Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Among
EQUITY OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST,
EOP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
BLACKHAWK PARENT LLC,
BLACKHAWK ACQUISITION TRUST
and
BLACKHAWK ACQUISITION L.P.
Dated as of November 19, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
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2 |
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SECTION 1.01 Definitions |
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2 |
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SECTION 1.02 Interpretation and Rules of Construction |
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9 |
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ARTICLE II THE MERGERS |
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10 |
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SECTION 2.01 Mergers |
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10 |
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SECTION 2.02 Charter and Bylaws; Partnership Agreements |
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10 |
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SECTION 2.03 Effective Times |
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11 |
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SECTION 2.04 Closing |
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12 |
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SECTION 2.05 Trustees and Officers; General Partner |
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12 |
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SECTION 2.06 Other Transactions |
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12 |
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SECTION 2.07 Dissolution and Liquidation of the Surviving Entity |
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13 |
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ARTICLE III EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS |
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13 |
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SECTION 3.01 Effects on Shares |
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13 |
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SECTION 3.02 Effect on Partnership Units |
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15 |
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SECTION 3.03 Exchange of Certificates and Uncertificated Units; Paying Agent |
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17 |
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SECTION 3.04 Withholding Rights |
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20 |
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SECTION 3.05 Dissenters’ or Appraisal Rights |
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20 |
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SECTION 3.06 Termination of DRIP |
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20 |
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SECTION 3.07 Debt Offers |
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21 |
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SECTION 3.08 Redemption and Satisfaction and Discharge |
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23 |
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP |
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23 |
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SECTION 4.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries; Authority |
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23 |
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SECTION 4.02 Organizational Documents |
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24 |
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SECTION 4.03 Capitalization |
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25 |
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SECTION 4.04 Authority Relative to this Agreement, Takeover Laws, Validity and Effect
of Agreements |
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27 |
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SECTION 4.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents |
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28 |
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SECTION 4.06 Permits; Compliance with Laws |
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29 |
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SECTION 4.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; No Unknown Liabilities |
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30 |
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SECTION 4.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
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31 |
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SECTION 4.09 Absence of Litigation |
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31 |
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SECTION 4.10 Employee Benefit Plans |
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32 |
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SECTION 4.11 Labor Matters |
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33 |
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SECTION 4.12 Information Supplied |
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34 |
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SECTION 4.13 Property and Leases |
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34 |
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SECTION 4.14 Intellectual Property |
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37 |
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SECTION 4.15 Taxes |
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37 |
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SECTION 4.16 Environmental Matters |
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40 |
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SECTION 4.17 Material Contracts |
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41 |
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SECTION 4.18 Brokers |
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42 |
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SECTION 4.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor |
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43 |
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SECTION 4.20 Insurance |
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43 |
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SECTION 4.21 Investment Company Act of 1940 |
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43 |
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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER PARTIES |
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43 |
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SECTION 5.01 Corporate Organization |
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43 |
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SECTION 5.02
Ownership of MergerCo and Merger Partnership; No Prior Activities |
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44 |
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SECTION 5.03 Corporate Authority |
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45 |
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SECTION 5.04 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents |
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45 |
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SECTION 5.05 Information Supplied |
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46 |
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SECTION 5.06 Absence of Litigation |
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46 |
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SECTION 5.07 Required Financing; Guarantee |
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47 |
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SECTION 5.08 No Ownership of Company Shares |
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48 |
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SECTION 5.09 Brokers |
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48 |
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ARTICLE VI CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGERS |
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48 |
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SECTION 6.01 Conduct of Business by Company Parties Pending the Mergers |
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48 |
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SECTION 6.02 Other Actions |
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53 |
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ARTICLE VII ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS |
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53 |
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SECTION 7.01 Proxy Statement; Other Filings |
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53 |
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SECTION 7.02 Company Shareholders’ Meeting |
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54 |
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SECTION 7.03 Access to Information; Confidentiality |
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54 |
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SECTION 7.04 No Solicitation of Transactions |
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55 |
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SECTION 7.05 Employee Benefits Matters |
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57 |
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SECTION 7.06 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance |
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59 |
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SECTION 7.07 Further Action; Reasonable Efforts |
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61 |
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SECTION 7.08 Certain Tax Matters |
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63 |
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SECTION 7.09 Public Announcements |
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63 |
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SECTION 7.10 Cooperation with Financing |
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63 |
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SECTION 7.11 Resignations |
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65 |
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SECTION 7.12 Takeover Statutes |
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65 |
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SECTION 7.13 Delisting and Deregistering of Securities |
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65 |
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SECTION 7.14 Tax Matters |
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65 |
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SECTION 7.15 Notices of Certain Events |
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65 |
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ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS |
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66 |
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SECTION 8.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party |
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66 |
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SECTION 8.02 Conditions to the Obligations of the Buyer Parties |
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67 |
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- ii -
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SECTION 8.03 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company Parties |
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68 |
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ARTICLE IX TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER |
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69 |
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SECTION 9.01 Termination |
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69 |
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SECTION 9.02 Effect of Termination |
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71 |
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SECTION 9.03 Fees and Expenses |
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71 |
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SECTION 9.04 Escrow |
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72 |
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SECTION 9.05 Waiver |
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73 |
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ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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74 |
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SECTION 10.01 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties |
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74 |
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SECTION 10.02 Notices |
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74 |
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SECTION 10.03 Severability |
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75 |
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SECTION 10.04 Amendment |
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75 |
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SECTION 10.05 Entire Agreement; Assignment |
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75 |
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SECTION 10.06 Remedies |
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75 |
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SECTION 10.07 Specific Performance |
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76 |
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SECTION 10.08 Parties in Interest |
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76 |
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SECTION 10.09 Governing Law; Forum |
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76 |
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SECTION 10.10 Headings |
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77 |
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SECTION 10.11 Counterparts |
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77 |
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SECTION 10.12 Waiver |
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77 |
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SECTION 10.13 Waiver of Jury Trial |
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77 |
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- iii -
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
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Acquisition Proposal |
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2 |
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Action |
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3 |
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Affiliate |
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3 |
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Agreement |
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1 |
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Amended Partnership Agreement |
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11 |
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Articles of Merger |
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11 |
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beneficial owner |
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3 |
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Blue Sky Laws |
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29 |
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Business Day |
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3 |
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Buyer Parties |
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1 |
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Bylaws |
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11 |
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Capital Expenditures |
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51 |
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CERCLA |
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40 |
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Certificate |
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3 |
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Change in Recommendation |
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56 |
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Charter |
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10 |
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Claim |
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60 |
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Class A Units |
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3 |
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Closing |
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12 |
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Closing Date |
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12 |
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Code |
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2 |
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Commitment Letters |
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47 |
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Company |
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1 |
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Company Board |
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1 |
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Company Bylaws |
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3 |
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Company Charter |
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3 |
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Company Common Share Merger Consideration |
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14 |
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Company Common Shares |
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3 |
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Company Employees |
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58 |
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Company ESPP |
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59 |
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Company Expenses |
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72 |
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Company Financial Advisor |
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43 |
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Company Intellectual Property |
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37 |
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Company Leases |
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35 |
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Company Material Adverse Effect |
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3 |
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Company Merger |
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1 |
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Company Merger Effective Time |
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11 |
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Company Parties |
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1 |
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Company Preferred Share Merger Consideration |
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14 |
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Company Preferred Shares |
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4 |
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Company Properties |
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4 |
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Company Recommendation |
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54 |
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Company Restricted Shares |
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14 |
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Company SEC Reports |
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30 |
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Company Series B Preferred Shares |
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4 |
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Company Series C Preferred Shares |
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25 |
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Company Series G Preferred Shares |
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4 |
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Company Shareholder Approval |
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28 |
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Company Shareholders’ Meeting |
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54 |
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Company Termination Fee |
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72 |
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Company Title Insurance Policy |
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35 |
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Confidentiality Agreement |
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55 |
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Continuing Employees |
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58 |
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Contracts |
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4 |
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control |
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5 |
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Credit Agreement |
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5 |
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Damages Amount |
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72 |
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Debt Commitment Letter |
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47 |
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Debt Financing |
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47 |
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Debt Offers |
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21 |
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76 |
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Disclosure Schedule |
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5 |
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XXXXXX |
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0 |
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XXXX |
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00 |
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End Date |
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69 |
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Environmental Laws |
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5 |
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Environmental Permits |
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40 |
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Equity Bridge Commitment Letter |
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47 |
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Equity Bridge Financing |
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47 |
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Equity Bridge Providers |
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47 |
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Equity Funding Letter |
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47 |
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ERISA |
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32 |
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ERISA Affiliate |
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33 |
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Exchange Act |
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29 |
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Exchange Fund |
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17 |
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Exchangeable Notes |
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5 |
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Expenses |
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71 |
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Financing |
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47 |
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Financing Commitments |
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47 |
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Form of Election |
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16 |
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Former Equityholder |
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18 |
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GAAP |
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5 |
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Governmental Authority |
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5 |
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Governmental Order |
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69 |
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Ground Lease |
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36 |
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Ground Leases |
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36 |
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Guarantee |
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48 |
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Guarantor |
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48 |
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- iv -
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Hazardous Substances |
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5 |
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HSR Act |
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29 |
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Incentive Plan |
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14 |
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Indebtedness |
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5 |
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Indemnified Parties |
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59 |
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Intellectual Property |
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6 |
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IRS |
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32 |
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JV Entities |
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24 |
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knowledge of Parent |
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6 |
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knowledge of the Company |
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6 |
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Law |
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6 |
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Lenders |
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47 |
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Liens |
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6 |
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Liquidation Payment Date |
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13 |
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Material Company Leases |
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35 |
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Material Contract |
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41 |
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Maximum Premium |
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61 |
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Merger Consideration |
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16 |
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Merger Partnership |
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1 |
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MergerCo |
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1 |
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MergerCo Preferred Shares |
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14 |
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MergerCo Series B Preferred Shares |
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14 |
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MergerCo Series G Preferred Shares |
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14 |
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Mergers |
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1 |
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MRL |
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1 |
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Non-Qualified Account Plans |
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59 |
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NYSE |
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29 |
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Offer Documents |
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21 |
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Operating Partnership |
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1 |
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Operating Partnership Agreement |
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6 |
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Operating Partnership Cash Merger Consideration |
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15 |
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Operating Partnership Merger Consideration |
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16 |
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Option Merger Consideration |
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14 |
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Organizational Documents |
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25 |
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Other Filings |
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34 |
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Parent |
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1 |
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Parent Expenses |
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72 |
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Parent Financing |
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47 |
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Parent Material Adverse Effect |
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6 |
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Participation Agreements |
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36 |
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Partnership Merger |
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1 |
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Partnership Merger Certificate |
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11 |
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Partnership Merger Effective Time |
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11 |
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Partnership SEC Reports |
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41 |
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Paying Agent |
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17 |
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Performance Award Merger Consideration |
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15 |
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Performance Awards |
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15 |
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Permits |
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30 |
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Permitted Liens |
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7 |
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person |
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7 |
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Plans |
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32 |
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Post-Signing Returns |
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65 |
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Property Restrictions |
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34 |
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Proxy Statement |
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29 |
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Qualifying Income |
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73 |
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Redemption Notes |
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23 |
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REIT |
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12 |
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Representative |
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8 |
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SAR Merger Consideration |
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15 |
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SARs |
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15 |
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SDAT |
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11 |
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XXX |
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00 |
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Xxxxxxx 00 |
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00 |
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Securities Act |
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29 |
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Senior Notes |
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8 |
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Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration |
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14 |
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Series B Preferred Units |
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8 |
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Series G Preferred Share Merger Consideration |
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14 |
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Series G Preferred Xxxxx |
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0 |
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Xxxxxx X Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx |
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0 |
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Share Options |
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14 |
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Subsidiaries |
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24 |
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subsidiary |
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9 |
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Superior Proposal |
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9 |
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Surviving Entity |
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10 |
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Surviving Partnership |
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10 |
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Tax Protection Agreements |
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40 |
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Tax Returns |
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37 |
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Taxes |
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9 |
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Termination Date |
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69 |
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Third Party |
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36 |
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Transfer Taxes |
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63 |
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Unit Election |
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16 |
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WARN |
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34 |
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- v -
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of November 19, 2006 (this “
Agreement”),
is made and entered into by and among EQUITY OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST, a Maryland real estate
investment trust (the “
Company”), EOP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a
Delaware limited
partnership (the “
Operating Partnership”, and together with the Company, the “
Company
Parties”), BLACKHAWK PARENT LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (“
Parent”),
BLACKHAWK ACQUISITION TRUST, a Maryland real estate investment trust and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Parent (“
MergerCo”), and BLACKHAWK ACQUISITION L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership
whose general partner is MergerCo (“
Merger Partnership” and together with Parent and
MergerCo, the “
Buyer Parties”).
WHEREAS, the parties wish to effect a business combination through a merger of the Company
with and into MergerCo (the “Company Merger”) on the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations
Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (the “MRL”);
WHEREAS, the parties also wish to effect a merger of Merger Partnership with and into the
Operating Partnership (the “
Partnership Merger” and together with the Company Merger, the
“
Mergers”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in
accordance with Section 17-211 of the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended
(“
DRULPA”);
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Company (the “Company Board”) has (i) approved
this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
declared that the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein, (ii) directed that this Agreement, the Company Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby be submitted for consideration at a meeting of the Company’s
shareholders and (iii) recommended the approval of this Agreement and the Company Merger by the
Company’s shareholders;
WHEREAS, the Company, as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, has approved
this Agreement and the Partnership Merger and deemed it advisable and in the best interests of the
Operating Partnership and the limited partners of the Operating Partnership to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate the Partnership Merger on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of MergerCo has approved this Agreement and the Company Merger
and declared that this Agreement and the Company Merger are advisable and in the best interests of
MergerCo and its shareholder on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, MergerCo, as the sole general partner of Merger Partnership, has approved this
Agreement and the Partnership Merger and deemed it advisable and in the best
interests of Merger Partnership and its limited partner to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the Partnership Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the parties intend that for federal, and applicable state, income tax purposes the
Company Merger will be treated as a taxable sale by the Company of all of the Company’s assets to
MergerCo in exchange for the Company Common Share Merger Consideration and the Company Preferred
Share Merger Consideration provided for herein to be provided to the shareholders of the Company
and the assumption of all of the Company’s liabilities, followed by a distribution of such Merger
Consideration to the shareholders of the Company in liquidation pursuant to Section 331 and Section
562 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and that this Agreement
shall constitute a “plan of liquidation” of the Company for federal income tax purposes; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements in connection with the Mergers, and also to prescribe various conditions to such
transactions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
“Acquisition Proposal” means any proposal or offer for, whether in one transaction or
a series of related transactions, any (a) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business
combination or similar transaction involving the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other
Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation
S-X, but substituting 20% for references to 10% therein), (b) sale or other disposition, directly
or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar
transaction, of any assets of the Company or the Subsidiaries representing 20% or more of the
consolidated assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (c) issue, sale or other
disposition by the Company or any Subsidiary of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or
warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or more of
the votes associated with the outstanding voting equity securities of the Company or 20% or more of
the equity interests or general partner interests in the Operating Partnership, (d) tender offer or
exchange offer in which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act)
shall acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 20% or more of the votes associated with the
outstanding Company Common Shares or 20% or more of the equity interests or general partner
interests in the Operating Partnership, (e) recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation,
dissolution or other similar type of transaction with respect to the Company or the Operating
Partnership, or (f) transaction which is similar in form, substance or purpose to any of the
foregoing transactions; provided, however,
- 2 -
that the term “Acquisition Proposal” shall not include (i) the Mergers or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any merger, consolidation, business
combination, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction solely among the Company and
one or more Subsidiaries or among Subsidiaries.
