INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST 8,000,000 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest Underwriting Agreement
Exhibit
1.1
8,000,000
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
October
5, 2009
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated
RBC
Capital Markets Corporation
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx LLC
X.X.
Xxxxxxxx & Co.
J.J.B.
Xxxxxxxx, X.X. Xxxxx, LLC
c/o
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Investors
Real Estate Trust, a North Dakota real estate investment trust (the “Company”),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell
to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
(the “Underwriters”),
an aggregate of 8,000,000 shares (the “Firm
Shares”) of its common shares of beneficial interest, no par value per
share (the “Common
Shares”). In addition, the Company has agreed to sell to the
Underwriters, upon the terms and conditions stated herein, up to an additional
1,200,000 Common Shares (the “Additional
Shares”) to cover over-allotments by the Underwriters, if any. The Firm
Shares and the Additional Shares are collectively referred to in this Agreement
as the “Shares.” Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated and RBC Capital Markets Corporation, the joint
book running managers, are acting as the representatives of the several
Underwriters and in such capacity are referred to in this Agreement as the
“Representatives.” The
Company owns 100% of IRET, Inc., which is the sole general partner of IRET
Properties, a North Dakota limited partnership that serves as the Company’s
primary operating partnership subsidiary (the “Operating
Partnership”). Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 20
hereof.
The
Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the
“Securities
Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-153715), including a Base
Prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Shares, to be issued
from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents
that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange
Act”). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include
the documents incorporated by reference therein (or deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein), and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment”
or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of
any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.
For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to
include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to either the Electronic
Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System or Interactive Data Electronic
Applications (collectively, “IDEA”).
1. Representations and
Warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership. The Company and
the Operating Partnership jointly and severally represent and warrant to, and
agree with, each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Date
(defined below) and as of the Option Closing Date (defined below) as
follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration
Requirements. The Company satisfies all of the requirements of
the Securities Act for use of Form S-3 for the offering of the Shares
contemplated hereby. The Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale
of the Shares contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements set forth in
Rule 415(a)(1)(x) of the Securities Act. The Registration Statement was declared
effective by the Commission on October 10, 2008. No stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under
the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the
Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional
information has been complied with. The Prospectus delivered to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of Shares will, at the time
of such delivery, be identical in all material respects to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to IDEA, except to
the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. At the respective times the
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto became effective and as of the
date hereof the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, and did not and will not
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. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being
understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any
Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(a)
hereof.
(b) Prospectus and Disclosure
Package. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or
supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or
supplement was filed with the Commission, as of the date hereof, and at the
Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, included or will
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As
of the Applicable Time (defined below), the Disclosure Package (defined below)
did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing do
not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed
that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the
information described as such in Section 8(a)
hereof.
(c) Free Writing
Prospectuses. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has
not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Shares by means of any
“prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) or used any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale
of the Shares, in each case other than the preliminary prospectus supplement
dated September 28, 2009 relating to the Shares and/or any Free Writing
Prospectuses identified on Schedule II. The
Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any other
Free Writing Prospectuses, without the prior written consent of the
Representatives. Each Free Writing Prospectus has been prepared, used or
referred to in compliance with Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act and
any Free Writing Prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to
Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the
Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities
Act. Each Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and as of the
Applicable Time, did not, does not and will not include any information that
conflicted,
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conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(a) hereof.
(d) Authorization of
Shares. All of the issued and outstanding shares of beneficial
interest of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully
paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with all applicable
federal and state securities laws. None of the Company’s outstanding
Common Shares were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first
refusal or other similar rights; except as set forth in the Prospectus, the
Company is not a party to or bound by any outstanding options, warrants or
similar rights to subscribe for, or contractual obligations to issue, sell,
transfer or acquire, any of its shares of beneficial interest or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for any of such shares of beneficial interest;
the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly
authorized and, when issued and delivered against full payment therefor in
accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or
other or similar rights; the shares of beneficial interest (including the
Shares) of the Company conform to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus; and the delivery of the Shares being sold by the Company against
payment therefor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will pass valid title
to the Shares being sold by the Company, free and clear of any claim,
encumbrance or defect in title, and without notice of any lien, claim or
encumbrance. The certificates used by the Company to evidence the Common Shares
are in valid and sufficient form.
(e) Authorization of
Units. The issuance of Common Units (defined below) to the
Company in exchange for contribution of proceeds from the sale of the Shares
described in the Prospectus has been duly authorized by the Operating
Partnership and when issued and duly delivered against payment therefor will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Immediately after the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, none of the outstanding common units of limited
partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“Common
Units”) or preferred units of limited partnership interest in the
Operating Partnership (“Preferred
Units” and collectively with the Common Units, the “Units”)
has been or will be issued or is owned or held in violation of any preemptive
right, right of first refusal or other similar right, and the outstanding Units
have been or will be offered, sold and issued by the Operating Partnership in
compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
(f) Organization and Good
Standing of the Company and Subsidiaries. Each of the Company,
the Operating Partnership and their Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 20 hereof) is
duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the state
of its incorporation or organization with full corporate, partnership or entity
power and authority, as the case may be, to own, lease and operate its
Properties (as defined below) and to conduct its business as presently conducted
and as described in the Prospectus and is duly registered and qualified to
conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where
the nature of its Properties or the conduct of its business requires such
registration or qualification, except where the failure to so register or
qualify (i) has not had or would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
material adverse effect on the earnings, business, Properties, assets,
operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in
the ordinary course of business, or (ii) would not prevent the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby (the occurrence of any such effect or any
such prevention described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being referred
to as a “Material Adverse
Effect”). The Company owns 100% of IRET, Inc., which is the
sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. Except for the
Subsidiaries and joint venture arrangements included on Schedule III or
disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company does not own a material interest in or
control, directly or indirectly, any other corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, trust or other business organization.
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(g) Property. (1)
The Company or its Subsidiaries have fee simple title or a valid leasehold
interest to all of the properties described in the Prospectus as owned or leased
by the Company or its Subsidiaries, whether owned in fee simple or through a
joint venture or other partnership (the “Properties”
or “Property”),
in each case, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims, security
interests and defects, except such as (i) are disclosed in the Prospectus or
(ii) could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect; (2) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary thereof
has received from any governmental authority any written notice of any
condemnation of, or zoning change affecting any of, the Properties or any part
thereof, and the Company does not know of any such condemnation or zoning change
which is threatened, which if consummated could reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; (3) except as
otherwise described in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor, to the knowledge
of the Company, any tenant of any of the Properties is in default under (i) any
space lease (as lessor or lessee, as the case may be) relating to any of the
Properties (except such tenant defaults that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect), or (ii) any of the mortgages or
other security documents or other agreements encumbering or otherwise recorded
against the Properties, and the Company does not know of any event which, but
for the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a
default under any of such documents or agreements, except any such default that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(4) except as disclosed in the Prospectus, no tenant under any of the leases at
the Properties has a right of first refusal to purchase the premises demised
under such lease. To the knowledge of the Company, water, stormwater,
electricity and telephone service are all available at the property lines of
each Property over duly dedicated streets or perpetual easements of record
benefiting the applicable Property and each of the Properties is free of any
material structural defects and all building systems contained therein are in
reasonable working order in all material respects, subject to ordinary wear and
tear or, in each instance, the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be,
has created an adequate reserve or capital budget to effect reasonably required
repairs, maintenance and capital expenditures. Each of the Properties is in
compliance with all presently applicable provisions of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, except for such failures to comply as could not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(h) Leases. Each
Property with respect to which the Company or one of the Subsidiaries has a
leasehold interest is the subject of a lease that has been entered into by, or
assigned to, the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and has been duly
and validly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company or
such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity.
