared that this Agreement, the Partnership Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable;
WHEREAS, the Company Board has directed that the Merger and, to the extent stockholder approval is required, the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement be submitted for consideration at a meeting of the Company’s stockholders and has resolved to recommend that the Company’s stockholders vote to approve the Merger and, to the extent stockholder approval is required, the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Parent Board has directed that the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger be submitted for consideration at a meeting of Parent’s stockholders and has resolved to recommend that Parent’s stockholders vote to approve such issuance;
WHEREAS, Parent, in its capacity as the sole member of Merger Sub, has taken all actions required for the execution of this Agreement by Merger Sub and to adopt and approve this Agreement and to approve the consummation by Merger Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” under, and within the meaning of, Section 368(a) of the Code, and this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for the Merger for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code;
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Partnership Merger shall qualify as and constitute an “asset-over” form of merger under Treasury Regulations Section 1.708-1(c)(3)(i) with the Surviving Partnership as the continuation of the Parent Operating Partnership and the termination of the Company Operating Partnership; and
WHEREAS, each of the parties hereto desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Mergers, and also to prescribe various conditions to the Mergers.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants and subject to the conditions herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement:
“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” shall mean a confidentiality agreement that contains provisions as to the treatment of confidential information that are no less favorable in any material respect to the Company and the other Company Entities than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement; provided, however, that such confidentiality agreement shall expressly permit any Company Entity’s compliance with any provision of this Agreement, and shall not contain any provision that adversely affects the rights of the Company Entity thereunder upon compliance by the Company Entity with any provision of this Agreement.
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“Action” shall mean any claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation or other investigation.
“Affiliate” of a specified Person shall mean a Person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.
“Agent” shall mean Regions Bank, N.A. (or such other bank acting as administrative agent), as Administrative Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
“Benefit Plan” shall mean any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) and any employment, consulting, termination, severance, change in control, separation, retention stock option, restricted stock, profits interest unit, outperformance, stock purchase, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive compensation, fringe benefit, health, medical, dental, disability, accident, life insurance, welfare benefit, cafeteria, vacation, paid time off, perquisite, retirement, pension, or savings or any other compensation or employee benefit plan, agreement, program, policy or other arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which all banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by Law or executive order to close (provided that, with respect to filings to be made with the SEC, a day on which such a filing is to be made is a Business Day only if the SEC is open to accept filings).
“Code” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Company Class B Unit” shall mean a Company Partnership Unit designated by the Company Operating Partnership as a Class B Unit under the Company Partnership Agreement.
“Company Entities” means the Company and the other Company Subsidiaries, including the Company Operating Partnership.
“Company Expense Amount” shall mean $5,000,000.00.
“Company GP Unit” shall mean a Company Partnership Unit designated by the Company Operating Partnership as a GP Unit under the Company Partnership Agreement.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, circumstance, change or effect (a) that is material and adverse to the business, assets, properties, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) that will, or would reasonably be expected to, prevent or materially impair the ability of the Company Parties to consummate the Mergers before the Outside Date; provided, however, that for purposes of clause (a) “Company Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, circumstance, change or effect to the extent arising out of or resulting from (i) any failure of the Company to meet any projections or forecasts or any decrease in the net asset value of the Company Common Stock (it being understood and agreed that any event, circumstance, change or effect giving rise to such failure or decrease shall be otherwise taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect), (ii) any events, circumstances, changes or effects that affect the commercial real estate REIT industry generally, (iii) any changes in the United States or global economy or capital, financial or securities markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, (iv) any changes in legal or regulatory conditions, (v) the commencement, escalation or worsening of a war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage, (vi) the negotiation, execution or announcement of this Agreement, or the consummation or anticipation of the Mergers or other transactions contemplated hereby, (vii) the taking of any action expressly required by, or the failure to take any action expressly prohibited by, this Agreement, or the taking of any action at the written request or with the prior written consent of an executive officer of Parent, (viii) earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, (ix) any damage or destruction of any Company Property that is substantially covered by insurance, or (x) changes in Law or GAAP, which in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (x) do not disproportionately affect the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated participants in the commercial real estate REIT industry in the United States, and in the case of clause (viii) do not disproportionately affect the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the commercial real estate REIT industry in the geographic regions in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate or own or lease properties.
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“Company Option” shall mean any option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock.
“Company OP Unit” shall mean a Company Partnership Unit designated by the Company Operating Partnership as an OP Unit under the Company Partnership Agreement.
“Company Parties” means the Company and the Company Operating Partnership.
“Company Partnership Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company Operating Partnership, dated as of November 12, 2012, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“Company Partnership Unit” shall have the same meaning as Partnership Unit as set forth in the Company Partnership Agreement.
“Company Restricted Stock” shall mean any shares of Company Common Stock granted pursuant to the Company’s Employee and Director Incentive Restricted Share Plan which are subject to restrictions on transfer and/or forfeiture.
“Company Restricted Stock Plan” shall mean the Company’s Employee and Director Incentive Restricted Share Plan.
“Company Stockholder Meeting” shall mean the meeting of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock for the purpose of seeking the Company Stockholder Approval, including any postponement or adjournment thereof.
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“Company Subsidiary” shall mean the Company Operating Partnership and any corporation, other partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, business trust, real estate investment trust or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, or other legal entity of which (a) the Company and/or the Company Operating Partnership directly or indirectly owns or controls at least a majority of the capital stock or other equity interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions, (b) the Company and/or any Person that is a Company Subsidiary by reason of the application of clause (a) or clause (c) of this definition of “Company Subsidiary” is a general partner, manager, managing member, trustee, director or the equivalent, or (c) the Company and/or the Company Operating Partnership, directly or indirectly, holds a majority of the beneficial, equity, capital, profits or other economic interest.
“Confidentiality Agreement” shall mean the letter agreement, dated June 13, 2013, as amended from time to time, between the Company and Parent.
“control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean 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 otherwise.
“Converted Company Units” shall mean (a) any Company OP Units issued upon the conversion of Company Class B Units in accordance with the terms of the Company Partnership Agreement and (b) any Company OP Units issued upon contribution by the Special Limited Partner of its Special Limited Partner Interest in accordance with the terms of the Company Partnership Agreement.
“Credit Agreement” shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2013, among American Realty Capital Operating Partnership III, L.P., American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc., Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, RBS Citizens, N.A., and Regions Bank, Capital One, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and the other lenders party thereto, including any amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto and any agreement entered into in connection with any replacement or refinancing of the Credit Agreement.
“Delaware Secretary” shall mean the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
“DLLCA” shall mean the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended.
“DRULPA” shall mean the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act, as amended.
“Environmental Law” shall mean any Law (including common law) relating to the pollution or protection of the environment (including air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface land), or human health or safety (as such matters relate to Hazardous Substances), including Laws relating to the use, handling, presence, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Substances.
“Environmental Permit” shall mean any permit, approval, license or other authorization required under any applicable Environmental Law.
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“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any entity, trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any other entity, trade or business (whether or not incorporated), is required to be treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Ratio” shall mean:
(a) if the Parent Market Price is equal to or greater than $14.94, then 2.05; and
(b) if the Parent Market Price is less than $14.94, then the quotient (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth) obtained by dividing $30.62 by the Parent Market Price.
“Expenses” shall mean all expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a party hereto and its Affiliates) incurred by a party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement, the preparation, printing, and filing of the Form S-4, the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement and all SEC and other regulatory filing fees incurred in connection with the Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement, the solicitation of stockholder approvals, engaging the services of the Exchange Agent, obtaining third party consents, any other filings with the SEC and all other matters related to the closing of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“GAAP” shall mean the United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Governmental Authority” shall mean any United States (federal, state or local) or foreign government, arbitration panel, or any governmental or quasi-governmental, regulatory, judicial or administrative authority, board, bureau, agency, commission or self-regulatory organization (including the IRS and any other U.S. federal authority, board, bureau, agency, commission or other body and any state, local and/or foreign Tax authority, board, bureau, agency, commission or other body).
“Hazardous Substances” shall mean (i) those substances listed in, defined in or regulated under any Environmental Law, including the following federal statutes and their state counterparts, as each may be amended from time to time, and all regulations thereunder: the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Toxic Substances Control 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; and (iii) polychlorinated biphenyls, mold, methane, asbestos, and radon.
“Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) all indebtedness, notes payable, accrued interest payable or other obligations for borrowed money, whether secured or unsecured, (ii) all obligations under conditional sale or other title retention agreements, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to property acquired by such Person, (iii) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price for any property or assets, (iv) all obligations under capital leases, (v) all obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or letters of credit, (vi) all obligations under interest rate cap, swap, collar or similar transaction or currency hedging transactions, and (vii) any guarantee (other than customary non-recourse carve-out or “badboy” guarantees) of any of the foregoing, whether or not evidenced by a note, mortgage, bond, indenture or similar instrument.
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“Indemnitee” shall mean any individual who, at or prior to the Effective Time, was an officer, director, partner, member, trustee or agent of the Company or served on behalf of the Company as an officer, director, partner, member or trustee of any of the Company Subsidiaries.
“Intellectual Property” shall mean all United States and foreign (i) patents, patent applications, invention disclosures, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof, (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, corporate names, Internet domain names, design rights and other source identifiers, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, (iii) copyrightable works and copyrights, (iv) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, know-how, ideas, formulae, models and methodologies, (v) all rights in the foregoing and in other similar intangible assets, and (vi) all applications and registrations for the foregoing.
“Investment Company Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
“IRS” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor agency.
“knowledge” shall mean the actual knowledge of the following officers and employees of the Company Parties and Parent Parties, as applicable, after inquiry reasonable under the circumstances: (i) for any of the Company Parties: each person identified as an executive officer of the Company in the Company’s 2013 Proxy Statement; and (ii) for any of the Parent Parties: each person identified as an executive officer of Parent in Parent’s 2013 Proxy Statement.
“Law” shall mean any and all domestic (federal, state or local) or foreign laws, rules, regulations, orders, judgments or decrees promulgated by any Governmental Authority.
“Lien” shall mean with respect to any asset (including any security), any mortgage, deed of trust, claim, condition, covenant, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, preferential arrangement, option or other third party right (including right of first refusal or first offer), restriction, right of way, easement, or title defect or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, including any restriction on the use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or other exercise of any attributes of ownership.
“MGCL” shall mean the Maryland General Corporation Law.
“NASDAQ” shall mean the NASDAQ Stock Market.
“Order” shall mean a judgment, order or decree of a Governmental Authority.
“Parent Class B Unit” shall mean a Parent Partnership Unit designated by the Parent Operating Partnership as a Class B Unit under the Parent Partnership Agreement.
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“Parent Entities” means Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership.
“Parent Expense Amount” shall mean $5,000,000.00.
“Parent Market Price” shall mean the volume weighted average closing sale price of a share of the Parent Common Stock over the five (5) consecutive trading days ending the trading day immediately prior to the Closing Date on the NASDAQ, as reported in The Wall Street Journal.
“Parent Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, circumstance, change or effect (a) that is material and adverse to the business, assets, properties, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) that will, or would reasonably be expected to, prevent or materially impair the ability of the Parent Parties to consummate the Mergers before the Outside Date; provided, however, that for purposes of clause (a) “Parent Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, circumstance, change or effect to the extent arising out of or resulting from (i) any failure of Parent to meet any projections or forecasts or any decrease in the market price of the Parent Common Stock (it being understood and agreed that any event, circumstance, change or effect giving rise to such failure or decrease shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Parent Material Adverse Effect), (ii) any events, circumstances, changes or effects that affect the commercial real estate REIT industry generally, (iii) any changes in the United States or global economy or capital, financial or securities markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, (iv) any changes in legal or regulatory conditions, (v) the commencement, escalation or worsening of a war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage, (vi) the negotiation, execution or announcement of this Agreement, or the consummation or anticipation of the Mergers or other transactions contemplated hereby, (vii) the taking of any action expressly required by, or the failure to take any action expressly prohibited by, this Agreement, or the taking of any action at the written request or with the prior written consent of an executive officer of the Company, (viii) earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, (ix) any damage or destruction of any Parent Property that is substantially covered by insurance, or (x) changes in Law or GAAP, which in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (x) do not disproportionately affect Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated participants in the commercial real estate REIT industry in the United States, and in the case of clause (viii) do not disproportionately affect Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the commercial real estate REIT industry in the geographic regions in which Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries operate or own or lease properties.
“Parent OP Unit” shall mean a Parent Partnership Unit designated by the Parent Operating Partnership as an OP Unit under the Parent Partnership Agreement.
“Parent Parties” means Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership.
“Parent Partnership Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Parent Operating Partnership, dated as of February 28, 2013, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
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“Parent Partnership Unit” shall have the same meaning as Partnership Unit as set forth in the Parent Partnership Agreement.
“Parent Stockholder Meeting” shall mean the meeting of the holders of shares of Parent Common Stock for the purpose of seeking the Parent Stockholder Approval, including any postponement or adjournment thereof.
“Parent Subsidiary” shall mean the Parent Operating Partnership and any corporation, other partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, business trust, real estate investment trust or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, or other legal entity of which (a) Parent and/or the Parent Operating Partnership directly or indirectly owns or controls at least a majority of the capital stock or other equity interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions, (b) Parent and/or any Person that is a Parent Subsidiary by reason of the application of clause (a) or clause (c) of this definition of “Parent Subsidiary” is a general partner, manager, managing member, trustee, director or the equivalent, or (c) Parent and/or the Parent Operating Partnership, directly or indirectly, holds a majority of the beneficial, equity, capital, profits or other economic interest.
“Per Share Cash Amount” shall mean $30.00.
“Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, person (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or other entity or a Governmental Authority or a political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a Governmental Authority.
“Representative” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, consultants, advisors (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, investment bankers, and financial advisors), agents and other representatives.
“Revolving Credit Agreement” shall mean the Credit Agreement to be entered into by and among the Company, the Agent and the other parties thereto, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act” shall mean the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended.
“SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (including the staff thereof).
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Special Limited Partner” shall mean the special limited partner of the Company Operating Partnership.
“Special Limited Partner Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company Partnership Agreement.
“Tax” or “Taxes” shall mean any and all federal, state, local or foreign or other taxes of any kind, together with any interest, penalties and additions to tax, imposed by any Governmental Authority, including taxes on or with respect to income, franchises, gross receipts, gross income, property, sales, use, transfer, capital stock, escheat, payroll, employment, unemployment, alternative or add on minimum, estimated and net worth, and taxes in the nature of excise, withholding, backup withholding and value added taxes, whether disputed or not and including any obligation to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the tax liability of any other Person (including pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 and any similar provision under applicable Law).
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“Tax Return” shall mean any return, report or similar statement, together with any attached exhibit or schedule that is provided or required to be provided to a Governmental Authority with respect to Taxes, including information returns, refunds claims, amended returns and declarations of estimated Tax.
“Termination Fee” shall mean $20,000,000.00.
“Termination Payment” shall mean the Parent Expense Amount or the sum of the Termination Fee and the Parent Expense Amount, as applicable based on what is payable pursuant to Section 8.3.
“Third Party” shall mean any Person or group of Persons other than Parent, Merger Sub and their respective Affiliates.
(b) The following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Section set forth below opposite such term:
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement |
Section 1.1(a) |
Acquisition Proposal | Section 6.5(h)(i) |
Action | Section 1.1(a) |
Adverse Recommendation Change | Section 6.5(d) |
Affiliate | Section 1.1(a) |
Agent | Section 1.1(a) |
Alternative Acquisition Agreement | Section 6.5(d) |
Alternative Stock Consideration | Section 1.1(a) |
Agreement | Preamble |
Articles of Merger | Section 2.3(a) |
BAML | Section 4.19 |
Benefit Plan | Section 1.1(a) |
Book-Entry Share | Section 3.1(c) |
Business Day | Section 1.1(a) |
Cash Consideration | Section 3.1(a)(ii)(1) |
Cash Conversion Number | Section 3.2(a) |
Cash Election | Section 3.1(a)(ii)(1) |
Cash Election Number | Section 3.2(b)(i) |
Cash Election Shares | Section 3.1(a)(ii)(1) |
Certificate | Section 3.1(c) |
Certificate of Merger | Section 2.3(a) |
Citi | Section 5.19 |
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Closing | Section 2.2 |
Closing Date | Section 2.2 |
Code | Section 1.1(a) |
Company | Preamble |
Company Board | Section 4.4(a) |
Company Bylaws | Section 4.2 |
Company Charter | Section 4.2 |
Company Class B Unit | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Common Stock | Recitals |
Company Disclosure Letter | Article IV |
Company Entities | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Expense Amount | Section 1.1(a) |
Company GP Unit | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Insurance Policies | Section 4.18 |
Company Leases | Section 4.16(e) |
Company Material Adverse Effect | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Material Contract | Section 4.12(a) |
Company Operating Partnership | Preamble |
Company Option | Section 1.1(a) |
Company OP Unit | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Parties | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Partnership Agreement | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Partnership Unit | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Permits | Section 4.6(a) |
Company Permitted Liens | Section 4.16(b) |
Company Preferred Stock | Section 4.3(a) |
Company Properties | Section 4.16(a) |
Company Property | Section 4.16(a) |
Company Recommendation | Section 4.4(a) |
Company Restricted Stock | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Restricted Stock Plan | Section 1.1(a) |
Company SEC Filings | Section 4.7(a) |
Company Stockholder Approval | Section 4.21 |
Company Stockholder Meeting | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Subsidiary | Section 1.1(a) |
Company Subsidiary Partnership | Section 4.17(h) |
Company Tax Protection Agreements | Section 4.17(h) |
Company Tax Representation Letter | Section 6.1(b) |
Company Title Insurance Policies | Section 4.16(g) |
Company Title Insurance Policy | Section 4.16(g) |
Confidentiality Agreement | Section 1.1(a) |
control | Section 1.1(a) |
Converted Company Units | Section 1.1(a) |
Credit Agreement | Section 1.1(a) |
D&O Insurance | Section 6.9(c) |
Delaware Secretary | Section 1.1(a) |
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DLLCA | Section 1.1(a) |
DRULPA | Section 1.1(a) |
Effective Time | Section 2.3(a) |
Election | Section 3.3(a) |
Election Deadline | Section 3.3(d) |
Environmental Law | Section 1.1(a) |
Environmental Permit | Section 1.1(a) |
ERISA | Section 1.1(a) |
ERISA Affiliate | Section 1.1(a) |
Exchange Act | Section 1.1(a) |
Exchange Agent | Section 3.3(d) |
Exchange Agent Agreement | Section 3.3(d) |
Exchange Fund | Section 3.4 |
Exchange Ratio | Section 1.1(a) |
Expenses | Section 1.1(a) |
Form of Election | Section 3.3(b) |
Form S-4 | Section 4.5(b) |
GAAP | Section 1.1(a) |
Governmental Authority | Section 1.1(a) |
Hazardous Substances | Section 1.1(a) |
Holder | Section 3.3 |
Indebtedness | Section 1.1(a) |
Indemnitee | Section 1.1(a) |
Inquiry | Section 6.5(a) |
Intellectual Property | Section 1.1(a) |
Interim Period | Section 6.1(a) |
Investment Company Act | Section 1.1(a) |
IRS | Section 1.1(a) |
Joint Proxy Statement | Section 4.5(b) |
knowledge | Section 1.1(a) |
Law | Section 1.1(a) |
Lien | Section 1.1(a) |
MD Courts | Section 9.11(a) |
Merger | Recitals |
Merger Consideration | Section 3.1(a)(ii) |
Mergers | Recitals |
Merger Sub | Preamble |
Merger Sub Interests | Section 3.1(d) |
MGCL | Section 1.1(a) |
NASDAQ | Section 1.1(a) |
Non-Electing Shares | Section 3.1(a)(ii)(3) |
Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change | Section 6.5(e) |
Order | Section 1.1(a) |
Other Company Subsidiary | Section 4.1(c) |
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Other Parent Subsidiary | Section 5.1(d) |
Outside Date | Section 8.1(b)(i) |
Parent | Preamble |
Parent Board | Section 5.4(a) |
Parent Bylaws | Section 5.2 |
Parent Charter | Section 5.2 |
Parent Class B Unit | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Common Stock | Section 3.1(a)(ii)(2) |
Parent Disclosure Letter | Article V |
Parent Entities | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Expense Amount | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Insurance Policies | Section 5.18 |
Parent Lease | Section 5.16(e) |
Parent Market Price | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Material Adverse Effect | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Material Contract | Section 5.12(a) |
Parent Operating Partnership | Preamble |
Parent OP Unit | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Parties | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Partnership Agreement | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Partnership Unit | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Permits | Section 5.6(a) |
Parent Permitted Liens | Section 5.16(b) |
Parent Preferred Stock | Section 5.3(a) |
Parent Properties | Section 5.16(a) |
Parent Property | Section 5.16(a) |
Parent SEC Filings | Section 5.7(a) |
Parent Stock | Section 5.3(a) |
Parent Stock Plans | Section 5.3(a) |
Parent Stockholder Approval | Section 5.20 |
Parent Stockholder Meeting | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Subsidiary | Section 1.1(a) |
Parent Subsidiary Partnership | Section 5.17(h) |
Parent Tax Protection Agreements | Section 5.17(h) |
Parent Tax Representation Letter | Section 6.2(b) |
Parent Title Insurance Policies | Section 5.16(g) |
Parent Title Insurance Policy | Section 5.16(g) |
Partnership Certificate of Merger | Section 2.3(b) |
Partnership Merger | Recitals |
Partnership Merger Consideration | Section 3.1(b) |
Partnership Merger Effective Time | Section 2.3(b) |
Per Share Cash Amount | Section 1.1(a) |
Person | Section 1.1(a) |
Qualified REIT Subsidiary | Section 4.1(c) |
Qualifying Income | Section 8.3(d) |
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RCS | Section 4.22 |
REIT | Section 4.17(b) |
Relevant Company Partnership Interest | Section 4.17(h) |
Relevant Parent Partnership Interest | Section 5.17(h) |
Representative | Section 1.1(a) |
Revolving Credit Agreement | Section 1.1(a) |
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act | Section 1.1(a) |
SDAT | Section 2.3(a) |
SEC | Section 1.1(a) |
Section 6.2(c) Board Consent | Section 6.2(c) |
Securities Act | Section 1.1(a) |
Series A Preferred Stock | Section 5.3(a) |
Series B Preferred Stock | Section 5.3(a) |
Series C Preferred Stock | Section 5.3(a) |
Special Limited Partner | Section 1.1(a) |
Special Limited Partner Interest | Section 1.1(a) |
Specified Company Leases | Section 4.16(f) |
Specified Parent Leases | Section 5.16(f) |
Stock Consideration | Section 3.1(a)(ii)(2) |
Stock Election | Section 3.1(a)(ii)(2) |
Stock Election Shares | Section 3.1(a)(ii)(2) |
Superior Proposal | Section 6.5(h)(ii) |
Surviving Entity | Section 2.1(a) |
Surviving Partnership | Section 2.1(b) |
Tax | Section 1.1(a) |
Tax Return | Section 1.1(a) |
Taxable REIT Subsidiary | Section 4.1(c) |
Taxes | Section 1.1(a) |
Termination Fee | Section 1.1(a) |
Termination Payee | Section 8.3(d) |
Termination Payment | Section 1.1(a) |
Termination Payor | Section 8.3(d) |
Third Party | Section 1.1(a) |
Transfer Taxes | Section 8.7 |
Article II
THE MERGERS
Section 2.1 The Mergers.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the MGCL and the DLLCA, at the Effective Time, the Company shall be merged with and into Merger Sub, whereupon the separate existence of the Company shall cease, and Merger Sub shall continue under the name “Thunder Acquisition, LLC” as the surviving entity in the Merger (the “Surviving Entity”) and shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The Merger shall have the effects specified in the MGCL, the DLLCA and this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Entity shall possess all properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub, and all of the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of the Surviving Entity.