“Action” means any claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation or
investigation.
“Affiliate” or “affiliate” of a specified person means a person who, directly
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified person.
“beneficial owner” has the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 13d-3(a) of the
Exchange Act.
“Business Day” or “business day” means any day on which the principal offices
of the SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings, or, in the case of determining a date
when any payment is due, any day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are not required
or authorized to close in the City of New York.
“Certificate” or “Certificates” means, unless otherwise specified, any
certificate evidencing Company Common Shares.
“Class A Units” means the Class A Units of the Operating Partnership.
“Company Bylaws” means the Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company as filed
with the SEC as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003.
“Company Charter” means the Restated Declaration of Trust of the Company as filed with
the SEC as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2003.
“Company Common Shares” means the common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01
per share, of the Company.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to the Company, an effect,
event, development or change that is materially adverse to the assets, business, results of
operations or financial condition of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities, taken as a
whole, other than any effect, event, development or change arising out of or resulting from (a)
changes in conditions in the U.S. or global economy or capital or financial markets generally,
including changes in interest or exchange rates, (b) changes in Law or tax, regulatory, political
or business conditions that, in each case, generally affect the geographic regions or industries in
which the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities conduct their business (unless, and only to
the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects the Company, the Subsidiaries and the
JV Entities in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the
industries in which the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities conduct their business and
that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or
- 3 -
change), (c) changes in GAAP, (d) the negotiation, execution, announcement or performance of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or
otherwise, with tenants, suppliers, lenders, investors, venture partners or employees, (e) acts of
war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of
war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway as of the date of this
Agreement (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects the
Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities in a disproportionate manner as compared to other
persons or participants in the industries in which the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV
Entities conduct their business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect,
event, development or change), (f) earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters (unless, and
only to the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects the Company, the Subsidiaries
and the JV Entities, in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in
the industries in which the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities conduct their business
and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or change),
(g) any action taken by the Company or the Subsidiaries at the request or with the consent of any
of the Buyer Parties or (h) any Action brought or threatened by or on behalf of any holder of
equity interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising out of or relating to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that with respect
to references to Company Material Adverse Effect in the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 4.05, the exceptions set forth in clause (d) will not apply. The parties agree that the
mere fact of a decrease in the market price of the Company Common Shares shall not, in and of
itself, constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect, but any effect, event, development or change
underlying such decrease (other than any such effects, events, developments or changes set forth in
clauses (a) through (h) above) shall be considered in determining whether there has been a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
“Company Preferred Shares” means the Company Series B Preferred Shares and the Company
Series G Preferred Shares, collectively.
“Company Properties” means all real property interests, excluding space leases,
together with all buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under
such real property interests and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such real
property, owned or held by the Company, the Subsidiaries or the JV Entities, including fee
interests, ground leasehold interests and mortgage loans held as lender.
“Company Series B Preferred Shares” means the 5.25% Series B Convertible, Cumulative
Preferred Shares, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.
“Company Series G Preferred Shares” means the 7.75% Series G Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.
“Contracts” means any contracts, agreements, licenses, notes, bonds, mortgages,
indentures, commitments or other instruments or obligations, other than Company Leases and Ground
Leases.
- 4 -
“control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control
with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or credit arrangement or otherwise.
“Credit Agreement” means the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of September 22, 2006
among the Operating Partnership, as borrower, the banks listed on the signature pages thereof, Banc
of America Securities LLC, as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner, X.X. Xxxxxx Securities
Inc., as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and the Documentation Agents, Senior Managing
Agents and Managing Agents named therein.
“Disclosure Schedule” means the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to Parent
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement for which the disclosure of any fact or item in
any Section of such disclosure schedule shall, should the existence of such fact or item be
relevant to any other section, be deemed to be disclosed with respect to that other Section so long
as the relevance of such disclosure to such other Section is reasonably apparent from the nature of
such disclosure. Nothing in the Disclosure Schedule is intended to broaden the scope of any
representation or warranty of the Company or the Operating Partnership made herein.
“Environmental Laws” means any Law relating to (i) releases or threatened releases of
Hazardous Substances; (ii) the manufacture, handling, transport, use, treatment, storage or
disposal of Hazardous Substances; or (iii) pollution or protection of the environment, health,
safety or natural resources.
“Exchangeable Notes” means the 4.00% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 of the
Operating Partnership and the Company.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States.
“Governmental Authority” means any United States national, federal, state, provincial,
municipal or local government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency,
instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body or
self-regulated entity.
“Hazardous Substances” means (i) those substances defined in or regulated under the
following United States federal statutes and their state counterparts, as each has been amended as
of the date of this Agreement, and all regulations thereunder including the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the
Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Atomic Energy Act, and the Clean Air Act; (ii)
petroleum and petroleum products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; (iii)
polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, asbestos containing materials, toxic molds, ureaformaldehyde
insulation and radon; and (iv) any other contaminant, substance, material or waste regulated
pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, (i) indebtedness for borrowed money
(excluding any interest thereon), secured or unsecured, (ii) reimbursement obligations under any
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letters of credit or similar instruments, (iii) capitalized lease obligations, (iv)
obligations under interest rate cap, swap, collar or similar transactions or currency hedging
transactions (valued at the termination value thereof), and (v) guarantees of any Indebtedness of
the foregoing of any other person; provided that, for clarification, Indebtedness shall not
include “trade debt” or “trade payables.”
“Intellectual Property” means all United States, foreign and international
intellectual property, including all (i) patents, patent applications and invention registrations
of any type, (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, corporate names and
other source identifiers, and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (iii)
copyrightable works, copyrights, and registrations and applications for registration thereof, and
(iv) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets and know-how.
“knowledge of the Company” means the actual knowledge of those individuals listed on
Exhibit B hereto, without investigation.
“knowledge of Parent” means the actual knowledge of those individuals listed on
Exhibit C hereto, without investigation.
“Law” means any United States national, federal, state, provincial, municipal or local
statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or
other order.
“Liens” means with respect to any asset (including any security), any mortgage, claim,
lien, pledge, charge, option, right of first refusal or offer, security interest or encumbrance of
any kind in respect to such asset.
“Operating Partnership Agreement” means that certain Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of July 2, 2001, as amended
by the First Amendment thereto, dated as of July 29, 2002, the Second Amendment thereto, dated as
of June 27, 2003, the Third Amendment thereto, dated as of December 8, 2003, the Fourth Amendment
thereto, dated as of May 25, 2004, and the Fifth Amendment thereto, dated as of June 9, 2005.
“Parent Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to Parent, an effect, event,
development or change that, individually or in the aggregate with all other effects, events,
developments or changes, is materially adverse to the assets, business, results of operations or
financial condition of Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any effect, event,
development or change arising out of or resulting from (a) changes in conditions in the U.S. or
global economy or capital or financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange
rates, (b) changes in Law or tax, regulatory, political or business conditions that, in each case,
generally affect the geographic regions or industries in which Parent and its subsidiaries conduct
their business (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects
Parent and its subsidiaries in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or
participants in the industries in which Parent and its subsidiaries conduct their business and that
operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or change), (c)
changes in GAAP, (d) the negotiation, execution, announcement or
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performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships,
contractual or otherwise, with tenants, suppliers, lenders, investors, venture partners or
employees, (e) acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or
worsening of any such acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway
as of the date of this Agreement (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event, development
or change affects Parent and its subsidiaries in a disproportionate manner as compared to other
persons or participants in the industries in which Parent and its subsidiaries conduct their
business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or
change), (f) earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters (unless, and only to the extent,
such effect, event, development or change affects Parent and its subsidiaries, in a
disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the industries in which
Parent and its subsidiaries conduct their business and that operate in the geographic regions
affected by such effect, event, development or change), (g) any action taken by Parent and its
subsidiaries at the request or with the consent of any of the Buyer Parties or (h) any Action
brought or threatened by or on behalf of any holder of equity interests in the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries arising out of or relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
provided, however, that with respect to references to Parent Material Adverse
Effect in the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.04, the exceptions set forth in
clause (d) will not apply.
“Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent and Liens for Taxes
being contested in good faith and for which there are adequate reserves on the financial statements
of the Company (if such reserves are required pursuant to GAAP); (ii) inchoate mechanics’ and
materialmen’s Liens for construction in progress; (iii) inchoate materialmen’s, workmen’s,
repairmen’s, warehousemen’s and carriers’ Liens arising in the ordinary course of business of the
Company or any Subsidiary; (iv) with respect to real property, zoning restrictions, survey
exceptions, utility easements, rights of way and similar Liens that are imposed by any Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction thereon or otherwise are typical for the applicable property type and
locality and that do not interfere materially with the current use of such property (assuming its
continued use in the manner in which it is currently used) or, with respect to unimproved or vacant
real property, interfere materially with the intended use of such property; (v) with respect to
real property, any title exception disclosed in any Company Title Insurance Policy provided or made
available to Parent (whether material or immaterial), Liens and obligations arising under the
Material Contracts (including but not limited to any Lien securing mortgage debt disclosed in the
Disclosure Schedule), the Company Leases and any other Lien that does not interfere materially with
the current use of such property (assuming its continued use in the manner in which it is currently
used) or materially adversely affect the value or marketability of such property; (vi) any Liens
securing Indebtedness permitted or required by this Agreement and/or (vii) other Liens being
contested in the ordinary course of business in good faith; provided an appropriate reserve
has been established therefor on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2006.
“person” or “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including a “person” as defined in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), joint venture, trust, association, unincorporated
- 7 -
organization or other entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality
of a government.
“Representative” of a Person means any officer, trustee, director, Affiliate,
employee, investment banker, financial advisor, financing source, attorney, accountant, consultant,
broker, finder or other agent or representative of such Person.
“Senior Notes” means the following securities issued by the Operating Partnership or
Xxxxxxx Properties, L.P., as the case may be: (a) 7.00% Notes due 2007 ($1,500,000 principal amount
outstanding), (b) 6.88% Notes due 2007 ($25,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (c) 6.75% Notes
due 2008 ($150,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (d) 7.25% Notes due 2009 ($200,000,000
principal amount outstanding), (e) 7.125% Notes due 2009 ($150,000,000 principal amount
outstanding), (f) 7.65% Notes due 2010 ($200,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (g) 7.875%
Notes due 2016 ($25,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (h) 7.35% Debentures due 2017
($200,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (i) 7.50% Debentures due 2027 ($150,000,000 principal
amount outstanding), (j) 6.763% Notes due 2007 ($300,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (k)
7.41% Senior Notes due 2007 ($50,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (l) 7.75% Note due 2007
($600,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (m) 6.75% Notes due 2008 ($300,000,000 principal
amount outstanding), (n) 6.80% Note due 2009 ($500,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (o) 8.10%
Notes due 2010 ($360,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (p) Floating Rate Notes due 2010
($200,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (q) 4.65% Fixed Rate Notes due 2010 ($800,000,000
principal amount outstanding), (r) 7.00% Notes due 2011 ($1,100,000,000 principal amount
outstanding), (s) 6.75% Note due 2012 ($500,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (t) 5.875% Notes
due 2013 ($500,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (u) 4.75% Notes due 2014 ($1,000,000,000
principal amount outstanding), (v) Floating Rate Notes due 2014 ($45,000,000 principal amount
outstanding), (w) 7.25% Notes due 2018 ($250,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (x) 4.00%
Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 ($1,500,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (y) 7.25% Notes
due 2028 ($225,000,000 principal amount outstanding), (z) 7.50% Notes due 2029 ($200,000,000
principal amount outstanding), (aa) 7.875% Notes due 2031 ($300,000,000 principal amount
outstanding), (bb) 7.125% Notes due 2006 ($100,000,000 principal amount outstanding) and (cc) the
InterNotes ($74,898,000 total principal amount outstanding).
“Series B Preferred Units” means the 5.25% Series B Convertible, Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Units of the Operating Partnership.
“Series G Preferred Units” means the 7.75% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred
Units of the Operating Partnership.
“Series H Preferred Unit” means a Series H Preferred Unit of the Surviving Partnership
as defined in the form of Annex A attached as Exhibit A hereto, which shall be annexed to
and made part of the Operating Partnership Agreement immediately prior to the Partnership Merger
Effective Time.
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“subsidiary” or “subsidiaries” of the Company, Parent or any other person
means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other organization of
which at least 50% of the equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such party.
“Superior Proposal” means a written Acquisition Proposal (on its most recently amended
and modified terms, if amended and modified) made by a Third Party (i) that relates to more than
50% of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company or all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) which the Company Board
determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its financial advisor and after
taking into account all of the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal) to be more
favorable from a financial point of view to the Company’s shareholders (in their capacities as
shareholders) than the Company Merger (including any alterations to this Agreement agreed to in
writing by Parent in response thereto), (iii) the material conditions to the consummation of which
are all reasonably capable of being satisfied in the judgment of the Company Board, and (iv) for
which financing, to the extent required, is then committed or, in the judgment of the Company
Board, is reasonably likely to be available.
“Taxes” means any and all taxes, charges, fees, levies and other assessments,
including income, gross receipts, excise, property, sales, withholding (including dividend
withholding and withholding required pursuant to Sections 1445 and 1446 of the Code), social
security, occupation, use, service, license, payroll, franchise, transfer and recording taxes,
windfall or other profits, capital stock, employment, worker’s compensation, unemployment or
compensation taxes, fees and charges, including estimated excise, ad valorem, stamp, value added,
capital gains, duty or custom taxes, imposed by the United States or any taxing authority (domestic
or foreign), whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or any other basis,
and similar charges of any kind (together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax
and additional amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any government or taxing authority.
SECTION 1.02 Interpretation and Rules of Construction.
In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise
requires:
(a) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule,
such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated;
(b) the table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;
(c) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they
are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;
(d) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in
this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement;
- 9 -
(e) references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute, rule or regulation as
amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes,
include any rules and regulations promulgated under the statute) and to any section of any statute,
rule or regulation include any successor to the section;
(f) all terms defined in this Agreement have the defined meanings when used in any certificate
or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto, unless otherwise defined therein;
(g) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the
plural forms of such terms;
(h) references to a person are also to its successors and permitted assigns; and
(i) the use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGERS
SECTION 2.01 Mergers.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with Section
17-211 of the DRULPA, at the Partnership Merger Effective Time, Merger Partnership and the
Operating Partnership shall consummate the Partnership Merger pursuant to which (i) Merger
Partnership shall be merged with and into the Operating Partnership and the separate existence of
Merger Partnership shall thereupon cease and (ii) the Operating Partnership shall be the surviving
limited partnership in the Partnership Merger (the “Surviving Partnership”). The
Partnership Merger shall have the effects specified in Section 17-211 of the DRULPA.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with Section
8-501.1 of the MRL, at the Company Merger Effective Time, MergerCo and the Company shall consummate
the Company Merger pursuant to which (i) the Company shall be merged with and into MergerCo and the
separate existence of the Company shall thereupon cease and (ii) MergerCo shall be the surviving
real estate investment trust in the Company Merger (the “Surviving Entity”). The Company
Merger shall have the effects specified in Section 8-501.1 of the MRL.