(i) Mortgage; Deed of
Trusts. The mortgages and deeds of trust encumbering the
Properties are not convertible into equity interests in the Property nor will
the Company or the Operating Partnership hold a participating interest therein
and such mortgages and deeds of trust are not cross-defaulted or
cross-collateralized to any property not to be owned directly or indirectly by
the Company or the Operating Partnership.
(j) Subsidiaries. The
outstanding equity interests of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries have been
duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are
owned by the Company or the Operating Partnership, directly or through
Subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims.
(k) No
Proceedings. Except as described in the Prospectus, there is
no action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any court or
governmental or other regulatory or administrative agency
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or commission pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or involving the Company or its Subsidiaries, which might individually or in the aggregate prevent the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Exhibits; Material
Contracts. There are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or
other instruments that are required to be described in the Prospectus or to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not described, filed
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
required by the Securities Act. All such contracts to which the Company, the
Operating Partnership, or any Subsidiary is a party have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company, the Operating Partnership or the
applicable Subsidiary, as the case may be, constitute valid and binding
agreements of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable
Subsidiary, as the case may be, and are enforceable against the Company, the
Operating Partnership or the applicable Subsidiary, as the case may be, in
accordance with the terms thereof, except as enforceability thereof may be
limited by (i) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and
other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) equitable principles
being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be
brought. Neither the Company nor the applicable Subsidiary has received notice
or been made aware that any other party is in breach of or default to the
Company or its Subsidiaries under any of such contracts.
(m) Compliance with Existing
Instruments. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership,
nor any of the Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of (A) its Organizational
Documents, (B) to the Company’s knowledge, any law, ordinance, administrative or
governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Company, the Operating
Partnership, or any Subsidiary, the violation of which would have a Material
Adverse Effect or (C) any decree of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) in
default in any material respect in the performance of any obligation, agreement
or condition contained in (A) any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of
indebtedness or (B) any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument (each of
(A) and (B), an “Existing
Instrument”) to which the Company, the Operating Partnership, or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their Properties may be bound, which
default would have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the Company’s knowledge,
there does not exist any state of facts that constitutes a default or an event
of default on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as defined in
such documents or that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute
such a default or event of default which would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(n) Underwriting
Agreement. The Company and the Operating Partnership have full
legal right, power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated herein, including the issuance, sale
and delivery of the Shares as provided herein and the Operating Partnership’s
issuance of the Common Units to the Company. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company and the Operating Partnership and the performance by
the Company and the Operating Partnership of their obligations under this
Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and the Operating
Partnership and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and the Operating Partnership, and constitutes a valid and legally
binding agreement of the Company and the Operating Partnership, enforceable
against the Company and the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent enforceability may be limited by (i) the application of
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and (ii) equitable principles being applied at the discretion
of a court before which any proceeding may be brought, and except as rights to
indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state
securities laws.
(o) Partnership
Agreement. The Agreement of Limited Partnership dated January
31, 1997 of the Operating Partnership, including all amendments thereto, if any
(the “Partnership
Agreement”), has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be
limited by
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bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles.
(p) No
Consent. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license,
certificate, permit, registration, designation or filing by or with any
governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery and
performance by the Company and the Operating Partnership of their respective
obligations under this Agreement and the consummation by the Company and the
Operating Partnership of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
valid authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares, except such as
may be required by the federal securities laws, the NASDAQ, the securities or
Blue Sky laws of the various states and the Financial Industry Regulatory
Association (“FINRA”)
in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, all of which will be, or
have been obtained, in accordance with this Agreement.
(q) Non-Contravention of
Existing Instruments. Neither the issuance and sale of the Shares by the
Company, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company
and the Operating Partnership nor the consummation by the Company and the
Operating Partnership of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) conflicts
with, or will conflict with, or constitutes, or with the giving of notice or
lapse of time, will constitute a breach of, or a default under, the Company’s
Declaration of Trust or bylaws (or other applicable Organizational Document),
the Operating Partnership’s certificate of limited partnership or the
Partnership Agreement, or any Existing Instrument to which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of its or their Properties may be
bound, as the case may be, (ii) violates any statute, law, regulation, ruling,
filing, judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or any of their Properties, or (iii) results in a breach of,
or default or Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or
results in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon
any Property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, or
requires the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for
such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances that will
not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. As
used herein, a “Debt Repayment
Triggering Event” means any event or condition that gives, or with the
giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture
or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf)
the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion
of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(r) No Applicable Registration
Rights. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been
duly satisfied or waived.
(s) Independent
Accountant. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have audited
certain financial statements (and the related notes thereto) incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are and were, during
the periods covered by their reports incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, independent registered public
accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”);
any other public accountants who have audited the financial statements
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are
and were, during the periods covered by their reports incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, independent registered public
accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the
PCAOB.
(t) Financial Statements.
The financial statements, together with related schedules and notes, included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
present fairly the consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash
flows and changes in financial position of the Company on the basis stated in
the Registration Statement at the respective dates or for the respective periods
to
6
which they apply; except as disclosed therein, such statements and related schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, have been consistently applied throughout the periods involved, and the other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus are accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company. No other financial statements or schedules (historical or pro forma) are required by Form S-3 of the Securities Act or are otherwise to be included, or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. All pro forma financial statements or data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, if any, comply with the requirements of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the assumptions used in the preparation of such pro forma financial statements and data are reasonable, the pro forma adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions or circumstances described therein and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements and data. The Company’s consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and Exhibit 12.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2009 have been calculated in compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
(u) Regulation G
Compliance. All disclosures contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such
term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all
material respects with Regulation G of the Exchange Act, and Item 10 of
Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.
(v) No Material
Change. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which such information
is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or
obligations, indirect, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet
obligation), or entered into any transaction that is not in the ordinary course
of business, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has sustained
any material loss or interference with its business or Properties from fire,
flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has paid or
declared any dividends or other distributions with respect to its shares of
beneficial interest and the Company is not in default under the terms of any
class of shares of beneficial interest of the Company or any outstanding debt
obligations (except for defaults that were subsequently cured or waived), (iv)
there has not been any material change in the authorized or outstanding shares
of beneficial interest of the Company or any material change in the indebtedness
of the Company (other than in the ordinary course of business) and (v) there has
not been any material adverse change, or any development involving or that may
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Exchange Act Registration
and Filings; Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares to be sold under this
Agreement have been approved for trading and listing on NASDAQ, subject to
official notice of issuance, and are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have
the effect of, terminating the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act
or delisting any such securities from NASDAQ, nor has the Company received any
notification that the Commission or NASDAQ is contemplating terminating such
registration or listing.
