EXHIBIT 10.1
Loan No. 6 103 650
ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
THIS ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made as of
September 27, 1999 by CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC., a Virginia
corporation, having an office at 000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
("INDEMNITOR"), in favor of THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA, a New
Jersey corporation ("LENDER").
RECITALS:
A. Indemnitor is the sole owner of each of the premises in Exhibit A
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (collectively, the
"PROPERTY");
B. Lender has made a loan to Indemnitor in the principal sum of Fifty
Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($50, 550,000.00)
("LOAN") evidenced by that certain Promissory Note dated as of the date of this
Agreement ("NOTE") and secured by, among other things (i) two (2) Mortgages and
Security Agreements dated as of the date of this Agreement executed by
Indemnitor in favor of Lender to be recorded in the real estate records of
Charleston County, South Carolina and Richland County, South Carolina, and (ii)
two (2) Deeds to Secure Debt and Security Agreements dated as of the date of
this Agreement executed by Indemnitor in favor of Lender to be recorded in the
real estate records of Gwinnett County, Georgia and Xxxxxxx County, Georgia
(collectively, the "INSTRUMENT") (capitalized terms used without definition
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Instrument) and the Documents;
and
C. Lender was willing to make the Loan to Indemnitor only if Indemnitor
entered into this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
IN CONSIDERATION of the principal sum of the Note and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
Indemnitor, jointly and severally, agrees as follows:
1. Instrument Incorporated. The terms and conditions of the Instrument are
incorporated into this Agreement as if fully set forth in this Agreement.
2. Representations and Warranties. Indemnitor makes and reaffirms the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections 2.01(iii), 2.01(iv), 2.02,
2.03, 2.06, 2.07, and 3.12(a) of the Instrument, as if set forth herein.
3. Environmental Covenants. Indemnitor covenants and agrees to comply with
Section 3.12(b) of the Instrument, and, for the purpose of this covenant, all
references in Section 3.12(a) to "Borrower" shall be deemed to refer to
"Indemnitor."
4. Lender's Rights, Cooperation and Access. Lender and any other person
("PERSON" in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Instrument)
designated by Lender shall have the rights set forth in Section 3.12(c).
5. Indemnification. Indemnitor covenants and agrees, at its sole cost and
expense, to indemnify (as defined in the Instrument) any or all of the
Indemnified Parties from and against any and all Losses imposed on, incurred by
or asserted against the Indemnified Parties, directly or indirectly, arising out
of or in connection with any one or more of the following: (a) the presence of
any Hazardous Materials affecting the Property ("AFFECTING THE PROPERTY" in this
Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Instrument); (b) any past,
present, future or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials affecting the
Property; (c) any activity by any Indemnitor, person affiliated with any
Indemnitor ("AFFILIATE"), Tenant or other user of the Property in connection
with any actual, proposed or threatened use, treatment, storage, holding,
existence, disposition or other Release, generation, production, manufacturing,
processing, refining, control, management, abatement, handling, transfer or
transportation to or from the Property, or removal of any Hazardous Materials at
any time affecting the Property; (d) any activity by any Indemnitor, Affiliate,
Tenant or other user of the Property in connection with any actual or proposed
Remediation of any Hazardous Materials at any time affecting the Property,
whether or not such Remediation is voluntary or pursuant to court or
administrative order, including ("INCLUDING" in this Agreement shall have the
same meaning as in the Instrument) any removal, remedial or corrective action,
penalties or fines; (e) any past, present, future or threatened non-compliance
or violations of any Environmental Laws (or permits issued pursuant to any
Environmental Law) in connection with the Property or operations thereon,
including any failure by any Indemnitor, Affiliate, Tenant or other user of the
Property to comply with any order of any governmental authority in connection
with any Environmental Laws; (f) the actual or threatened imposition, recording
or filing of any Environmental Lien encumbering the Property; (g) any
administrative processes or proceedings or judicial proceedings in any way
connected with any matter addressed in this Agreement; (h) any past, present,