SECTION 2.02 Charter and Bylaws; Partnership Agreements.
(a) The declaration of trust of MergerCo as in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger
Effective Time, shall be the declaration of trust of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended
as provided therein or by Law (including the articles supplementary classifying the MergerCo
Preferred Shares, the “Charter”).
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(b) The bylaws of MergerCo, as in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective
Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended as provided by Law, by
the Charter or by such bylaws (the “Bylaws”).
(c) At the Company Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Entity shall execute and deliver to
the Operating Partnership an acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of the Operating
Partnership Agreement and shall thereafter be admitted to the Operating Partnership as the
substitute general partner and a substitute limited partner of the Operating Partnership and shall
carry on the business of the Operating Partnership without dissolution as provided in the Operating
Partnership Agreement. Prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Company, as the general
partner of the Operating Partnership, shall cause the Operating Partnership Agreement to be amended
to annex to such agreement Annex A in the form of Exhibit A hereto (as so amended, the
“Amended Partnership Agreement”). Following the Company Merger Effective Time, but prior
to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, MergerCo, as the new general partner of the Operating
Partnership, shall file a certificate of amendment to the certificate of limited partnership of the
Operating Partnership to reflect its admission to the Operating Partnership as the new general
partner of the Operating Partnership. From and after the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the
certificate of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership, as in effect immediately prior to
the Partnership Merger Effective Time, as amended above, shall be the certificate of limited
partnership of the Surviving Partnership until thereafter amended as provided by Law. From and
after the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Amended Partnership Agreement shall be the
partnership agreement of the Surviving Partnership until thereafter amended as provided therein or
by Law.
SECTION 2.03 Effective Times.
(a) At the Closing and immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, MergerCo
and the Company shall duly execute and file articles of merger with respect to the Company Merger
in a form that complies with the MRL (the “Articles of Merger”) with the State Department
of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland (the “SDAT”) in accordance with the
MRL. The Company Merger shall become effective upon such time as the Articles of Merger have been
accepted for record by the SDAT, or such later time which the parties hereto shall have agreed upon
and designated in such filing in accordance with the MRL as the effective time of the Company
Merger but not to exceed thirty (30) days after the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by
the SDAT (the “Company Merger Effective Time”).
(b) At the Closing and immediately after the filing of the Articles of Merger and the filing
of the certificate of amendment to the certificate of limited partnership of the Operating
Partnership as required in Section 2.02(c) above, the Operating Partnership shall file a
certificate of merger in a form that complies with the DRULPA (the “
Partnership Merger
Certificate”) with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware (the “
DSOS”),
executed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DRULPA and shall make all other
filings or recordings required under the DRULPA to effect the Partnership Merger. The Partnership
Merger shall become effective upon such time as the Partnership Merger Certificate has been filed
with the DSOS, or such later time which the parties hereto shall have agreed upon and designated in
such filing in accordance with the DRULPA as the effective time of the Partnership Merger (the
“
Partnership Merger Effective Time”).
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SECTION 2.04 Closing. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance
with Section 9.01, the closing of the Mergers (the “Closing”) shall occur as promptly as
practicable (but in no event later than the third (3rd) Business Day) after all of the conditions
set forth in Article VIII (other than conditions which by their terms are required to be satisfied
or waived at the Closing) shall have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit
of the same, or at such other time and on a date as agreed to by the parties (the “Closing
Date”). The Closing shall take place at the offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, 000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or at such other place as agreed to by the parties
hereto.
SECTION 2.05 Trustees and Officers; General Partner.
(a) The trustees of MergerCo immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be
the trustees of the Surviving Entity and the officers of MergerCo immediately prior to the Company
Merger Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Entity, each to hold office in
accordance with the Charter and Bylaws.
(b) The general partner of the Surviving Partnership immediately after the Partnership Merger
Effective Time shall be MergerCo.
SECTION 2.06 Other Transactions. Parent shall have the option, in its sole discretion
and without requiring the further consent of any of the Company Parties or the board of trustees,
board of directors, stockholders or partners of any Company Parties, upon reasonable notice to the
Company, to request that the Company, immediately prior to the Closing, (a) convert or cause the
conversion of one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries that are organized as corporations into limited
liability companies and one or more Subsidiaries that are organized as limited partnerships into
limited liability companies, on the basis of organizational documents as reasonably requested by
Parent, (b) sell or cause to be sold all of the stock, partnership interests or limited liability
interests owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company in one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries at
a price designated by Parent, and (c) sell or cause to be sold any of the assets of the Company or
one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries at a price designated by Parent; provided, however, that (i)
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall be required to take any action in contravention of any
Organizational Document or other Contract, (ii) any such actions or transactions shall be
contingent upon all of the conditions set forth in Article VIII having been satisfied (or, with
respect to Section 8.02, waived) and receipt by the Company of a written notice from Parent to such
effect and that the Buyer Parties are prepared to proceed immediately with the Closing and any
other evidence reasonably requested by the Company that the Closing will occur (it being understood
that in any event the transactions described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) will be deemed to have
occurred prior to the Closing), (iii) such actions (or the inability to complete such actions)
shall not affect or modify in any respect the obligations of the Buyer Parties under this
Agreement, including payment of the Merger Consideration, (iv) neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary shall be required to take any such action that could adversely affect the classification
of the Company as a “real estate investment trust” (a “REIT”) within the meaning of Section
856 of the Code or could subject the Company to any “prohibited transactions” taxes or other
material Taxes under Code Sections 857(b), 860(c) or 4981 and (v) neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary shall be required to take any such action that could result in any United States
federal, state or local income Tax being imposed on the limited partners of the Operating
Partnership. Parent shall upon request by the Company advance to the
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Company all reasonable out-of-pocket costs to be incurred by the Company or, promptly upon
request by the Company, reimburse the Company for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by
the Company in connection with any actions taken by the Company in accordance with this Section
2.06 (including reasonable fees and expenses of its Representatives). The Buyer Parties shall, on
a joint and several basis, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Subsidiaries and their
Representatives from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses,
interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with or as a
result of taking such actions. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the representations,
warranties or covenants of the Company Parties shall be deemed to apply to, or deemed breached or
violated by, any of the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.06 or required by Parent
pursuant to this Section 2.06.
SECTION 2.07 Dissolution and Liquidation of the Surviving Entity. As promptly as
practicable following the Company Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Entity shall deliver written
notice of its election to liquidate and terminate its existence to the holders of the MergerCo
Preferred Shares, stating the date and place of payment of the amount distributable to such holders
of the MergerCo Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of the Charter relating to the
MergerCo Preferred Shares, which notice will be delivered prior to the payment date stated in the
notice (the “Liquidation Payment Date”) in accordance with the terms of the Charter
relating to the MergerCo Preferred Shares. On the Liquidation Payment Date, the holders of the
MergerCo Preferred Shares will receive distributions from the Surviving Entity equal to the amounts
payable to them upon a liquidation of the Surviving Entity in accordance with the terms of the
Charter relating to the MergerCo Preferred Shares. The Surviving Entity will undertake dissolution
in accordance with the provisions of Section 8-502 of the MRL and will file articles of dissolution
with the SDAT. Parent agrees to assume and discharge in accordance with the terms, all of the
liabilities and obligations of the Surviving Entity effective on such liquidation.
ARTICLE III
EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS
SECTION 3.01 Effects on Shares. At the Company Merger Effective Time, by virtue of
the Company Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of Company Common Shares or
holders of any shares in MergerCo:
(a) Each common share of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of MergerCo issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall remain as one issued
and outstanding common share of beneficial interest of the Surviving Entity.
(b) Each Company Common Share that is owned by any Subsidiary or by MergerCo immediately prior
to the Company Merger Effective Time shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to
exist, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.
(c) Each Company Common Share issued and outstanding (including any Company Common Shares held
in any Rabbi Trust for the SERP) immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (other than
shares to be canceled in accordance with Section
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3.01(b)) shall automatically be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to
receive an amount in cash to be paid by Parent equal to $48.50, without interest (the “Company
Common Share Merger Consideration”).
(d) (i) Each Company Series B Preferred Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Company Merger Effective Time (other than the Company Series B Preferred Shares owned by any
Subsidiary or by MergerCo, which shall be automatically cancelled and retired and cease to exist)
shall automatically be converted into, and shall be cancelled in exchange for, the right to receive
one share of 5.25% Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “MergerCo
Series B Preferred Shares”) of the Surviving Entity (the “Series B Preferred Share Merger
Consideration”), and (ii) each Company Series G Preferred Share issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (other than the Company Series G Preferred
Shares owned by any Subsidiary or by MergerCo, which shall be automatically cancelled and retired
and cease to exist) shall automatically be converted into, and shall be cancelled in exchange for,
the right to receive one share of 7.75% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the “MergerCo Series G Preferred Shares” and, together with the MergerCo
Series B Preferred Shares, the “MergerCo Preferred Shares”) of the Surviving Entity (the
“Series G Preferred Share Merger Consideration” and, together with the Series B Preferred
Share Merger Consideration, the “Company Preferred Share Merger Consideration”).
Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the terms of the MergerCo Series B
Preferred Shares shall be set forth in the articles supplementary of MergerCo, substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit D hereto, and the terms of the MergerCo Series G Preferred Shares
shall be set forth in the articles supplementary of MergerCo, substantially in the form set forth
in Exhibit E hereto.
(e) Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, each outstanding qualified or
nonqualified option to purchase Company Common Shares (“Company Share Options”) under any
employee or trustee share option or compensation plan or arrangement of the Company shall become
fully vested and exercisable (whether or not then vested or subject to any performance condition
that has not been satisfied, and regardless of the exercise price thereof). At the Company Merger
Effective Time, each Company Share Option not theretofore exercised shall be canceled in exchange
for the right to receive a single lump sum cash payment, equal to the product of (i) the number of
Company Common Shares subject to such Company Share Option immediately prior to the Company Merger
Effective Time, whether or not vested or exercisable, and (ii) the excess, if any, of the Company
Common Share Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of such Company Share Option
(the “Option Merger Consideration”), less any applicable Taxes required to be withheld in
accordance with Section 3.04 with respect to such payment. If the exercise price per share of any
such Company Share Option is equal to or greater than the Company Common Share Merger
Consideration, such Company Share Option shall be canceled without any cash payment being made in
respect thereof.
(f) Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, all restricted share awards
(“Company Restricted Shares”) granted pursuant to the 1997 Share Option and Share Award
Plan and the 2003 Share Option and Share Incentive Plan (collectively, as amended, modified or
supplemented, the “Incentive Plan”) or otherwise that remain unvested automatically shall
become fully vested and free of any forfeiture restrictions and each Company
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Restricted Share shall be considered an outstanding Company Common Share for all purposes of
this Agreement, including the right to receive the Company Common Share Merger Consideration.
(g) Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, each outstanding stock
appreciation right in respect of Company Common Shares (“SARs”) outstanding under the
Incentive Plan shall become fully vested and exercisable (whether or not then vested or subject to
any performance condition that has not been satisfied, and regardless of the exercise price
thereof). At the Company Merger Effective Time, each SAR not theretofore exercised shall be
canceled in exchange for the right to receive a single lump sum cash payment, equal to the product
of (i) the number of Company Common Shares subject to such SAR immediately prior to the Company
Merger Effective Time, whether or not vested or exercisable, and (ii) the excess, if any, of the
Company Common Share Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of such SAR (the
“SAR Merger Consideration”), less any applicable Taxes required to be withheld in
accordance with Section 3.04 with respect to such payment. If the exercise price per share of any
such SAR is equal to or greater than the Company Common Share Merger Consideration, such SAR shall
be canceled without any cash payment being made in respect thereof.
(h) Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, all performance awards
(“Performance Awards”) granted under the Strategic Long-Term Incentive Plan and the
Deferred Equity Plan pursuant to the Incentive Plan that remain unvested automatically shall become
fully vested and free of any forfeiture restrictions and, at the Company Merger Effective Time,
shall be paid out, in the case of the Strategic Long-Term Incentive Plan, based on performance
through the end of the calendar quarter preceding the date of this Agreement (which would result in
maximum payment), and, in the case of the Deferred Equity Plan, at the maximum level, except in a
lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (x) the number of Company Common Shares subject to
each such Performance Award times (y) the Company Common Share Merger Consideration (the
“Performance Award Merger Consideration”), less any applicable Taxes required to be
withheld in accordance with Section 3.04 with respect to such payment.
SECTION 3.02 Effect on Partnership Units.
(a) At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without
any action on the part of the holder of any partnership interest of the Operating Partnership or
Merger Partnership:
(i) Each Class A Unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Partnership
Merger Effective Time (other than any Class A Units held by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, which Class A Units shall remain outstanding and unchanged as units of limited
partner interest in the Surviving Partnership), subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein, shall be converted, without any action on the part of the holder, into the
right to receive cash in an amount equal to the Company Common Share Merger Consideration,
without interest (the “Operating Partnership Cash Merger Consideration”);
provided, however, that in lieu of the Operating Partnership Cash Merger
Consideration, if but only if (x) the holder of such Class A Unit has effectively
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made and not revoked a valid election pursuant to Section 3.02(b) to receive a Series H
Preferred Unit in respect thereof, and (y) the issuance of such Series H Preferred Units
would be exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws, then each of such holder’s Class A Units shall be converted into one fully paid Series
H Preferred Unit, without interest (such Class H Preferred Unit and/or Operating Partnership
Cash Merger Consideration, the “Operating Partnership Merger Consideration”, and
together with the Company Common Share Merger Consideration, the Company Preferred Share
Merger Consideration, the Option Merger Consideration, the SAR Merger Consideration and the
Performance Award Merger Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”).
(ii) Each Series B Preferred Unit and each Series G Preferred Unit issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time shall remain as one
issued and outstanding Series B Preferred Unit or Series G Preferred Unit, as the case may
be, of the Surviving Partnership.
(iii) The general partner interests of the Operating Partnership shall remain
outstanding and unchanged as general partner interests in the Surviving Partnership, and the
holder thereof shall have such rights, duties and obligations as are more fully set forth in
the Amended Partnership Agreement.
(iv) Each partnership interest in Merger Partnership shall automatically be cancelled
and cease to exist, the holders thereof shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto,
and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.