(x) Distribution of Offering
Material. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, and
has not authorized the Underwriters to distribute, any offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Shares to be sold hereunder by the
Underwriters as principal or agent for the Company, other than the
Prospectus.
(y) Stabilization or
Manipulation. Other than excepted activity pursuant to
Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company has not taken and will not
take, directly or indirectly, any action that
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constituted, or any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in or constitute stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or for any other purpose.
(z) Tax
Compliance. The Company and each of the Company’s Subsidiaries
have filed all material tax returns required to be filed or have properly
requested extensions thereof, which returns are complete and correct in all
material respects, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default in
the payment of any material taxes that were payable pursuant to said returns or
any assessments with respect thereto. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented), all material deficiencies asserted as a result of any
federal, state, local or foreign tax audits have been paid or finally settled
and no issue has been raised in any such audit that, by application of the same
or similar principles, reasonably could be expected to result in a proposed
deficiency for any other period not so audited. There are no outstanding
agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to
any federal, state, local or foreign tax return for any period.
(aa) Not an Investment
Company. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to
register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment
Company Act”).
(bb) All Necessary Permits,
etc. The Company and its Subsidiaries have all permits,
licenses, franchises, approvals, consents and authorizations of governmental or
regulatory authorities (hereinafter “permit” or
“permits”)
as are necessary to own their Properties and to conduct their business in the
manner described in the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set
forth in the Prospectus, except where the failure to have obtained any such
permit has not had and will not have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries has operated and is operating its business in
material compliance with all of its obligations with respect to each such permit
and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would
allow, revocation or termination of any such permit and except where such
revocation or termination would not have a Material Adverse Effect or result in
any other material impairment of the rights of any such permit, subject in each
case to such qualification as may be set forth in the Prospectus.
(cc) Internal Controls and
Procedures. The Company has established and maintains
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and
15d-15) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by
the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified
in the Commission’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the
Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial
officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely
decisions regarding required disclosure; and the Company maintains a system of
internal control over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation
of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and which
includes policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records
that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance
that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with GAAP and that receipts and expenditures of the
Company are being made only in accordance with the authorization of management,
and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection
of unauthorized acquisitions, use or dispositions of assets that could have a
material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures have been evaluated for
effectiveness as of the end of the period covered by the Company’s most recently
filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q which precedes the date of the Prospectus
and were effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which
they were established. Based on the most recent evaluation of its internal
control over financial reporting, the Company was not aware of (i) any material
weaknesses in the design or operation of
8
internal control over financial reporting or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company is not aware of any change in its internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(dd) Unlawful Contributions or
Payments. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership,
nor to the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s knowledge, any trustee,
officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of
the Company or the Operating Partnership, has used any funds for any unlawful
contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to
political activity; made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign
or domestic government official or employee from company funds; violated or is
in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or
made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful
payment. No funds of the Company have been set aside to be used for any payment
in violation of any law. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries nor
any trustee, officer, agent, or employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”);
and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering
contemplated by this Agreement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available
such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or
entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently
subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(ee) Environmental
Compliance. To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and
its Subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable federal,
state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of
human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or
wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental
Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals
required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective
businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such
permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental
Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or
failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or
other approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended (“CERCLA”). The
Properties are not included or, to the best of the Operating Partnership’s and
the Company’s knowledge, proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List
issued pursuant to CERCLA by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(the “EPA”) or,
to the best of the Operating Partnership’s and the Company’s knowledge, proposed
for inclusion on any similar list or inventory issued pursuant to any other
Environmental Law or issued by any other governmental
authority. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, to the knowledge of
the Company, there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental
Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures
required for clean-up, closure of Properties or compliance with Environmental
Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating
activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) that would,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) Qualification as a
REIT. The Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with
the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment
trust (“REIT”)
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for
its taxable years ended April 30, 2006 through April 30, 2009, and the Company’s
current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the
requirements for taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending
April 30, 2010 and in the future. The Subsidiaries of the Company that are
partnerships have been and will continue to be treated as partnerships for
federal income tax purposes and not as corporations, associations taxable as
corporations or as publicly traded partnerships.
9
(gg) Intellectual
Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries own and have full
right, title and interest in and to, or has valid licenses to use, each material
trade name, trademark, service xxxx, patent, copyright, approval, trade secret
and other similar rights (collectively “Intellectual
Property”) under which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct all or
any material part of their business, and none of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has created any lien or encumbrance on, or granted any right or
license with respect to, any such Intellectual Property except where the failure
to own or obtain a license or right to use any such Intellectual Property has
not and will not have a Material Adverse Effect; there is no claim pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property, and none of the Company
and its Subsidiaries has received notice or otherwise become aware that any
Intellectual Property that it uses or has used in the conduct of its business
infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party.
(hh) Title
Insurance. Owner or leasehold title insurance in favor of the
Company, the Operating Partnership and the Subsidiaries has been obtained with
respect to each Property owned by any such entity, except where the failure to
do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect, in an amount at least equal to
amounts that are generally deemed in the Company’s industry to be commercially
reasonable in the market where the Properties are located. The Company, the
Operating Partnership and each of the Subsidiaries maintains insurance covering
its Properties, operations, personnel and businesses as the Company deems
adequate; such insurance insures against such losses and risks to an extent
which is adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the
Company, the Operating Partnership and the Subsidiaries and their businesses;
such insurance as the Company deems adequate and that insures against losses and
risks to an extent which is adequate in accordance with customary industry
practice is fully in force on the date hereof. The Company, Operating
Partnership and each of the Subsidiaries do not have any reason to believe that
they will not be able (i) to renew their existing insurance coverage as and when
such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar
institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct their business as now
conducted.
(ii) ERISA Compliance. The
Company and its Subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the
regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”))
established or maintained by the Company, its Subsidiaries or their ERISA
Affiliates (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with
ERISA and all other applicable state and federal laws. “ERISA
Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or a Subsidiary, any member
of any group or organization described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of
the Code of which the Company or such Subsidiary is a member. No “reportable
event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur
with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the
Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit
plan” established or maintained by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have
any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined in ERISA). Neither the
Company, its Subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or
reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with
respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or
(ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan”
established or maintained by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA
Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is
so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, that
would cause the loss of such qualification.
(jj) Labor and Employment.