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(b) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the DRULPA, at the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Company Operating Partnership shall be merged with and into the Parent Operating Partnership, whereupon the separate existence of the Company Operating Partnership shall cease, and the Parent Operating Partnership shall continue under the name “ARC Properties Operating Partnership, L.P.” as the surviving entity in the Partnership Merger (the “Surviving Partnership”) and shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The Partnership Merger shall have the effects specified in the DRULPA and this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Partnership shall possess all properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company Operating Partnership, and all of the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of the Company Operating Partnership shall become the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of the Surviving Partnership (including the obligations of the Company Operating Partnership under the Company Partnership Agreement).
Section 2.2 Closing. The closing of the Mergers (the “Closing”) shall occur at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time), on the third (3rd) Business Day after all of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their terms are required to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) shall have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit of the same or at such other time and date as shall be agreed upon by the parties hereto. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”. The Closing shall take place at the offices of Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP, 00 Xxxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000, or at such other place as agreed to by the parties hereto.
Section 2.3 Effective Time.
(a) Prior to the Closing, Parent shall prepare and, on the Closing Date, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall (i) cause articles of merger with respect to the Merger (the “Articles of Merger”) to be duly executed and filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) as provided under the MGCL, (ii) cause a certificate of merger with respect to the Merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be duly executed and filed with the Delaware Secretary as provided under the DLLCA and (iii) make any other filings, recordings or publications required to be made by the Company or Merger Sub under the MGCL or DLLCA in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at the later of the time the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT and the Certificate of Merger shall have been duly filed with the Delaware Secretary on the Closing Date or on such other date and time (not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT and the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Delaware Secretary) as shall be agreed to by the Company and Parent and specified in the Articles of Merger and Certificate of Merger (the date and time the Merger becomes effective being the “Effective Time”) it being understood and agreed that the parties shall cause the Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date and prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time.
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(b) Prior to the Closing, Parent shall prepare and, on the Closing Date, the Company Operating Partnership and the Parent Operating Partnership shall (i) cause a certificate of merger with respect to the Partnership Merger (the “Partnership Certificate of Merger”) to be duly executed and filed with the Delaware Secretary as provided under the DRULPA and (ii) make any other filings, recordings or publications required to be made by the Company Operating Partnership or the Parent Operating Partnership under the DRULPA in connection with the Partnership Merger. The Partnership Merger shall become effective at such time as the Partnership Certificate of Merger shall have been duly filed with the Delaware Secretary on the Closing Date or on such other date and time (not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date the Partnership Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Delaware Secretary) as shall be agreed to by the Company Operating Partnership and the Parent Operating Partnership and specified in the Partnership Certificate of Merger (such date and time being hereinafter referred to as the “Partnership Merger Effective Time”), it being understood and agreed that the parties shall cause the Partnership Merger Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date after the Effective Time.
(c) If the consummation of the Merger prior to the consummation of the Partnership Merger (and, therefore, the Effective Time occurring prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time), as is contemplated by this Agreement, would cause any of the parties to incur a materially greater amount of Transfer Taxes than would be incurred if the Merger were consummated following the consummation of the Partnership Merger (and, therefore, if the Effective Time were to occur following the Partnership Merger Effective Time), then, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, and with the written consent of Parent and the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the timing of the consummation of the Merger and Partnership Merger shall be re-ordered so that the Merger shall occur and be consummated following the consummation of the Partnership Merger (and, therefore, the Effective Time will occur following the Partnership Merger Effective Time).
Section 2.4 Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity and the Surviving Partnership. Subject to Section 6.9, at the Effective Time, the certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement of the Surviving Entity, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of such certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement. At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the certificate of limited partnership of the Parent Operating Partnership and the Parent Partnership Agreement, each as in effect immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, shall be the certificate of limited partnership and limited partnership agreement of the Surviving Partnership, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of such certificate of limited partnership and partnership agreement.
Section 2.5 Tax Consequences. It is intended that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and that this Agreement be, and is hereby adopted as, a plan of reorganization for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code. It is further intended for U.S. federal income tax purposes that the Partnership Merger shall qualify as and constitute an “asset-over” form of merger under Treasury Regulations Section 1.708-1(c)(3)(i) with the Surviving Partnership as the continuation of the Parent Operating Partnership and the termination of the Company Operating Partnership.
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Section 2.6 Subsequent Actions.
(a) If at any time after the Effective Time the Surviving Entity shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, that any actions are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Entity its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights or properties of the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Entity as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, then the members, officers and managers of the Surviving Entity shall be authorized to take all such actions as may be necessary or desirable to vest all right, title or interest in, to or under such rights or properties in the Surviving Entity or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.
(b) If at any time after the Partnership Merger Effective Time the Surviving Partnership shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, that any actions are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Partnership its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights or properties of the Company Operating Partnership acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Partnership as a result of, or in connection with, the Partnership Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, then the general partner(s) of the Surviving Partnership shall be authorized to take all such actions as may be necessary or desirable to vest all right, title or interest in, to or under such rights or properties in the Surviving Partnership or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.
Article III
EFFECT OF THE MERGERS
Section 3.1 Effect of the Mergers.
(a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or the holder of any securities of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub:
(i) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is held by any wholly owned Company Subsidiary, by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.
(ii) Subject to Section 3.1(e) and 3.2, each share of Company Common Stock (including each share of Company Restricted Stock) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares cancelled pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(i)) shall be cancelled and converted, at the election of the holder thereof, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.3, into the right to receive the following consideration (collectively, the “Merger Consideration”), in each case without interest:
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(1) | for each share of Company Common Stock (including each share of Company Restricted Stock) with respect to which an election to receive cash has been effectively made and not revoked or deemed revoked pursuant to this Article III (a “Cash Election”), the right to receive in cash from Parent an amount (the “Cash Consideration”) equal to the Per Share Cash Amount (such shares collectively, the “Cash Election Shares”), subject to Section 3.2(b); |
(2) | for each share of Company Common Stock (including each share of Company Restricted Stock) with respect to which an election to receive validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent (the “Parent Common Stock”) has been effectively made and not revoked or deemed revoked pursuant to this Article III (a “Stock Election” and such shares collectively, the “Stock Election Shares”) or which is otherwise to receive shares of Parent Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the right to receive from Parent, in Parent’s discretion, either (A) a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Stock Consideration”) or (B) subject to Section 6.10, only if the Parent Market Price is less than $14.94, 2.05 shares of Parent Common Stock and an amount in cash equal to (i) the excess of the Exchange Ratio over 2.05, multiplied by (ii) the Parent Market Price (the “Alternative Stock Consideration”); provided, however, if Parent elects to pay the Alternative Stock Consideration with respect to any Stock Election Shares, Parent will be required to pay the Alternative Stock Consideration with respect to all Stock Election Shares and shall notify the Company of such election and the amount of the Alternative Stock Consideration as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, at least one (1) day prior to the Closing; and |
(3) | for each share of Company Common Stock (including each share of Company Restricted Stock) other than Cash Election Shares and Stock Election Shares (collectively, the “Non-Electing Shares”), the right to receive from Parent such Stock Consideration or Alternative Stock Consideration as the case may be. |
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(b) At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without any action on the part of the holders of Company Partnership Units or Parent Partnership Units, each Company OP Unit (including each Converted Company Unit) and each Company GP Unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time shall automatically be converted into a number of validly issued Parent OP Units equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Partnership Merger Consideration”). At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without any action on the part of the holders of Company Class B Units, each issued and outstanding Company Class B Unit that was not converted into Company OP Units immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time shall automatically be converted into a number of validly issued Parent Class B Units equal to the Exchange Ratio. The general partnership interest of the Parent Operating Partnership shall remain outstanding and constitute the only general partnership interest in the Surviving Partnership, and the Parent OP Units issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time shall remain outstanding.
(c) All shares of Company Common Stock (including all shares of Company Restricted Stock), when so converted pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(ii), shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate (a “Certificate”) or book-entry share registered in the transfer books of the Company (a “Book-Entry Share”) that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Company Common Stock other than the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 3.5, including the right, if any, to receive, pursuant to Section 3.14, cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock into which such shares of Company Common Stock have been converted pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(ii), together with the amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 3.7.
(d) All membership interests of Merger Sub (the “Merger Sub Interests”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain as the only membership interests of the Surviving Entity.
(e) Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement and subject to Section 6.1(c)(ii) and Section 6.1(c)(iii), if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the Company or the Company Operating Partnership should split, combine or otherwise reclassify the Company Common Stock, the Company GP Units or Company OP Units, or make a dividend or other distribution in shares of Company Common Stock, Company GP Units or Company OP Units (including any dividend or other distribution of securities convertible into Company Common Stock, Company GP Units or Company OP Units), or engage in a reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or exchange or other like change, then (without limiting any other rights of the Parent Parties hereunder), the Merger Consideration or Partnership Merger Consideration, as applicable, shall be ratably adjusted to reflect fully the effect of any such change. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement and subject to Section 6.2(c)(ii) and Section 6.2(c)(iii), if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, Parent or the Parent Operating Partnership should split, combine or otherwise reclassify the Parent Common Stock or Parent OP Units, or make a distribution in shares of Parent Common Stock or Parent OP Units (including any dividend or other distribution of securities convertible into Parent Common Stock or Parent OP Units), or engage in a reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or exchange or other like change, then the Merger Consideration or Partnership Merger Consideration, as applicable, shall be ratably adjusted to reflect any such change.
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Section 3.2 Proration.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, the maximum number of shares of Company Common Stock (including Company Restricted Stock) that may be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration (which does not include the cash portion of the Alternative Stock Consideration) pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(ii) (the “Cash Conversion Number”) shall be equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole share) of twenty-five percent (25%) times the number of shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. All other shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including Company Restricted Stock, but other than shares of Company Common Stock to be cancelled as provided in Section 3.1(a)(i)) shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration or the Alternative Stock Consideration (including the cash portion of the Alternative Stock Consideration).
(b) Within five (5) Business Days after the Effective Time, Parent shall instruct the Exchange Agent to effect the allocation among former holders of Company Common Stock (including Company Restricted Stock) of rights to receive the Cash Consideration, the Stock Consideration and the Alternative Stock Consideration as follows:
(i) If the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock (including Company Restricted Stock) with respect to which Cash Elections shall have been made (the “Cash Election Number”) exceeds the Cash Conversion Number, then all Stock Election Shares and all Non-Electing Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration or Alternative Stock Consideration, as the case may be, and Cash Election Shares held by such holder thereof will be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration in respect of that number of Cash Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the number of Cash Election Shares held by such holder by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Cash Conversion Number and the denominator of which is the Cash Election Number (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with Section 3.2(a), whether fractions of Cash Election Shares shall be rounded up or down), with the remaining number of such holder’s Cash Election Shares being converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration or Alternative Stock Consideration, as the case may be; and
(ii) If the Cash Election Number is less than or equal to the Cash Conversion Number, then all Cash Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration and the Non-Electing Shares and Stock Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration or Alternative Stock Consideration, as the case may be.
Section 3.3 Election Procedures. Each holder of record of shares of Company Common Stock (including Company Restricted Stock) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (a “Holder”) shall have the right, subject to the limitations set forth in this Article III, to submit an election on or prior to the Election Deadline in accordance with the following procedures:
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(a) Each Holder may specify in a request made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.3 (herein called an “Election”) (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by such Holder with respect to which such Holder desires to make a Stock Election and (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by such Holder with respect to which such Holder desires to make a Cash Election.
(b) Parent shall prepare a form reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Form of Election”), which shall be mailed by the Company to record holders of Company Common Stock so as to permit those holders to exercise their right to make an Election prior to the Election Deadline.
(c) The Company shall mail or cause to be mailed the Form of Election to record holders of Common Stock as of the record date for the Company Stockholder Meeting not less than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the anticipated Election Deadline and shall use reasonable best efforts to make available as promptly as possible a Form of Election to all persons who become holders of shares of Common Stock during the period following the record date for the Company Stockholder Meeting and prior to the Election Deadline.
(d) Any Election shall have been made properly only if the person authorized to receive Elections and to act as exchange agent under this Agreement, which person shall be a bank or trust company selected by Parent and reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Exchange Agent”), pursuant to an agreement (the “Exchange Agent Agreement”) entered into prior to the mailing of the Form of Election to Company stockholders, shall have received, by the Election Deadline, a Form of Election properly completed and signed and accompanied by Certificates representing the shares of Company Common Stock to which such Form of Election relates, duly endorsed in blank or otherwise in form acceptable for transfer on the books of the Company or by an appropriate customary guarantee of delivery of such Certificates, as set forth in such Form of Election, from a firm that is an “eligible guarantor institution” (as defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act); provided, that such Certificates are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent by the time required in such guarantee of delivery, and, in the case of Book-Entry Shares, any additional documents specified in the procedures set forth in the Form of Election. Failure to deliver shares of Company Common Stock covered by such a guarantee of delivery within the time set forth on such guarantee shall be deemed to invalidate any otherwise properly made Election, unless otherwise determined by Parent, in its sole and absolute discretion. As used herein, unless otherwise agreed in advance by the Company and Parent, “Election Deadline” means 5:00 p.m. local time (in the city in which the principal office of the Exchange Agent is located) on the later of (i) the date immediately prior to the Company Stockholder Meeting and (ii) the date that Parent and the Company shall agree is five (5) Business Days prior to the expected Closing Date. The Company and Parent shall cooperate to issue a press release reasonably satisfactory to each of them announcing the anticipated date of the Election Deadline not more than fifteen (15) Business Days before, and at least five (5) Business Days prior to, the Election Deadline. If the Closing is delayed to a subsequent date, the Election Deadline shall be similarly delayed and the Company and Parent shall cooperate to promptly publicly announce such rescheduled Election Deadline and Closing.
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(e) Any Holder may, at any time prior to the Election Deadline, change or revoke his or her Election by written notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline accompanied by a properly completed and signed revised Form of Election or by withdrawal prior to the Election Deadline of his or her Certificates, or of the guarantee of delivery of such Certificates, or any documents in respect of Book-Entry Shares, previously deposited with the Exchange Agent. All Elections shall be automatically deemed revoked upon receipt by the Exchange Agent of written notification from Parent or the Company that this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with Article III. Subject to the terms of the Exchange Agent Agreement, if Parent shall determine in its reasonable discretion that any Election is not properly made with respect to any shares of Company Common Stock (neither Parent nor the Company nor the Exchange Agent being under any duty to notify any stockholder of any such defect), such Election shall be deemed to be not in effect, and the shares of Company Common Stock covered by such Election shall, for purposes hereof, be deemed to be Non-Electing Shares, unless a proper Election is thereafter timely made with respect to such shares.
(f) Subject to the terms of the Exchange Agent Agreement, Parent and the Company, in the exercise of their reasonable discretion, shall have the joint right to make all determinations, not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, governing (i) the manner and extent to which Elections are to be taken into account in making the determinations prescribed by Section 3.2, (ii) the issuance and delivery of certificates representing the number of shares of Parent Common Stock into which shares of Company Common Stock are converted into the right to receive in the Merger and (iii) the method of payment of cash for shares of Company Common Stock converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock.
Section 3.4 Deposit of Merger Consideration. Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, at the Effective Time, for exchange in accordance with this Article III, (i) evidence of Parent Common Stock in book-entry form issuable pursuant to Section 3.1(a) equal to the aggregate Stock Consideration or stock portion of the Alternative Stock Consideration, as may be applicable, and (ii) immediately available funds equal to the aggregate Cash Consideration and the cash portion of the Alternative Stock Consideration, if any (together with, to the extent then determinable, any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 3.14) (collectively, the “Exchange Fund”) and Parent shall instruct the Exchange Agent to timely pay the Cash Consideration and the cash portion of the Alternative Stock Consideration, if any, and cash in lieu of fractional shares, in accordance with this Agreement. The cash portion of the Exchange Fund shall be invested by the Exchange Agent as directed by Parent or the Surviving Entity. Interest and other income on the Exchange Fund shall be the sole and exclusive property of Parent and the Surviving Entity and shall be paid to Parent or the Surviving Entity, as Parent directs. No investment of the Exchange Fund shall relieve Parent, the Surviving Entity or the Exchange Agent from making the payments required by this Article III, and following any losses from any such investment, Parent shall promptly provide additional funds to the Exchange Agent to the extent necessary to satisfy Parent’s obligations hereunder for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock at the Effective Time, which additional funds will be deemed to be part of the Exchange Fund.
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Section 3.5 Delivery of Merger Consideration. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time and in any event not later than the fifth (5th) Business Day following the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a Certificate or Book-Entry Share immediately prior to the Effective Time a form of letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares to the Exchange Agent) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon proper surrender of a Certificate or Book-Entry Share for exchange and cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with a letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Certificate or Book-Entry Share shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration (which, to the extent Stock Consideration or the stock portion of the Alternative Stock Consideration, as may be applicable, shall be in non-certificated book-entry form) in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate or Book-Entry Share and such Certificate or Book-Entry Share so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued for the benefit of holders of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares on the Merger Consideration payable upon the surrender of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares.
Section 3.6 Share Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the share transfer books of the Company shall be closed, and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock. From and after the Effective Time, Persons who held shares of Company Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have rights with respect to such shares, except as otherwise provided for herein. On or after the Effective Time, any Certificates presented to the Exchange Agent or the Surviving Entity for any reason shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration with respect to the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented thereby.
Section 3.7 Dividends with Respect to Parent Common Stock. No dividends or other distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable hereunder, and all such dividends and other distributions shall be paid by Parent to the Exchange Agent and shall be included in the Exchange Fund, in each case until the surrender of such Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) in accordance with this Agreement. Subject to applicable Laws, following surrender of any such Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) there shall be paid to the holder thereof, without interest, (i) the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such shares of Parent Common Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and with a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such shares of Parent Common Stock.
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Section 3.8 Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including any interest and other income received with respect thereto) which remains undistributed to the former holders of shares of Company Common Stock on the first (1st) anniversary of the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any former holders of shares of Company Common Stock who have not theretofore received any Merger Consideration (including any cash in lieu of fractional shares and any applicable dividends or other distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock) to which they are entitled under this Article III shall thereafter look only to Parent and the Surviving Entity for payment of their claims with respect thereto.
Section 3.9 No Liability. None of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company, the Parent Operating Partnership, the Company Operating Partnership, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Exchange Agent, or any employee, officer, director, agent or Affiliate of any of them, shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock in respect of any cash that would have otherwise been payable in respect of any Certificate or Book-Entry Share from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of any such shares immediately prior to the time at which such amounts would otherwise escheat to, or become property of, any Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Entity, free and clear of any claims or interest of any such holders or their successors, assigns or personal representatives previously entitled thereto.
Section 3.10 Equity Awards.
(a) Company Restricted Stock. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, any then-outstanding shares of Company Restricted Stock shall become fully vested and the Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold such number of shares of Company Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon such acceleration to satisfy any applicable income and employment withholding Taxes (assuming a fair market value of a share of Company Common Stock equal to the closing price of the Company Common Stock on the last completed trading day immediately prior to the Closing). All shares of Company Common Stock then-outstanding as a result of the full vesting of the shares of Company Restricted Stock and the satisfaction of any applicable income and employment withholding Taxes shall have the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all actions necessary to effectuate the provisions of this Section 3.10.
Section 3.11 Withholding Rights. Each and any Parent Party, Company Party, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Exchange Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Merger Consideration, the Partnership Merger Consideration and/or, otherwise, any other amounts or property otherwise payable or distributable to any Person pursuant to this Agreement such amounts or property (or portions thereof) as such Parent Party, Company Party, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Exchange Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment or distribution under the Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any provision of applicable Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted or withheld and paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authority by a Parent Party, a Company Party, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Exchange Agent, as applicable, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Parent Party, the Company Party, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Exchange Agent, as applicable.