(b) Subject to Section 3.02(b)(iv) and in accordance with Section 3.02(a)(i), each eligible
holder of Class A Units shall be entitled, with respect to all, but not less than all, of such
holder’s Class A Units, to make an unconditional election, on or prior to the Election Date, to
receive in the Operating Partnership Merger in lieu of the Operating Partnership Cash Merger
Consideration to which such holder would otherwise be entitled, Series H Preferred Units (a
“Unit Election”) as follows:
(i) Merger Partnership shall prepare and deliver to the Operating Partnership, as
promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement and, in any event, not later
than five (5) Business Days after the date on which the Proxy Statement is mailed to the
shareholders of the Company, and the Operating Partnership shall mail to the holders of
Class A Units, a form of election, which form shall be subject to the reasonable approval of
the Company (the “Form of Election”). The Form of Election may be used by each
holder of Class A Units to designate such holder’s election to convert all, but not less
than all, of the Class A Units held by such holder into Series H Preferred Units. Any such
holder’s election to receive Series H Preferred Units shall be deemed to have been properly
made only if Parent shall have received at its principal executive office, not later than
5:00 p.m., New York City time on that date that is five Business Days before the scheduled
date of the Company Shareholders’ Meeting (the “Election Date”), a Form of Election
specifying that such holder elects to receive Series H Preferred Units and otherwise
properly completed and signed. The Form of Election shall state therein the date that
constitutes the Election Date.
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(ii) A Form of Election may be revoked by any holder of a Class A Unit only by written
notice received by Parent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Election Date. In
addition, all Forms of Election shall automatically be revoked if the Partnership Merger has
been abandoned.
(iii) The reasonable determination of Parent shall be binding as to whether or not
elections to receive Series H Preferred Units have been properly made or revoked. If Parent
determines that any election to receive Series H Preferred Units was not properly made, the
Class A Units with respect to which such election was not properly made shall be converted
into Operating Partnership Cash Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 3.02(a).
Parent may, with the agreement of the Company, make such rules as are consistent with this
Section 3.02(b) for the implementation of elections provided for herein as shall be
necessary or desirable to fully effect such elections.
(iv) Each holder of Class A Units, as a condition to making a Unit Election with
respect to such holder’s Class A Units, shall (x) represent to Parent that such holder is an
Accredited Investor (as such term is defined under Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities
Act) and (y) agree to be bound by the terms of the limited partnership agreement of the
Surviving Partnership as it will be in effect immediately following the Partnership Merger
Effective Time (which agreement shall incorporate the terms of the Series H Preferred Units
set forth in Annex A attached as Exhibit A hereto and any other terms determined by
Parent that are not inconsistent with the terms of the Series H Preferred Units (including
terms of the Amended Partnership Agreement that are subject to the voting rights specified
in I(ii) of Annex A) and such matters).
(v) The Company Parties agree to reasonably cooperate with Parent in preparing any
disclosure statement or other disclosure information to accompany the Form of Election,
including information applicable to an offering of securities exempt from registration under
the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 506 thereunder, each of which shall be subject to the
reasonable approval of the Company.
(vi) Promptly after the Partnership Merger Effective Time (but in any event within five
(5) Business Days), Parent shall deliver to each holder of Class A Units entitled to receive
Series H Preferred Units pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.02, a notice confirming
such holder’s record ownership of the Series H Preferred Unit issuable pursuant hereto in
respect of such Class A Units.
SECTION 3.03 Exchange of Certificates and Uncertificated Units; Paying Agent.
(a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent shall appoint a
bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as Exchange and Paying Agent
(the “Paying Agent”) for the payment or exchange, as applicable, in accordance with this
Article III of the Merger Consideration (collectively, such cash and securities being referred to
as the “Exchange Fund”). On or before the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent shall
deposit with the Paying Agent the Merger Consideration, for the benefit of the holders of
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Company Common Shares, Company Share Options and Class A Units, as applicable. Parent shall
cause the Paying Agent to make, and the Paying Agent shall make, payments of the Merger
Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with this Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall
not be used for any other purpose. Any and all interest earned on cash deposited in the Exchange
Fund shall be paid to the Surviving Entity.
(b) Company Preferred Shares. The MergerCo Preferred Shares will be uncertificated
and any certificates that, prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, evidenced Company Series B
Preferred Shares or Company Series G Preferred Shares will thereafter be treated by MergerCo as if
such certificates evidenced the MergerCo Series B Preferred Shares or MergerCo Series G Preferred
Shares, as the case may be, constituting the applicable Merger Consideration.
(c) Share Transfer Books. At the Company Merger Effective Time or the Partnership
Merger Effective Time, as applicable, the share and unit transfer books of the Company and the
Operating Partnership shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of
transfers of the Company Common Shares, Company Restricted Shares, Company Preferred Shares, or
Class A Units, as applicable. From and after the Company Merger Effective Time or the Partnership
Merger Effective Time, as applicable, persons who held Company Common Shares, Company Restricted
Shares, Company Preferred Shares, or Class A Units immediately prior to the Company Merger
Effective Time or the Partnership Merger Effective Time, as applicable, shall cease to have rights
with respect to such shares or units, except as otherwise provided for herein. On or after the
Company Merger Effective Time, any Certificates presented to the Paying Agent, the Surviving Entity
or the transfer agent for any reason shall be exchanged for the applicable Merger Consideration
with respect to the Company Common Shares formerly represented thereby.
(d) Exchange Procedures for Certificates and Uncertificated Class A Units. Promptly
after the Company Merger Effective Time (but in any event within five (5) Business Days), Parent
shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each person who immediately prior to the Company Merger
Effective Time or the Partnership Merger Effective Time, as applicable, held Company Common Shares
or Class A Units entitled to receive Series H Preferred Units pursuant to the terms of Section 3.02
(each, a “Former Equityholder”), pursuant to Section 3.01: (i) a customary letter of
transmittal which shall be subject to the prior approval of the Company (which shall specify that,
if applicable, delivery of Certificates shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass to the Paying Agent, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Paying
Agent, and which letter shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent may
reasonably specify) and (ii) if applicable, instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the
Former Equityholder’s Certificates in exchange for the applicable Merger Consideration to which the
holder thereof is entitled. Upon (i) if applicable, surrender by a Former Equityholder of a
Certificate for cancellation to the Paying Agent or to such other agent or agents reasonably
satisfactory to the Company as may be appointed by Parent, and (ii) delivery by such Former
Equityholder of such letter of transmittal (together with such Certificate, if applicable), duly
executed and completed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may
reasonably be required by the Paying Agent, such Former Equityholder shall receive in exchange
therefor the applicable Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Company Common Shares or
Class A Units, pursuant to the provisions
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of this Article III, and the Certificate (if any) so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled.
In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Shares or Class A Units that is not
registered in the transfer records of the Company or the Operating Partnership, if applicable,
payment may be made to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered
is registered, if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for
transfer and the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other Taxes required by
reason of the payment to a person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish
to the satisfaction of Parent that such Tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered
as contemplated by this Section 3.03, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the
Company Merger Effective Time or Partnership Merger Effective Time, as applicable, to represent
only the right to receive, upon such surrender, the applicable Merger Consideration as contemplated
by this Section 3.03. No interest shall be paid or accrue on any Merger Consideration. Promptly
after the Company Merger Effective Time (but in any event within five (5) Business Days), Parent
shall pay to each holder of a Company Share Option, SAR or Performance Award cancelled in
accordance with this Article III the Option Merger Consideration, the SAR Merger Consideration or
the Performance Award Merger Consideration, as applicable.
(e) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares, Class
A Units or Company Share Options. At the Company Merger Effective Time or Partnership Merger
Effective Time, as applicable, holders of Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares, or Class
A Units (that are converted into the right to receive cash in the Partnership Merger pursuant to
Section 3.02(a)) shall cease to be, and shall have no rights as, shareholders of the Company or
limited partners of the Operating Partnership other than the right to receive the applicable Merger
Consideration provided under this Article III. The applicable Merger Consideration paid in
accordance with the terms of this Article III shall be deemed to have been paid in full
satisfaction of all rights and privileges pertaining to the Company Common Shares, Company
Preferred Shares, and Class A Units exchanged therefor and, if applicable, represented by
Certificates exchanged therefor. The Option Merger Consideration, SAR Merger Consideration or
Performance Award Merger Consideration paid with respect to Company Share Options, SARs and
Performance Awards, respectively, in accordance with the terms of this Article III shall be deemed
to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights and privileges pertaining to the canceled
Company Share Options, SARs and Performance Awards, as applicable, and on and after the Company
Merger Effective Time the holder of a Company Share Option, SAR or Performance Award shall have no
further rights with respect thereto, other than the right to receive the Option Merger
Consideration, SAR Merger Consideration or Performance Award Merger Consideration as provided in
Section 3.01(e).
(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund which remains
undistributed to the holders of Company Common Shares, Class A Units, Company Share Options, SARs
or Performance Awards for twelve (12) months after the Company Merger Effective Time shall be
delivered to the Surviving Entity, and any holders of Company Common Shares, Class A Units, Company
Share Options, SARs or Performance Awards prior to the applicable Merger who have not theretofore
complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Entity and Parent for
payment of the applicable Merger Consideration.
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(g) No Liability. None of the Buyer Parties, Company Parties or the Paying Agent, or
any employee, officer, director, shareholder, partner, agent or Affiliate thereof, shall be liable
to any person in respect of any Merger Consideration, if the Exchange Fund has been delivered to a
public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.
(h) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Paying Agent shall invest the cash included in
the Exchange Fund, as directed by Parent, on a daily basis. Any net profit resulting from, or
interest or income produced by, such investments shall be placed in the Exchange Fund. To the
extent that there are losses with respect to such investments, or the Exchange Fund diminishes for
other reasons below the level required to make prompt payments of the Merger Consideration as
contemplated hereby, Parent shall promptly replace or restore the portion of the Exchange Fund lost
through investments or other events so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is, at all times,
maintained at a level sufficient to make all such payments in full.
(i) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed,
upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost,
stolen or destroyed and, if required by Parent or the Paying Agent, the posting by such person of a
bond in such amount as Parent or the Paying Agent reasonably may direct, the Paying Agent will
issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the applicable Merger
Consideration payable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement.
SECTION 3.04 Withholding Rights. The Surviving Entity, Parent or the Paying Agent, as
applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Company Common Shares, Company Share Options, Company
Restricted Shares, SARs, Performance Awards, Company Preferred Shares or Class A Units such amounts
as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any provision of state, local or foreign
Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Entity, Parent or the Paying
Agent, as applicable, such withheld amounts (i) shall be remitted by the Surviving Entity, Parent
or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, to the applicable Governmental Authority, and (ii) shall
be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of Company Common
Shares, Company Share Options, Company Restricted Shares, SARs, Performance Awards, Company
Preferred Shares or Class A Units in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by
the Surviving Entity, Parent or the Paying Agent, as applicable.
SECTION 3.05 Dissenters’ or Appraisal Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights
shall be available with respect to the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3.06 Termination of DRIP. The Company shall take all actions necessary to
terminate its Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan (the “DRIP”), effective as soon
as possible after the date of this Agreement, and ensure that no purchase or other rights under the
DRIP enable the holder of such rights to acquire any interest in the Surviving Entity or any other
Company Party or Buyer Party as a result of such purchase or the exercise of such rights at or
after such date.
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SECTION 3.07 Debt Offers.
(a) The Company and the Operating Partnership shall use their respective commercially
reasonable efforts to commence as promptly as practicable following the date of receipt of the
Offer Documents from Parent pursuant to subparagraph (ii) below and written instructions from
Parent to commence the Debt Offers, offers to purchase, and related consent solicitations (or, in
the case of the Exchangeable Notes, a consent solicitation which is not related to a concurrent
tender offer) with respect to Senior Notes on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3.07(a)
of the Disclosure Schedule prepared by Parent (or as may otherwise be agreed between the Company
and Parent) and such other customary terms and conditions as are reasonably acceptable to Parent
and the Company (including the related or stand-alone consent solicitations, collectively, the
“Debt Offers”); provided that (i) this Agreement shall have not been terminated in
accordance with Section 9.01, (ii) the Company shall have received from Parent the completed Offer
Documents which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, and (iii) at
the time of such commencement, the Buyer Parties shall have otherwise performed or complied with
all of their agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed on or prior to the
time that the Debt Offers are to be commenced. The Company and the Operating Partnership shall
waive any of the conditions to the Debt Offers (other than that the Mergers shall have been
consummated and that there shall be no order prohibiting consummation of the Debt Offers) as may be
reasonably requested by Parent in writing and shall not, without the written consent of Parent,
waive any condition to the Debt Offers or make any changes to the Debt Offers other than as agreed
between Parent and the Company. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership need make any
change to the terms and conditions of the Debt Offers without their prior written consent, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that such consent shall not be required for an
increase in any consideration payable in the Debt Offers or for any change that is not material.
(b) The Company and the Operating Partnership agree that, promptly following the consent
expiration date, assuming the requisite consents are received, each of the Company, the Operating
Partnership and the Subsidiaries as is necessary shall execute supplemental indentures to the
indentures governing the Senior Notes, which supplemental indentures shall implement the amendments
set forth in the Offer Documents and shall become operative upon acceptance of the Senior Notes for
payment pursuant to the Debt Offers and concurrently with the Company Merger Effective Time,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the conditions to the Debt
Offers). Concurrent with the Partnership Merger Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Company or
the Operating Partnership to accept for payment and after the Partnership Merger Effective Time,
Parent shall cause the Surviving Entity or the Operating Partnership to promptly pay for the Senior
Notes that have been properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Debt Offers and,
subject to receipt of the requisite consents, pay for consents validly delivered and not revoked in
accordance with the Debt Offers.
(c) Promptly after the date of this Agreement, Parent, at its own expense, shall prepare all
necessary and appropriate documentation in connection with the Debt Offers, including the offers to
purchase, related consents and letters of transmittal and other related
documents (collectively, the “Offer Documents”). Parent, the Company and the
Operating Partnership shall, and shall cause their respective subsidiaries to, reasonably cooperate
with each
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other in the preparation of the Offer Documents. The Offer Documents (including all
amendments or supplements thereto) and all mailings to the holders of the Senior Notes in
connection with the Debt Offers shall be subject to the prior review of, and comment by, the
Company and Parent and shall be reasonably acceptable in form and substance to each of them. If at
any time prior to the completion of the Debt Offers any information in the Offer Documents should
be discovered by the Company and the Subsidiaries, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other, which
should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Offer Documents, so that the Offer
Documents shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party that discovers such
information shall promptly notify the other party in writing, and an appropriate amendment or
supplement describing such information shall be disseminated by or on behalf of the Company and the
Operating Partnership to the holders of the applicable Senior Notes. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Section 3.07, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall comply with the
requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other applicable Law to the extent such
Laws are applicable in connection with the Debt Offers. To the extent that the provisions of any
applicable Law conflict with this Section 3.07, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall
comply with the applicable Law and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations hereunder
by such compliance.