future or threatened injury to, destruction of, or loss of natural resources to
the extent connected with the Property, including costs to investigate and
assess such injury, destruction or loss; (i) any acts of any Indemnitor,
Affiliate, Tenant or other user of the Property in arranging for disposal or
treatment of Hazardous Materials at any facility or incineration vessel
containing such or similar Hazardous Materials, including arrangements with any
transporter; (j) any acts of any Indemnitor, Affiliate, Tenant or other user of
the Property in accepting any Hazardous Materials for transport to disposal or
treatment facilities, incineration vessels or sites from which there is a
Release, or a threatened Release of any Hazardous Material which causes the
incurrence of costs for Remediation; (k) any personal injury, wrongful death,
property or other damage arising under any statutory, common law or tort law
theory, including damages assessed for trespass or for private or public
nuisance or for operation of an abnormally dangerous activity on or near the
Property, with respect to Hazardous Materials or violations of Environmental
Laws; and (l) any misrepresentation, inaccurate representation or warranty,
material breach or failure to perform under the provisions of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indemnitor shall not be obligated to indemnify
the Indemnified Parties to the extent that (1) the contamination of the Property
was caused solely by actions, conditions, or events that occurred after the date
Lender (or any purchaser at a foreclosure sale) actually acquired title to the
Property and (2) the contamination of the Property was not caused, contributed
to, enhanced, or exacerbated by the
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direct or indirect, actions or inactions, of any Indemnitor or any partners,
officers, members, shareholders, employees, or agents of any Indemnitor or (3)
the contamination of the Property was caused solely by the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of Lender or any officers, employees or agents of Lender.
6. Duty to Defend, Attorneys and Other Fees and Expenses. Indemnitor
agrees that the provisions of (a) Section 8.06 of the Instrument shall apply to
this Agreement except all references to "Article VIII" or "this Section" shall
be deemed to include this Agreement, and, for the purpose of this covenant, all
references in Section 8.06 to "Borrower" shall be deemed to refer to
"Indemnitor," and (b) Section 6.03 of the Instrument shall apply to all Costs,
expenses or other amounts paid or incurred by the Indemnified Parties under this
Agreement. The term "ON DEMAND" shall have the same meaning as in the
Instrument.
7. Recourse Obligations and Survivability. Indemnitor agrees that the
provisions of Section 8.07 of the Instrument shall apply to this Agreement
except all references to "Section 8.05" and "Article VIII" shall be deemed to
include this Agreement, and, for the purpose of this covenant, all references in
Section 8.07 to "Borrower" shall be deemed to refer to "Indemnitor." In
addition, Indemnitor acknowledges and agrees that each Indemnitor, jointly and
severally, is fully and personally liable for the obligations under this
Agreement, and such liability is not limited to the original or amortized
principal balance of the Loan or the value of the Property.
8. Unimpaired Liability. The liability of Indemnitor under this Agreement
shall in no way be limited or impaired by, and Indemnitor consents to and agrees
to be bound by, any amendment or modification of the provisions of the Documents
(other than this Agreement) by any Indemnitor or successor-in-interest to any
Indemnitor. In addition, the liability of Indemnitor shall in no way be limited
or impaired by (a) any extension(s) of time for performance required under the
Documents, (b) any sale or transfer of all or part of the Property, (c) except
as provided in this Agreement or in the Documents, any exculpatory provision in
the Documents limiting Lender's recourse to the Property or to any other
security for the Note, or limiting Lender's rights to a deficiency judgment
against any Indemnitor, (d) the accuracy or inaccuracy of the representations
and warranties made by any Indemnitor under the Documents, (e) the release of
any Indemnitor or person from performance or observance of any of the
agreements, covenants, terms or conditions contained in any of the Documents by
operation of law, Lender's voluntary act, or otherwise, (f) the release or
substitution in whole or in part of any security for the Note, or (g) Lender's
failure to record or file (or improper filing or recording of) any of the
Documents or Lender's failure to otherwise perfect, protect, secure or insure
any security interest or lien given as security for the Note; and, in all such
cases, whether with or without notice to Indemnitor and with or without
consideration.