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Section 3.12 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, then 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 the Surviving Entity, the posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable and customary amount as the Surviving Entity may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to this Article III.
Section 3.13 Dissenters’ Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.14 Fractional Shares. No certificate or scrip representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates or with respect to Book-Entry Shares, and such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any other rights of a stockholder of Parent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder of shares of Company Common Stock converted pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock shall receive (aggregating for this purpose all the shares of Parent Common Stock such holder is entitled to receive hereunder), in lieu thereof, cash, without interest, in an amount equal to the product of (a) such fractional part of a share of Parent Common Stock, multiplied by (b) the per share closing price of Parent Common Stock on the Closing Date on the NASDAQ, as reported in The Wall Street Journal.
Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE COMPANY
Except (a) as set forth in the disclosure letter that has been prepared by the Company Parties and delivered by the Company Parties to the Parent Parties in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”) (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any Section of the Company Disclosure Letter with respect to any Section or subsection of Article IV of this Agreement shall be deemed disclosed with respect to any other Section or subsection of Article IV of this Agreement to the extent such relationship is reasonably apparent, provided that nothing in the Company Disclosure Letter is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the Company made herein), or (b) as disclosed in publicly available Company SEC Filings, filed with, or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC on or after March 22, 2012 and prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any risk factor disclosures contained in such documents under the heading “Risk Factors” and any disclosure of risks or other matters included in any “forward-looking statements” disclaimer or other statements that are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), the Company Parties hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Parent Parties that:
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Section 4.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.
(a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite organizational power and authority and any necessary governmental authorization to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The Company is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each Company Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has the requisite organizational power and authority and any necessary governmental authorization to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except, with respect only to each Company Subsidiary that would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X), for such failures to be so organized, in good standing or have certain power and authority that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Company Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Section 4.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the Company Subsidiaries and each other corporate or non-corporate subsidiary in which the Company owns any direct or indirect voting, capital, profits or other beneficial interest (“Other Company Subsidiary”), including a list of each Company Subsidiary or Other Company Subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(i)(2) of the Code (“Qualified REIT Subsidiary”) or a “taxable REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code (“Taxable REIT Subsidiary”), together with (i) the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, of each Company Subsidiary and each Other Company Subsidiary, (ii) the type of and percentage of voting, equity, profits, capital and other beneficial, as well as any debt (whether as a creditor or borrower), interest held (including capital account balances for any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes), directly or indirectly, by the Company in and to each Company Subsidiary and each Other Company Subsidiary, (iii) the names of and the type of and percentage of voting, equity, profits, capital and other beneficial, as well as any debt (whether as a creditor or borrower), interest held (including capital account balances for any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) by any Person other than the Company or a Company Subsidiary in each Company Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, each Other Company Subsidiary, and (iv) the classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes of each Company Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, each Other Company Subsidiary.
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(d) Except as set forth in Section 4.1(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, owns any interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any Person (other than equity interests in the Company Subsidiaries or Other Company Subsidiaries, loans to any Taxable REIT Subsidiary of the Company and investments in bank time deposits and money market accounts).
Section 4.2 Organizational Documents. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of (a) the Company’s charter (the “Company Charter”) and the Company’s bylaws, as amended to date (the “Company Bylaws”), (b) the organizational documents of each Company Subsidiary, including the certificate of limited partnership of the Company Operating Partnership and the Company Partnership Agreement, each as in effect on the date hereof, and (c) any and all Company Tax Protection Agreements.
Section 4.3 Capital Structure.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 300,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Company Preferred Stock”). At the close of business on June 28, 2013, (i) 70,894,976 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, including 7,467 shares of Company Restricted Stock, (ii) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii) 8,000 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the terms of outstanding awards granted pursuant to the Company Restricted Stock Plan, and (iv) 2,992,000 shares of Company Common Stock were available for grant under the Company Restricted Stock Plan. All issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and no class of capital stock of the Company is entitled to preemptive rights. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matter on which holders of shares of Company Common Stock may vote. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Company Options outstanding. Section 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, sets forth for each holder of Company Restricted Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (A) the name with respect to the holder of Company Restricted Stock, (B) the number of shares of outstanding Company Restricted Stock, (C) the date of grant of such Company Restricted Stock, and (D) the vesting schedule for such Company Restricted Stock. There are no other rights, options, stock or unit appreciation rights, phantom stock or units, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents or similar rights with respect to the Company Common Stock or Company Partnership Units other than the Company Restricted Stock and Company Partnership Units disclosed on Section 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter. Each Company Restricted Stock grant was made in accordance in all material respects with the terms of the Company Restricted Stock Plan and applicable Law. Immediately prior to the Closing, the Company will provide to Parent a complete and correct list that contains the information required to be provided in Section 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, that is correct and complete as of the Closing Date; provided, however, delivery of such updated schedule shall not cure any breach of this Section 4.3 for purposes of determining whether the applicable closing condition has been satisfied.
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(b) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company Subsidiaries that is a corporation are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All equity interests in each of the Company Subsidiaries that is a partnership or limited liability company are duly authorized and validly issued. All shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) each of the Company Subsidiaries that may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options or exchange rights are duly authorized and, upon issuance will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in Section 4.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the Company Subsidiaries, free and clear of all encumbrances other than statutory or other liens for Taxes or assessments which are not yet due or delinquent or the validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves are being maintained, and there are no existing options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible securities or other securities, agreements, commitments or obligations of any character relating to the outstanding capital stock or other securities of any Company Subsidiary or which would require any Company Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of its capital stock, ownership interests or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of its capital stock or ownership interests.
(c) Except as set forth in this Section 4.3 or in Section 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no securities, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments, agreements, rights of first refusal, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound, obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell or create, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold or created, additional shares of Company Common Stock, shares of Company Preferred Stock or other equity securities or phantom stock or other contractual rights the value of which is determined in whole or in part by the value of any equity security of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement, right of first refusal, arrangement or undertaking. Except as set forth in Section 4.3(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common Stock, shares of Company Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (other than in satisfaction of withholding Tax obligations pursuant to certain awards outstanding under the Company Restricted Stock Plan in the event the grantees fail to satisfy withholding Tax obligations). Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any agreements or understandings concerning the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) of any capital stock of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.
(d) All dividends or other distributions on the shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock and any material dividends or other distributions on any securities of any Company Subsidiary which have been authorized or declared prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends have been publicly announced and are not yet due and payable).
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Section 4.4 Authority.
(a) Each of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership has the requisite corporate or limited partnership power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject to receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership and the consummation by the Company and the Company Operating Partnership of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate and limited partnership action, and no other corporate or limited partnership proceedings on the part of the Company or the Company Operating Partnership, as applicable, are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Mergers or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject, (i) with respect to the Merger, to receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, the filing of the Articles of Merger with and acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by the SDAT and the due filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary, and (ii) with respect to the Partnership Merger, the due filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary. The Company’s board of directors (the “Company Board”), at a duly held meeting, has, by unanimous vote of all of the Company Board members voting, (i) duly and validly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and declared advisable the Merger, the Partnership Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) directed that the Merger and, to the extent stockholder approval is required, the other transactions contemplated hereby be submitted for consideration at the Company Stockholder Meeting, and (iii) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the approval of the Merger and, to the extent stockholder approval is required, the other transactions contemplated hereby (the “Company Recommendation”) and to include such recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement, subject to Section 6.5.
(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of each of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Company and the Company Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
Section 4.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership does not, and the performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby by each of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership will not, (i) assuming receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws, the certificate of limited partnership of the Company Operating Partnership or the Company Partnership Agreement or (B) any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any Company Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 4.5(b) have been obtained, all filings and notifications described in Section 4.5(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company, the Company Operating Partnership or any other Company Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company, the Company Operating Partnership or any other Company Subsidiary is bound, or (iii) require any consent or approval (except as contemplated by Section 4.5(b)) under, result in any breach of or any loss of any benefit or material increase in any cost or obligation of the Company, the Company Operating Partnership or any other Company Subsidiary under, 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 right of termination, acceleration, cancellation or payment (including disposition or similar fees) (with or without notice or the lapse of time or both) of, or give rise to any right of purchase, first offer or forced sale under or result in the creation of a Lien on any property or asset of the Company, the Company Operating Partnership or any other Company Subsidiary pursuant to, any note, bond, debt instrument, indenture, contract, agreement, ground lease, license, permit or other legally binding obligation to which the Company, the Company Operating Partnership or any other Company Subsidiary is a party, except, as to clauses (i)(B), (ii) and (iii), respectively, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership does not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (i) the filing with the SEC of (A) a joint proxy statement in preliminary and definitive form relating to the Company Stockholder Meeting and the Parent Stockholder Meeting (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Joint Proxy Statement”) and of a registration statement on Form S-4 pursuant to which the offer and sale of shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger will be registered pursuant to the Securities Act and in which the Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Form S-4”), and declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, and (B) such reports under, and other compliance with, the Exchange Act (and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and the Securities Act (and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with and the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by the SDAT pursuant to the MGCL, (iii) the due filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary, (iv) the due filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary, (v) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws, (vi) such filings as may be required in connection with state and local transfer Taxes, and (vii) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.6 Permits; Compliance With Law.
(a) Except for the authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances that are the subject of Section 4.14 or Section 4.15 which are addressed solely in those Sections, the Company and each Company Subsidiary is in possession of all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances of any Governmental Authority and accreditation and certification agencies, bodies or other organizations, including building permits and certificates of occupancy, necessary for the Company and each Company Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as it is being conducted as of the date hereof (the “Company Permits”), and all such Company Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the Company Permits, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All applications required to have been filed for the renewal of the Company Permits have been duly filed on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authority, and all other filings required to have been made with respect to such Company Permits have been duly made on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authority, except in each case for failures to file which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any claim or notice nor has any knowledge indicating that the Company or any Company Subsidiary is currently not in compliance with the terms of any such Company Permits, except where the failure to be in compliance with the terms of any such Company Permits, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is or has been in conflict with, or in default or violation of (i) any Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound (except for Laws addressed in Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.14, Section 4.15 or Section 4.17), or (ii) any Company Permits (except for the Company Permits addressed in Section 4.14 or Section 4.15), except in each case for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.7 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has filed with, or furnished (on a publicly available basis) to, the SEC all forms, reports, schedules, statements and documents required to be filed or furnished by it under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, including any amendments or supplements thereto, from and after March 22, 2012 (collectively, the “Company SEC Filings”). Each Company SEC Filing, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, (i) as of its date, or, if amended or supplemented, as of the date of the most recent amendment or supplement thereto, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and (ii) did not, at the time it was filed (or became effective in the case of registration statements), or, if amended or supplemented, as of the date of the most recent amendment or supplement thereto, 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. As of the date of this Agreement, no Company Subsidiary is separately subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
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(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements contained or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Filings (as amended, supplemented or restated, if applicable), including the related notes and schedules, was prepared (except as indicated in the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated, and each such consolidated financial statement presented fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments).
(c) The records, systems, controls, data and information of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries that are used in the system of internal accounting controls described in the following sentence are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means that are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or accountants, except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would not reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on the system of internal accounting controls. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have devised and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including that: (1) transactions are executed only in accordance with management’s authorization; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and to maintain accountability for the assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries; (3) access to such assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization; (4) the reporting of such assets is compared with existing assets at regular intervals; and (5) accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis. The Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls, and the Company has made available to Parent copies of any material written materials relating to the foregoing. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company required to be included in reports filed under the Exchange Act, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared, and, to the knowledge of the Company, such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer to material information required to be included in the Company’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. Since the enactment of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has made any prohibited loans to any director or executive officer of the Company (as defined in Rule 3b-7 promulgated under the Exchange Act).
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(d) Except as and to the extent disclosed or reserved against on the Company’s most recent balance sheet (or, in the notes thereto) included in the Company SEC Filings, none of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), except for liabilities or obligations (i) expressly contemplated by or under this Agreement, including Section 6.1 hereof, (ii) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the most recent balance sheet set forth in the Company SEC Filings made through and including the date of this Agreement, (iii) described in any section of the Company Disclosure Letter or (iv) that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Except as set forth in Section 4.7(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company SEC Filings is the subject of ongoing SEC review and the Company has not received any comments from the SEC with respect to any of the Company SEC Filings since March 22, 2012 which remain unresolved, nor has it received any inquiry or information request from the SEC as to any matters affecting the Company which has not been adequately addressed. The Company has made available to Parent true and complete copies of all written comment letters from the staff of the SEC received since March 22, 2012 through the date of this Agreement relating to the Company SEC Filings and all written responses of the Company thereto through the date of this Agreement. None of the Company SEC Filings is the subject of any confidential treatment request by the Company.
Section 4.8 Disclosure Documents.
(a) None of the information supplied or to be supplied in writing by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Form S-4 will, at the time such document is filed with the SEC, at any time such document is amended or supplemented or at the time such document is declared effective by the SEC, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the stockholders of the Company and of Parent, at the time of the Company Stockholder Meeting and the Parent Stockholder Meeting, at the time the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC or at the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. All documents that the Company is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, to the extent relating to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or other information supplied by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary for inclusion therein, will comply as to form, in all material respects, with the provisions of the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder and each such document required to be filed with any Governmental Authority (other than the SEC) will comply in all material respects with the provisions of any applicable Law as to the information required to be contained therein.
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(b) The representations and warranties contained in this Section 4.8 will not apply to statements or omissions included in the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy Statement to the extent based upon information supplied to the Company by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub.
Section 4.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Between December 31, 2012 and the date hereof, except as contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and each Company Subsidiary has conducted its business in all material respects in the ordinary course. Between December 31, 2012 and the date hereof, there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect or any effect, event, development or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate with all other effects, events, developments and changes, would reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.10 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Other than the Company Restricted Stock Plan and the Company’s 2012 Stock Option Plan, which was terminated by the Company Board on August 16, 2012, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries do not and are not required to, and have not and have never been required to, maintain, sponsor or contribute to any Benefit Plans. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any contract, plan or commitment, whether or not legally binding, to create any Benefit Plan. No options were issued under the Company’s 2012 Stock Option Plan.
(b) Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, none of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has incurred any obligation or liability with respect to or under any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement (including any agreement, program, policy or other arrangement under which any current or former employee, director or consultant has any present or future right to benefits) which has created or will create any obligation with respect to, or has resulted in or will result in any liability to Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective subsidiaries.
(c) Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company Restricted Stock Plan was established and has been administered in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws, including the Code.
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(d) None of the Company, any Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has ever maintained, contributed to, or participated in, or otherwise has any obligation or liability in connection with: (i) a “pension plan” under Section 3(2) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code, (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), or (iv) a “multiple employer plan” (as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code).
(e) Except as set forth in Section 4.10(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will, individually or together with the occurrence of any other event: (i) result in any payment becoming due to any service provider of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (ii) increase or otherwise enhance any benefits otherwise payable by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or the amount of compensation due to any service provider of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits or the funding of any such compensation or benefits. Section 4.10(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the estimated maximum amount or value of each such payment or number of vested shares.
(f) Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, no amount that could be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby (alone or in combination with any other event) by any Person who is a “disqualified individual” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) under any compensation arrangement could be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” (as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).
(g) Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company Restricted Stock Plan has been maintained and operated in compliance with Section 409A of the Code or an available exemption therefrom.
(h) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to or has any obligation under any Contract, the Company Restricted Stock Plan or otherwise to compensate any Person for excise taxes payable pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code or for additional taxes payable pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.
Section 4.11 Labor and Other Employment Matters. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has, or has ever had, any employees.
Section 4.12 Material Contracts.
(a) Except for contracts listed in Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter or filed as exhibits to the Company SEC Filings, as of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any contract that, as of the date hereof:
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(i) is required to be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 601(b)(2), (4), (9) or (10) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC;
(ii) obligates the Company or any Company Subsidiary to make non-contingent aggregate annual expenditures (other than principal and/or interest payments or the deposit of other reserves with respect to debt obligations) in excess of $2,000,000 and is not cancelable within ninety (90) days without material penalty to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except for any Company Lease or any ground lease affecting any Company Property;
(iii) contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any line of business or geographic area that restricts the business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or that otherwise restricts the lines of business conducted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or the geographic area in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary may conduct business;
(iv) is an agreement which obligates the Company or any Company Subsidiary to indemnify any past or present directors, officers, trustees, employees and agents of the Company or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is the indemnitor, other than any operating agreements or property management agreements or any similar agreement pursuant to which a Company Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company provides such an indemnification to any such directors, officers, trustees, employees or agents in connection with the indemnification by such non-wholly owned Company Subsidiary of the Company or another Company Subsidiary thereunder;
(v) constitutes an Indebtedness obligation of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with a principal amount as of the date hereof greater than $2,000,000;
(vi) would prohibit or materially delay the consummation of the Mergers as contemplated by this Agreement;
(vii) requires the Company or any Company Subsidiary to dispose of or acquire assets or properties (other than in connection with the expiration of a Company Lease or a ground lease affecting a Company Property) with a fair market value in excess of $250,000, or involves any pending or contemplated merger, consolidation or similar business combination transaction, except for any Company Lease or any ground lease affecting any Company Property;
(viii) constitutes an interest rate cap, interest rate collar, interest rate swap or other contract or agreement relating to a hedging transaction;
(ix) sets forth the operational terms of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company with a Third Party member or strategic alliance of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; or
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(x) constitutes a loan to any Person (other than a wholly owned Company Subsidiary) by the Company or any Company Subsidiary (other than advances made pursuant to and expressly disclosed in the Company Leases or pursuant to any disbursement agreement, development agreement, or development addendum entered into in connection with a Company Lease with respect to the development, construction, or equipping of Company Properties or the funding of improvements to Company Properties) in an amount in excess of $2,000,000.
Each contract listed on Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound as of the date hereof is referred to herein as a “Company Material Contract”.
(b) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each Company Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable on the Company and each Company Subsidiary that is a party thereto and, to the knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). Except as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Company Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by it prior to the date hereof under each Company Material Contract and, to the knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under such Company Material Contract prior to the date hereof. None of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, is in material breach or violation of, or default under, any Company Material Contract, and no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a violation, breach or default under any Company Material Contract, except where in each case such breach, violation or default is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received notice of any violation or default under any Company Material Contract, except for violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.13 Litigation. Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, or as set forth in Section 4.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, (a) there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by or before any Governmental Authority, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is there any investigation pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority, in each case, against the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and (b) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary, nor any of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s respective property, is subject to any outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority.
Section 4.14 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, or as set forth in Section 4.14 of the Company Disclosure Letter or in any Phase I or Phase II report made available to Parent prior to the date hereof:
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(i) The Company and each Company Subsidiary are in compliance with all Environmental Laws.
(ii) The Company and each Company Subsidiary have all Environmental Permits necessary to conduct their current operations and are in compliance with their respective Environmental Permits, and all such Environmental Permits are in good standing.
(iii) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any written notice, demand, letter or claim alleging that the Company or any such Company Subsidiary is in violation of, or liable under, any Environmental Law or that any judicial, administrative or compliance order has been issued against the Company or any Company Subsidiary which remains unresolved. There is no litigation, investigation, request for information or other proceeding pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company and any Company Subsidiary under any Environmental Law.
(iv) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has entered into or agreed to any consent decree or order or is subject to any judgment, decree or judicial, administrative or compliance order relating to compliance with Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits or the investigation, sampling, monitoring, treatment, remediation, removal or cleanup of Hazardous Substances and no investigation, litigation or other proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary under any Environmental Law.
(v) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has assumed, by contract or, to the knowledge of the Company, by 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.
(vi) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has caused, and to the knowledge of the Company, no Third Party has caused any release of a Hazardous Substance that would be required to be investigated or remediated by the Company or any Company Subsidiary under any Environmental Law.
(vii) There is no site to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has transported or arranged for the transport of Hazardous Substances which, to the knowledge of the Company, is or may become the subject of any Action under Environmental Law.
(b) This Section 4.14 contains the exclusive representations and warranties of the Company with respect to environmental matters.
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Section 4.15 Intellectual Property.
(a) Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list of all material Intellectual Property registrations and applications for registration owned by the Company.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries own or are licensed or otherwise possess valid rights to use all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted, (ii) the conduct of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party, (iii) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened claims with respect to any of the Intellectual Property rights owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, no Third Party is currently infringing or misappropriating Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are taking all actions that are reasonably necessary to maintain and protect each material item of Intellectual Property that they own.
(c) This Section 4.15 contains the exclusive representations and warranties of the Company with respect to intellectual property matters.
Section 4.16 Properties.
(a) Section 4.16(a) (Part I) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of the address of each real property owned, leased (as lessee or sublessee), including ground leased, by the Company or any Company Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (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 a “Company Property” and collectively referred to herein as the “Company Properties”). Section 4.16(a) (Part II) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of the address of each facility and real property which, as of the date of this Agreement, is under contract by the Company or a Company Subsidiary for purchase or which is required under a binding contract to be leased or subleased by the Company or a Company Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement. Except as set forth in Section 4.16(a) (Part II) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no real properties that the Company or any Company Subsidiary is obligated to buy, lease or sublease at some future date.
(b) The Company or a Company Subsidiary owns good and marketable fee simple title or leasehold title (as applicable) to each of the Company Properties, in each case, free and clear of Liens, except for Company Permitted Liens that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Company Permitted Liens” shall mean any (i) Liens relating to any Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) Liens that result from any statutory or other Liens for Taxes or assessments that are not yet subject to penalty or the validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which there are adequate reserves on the financial statements of the Company (if such reserves are required pursuant to GAAP), (iii) Liens imposed or promulgated by Law or any Governmental Authority, including zoning regulations, permits and licenses, (iv) Liens that are disclosed on the existing Company Title Insurance Policies made available by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to Parent prior to the date hereof and, with respect to leasehold interests, Liens on the underlying fee or leasehold interest of the applicable ground lessor, lessor or sublessor, (v) any cashiers’, landlords’, workers’, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s and materialmen’s liens and other similar Liens imposed by Law and incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that are not yet subject to penalty or the validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and (vi) any other Liens that do not materially impair the value of the applicable Company Property or the continued use and operation of the applicable Company Property as currently used and operated.