The Company and its Subsidiaries have complied and will comply in all material
respects with wage and hour determinations issued by the U.S. Department of
Labor under the Service Contract Act of 1965 and the Fair Labor Standards Act in
paying its employees’ salaries, fringe benefits and other compensation for the
performance of work or other duties in connection with contracts
10
with the U.S. government, except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and have complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the National Labor Relations Act, the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act, and federal, state and local labor laws, each as amended except where the failure to comply with any such requirements has not, and will not, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(kk) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act. Except with respect to any non-timely filings of reports
pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act by certain of the Company’s
officers and/or trustees as described in the Company’s most recently filed
Definitive Proxy Statement under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership
Reporting Compliance,” there is and has been no failure on the part of the
Company to comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(ll) Brokers and Finders.
Other than this Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings
between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any person that would give
rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the
Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment with
respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(mm) Money
Laundering. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries
are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial
record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign
Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering
statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the
“Money
Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any
court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the
Company or any or its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is
pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.
(nn) Related Party
Transactions. Except as set forth in the Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented), there are no transactions with “affiliates” (as
defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) or any officer, trustee or security
holder of the Company (whether or not an affiliate) that are required by the
Securities Act to be disclosed in the Prospectus that have not been disclosed as
required. Additionally, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the one hand, and the trustees, officers,
shareholders, tenants, customers or suppliers of the Company or any Subsidiary
on the other hand that is required by the Securities Act to be disclosed in the
Prospectus that is not so disclosed.
(oo) Officer’s Certificates;
Opinions. Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company
and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company and/or the Operating
Partnership, as applicable, to the Representatives as to the matters set forth
therein. The Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge that
the Representatives and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant
to Section 7
hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriters, will rely upon
the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby
consents to such reliance.
2. Purchase and
Sale.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and
warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and
each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company, at a purchase price of $7.8375 per share (representing
11
a public offering price of $8.25 per share, less an underwriting discount of $0.4125 per share), the amount of the Firm Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.
(b) Subject
to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and
warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several
Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 1,200,000 Additional
Shares in the aggregate at the same purchase price per share as the Underwriters
shall pay for the Firm Shares, less an amount per share equal to any dividends
or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not
payable on the Additional Shares. Said option may be exercised only to cover
over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters. Said option
may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after
the date hereof upon written, telegraphic or electronic mail notice by the
Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Additional Shares as
to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option. On each
day, if any, that Additional Shares are to be purchased (an “Option Closing
Date”), each Underwriter, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase
that proportion of the total Additional Shares then being purchased which the
number of Firm Shares set forth on Schedule I opposite
the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares set forth
in Schedule I
hereto (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the
Representatives may determine).
3. Delivery and Payment.
Delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares and the Additional Shares (if the
option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof
shall have been exercised before the Business Day prior to the Closing Date)
shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on October 9, 2009, or at such time
on such date not more than three (3) Business Days after the foregoing date as
the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by
agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof
(such date and time of delivery and payment for the Shares being herein called
the “Closing
Date”).
Delivery
of the Shares shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts
of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through
the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by
the Company. Delivery of the Firm Shares and the Additional Shares shall be made
through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the
Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
If the
option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof
is exercised on or after the Business Day prior to the Closing Date, the Company
will deliver the Additional Shares (at the expense of the Company) to the
Representatives, on the Option Closing Date specified by the Representatives
(which shall be within three (3) Business Days after exercise of said option,
which can be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company
or as provided in Section 9 hereof) for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the
Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by
the Company. If settlement for the Additional Shares occurs after the
Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the Option
Closing Date for the Additional Shares, and the obligation of the Underwriters
to purchase the Additional Shares shall be conditioned upon receipt of,
opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions,
certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 7
hereof.
4. Offering by
Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters
propose to offer the Shares for sale to the public as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption “Underwriting.”
5. Certain Agreements of the
Company and the Operating Partnership. The Company and the
Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with the
Underwriters that:
12
(a) Final
Prospectus. The Company will prepare the Prospectus in a form
approved by the Underwriters and file such Prospectus with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than 10:00 a.m. (New
York City time), on the second day following the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree and to furnish
promptly (and with respect to the initial delivery of such Prospectus, not later
than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second day following the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, or on such other day as the parties may mutually
agree, and deliver to the Underwriters an electronic copy of the Prospectus (or
of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have made any
amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration
Statement), which Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished
to the Underwriters will be identical to the version transmitted to the
Commission for filing via IDEA, except to the extent permitted by Regulation
S-T; and the Company will advise the Underwriters promptly and, if requested by
the Underwriters, will confirm such advice in writing when the Prospectus is
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act. The Company will prepare, if the Underwriters so request, a
final term sheet relating to the offering of the Shares, containing only
information that describes the final terms of the Shares or the offering in a
form consented to by the Underwriters, and to file such final term sheet within
the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) under the Securities Act following the
date the final terms have been established for the offering of the Shares and
the Company further agrees to comply with Rules 433 and 164 under the Securities
Act (without reliance on Rule 164(b) under the Securities Act).
(b) Approval Before Filing
Amendments. Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the
Representatives a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and will
not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives
object. The Company further agrees (i) to furnish to the
Representatives a copy of each proposed Free Writing Prospectus relating to the
offering of the Shares to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, referred to
or filed by the Company and not to use, refer to or file any proposed Free
Writing Prospectus relating to the offering of the Shares to which the
Representatives object; and (ii) not to take any action that would result in the
Representatives or the Company being required to file with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a Free Writing Prospectus
prepared by or on behalf of the Representatives that the Representatives
otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
(c) Registration Statement
Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any
period in which a Prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered
by the Underwriters under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where
such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities
Act), (i) the Company will notify the Representatives as promptly as reasonably
practicable of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration
Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with
the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the
Prospectus has been filed and of any comment letter from the Commission or any
request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (ii) the Company will
prepare and file with the Commission, as promptly as reasonably practicable upon
the Representatives’ request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus that, in the Representatives’ reasonable opinion, may be
necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Shares by the
Underwriters (provided, however, that the failure of the Representatives to make
such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability
hereunder, or affect the Underwriters’ right to rely on the representations and
warranties made by the Company in this Agreement); (iii) the Company will not
file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus,
other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Shares or a
security convertible into the Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to
the Representatives within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the
Representatives have not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that
the failure of the Representatives to make such
13
objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Underwriters’ right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement); and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Securities Act.
(d) Notice of Commission; Stop
Orders. The Company will advise the Representatives, as
promptly as reasonably practicable after it receives notice or obtains knowledge
thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any other
order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus, of the suspension of
the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of
the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose or any
examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act, or if the Company
becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in
connection with the offering of the Shares; and it will promptly use its
commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop or other
order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop or other order should be
issued.
(e) Continued Compliance with
Securities Laws. During any period in which a Prospectus
relating to the Shares is required to be delivered by the Underwriters under the
Securities Act with respect to the Shares (including in circumstances where such
requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the
Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act,
as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due
dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to
be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If
during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to
amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the
Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives to suspend
the offering of Shares during such period, and the Company will as promptly as
reasonably practicable amend or supplement the Registration Statement or
Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or
omission or effect such compliance.