9. Enforcement. Lender may enforce the obligations of Indemnitor under
this Agreement without first resorting to or exhausting any security or
collateral or without first having recourse to the Documents or any of the
Property, through foreclosure proceedings or otherwise; provided, however, that
nothing herein shall inhibit or prevent Lender from suing on the Note or
exercising any other rights or remedies in the Documents. This Agreement is not
collateral or security for the debt of Indemnitor pursuant to the Loan, unless
Lender expressly elects in
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writing to make this Agreement additional collateral or security for the debt of
Indemnitor pursuant to the Loan. It is not necessary for an Event of Default to
have occurred under the Documents for Lender to exercise its rights under this
Agreement.
10. Waivers and Delays. To the fullest extent Indemnitor may do so under
Laws, Indemnitor makes the waivers and agrees to be bound by the provisions of
Section 6.06 and Section 6.07 of the Instrument, and, for the purpose of this
covenant, all references in Section 6.06 and Section 6.07 to "Borrower" shall be
deemed to refer to "Indemnitor." In addition, Indemnitor waives and relinquishes
all rights and remedies under Laws for the benefit of Indemnitor or guarantors
except any rights of subrogation which any Indemnitor may have; provided,
however, that the indemnity in this Agreement is not (a) contingent upon the
existence of any such rights of subrogation or (b) subject to any claims or
defenses which may be asserted in connection with the enforcement of such
subrogation rights including any claim that such rights were abrogated by any
acts of Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indemnitor agrees to postpone the
exercise of any rights of subrogation with respect to the Property and any other
collateral securing the Loan until the Loan shall have been paid in full. No
delay by Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement
shall operate as a waiver of any such privilege, power or right.
11. Subrogation. Indemnitor shall take all reasonable actions, including
institution of legal action against third parties, necessary or appropriate to
obtain reimbursement, payment or compensation from persons responsible for the
presence of any Hazardous Materials affecting the Property or otherwise
obligated by Laws to bear the cost. Lender shall be subrogated to all of
Indemnitor's present and future rights in such claims.
12. Notice of Legal Actions. Indemnitor shall, within seven (7) days of
receipt, give written notice to Lender and to any other Indemnitor (a) any
notice, advice or other communication from any governmental entity or any source
with respect to Hazardous Materials affecting the Property and (b) any legal
action brought against such party or related to the Property, with respect to
which any Indemnitor may have liability under this Agreement.
13. Notices. All notices or other written communications under this
Agreement shall be given in accordance with and governed by Section 9.02 of the
Instrument. Notices to Indemnitor and Lender shall be sent to the addresses in
said Section 9.02.
14. Applicable Law and Submission to Jurisdiction. Indemnitor agrees that
the provisions of Section 9.04 of the Instrument shall apply to this Agreement,
and, for the purpose of this covenant, all references in Section 9.04 to
"Borrower" shall be deemed to refer to "Indemnitor."
15. No Third Party Beneficiary. The terms of this Agreement are for the
sole and exclusive protection and use of the Indemnified Parties. No other party
shall be a third party beneficiary under this Agreement, and no provision of
this Agreement shall operate or inure to the use and benefit of any such third
party. It is agreed that those persons included in the definition of Indemnified
Parties are not excluded third party beneficiaries.
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16. Joint and Several Liability. If Indemnitor consist of more than one
person or entity, the obligations and liabilities of each such person hereunder
are joint and several.
17. WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. INDEMNITOR AND LENDER HEREBY WAIVE, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM FILED BY EITHER PARTY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR
OTHERWISE, RELATING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO THE LOAN, THE DOCUMENTS, OR ANY
ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF LENDER IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Indemnitor has duly executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.
INDEMNITOR:
CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME
TRUST, INC., a Virginia corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
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Title: Chief Financial Officer
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(CORPORATE SEAL)
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