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(c) The Company Properties (x) are supplied with utilities and other services reasonably required for their continued operation as they are now being operated and (y) are, to the knowledge of the Company, in working order sufficient for their normal operation in the manner currently being operated and without any material structural defects other than as may be disclosed in any physical condition reports that have been made available to Parent.
(d) To the knowledge of the Company, each of the Company Properties has sufficient access to and from publicly dedicated streets for its current use and operation, without any constraints that interfere with the normal use, occupancy and operation thereof.
(e) Except for discrepancies, errors or omissions that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the rent rolls for each of the Company Properties, as of June 27, 2013, which rent rolls have previously been made available by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to Parent, and the schedules with respect to the Company Properties subject to triple-net leases, which schedules have previously been made available to Parent, correctly reference each lease or sublease that was in effect as of June 27, 2013 and to which the Company or the Company Subsidiaries are parties as lessors or sublessors with respect to each of the applicable Company Properties (all leases or subleases (including any triple-net leases), together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals, exercise of options and extensions related thereto, the “Company Leases”). Section 4.16(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the current rent annualized and security deposit amounts currently held for each Company Lease (which security deposits are in the amounts required by the applicable Company Lease).
(f) True and complete in all material respects copies of (i) all ground leases affecting the interest of the Company or any Company Subsidiary in the Company Properties and (ii) all Company Leases (collectively, the “Specified Company Leases”), in each case in effect as of the date hereof, together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals and extensions through the date hereof related thereto, have been made available to Parent. Except as set forth on Section 4.16(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (1) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other party is in breach or violation of, or default under, any Specified Company Lease, (2) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in receipt of any rent under any Company Lease paid more than thirty (30) days before such rent is due and payable, and (3) each Specified 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 a Company Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, with respect to the other parties thereto, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is party to any oral Company Lease.
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(g) The Company and each Company Subsidiary, as applicable, is in possession of title insurance policies or valid marked-up title commitments evidencing title insurance with respect to each Company Property (each, a “Company Title Insurance Policy” and, collectively, the “Company Title Insurance Policies”). A copy of each Company Title Insurance Policy in the possession of the Company has been made available to Parent. No written claim has been made against any Company Title Insurance Policy, which, individually or in the aggregate, would be material to any Company Property.
(h) To the knowledge of the Company, Section 4.16(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each Company Property which is (i) under development as of the date hereof, and describes the status of such development as of the date hereof, and (ii) which is subject to a binding agreement for development or commencement of construction by the Company or a Company Subsidiary, in each case other than those pertaining to capital repairs, replacements and other similar correction of deferred maintenance items in the ordinary course of business that are individually in the amount of $100,000 or less.
(i) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have good and valid title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, or other right to use, all personal property owned, used or held for use by them as of the date of this Agreement (other than property owned by tenants and used or held in connection with the applicable tenancy), except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or any of the Company Subsidiaries’ ownership of or leasehold interest in any such personal property is subject to any Liens, except for Company Permitted Liens and Liens that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Section 4.16(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth all leased personal property of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with monthly lease obligations in excess of $1,000,000 and that are not terminable upon thirty (30) days’ notice.
(j) Section 4.16(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists the parties currently providing third-party property management services to the Company or a Company Subsidiary and the number of facilities currently managed by each such party.
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Section 4.17 Taxes. Except as expressly set forth in Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(a) The Company and each Company Subsidiary has (i) duly and timely filed (or there have been filed on their behalf) with the appropriate Governmental Authority all U.S. federal, state and local income, and all other material, Tax Returns required to be filed by them, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file such Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns were and are true, correct and complete in all material respects, and (ii) duly and timely paid in full (or there has been duly and timely paid in full on their behalf), or made adequate provision for, all material amounts of Taxes required to be paid by them, whether or not shown (or required to be shown) on any Tax Return. True and materially complete copies of all U.S. federal income Tax Returns that have been filed with the IRS by the Company and each Company Subsidiary with respect to the taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2009 have been provided or made available to representatives of Parent.
(b) The Company (i) for its taxable years commencing with the Company’s initial taxable year that ended on December 31, 2012 has been subject to taxation as a real estate investment trust within the meaning of and under the provisions of Section 856 of the Code et seq. (a “REIT”) and has satisfied all requirements to qualify as a REIT, and has so qualified, for U.S. federal Tax purposes for such taxable year; (ii) has operated since January 1, 2013 to the date hereof in such a manner so as to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal Tax purposes; (iii) intends to continue to operate (including with regard to the REIT distribution requirements in the taxable year that includes and/or that ends with and upon the Effective Time) through to the Merger (and the consummation thereof) in such a manner so as to qualify as a REIT for its taxable year that will end with Merger (and consummation thereof); and (iv) has not taken or omitted to take any action that could reasonably be expected to result in a challenge by the IRS or any other Governmental Authority to its status as a REIT, and no such challenge is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.
(c) Each Company Subsidiary and Other Company Subsidiary has been since the later of its acquisition or formation and continues to be treated for U.S. federal and state income Tax purposes as (i) a partnership (or a disregarded entity) and not as a corporation or an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, (ii) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary, or (iii) a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.
(d) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary holds, directly or indirectly, any asset the disposition of which would be subject to (or to rules similar to) Section 1374 of the Code.
(e) (i) There are no disputes, audits, examination, investigations or proceedings pending (or threatened in writing), or claims asserted, for and/or in respect of any Taxes or material Tax Returns of the Company or any Company Subsidiary and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to any litigation or administrative proceeding relating to Taxes; (ii) no deficiency for Taxes of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, by any Governmental Authority, which deficiency has not yet been settled, except for such deficiencies which are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to pay, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has extended or waived (nor granted any extension or waiver of) the limitation period for the assessment or collection of any Tax that has not since expired; (iv) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary currently is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return that remains unfiled; (v) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received a written claim, or to the knowledge of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, an unwritten claim, by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where any of them does not file Tax Returns or pay any Taxes that it is or may be subject to Taxation by that jurisdiction and (vi) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary 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).
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(f) Since the Company’s formation, (i) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has incurred any liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b),857(f), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code; and (ii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has incurred any material liability for any other Taxes other than (x) in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, or (y) transfer or similar Taxes arising in connection with sales of property. No event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, which presents a material risk that any material amount of Tax described in the previous sentence will be imposed upon the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
(g) The Company and each Company Subsidiary has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446, 3102 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any state and foreign Laws) and have duly and timely withheld and, in each case, have paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authorities any and all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.
(h) There are no Company Tax Protection Agreements currently in force, and no Person has raised, or to the knowledge of the Company or the Company Operating Partnership threatened to raise, a material claim against the Company or any Company Subsidiary for any breach of any Company Tax Protection Agreement and none of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will give rise to any liability or obligation to make any payment under any Company Tax Protection Agreement. As used herein, “Company Tax Protection Agreements” means any agreement to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party and pursuant to which (i) any liability to any direct or indirect holder of Company Partnership Units or any other partnership interest in any Company Subsidiary Partnership (“Relevant Company Partnership Interest”) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a direct or indirect holder of a Relevant Company Partnership Interest, a party to such agreement has agreed to (A) maintain a minimum level of debt or continue a particular debt, (B) retain or not dispose of assets for a period of time that has not since expired, (C) make or refrain from making Tax elections, (D) operate (or refrain from operating) in a particular manner, (E) use (or refrain from using) a specified method of taking into account book-tax disparities under Section 704(c) of the Code with respect to one or more assets of such party or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, (F) use (or refrain from using) a particular method for allocating one or more liabilities of such party or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries under Section 752 of the Code and/or (G) only dispose of assets in a particular manner; (iii) any Person has been or is required to be given the opportunity to guaranty, indemnify or assume debt of such Company Subsidiary Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Company Subsidiary Partnership or are so guarantying or indemnifying, or have so assumed, such debt; and/or (iv) any other agreement that would require any Company Subsidiary Partnership or the general partner, manager, managing member or other similarly-situated Person of such Company Subsidiary Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Company Subsidiary Partnership to consider separately the interests of the limited partners, members or other beneficial owners of such Company Subsidiary Partnership or the holder of interests in such Company Subsidiary Partnership in connection with any transaction or other action. As used herein, “Company Subsidiary Partnership” means a Company Subsidiary or Other Company Subsidiary that is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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(i) There are no Tax Liens upon any property or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary except Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.
(j) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has requested, has received or is subject to any written ruling of a Governmental Authority or has entered into any written agreement with a Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes.
(k) There are no Tax allocation or sharing agreements or similar arrangements with respect to or involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and after the Closing Date neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall be bound by any such Tax allocation agreements or similar arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date, in each case, other than customary provisions of credit agreements and Company Tax Protection Agreements.
(l) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary (A) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return or (B) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or any Company Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(m) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has participated in any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(n) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary (other than Taxable REIT Subsidiaries) has or has had any earnings and profits attributable to such entity or any other corporation in any non-REIT year within the meaning of Section 857 of the Code.
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(o) As of the date of this Agreement, the Company is not aware of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(p) No written power of attorney that has been granted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary (other than to the Company or a Company Subsidiary) currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to Taxes.
(q) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (A) in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement or (B) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.18 Insurance. The Company has made available to Parent copies of all material insurance policies (including title insurance policies) and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance service contracts in the Company’s possession providing coverage for all Company Properties (the “Company Insurance Policies”). The Company Insurance Policies include all material insurance policies and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance service contracts required by any Specified Company Lease. Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there is no claim for coverage by the Company or any Company Subsidiary pending under any of the Company Insurance Policies that has been denied or disputed by the insurer. Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, all premiums payable under all Company Insurance Policies have been paid, and the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have otherwise complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all the Company Insurance Policies. To the knowledge of the Company, such Company Insurance Policies are valid and enforceable in accordance with their terms and are in full force and effect. No written notice of cancellation or termination has been received by the Company or any Company Subsidiary with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation.
Section 4.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company Board has received the opinion of Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated (“BAML”) to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based on and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and other matters referred to in such opinion, the consideration to be received in the Merger by the holders of the Company Common Stock (other than Parent and its Affiliates) is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.
Section 4.20 Takeover Statutes. None of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last two (2) years has been, an “interested stockholder” of Parent as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL. No “business combination,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium” or other takeover or anti-takeover statute or similar federal or state Law are applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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Section 4.21 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote thereon (the “Company Stockholder Approval”) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of shares of stock of the Company necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. The consent of the Company, as the sole general partner of the Company Operating Partnership, is the only vote of the partners of the Company Operating Partnership necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Partnership Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.22 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker (other than BAML and RCS Capital, a division of Realty Capital Securities, LLC (“RCS”)) is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Mergers based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
Section 4.23 Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
Section 4.24 Affiliate Transactions. Except as set forth in Section 4.24 of the Company Disclosure Letter or in the Company SEC Filings made through and including the date of this Agreement or as permitted by this Agreement, from January 1, 2012 through the date of this Agreement there have been no transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings between the Company or any Company Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any Affiliates (other than Company Subsidiaries) of the Company or other Persons, on the other hand, that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
Section 4.25 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in Article V, the Company acknowledges that neither Parent nor any other Person on behalf of Parent has made, and the Company has not relied upon, any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, affairs, assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, future operating or financial results, estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects) or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information provided or made available to the Company by or on behalf of Parent.
Article
V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Except (a) as set forth in the disclosure letter that has been prepared by the Parent Parties and delivered by the Parent Parties to the Company Parties in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Parent Disclosure Letter”) (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any Section of the Parent Disclosure Letter with respect to any Section or subsection of Article V of this Agreement shall be deemed disclosed with respect to any other Section or subsection of Article V of this Agreement to the extent such relationship is reasonably apparent, provided that nothing in the Parent Disclosure Letter is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of Parent or Merger Sub made herein), or (b) as disclosed in publicly available Parent SEC Filings, filed with, or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC on or after February 11, 2011 and prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any risk factor disclosures contained in such documents under the heading “Risk Factors” and any disclosure of risks or other matters included in any “forward-looking statements” disclaimer or other statements that are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), the Parent Parties hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company Parties that:
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Section 5.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.
(a) Parent is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite organizational power and authority and any necessary governmental authorization to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Parent is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the requisite organizational power and authority and any necessary governmental authorization to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Merger Sub is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Each Parent Subsidiary (other than Merger Sub) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has the requisite organizational power and authority and any necessary governmental authorization to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except for such failures to be so organized, in good standing or have certain power and authority that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each Parent Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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(d) Section 5.1(d) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the Parent Subsidiaries and each other corporate or non-corporate subsidiary in which Parent owns any direct or indirect voting, capital, profits or other beneficial interest (“Other Parent Subsidiary”), including a list of each Parent Subsidiary or Other Parent Subsidiary that is a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary, together with (i) the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, of each Parent Subsidiary and each Other Parent Subsidiary, (ii) the type of and percentage of voting, equity, profits, capital and other beneficial, as well as any debt (whether as a creditor or borrower), interest held (including capital account balances for any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes), directly or indirectly, by Parent in and to each Parent Subsidiary and each Other Parent Subsidiary, (iii) the names of and the type of and percentage of voting, equity, profits, capital and other beneficial, as well as any debt (whether as a creditor or borrower), interest held (including capital account balances for any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) by any Person other than Parent or a Parent Subsidiary in each Parent Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of Parent, each Other Parent Subsidiary, and (iv) the classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes of each Parent Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of Parent, each Other Parent Subsidiary.
(e) Except as set forth in Section 5.1(e) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, owns any interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any Person (other than equity interests in the Parent Subsidiaries or Other Parent Subsidiaries, loans to any Taxable REIT Subsidiary of Parent and investments in bank time deposits and money market accounts).
Section 5.2 Organizational Documents. Parent has made available to the Company complete and correct copies of (a) Parent’s charter (the “Parent Charter”), and bylaws, as amended to date (the “Parent Bylaws”), (b) the organizational documents of each Parent Subsidiary, each as in effect on the date hereof, including Merger Sub’s certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement and the certificate of limited partnership of the Parent Operating Partnership and the Parent Partnership Agreement, and (c) any and all Parent Tax Protection Agreements.
Section 5.3 Capital Structure.
(a) As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 750,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, 545,454 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), 283,018 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), and 28,398,213 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock” and, together with the Series A Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock, the “Parent Preferred Stock”). The Parent Common Stock and the Parent Preferred Stock are referred to herein as the “Parent Stock.” At the close of business on June 28, 2013 (i) 184,550,886 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 545,454 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii) 283,018 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iv) 28,398,213 shares of Series C Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (v) 22,381,923 shares of Parent Common Stock were reserved for issuance under Parent’s Equity Plan and Parent’s Non-Executive Director Stock Plan (together, the “Parent Stock Plans”), and (vi) 9,051,661 Parent OP Units were issued and outstanding. All issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of Parent are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and all shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued as the Merger Consideration, when so issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. All Parent OP Units to be issued as the Partnership Merger Consideration, when so issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued. No class of capital stock is entitled to preemptive rights. Except as disclosed in Section 5.3(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Parent having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matter on which holders of shares of Parent Common Stock may vote.
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(b) All of the Merger Sub Interests are owned by, and have always been owned by, Parent. All of the Merger Sub Interests are duly authorized and validly issued, and are not entitled to preemptive rights. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Merger Sub having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matter on which holders of Merger Sub Interests may vote.
(c) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Parent Subsidiaries that is a corporation are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All equity interests in each of the Parent Subsidiaries that is a partnership or limited liability company are duly authorized and validly issued. All shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) each of the Parent Subsidiaries that may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options or exchange rights are duly authorized and, upon issuance will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in Section 5.3(c) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, Parent owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the Parent Subsidiaries, free and clear of all encumbrances other than statutory or other liens for Taxes or assessments which are not yet due or delinquent or the validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves are being maintained, and there are no existing options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible securities or other securities, agreements, commitments or obligations of any character relating to the outstanding capital stock or other securities of any Parent Subsidiary or which would require any Parent Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of its capital stock, ownership interests or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of its capital stock or ownership interests.
(d) Except as set forth in this Section 5.3 or with respect to the Parent Stock Plans, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no securities, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments, agreements, rights of first refusal, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound, obligating Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell or create, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold or created, additional shares of Parent Stock or Merger Sub Interests or other equity securities, rights, options, stock or unit appreciation rights, phantom stock or units, dividend equivalents or similar rights or other contractual rights the value of which is determined in whole or in part by the value of any equity security of Parent, Merger Sub or any of the other Parent Subsidiaries or obligating Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement, right of first refusal, arrangement or undertaking. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Parent Stock, or other equity securities or interests of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary (other than in satisfaction of withholding Tax obligations pursuant to certain awards outstanding under the Parent Stock Plans). Neither Parent, Merger Sub nor any other Parent Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any agreements or understandings concerning the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) of any Merger Sub Interests or capital stock of Parent, or equity interests in any of the other Parent Subsidiaries.
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(e) All dividends or other distributions on the shares of Parent Stock and any material dividends or other distributions on any securities of any Parent Subsidiary which have been authorized or declared prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends have been publicly announced and are not yet due and payable).
Section 5.4 Authority.
(a) Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject to receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership and the consummation by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company and limited partnership action, and no other corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership proceedings on the part of Parent, Merger Sub or the Parent Operating Partnership, as applicable, are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Mergers or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject, with respect to the issuance of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger, to receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval and, (i) with respect to the Merger, the filing of the Articles of Merger with and acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by the SDAT and the due filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary and (ii) with respect to the Partnership Merger, the due filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary. Parent’s board of directors (the “Parent Board”), at a duly held meeting, has, by unanimous vote of all of the Parent Board members voting, (i) duly and validly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and declared advisable the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) directed that the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger be submitted for consideration at the Parent Stockholder Meeting, and (iii) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Parent vote in favor of the approval of the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger and to include such recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement.
(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership, enforceable against Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
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Section 5.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership does not, and the performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership will not, (i) assuming receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the Parent Charter or the Parent Bylaws, Merger Sub’s certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement, the certificate of limited partnership of the Parent Operating Partnership or the Parent Partnership Agreement or (B) any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other Parent Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 5.5(b) have been obtained, all filings and notifications described in Section 5.5(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Parent, Merger Sub, the Parent Operating Partnership or any other Parent Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of Parent, Merger Sub, the Parent Operating Partnership or any other Parent Subsidiary is bound, or (iii) require any consent or approval under, result in any breach of or any loss of any benefit or material increase in any cost or obligation of Parent, the Parent Operating Partnership or any other Parent Subsidiary under, 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 right of termination, acceleration, cancellation or payment (including disposition or similar fees) (with or without notice or the lapse of time or both) of, or give rise to any right of purchase, first offer or forced sale under or result in the creation of a Lien on any property or asset of Parent, Merger Sub, the Parent Operating Partnership or any other Parent Subsidiary pursuant to, any note, bond, debt instrument, indenture, contract, agreement, ground lease, license, permit or other legally binding obligation to which Parent, Merger Sub, the Parent Operating Partnership or any other Parent Subsidiary is a party, except, as to clauses (i)(B), (ii) and (iii), respectively, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership does not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Operating Partnership will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (i) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Joint Proxy Statement and the Form S-4 and the declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, and (B) such reports under, and other compliance with, the Exchange Act (and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and the Securities Act (and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) as may be required under the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ, (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with and the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by the SDAT pursuant to the MGCL, (iv) the due filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary, (v) the due filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary, (vi) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws, (vii) such filings as may be required in connection with state and local transfer Taxes, and (viii) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.6 Permits; Compliance With Law.
(a) Except for the authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances that are the subject of Section 5.14, which are addressed solely in that Section, Parent, Merger Sub and each other Parent Subsidiary is in possession of all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances of any Governmental Authority and accreditation and certification agencies, bodies or other organizations, including building permits and certificates of occupancy, necessary for Parent, Merger Sub and each other Parent Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as it is being conducted as of the date hereof (the “Parent Permits”), and all such Parent Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the Parent Permits, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. All applications required to have been filed for the renewal of Parent Permits have been duly filed on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authority, and all other filings required to have been made with respect to such Parent Permits have been duly made on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authority, except in each case for failures to file which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has received any claim or notice nor has any knowledge indicating that Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is currently not in compliance with the terms of any such Parent Permits, except where the failure to be in compliance with the terms of any such Parent Permits, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) None of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is or has been in conflict with, or in default or violation of (i) any Law applicable to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is bound (except for Laws addressed in Section 5.10, Section 5.11, Section 5.14, Section 5.15 or Section 5.17), or (ii) any Parent Permits (except for Parent Permits addressed in Section 5.14), except in each case for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.7 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.
(a) Parent has filed with, or furnished (on a publicly available basis) to, the SEC all forms, reports, schedules, statements and documents required to be filed or furnished by it under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, including any amendments or supplements thereto, from and after February 11, 2011 (collectively, the “Parent SEC Filings”). Each Parent SEC Filing, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, (i) as of its date, or, if amended or supplemented, as of the date of the most recent amendment or supplement thereto, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and (ii) did not, at the time it was filed (or became effective in the case of registration statements), or, if amended or supplemented, as of the date of the most recent amendment or supplement thereto, 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. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Merger Sub nor any other Parent Subsidiary is separately subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
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(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements contained or incorporated by reference in the Parent SEC Filings (as amended, supplemented or restated, if applicable), including the related notes and schedules, was prepared (except as indicated in the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated, and each such consolidated financial statement presented fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments).