(d) In connection with the Debt Offers, Parent may select one or more dealer managers or
solicitation agents (of which one such dealer manager or solicitation agent shall be the Company
Financial Advisor and which others will be reasonably acceptable to the Company), information
agents, depositaries and other agents to provide assistance in connection therewith and the Company
and the Operating Partnership shall, and shall cause the Subsidiaries to, enter into customary
agreements (including indemnities) with such parties so selected and on terms and conditions
acceptable to Parent. Parent shall pay the fees and expenses of any dealer manager, solicitation
agent, information agent, depositary or other agent retained in connection with the Debt Offers,
and Parent further agrees to reimburse the Company and the Operating Partnership and the
Subsidiaries for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket costs (including reasonable fees and
expenses of their Representatives) in connection with the Debt Offers promptly following incurrence
and delivery of reasonable documentation of such costs. The Buyer Parties shall, on a joint and
several basis, indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its Subsidiaries, their Representatives
(other than any direct indemnification of any dealer manager or solicitation agent, which shall be
indemnified under the applicable dealer manager or solicitation agent agreement; provided,
however, that the Buyer Parties shall indemnify the Company and its Subsidiaries from and
against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards,
judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with any dealer manager or
solicitation agent agreement) from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims,
costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in
connection with the Debt Offers and the Offer Documents; provided, however, that
none of the Buyer Parties shall have any obligation to indemnify and hold harmless any such party
or person to the extent that such liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest,
awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred arises from disclosure regarding the Company
and its Subsidiaries supplied by such party or person or
included in any Company SEC Report that is determined to have contained a material
misstatement or omission.
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SECTION 3.08 Redemption and Satisfaction and Discharge.
(a) (i) The Operating Partnership shall pay at maturity the $100,000,000 7.125% Notes due
December 1, 2006 and shall use its reasonable best efforts to redeem the $1,500,000 7.0% Notes due
February 1, 2007, $25,000,000 6.88% Notes due April 30, 2007 and $25,000,000 7.875% Notes due
December 1, 2016 (collectively, the “Redemption Notes”) as soon as practicable but in any
event within 85 days of the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of such Redemption
Notes and related indentures.
(b) To the extent that, as of the Closing Date, the requisite consents specified in Section
3.07(a) of the Disclosure Schedule have not been validly delivered (without having been properly
withdrawn) in accordance with the Debt Offers with respect to any series of Senior Notes by the
holders thereof, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall, immediately prior to the Company
Merger Effective Time, issue an irrevocable notice of optional redemption for all of the then
outstanding Senior Notes of such series as have not delivered the requisite consents and which are
redeemable in accordance with the terms of such series of Senior Notes and the applicable indenture
governing such series of the Senior Notes and which shall provide for the satisfaction and
discharge of such Senior Notes and such indentures with respect to such series of Senior Notes;
provided, Parent shall have provided written notice to the Company confirming that all
conditions set forth in Sections 8.01 and 8.02 have been satisfied (or with respect to Section
8.02, except for Section 8.02(g), waived) and that the Buyer Parties are prepared to proceed
immediately with the Closing; and provided further that, the Buyer Parties shall have irrevocably
deposited with the applicable trustee under each indenture sufficient funds to effect such
satisfaction and discharge.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and the Operating Partnership
hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Buyer Parties as follows:
SECTION 4.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries; Authority.
(a) Each Company Party is a real estate investment trust or limited partnership duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland or the
State of
Delaware, as applicable. Each Company Party is duly qualified or licensed to do business
as a foreign trust or limited partnership and is in good standing under the laws of any other
jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in
which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where
the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Company Party
has all requisite real estate investment trust or partnership power and authority to own,
operate, lease and encumber its properties and carry on its business as now conducted in all
material respects.
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(b) The outstanding equity of each of the Company’s subsidiaries, including the Operating
Partnership (the “Subsidiaries”), is owned by the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary
except as set forth in Section 4.01(b) or 4.03(g) of the Disclosure Schedule (which Section of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth in respect of such Subsidiaries the outstanding equity of each such
Subsidiary owned by Persons other than the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary, together with the
names of such other Persons). Except as set forth in Sections 4.01(b) and 4.01(c) of the
Disclosure Schedule and except for any buy/sell rights, rights of first offer or refusal or similar
contractual rights under any Contracts set forth in Sections 4.13 and 4.17 of the Disclosure
Schedule and in the Company Leases, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of
stock of, or other equity interest in, or any other securities convertible or exchangeable into or
exercisable for stock of or other equity interest in, any Person with an aggregate fair market
value with respect to such Person in excess of $5,000,000. Except as set forth in Section 4.01(b)
and 4.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, all issued and outstanding shares or other equity interests
of each Subsidiary and JV Entity are owned directly or indirectly by the Company or a wholly owned
Subsidiary, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens specified in the organizational documents
of JV Entities, or in loan documents that are Material Contracts or, in the case of a JV Entity,
other loan documents applicable to such JV Entity. Each Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the
Company, each JV Entity, is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly
incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation or formation, except where the failure to be so incorporated, formed, validly
existing or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the
Company, the JV Entities, has the requisite corporate, limited partnership, limited liability
company or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have such power and authority
would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. Each of the Operating Partnership, the other Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of
the Company, each JV Entity, is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing
(to the extent applicable), in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned,
leased or operated by it or the conduct or nature of its business makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, except for jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified, licensed or
in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) A correct and complete list of Persons, other than the Subsidiaries, in which the Company
or any Subsidiary has a direct or indirect equity interest having a fair market value in excess of
$5,000,000 (the “JV Entities”), together with the names of the other members and partners
in each JV Entity and the respective percentage stated interests of each such member or partner in
each JV Entity is set forth in Section 4.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 4.02 Organizational Documents. The Company has previously provided or made available complete copies of the Company
Charter, which constitutes the declaration of trust of the Company as in effect on the date hereof,
and the Company Bylaws, the Operating Partnership Agreement, and the certificate of limited
partnership of the Operating Partnership (and in each case, all amendments thereto) and the
material organizational documents of each of the JV Entities in its possession (collectively, the
“Organizational
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Documents”). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) all Organizational Documents
are in full force and effect and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities have been
commenced and (ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any of the
Organizational Documents.
SECTION 4.03 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized shares of beneficial interest of the Company consist of 750,000,000 Company
Common Shares and 100,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share,
of the Company, of which (i) 7,000,000 shares have been designated as Company Series B Preferred
Shares, (ii) 4,600,000 shares have been designated as
85/8% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred
Shares of Beneficial Interest (the “Company Series C Preferred Shares”) and (iii) 9,200,000
shares have been designated as Company Series G Preferred Shares. As of November 17, 2006, (i)
351,963,875 Company Common Shares (which includes 1,853,739 Company Restricted Shares), (ii)
5,989,930 Company Series B Preferred Shares, (iii) no Company Series C Preferred Shares and (iv)
8,500,000 Company Series G Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding. As of November 17, 2006,
14,557,547 Company Common Shares have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company Share
Options and no Company Common Shares have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the SARs. As of
November 17, 2006, 14,557,547 Company Share Options to purchase 14,557,547 Company Common Shares
were outstanding under the Incentive Plan and 1,254 SARs in respect of 1,254 Company Common Shares
were outstanding under the Incentive Plan. As of November 17, 2006, 186,701 Performance Awards in
respect of a maximum number of 373,402 Company Common Shares were outstanding. As of November 17,
2006, 38,531,496 Company Common Shares have been reserved for issuance upon the redemption of Class
A Units outstanding on the date hereof, 8,389,256 Company Common Shares have been reserved for
issuance upon the conversion of the Company Series B Preferred Shares, 41,424,900 Company Common
Shares have been reserved for issuance upon the conversion of the Exchangeable Notes, 296,768
Company Common Shares have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Strategic Long-Term Incentive
Plan, 76,634 Company Common Shares have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Deferred Equity
Plan and 2,000,000 Company Common Shares have previously been reserved for issuance pursuant to the
Company ESPP. As of November 17, 2006, the Company had no Company Common Shares reserved for
issuance or required to be reserved for issuance other than as described above. Since November 17,
2006 and through the date of this Agreement, other than in connection with the issuance of Company
Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of Company Share Options or SARs or redemption or conversion
of Class A Units, in each case outstanding as of November 17, 2006, there has been no change in the
number of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company or Company Share Options or the number
of outstanding Performance Awards. All issued and outstanding shares of the Company and the
Subsidiaries are, and all shares subject to issuance as
specified above, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments
pursuant to which they are issuable will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights under any provision of Law or the applicable
Organizational Documents.
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(b) Except for the Company Share Options, SARs, Performance Awards, Class A Units, the
Exchangeable Notes, the Company Series B Preferred Shares or as set forth in Section 4.03(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no options, warrants, calls, subscription rights, exercisable,
convertible or exchangeable securities or other rights, agreements or commitments (contingent or
otherwise) that obligate the Company to issue, transfer or sell any shares of capital stock of the
Company or other equity interest in the Company, or any investment that is convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for any such shares. Section 4.03(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true, complete and correct list of the Company Share Options as of the date of this
Agreement, including the name of the Person to whom such Company Share Options have been granted,
the number of shares subject to each Company Share Option, the per share exercise price or purchase
price for each Company Share Option.
(c) Section 4.03(c) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of
the unvested Company Restricted Shares as of November 17, 2006, including the name of the Person to
whom such Company Restricted Shares have been granted for each such award. As of November 17,
2006, there were 1,853,739 Company Restricted Shares issued and outstanding.
(d) Section 4.03(d) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of
the cash payable (or formula for determining) in connection with the Company’s stock value unit
awards outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, including the name of the Person to whom such
cash awards have been granted for each such award. Except as set forth in Sections 4.03(c) or (d)
of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not have outstanding any share appreciation rights,
dividend equivalent rights, stock-based performance awards, restricted stock unit awards or
“phantom” shares.
(e) Except as set forth in the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws or Section 4.03(e) of the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no agreements or understandings to which the Company is a party with
respect to the voting of any Company Common Shares or which restrict the transfer of any such
shares, nor as of the date of this Agreement does the Company have knowledge of any third party
agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of any such shares. Except for the
Exchangeable Notes and the Company Preferred Shares, none of the Company or any Subsidiary has any
outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have the right to
vote (or which are convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for securities having the
right to vote) on any matter that the shareholders of the Company or partners of the Operating
Partnership may vote.
(f) Except as set forth in the Section 4.03(f)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule or the
Organizational Documents, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Common Shares or capital
stock of any Subsidiary.
(g) The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As of the date
hereof, the Company held 351,963,875 Class A Units, 5,989,930 Series B Preferred Units and
8,500,000 Series G Preferred Units. In addition to the Class A Units held by the Company, as of
November 17, 2006, 38,531,496 Class A Units, no Series B Preferred Units and
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no Series G Preferred
Units were issued and outstanding and no other units or equity interests in the Operating
Partnership were issued and outstanding. Since November 17, 2006 and through the date of this
Agreement, other than in connection with the redemption or conversion of Class A Units in
accordance with the Operating Partnership Agreement, there have been no changes in the number of
outstanding units of the Operating Partnership. Section 4.03(g) of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a list of all holders of Class A Units of partnership interest in the Operating Partnership
other than the Company as of November 17, 2006, including the name of the Person holding each such
unit, and the number and type (e.g., general, limited, etc.). Except as set forth in the Operating
Partnership Agreement, there are no options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible
securities, or other rights, agreements or commitments that obligate the Company, the Operating
Partnership or any other Subsidiary to issue, repurchase, redeem, transfer or sell any partnership
interests of the Operating Partnership. Except as set forth in Section 4.03(g) of the Disclosure
Schedule, the partnership interests in the Operating Partnership that are owned by the Company are
owned free and clear of any Liens and are subject only to the restrictions on transfer set forth in
the Operating Partnership Agreement and those imposed by applicable Law.
(h) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money
of the Company and the Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000 in principal amount, other than
indebtedness in the amounts identified by instrument in Section 4.03(h) of the Disclosure Schedule
and excluding inter-company Indebtedness among the Company and the Subsidiaries.
(i) The Company does not have a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan.
SECTION 4.04 Authority Relative to this Agreement, Takeover Laws, Validity and Effect of
Agreements.
(a) The Company has all necessary real estate investment trust power and authority to execute
and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject to the approvals
described in the penultimate sentence of this Section 4.04(a), to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to which the Company is a party, including the Company Merger. The
Company Board has (i) approved this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and declared that the Company Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (ii) directed that this
Agreement and the Company Merger be submitted for consideration at a meeting of the Company’s
shareholders and (iii) recommended the approval of this Agreement and the Company Merger by the
Company’s shareholders. Except for the approvals described in the following sentence, the
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Company Merger, have been duly and
validly authorized by all necessary real estate investment trust action on behalf of the Company.
No other real estate investment trust
proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Company Merger, other
than (i) the affirmative approval of the Company Merger by at least a majority of all the votes
entitled to be cast on the matter by the holders of all outstanding Company Common
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Shares (the“ Company Shareholder Approval”), and (ii) the execution, filing with, and the acceptance
for record by, the SDAT of the Articles of Merger as required by the MRL. This Agreement has been
duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery by each of the Buyer Parties, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’
rights or by general equity principles.
(b) The Operating Partnership (through the Company as its general partner) has all necessary
partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to which the Operating
Partnership is a party, including the Partnership Merger. The execution, delivery and performance
by the Operating Partnership of this Agreement and the consummation by the Operating Partnership of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Partnership Merger, have been duly
and validly authorized by all necessary partnership action on behalf of the Operating Partnership,
including by all necessary action of the partners of the Operating Partnership, and no other
partnership proceedings are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the Partnership Merger, other than the filing of the
Partnership Merger Certificate as required by the DRULPA. Other than the approvals of the partners
of the Operating Partnership, which approval has been obtained, and the Company Shareholder
Approval, no other vote or approval of the holders of any class or series of the capital stock,
partnership interests or other equity interest of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is
necessary to approve the Company Merger, the Partnership Merger and the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Operating Partnership (and by the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership) and, assuming the
due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the Buyer Parties, constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Operating Partnership, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general applicability relating
to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles.
(c) The Company Parties have taken all action required to be taken by them in order to exempt
this Agreement, the Company Merger and the Partnership Merger, and this Agreement, the Company
Merger and the Partnership Merger are exempt, from the requirements of any “fair price,”
“moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “affiliate transaction,” “business combination” or other
takeover Laws of the MRL, the Maryland General Corporation Law or the DRULPA.
