PROLOGIS 4,400,000 Shares
EXHIBIT 1.1
EXECUTION COPY
4,400,000 Shares
6 3/4% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of
Beneficial Interest (par value $0.01 per share)
(Liquidation Preference $25.00 per Share)
dated December 11, 2003
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Banc of America Securities LLC
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
XX Xxxxx Securities Corporation
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December 11, 2003
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
As
Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. ProLogis, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”), acting severally and not jointly, an aggregate of 4,400,000 shares (“the Firm Shares”) of 6 3/4% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $0.01 per share, Liquidation Preference $25.00 Per Share, of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”). In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 660,000 shares (the “Optional Shares”) of Preferred Shares, as provided in Section 2. The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Optional Shares are collectively called the “Shares.” Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “Commission”) registration statements on
Form S-3 (File Nos.
333-105717 and 333-79813) for the registration of preferred shares of
beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (including the
Shares) and other securities of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively,
the “Securities Act”), and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance
with Rule 415 of the Securities Act. Such registration statements have been
declared effective by the Commission and the Company has filed such
post-effective amendments thereto as may be required prior to the execution of
this Agreement and each such post-effective amendment has been declared
effective by the Commission. Such registration statements, as so amended, if
applicable, including the exhibits and schedules thereto and including all
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3,
prior to the execution of this Agreement, are called the “Registration
Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant
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to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final prospectus and the final prospectus supplement relating to the offering of the Shares, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the Shares, including all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 prior to the execution of this Agreement, are collectively called the “Prospectus.” A “preliminary prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to any prospectus used before the Registration Statement became effective and any prospectus that omitted information to be included upon pricing in a form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Prospectus or a preliminary prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“XXXXX”).
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (and all other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or a preliminary prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or a preliminary prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or a preliminary prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or a preliminary prospectus, as the case may be.
The Company hereby confirms its engagement of Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc. (“Bear Xxxxxxx”) as, and Bear Xxxxxxx hereby confirms its agreement with the Company to render services as, a “qualified independent underwriter,” within the meaning of Section (b)(15) of Rule 2720 of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares. The annual distribution rate on the Shares shall not be lower than that recommended by the Bear Xxxxxxx.
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
Section 1. Representations and Warranties. The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:
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instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares will, at the time of such delivery, be identical to any copies filed by electronic transmission pursuant to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act). Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”) and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or 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. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to that part of the Registration Statement which constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualifications (“Form T-1”) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee and statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
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instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the declaration of trust (or charter or by-laws or other similar constitutive documents) of the Company or any subsidiary, except, in the case of subsidiaries of the Company, for such violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result 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 require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary, except for such violation as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD, the failure of which to obtain would not result in a Material Adverse Change or have a material adverse effect on the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons, except for such violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(q) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all material federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have properly requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(h) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined. With respect to all tax periods in respect of which the Internal Revenue Service is or will be entitled to any claim, the Company has met the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “ Internal Revenue Code”) and the Company’s present and contemplated organizational ownership, method of operation, assets and income are such that the Company will continue to meet such requirements; ProLogis Limited Partnership-I, ProLogis Limited Partnership-II, ProLogis Limited Partnership-
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III and ProLogis Limited Partnership-IV are properly treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes and not as “associations taxable as corporations.”
(r) Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Shares will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
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of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”), pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iii) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.
(x) Partnership Agreements. Each of the partnership agreements (the “Partnership Agreements”) of ProLogis Limited Partnership-I, ProLogis Limited Partnership-II, ProLogis Limited Partnership-III and ProLogis Limited Partnership-IV described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or a wholly owned subsidiary thereof and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other
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similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
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 to each Underwriter as to the matters set forth therein.
The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel for the Company and counsel for the Underwriters, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Shares.
(b) The Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Firm Shares in global form to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Shearman & Sterling LLP (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representatives) at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on December 30, 2003, or such other time and date as the Underwriters shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).
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It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own accounts and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the Purchase Price for, the Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. The Representatives may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
(f) Delivery of the Shares. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters a certificate or certificates for the Shares at the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the Purchase Price therefor. The certificates for the Shares shall be in such denominations and registered in such names and denominations as the Representatives shall have requested at least two full business days prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, at a location in New York City, as the Representatives may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.
Section 3. Additional Covenants. The Company further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
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each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement and, until the date of completion of the distribution of the offering of the Shares, any document filed with the Commission by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or, upon the listing of the Preferred Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, the institution of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing the Preferred Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 434, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its best efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.
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presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign business. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Shares for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(i) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.
The Representatives, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in their sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all
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expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors to the Company, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (v) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vi) the filing fees incident to the NASD’s review and approval of the Underwriters’ participation in the offering and distribution of the Shares, (vii) all expenses of the registrar and transfer agent incident to the issuance and delivery of the Preferred Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Preferred Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, (ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement, and (x) all other fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.