(c) The records, systems, controls, data and information of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries that are used in the system of internal accounting controls described in the following sentence are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means that are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries or accountants, except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would not reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on the system of internal accounting controls. Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries have devised and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including that: (1) transactions are executed only in accordance with management’s authorization; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries and to maintain accountability for the assets of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries; (3) access to such assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization; (4) the reporting of such assets is compared with existing assets at regular intervals; and (5) accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis. Parent’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed to Parent’s auditors and the audit committee of the Parent Board (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect Parent’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Parent’s internal controls, and Parent has made available to the Company copies of any material written materials relating to the foregoing. Parent has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that material information relating to Parent required to be included in reports filed under the Exchange Act, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to Parent’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared, and, to the knowledge of Parent, such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting Parent’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer to material information required to be included in Parent’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. Since the enactment of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, none of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary has made any prohibited loans to any director or executive officer of Parent (as defined in Rule 3b-7 promulgated under the Exchange Act).
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(d) Except as and to the extent disclosed or reserved against on Parent’s most recent balance sheet (or, in the notes thereto) included in the Parent SEC Filings, none of Parent or its consolidated subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), except for liabilities or obligations (i) expressly contemplated by or under this Agreement, including Section 6.2 hereof, (ii) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the most recent balance sheet set forth in the Parent SEC Filings made through and including the date of this Agreement, (iii) described in any section of the Parent Disclosure Letter or (iv) that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(e) To the knowledge of Parent, none of the Parent SEC Filings is the subject of ongoing SEC review and Parent has not received any comments from the SEC with respect to any of the Parent SEC Filings since February 11, 2011 which remains unresolved, nor has it received any inquiry or information request from the SEC as to any matters affecting Parent which has not been adequately addressed. Parent has made available to the Company true and complete copies of all written comment letters from the staff of the SEC received since February 11, 2011 through the date of this Agreement relating to the Parent SEC Filings and all written responses of Parent thereto through the date of this Agreement. None of the Parent SEC Filings is the subject of any confidential treatment request by Parent.
Section 5.8 Disclosure Documents.
(a) None of the information supplied or to be supplied in writing by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Form S-4 will, at the time such document is filed with the SEC, at any time such document is amended or supplemented or at the time such document is declared effective by the SEC, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the stockholders of the Company and of Parent, at the time of the Company Stockholder Meeting and the Parent Stockholder Meeting, at the time the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC or at the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. All documents that Parent is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, to the extent relating to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or other information supplied by or on behalf of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary for inclusion therein, will comply as to form, in all material respects, with the provisions of the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder and each such document required to be filed with any Governmental Authority (other than the SEC) will comply in all material respects with the provisions of any applicable Law as to the information required to be contained therein.
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(b) The representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.8 will not apply to statements or omissions included in the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy Statement to the extent based upon information supplied to Parent by or on behalf of the Company.
Section 5.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Between December 31, 2012 and the date hereof, except as contemplated by this Agreement or set forth on Section 5.9 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, Parent, Merger Sub and each other Parent Subsidiary has conducted its business in all material respects in the ordinary course. Between December 31, 2012 and the date hereof, there has not been any Parent Material Adverse Effect or any effect, event, development or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate with all other effects, events, developments and changes, would reasonably be expected to result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.10 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Other than the Parent Stock Plans, the Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries do not and are not required to, and have not and have never been required to, maintain, sponsor or contribute to any Benefit Plans. Neither the Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has any contract, plan or commitment, whether or not legally binding, to create any Benefit Plan.
(b) Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, none of Parent, any Parent Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has incurred any obligation or liability with respect to or under any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement (including any agreement, program, policy or other arrangement under which any current or former employee, director or consultant has any present or future right to benefits) which has created or will create any obligation with respect to, or has resulted in or will result in any liability to the Surviving Entity.
(c) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, the Parent Stock Plans have been established and administered in accordance with their terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws, including the Code.
(d) None of Parent, Merger Sub, any Parent Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has ever maintained, contributed to, or participated in, or otherwise has any obligation or liability in connection with: (i) a “pension plan” under Section 3(2) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code, (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), or (iv) a “multiple employer plan” (as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code).
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(e) Except as set forth in Section 5.10(e) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will, individually or together with the occurrence of any other event: (i) result in any payment becoming due to any service provider of Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Subsidiary, (ii) increase or otherwise enhance any benefits otherwise payable by Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Subsidiary or the amount of compensation due to any service provider of Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Subsidiary or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits or the funding of any such compensation or benefits Section 5.10(e) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth the estimated maximum amount or value of each such payment or number of vested shares.
(f) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, no amount that could be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby (alone or in combination with any other event) by any Person who is a “disqualified individual” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) under any compensation arrangement could be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” (as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).
(g) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, the Parent Stock Plans have been maintained and operated in compliance with Section 409A of the Code or an available exemption therefrom.
(h) None of Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Subsidiary is a party to or has any obligation under any Contract, the Parent Stock Plans or otherwise to compensate any Person for excise taxes payable pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code or for additional taxes payable pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.
Section 5.11 Labor and Other Employment Matters. Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has, or has ever had, any employees.
Section 5.12 Material Contracts.
(a) Except for contracts listed in Section 5.12 of the Parent Disclosure Letter or filed as exhibits to the Parent SEC Filings, as of the date of this Agreement, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any contract that, as of the date hereof:
(i) is required to be filed as an exhibit to Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 601(b)(2), (4), (9) or (10) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC;
(ii) obligates Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to make non-contingent aggregate annual expenditures (other than principal and/or interest payments or the deposit of other reserves with respect to debt obligations) in excess of $2,000,000 and is not cancelable within ninety (90) days without material penalty to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, except for any Parent Lease or any ground lease affecting any Parent Property;
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(iii) contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any line of business or geographic area that restricts the business of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, or that otherwise restricts the lines of business conducted by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or the geographic area in which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary may conduct business;
(iv) is an agreement which obligates Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to indemnify any past or present directors, officers, trustees, employees and agents of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary pursuant to which Parent or the Parent Subsidiary is the indemnitor, other than any operating agreements or property management agreements or any similar agreement pursuant to which a Parent Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent provides such an indemnification to any such directors, officers, trustees, employees or agents in connection with the indemnification by such non-wholly owned Parent Subsidiary of Parent or another Parent Subsidiary thereunder;
(v) constitutes an Indebtedness obligation of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary with a principal amount as of the date hereof greater than $2,000,000;
(vi) would prohibit or materially delay the consummation of the Mergers as contemplated by this Agreement;
(vii) requires Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to dispose of or acquire assets or properties (other than in connection with the expiration of a Parent Lease or a ground lease affecting a Parent Property) with a fair market value in excess of $250,000, or involves any pending or contemplated merger, consolidation or similar business combination transaction, except for any Parent Lease or any ground lease affecting any Parent Property;
(viii) constitutes an interest rate cap, interest rate collar, interest rate swap or other contract or agreement relating to a hedging transaction;
(ix) sets forth the operational terms of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company with a Third Party member or strategic alliance of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary; or
(x) constitutes a loan to any Person (other than a wholly owned Parent Subsidiary) by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary (other than advances made pursuant to and expressly disclosed in the Parent Leases or pursuant to any disbursement agreement, development agreement, or development addendum entered into in connection with a Parent Lease with respect to the development, construction, or equipping of Parent Properties or the funding of improvements to Parent Properties) in an amount in excess of $2,000,000.
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Each contract listed on Section 5.12 of the Parent Disclosure Letter to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound as of the date hereof is referred to herein as a “Parent Material Contract”.
(b) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, each Parent Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable on Parent and each Parent Subsidiary that is a party thereto and, to the knowledge of Parent, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). Except as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, Parent and each Parent Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by it prior to the date hereof under each Parent Material Contract and, to the knowledge of Parent, each other party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under such Parent Material Contract prior to the date hereof. None of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of Parent, any other party thereto, is in material breach or violation of, or default under, any Parent Material Contract, and no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a violation, breach or default under any Parent Material Contract, except where in each case such breach, violation or default is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has received notice of any violation or default under any Parent Material Contract, except for violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.13 Litigation. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, as of the date of this Agreement, (a) there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened by or before any Governmental Authority, nor, to the knowledge of Parent, is there any investigation pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority, in each case, against Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary, and (b) none of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary, nor any of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary’s respective property, is subject to any outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority.
Section 5.14 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect:
(i) Parent and each Parent Subsidiary are in compliance with all Environmental Laws.
(ii) Parent and each Parent Subsidiary have all Environmental Permits necessary to conduct their current operations and are in compliance with their respective Environmental Permits, and all such Environmental Permits are in good standing.
(iii) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has received any written notice, demand, letter or claim alleging that Parent or any such Parent Subsidiary is in violation of, or liable under, any Environmental Law or that any judicial, administrative or compliance order has been issued against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary which remains unresolved. There is no litigation, investigation, request for information or other proceeding pending, or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary under any Environmental Law.
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(iv) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has entered into or agreed to any consent decree or order or is subject to any judgment, decree or judicial, administrative or compliance order relating to compliance with Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits or the investigation, sampling, monitoring, treatment, remediation, removal or cleanup of Hazardous Substances and no investigation, litigation or other proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary under any Environmental Law.
(v) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has assumed, by contract or, to the knowledge of Parent, by 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.
(vi) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has caused, and to the knowledge of Parent, no Third Party has caused any release of a Hazardous Substance that would be required to be investigated or remediated by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary under any Environmental Law.
(vii) There is no site to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary has transported or arranged for the transport of Hazardous Substances which, to the knowledge of Parent, is or may become the subject of any Action under Environmental Law.
(b) This Section 5.14(b) contains the exclusive representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub with respect to environmental matters.
Section 5.15 Intellectual Property.
(a) Section 5.15(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list of all material Intellectual Property registrations and applications for registration owned by Parent.
(b) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (i) Parent, Merger Sub and the other Parent Subsidiaries own or are licensed or otherwise possess valid rights to use all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of Parent, Merger Sub and the other Parent Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted, (ii) the conduct of the business of Parent, Merger Sub and the other Parent Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party, (iii) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened claims with respect to any of the Intellectual Property rights owned by Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary, and (iv) to the knowledge of Parent, no Third Party is currently infringing or misappropriating Intellectual Property owned by Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary. Parent, Merger Sub and the other Parent Subsidiaries are taking all actions that are reasonably necessary to maintain and protect each material item of Intellectual Property that they own.
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(c) This Section 5.15 contains the exclusive representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub with respect to intellectual property matters.
Section 5.16 Properties.
(a) Section 5.16(a) (Part I) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of the address of each real property owned, leased (as lessee or sublessee), including ground leased, by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (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 a “Parent Property” and collectively referred to herein as the “Parent Properties”). Section 5.16(a) (Part II) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of the address of each facility and real property which, as of the date of this Agreement, is under contract by Parent or a Parent Subsidiary for purchase or which is required under a binding contract to be leased or subleased by Parent or a Parent Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement.
(b) Parent or a Parent Subsidiary owns good and marketable fee simple title or leasehold title (as applicable) to each of the Parent Properties, in each case, free and clear of Liens, except for Parent Permitted Liens that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Parent Permitted Liens” shall mean any (i) Liens relating to any Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) Liens that result from any statutory or other Liens for Taxes or assessments that are not yet subject to penalty or the validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which there are adequate reserves on the financial statements of Parent (if such reserves are required pursuant to GAAP), (iii) Liens imposed or promulgated by Law or any Governmental Authority, including zoning regulations, permits and licenses, (iv) Liens that are disclosed on the existing Parent Title Insurance Policies made available by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Subsidiary to the Company prior to the date hereof and, with respect to leasehold interests, Liens on the underlying fee or leasehold interest of the applicable ground lessor, lessor, or sublessor, (v) any cashiers’, landlords’, workers’, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s and materialmen’s liens and other similar Liens imposed by Law and incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that are not yet subject to penalty or the validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and (vi) any other Liens that do not materially impair the value of the applicable Parent Property or the continued use and operation of the applicable Parent Property as currently used and operated.
(c) The Parent Properties (x) are supplied with utilities reasonably required for their continued operation as they are now being operated and (y) are, to the knowledge of Parent, in working order sufficient for their normal operation in the manner currently being operated and without any material structural defects other than as may be disclosed in any physical condition reports that have been made available to the Company.
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(d) To the knowledge of Parent, each of the Parent Properties has sufficient access to and from publicly dedicated streets for its current use and operation, without any constraints that interfere with the normal use, occupancy and operation thereof.
(e) Except for discrepancies, errors or omissions that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, the rent rolls for each of the Parent Properties, as of June 27, 2013, which rent rolls have previously been made available by or on behalf of the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to the Company, and the schedules with respect to the Parent Properties subject to triple-net leases, which schedules have previously been made available to the Company, correctly reference each lease or sublease that was in effect as of June 27, 2013 and to which Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries are parties as lessors or sublessors with respect to each of the applicable Parent Properties (all leases or subleases (including any triple-net leases), together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals, exercise of options and extensions related thereto, the “Parent Leases”). Section 5.16(e) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth the current rent annualized and security deposit amounts currently held for each Parent Lease (which security deposits are in the amounts required by the applicable Parent Lease).
(f) True and complete in all material respects copies of (i) all ground leases affecting the interest of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary in the Parent Properties and (ii) all Parent Leases (collectively, the “Specified Parent Leases”), in each case, in effect as of the date hereof, together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals and extensions through the date hereof related thereto, have been made available to the Company. Except as set forth in Section 5.16(f) of the Parent Disclosure Letter or as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (1) none of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is and, to the knowledge of Parent, no other party is in breach or violation of, or default under, any Specified Parent Lease, (2) none of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is in receipt of any rent under any Parent Lease paid more than thirty (30) days before such rent is due and payable, and (3) each Specified Parent Lease is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect with respect to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of Parent, with respect to the other parties thereto, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). None of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is party to any oral Parent Lease.
(g) Parent and each Parent Subsidiary, as applicable, is in possession of title insurance policies or valid marked-up title commitments evidencing title insurance with respect to each Parent Property (each, a “Parent Title Insurance Policy” and, collectively, the “Parent Title Insurance Policies”). A copy of each Parent Title Insurance Policy in the possession of the Parent has been made available to the Company. No written claim has been made against any Parent Title Insurance Policy, which, individually or in the aggregate, would be material to any Parent Property.
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(h) To the knowledge of Parent, Section 5.16(h) of the Parent Disclosure Letter lists each Parent Property which is (i) under development as of the date hereof, and describes the status of such development as of the date hereof, and (ii) which is subject to a binding agreement for development or commencement of construction by Parent or a Parent Subsidiary, in each case other than those pertaining to capital repairs, replacements and other similar correction of deferred maintenance items in the ordinary course of business that are individually in the amount of $100,000 or less.
(i) Parent, Merger Sub and the other Parent Subsidiaries have good and valid title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, or other right to use, all personal property owned, used or held for use by them as of the date of this Agreement (other than property owned by tenants and used or held in connection with the applicable tenancy), except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. None of Parent’s, Merger Sub’s or any other Parent Subsidiaries’ ownership of or leasehold interest in any such personal property is subject to any Liens, except for Parent Permitted Liens and Liens that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Section 5.16(i) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth all leased personal property of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary with monthly lease obligation in excess of $1,000,000 and that are not terminable upon thirty (30) days’ notice.
(j) Section 5.16(j) of the Parent Disclosure Letter lists the parties currently providing third-party property management services to Parent or a Parent Subsidiary and the number of facilities currently managed by each such party.
Section 5.17 Taxes. Except as expressly set forth in Section 5.17 of the Parent Disclosure Letter:
(a) Parent and each Parent Subsidiary has (i) duly and timely filed (or there have been filed on their behalf) with the appropriate Governmental Authority all U.S. federal, state and local income, and all other material, Tax Returns required to be filed by them, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file such Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns were and are true, correct and complete in all material respects, and (ii) duly and timely paid in full (or there has been duly and timely paid in full on their behalf), or made adequate provision for, all material amounts of Taxes required to be paid by them, whether or not shown (or required to be shown) on any Tax Return. True and materially complete copies of all U.S. federal income Tax Returns that have been filed with the IRS by Parent and each Parent Subsidiary with respect to the taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2009 have been provided or made available to representatives of the Company.
(b) Parent (i) for all of its taxable years commencing with Parent’s initial taxable year that ended on December 31, 2011 and through and including its taxable year ended December 31, 2012 has been subject to taxation as a REIT and has satisfied all requirements to qualify as a REIT, and has so qualified, for U.S. federal Tax purposes for all such taxable years; (ii) has operated since January 1, 2013 to the date hereof in such a manner so as to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal Tax purposes; intends to continue to operate (including with regard to the REIT distribution requirements in the taxable year that includes and/or that ends with and upon the Effective Time) through to the Merger (and the consummation thereof) in such a manner so as to qualify as a REIT for its taxable year that will end December 31 of the year that includes the Merger (and consummation thereof); and (iii) has not taken or omitted to take any action that could reasonably be expected to result in a challenge by the IRS or any other Governmental Authority to its status as a REIT, and no such challenge is pending or, to Parent’s knowledge, threatened.
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(c) Each Parent Subsidiary and Other Parent Subsidiary has been since the later of its acquisition or formation and continues to be treated for U.S. federal and state income Tax purposes as (i) a partnership (or a disregarded entity) and not as a corporation or an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, (ii) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary, or (iii) a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.
(d) None of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary holds, directly or indirectly, any asset the disposition of which would be subject to (or to rules similar to) Section 1374 of the Code.
(e) (i) There are no disputes, audits, examination, investigations or proceedings pending (or threatened in writing), or claims asserted, for and/or in respect of any Taxes or material Tax Returns of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary and neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is a party to any litigation or administrative proceeding relating to Taxes; (ii) no deficiency for Taxes of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary has been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, by any Governmental Authority, which deficiency has not yet been settled, except for such deficiencies which are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to pay, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has extended or waived (nor granted any extension or waiver of) the limitation period for the assessment or collection of any Tax that has not since expired; (iv) neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary currently is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return that remains unfiled; (v) neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has received a written claim, or to the knowledge of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary an unwritten claim, by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where any of them does not file Tax Returns or pay any Taxes that it is or may be subject to Taxation by that jurisdiction; and (vi) neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary 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).
(f) Since Parent’s formation, (i) neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has incurred any liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b), 857(f), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code; and (ii) neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has incurred any material liability for any other Taxes other than (x) in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, or (y) transfer or similar Taxes arising in connection with sales of property. No event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, which presents a material risk that any material amount of Tax described in the previous sentence will be imposed upon Parent or any Parent Subsidiary.
(g) Parent and each Parent Subsidiary has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446, 3102 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any state and foreign Laws) and have duly and timely withheld and, in each case, have paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authorities any and all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.
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(h) There are no Parent Tax Protection Agreements currently in force, and no Person has raised, or to the knowledge of Parent or the Parent Operating Partnership threatened to raise, a material claim against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary for any breach of any Parent Tax Protection Agreement and none of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will give rise to any liability or obligation to make any payment under any Parent Tax Protection Agreement. As used herein, “Parent Tax Protection Agreements” means any agreement to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party and pursuant to which (i) any liability to any direct or indirect holder of Parent Partnership Units or any other partnership interest in any Parent Subsidiary Partnership (“Relevant Parent Partnership Interest”) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a direct or indirect holder of a Relevant Parent Partnership Interest, a party to such agreement has agreed to (A) maintain a minimum level of debt or continue a particular debt, (B) retain or not dispose of assets for a period of time that has not since expired, (C) make or refrain from making Tax elections, (D) operate (or refrain from operating) in a particular manner, (E) use (or refrain from using) a specified method of taking into account book-tax disparities under Section 704(c) of the Code with respect to one or more assets of such party or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, (F) use (or refrain from using) a particular method for allocating one or more liabilities of such party or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries under Section 752 of the Code and/or (G) only dispose of assets in a particular manner; (iii) any Person has been or is required to be given the opportunity to guaranty, indemnify or assume debt of such Parent Subsidiary Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Parent Subsidiary Partnership or are so guarantying or indemnifying, or have so assumed, such debt; and/or (iv) any other agreement that would require any Parent Subsidiary Partnership or the general partner, manager, managing member or other similarly-situated Person of such Parent Subsidiary Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Parent Subsidiary Partnership to consider separately the interests of the limited partners, members or other beneficial owners of such Parent Subsidiary Partnership or the holder of interests in such Parent Subsidiary Partnership in connection with any transaction or other action. As used herein, “Parent Subsidiary Partnership” means a Parent Subsidiary or Other Parent Subsidiary that is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(i) There are no Tax Liens upon any property or assets of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary except Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.
(j) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has requested, has received or is subject to any written ruling of a Governmental Authority or has entered into any written agreement with a Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes.
(k) There are no Tax allocation or sharing agreements or similar arrangements with respect to or involving Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, and after the Closing Date neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary shall be bound by any such Tax allocation agreements or similar arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date, in each case, other than customary provisions of credit agreements and Parent Tax Protection Agreements.
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(l) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary (A) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return or (B) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than Parent or any Parent Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(m) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has participated in any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(n) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary (other than Taxable REIT Subsidiaries) has or has had any earnings and profits attributable to such entity or any other corporation in any non-REIT year within the meaning of Section 857 of the Code.
(o) As of the date of this Agreement, Parent is not aware of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(p) No written power of attorney that has been granted by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary (other than to Parent or a Parent Subsidiary) currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to Taxes.
(q) Neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (A) in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement or (B) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.18 Insurance. Parent has made available to the Company copies of all material insurance policies (including title insurance policies) and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance service contracts in Parent’s possession providing coverage for all Parent Properties (the “Parent Insurance Policies”). The Parent Insurance Policies include all material insurance policies and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance service contracts required by any Specified Parent Lease. Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, there is no claim for coverage by Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary pending under any of the Parent Insurance Policies that has been denied or disputed by the insurer. Except as individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, all premiums payable under all Parent Insurance Policies have been paid, and Parent, Merger Sub and the other Parent Subsidiaries have otherwise complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all the Parent Insurance Policies. To the knowledge of Parent, such Parent Insurance Policies are valid and enforceable in accordance with their terms and are in full force and effect and no written notice of cancellation or termination has been received by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation.