(f) Filings with
NASDAQ. During any period in which a Prospectus relating to
the Shares is required to be delivered by the Underwriters under the Securities
Act with respect to the Shares (including in circumstances where such
requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the
Company will use its best efforts to cause the Shares to be listed for quotation
on the NASDAQ and to maintain the listing of the Common Shares, including the
Shares, for quotation on the NASDAQ and to file with the NASDAQ all documents
and notices required by the NASDAQ of companies that have securities quotations
for which are reported by the NASDAQ.
(g) Blue Sky
Laws. The Company agrees to promptly furnish such information
or take such action as the Underwriters may reasonably request and otherwise to
qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of
such jurisdictions as the Underwriters shall reasonably request, and to comply
with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in
such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution
of the Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a consent to service of process in
any jurisdiction (excluding service of process with respect to the offer and
sale of the Shares); and to promptly advise the Underwriters of the receipt by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Shares for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
14
(h) Delivery of Registration
Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the
Underwriters and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) an electronic copy
of the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to the Prospectus that are
filed with the Commission during any period in which the Prospectus relating to
the Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all
documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably
practicable and, at the Representatives’ reasonable request, will also furnish
electronically a copy of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto)
to each Underwriter. The Company will send copies of the Prospectus
to each exchange or market on which sales of the Shares may be
made. The copies of the Prospectus and the Registration Statement and
any supplements or amendments thereto furnished to the Representatives will be
identical in all material respects to the electronically transmitted copies
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to IDEA, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
(i) Free Writing
Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that, unless
it has obtained, or will obtain, the prior written consent of the
Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the
Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would
otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405,
required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus
consented to by the Company and the Representatives is hereinafter referred to
as a “Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated and
agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer
free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will
comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted
Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required,
legending and record keeping.
(j) Earnings
Statement. The Company will make generally available to its
security holders as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event not later
than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an
earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of
Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act.
(k) Use of
Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Shares to be sold by it hereunder in accordance in all material
respects with the statements under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the
Prospectus. The Operating Partnership will effect the issuance to the Company by
the Operating Partnership of a number of Common Units equal to the number of
Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement upon the Company’s contribution to the
Operating Partnership of the net proceeds from the sale of the
Shares.
(l) Restriction on the Sale of
Common Shares. For a period of 60 days after the date hereof
(the “Lock-Up
Period”), the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention
to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common
Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Shares or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common
Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to
be settled by delivery of Common Shares or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction
specified in clause (i) or (ii) above, without the prior written consent of the
Representatives. The restrictions contained in the preceding sentence
shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the
Company of Common Shares upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the
conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof, (iii) the issuance by
the Company of Common Shares pursuant to the Company’s dividend reinvestment
plan, employee 401(k) and profit sharing plan or the 2008 Incentive Award Plan
of Investors Real Estate Trust and IRET Properties (the “Incentive Award
Plan”), or (iv) the issuance of Common Shares or limited partnership
units of the Operating Partnership as consideration for the acquisition of real
estate assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last
17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company
15
issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this Agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Common Shares to be sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement dated April 7, 2009, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated, the Lock-Up Period will expire upon the earlier to occur of (x) the Underwriters’ exercise of the option granted pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof or (y) the 30th day after the date hereof.
(m) Lock-Up Agreements
The Company shall have procured for the benefit of the Underwriters, lock-up
agreements, in the form set forth on Schedule IV hereto,
from each of the Company’s executive officers and trustees listed on Schedule V
hereto.
(n) Market
Activities. The Company will use its commercially reasonable
efforts to cause its officers, trustees, directors and affiliates not to: (i)
take, directly or indirectly, prior to the termination of the underwriting
syndicate contemplated by this Agreement, any action designed, or which will
constitute, or has constituted, or might reasonably be expected to cause or
result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares, (ii) sell, bid for,
purchase or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares,
or (iii) pay or agree to pay any person any compensation for soliciting any
order to purchase in the open market any other securities of the
Company.
(o) Insurance. The
Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or caused to be maintained,
insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable and customary
for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.
(p) Compliance with
Laws. The Company, the Operating Partnership and each
Subsidiary shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, all material environmental
permits, licenses and other authorizations required by federal, state and local
law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause
their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such permits,
licenses and authorizations and with applicable environmental laws, except where
the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such permits, licenses and
authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(q) REIT
Treatment. The Company currently intends to continue to
qualify as a REIT under the Code and will use all commercially reasonable
efforts to continue to meet the requirements to so qualify for subsequent tax
years for so long as the Company’s Board of Trustees deems such qualification to
be in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders.
(r) Investment Company
Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so
as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor its Subsidiaries will be or become
required to register, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, as
an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act,
assuming no change in the Commission’s current interpretation as to entities
that are not required to register as an investment company.
(s) Securities Act and Exchange
Act. The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from
time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales
of, or dealings in, the Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the
Prospectus.
16
(t) No Offer to
Sell. The Company agrees not, at any time at or after the
execution of this Agreement, to offer or sell any Shares by means of any
“prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) or use any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale
of the Shares, except in each case other than the Prospectus.
(u) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries will maintain
and keep accurate books and records reflecting their assets and maintain
internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation
of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and
including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of
records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions
and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance
that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the
Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) that
receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with
management’s and the Company’s trustees’ authorization, and (iv) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a
material effect on its financial statements. The Company will
maintain such controls and other procedures, including, without limitation,
those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, and
the applicable regulations thereunder that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files
or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms,
including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files
or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the
Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and principal
financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material
information relating to the Company is made known to them by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which such periodic reports are
being prepared. The Company will use its best efforts to comply with
all effective applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of
2002.
The
Company will use all reasonable best efforts to do or perform all things
required to be done or performed by the Company prior to the Closing Date (and,
if any Additional Shares are purchased, at the Option Closing Date), to satisfy
all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares.
6. Expenses. Whether
or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this
Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all
expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement,
including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s
counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and
delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses
in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Free Writing
Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company
and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, (ii) all costs and
expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters,
including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of
printing or producing any securities or Blue Sky memorandum in connection with
the offer and sale of the Shares under the securities laws of the jurisdictions
in which the Shares may be offered or sold and all expenses in connection with
the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under such securities laws as
provided in Section
5(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky memorandum, (iv) all filing
fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters
incurred in connection with any required review by FINRA of the terms of the
sale of the Shares, (v) all costs and expenses incident to listing the Shares
for quotation on the NASDAQ, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing
the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or
depositary for the Shares, (viii) the costs and expenses of the
17
Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the officers of the Company and any such consultants, (ix) all expenses in connection with any offer and sale of the Shares outside of the United States, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with offers and sales outside of the United States and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section.
If the
sale of the Shares provided for herein is not consummated because any condition
set forth in Section
7 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 11 hereof or
because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or the
Operating Partnership to perform any agreement herein or comply with any
provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters,
the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the
Representatives on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in
connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Shares.