Section 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares as provided herein on the Closing Date and any Optional Shares on each Option Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, as though then made and to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:
(i) The Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration
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Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and
(iii) the NASD shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(i) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.
(i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;
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(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be; and
(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be.
If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 6. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5 or Section 11, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Shares, including but not limited to reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
Section 7. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective until the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto.
Section 8. Indemnification.
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otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the second and eighth paragraphs and the last sentence of the tenth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such statements are correct. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.
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(i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party (the Representatives in the case of Section 8(b) and Section 9), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof in respect of such action, then in addition to such separate counsel for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for Bear Xxxxxxx in its capacity as a “qualified independent underwriter” and all persons, if any, who control Bear Xxxxxxx within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.
Section 9. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one
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hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Shares as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each officer and employee of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
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Section 10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
Section 11. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the New York Stock Exchange, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal or New York authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity involving the United States, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the
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Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
Section 13. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 |
||
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 Attention: Global Capital Markets Syndicate Desk |
||
with a copy to: | ||
Shearman & Sterling LLP 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 |
||
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx |
||
If to the Company: | ||
ProLogis 00000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 |
||
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
||
with a copy to: | ||
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx & Maw LLP 000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 |
||
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
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Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.
Section 14. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 and Section 9, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
Section 15. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
Section 16. Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.
Section 17. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||||
PROLOGIS |
||||
By: | /s/ | |||
Name: Title: |
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The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives as of the date first above written.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Acting
as Representatives of the several
Underwriters
named in the attached Schedule A
By: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated | |||
By: | /s/ | |||
|
||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
26
By: |
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc. Acting as the qualified independent underwriter |
|||
By: | /s/ | |||
|
||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
27
SCHEDULE A
Aggregate | |||||
Number of | |||||
Shares to be | |||||
Underwriters | Purchased | ||||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
831,500 | ||||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
831,500 | ||||
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC |
831,500 | ||||
Banc of America Securities LLC |
831,500 | ||||
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc. |
88,000 | ||||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. |
88,000 | ||||
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
XX Xxxxx Securities Corporation |
44,000 | ||||
X.X. Xxxxxxx & Sons, Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
BB&T Capital Markets, Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
RBC Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Incorporated |
44,000 | ||||
Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co. Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
Quick and Xxxxxx, Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc |
44,000 | ||||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Co., Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
TD Waterhouse Investor Services, Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
U.S. Bancorp Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Inc. |
44,000 | ||||
Xxxxx Fargo Brokerage Services, LLC |
44,000 | ||||
Advest Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
14,000 | ||||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. |
14,000 | ||||
X.X. Xxxxxxxx & Co. |
14,000 | ||||
J.J.B. Xxxxxxxx, X.X. Xxxxx, Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx LLC |
14,000 | ||||
X.X. Xxxx & Associates, Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
McDonald Investments Inc., a KeyCorp Company |
14,000 | ||||
XxXxxx, Xxxxx & Co., Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
Mesirow Financial, Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Company, Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
Pershing LLC |
14,000 | ||||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Associates, Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
Xxxx, Xxxx & Co. LLC |
14,000 | ||||
Southwest Securities, Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company Incorporated |
14,000 | ||||
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. |
14,000 | ||||
Total |
4,400,000 | ||||
SCHEDULE B
LIST OF SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES
ProLogis Development Services Incorporated*
ProLogis Limited Partnership I*
ProLogis Limited Partnership II*
ProLogis Limited Partnership III*
ProLogis Limited Partnership IV*
ProLogis IV, Inc.*
ProLogis-North Carolina Limited Partnership*
PLD International Incorporated*
ProLogis Mexico Trust*
ProLogis-DS Mexico Incorporated*
ProLogis California I LLC*
ProLogis UK Holdings S.A.
ProLogis Japan Incorporated*
PLD/RECO Japan TMK Property Trust
ProLogis European Properties Fund
ProLogis North American Properties Fund I LLC*
ProLogis First U.S. Properties LP*
ProLogis Second U.S. Properties LP*
ProLogis Third U.S. Properties LP*
ProLogis-Macquarie Fund*
ProLogis-Billabong I GP LLC*
ProLogis-Billabong II GP LLC*
ProLogis-Billabong III GP LLC*
Macquarie-ProLogis Management LLC*
* Denotes U.S. Significant Subsidiary.
EXHIBIT A
[The final opinion in draft form should be attached as Exhibit A at the time this Agreement is executed.]
Opinion of counsel for the Company to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement.
References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit A include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
(i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a real estate investment trust in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the trust power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement. The Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(ii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(iii) The Preferred Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(iv) The Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. To the best knowledge of such counsel, (a) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and (b) no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. Any required filing of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b).