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Section 5.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Parent Board has received the opinion of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”) to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based on and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and other matters referred to therein, the Merger Consideration to be paid by Parent in the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to Parent.
Section 5.20 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Parent Common Stock (provided that the total vote cast represents over fifty percent (50%) in interest of all Parent Common Stock) at the Parent Stockholder Meeting to approve the issuance of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger (the “Parent Stockholder Approval”) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of shares of capital stock of Parent or Merger Sub necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger. The consent of Parent, as the sole general partner of the Parent Operating Partnership, is the only vote of the partners of the Parent Operating Partnership necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Partnership Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 5.21 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker (other than Citi and RCS) is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Mergers based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary.
Section 5.22 Investment Company Act. None of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
Section 5.23 Sufficient Funds. At the Effective Time, Parent will have available, and Parent will provide Merger Sub with sufficient cash or lines of credit available to pay (i) the Cash Consideration, (i) the cash portion of any Alternative Stock Consideration, if applicable, (iii) any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.14 and (iv) any and all other amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers, and any related fees and expenses.
Section 5.24 Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities.
(a) Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All of the interests of Merger Sub are owned directly by Parent.
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(b) Except for the obligations or liabilities incurred in connection with its organization and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Merger Sub has not, and will not have prior to the Effective Time, incurred, directly or indirectly through any subsidiary or Affiliate, any obligations or liabilities or engaged in any business activities of any type or kind whatsoever or entered into any agreements or arrangements with any Person.
Section 5.25 Takeover Statutes. None of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last two (2) years has been, an “interested stockholder” of the Company as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL. No “business combination,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium” or other takeover or anti-takeover statute or similar federal or state Law are applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.26 Affiliate Transactions. Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Filings made through and including the date of this Agreement or as permitted by this Agreement, from January 1, 2012 through the date of this Agreement there have been no transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings between Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any Affiliates (other than Parent Subsidiaries) of Parent or other Persons, on the other hand, that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
Section 5.27 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in Article IV, each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledge that neither the Company nor any other Person on behalf of the Company has made, and neither Parent nor Merger Sub has relied upon, any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, affairs, assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, future operating or financial results, estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects) or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information provided or made available to Parent or Merger Sub by or on behalf of the Company.
Article VI
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
Section 6.1 Conduct of Business by the Company
(a) Each Company Party covenants and agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier to occur of the Effective Time and the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1 (the “Interim Period”), except to the extent required by Law, as may be agreed in writing by Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as may be expressly required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement, or as set forth in Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, each of the Company Parties shall, and shall cause each of the other Company Entities to, (i) conduct its business in all material respects in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practice, and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to maintain its material assets and properties in their current condition (normal wear and tear and damage caused by casualty or by any reason outside of the Company’s or the Company Subsidiaries’ control excepted), preserve intact in all material respects its current business organization, goodwill, ongoing businesses and relationships with third parties, keep available the services of its present officers, maintain all Company Insurance Policies, and maintain the status of the Company as a REIT.
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(b) The Company Parties shall (i) use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the opinions of counsel referred to in Section 7.2(e) and Section 7.2(f), (ii) deliver to Proskauer Rose LLP an officer’s certificate, dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4 and the Closing Date, respectively, and signed by an officer of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership, containing representations of the Company and the Company Operating Partnership as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Proskauer Rose LLP to render the opinion described in Section 7.2(e) on the effective date of the Form S-4, satisfying the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and on the Closing Date, and (iii) deliver to Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP officer’s certificates, dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4 and the Closing Date, respectively, and signed by an officer of the Company, in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit A, with such changes as are mutually agreeable to Parent and the Company (a “Company Tax Representation Letter”), containing representations of the Company as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP to render an opinion on the effective date of the Form S-4, satisfying the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and on the Closing Date, as described in Section 7.2(f), respectively, and Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP to render an opinion on the effective date of the Form S-4, satisfying the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and on the Closing Date, as described in Section 7.3(f), respectively.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, each Company Party covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except to the extent required by Law, as may be agreed in writing by Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as may be expressly required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement, or as set forth in Section 6.1(a) or 6.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any other Company Entity to, do any of the following:
(i) amend or propose to amend the Company Charter or Company Bylaws (or such equivalent organizational or governing documents of any Company Subsidiary) or waive the stock ownership limit under the Company Charter;
(ii) split, combine, reclassify or subdivide any shares of stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
(iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) with respect to shares of capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or other equity securities or ownership interests in the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except for (A) the declaration and payment by the Company of regular monthly dividends, for full monthly periods in accordance with past practice and not for any interim period prior to the Effective Time, at an annual rate not to exceed $0.65 per share of Company Common Stock, (B) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to the Company by any directly or indirectly wholly owned Company Subsidiary and (C) distributions by any Company Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational documents of such Company Subsidiary; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the restriction on dividends and other distributions in this Section 6.1(c)(iii), the Company and any Company Subsidiary shall be permitted to make distributions, including under Sections 857, 858 or 860 of the Code, reasonably necessary for the Company to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code and avoid or reduce the imposition of any entity level income or excise Tax under the Code;
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(iv) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or a Company Subsidiary, other than the withholding of shares of Company Common Stock to satisfy withholding Tax obligations with respect to awards granted pursuant to the Company Restricted Stock Plan, including the vesting of Company Restricted Stock in accordance with Section 3.10(a);
(v) except (A) for issuances by a wholly owned Company Subsidiary to the Company or another wholly owned Company Subsidiary, (B) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) for issuances by the Company Operating Partnership of the Company Class B Units, in accordance with the Company Partnership Agreement, (D) for issuances by the Company Operating Partnership of Company OP Units in connection with the acquisition of real property pursuant to Section 6.1(e), or (E) as otherwise contemplated in Section 6.1(c)(vi), issue, sell, pledge, dispose, encumber or grant any shares of the Company’s or any of the Company Subsidiaries’ capital stock, or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of the Company’s or any of the Company Subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity interests, provided, however, that the Company may issue shares of Company Common Stock upon the vesting of any Company Restricted Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement or as may be granted after the date of this Agreement under Section 6.1(c)(vi);
(vi) except as set forth on Section 6.1(c)(vi) of the Company Disclosure Letter, grant, confer, award, or modify the terms of any Company Restricted Stock, convertible securities, or other rights to acquire, or denominated in, any of the Company’s or any of the Company Subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity securities or take any action not set forth on Section 6.1(c)(vi) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(vii) acquire or agree to acquire (including by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any real property, personal property, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division or material amount of assets thereof, except (A) acquisitions by the Company or any wholly owned Company Subsidiary of or from an existing wholly owned Company Subsidiary or (B) except as permitted or required under Section 6.1(e);
(viii) sell, pledge, lease, assign, transfer, dispose of or encumber, or effect a deed in lieu of foreclosure with respect to, any property or assets, except (A) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and that would not be material to any Company Property or any assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or (B) pledges or encumbrances of property or assets or direct or indirect equity interests in entities from time to time under the Revolving Credit Agreement;
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(ix) incur, create, assume, refinance, replace or prepay any Indebtedness for borrowed money or issue or amend the terms of any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise become responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the Indebtedness of any other Person (other than a wholly owned Company Subsidiary), except Indebtedness incurred (A) under the Revolving Credit Agreement pursuant to the Company’s budget set forth on Section 6.1(c)(ix) of the Company Disclosure Letter or (B) in connection with the acquisition of real property pursuant to Section 6.1(e);
(x) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (including to any of its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents or consultants), make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons, or enter into any “keep well” or similar agreement to maintain the financial condition of another entity, other than (A) by the Company or a wholly owned Company Subsidiary to the Company or a wholly owned Company Subsidiary, and (B) loans or advances required to be made under any of the Company Leases or ground leases affecting the Company Properties;
(xi) enter into, renew, modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release, compromise or assign any rights or claims under, any Company Material Contract (or any Contract that, if existing as of the date hereof, would be a Company Material Contract), other than (A) any termination or renewal in accordance with the terms of any existing Company Material Contract that occur automatically without any action by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (B) the entry into any modification or amendment of, or waiver or consent under, any mortgage or related agreement to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is as required or necessitated by this Agreement or transactions contemplated hereby, provided that any such modification, amendment, waiver or consent does not increase the principal amount thereunder or otherwise adversely affect the Company, any Company Subsidiary or Parent or (C) as may be reasonably necessary to comply with the terms of this Agreement;
(xii) enter into, renew, modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release, compromise or assign any rights or claims under, any Company Lease (or any lease for Real Property that, if existing as of the date hereof, would be a Company Lease), except for (A) entering into any new lease or renewing any Company Lease (1) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (2) in connection with the acquisition of real property pursuant to Section 6.1(e), (B) terminating any Company Lease as a result of a default by the counterparty to such Company Lease (in accordance with the terms of such Company Lease and subject to any applicable cure period therein), or (C) any such modification amendment, waiver, release, or compromise as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
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(xiii) waive, release, assign any material rights or claims or make any payment, direct or indirect, of any liability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary before the same comes due in accordance with its terms, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xiv) settle or compromise (A) any legal action, suit or arbitration proceeding, in each case made or pending against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, including relating to Taxes, and (B) any legal action, suit or proceeding involving any present, former or purported holder or group of holders of the Company Common Stock other than in accordance with Section 6.7, in each case, in an amount in excess of $1,000,000 individually;
(xv) (A) hire or terminate any officer, director or employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or promote or appoint any Person to a position of officer or director of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (B) increase in any manner the amount, rate or terms of compensation or benefits of any of its directors, officers or employees, (C) pay or agree to pay any pension, retirement allowance or other compensation or benefit to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, whether past or present, (D) enter into, adopt, amend or terminate any employment, bonus, severance or retirement contract or other compensation or employee benefits arrangement, (E) accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefits under the Company Restricted Stock Plan, (F) grant any awards under the Company Restricted Stock Plan, bonus, incentive, performance or other compensation plan or arrangement, or (G) take any action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under the Company Restricted Stock Plan, in each case, other than as required by Law;
(xvi) fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or make any material change to its methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 2012, except as required by a change in GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or in applicable Law, or make any change, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, with respect to accounting policies, unless required by GAAP or the SEC;
(xvii) enter into any new line of business;
(xviii) fail to duly and timely file all material reports and other material documents required to be filed with NASDAQ or any Governmental Authority, subject to extensions permitted by Law or applicable rules and regulations;
(xix) take any action that could, or fail to take any action, the failure of which could, reasonably be expected to cause (A) the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT or (B) any Company Subsidiary to cease to be treated as any of (1) a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (2) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;
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(xx) adopt a plan of merger, complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such merger, liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or bankruptcy reorganization, except by a Company Subsidiary in connection with any acquisitions permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(e) in a manner that would not reasonably be expected to be adverse to the Company or to prevent or impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Mergers;
(xxi) form any new funds or joint ventures; or
(xxii) authorize, or enter into any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company from taking any action, at any time or from time to time, that in the reasonable judgment of the Company Board, upon advice of counsel to the Company, is reasonably necessary for the Company to avoid incurring entity level income or excise Taxes under the Code or to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the Effective Time, including making dividend or other distribution payments to stockholders of the Company in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise.
(e) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the acquisitions set forth on Section 4.16(a) (Part II) and Section 6.1(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter prior to the Closing Date; provided that the Company may substitute one or more properties set forth on Section 4.16(a) (Part II) with one or more properties of equivalent value subject to the consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).
Section 6.2 Conduct of Business by Parent and Merger Sub.
(a) Each Parent Party covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except to the extent required by Law, as may be agreed in writing by the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as may be expressly required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement, or as set forth in Section 6.2(a) or 6.2(c) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, the Parent Parties shall, and shall cause each of the other Parent Entities to, use its reasonable best efforts to maintain its material assets and properties in their current condition (normal wear and tear and damage caused by casualty or by any reason outside of any Parent Entities’ control excepted), keep available the services of its present officers, maintain all Parent Insurance Policies and maintain the status of Parent as a REIT.
(b) The Parent Parties shall (i) use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the opinions of counsel referred to in Section 7.3(e) and Section 7.3(f), (ii) deliver to Proskauer Rose LLP an officer’s certificate, dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4 and the Closing Date, respectively, and signed by an officer of Parent, containing representations of Parent as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Proskauer Rose LLP to render the opinion described in Section 7.3(e) on the effective date of the Form S-4, satisfying the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and on the Closing Date, and (iii) deliver to Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP and Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP officer’s certificates, dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4 and the Closing Date, respectively, and signed by an officer of Parent, in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit B, with such changes as are mutually agreeable to the Company and Parent (a “Parent Tax Representation Letter”), containing representations of Parent as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP to render an opinion on the effective date of the Form S-4, satisfying the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and on the Closing Date, as described in Section 7.3(f), respectively, and Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP to render an opinion on the effective date of the Form S-4, satisfying the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and on the Closing Date, as described in Section 7.2(f), respectively.
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(c) Without limiting the foregoing, each Parent Party covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except to the extent required by Law, as may be agreed in writing by the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as may be expressly required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement, or as set forth in Section 6.2(a) or 6.2(c) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, the Parent Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any of the other Parent Entities to, do any of the following:
(i) other than amendments to the Parent Charter to increase the authorized number of shares or create or designate a series of preferred stock, amend or propose to amend the Parent Charter or Parent Bylaws (or such equivalent organizational or governing documents of any Parent Subsidiary material to Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, if such amendment would be adverse to Parent or the Company);
(ii) split, combine, reclassify or subdivide any shares of stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary;
(iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) with respect to shares of capital stock of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or other equity securities or ownership interests in Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, except for (A) the declaration and payment by Parent of regular monthly dividends, for full monthly periods in accordance with past practice and not for any interim period prior to the Effective Time, at an annual rate not to exceed $0.94 per share of Parent Common Stock, (B) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to Parent by any directly or indirectly wholly owned Parent Subsidiary, and (C) distributions by any Parent Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational documents of such Parent Subsidiary; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the restriction on dividends and other distributions in this Section 6.2(c)(iii), Parent and any Parent Subsidiary shall be permitted to make distributions, including under Sections 857, 858 or 860 of the Code, reasonably necessary for Parent to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code and avoid or reduce the imposition of any entity level income or excise Tax under the Code;
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(iv) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests of Parent or a Parent Subsidiary, other than the withholding of shares of Parent Common Stock to satisfy withholding Tax obligations with respect to awards granted pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans;
(v) fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or make any material change to its methods of accounting in effect as of the date hereof, except as required by a change in GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or in applicable Law, or make any change, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, with respect to accounting policies, unless required by GAAP or the SEC;
(vi) take any action that could, or fail to take any action, the failure of which could, reasonably be expected to cause (A) Parent to fail to qualify as a REIT or (B) any Parent Subsidiary to cease to be treated as any of (1) a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (2) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;
(vii) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or bankruptcy reorganization;
(viii) take any action that (a) would require approval of Parent’s stockholders under NASDAQ Rule 5635(a)(1) or (b) would reasonably anticipated to be the primary cause of a material adverse effect on Parent’s stockholders (for purposes of this clause (b), assuming that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been consummated and, therefore, the current stockholders of the Company are stockholders of Parent); or
(ix) authorize, or enter into any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit: (i) Parent from taking any action, at any time or from time to time, that in the reasonable judgment of the Parent Board, upon advice of counsel to Parent, is reasonably necessary for Parent to continue to avoid incurring entity level income or excise Taxes under the Code or to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code, including making dividend or other distribution payments to stockholders of Parent in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise; and (ii) the Parent Operating Partnership from taking any action, at any time or from time to time, as the Parent Operating Partnership determines to be necessary to: (A) be in compliance at all times with all of its obligations under any Parent Tax Protection Agreement, and (B) avoid liability for any indemnification or other payment under any Parent Tax Protection Agreement.
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Section 6.3 Preparation of Form S-4 and Joint Proxy Statement; Stockholder Meetings.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, (i) the Company and Parent shall jointly prepare and cause to be filed with the SEC the Joint Proxy Statement in preliminary form, and (ii) Parent shall prepare and cause to be filed with the SEC, the Form S-4, which will include the Joint Proxy Statement as a prospectus. Each of the Company and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to (x) have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing, (y) ensure that the Form S-4 complies in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, and (z) keep the Form S-4 effective for so long as necessary to complete the Merger. Each of the Company and Parent shall furnish all information concerning itself, its Affiliates and the holders of its capital stock to the other and provide such other assistance as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the Form S-4 and Joint Proxy Statement. The Form S-4 and Joint Proxy Statement shall include all information reasonably requested by such other party to be included therein. Each of the Company and Parent shall promptly notify the other upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or any request from the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Form S-4 or Joint Proxy Statement, and shall, as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof, provide the other with copies of all correspondence between it and its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, on the other hand, and all written comments with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement or the Form S-4 received from the SEC and advise the other party of any oral comments with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement or the Form S-4 received from the SEC. Each of the Company and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments from the SEC with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement, and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments from the SEC with respect to the Form S-4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to filing the Form S-4 (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or mailing the Joint Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments from the SEC with respect thereto, each of the Company and Parent shall cooperate and provide the other a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such document or response (including the proposed final version of such document or response). Parent shall advise the Company, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time of effectiveness of the Form S-4, the issuance of any stop order relating thereto or the suspension of the qualification of the Parent Common Stock issuable in connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and Parent and the Company shall use their reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated. Parent shall also take any other action required to be taken under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any applicable foreign or state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with the issuance of the Parent Common Stock in the Merger, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning the Company and the holders of the Company Common Stock as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such actions.
(b) If, at any time prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval or the Parent Stockholder Approval, any information relating to the Company or Parent, or any of their respective Affiliates, should be discovered by the Company or Parent which, in the reasonable judgment of the Company or Parent, should be set forth in an amendment of, or a supplement to, any of the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy Statement, so that any of such documents would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties hereto, and the Company and Parent shall cooperate in the prompt filing with the SEC of any necessary amendment of, or supplement to, the Joint Proxy Statement or the Form S-4 and, to the extent required by Law, in disseminating the information contained in such amendment or supplement to stockholders of the Company and the stockholders of Parent. Nothing in this Section 6.3(b) shall limit the obligations of any party under Section 6.3(a). For purposes of Section 4.8, Section 5.8 and this Section 6.3, any information concerning or related to the Company, its Affiliates or the Company Stockholder Meeting will be deemed to have been provided by the Company, and any information concerning or related to Parent, its Affiliates or the Parent Stockholder Meeting will be deemed to have been provided by Parent.
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(c) As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall, in accordance with applicable Law and the Company Charter and Company Bylaws, establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Company Stockholder Meeting. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Joint Proxy Statement to be mailed to the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote at the Company Stockholder Meeting and to hold the Company Stockholder Meeting as soon as practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act. The Company shall, through the Company Board, recommend to its stockholders that they give the Company Stockholder Approval, include such recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement and solicit and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval, except to the extent that the Company Board shall have made an Adverse Recommendation Change as permitted by Section 6.5(d); provided, however, the Company’s obligation to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Company Stockholder Meeting shall not be affected by any Adverse Recommendation Change. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.3(c), if, on a date for which the Company Stockholder Meeting is scheduled, the Company has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares of Company Common Stock to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, the Company shall have the right to make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the Company Stockholder Meeting; provided that the Company Stockholder Meeting is not postponed or adjourned to a date that is more than (i) thirty (30) days after the date for which the Company Stockholder Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law) or (ii) one hundred twenty (120) days after the record date for the Company Stockholder Meeting.
(d) As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, Parent shall, in accordance with applicable Law and the Parent Charter and Parent Bylaws, establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Parent Stockholder Meeting. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Joint Proxy Statement to be mailed to the stockholders of Parent entitled to vote at the Parent Stockholder Meeting and to hold the Parent Stockholder Meeting as soon as practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act. Parent shall, through the Parent Board, recommend to its stockholders that they give the Parent Stockholder Approval, include such recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement, and solicit and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Parent Stockholder Approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.3(d), if, on a date for which the Parent Stockholder Meeting is scheduled, Parent has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock to obtain the Parent Stockholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, Parent shall have the right to make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the Parent Stockholder Meeting; provided that the Parent Stockholder Meeting is not postponed or adjourned to a date that is more than (i) thirty (30) days after the date for which the Parent Stockholder Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law) or (ii) one hundred twenty (120) days after the record date for the Parent Stockholder Meeting. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to relieve Parent of its obligation to submit the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger to its stockholders for a vote on the approval thereof.
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(e) The Company and Parent will use their respective reasonable best efforts to hold the Company Stockholder Meeting and the Parent Stockholder Meeting on the same date and as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement.
Section 6.4 Access to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) During the Interim Period, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, each of the Company Parties, on the one hand, and the Parent Parties, on the other hand, shall, and the Company Parties and the Parent Parties shall cause each of the other Parent Entities and the other Company Entities, respectively, to, afford to the other parties and to their respective Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to all of their respective properties, offices, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records and, during such period, each of the Company Parties and the Parent Parties shall, and the Company Parties and the Parent Parties shall cause each of the other Company Entities and the other Parent Entities, respectively, to, furnish reasonably promptly to the other parties (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws, and (ii) all other information (financial or otherwise) concerning its business, properties and personnel as such other parties may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company Parties nor the Parent Parties shall be required by this Section 6.4 to provide the other party or the Representatives of such other party with access to or to disclose information (w) relating to the consideration, negotiation and performance of this Agreement and related agreements, (x) that is subject to the terms of a confidentiality agreement with a third party entered into prior to the date of this Agreement (provided, however, that the withholding party shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the required consent of such third party to such access or disclosure), (y) the disclosure of which would violate any Law or fiduciary duty (provided, however, that the withholding party shall use its reasonable best efforts to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable disclosure not in violation of any Law or fiduciary duty) or (z) that is subject to any attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege (provided, however, that the withholding party shall use its reasonable best efforts to allow for such access or disclosure to the maximum extent that does not result in a loss of any such attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege). Each of the parties hereto will use its reasonable best efforts to minimize any disruption to the businesses of the other parties that may result from the requests for access, data and information hereunder.