7. Conditions of the
Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to
purchase the Firm Shares and the Additional Shares on the Closing Date or any
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Operating
Partnership contained herein as of the date hereof, the Closing Date and any
Option Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company and the
Operating Partnership made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions
hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to
the following additional conditions:
(a) No Material
Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and
be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any
request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or
state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii)
the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Shares for sale in
any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose; (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any
material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration
Statement, related Prospectus or such documents so that, in the case of the
Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case
of the Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) No Misstatement or Material
Omission. The Representatives shall not have advised the
Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in the
Representatives’ reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that
in the Representatives’ opinion is material and is required to be stated therein
or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
18
(c) Material
Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or
disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not
have been any material adverse change, on a consolidated basis, in the
authorized shares of beneficial interest of the Company or any Material Adverse
Effect, or any development that could reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Effect, or any downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to
any of the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s securities (other than asset
backed securities) by any rating organization or a public announcement by any
rating organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any
of the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s securities (other than asset
backed securities), the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a
rating organization described above, in the reasonable judgment of the
Representatives (without relieving the Company or the Operating Partnership of
any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Shares on the
terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(d) No Termination
Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would
permit the Underwriters to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11
hereof.
(e) Company Counsel
Opinion. The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing
Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the opinion of Hunton & Xxxxxxxx
LLP, outside counsel for the Company and the Operating Partnership, with respect
to certain corporate matters, tax matters and its negative assurance statement,
dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, each addressed to the
Underwriters, in the form set forth in Exhibit A
hereto. With respect to any matter covered by the laws of the State
of North Dakota, counsel for the Company may rely on the opinion of counsel
(which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Representatives and its
counsel) duly licensed to practice in such state in connection with the opinions
required under this Section. In the alternative, the Company may
request such North Dakota counsel to deliver its opinion directly to the
Representatives.
(f) Underwriters’ Counsel
Opinion. The Representatives shall have received from Bass, Xxxxx &
Xxxx PLC, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the
Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, and addressed to the Underwriters,
with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters
as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have
furnished to such counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the
purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(g) Comfort
Letter. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date
(including any Option Closing Date, as the case may be) Deloitte & Touche
LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company,
letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the
Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily
included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the
financial statements and certain financial information contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including the Incorporated
Documents); provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or any
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than
three (3) Business Days prior to such Closing Date or such Option Closing
Date.
(h) Officers’
Certificate. The Company and the Operating Partnership shall
have furnished to the Underwriters a certificate, signed by the President and
the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (and appropriate officers of the
Operating Partnership), dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, to
the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any supplements
to the Prospectus and this Agreement and that:
19
(i) the
representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership in
this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or any Option
Closing Date, as the case may be (except that to the extent that such
representations and warranties speak as of another date, in which case such
representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such other date),
and the Company and the Operating Partnership have complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions on their part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date (or any Option Closing
Date);
(ii) (A) as of
the effective date of the registration statement, the Registration Statement
and, as of the date of the Prospectus, the Closing Date and any Option Closing
Date, the Prospectus, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact
and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (with respect to the
Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), and
(B) since the effective date of the Registration Statement no event has
occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such
supplement or amendment;
(iii) the
Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s
knowledge, threatened; and
(iv) since the
date of the most recent financial statements included in the Prospectus, there
has been no Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Approval for Listing.
The Shares to be sold by the Company as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been duly approved for listing on
the NASDAQ.
(j) Lock-Up
Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in
the form of Schedule
IV hereto, between the Underwriters and certain officers and trustees of
the Company listed on Schedule V relating
to sales and certain other dispositions of Common Shares or certain other
securities, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date hereof
(unless otherwise noted in Schedule V hereto),
shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
(k) Other
Materials. At the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date,
counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and
opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass
upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated and related
proceedings, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations
or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein
contained.
8. Indemnification and
Contribution.
(a) Company and Operating
Partnership Indemnification. The Company and the Operating
Partnership, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter, the directors, officers, partners, employees and agents of any
Underwriter and each person, if any, who (i) controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with any
Underwriter (“Underwriter
Affiliate”) from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities,
expenses and damages (including, but not limited to, any and all reasonable
investigative, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with,
and any and all amounts paid in settlement (in accordance with Section 8(c) hereof)
of, any action, suit or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and
any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party,
or otherwise, or any
20
claim asserted), as and when incurred, to which the Underwriters, or any such person, may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based, directly or indirectly, on (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, any roadshow materials used in connection with the offer of the Shares, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing, or in any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership or based on written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission or (y) the omission or alleged omission to state in any such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement and is caused directly or indirectly by an untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to any Underwriter and furnished to the Company in writing through the Representatives expressly for inclusion therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the information in the eighth through tenth paragraphs and the twelfth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting.” This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company or the Operating Partnership might otherwise have.
(b) Underwriters
Indemnification. The Underwriters agree to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, its trustees, each officer of the Company that signed the
Registration Statement, the Operating Partnership and each person, if any, who
(i) controls the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is
controlled by or is under common control with the Company or the Operating
Partnership (a “Company
Affiliate”) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 8(a) hereof,
as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any
amendments thereto), the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information relating to any Underwriter and furnished to the Company in writing
through the Representatives expressly for inclusion therein, it being understood
and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists
of the information set forth in subsection (a) above.
(c) Procedure. Any
party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 8 will,
promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such
party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or
parties under this Section 8, notify in
writing each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action,
enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such
indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any
liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this
Section 8 and
(ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing
provision of this Section 8 unless, and
only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive
rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought
against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its
commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to
the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party
promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the
indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified,
to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the
indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party
will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses
except as provided below and except for the reasonable
21
costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 8 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding.
(d) Contribution. In
order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which
the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 8 is
applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be
unavailable from the Company, the Operating Partnership or the Underwriters, the
Company and the Underwriters will contribute to the total losses, claims,
liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in
settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after
deducting any contribution received by the Company or the Operating Partnership
from persons other than the Underwriters, such as persons who control the
Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act,
officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and trustees of
the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company, the
Operating Partnership and the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as
shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company
and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the
other. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating
Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of
the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total
compensation received by the Underwriters from the sale of Shares on behalf of
the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the
foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of
contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the
relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand,
and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omission
that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in
respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with
respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates
to information supplied by the Company or the Operating Partnership, on the one
hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, the intent of the parties and their
relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Company and the Operating Partnership and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to
be determined by pro rata allocation or by
22
any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 8(c) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(d), the Underwriters shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by them under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any Underwriter Affiliate, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 8(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 8(d) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 8(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof.
9. Default by an
Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and
pay for any of the Shares agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or
Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default
in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the
remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in
the respective proportions which the amount of Shares set forth opposite their
names in Schedule
I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Shares set forth opposite the
names of all the nondefaulting Underwriters) the Shares which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however,
that in the event that the aggregate amount of Shares which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of
the aggregate number of Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto,
the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not
be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Shares, and if such
nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Shares within 48 hours of
default, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting
Underwriter or the Company or the Operating Partnership. In the event of a
default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the
Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five (5) Business
Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve
any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any
nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default
hereunder.