SECTION 4.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.05(a) of the Disclosure Schedule and except as set forth
in the Organizational Documents, Ground Leases, loan documents evidencing or securing Indebtedness,
all of which have been made available to Parent, subject to the receipt of the Company Shareholder
Approval, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by any of the Company Parties do not, and
the performance of their respective obligations hereunder will
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not, (i) conflict with or violate
(1) the Company Charter or the Company Bylaws, (2) the Operating Partnership Agreement or the
certificate of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership or (3) the organizational documents
of any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, the organizational documents of any JV
Entity, as amended or supplemented, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and
other actions described in subsection (b) of this Section 4.05 have been obtained and all filings
and obligations described in subsection (b) of this Section 4.05 have been made, conflict with or
violate any Law applicable to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, or by which any property or asset of the Company, the
Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, is
bound, or (iii) require any consent or result in any violation or breach of or constitute (with or
without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give to others any right of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation or any right to purchase or sell assets or equity) under,
result in the loss of any material right or benefit under, or result in the triggering of any
payments or result in the creation of a Lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the
Company, the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV
Entity, pursuant to, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material Permit, Material
Company Lease or Material Contract to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it
or any of its respective properties or assets may be bound, except, with respect to clauses (i)(3),
(ii) and (iii), any matter, event or consequence described herein that would not, individually or
in the aggregate, (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Mergers and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B) reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery by the Company Parties of this Agreement does not, and the
performance of their respective obligations hereunder will not, require any consent, approval,
order, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority,
except (i) for (A) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), state securities or “blue sky” laws (“Blue Sky Laws”), (B) the pre-merger
notification requirements of the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended
(the “HSR Act”), (C) the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) of a proxy statement relating to the Company Merger to be sent to the Company’s
shareholders (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Proxy Statement”) and
other written communications that may be deemed “soliciting materials” under Rule 14a-12
promulgated under the Exchange Act, (D) any filings required under the rules and regulations of the
New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), (E) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and
the acceptance for record thereof by, the SDAT, and (F) the filing of the Partnership Merger
Certificate with, and the acceptance for record thereof by, the DSOS, (G) such filings as may be
required in connection with the payment of any transfer and gain taxes, and (H) filings required by
federal, state or local Environmental Laws, or and (ii) where the
failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings
or notifications, would not, individually or in the aggregate, (A) prevent or materially delay
consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B)
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.06 Permits; Compliance with Laws.
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(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.06(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, each of the Company,
the Operating Partnership and the other Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV
Entities, is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, consents,
certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary for it to own, lease and
operate its properties or to carry on its business as it is now being conducted (collectively, the
“Permits”), and all such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the
failure to possess the Permits, or the suspension or cancellation of, any of the Permits would not,
individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
No suspension or cancellation of any Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, and no such suspension or cancellation will result from the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.06(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company,
the Operating Partnership, any other Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity
is in conflict with, or in default, breach or violation of, (i) any Laws applicable to the Company,
the Operating Partnership, any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity,
or by which any property or asset of the Company, the Operating Partnership, any other Subsidiary
or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity is bound or (ii) any Permit, in each case except
for any such conflicts, defaults, breaches or violations which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; No Unknown Liabilities.
(a) Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership has filed all forms, reports and
documents (including all exhibits) required to be filed by it with the SEC since January 1, 2004
(the “Company SEC Reports”). The Company SEC Reports (other than preliminary material),
each as amended prior to the date hereof, (i) have been prepared in all material respects in
accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) did not, when filed as amended prior to
the date hereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has made
available to Parent copies of all material correspondence between the SEC, on the one hand, and the
Company and any of its Subsidiaries on the other hand since January 1, 2004. Except as set forth
in Section 4.07(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, no Subsidiary other than the Operating Partnership
is or has been required to file any form, report or other document with the SEC or any securities
exchange or quotation service.
(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto)
contained in or incorporated by reference into the Company SEC Reports was prepared in accordance
with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except as
may be indicated in the notes thereto), complied in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC and
- 30 -
each fairly presented, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries or the Operating Partnership and its consolidated
subsidiaries, as the case may be, as of the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods
indicated therein except as otherwise noted therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements,
to normal and recurring year end adjustments).
(c) Except (i) as set forth in Section 4.07(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, (ii) to the extent
set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2006 (including the
notes thereto) included in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, (iii)
liabilities incurred on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement,
and (iv) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
since September 30, 2006, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries had any liabilities or
obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) required by GAAP to
be set forth in a consolidated balance sheet of the Company or in the notes thereto, except for any
such liabilities or obligations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since
December 31, 2005 through the date hereof, (a) each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and
the other Subsidiaries has conducted its business substantially in the ordinary course consistent
with past practice, (b) there has not been an effect, event, development or circumstance that,
individually or in the aggregate with all other effects, events, developments and changes, has
resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, (c) there
has not been any declaration, setting aside for payment or payment of any dividend or other
distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect to any of the Company Preferred
Shares, Company Common Shares or the Class A Units other than (i) regular quarterly cash dividends
at a rate equal to $0.33 per Company Common Share, (ii) dividends paid to holders of the Company
Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of such securities, and (iii) distributions paid to
holders of Class A Units in accordance with the terms of the Operating Partnership Agreement, and
(d) there has not been any material change in any tax method or election by the Company or any
Subsidiary.
SECTION 4.09 Absence of Litigation. Except (i) as listed in Section 4.09 of the Disclosure Schedule or (ii) as set forth in the
Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, there is no Action pending (in which
service of process has been received by an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary) or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
any of its or their respective properties or assets or any director, officer
or employee of the Company or any Subsidiaries or other Person, in each case, for whom the
Company or any Subsidiaries may be liable, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
(x) prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of any Company Party to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, the consummation of the Mergers or any other transaction
contemplated by this Agreement or (y) have a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company
and its Subsidiaries is subject to any order, judgment, writ, injunction or decree, except as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of any
Company Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the consummation of the Mergers or
any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or (y) have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
- 31 -
SECTION 4.10 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Section 4.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule lists all employee benefit plans (as defined in
Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”))
and material bonus, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive, deferred
compensation, retiree medical or life insurance, supplemental retirement, severance or other
benefit plans, programs or arrangements, and all retention, bonus, employment, termination,
severance or other contracts or agreements to which the Company or any “ERISA Affiliate” (as
defined in Section 4.10(g)) is a party, with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
has any current or future obligation or which are maintained, contributed to or sponsored by the
Company or any Subsidiary for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director or
independent contractor of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate (all such plans, programs,
arrangements, contracts or agreements, whether or not listed in Section 4.10(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule, and without qualification for materiality as provided above, collectively, the
“Plans”). The Company has made available to Parent copies of the following: (i) the Plans
set forth on Section 4.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, (ii) the annual report (Form 5500), if
any, filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for the last three plan years, (iii)
the most recently received IRS determination letter, if any, relating to a Plan set forth on
Section 4.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, (iv) the most recently prepared actuarial report or
financial statement, if any, relating to a Plan set forth on Section 4.10(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule, (v) the most recent summary plan description, if any, for such Plan set forth on Section
4.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule (or other descriptions of such Plan provided to employees) and
all modifications thereto, and (vi) all material correspondence with the Department of Labor or the
IRS.
(b) Each Plan has been established and operated in accordance with its terms and the
requirements of all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code, except for such noncompliance
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each
Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the
Code) has been operated since January 1, 2005 in good faith compliance with Section 409A of the
Code and IRS Notice 2005-1. No Action is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened,
with respect to any Plan (other than claims for benefits in the ordinary course) that would,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or Section
401(k) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS, or is entitled to
rely on a favorable opinion issued by the IRS, and to the knowledge of the Company no fact or event
has occurred since the date of such determination letter or letters from the IRS that would
reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Plan or the exempt
status of any such trust.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 4.10(d)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company
nor any ERISA Affiliate, sponsors, has sponsored or has any obligation with respect to any employee
benefit plan that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA, is an employee stock ownership
plan within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, a voluntary employee beneficiary
association or is a multiemployer plan within the meaning of
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Section 3(37) of ERISA. Except as set
forth in Section 4.10(d)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any ERISA
Affiliate sponsors, has sponsored or has any obligation with respect to any employee benefit plan
that provides for any post-employment or post-retirement health or medical or life insurance
benefits for retired, former or current employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, except as
required by Section 4980B of the Code.
(e) Full payment has been made, or otherwise properly accrued on the books and records of the
Company and any ERISA Affiliate, of all amounts that the Company and any ERISA Affiliate are
required under the terms of the Plans to have paid as contributions to such Plans on or prior to
the date hereof (excluding any amounts not yet due) and the contribution requirements, on a
prorated basis, for the current year have been made or otherwise properly accrued on the books and
records of the Company through the Closing Date.
(f) Except as contemplated by Section 3.01(e), (f), (g) and (h), or as set forth in Section
4.10(f)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the Mergers and the transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone or in
conjunction with any other event) result in, cause the vesting, exercisability or delivery of, or
increase in the amount or value of, any payment, right or other benefit to any employee, officer,
director or other service provider of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate. Except as set forth in
Section 4.10(f)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, no Plan, either individually or collectively,
provides for any payment by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that would constitute a “parachute
payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or in conjunction with any other event).
(g) For purposes of this Section 4.10, an entity is an “ERISA Affiliate” of the
Company if it is considered a single employer with the Company under 4001(b) of ERISA or part of
the same controlled group as the Company for purposes of Section 302(d)(8)(C) of ERISA.
SECTION 4.11 Labor Matters.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor
any Subsidiary is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract
applicable to persons employed by the Company or any Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Section
4.11 of the Disclosure Schedule or as would not, individually or the aggregate, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has breached or otherwise
failed to comply with any provision of any such agreement or contract, and there are no grievances
outstanding against the Company or any Subsidiary under such agreement or contract, (ii) none of
the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries is represented by a union, (iii) to the knowledge
of the Company no union organizing efforts have been conducted within the last three years or are
now being conducted, and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no and has not been a,
strike, slowdown, work stoppage or lockout by or with respect to any employees of the Company or
any Subsidiary.
(b) Except as would not, individually or the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all
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applicable Laws relating
to the employment of labor, including all applicable Laws relating to wages, hours, collective
bargaining, employment discrimination, civil rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation, pay
equity and the collection and payment of withholding and/or social security taxes. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation under the Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) or any similar state or local Law
within the last six months which remains unsatisfied.
SECTION 4.12 Information Supplied. The information supplied by the Company Parties for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in the Proxy Statement or any other document to be filed with the SEC or provided to holders of
Class A Units in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Other
Filings”) will not, in the case of the Proxy Statement, at the date it is first mailed to the
Company’s shareholders or at the time of the Company Shareholders’ Meeting or at the time of any
amendment or supplement thereof, or, in the case of any Other Filing at the date it is first mailed
to the Company’s shareholders or at the date it is first filed with the SEC, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading. No representation is made (or omitted to be made) by the Company Parties
with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied
by Buyer Parties in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings for
inclusion or incorporation by reference therein. All documents that the Company is responsible for
filing with the SEC in connection with the Mergers, or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, will comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
SECTION 4.13 Property and Leases.
(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) Section 4.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
correct and complete list of all Company Properties owned or held or in which the Company has an
interest as a mortgage or mezzanine lender as of the date hereof by the Company and the
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities and (ii) as of the date hereof,
the Operating Partnership, other Subsidiaries of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company,
the JV Entities own or, if so indicated in Section 4.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, lease each
of the Company Properties, in each case, free and clear of any Liens, title defects, covenants or
reservations of interests in title (collectively, “Property Restrictions”), except for
Permitted Liens.
(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.13(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof,
none of the Company and the Subsidiaries has received (i) written notice that any certificate,
permit or license from any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any of the Company
Properties or any agreement, easement or other right of an unlimited duration that is necessary to
permit the lawful use and operation of the buildings and improvements on any of the Company
Properties or that is necessary to permit the lawful use and operation of all utilities, parking
areas, retention ponds, driveways, roads and other means of egress and ingress to and from any of
the Company Properties is not in full force and effect, except for such failures to
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have in full
force and effect that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, or of any pending written threat of modification or cancellation
of any of same, that would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or (ii)
written notice of any uncured violation of any Laws affecting any of the Company Properties or
operations which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Except where the failure to have such policies, individually or in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or except as provided in
Section 4.13(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, policies or commitments for policies of title insurance
(each a “Company Title Insurance Policy”) have been issued insuring or committing to
insure, as of the effective date of each such Company Title Insurance Policy, the Operating
Partnership’s or the other applicable Subsidiary’s (or the applicable predecessor’s or acquiror’s)
title to or leasehold interest in the Company Properties, subject to the matters disclosed on the
Company Title Insurance Policies and Permitted Liens.
(d) Except as provided for in Section 4.13(d) of the Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of
the Company, as of the date hereof, none of the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any of the JV Entities has received any written notice to the effect that
any condemnation or rezoning proceedings are pending with respect to any of the Company Properties
that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Except as provided in Section 4.13(e) of the Disclosure Schedule, and except for
discrepancies errors or omissions that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect, the rent rolls for the Company Properties dated as of September 30, 2006
which have previously been made available to Parent, list each lease that
was in effect as of September 30, 2006 and to which the Operating Partnership, other
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities, are parties as landlords with
respect to each of the applicable Company Properties (such leases, together with all amendments,
modifications, supplements, renewals, extensions and guarantees related thereto, the “Company
Leases”). Except as set forth in Section 4.13(e) of the Disclosure Schedule, Company has made
available to Parent copies of all Company Leases that relate to in excess of 50,000 square feet of
net rentable area (the “Material Company Leases”), in effect as of the date hereof. Except
as set forth in Section 4.13(e) of the Disclosure Schedule, and except as would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) none of
the Operating Partnership, any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity
has received written notice that it is in default under any Material Company Lease and (ii) no
tenant under a Material Company Lease is in monetary or, to the knowledge of the Company, material
non-monetary default under such Material Company Lease. Except as would not reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (x) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, to
the knowledge of the Company, no other party is in breach or violation of, or default under, any
Material Company Lease, (y) no event has occurred which would result in a breach or violation of,
or a default under, any Material Company Lease by the Company or any Subsidiary, or to the
knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of
time or both) and (z) each Material Company Lease is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance
with its terms and is in full force and effect with
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respect to the Company or the Subsidiaries and,
to the knowledge of the Company, with respect to the other parties thereto.
(f) Section 4.13(f) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct and complete list as of
the date of this Agreement of each ground lease with a Third Party pursuant to which the Operating
Partnership, any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity is a lessee
(individually, a “Ground Lease” and collectively, “Ground Leases”). As of the date
hereof, none of the Operating Partnership, any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the
Company, any JV Entity has received a written notice that it is in default under any Ground Lease
which remains uncured. The Company has made available to Parent copies of each Ground Lease in its
possession and all amendments or other modifications thereto. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is,
to the knowledge of the Company, no JV Entity is, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other
party is, in breach or violation of, or default under, any Ground Lease, (ii) no event has occurred
which would result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any Ground Lease by the Company
or any Subsidiary, or to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto (in each case, with
or without notice or lapse of time or both) and (iii) each Ground Lease is valid, binding and
enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect with respect to the
Company or the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, with respect to the other parties
thereto.
(g) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(g) or 6.01(o) of the Disclosure Schedule or as
contemplated by, or provided in, the Company Leases, Ground Leases or the organizational documents
of the JV Entities or Subsidiaries, as of the date hereof, there are no unexpired option agreements
or rights of first refusal with respect to the purchase of a Company Property or any portion
thereof that is owned by the Operating Partnership or its Subsidiaries or
any other unexpired rights in favor of any party other than the Company or any Subsidiary (a
“Third Party”) to purchase or otherwise acquire a Company Property or any portion that is
owned by the Operating Partnership or its Subsidiaries or any portion thereof or to enter into any
contract for sale, ground lease or letter of intent to sell or ground lease any Company Property or
any portion thereof that is owned by the Operating Partnership or its Subsidiaries.