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(b) Each of the parties hereto will hold, and will cause its Representatives and Affiliates to hold, any nonpublic information, including any information exchanged pursuant to this Section 6.4, in confidence to the extent required by and in accordance with, and will otherwise comply with, the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.
Section 6.5 Acquisition Proposals.
(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Section 6.5, during the Interim Period, each Company Party agrees that it shall not, and shall cause each of the other Company Entities not to, and shall not authorize and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause its and their officers and directors, managers or equivalent, and other Representatives not to, directly or indirectly through another Person, (i) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiry, discussion, offer or request that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal (an “Inquiry”), (ii) engage in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Third Party any non-public information in connection with, or knowingly facilitate in any way any effort by, any Third Party in furtherance of any Acquisition Proposal or Inquiry, (iii) approve or recommend an Acquisition Proposal, or enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, share purchase agreement, asset purchase agreement, share exchange agreement, option agreement or other similar definitive agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement entered into in accordance with this Section 6.5) providing for or relating to an Acquisition Proposal (an “Alternative Acquisition Agreement”), or (iv) propose or agree to do any of the foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.5, at any time prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, the Company Parties may, directly or indirectly through any Representative, in response to an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal by a Third Party made after the date of this Agreement (that did not result from a breach of this Section 6.5) (i) furnish non-public information to such Third Party (and such Third Party’s Representatives) making an Acquisition Proposal (provided, however, that (A) prior to so furnishing such information, the Company receives from the Third Party an executed Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, and (B) any non-public information concerning the Company Entities that is provided to such Third Party shall, to the extent not previously provided to Parent or Merger Sub, be provided to Parent or Merger Sub prior to or substantially at the same time that such information is provided to such Third Party), and (ii) engage in discussions or negotiations with such Third Party (and such Third Party’s Representatives) with respect to the Acquisition Proposal if, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii): (x) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes, or is reasonably likely to result in, a Superior Proposal, and (y) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties under applicable Law; provided, however, that in each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), such Acquisition Proposal was not solicited in violation of Section 6.5.
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(c) The Company Parties shall notify Parent promptly (but in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours) after receipt of any Acquisition Proposal or any request for nonpublic information relating to the Company Entities by any Third Party, or any Inquiry from any Person seeking to have discussions or negotiations with any Company Party relating to a possible Acquisition Proposal. Such notice shall be made orally and confirmed in writing, and shall indicate the identity of the Third Party making the Acquisition Proposal, request or Inquiry and the material terms and conditions of any Acquisition Proposals, Inquiries, proposals or offers (including a copy thereof if in writing and any related documentation or correspondence). The Company Parties shall also promptly, and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours, notify Parent orally and in writing, if it enters into discussions or negotiations concerning any Acquisition Proposal or provides nonpublic information or data to any Person in accordance with this Section 6.5(c) and keep Parent informed of the status and material terms of any such proposals, offers, discussions or negotiations on a current basis, including by providing a copy of all material documentation or material correspondence relating thereto.
(d) Except as permitted by this Section 6.5(d), neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall (i) withhold, withdraw, modify or qualify (or publicly propose to withhold, withdraw, modify or qualify), in a manner adverse to any Parent Party, the Company Recommendation or the Company’s approval of the Partnership Merger, (ii) approve, adopt or recommend (or publicly propose to approve, adopt or recommend) any Acquisition Proposal, (iii) fail to include the Company Recommendation or the Company’s approval of the Partnership Merger in the Joint Proxy Statement or any Schedule 14D-9, as applicable, (iv) fail to publicly recommend against any Acquisition Proposal within ten (10) Business Days of the request of Parent and/or reaffirm the Company Recommendation or the Company’s approval of the Partnership Merger within ten (10) Business Days of the request of Parent (any of the actions described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section 6.5(d), an “Adverse Recommendation Change”), or (v) approve, adopt, declare advisable or recommend (or agree to, resolve or propose to approve, adopt, declare advisable or recommend), or cause or permit any Company Entity to enter into, any Alternative Acquisition Agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement entered into in accordance with this Section 6.5). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, at any time prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, the Company Board shall be permitted to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change if the Company Board (A) (x) has received an unsolicited bona fide Acquisition Proposal (that did not result from a breach of this Section 6.5) that, in the good faith determination of the Company Board, after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, constitutes a Superior Proposal, after having complied with, and giving effect to all of the adjustments which may be offered by the Parent Parties pursuant to Section 6.5(e), and such Acquisition Proposal is not withdrawn, and (y) determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties under applicable Law, and in such case the Company may (i) terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(ii) or (ii) make an Adverse Recommendation Change, including approving or recommending such Superior Proposal to the Company’s stockholders, and, in the case of a termination, the Company may immediately prior to or concurrently with such termination of this Agreement, enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal; or (B) determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties under applicable Law (based on circumstances not covered by clause (A)), and, in such case the Company may make an Adverse Recommendation Change, provided, that, in the case of each of clause (A) and clause (B), in the event of any termination by the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(ii) or Section 8.1(d)(ii), as may be applicable, the Company Parties comply with their obligation to pay the Termination Payment pursuant to Section 8.3(a).
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(e) The Company Board shall not be entitled to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant to Section 6.5(d) unless (i) the Company has provided a written notice (a “Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change”) to the Parent Parties that the Company intends to take such action, specifying in reasonable detail the reasons therefor and, in the case of an Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant to Section 6.5(d)(A), describing the material terms and conditions of, and attaching a complete copy of, the Superior Proposal that is the basis of such action (it being understood that such material terms shall include the identity of the Third Party), (ii) during the three (3) Business Day period following the Parent Parties’ receipt of the Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change, the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, negotiate with the Parent Parties in good faith (to the extent the Parent Parties desire to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that such Adverse Recommendation Change is no longer necessary, and (iii) following the end of the three (3) Business Day period, the Company Board shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, taking into account any changes to this Agreement proposed in writing by the Parent Parties in response to the Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change or otherwise, (x) that in the case of an Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant to Section 6.5(d)(A), the Superior Proposal giving rise to the Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change, continues to constitute a Superior Proposal and, (y) after consultation with outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties under applicable Law. After compliance with this Section 6.5(e) with respect to any two Superior Proposals, the Company shall have no further obligations under this Section 6.5(e), and the Company Board shall not be required to comply with such obligation with respect to any other Superior Proposal.
(f) Nothing contained in this Section 6.5 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company or the Company Board, directly or indirectly through its Representatives, from disclosing to the Company’s stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a) or Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act or making any disclosure to its stockholders if the Company Board has determined, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with applicable Law; provided, however, that any disclosure other than a “stop, look and listen” or similar communication of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, an express rejection of any applicable Acquisition Proposal or an express reaffirmation of the Company Recommendation (and/or an express reaffirmation of the Company’s approval of the Partnership Merger) shall be deemed to be an Adverse Recommendation Change.
(g) The Company Parties shall, and shall cause each of the other Company Entities, and its and their officers and directors, managers or equivalent, and other Representatives to (i) immediately cease any existing discussions, negotiations or communications with any Person conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and (ii) take such action as is necessary to enforce any confidentiality provisions or provisions of similar effect to which any Company Entity is a party or of which any Company Entity is a beneficiary. The Company Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to cause all Third Parties who have been furnished confidential information regarding any Company Entity in connection with the solicitation of or discussions regarding an Acquisition Proposal within the six (6) months prior to the date of this Agreement to promptly return or destroy such information (to the extent that they are entitled to have such information returned or destroyed).
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(h) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any proposal or offer for (or expression by a Third Party that it is considering or may engage in), whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving any of the Company Entities, (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, license, transfer or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, sale of equity interests, share exchange, joint venture, business combination or otherwise, of any assets of any Company Entity representing ten percent (10%) or more of the consolidated assets of the Company Entities, taken as a whole as determined on a book-value basis, (iii) any issue, sale or other disposition of (including by way of merger, consolidation, joint venture, business combination, share exchange or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing ten percent (10%) or more of the voting power of the Company, (iv) any tender offer or exchange offer in which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) shall seek to acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities of the Company, or (v) any recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other similar type of transaction with respect to the Company in which a Third Party shall acquire beneficial ownership of ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities of the Company; provided, however, that the term “Acquisition Proposal” shall not include the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(ii) “Superior Proposal” shall mean a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal (except that, for purposes of this definition, the references in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” to “ten percent (10%)” shall be replaced by “fifty percent (50%)”) made by a Third Party on terms that the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel and financial advisors, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and any other aspects of the transaction described in such proposal, including the identity of the Person making such proposal, any break-up fees, expense reimbursement provisions and conditions to consummation, as well as any changes to the financial terms of this Agreement proposed by the Parent Parties in response to such proposal or otherwise, to be (A) more favorable to the Company and the Company’s stockholders (solely in their capacity as such) from a financial point of view than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (B) reasonably likely to receive all required governmental approvals on a timely basis and otherwise reasonably capable of being completed on the terms proposed.
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Section 6.6 Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the Company Parties and each of the Parent Parties shall and shall cause the other Company Entities and the other Parent Entities, respectively, to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other party in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law or pursuant to any contract or agreement to consummate and make effective, as promptly as practicable, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) the taking of all actions necessary to cause the conditions to Closing set forth in Article VII to be satisfied, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental Authorities or other Persons necessary in connection with the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the making of all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Authorities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Authority or other Persons necessary in connection with the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Governmental Authority vacated or reversed, the avoidance of each and every impediment under any antitrust, merger control, competition or trade regulation Law that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Mergers so as to enable the Closing to occur as soon as reasonably possible, and (iv) the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
(b) In connection with and without limiting the foregoing, each of the Parent Parties and the Company Parties shall give (or shall cause the other Parent Entities or the other Company Entities, respectively, to give) any notices to Third Parties, and each of the Parent Parties and the Company Parties shall use, and cause each of their respective Affiliates to use, its reasonable best efforts to obtain any Third Party consents not covered by Section 6.6(a) that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Mergers. Each of the parties hereto will furnish to the other such necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other may request in connection with the preparation of any required governmental filings or submissions and will cooperate in responding to any inquiry from a Governmental Authority, including promptly informing the other parties of such inquiry, consulting in advance before making any presentations or submissions to a Governmental Authority, and supplying each other with copies of all material correspondence, filings or communications between either party and any Governmental Authority with respect to this Agreement. To the extent reasonably practicable, the parties or their Representatives shall have the right to review in advance and each of the parties will consult the others on, all the information relating to the other and each of their Affiliates that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any Governmental Authority in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that confidential competitively sensitive business information may be redacted from such exchanges. To the extent reasonably practicable, none of the parties hereto shall, nor shall they permit their respective Representatives to, participate independently in any meeting or engage in any substantive conversation with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filing, investigation or other inquiry without giving the other party prior notice of such meeting or conversation and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, without giving the other parties the opportunity to attend or participate (whether by telephone or in person) in any such meeting with such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, obtaining any approval or consent from any third party pursuant to this Section 6.6(b) shall not be a condition to the obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in connection with obtaining any approval or consent from any Person (other than any Governmental Authority) with respect to the Mergers, none of the parties hereto, any of the other Company Entities or any of the other Parent Entities, or any of the their respective Representatives, shall be obligated to pay or commit to pay to such Person whose approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any accommodation or commitment or incur any liability or other obligation to such Person (unless expressly required by a written agreement that was entered into prior to the date hereof with such Person). The parties shall cooperate with respect to accommodations that may be requested or appropriate to obtain such consents.
Section 6.7 Notification of Certain Matters; Transaction Litigation.
(a) The Company Parties shall give prompt notice to the Parent Parties, and the Parent Parties shall give prompt notice to the Company Parties, of any notice or other communication received by such party from any Governmental Authority in connection with this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The Company Parties shall give prompt notice to the Parent Parties, and the Parent Parties shall give prompt notice to the Company Parties, if (i) any representation or warranty made by it contained in this Agreement becomes untrue or inaccurate such that the applicable closing conditions would reasonably expected to be incapable of being satisfied by the Outside Date or (ii) it fails to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company Parties shall give prompt notice to the Parent Parties, and the Parent Parties shall give prompt notice to the Company Parties, if, to the knowledge of such party, the occurrence of any state of facts, change, development, event or condition would cause, or reasonably be expected to cause, any of the conditions to Closing set forth herein not to be satisfied or satisfaction to be materially delayed. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the failure by the Company Parties or the Parent Parties to provide such prompt notice under this Section 6.7(b) shall not constitute a breach of covenant for purposes of Section 7.2(b) or Section 7.3(b).
(c) Each of the parties hereto agrees to give prompt written notice to the other parties upon becoming aware of the occurrence or impending occurrence of any event or circumstance relating to it or any of the other Company Entities or the other Parent Entities, respectively, which could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Parent Material Adverse Effect, as the case may be.
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(d) The Company Parties shall give prompt notice to the Parent Parties, and the Parent Parties shall give prompt notice to the Company Parties, of any Action commenced or, to such party’s knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving such party or any of the other Company Entities or the other Parent Entities, respectively, which relate to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company Parties shall give the Parent Parties the opportunity to reasonably participate in the defense and settlement of any stockholder litigation against the Company Parties and/or their directors relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without Parent’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Parent Parties shall give the Company Parties the opportunity to reasonably participate in the defense and settlement of any stockholder litigation against the Parent Parties and/or their directors relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the Company’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
Section 6.8 Public Announcements. The parties hereto shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements or filings with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and none of the parties shall issue any such press release or make any such public statement or filing prior to obtaining the other parties’ consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, however, that a party may, without obtaining the other parties’ consent, issue such press release or make such public statement or filing as may be required by Law, Order or the applicable rules of any stock exchange or the applicable provisions of any listing agreement of any party hereto. If for any reason it is not practicable to consult with the other party before making any public statement with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, then the party making such statement shall not make a statement that is inconsistent with public statements or filings to which the other party had previously consented; provided, further, that such consultation and consent shall not be required with respect to any release, communication or announcement specifically permitted by Section 6.5.
Section 6.9 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Entity shall provide exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses for each Indemnitee, which is at least as favorable in scope and amount to such Indemnitee as the exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses provided to such Indemnitee by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time in the Company Charter and the Company Bylaws or each of the Company Subsidiaries’ respective articles or certificates of incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational or governing documents), as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that such exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses covers actions at or prior to the Effective Time, including all transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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(b) Without limiting or being limited by the provisions of Section 6.9(a), during the period commencing as of the Effective Time and ending on the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Entity shall (and Parent shall cause the Surviving Entity to): (i) indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Indemnitee against and from any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any Action, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to the extent such Action arises out of or pertains to (x) any action or omission or alleged action or omission in such Indemnitee’s capacity as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, employee or agent of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, or (y) this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Mergers; and (ii) pay in advance of the final disposition of any such Action the expenses (including attorneys’ fees and any expenses incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with enforcing any rights with respect to indemnification) of any Indemnitee upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, Parent or the Surviving Entity (i) shall not be liable for any settlement effected without their prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and (ii) shall not have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnitee to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine in a final and non-appealable order that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable Law, in which case the Indemnitee shall promptly refund to Parent or the Surviving Entity the amount of all such expenses theretofore advanced pursuant hereto.
(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall or, if the Company is unable to, Parent shall cause the Surviving Entity as of the Effective Time to, obtain and fully pay the premium for the non-cancellable extension of the coverage afforded by the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies and the Company’s existing fiduciary liability insurance policies (collectively, the “D&O Insurance”), in each case, for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six (6) years from and after the Effective Time with respect to any claim related to any period of time at or prior to the Effective Time from one or more insurance carriers with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier with respect to D&O Insurance with terms, conditions and retentions that are no less favorable in the aggregate than the coverage provided under the Company’s existing policies and with limits of liability that are no lower than the limits on the Company’s existing policies as long as the annual premium in the aggregate does not exceed in any one year three hundred percent (300%) of the annual aggregate premium(s) under the Company’s existing policies. If the Company or the Surviving Entity for any reason fails to obtain such “tail” insurance policies as of the Effective Time, (i) the Surviving Entity shall continue to maintain in effect, for a period of at least six (6) years from and after the Effective Time, the D&O Insurance in place as of the date hereof with the Company’s current insurance carrier or with an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier with respect to D&O Insurance with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are no less favorable in the aggregate than the coverage provided under the Company’s existing policies as of the date hereof, or (ii) Parent shall provide, or shall cause the Surviving Entity to provide, for a period of not less than six (6) years after the Effective Time, the Indemnitees who are insured under the Company’s D&O Insurance with comparable D&O Insurance that provides coverage for events occurring at or prior to the Effective Time from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier, that is no less favorable in the aggregate than the existing policy of the Company (which may be provided under Parent’s D&O Insurance policy) or, if substantially equivalent insurance coverage is unavailable, the best available coverage; provided, however, that Parent and the Surviving Entity shall not be required to pay an annual premium for the D&O Insurance in excess of (for any one year) three hundred percent (300%) of the annual premium currently paid by the Company for such insurance; and provided, further, that if the annual premiums of such insurance coverage exceed such amount, Parent or the Surviving Entity shall be obligated to obtain a policy with the greatest coverage available, with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time, for a cost not exceeding such amount.
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(d) The Indemnitees to whom this Section 6.9 applies are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 6.9. The provisions of this Section 6.9 are intended to be for the benefit of each Indemnitee and his or her successors, heirs, executors, trustees, fiduciaries, administrators or representatives. Parent shall pay all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by any Indemnitee in successfully enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided in this Section 6.9.
(e) The rights of each Indemnitee under this Section 6.9 shall be in addition to any rights such Person or any employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary may have under the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or equivalent organizational or governing documents) of any of the Company Subsidiaries, or the Surviving Entity or any of its subsidiaries, or under any applicable Law or under any agreement of any Indemnitee. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Company or its officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.9 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.
(f) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 9.1 or Section 9.7 to the contrary, this Section 6.9 shall survive the consummation of the Mergers indefinitely and shall be binding, jointly and severally, on all successors and assigns of Parent, the Surviving Entity and its subsidiaries, and shall be enforceable by the Indemnitees and their successors, heirs or representatives. In the event that Parent or the Surviving Entity or any of its successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or transfers or conveys all or a majority 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 Parent or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 6.9. The parties acknowledge and agree that Parent guarantees the payment and performance of the Surviving Entity’s obligations pursuant to this Section 6.9.
Section 6.10 Certain Tax Matters. Each of Parent and the Company shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, including by executing and delivering the officers’ certificates referred to herein and reporting consistently for all federal, state, and local income Tax or other purposes. None of Parent or the Company shall take any action, including the election of Parent to pay a portion of the Merger Consideration in cash pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(ii)(2)(B), or fail to take any action, that could reasonably be expected to cause the Merger to fail to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
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Section 6.11 Dividends. In the event that a distribution with respect to the shares of Company Common Stock or the Company OP Units permitted under the terms of this Agreement has (i) a record date prior to the Effective Time and (ii) has not been paid as of the Effective Time, the holders of shares of Company Common Stock or Company OP Units, as applicable, shall be entitled to receive such distribution from the Company immediately prior to the time such shares are exchanged pursuant to Article III of this Agreement.
Section 6.12 Merger Sub; Operating Partnerships. Parent shall take all actions necessary to (a) cause the other Parent Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Mergers on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and (b) ensure that, prior to the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall not conduct any business or make any investments or incur or guarantee any indebtedness other than as specifically contemplated by this Agreement. The Company shall take all actions necessary to cause the other Company Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Mergers on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Section 6.13 Section 16 Matters. Assuming that the Company delivers to Parent, in a timely fashion prior to the Effective Time, all requisite information necessary for Parent and Merger Sub to take the actions contemplated by this Section 6.13, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub each shall take all such steps as may be necessary or appropriate to ensure that (a) any dispositions of Company Common Stock (including derivative securities related to such stock) resulting from the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each individual who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time are exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and (b) any acquisitions of Parent Common Stock (including derivative securities related to such stock) resulting from the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each individual who may become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Parent are exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Section 6.14 Stock Exchange Listing. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved for listing on the NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Effective Time.
Section 6.15 Voting of Shares. Parent shall vote all shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by it or any of the Parent Subsidiaries as of the record date for the Company Stockholder Meeting, if any, in favor of approval of the Merger. The Company shall vote all shares of Parent Common Stock beneficially owned by it or any of the Company Subsidiaries as of the record date for the Parent Stockholder Meeting, if any, in favor of the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger.
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Section 6.16 Termination of Company Restricted Stock Plan. Unless otherwise notified by Parent in writing, prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take or cause to be taken any and all actions necessary or appropriate to terminate the Company Restricted Stock Plan effective no later than immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Section 6.17 Financing. The Company Parties shall, and shall cause the other Company Entities to, cooperate with the Parent Entities and their lenders (including Bank of America, N.A.) in connection with any Parent Party’s efforts to arrange debt financing for (in whole or part) satisfying Parent’s obligations to pay (a) any Cash Consideration and other amounts due by the Parent Parties hereunder and (b) any Expenses. Upon entering into the Revolving Credit Agreement, (a) the Company Parties shall cause the Revolving Credit Agreement to remain in effect from and after the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) the Company Parties shall consult with and keep the Parent Parties reasonably informed of the status of their efforts keep the Revolving Credit Agreement in effect after the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and notify the Parent Parties promptly if they become aware of any circumstances (including communications from the Agent) reasonably likely to result in the Revolving Credit Agreement not remaining in effect after the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 6.18 FIRPTA. The Company shall provide to Parent an affidavit of non-foreign status that complies with the Treasury Regulations under Section 1445 of the Code. The Company Operating Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and deliver to Parent and the Parent Operating Partnership at or prior to Closing an affidavit of non-foreign status that complies with the Treasury Regulations under Section 1445 of the Code from each Person that constitutes and is treated as a partner (and is not a “disregarded entity”) for United States federal income tax purposes of the Company Operating Partnership (other than the Company or a Company Subsidiary). The Parent Operating Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and deliver to the Company at or prior to Closing an affidavit of non-foreign status that complies with the Treasury Regulations under Section 1445 of the Code from each Person that constitutes and is treated as a partner (and is not a “disregarded entity”) for United States federal income tax purposes of the Parent Operating Partnership (other than the Parent or a Parent Subsidiary).