10. Survival of Certain
Representations and Obligations. The indemnity and
contribution agreements contained in Section 8, the
provisions of Section
6 (Expenses) and all representations and warranties of the Company and
the Operating Partnership herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto
shall survive, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Underwriters, any controlling persons, or the Company or the Operating
Partnership (or any of their respective officers, trustees or controlling
persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Shares and payment therefor or
(iii) any termination, default or cancellation of this Agreement.
11. Termination. The
Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives
to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior
to the Closing
23
Date or, with respect to the purchase of Additional Shares, prior to any Option Closing Date (a) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited or minimum prices shall have been established on, or by, as the case may be, the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ, (b) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended or materially limited on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (c) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (d) any moratorium or material limitation on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York state authorities, (e) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, act of terrorism involving the United States or declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or (f) any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (e) or (f), in the Representatives’ judgment, is material and adverse and makes it, in the Representatives’ judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto). Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 6 (Expenses), Section 8 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 10 (Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations), Section 16 (Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction) and Section 17 (Waiver of Jury Trial) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
12. Notices. Except
as otherwise provided herein, all notices or other communications required or
permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified in this
Agreement, as follows:
If sent
to the Underwriters, shall be delivered to the Representatives:
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
XxXxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx.
|
and
|
RBC
Capital Markets Corporation
Three
World Financial Center, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxx Xxxxx, Syndicate Director
|
with
copies to:
Legal
Department
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Fax:
(000)000-0000
|
and
|
Bass,
Xxxxx & Xxxx PLC
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 3 8103
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Good, Esq.
|
If sent
to the Company or the Operating Partnership, shall be delivered to:
00000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
|
24
with
copies to:
Hunton
& Xxxxxxxx LLP
Riverfront
Plaza, East Tower
000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
|
Each
party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the
parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such
purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed
given (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile transmission
(with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a
Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding
Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a
nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually
received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “Business
Day” shall mean any day on which NASDAQ and commercial banks in the City
of New York are open for business.
13. Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriters and
their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers
and trustees referred to in Section 8 hereof.
References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to
include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. The term “successors
and assigns” shall not include a purchaser of any of the Shares from any of the
several Underwriters merely because of such purchase. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties
hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights,
remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement,
except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its
rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of
the other party.
14. Adjustments for Share
Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all
share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into
account any share split, share dividend or similar event effected with respect
to the Shares.
15. Entire Agreement; Amendment;
Severability. This Agreement (including all schedules and
exhibits attached hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all
other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and
oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither
this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written
instrument executed by the Company and the Underwriters. In the event
that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application
thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as
written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given
full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and
enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be
construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not
contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision
and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with
the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.
16. Applicable Law; Consent to
Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to
the principles of conflicts of laws. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to
the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the
City of New York, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection
with any transaction contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and
agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding,
25
any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
17. Waiver of Jury
Trial. The Company, the Operating Partnership and the
Underwriters each hereby irrevocably waives any right it may have to a trial by
jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby.
18. Absence of Fiduciary
Relationship. The Company and the Operating Partnership
acknowledge and agree that:
(a) the
Underwriters have been retained solely to act as an underwriter in connection
with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary relationship between the
Company and the Underwriters have been created in respect of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the
Underwriters have advised or are advising the Company on other
matters;
(b) Each of
the Company and the Operating Partnership is capable of evaluating and
understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) Each of
the Company and the Operating Partnership has been advised that the Underwriters
and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may
involve interests that differ from those of the Company or the Operating
Partnership and that the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose such
interests and transactions to the Company or the Operating Partnership by virtue
of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship;
(d) Each of
the Company and the Operating Partnership waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Underwriters, for breach of
fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the
Underwriters shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company
or the Operating Partnership in respect of such a fiduciary claim or to any
person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company
or the Operating Partnership, including shareholders, partners, employees or
creditors of the Company or the Operating Partnership; and
(e) Each of
the parties hereto is a sophisticated business person who was adequately
represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions
hereof.
19. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may
be made by facsimile transmission.
20. Definitions. As
used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set
forth below:
(a) “Applicable
Time” means 6:30 p.m.
Eastern time on the date of this Agreement, or such other date and time agreed
to by the Company and the Underwriters.
26
(b) “Base
Prospectus” means the base prospectus, including all documents
incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it
may be supplemented by the Prospectus.
(c) “Disclosure
Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, as amended and supplemented
immediately prior to the Applicable Time (including the Preliminary Prospectus),
(ii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, and the pricing information
identified in Schedule
II hereto, and (iii) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties
hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the
Disclosure Package.
(d) “Free Writing
Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act.
(e) “GAAP”
means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
(f) “Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined
in Rule 433 of the Securities Act, relating to the Shares that (i) is required
to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (ii) is exempt from filing
pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) of the Securities Act, in each case in the form
filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be
filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) of
the Securities Act.
(g) “NASDAQ”
means the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
(h) “Organizational
Documents” means (i) in the case of a corporation, its charter and
by-laws; (ii) in the case of a limited or general partnership, its partnership
certificate, certificate of formation or similar organizational document and its
partnership agreement; (iii) in the case of a limited liability company, its
articles of organization, certificate of formation or similar organizational
documents and its operating agreement, limited liability company agreement,
membership agreement or other similar agreement; (iv) in the case of a trust,
its certificate of trust, certificate of formation or similar organizational
document and its trust agreement or other similar agreement; and (v) in the case
of any other entity, the organizational and governing documents of such
entity.
(i) “Preliminary
Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base
Prospectus which describes the Shares and the offering thereof and is used prior
to filing of the Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus, and including in
each case the documents incorporated by reference therein.
(j) “Prospectus”
shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares that was first filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Applicable Time, together with the Base
Prospectus, and including in each case the documents incorporated by reference
therein.
(k) “Registration
Statement” shall mean the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-153715) including the financial statements, all exhibits and all documents
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein,
including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B, and in the event any post-effective
amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean
such registration statement as so amended. If the Company files an
abbreviated registration statement to register additional Common Shares pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, then any reference herein to the term
“Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such registration statement.
The term “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means the
Registration Statement as of the time of the first contract of sale for the
Shares, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of the
Registration Statement with respect to the Underwriters and the Shares (within
the meaning of Rule 430B(f)(2)).
27
(l) “Subsidiary”
or “Subsidiaries”
means each direct and indirect subsidiary of the Company, including, without
limitation, the Operating Partnership, and all direct and indirect subsidiaries
of the Operating Partnership.
28
If the
foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Company, the
Operating Partnership and the Underwriters, please so indicate in the space
provided below for that purpose, whereupon this instrument, along with all
counterparts hereof, shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, the
Operating Partnership and the several Underwriters named herein.