(h) The Company has provided or made available to Parent all written agreements in its
possession pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary manages, acts as leasing agent for or
provides development services for any real property for any Third Party (including any related
guarantees) and any other contracts which otherwise produce fee income to the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities, in excess of $1,000,000 per
year.
(i) Except for those contracts or agreements set forth in Section 4.13(i) of the Disclosure
Schedule or as contemplated by, or provided in, the Company Leases, Material Contracts, Ground
Leases or organizational documents of the JV Entities or Subsidiaries, none of the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity is a party to any contract or
agreement (collectively, the “Participation Agreements”) with any Third Party that provides
for a right of such Third Party to participate in the profits, sale proceeds or revenues of any
Company Property.
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(j) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(j) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and the
Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in,
all personal property owned, used or held for use by them, except as would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 4.13(j) of the Disclosure Schedule,
neither the Company’s nor any of its Subsidiaries’ ownership of or leasehold interest in any such
personal property is subject to any Liens, except for Permitted Liens and Liens that would not have
a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.14 Intellectual Property. Except as individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect, (a) to the knowledge of the Company, the conduct of the business of the
Company and the Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe or otherwise violate the U.S.
Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party, (b) with respect to Intellectual Property used by,
owned by or licensed to the Company or any Subsidiary (“Company Intellectual Property”),
the Company or such Subsidiary owns the entire right, title and interest in the Company
Intellectual Property purported to be owned by the Company or any Subsidiary and has the right to
use the other Company Intellectual Property in the continued operation of its business as currently
conducted and (c) to the knowledge of the Company, no Third Party is infringing or otherwise
violating the Company Intellectual Property rights.
SECTION 4.15 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 4.15 of the Disclosure Schedule or except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:
(a) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed (or had filed on their
behalf) all material Tax Returns, as defined below, required to be filed by any of them (after
giving effect to any filing extension granted by a Governmental Authority) and (ii) has paid (or
had paid on their behalf) or will timely pay all material Taxes (whether or not shown on such Tax
Returns) that are required to be paid by it. To the knowledge of the Company, such Tax Returns are
true, correct and complete in all material respects. The most recent financial statements
contained in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof reflect an adequate reserve
(excluding any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book
and Tax income) for all Taxes payable by the Company and the Subsidiaries for all taxable periods
and portions thereof through the date of such financial statements and Taxes payable by the Company
and Subsidiaries on the Closing Date will not exceed such reserve as adjusted through the Closing
Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries in filing
their Tax Returns. True and materially complete copies of all federal Tax Returns that have been
filed with the IRS by the Company Parties with respect to the taxable years commencing on or after
January 1, 2003 have been provided or made available to representatives of Parent. Neither the
Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has executed or filed with the IRS or any other taxing
authority any agreement, waiver or other document or arrangement extending the period for
assessment or collection of material Taxes (including any applicable statute of limitation), which
waiver or extension is currently in effect, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no power of
attorney with respect to any Tax matter is currently in force with respect to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries. As used here, the term “Tax Returns” means all reports, returns,
declarations or similar statements with respect to Taxes that are required to be filed with a
taxing authority.
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(b) The Company, (i) for all taxable years commencing with the Company’s taxable year ending
December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2005, has been subject to taxation as a REIT within the
meaning of Section 856 of the Code and has been organized and operated in conformity with the
requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for such years and if the Company Merger is
not consummated prior to January 1, 2007, for the taxable year that will end on December 31, 2006,
(ii) has operated since December 31, 2005 to the date hereof in a manner that will permit it to
qualify as a REIT for the taxable year that includes the date hereof, and (iii) intends to continue
to operate in such a manner as to permit it to continue to qualify as a REIT for the taxable year
of the Company that will end with the Company Merger. To the knowledge of the Company, no
challenge to the Company’s status as a REIT is pending or has been threatened in writing. No
Subsidiary, excluding any Subsidiary in which the Company holds 10% or less by both vote and value,
within the meaning of Code Section 856(c)(4)(B)(iii), is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, other than a corporation that qualifies as a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” within the
meaning of Section 856(i)(2) of the Code, or as a “taxable REIT subsidiary,” within the meaning of
Section 856(1) of the Code.
(c) Each Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company and
which has not elected to be a “taxable REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Code Section 856(1)
(i) has been since its formation treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes
as a partnership or disregarded entity, as the case may be, and not as a corporation or an
association taxable as a corporation and (ii) has not since the later of its formation or the
acquisition by the Company of a direct or indirect interest therein owned any assets (including
securities) that have caused the Company to violate Section 856(c)(4) of the Code or would cause
the Company to violate Section 856(c)(4) of the Code on the last day of any calendar quarter after
the date hereof.
(d) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be
subject to rules similar to Section 1374 of the Code.
(e) Since January 1, 2003, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any
liability for material Taxes under sections 857(b), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code which have not been
previously paid and (ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any material liability
for Taxes that have become due and that have not been previously paid other than in the ordinary
course of business. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (other
than a “taxable REIT subsidiary” or any subsidiary of a “taxable REIT subsidiary”) has engaged at
any time in any “prohibited transactions” within the meaning of Section 857(b)(6) of the Code. To
the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has engaged in any transaction
that would give rise to “redetermined rents, redetermined deductions and excess interest” described
in section 857(b)(7) of the Code. To the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred, and no
condition or circumstance exists, which presents a material risk that any material Tax described in
the preceding sentences will be imposed on the Company or any Subsidiary.
(f) All material deficiencies asserted or material assessments made with respect to the
Company or any Subsidiary and that have been set forth in writing to the Company or such Subsidiary
as a result of any examinations by the IRS or any other taxing authority of the Tax Returns of or
covering or including the Company or any Subsidiary have been fully paid,
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and, to the knowledge of
the Company, there are no other material audits, examinations or other proceedings relating to any
material Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary by any taxing authority in progress. Neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice from any taxing authority that it
intends to conduct such an audit, examination or other proceeding in respect to a material amount
of Taxes or make any material assessment for Taxes. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a
party to any litigation or pending litigation or administrative proceeding relating to a material
amount of Taxes (other than litigation dealing with appeals of property tax valuations).
(g) The Company and the Subsidiaries have complied, in all material respects, with all
applicable Laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including
withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446, and 3402 of the Code or similar
provisions under any foreign laws) and have duly and timely withheld and have paid over to the
appropriate taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or
prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.
(h) To the knowledge of the Company no claim has been made in writing by a taxing authority in
a jurisdiction where the Company or any Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns that the Company or
any such Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(i) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has requested any extension of time within which to
file any material Tax Return, which material Tax Return has not yet been filed.
(j) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any Tax sharing or similar agreement
or arrangement other than any agreement or arrangement solely between the Company and any
Subsidiary, pursuant to which it will have any obligation to make any payments after the Closing.
(k) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has requested a private letter ruling from the IRS
or comparable rulings from other taxing authorities.
(l) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (A) is or has ever been a member of an affiliated
group (other than a group the common parent of which is the Company or a directly or indirectly
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) filing a consolidated federal income tax return and (B) has
any liability for the Taxes of another person other than the Company and the Subsidiaries under
Treasury regulation 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a
transferee or successor or by contract.
(m) Other than Permitted Liens, there are no Liens for a material amount of Taxes (other than
Taxes not yet due and payable for which adequate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP)
upon any of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(n) There are no Tax Protection Agreements currently in force and, as of the date of this
Agreement, no person has raised in writing, or to the knowledge of the Company threatened to raise,
a material claim against the Company or any Subsidiary for any breach of any Tax Protection
Agreement.
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(o) To the knowledge of the Company, neither, the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to any understanding or arrangement described in Section 6662(d)(2)(C)(ii) of the Code or
Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b) or is a material advisor as defined in Section 6111(b) of
the Code.
(p) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any “closing agreement”
as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local
or foreign income Tax law).
As used herein, “Tax Protection Agreements” means any written or oral agreement to
which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (a) any liability to holders of
Class A Units relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (b) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of
a holder of Class A Units, the Company or the Subsidiaries have agreed to (i) maintain a minimum
level of debt or continue a particular debt, (ii) retain or not dispose of assets for a period of
time that has not since expired, (iii) make or refrain from making Tax elections, and/or (iv) only
dispose of assets in a particular manner; and/or (c) limited partners of the Operating Partnership
have guaranteed debt of the Operating Partnership.
SECTION 4.16 Environmental Matters. (a) Except as set forth in the executive summary sections of such reports or memoranda
provided or made available to Parent and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:
(i) each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV
Entities (X) is in compliance with all, and has not violated any, Environmental Laws, (Y)
holds all Permits, approvals, identification numbers, licenses and other authorizations
required under any Environmental Law to own or operate its assets as currently owned and
operated and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted (“Environmental
Permits”) and (Z) is in compliance with all of, and has not violated any of, its
respective Environmental Permits;
(ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has released, and to the knowledge of the
Company, no other person has released, Hazardous Substances on any real property currently
owned, leased or operated by the Company or the Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the
Company, no Hazardous Substances or other conditions are present at any other location that
could reasonably be expected to result in liability of or adversely affecting the Company,
any Subsidiary or any JV Entity under or related to any Environmental Law;
(iii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any
JV Entity, has received any written notice or claim alleging that the Company or any
Subsidiary is or may be in violation of, or liable under, or a potentially responsible party
pursuant to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980 (“CERCLA”) or any other Environmental Law and, to the knowledge of the Company,
there is no basis for any such notice or claim; and
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(iv) (Y) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company,
any JV Entity has entered into or agreed to any consent decree or order or is a party to any
judgment, decree or judicial order relating to compliance with Environmental Laws,
Environmental Permits or the investigation, sampling, monitoring, treatment, remediation,
removal or cleanup of Hazardous Substances that has not been resolved in all material
respects, and to the knowledge of the Company, no investigation, litigation or other
proceeding is pending or, threatened with respect to any of the above or (Z) to the
knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or JV Entity has assumed,
by contract or operation of Law, any liability under any Environmental Law or relating to
any Hazardous Substances, or is an indemnitor in connection with any threatened or asserted
claim by any third-party indemnitee for any liability under any Environmental Law or
relating to any Hazardous Substances.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Section 4.16 sets forth the
Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s sole and exclusive representations and warranties with
respect to Hazardous Substances, Environmental Laws or other environmental matters.
SECTION 4.17 Material Contracts. Except as filed as an exhibit to the Company SEC Reports or reports and documents filed by
the Operating Partnership with the SEC since January 1, 2005 (“Partnership SEC Reports”),
Section 4.17 of the Disclosure Schedule lists as of the date of this Agreement each of the
following Contracts to which the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any
JV Entity, is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets are bound (each such
contract and agreement, being a “Material Contract”) (notwithstanding anything below,
“Material Contract” shall not include any contract that (1) is terminable upon 90 days’ notice
without a penalty or premium, (2) will be fully performed and satisfied as of or prior to Closing,
(3) is a Company Lease or (4) is a Ground Lease):
(a) all agreements that call for aggregate payments by, or other consideration from, the
Company or any Subsidiaries under such contract of more than $10,000,000 over the remaining term of
such contract;
(b) all agreements that call for annual aggregate payments by, or other consideration from,
the Company or any Subsidiaries under such contract of more than $5,000,000 over the remaining term
of such contract;
(c) any agreement that contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any
material line of business in which the Company or any Subsidiary is currently engaged or geographic
area with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary, or that purports to restrict in any material
respect the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to conduct any material line of business in
which the Company or any Subsidiary is currently engaged or to compete with any Person or operate
in any geographic area or location in which the Company or any Subsidiary may conduct business;
(d) any agreements for the pending purchase or sale, option to purchase or sell, right of
first refusal, right of first offer or any other contractual right to purchase, sell,
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dispose of,
or master lease, by merger, purchase or sale of assets or stock or otherwise, any real property,
including any Company Property, or any asset that if purchased by the Company or any Subsidiary
would be a Company Property, in each case where the applicable real property or Company Property
has a fair market value in excess of $5,000,000;
(e) any contract or agreement pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary agrees to
indemnify or hold harmless any current trustee, director or executive officer of the Company or any
Subsidiary (other than the Organizational Documents) in their capacities as such;
(f) any employment agreements, severance, change in control or termination agreements with
officers of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(g) any Contract pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary has potential liability in
respect of any purchase price adjustment, earn-out or contingent purchase price that, in each case,
could reasonably be expected to result in future payments of more than $5,000,000; or any Contract
relating to the settlement or proposed settlement of any Action,
which involves the issuance by the Company or any Subsidiary of equity securities or the
payment by the Company or any Subsidiary of an amount in excess of $5,000,000; and
(h) any license, royalty or other Contract concerning Intellectual Property which is material
to the Company Parties and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
In addition, the term “Material Contract” shall include (x) any material organizational
documents of a JV Entity and (y) (i) any loan agreement, letter of credit, indenture, note, bond,
debenture, mortgage or any other document, agreement or instrument evidencing a capitalized leased
obligation or other Indebtedness of, for the benefit of, or payable to the Company or any
Subsidiary (other than among the Company and the Subsidiaries) in excess of $10,000,000, and (ii)
any Contract (other than any Organizational Document) to provide any funds to or make any
investment in (whether in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) any Subsidiary, JV
Entity or other Person in excess of $5,000,000. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have
a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, to the
knowledge of the Company, no other party is in breach or violation of, or default under, any
Material Contract, (ii) none of the Company or Subsidiary has received any written claim of default
under any such agreement, and (iii) no event has occurred which would result in a breach or
violation of, or a default under, any Material Contract (in each case, with or without notice or
lapse of time or both). Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect, each Material Contract is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its
terms and is in full force and effect with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries and, to the
knowledge of the Company, with respect to the other parties thereto. Except for Material Contracts
filed as exhibits to either Company SEC Reports or Partnership SEC Reports, the Company has made
available to Parent copies of all Material Contracts (including any amendments or other
modifications thereto) in its possession.
SECTION 4.18 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker or other Person (other xxxx Xxxxxxx, Lynch, Pierce,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, the “Company Financial
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Advisor”) is entitled to any brokerage,
finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 4.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received an opinion of the Company Financial Advisor to the effect that (a)
the Company Common Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of the Company Common
Shares is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of such shares, other than Parent and
its affiliates, and (b) the Operating Partnership Cash Merger Consideration to be received by the
holders of Class A Units (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) is fair from a
financial point of view to such holders (assuming such holders receive the Operating Company Merger
Cash Consideration). The Company has made available to Parent a complete and correct copy of such
opinion (or, if not delivered in writing to the
Company prior to the date hereof, the Company will promptly make such opinion available to
Parent upon receipt).
SECTION 4.20 Insurance. Except as set forth in Section 4.20 of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no claim by the
Company or any Subsidiary pending under any insurance policies which (a) has been denied or
disputed by the insurer other than denials and disputes in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice or (b) if not paid, and which, in the case of clause (a) or (b),
would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each such insurance policy, except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (a) the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries have paid, or caused to be paid, all premiums due under the
policy and have not received written notice that they are in default with respect to any
obligations under the policy, and (b) to the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof no
insurer on the policy has been declared insolvent or placed in receivership, conservatorship or
liquidation. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of
cancellation or termination with respect to any existing insurance policy that is held by, or for
the benefit of, any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than as would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.21 Investment Company Act of 1940. None of the Company or any Subsidiary is, or at the Company Merger Effective Time will be,
required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER PARTIES
The Buyer Parties hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company Parties as
follows:
SECTION 5.01 Corporate Organization.