(v) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference therein or in exhibits to or excluded from the Registration Statement and other than the Form T-1, as to which no opinion need be rendered), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(vi) The Preferred Shares conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
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(vii) The statements (A) in the base prospectus under the captions “Risk Factors—Federal Income Tax Risks,” “Description of the Preferred Shares” and “Federal Income Tax Considerations” (B) in the prospectus supplement under the caption “Description of the Series G Preferred Shares” and (C) incorporated by reference in the Prospectus from Item 3 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and (D) in Item 15 of the Registration Statement, in each case insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein has been reviewed by such counsel and fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.
(viii) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and by the Prospectus, except as required under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD and consents the failure of which to obtain would not result in a Material Adverse Change or have a material adverse effect on the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement.
(ix) The execution and delivery of each of the Underwriting Agreement, and the issuance and delivery of the Shares by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder (other than performance by the Company of its obligations under the indemnification section of the Underwriting Agreement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) (A) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the declaration of trust (or charter or by-laws or other similar constitutive documents) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary incorporated or organized in a jurisdiction located in the United States and so designated on Schedule B to the Underwriting Agreement (each, a “U.S. Significant Subsidiary”); (B) will not constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its U.S. Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to, (x) the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2002, by and among the Company, ProLogis Logistics Services Incorporated, ProLogis Development Services Incorporated, Bank of America, N.A. and the Lenders named therein, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of July 21, 2003 and the Second Amendment thereto dated as of August 8, 2003 (y) the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2002, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Borrowers party thereto, Bank of America, N.A. and the Lenders named therein, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of July 21, 2003, the Second Amendment thereto dated as of August 8, 2002 and the Third Amendment thereto dated as of November 7, 2003 (other than with respect to compliance by the Company or any subsidiary with any financial covenants as to which no opinion need be rendered), or (z) to the best knowledge of such counsel, any other material Existing Instrument; or (C) to the best knowledge of such counsel, will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any U.S. Significant Subsidiary, other than in the case of clauses (B) and (C), such Defaults and violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(x) The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Shares will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of Investment Company Act.
A-2
(xi) The Company has qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code for its taxable years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, and the Company’s present organization, ownership, the Company’s present and proposed method of operation, assets and income are such that the Company is in a position under present law to so qualify for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and in the future; ProLogis Limited Partnership-I, ProLogis Limited Partnership-II, ProLogis Limited Partnership-III and ProLogis Limited Partnership-IV are properly treated as (A) partnerships for federal income tax purposes and (B) not as “associations taxable as corporations.”
(xii) The investments of the Company described in the Prospectus are permitted investments under the declaration of trust of the Company.
In addition, such counsel shall state that they have examined various documents and records and participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public or certified public accountants for the Company and with representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any supplements or amendments thereto, and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than as specified above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to their attention that lead them to believe that (i) (except for the financial statements, supporting schedules and other financial or statistical data included therein or derived or omitted therefrom, and except for the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no belief) either the Registration Statement or any amendments thereto, at the time the most recent post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, when such part became effective or as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) (except for the financial statements, supporting schedules and other financial or statistical data included therein or derived or omitted therefrom, and except for the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no belief) the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date, at the date of any such amendment or supplement or at the Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the laws regarding real estate investment trusts of the State of Maryland or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the Closing Date, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters, shall expressly state that the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Representatives) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, (B) upon the
A-3
opinion of general counsel of the Company referred to in Section 5(e) of the Underwriting Agreement, and (C) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials and on the representations of the Company as provided in the Underwriting Agreement. In rendering the opinions contained in paragraph (xi), such opinion may be based upon (a) the Internal Revenue Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the interpretations of the Internal Revenue Code and such regulations by the courts and the Internal Revenue Service, all as they are in effect and exist at the time of the opinion, (b) Maryland law existing and applicable to the Company, (c) facts and other matters set forth in the Prospectus, (d) the provisions of the Amended Restated Declaration of Trust of the Company, the agreements relating to properties owned by the Company and (e) certain statements and representations as to factual matters made by the Company to such counsel provided that such statements and representations are also set forth in a certificate to the Underwriters.
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EXHIBIT B
[The final opinion in draft form should be attached as Exhibit B at the time this Agreement is executed.]
Opinion of the General Counsel of the Company to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Underwriting Agreement.
References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit A include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
(i) Each of the U.S. Significant Subsidiaries of the Company has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, trust, partnership or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has the power (corporate or other) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus. Each U.S. Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, trust or partnership to transact business and (except as to any general partnership) is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(ii) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other equity interests of each U.S. Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and (except for general partnership interests) nonassessable; all shares of outstanding capital stock and other equity interests of each U.S. Significant Subsidiary held by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, are owned free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim, except for such security interests, mortgages, pledges, liens, encumbrances and claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change .
(iii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened which are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those disclosed therein.
(iv) To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no Existing Instruments required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto; and the descriptions thereof and references thereto are correct in all material respects.