Very
truly yours,
By:/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President
and Chief Executive Officer
IRET
PROPERTIES
By: IRET,
Inc., its General Partner
By:/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President
and Chief Executive Officer
The
foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the
Representatives as of the date first above written.
XXXXXX
X. XXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
By:/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Xx.
Name: Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Title: Director
RBC
CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION
By:/s/ Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Title: Managing
Director
Each for
itself and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named on Schedule I
hereto.
29
SCHEDULE
I
Underwriters
|
Number
of
Firm Shares
|
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx & Co.
Incorporated
|
4,000,000
|
|
RBC
Capital Markets
Corporation
|
2,400,000
|
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
LLC
|
800,000
|
|
X.X.
Xxxxxxxx & Co.
|
400,000
|
|
J.J.B.
Xxxxxxxx, X.X. Xxxxx, LLC
|
400,000
|
|
Total
|
8,000,000
|
30
SCHEDULE
II
Issuer
Free Writing Prospectuses
None
Free
Writing Prospectuses
None
Information conveyed
to purchasers of the Shares at or prior to the Applicable Time
Number of
Shares to be Sold: 8,000,000
Offering
size: $66,000,000.00
Estimated
net proceeds to the Company (after underwriting discounts and commissions and
offering expenses): $62,600,000.00
Price per
Share: $8.25
Underwriting
discount and commissions per share: $0.4125
Trade
date: October 5, 2009
Closing
date: October 9, 2009
31
SCHEDULE
III
Subsidiaries
of Investors Real Estate Trust
IRET,
Inc.
|
IRET-MR9
Holding, LLC
|
IRET
Properties, a North Dakota Limited Partnership
|
IRET-Minot
EV, LLC
|
DRF
Omaha/NOH, LLC
|
IRET-Oakmont,
LLC
|
Dakota
Hill Properties, a Texas Limited Partnership
|
IRET-Plymouth,
LLC
|
Dakota-IRET
Inc.
|
IRET-QR,
LLC
|
XXX
Xxxxxxxx, LLC
|
IRET-Quarry
Ridge, LLC
|
EVI
Grand Cities, LLC
|
IRET-Ridge
Oaks, LLC
|
EVI
Sioux Falls, LLC
|
IRET-Thomasbrook
Apartments, LLC
|
Forest
Park-IRET, Inc.
|
IRET-Westwood
Park, LLC
|
Forest
Park Properties, a North Dakota Limited Partnership
|
XXXX-0000
Xxxxxxxxx, LLC
|
France
Medical LLC
|
IRET-1715
YDR, LLC
|
France
Medical MM LLC
|
Meadow
2-IRET, Inc.
|
Health
Investors Business Trust
|
Meadow
2 Properties, L.P.
|
IRET-BD,
LLC
|
MedPark-IRET,
Inc.
|
IRET-Brenwood,
LLC
|
Medpark
Properties Limited Partnership
|
IRET-Candlelight,
LLC
|
Mendota
Office Holdings, LLC
|
IRET-Cimarron
Hills, LLC
|
Mendota
Office Three & Four LLC
|
IRET
Corporate Plaza, LLC
|
Mendota
Properties LLC
|
IRET-Country
Xxxxxxx 2, LLC
|
Midtown
Medical Building
|
IRET-DMS,
LLC
|
Minnesota
Medical Investors LLC
|
IRET-Forest
Park, LLC
|
Ridge
Oaks, L.P.
|
IRET-Xxxxxx
Xxxx, L.L.C.
|
SMB
MM LLC
|
IRET-Kentwood,
LLC
|
SMB
Operating Company LLC
|
IRET-Kirkwood
Apartments, LLC
|
Thomasbrook-IRET,
Inc.
|
IRET-MR9,
LLC
|
Thomasbrook
Properties, a Nebraska Limited
Partnership
|
32
SCHEDULE
IV
Form
Of Lock-Up Agreement
October
[●], 2009
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated
RBC
Capital Markets Corporation
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx LLC
X.X.
Xxxxxxxx & Co.
J.J.B.
Xxxxxxxx, X.X. Xxxxx, LLC
c/o
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
This
letter is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting
Agreement (the “Underwriting
Agreement”) among Investors Real Estate Trust, a North Dakota real estate
investment trust (the “Company”),
IRET Properties, a North Dakota limited partnership (the “Operating
Partnership”) and the several underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto
(the “Underwriters”),
relating to an underwritten public offering (the “Public
Offering”) of shares (the “Shares”)
of the Company’s (common shares of beneficial interest, no par value per share
(the “Common
Shares”). Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated and RBC Capital Markets
Corporation, are acting as the representatives of the several Underwriters
listed on Schedule
I of the Underwriting Agreement (the “Representatives”).
To induce
the Underwriters to participate in the Public Offering and to continue their
efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees
that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not,
during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 60 days after the
date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Restricted
Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of,
directly or indirectly, any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares, (2) enter into any swap or other
arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of the Common Shares whether any such transaction
described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common
Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) file any registration
statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any Common Shares or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares
(or make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration
of any Common Shares or any security convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Shares), or (4) publicly announce an intention to effect
any transaction specified in clause (1), (2) or (3). The foregoing
sentence shall not apply to (a) transfers of Common Shares or any security
convertible into Common Shares as a bona fide gift, or (b) distributions of
Common Shares or any security convertible into Common Shares to limited partners
or stockholders of the undersigned; provided that (i) each donee or distributee
shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of this letter
and (ii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of Common Shares,
shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period
referred to in the foregoing sentence. The undersigned also agrees
and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s
transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Common
Shares, except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
The
restrictions set forth in the foregoing paragraph is expressly agreed to
preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which
is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to, or
33
result in, a sale or disposition of the undersigned’s Common Shares even if such shares would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include without limitation any short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including without limitation any put or call option) with respect to any of the undersigned’s Common Shares or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from the undersigned’s Common Shares.
If: (1)
during the last 17 days of the Restricted Period, the Company issues an earnings
release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or
(2) prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the Company announces that
it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last
day of the Restricted Period; then the restrictions imposed by this agreement
shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on
the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or
material event.
The
undersigned shall not engage in any transaction that may be restricted by this
agreement during the 34-day period beginning on the last day of the Restricted
Period unless the undersigned requests and receives prior written confirmation
from the Company or the Representatives that the restrictions imposed by this
agreement have expired.
The
undersigned further represents and agrees that the undersigned has not taken and
will not take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which
has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares, or which has otherwise constituted
or will constitute any prohibited bid for or purchase of the Shares or any
related securities.
The
undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon
this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public
Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is
irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns. Whether or not the Public Offering
actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market
conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an
Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between
the Company and the Underwriters.
Very
truly yours,
Signature:
Print
Name:
34
SCHEDULE
V
List
of Trustees and Executive Officers Signing Lock-Up Agreements
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx (to be delivered by the Closing Date or as soon as practicable
thereafter)
C.W.
“Chip” Xxxxxx
Xxxx X.
Xxxx
W. Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Bosh
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
35