Article
VII
CONDITIONS
Section 7.1 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The respective obligations of each party to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver by each of the parties, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approvals. Each of the Company Stockholder Approval and the Parent Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.
(b) No Restraints. No Law, Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or other legal restraint or prohibition entered, enacted, promulgated, enforced or issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall be in effect which prohibits, makes illegal, enjoins, or otherwise restricts, prevents or prohibits the consummation of the Mergers or otherwise restrains, enjoins, prevents, prohibiting or making illegal the acquisition of some or all of the shares of Company Common Stock by Parent.
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(c) Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have been declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC that have not been withdrawn.
(d) Listing. The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger shall have been authorized for listing on the NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance.
Section 7.2 Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The respective obligations of the Parent Parties to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver by Parent, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following additional conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.1(a) (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries), Section 4.3(a) (Capital Structure) (except for the first two sentences), Section 4.4 (Authority), Section 4.19 (Opinion of Financial Advisor), Section 4.20 (Takeover Statutes), Section 4.21 (Vote Required), Section 4.22 (Brokers) and Section 4.23 (Investment Company Act) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time, as though made as of the Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in the first two sentences of Section 4.3(a) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time, as though made as of the Effective Time, and (iii) each of the other representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time, as though made as of the Effective Time, except (x) in each case, representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct only on and as of such date, and (y) in the case of clause (iii) where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or “Company Material Adverse Effect” qualifications set forth therein) does not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. The Company shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to Parent a certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by its chief executive officer or another senior officer on behalf of the Company, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) have been satisfied.
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(d) Absence of Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been any event, change or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) REIT Opinion. Parent shall have received a written opinion of Proskauer Rose LLP, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, to the effect that, commencing with the Company’s taxable year that ended on December 31, 2012, the Company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and its actual method of operation has enabled the Company to meet, through the Effective Time, the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications and based on customary representations contained in an officer’s certificate executed by the Company and the Operating Partnership and provided pursuant to Section 6.1(b).
(f) Section 368 Opinion. Parent shall have received the written opinion of its special counsel, Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit C, and with such changes as are mutually agreeable to Parent and the Company, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP may rely upon the Company Tax Representation Letter and Parent Tax Representation Letter. The condition set forth in this Section 7.2(f) shall not be waivable after receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, unless further stockholder approval is obtained with appropriate disclosure.
(g) FIRPTA. The Company shall have provided to Parent an affidavit of non-foreign status that complies with the Treasury Regulations under Section 1445 of the Code. The Company Operating Partnership shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from each Person that constitutes and is treated as a partner (and is not a “disregarded entity”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the Company Operating Partnership an affidavit of non-foreign status that complies with the Treasury Regulations under Section 1445 of the Code and, to the extent obtained, shall have delivered such affidavit to the Parent Operating Partnership.
Section 7.3 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver by the Company, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following additional conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.1(a) and (b) (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries), Section 5.3(a) (Capital Structure) (except the first two sentences), Section 5.4 (Authority), Section 5.19 (Opinion of Financial Advisor), Section 5.20 (Vote Required), Section 5.21 (Brokers); Section 5.22 (Investment Company Act) and Section 5.25 (Takeover Statutes) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time, as though made as of the Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in the first two sentences of Section 5.3(a) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time, as though made as of the Effective Time, and (iii) each of the other representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time, as though made as of the Effective Time, except (x) in each case, representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct only on and as of such date, and (y) in the case of clause (iii) where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or “Parent Material Adverse Effect” qualifications set forth therein) does not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) Agreements and Covenants. Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Officer’s Certificate. Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by its chief executive officer or another senior officer on behalf of Parent, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) and Section 7.3(b) have been satisfied.
(d) Absence of Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been any event, change or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(e) REIT Opinion. The Company shall have received a written opinion of Proskauer Rose LLP, or other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that, commencing with Parent’s taxable year that ended on December 31, 2011, Parent has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and its proposed method of operation will enable Parent to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications and based on customary representations contained in an officer’s certificate executed by Parent and provided pursuant to Section 6.2(b).
(f) Section 368 Opinion. The Company shall have received a written opinion of its special counsel, Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit D, and with such changes as are mutually agreeable to the Company and Parent, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP may rely upon the Company Tax Representation Letter and Parent Tax Representation Letter. The condition set forth in this Section 7.3(f) shall not be waivable after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, unless further stockholder approval is obtained with appropriate disclosure.
(g) The Parent Operating Partnership shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from each Person that constitutes and is treated as a partner (and is not a “disregarded entity”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the Parent Operating Partnership an affidavit of non-foreign status that complies with the Treasury Regulations under Section 1445 of the Code.
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(h) The Parent Board shall have approved, effective at or prior to the Effective Time, an annual dividend at a rate of at least $0.94 per share of Parent Common Stock.
(i) Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement shall be in full force and effect, no Parent Entity shall be in breach or violation of, or default under, the Credit Agreement and no event shall have occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a violation, breach or default under the Credit Agreement.
Article
VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section 8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval or the Parent Stockholder Approval (except as otherwise expressly noted), as follows:
(a) by mutual written agreement of each of Parent and the Company; or
(b) by either Parent or the Company, if:
(i) the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before December 31, 2013 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that the Outside Date may be extended for a period of no more than sixty (60) days by either Parent or the Company upon written notice to the other party; provided, further, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any party if the failure of such party (and (A) in the case of Parent, including the failure of the other Parent Parties and (B) in the case of the Company, including the failure of the other Company Parties) to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement has been a principal cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Mergers to be consummated on or before such date; or
(ii) any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order or other action shall have become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to a party if the issuance of such final, non-appealable Order was primarily due to the failure of such party (and (A) in the case of Parent, including the failure of the other Parent Parties and (B) in the case of the Company, including the failure of the other Company Parties) to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, including pursuant to Section 6.6; or
(iii) the Company Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at a duly held Company Stockholder Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) at which the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby have been voted upon, provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b)(iii) shall not be available to a party if the failure to obtain such Company Stockholder Approval was primarily due to such party’s failure (and (A) in the case of Parent, including the failure of any other Parent Party and (B) in the case of the Company, including the failure of any other Company Party) to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement; or
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(iv) the Parent Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at a duly held Parent Stockholder Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) at which the issuance of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger has been voted upon, provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b)(iv) shall not be available to a party if the failure to obtain such Parent Stockholder Approval was primarily due to such party’s failure (and (A) in the case of Parent, including the failure of any other Parent Party’s and (B) in the case of the Company, including the failure of any other Company Party’s) to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement; or
(c) by the Company:
(i) if any Parent Party shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (x) would, or would reasonably be expected to, result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.3(a) or Section 7.3(b) and (y) cannot be cured on or before the Outside Date or, if curable, is not cured by the Parent Parties within twenty (20) days of receipt by Parent of written notice of such breach or failure; provided that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) if any Company Party is then in breach of any of its respective representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions set forth in either Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) would not be satisfied; or
(ii) (x) at any time prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval in order to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal in accordance with Section 6.5(d) or (y) if the Company Board shall have made an Adverse Recommendation Change; provided, that, in each case, such termination shall be null and void unless the Company shall concurrently pay the Termination Payment in accordance with Section 8.3.
(d) by Parent, if:
(i) any Company Party shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (x) would, or would reasonably be expected to, result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) and (y) cannot be cured on or before the Outside Date or, if curable, is not cured by the Company Parties within twenty (20) days of receipt by the Company of written notice of such breach or failure; provided that Parent shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(d)(i) if any Parent Party is then in breach of any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions set forth in either Section 7.3(a) or Section 7.3(b) would not be satisfied; or
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(ii) (x) the Company Board shall have made an Adverse Recommendation Change, (y) the Company Parties shall have materially breached any of their obligations under Section 6.5 or (z) any Company Entity enters into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 6.5).
Section 8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are abandoned pursuant to Section 8.1, written notice thereof shall be given to the other party or parties, specifying the provisions hereof pursuant to which such termination is made and describing the basis therefor in reasonable detail, and this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void and of no further force or effect whatsoever without liability on the part of any party hereto (or any of the other Company Entities, the other Parent Entities or any of the Company’s or Parent’s respective Representatives), and all rights and obligations of any party hereto shall cease; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, (a) no such termination shall relieve any party hereto of any liability or damages resulting from or arising out of any fraud or willful and malicious breach of this Agreement and (b) the Confidentiality Agreement, this Section 8.2, Section 8.3, Section 8.6, Article IX and the definitions of all defined terms appearing in such sections shall survive any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1. If this Agreement is terminated as provided herein, all filings, applications and other submissions made pursuant to this Agreement, to the extent practicable, shall be withdrawn from the Governmental Authority or other Person to which they were made.
Section 8.3 Termination Payment.
(a) If, but only if, the Agreement is terminated:
(i) by either the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(i) or by Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(d)(i) and (A) in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(i), the Parent Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained and the Company Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained prior to such termination, and (B) in any such case (x) after the date of this Agreement, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made to any of the Company Parties or any Person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make an Acquisition Proposal with respect to any of the Company Parties (and such Acquisition Proposal or publicly announced intention shall not have been publicly withdrawn without qualification before such termination), and (y) the Company, within twelve (12) months of the termination of this Agreement, consummates a transaction regarding, or executes a definitive agreement which is later consummated with respect to, an Acquisition Proposal, then the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Parent, the Termination Payment, by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by Parent, not later than the consummation of such transaction arising from such Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 8.3(a)(i), the references to “ten percent (10%)” in the definition of Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed to be references to “fifty percent (50%)”; or
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(ii) by either the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iii), the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Parent the Parent Expense Amount (by wire transfer to an account designated by Parent) within two (2) Business Days of such termination; or
(iii) by either the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iii), and (x) after the date of this Agreement, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made to any of the Company Parties or any Person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make an Acquisition Proposal with respect to any of the Company Parties (and such Acquisition Proposal or publicly announced intention shall not have been publicly withdrawn without qualification before such termination), and (y) the Company, within twelve (12) months of the termination of this Agreement, consummates a transaction regarding, or executes a definitive agreement which is later consummated with respect to, an Acquisition Proposal, then the Company shall pay or cause to be paid, to Parent the Termination Fee plus, if not previously paid pursuant to Section 8.3(a)(ii) above, the Parent Expense Amount, by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by Parent, not later than the consummation of such transaction arising from such Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 8.3(a)(iv), the references to “ten percent (10%)” in the definition of Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed to be references to “fifty percent (50%)”; or
(iv) by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(ii), then the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Parent the Termination Payment, by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by Parent as a condition to the effectiveness of such termination; or
(v) by Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(d)(ii), then the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Parent the Termination Payment, by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by Parent, within two (2) Business Days of such termination; or
(vi) by either the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iv), then Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the Company the Company Expense Amount (by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company) within two (2) Business Days of such termination.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the parties agree that:
(i) under no circumstances shall the Company or Parent be required to pay the Termination Payment or the Company Expense Amount earlier than one (1) full Business Day after receipt of appropriate wire transfer instructions from the party entitled to payment; and
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(ii) under no circumstances shall the Company or Parent be required to pay the Termination Payment or the Company Expense Amount on more than one occasion.
(c) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that (i) the agreements contained in this Section 8.3 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) neither the Termination Payment nor the Company Expense Amount is a penalty, but is liquidated damages, in a reasonable amount that will compensate the Company or Parent, as the case may be, in the circumstances in which such fee is payable for the efforts and resources expended and opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, which amount would otherwise be impossible to calculate with precision, and (iii) without these agreements, the parties would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if the Company or Parent, as the case may be, fails to timely pay any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.3 and, in order to obtain such payment, either the Company or Parent, as the case may be, commences a suit that results in a judgment against the other party for the payment of any amount set forth in this Section 8.3, such paying party shall pay the other party its costs and Expenses in connection with such suit, together with interest on such amount at the annual rate of five percent (5%) for the period from the date such payment was required to be made through the date such payment was actually received, or such lesser rate as is the maximum permitted by applicable Law.
(d) (i) If one party to this Agreement (the “Termination Payor”) is required to pay another party to this Agreement (the “Termination Payee”) the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, such Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, shall be paid into escrow on the date such payment is required to be paid by the Termination Payor pursuant to this Agreement by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an escrow account designated in accordance with this Section 8.3(d). In the event that the Termination Payor is obligated to pay the Termination Payee the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, the amount payable to the Termination Payee in any tax year of the Termination Payee shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, of the Termination Payee, and (ii) the sum of (A) the maximum amount that can be paid to the Termination Payee without causing the Termination Payee to fail to meet the requirements of Section 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code for the relevant tax year, determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute income described in Sections 856(c)(2) or 856(c)(3) of the Code (“Qualifying Income”) and the Termination Payee has $1,000,000 of income from unknown sources during such year which is not Qualifying Income (in addition to any known or anticipated income which is not Qualifying Income), in each case, as determined by the Termination Payee’s independent accountants, plus (B) in the event the Termination Payee receives either (x) a letter from the Termination Payee’s counsel indicating that the Termination Payee has received a ruling from the IRS as described below in this Section 8.3(d) or (y) an opinion from the Termination Payee’s outside counsel as described below in this Section 8.3(d), an amount equal to the excess of the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, less the amount payable under clause (A) above.
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(ii) To secure the Termination Payor’s obligation to pay these amounts, the Termination Payor shall deposit into escrow an amount in cash equal to the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, with an escrow agent selected by the Termination Payor on such terms (subject to this Section 8.3(d)) as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Termination Payor, the Termination Payee and the escrow agent. The payment or deposit into escrow of the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, pursuant to this Section 8.3(d) shall be made at the time the Termination Payor is obligated to pay the Termination Payee such amount pursuant to Section 8.3 by wire transfer. The escrow agreement shall provide that the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, in escrow or any portion thereof shall not be released to the Termination Payee unless the escrow agent receives any one or combination of the following: (i) a letter from the Termination Payee’s independent accountants indicating the maximum amount that can be paid by the escrow agent to the Termination Payee without causing the Termination Payee 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 and the Termination Payee has $1,000,000 of income from unknown sources during such year which is not Qualifying Income (in addition to any known or anticipated income which is not Qualifying Income), in which case the escrow agent shall release such amount to the Termination Payee, or (ii) a letter from the Termination Payee’s counsel indicating that (A) the Termination Payee received a ruling from the IRS holding that the receipt by the Termination Payee of the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, 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 (B) the Termination Payee’s outside counsel has rendered a legal opinion to the effect that the receipt by the Termination Payee of the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, should either constitute Qualifying Income or should be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, in which case the escrow agent shall release the remainder of the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, to the Termination Payee. The Termination Payor agrees to amend this Section 8.3(d) at the reasonable request of the Termination Payee in order to (i) maximize the portion of the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, that may be distributed to the Termination Payee hereunder without causing the Termination Payee to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, (ii) improve the Termination Payee’s chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 8.3(d) or (iii) assist the Termination Payee in obtaining a favorable legal opinion from its outside counsel as described in this Section 8.3(d). Any amount of the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, that remains unpaid as of the end of a taxable year shall be paid as soon as possible during the following taxable year, subject to the foregoing limitations of this Section 8.3(d), provided that the obligation of the Termination Payor to pay the unpaid portion of the Termination Payment or Company Expense Amount, as the case may be, shall terminate on the December 31 following the date which is five (5) years from the date of this Agreement.
Section 8.4 Amendment. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, this Agreement may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties hereto by action taken or authorized by their respective boards of directors (or similar governing body or entity) at any time before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval or the Parent Stockholder Approval and prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that after the Company Stockholder Approval or the Parent Stockholder Approval has been obtained, there shall not be (a) any amendment of this Agreement that changes the amount or the form of the consideration to be delivered under this Agreement to the holders of Company Common Stock, or which by applicable Law or in accordance with the rules of any stock exchange requires the further approval of the stockholders of the Company or Parent without such further approval of such stockholders, or (b) any amendment or change not permitted under applicable Law. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
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Section 8.5 Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, subject to applicable Law, any party hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any other party hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (c) subject to the proviso of Section 8.4, waive compliance with any agreement or condition contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the Company, Parent or Merger Sub in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.
Section 8.6 Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such Expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated; provided, however, that the Company and Parent shall share equally all Expenses related to the printing and filing of the Form S-4 and the printing, filing and distribution of the Joint Proxy Statement, other than attorneys’ and accountants’ fees.
Section 8.7 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 Effective Time, the Surviving Entity and the Surviving Partnership shall pay or cause to be paid, without deduction or withholding from any consideration or amounts payable to holders of the Company Common Stock, all Transfer Taxes.
Article
IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 9.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations or warranties in this Agreement or any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations or warranties, shall survive the earlier of (a) the Effective Time or (b) termination of this Agreement (except, in the case of termination, as set forth in Section 8.2), and after such time there shall be no liability in respect thereof (except, in the case of termination, as set forth in Section 8.2), whether such liability has accrued prior to or after such expiration of the representations and warranties. This Section 9.1 does not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement. The Confidentiality Agreement will survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
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Section 9.2 Notices. Except for any notice that is specifically required by the terms of this Agreement to be delivered orally, any notice, request, claim, demand and other communication hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made as follows: (a) if personally delivered to an authorized representative of the recipient, when actually delivered to such authorized representative; (b) if sent by facsimile transmission (providing confirmation of transmission) or e-mail of a pdf attachment, when transmitted (provided that any notice received by facsimile or e-mail transmission or otherwise at the addressee’s location on any Business Day after 5:00 p.m. (in the time zone of the recipient) or any day other than a Business Day shall be deemed to have been received at 9:00 a.m. on the next Business Day); (c) if sent by reliable overnight delivery service (such as DHL or Federal Express) with proof of service, upon receipt of proof of delivery; and (d) if sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested and first-class postage prepaid), upon receipt; provided, in each case, such notice, request, claim, demand or other communication is addressed as follows (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.2):
if to Parent, Merger Sub or the Parent Operating Partnership:
American Realty Capital Properties, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Phone: 000-000-0000
Fax: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP
00 Xxxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. and Xxxxxxx X. Mix, Esq.
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if to the Company or the Company Operating Partnership prior to the Closing:
American Realty Capital Trust IV, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Phone: 000-000-0000
Fax: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Section 9.3 Interpretation; Certain Definitions. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. References to “this Agreement” shall include the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Appendix, Annex or Exhibit, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of, or an Appendix, Annex or Exhibit to, this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other instrument made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any Law defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such Law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor Laws. References to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns. All references to “dollars” or “$” refer to currency of the United States of America (unless otherwise expressly provided herein).
Section 9.4 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced under any present or future Law or public policy, (a) such term or other provision shall be fully separable, (b) this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, and (c) all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable term or other provision or by its severance herefrom 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. 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 promptly the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
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Section 9.5 Assignment; Delegation. Other than to the Surviving Entity and the Surviving Partnership, neither this Agreement nor any rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto.
Section 9.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits, Annexes and Appendices hereto) constitutes, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
Section 9.7 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended to and shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except for the provisions of Section 6.9 (from and after the Effective Time), which shall be to the benefit of the parties referred to in such section. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties hereto and are for the sole benefit of the parties hereto. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the parties hereto in accordance with Section 8.5 without notice or liability to any other Person. The representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties hereto of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the parties hereto. Accordingly, Persons other than the parties hereto may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.
Section 9.8 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage, for which monetary damages (even if available) would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that the parties hereto do not perform the provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement) in accordance with its specified terms or otherwise breach such provisions. Accordingly, the parties acknowledge and agree that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity. Each of the parties agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that any other party has an adequate remedy at Law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or in equity. Any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.
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Section 9.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one 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. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission or by e-mail of a pdf attachment shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 9.10 Governing Law. This Agreement and all Actions (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise), directly or indirectly, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the actions of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance and enforcement thereof, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Maryland, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of Laws provision or rule (whether of the State of Maryland or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland.
Section 9.11 Consent to Jurisdiction.
(a) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Maryland and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the State of Maryland (the “MD Courts”), for the purpose of any Action (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise), directly or indirectly, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the actions of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance and enforcement thereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect to such Action may be heard and determined exclusively in any MD Court.
(b) Each of the parties hereto (i) irrevocably consents to the service of the summons and complaint and any other process in any other Action relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, on behalf of itself or its property, in the manner provided by Section 9.2 and nothing in this Section 9.11 shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law, (ii) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the MD Courts in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such MD Court and (iv) agrees that it will not bring any Action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the MD Courts. Each of party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any Action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.
Section 9.12 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) 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 THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.12.
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Section 9.13 Consents and Approvals. For any matter under this Agreement requiring the consent or approval of any party to be valid and binding on the parties hereto, such consent or approval must be in writing.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL PROPERTIES, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[signature page to merger agreement] |
THUNDER ACQUISITION, LLC | ||||
By: American Realty Capital Properties, Inc., | ||||
its sole member | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[signature page to merger agreement] |
ARC PROPERTIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. | ||||
By: American Realty Capital Properties, Inc., | ||||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[signature page to merger agreement] |
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[signature page to merger agreement] |
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP IV, L.P. | ||||
By: American Realty Capital Trust IV, Inc., | ||||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[signature page to merger agreement] |