(a) Parent is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of the State of
Delaware. The certificate of formation of Parent is in effect and
no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding Parent as applicable, have been
commenced. Parent is duly qualified or licensed and is in good standing under the Laws of any
other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated
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by it therein
or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary except
where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent has all
requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to carry on its businesses as now conducted and proposed by it to be conducted in all material
respects.
(b) MergerCo is a real estate investment trust duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of the State of Maryland. The declaration of trust and
bylaws of MergerCo are in effect and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings
regarding MergerCo have been commenced. MergerCo is duly qualified or licensed and is in good
standing under the Laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned,
leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such
qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in
good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect. MergerCo has all requisite power and authority as a real estate
investment trust to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its businesses as now
conducted and proposed by it to be conducted. The authorized shares of beneficial interest of
MergerCo consist of 100,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, and
50,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share. All the issued and
outstanding shares of beneficial interest of MergerCo are owned of record and beneficially by
Parent and, other than all of the limited partner interests in Merger Partnership, Parent owns no
equity or ownership interest in or other security issued by any other Person.
(c) Merger Partnership is a limited partnership duly formed, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of the State of
Delaware. The partnership agreement of Merger Partnership
is in effect and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding Merger Partnership
have been commenced. Merger Partnership is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing under
the Laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or
operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect. Merger Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to
own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its businesses as now conducted.
SECTION 5.02 Ownership of MergerCo and Merger Partnership; No Prior Activities.
MergerCo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. MergerCo is the sole general partner of
Merger Partnership. Each of MergerCo and Merger Partnership was formed solely for the purpose of
engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and neither MergerCo nor Merger
Partnership has conducted (or will conduct prior to the Mergers) any activities other than in
connection with its organization, the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Except for the general partner
interests in Merger Partnership, MergerCo owns no equity or ownership interest in or other security
issued by any other Person. Merger Partnership owns no equity interest or ownership interest in or
other security issued by any other Person. All limited partner interests in Merger Partnership are
owned by Parent.
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SECTION 5.03 Corporate Authority.
(a) Each of Parent, MergerCo and Merger Partnership has all necessary limited liability
company, real estate investment trust or limited partnership power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Mergers and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No other proceedings
on the part of Parent, MergerCo or Merger Partnership are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby, except as
contemplated by the immediately succeeding sentence. Immediately following execution of this
Agreement by the parties hereto, Parent shall execute and deliver to MergerCo a written consent
approving this Agreement and the Company Merger in its capacity as sole shareholder of MergerCo.
This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each of Parent, MergerCo and
Merger Partnership (and MergerCo on behalf of Merger Partnership) and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by each of the Company Parties constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of each of Parent, MergerCo and Merger Partnership, enforceable against each of
them in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles.
(b) Parent has duly and validly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
approved the consummation of the Company Merger (to the extent that it is a party thereto), and
taken all limited liability company actions required to be taken by Parent for the consummation of
the Company Merger (to the extent that it is a party thereto).
(c) MergerCo has duly and validly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
approved the consummation of the Company Merger, and MergerCo has taken all real estate investment
trust actions required to be taken for the consummation of the Company Merger (to the extent that
it is a party thereto) except for execution of the Articles of Merger and filing thereof with the
SDAT, subject to the third sentence of Section 5.03(a), and filing with the SDAT of articles
supplementary as contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.01(d).
(d) MergerCo, as the sole general partner of Merger Partnership, has duly and validly
authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and approved the consummation of the
Partnership Merger, and taken all real estate investment trust or similar actions required to be
taken by the sole general partner of Merger Partnership for the consummation of the Partnership
Merger. No other partner action of Merger Partnership is required for the consummation of the
Partnership Merger.
SECTION 5.04 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent, MergerCo and Merger Partnership do
not, and the performance of Parent, MergerCo and Merger Partnership’s obligations hereunder will
not, (i) conflict with or violate the certificate of formation of Parent, the declaration of trust
or bylaws of MergerCo, or the partnership agreement or the certificate of limited partnership of
Merger Partnership, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals,
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authorizations and other actions
described in subsection (b) have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in
subsection (b) have been made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Parent, MergerCo or
Merger Partnership, or by which any of its properties or assets is bound, or (iii) result in any
breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien or other
encumbrance on any of its properties or assets pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation
to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets is bound, except, with
respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other
occurrences that would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent, Merger Partnership or MergerCo do
not, and the performance of Parent, MergerCo or Merger Partnership’s obligations hereunder and
thereunder will not, require any consent, approval, order, authorization or permit of, or filing
with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (i) for (A) applicable requirements,
if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, Blue Sky Laws and state takeover Laws, (B) the
pre-merger notification requirements of the HSR Act, (C) the filing with the SEC of the Proxy
Statement, and (D) the execution, filing with, and the acceptance for record by the SDAT of the
Articles of Merger as required by the MRL, and the acceptance for record thereof by the SDAT, (E)
the filing of the Partnership Merger Certificate with, and the acceptance for record thereof by,
the DSOS, (F) such filings as may be required in connection with the payment of any transfer and
gain taxes, and (G) filings required by federal, state or local Environmental Laws, or (ii) where
the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings
or notifications, would not (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Mergers and the
other transactions contemplated hereby or (B) reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied by Parent, MergerCo or Merger Partnership or any affiliate of
Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings
will, in the case of the Proxy Statement, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s
shareholders or at the time of the Company Shareholders’ Meeting or at the time of any amendment or
supplement thereof, or, in the case of any Other Filing, at the date it is first mailed to the
Company’s shareholders or, at the date it is first filed with the SEC, contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. No representation is made by Parent with respect to statements made or incorporated by
reference therein based on information supplied by the Company Parties in connection with the
preparation of the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings for inclusion or incorporation by reference
therein. All Other Filings that are filed by the Buyer Parties will comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
SECTION 5.06 Absence of Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no Action pending (in which service of process has been
received by an employee of Parent, MergerCo or Merger Partnership) or, to the knowledge of Parent,
threatened in writing against Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their respective
properties or assets except as would not,
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individually or in the aggregate, (A) prevent or
materially impair or delay the ability of any Buyer Party to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the consummation of the Mergers or any other transaction contemplated
by this Agreement or (B) have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. None of Parent and its
subsidiaries is subject to any order, judgment, writ, injunction or decree, except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, (A) prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of any
Buyer Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the consummation of the Mergers or any
transaction contemplated by this Agreement or (B) have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.07 Required Financing; Guarantee.
(a) Parent, MergerCo and Merger Partnership will have available on the Closing Date all funds
necessary to (i) pay the Merger Consideration payable hereunder, (ii) pay for all Senior Notes
accepted for payment pursuant to the Debt Offers (including any consent fees in connection
therewith), (iii) fund the redemption price (including the amount of any accrued and unpaid
interest) with respect to any Senior Notes redeemed pursuant to Section 3.08(b) and any other fees
and expenses relating to the satisfaction and discharge of any indenture with respect thereto
pursuant to Section 3.08(b), (iv) otherwise refinance any existing indebtedness for borrowed money
that may become due and payable as a result of either or both of the Mergers, (v) pay any and all
fees and expenses in connection with the Mergers or the financing thereof (including each of the
transactions described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of this Section 5.07(a)) and (vi) satisfy any
of their respective other payment obligations hereunder.
(b) Parent has provided to the Company a true, complete and correct copy of (i) an executed
commitment letter from Blackstone Real Estate Partners V L.P. to provide Parent with equity
financing in an aggregate amount of up to $3,200,000,000 (the “Equity Funding Letter”),
(ii) an executed commitment letter (the “Equity Bridge Commitment Letter”) from Bear
Xxxxxxx Commercial Mortgage, Inc., Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co and BAS Capital Funding Corporation (the
“Equity Bridge Providers”) pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions
thereof, the Equity Bridge Providers have committed to provide Parent with equity bridge financing
in an aggregate amount of $3,500,000,000 (the “Equity Bridge Financing”) and (iii) an
executed commitment letter (the “Debt Commitment Letter” and, together with the Equity
Bridge Commitment Letter, the “Commitment Letters”) from Xxxxxxx Sachs Mortgage Company,
Bear Xxxxxxx Commercial Mortgage, Inc. and BAS Capital Funding Corporation (the “Lenders”)
pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the Lenders have committed to
provide Parent with financing in an aggregate amount of $29,600,000,000 (the “Debt Financing”
and, together with the Equity Bridge Financing, the “Financing”). The Equity Funding
Letter and the Commitment Letters are collectively referred to herein as the “Financing
Commitments”, and the financing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) in the preceding
sentence being collectively referred to herein as the “Parent Financing”).
(c) The Financing Commitments are (i) legal, valid and binding obligations of Parent and, to
the knowledge of Parent, each of the other parties thereto and (ii) enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms against Parent and, to the knowledge of Parent, each of the other parties
thereto. None of the Financing Commitments has been amended or modified prior to the date of this
Agreement, and as of the date hereof the respective commitments
contained in the Financing Commitments have not been withdrawn or rescinded in any respect.
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As of the date hereof, the Financing Commitments are in full force and effect. Except for the
payment of customary fees, there are no conditions precedent or other contingencies related to the
funding of the full amount of the Parent Financing, other than as set forth in or contemplated by
the Financing Commitments. As of the date hereof, no event has occurred which, with or without
notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or breach on the part of Parent, and to
the knowledge of Parent, any other parties thereto, under the Financing Commitments. As of the
date hereof, Parent has no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the Parent Financing
contemplated by the Financing Commitments will not be satisfied or that the Parent Financing will
not be made available to Parent on the Closing Date. Parent will provide to the Company any
amendments to the Financing Commitments, or any notices given in connection therewith, as promptly
as possible (but in any event within twenty-four (24) hours).
(d) Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent has delivered to the Company a
guarantee (the “Guarantee”) executed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners V L.P.
(“Guarantor”).
SECTION 5.08 No Ownership of Company Shares. Neither Parent nor any of its
subsidiaries, including MergerCo and Merger Partnership, own any Company Common Shares, Company
Preferred Shares, Class A Units, preferred units of Operating Partnership or other securities of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any rights with respect to the foregoing.
SECTION 5.09 Brokers. The Company Parties will not be responsible for any brokerage,
finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent, MergerCo, Merger Partnership or
any of their subsidiaries.
ARTICLE VI
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGERS
SECTION 6.01 Conduct of Business by Company Parties Pending the Mergers. The Company
Parties agree, between the date of this Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time, except as
required, permitted or otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section 6.01 of
the Disclosure Schedule and except with the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, to use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct the
businesses of the Company and the Subsidiaries in all material respects in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice; and the Company Parties shall and shall cause the
Subsidiaries to use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct their operations in compliance, in
all material respects, with applicable Laws and to maintain and preserve substantially intact the
business organization of the Company and the Subsidiaries, to retain the services of their current
officers and key employees, to preserve their assets and properties in good repair and condition
and to preserve the goodwill and current relationships of the Company and the Subsidiaries with
lessees and other persons with which the Company or any Subsidiary has significant business relations.
Except as required or otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section 6.01 of
the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall, between the date of this
Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time, do any of the following without the prior written
consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided,
however, that consent of
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Parent shall be deemed to have been given if Parent does not
object within five (5) Business Days from the date on which request for such consent is provided by
the Company to Parent (unless such consent may be withheld in Parent’s sole discretion as and to
the extent expressly noted below); provided further that for purposes of clauses
(d)(ii), (d)(iii) and (d)(iv), terms and amounts proposed by the Company shall be deemed reasonably
acceptable to Parent if Parent does not object within five (5) Business Days from the date on which
the Company proposes such terms and amounts to Parent:
(a) except as set forth in Section 6.01(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, amend or otherwise
change any provision of the Company Charter, Company Bylaws, Operating Partnership Agreement,
certificate of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership or any other Subsidiary’s
organizational documents.
(b) except as set forth in Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, (i)
authorize for issuance, issue or sell, pledge, dispose of or subject to any Lien (except in
connection with any financing permitted by this Agreement) or agree or commit to any of the
foregoing in respect of, any shares of beneficial interest or shares of any class of capital stock
or other equity interest of the Company or any Subsidiary or any options, warrants, convertible
securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any such shares, or any other equity interest, of
the Company or any Subsidiary, other than the (A) issuance of Company Common Shares upon exercise
of Company Share Options outstanding on the date of this Agreement, (B) issuance of Company Common
Shares in exchange for Class A Units pursuant to the Operating Partnership Agreement, (C) issuance
of Company Common Shares upon the conversion of the Company Series B Preferred Shares or
Exchangeable Notes or (D) issuance of Company Common Shares pursuant to awards made prior to the
date of this Agreement under the Strategic Long-Term Incentive Plan and Deferred Equity Plan and,
subject to Section 7.05(f), the Company ESPP, (ii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
securities or equity equivalents except in the ordinary course of business in connection with (V)
the cashless exercise of Company Share Options, (W) the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Shares,
in each case, in order to satisfy withholding or exercise price obligations, or (X) the redemption
of Class A Units pursuant to the Operating Partnership Agreement, (Y) the cancellation of the
Company Share Options and SARs pursuant to Sections 3.01(e) and 3.01(f), or (Z) the payout of the
Performance Awards pursuant to Section 3.01(h); (iii) reclassify, combine, split, or subdivide any
shares of beneficial interest or shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interest of
the Company or any Subsidiary; or (iv) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other
distribution, payable in cash, shares of beneficial interest, property or otherwise, with respect
to any of the shares of beneficial interest or shares of any class of capital stock or other equity
interests of the Company or any Subsidiary, except for (A) cash dividends by any direct or indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiary only to the Company or any other Subsidiary in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, (B) the quarterly dividend on Company Common Shares for the
quarter ending December 31, 2006 to be declared and paid in cash on or before the Company Merger
Effective Time, such declaration date expected to be on or about December 15,
2006 and such payment expected to be on or about December 29, 2006 (but not to exceed $0.33
per share for the quarter), (C) the corresponding quarterly distribution on Class A Units declared
and paid to holders of Class A Units, (D) cash dividends on the Company Preferred Shares declared
and paid in accordance with the terms thereof, and (E) dividends or distributions required under
the applicable Organizational Documents;
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(c) except pursuant to agreements referenced in Section 4.17(e) or as set forth in Section
6.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity
interests or assets, or any other business combination) any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture or other business organization (or division thereof) or any
individual item of property (other than real property and related assets) or individual asset for
consideration in excess of $5,000,000 or (ii) subject to Parent’s consent in its sole discretion,
acquire, or enter into any option, commitment or agreement to acquire, any real property or
commence any development activity on any Company Property;
(d) incur any Indebtedness or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse, or
otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any person (other than a
Subsidiary) for Indebtedness, except for: (i) Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred under the
Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s revolving credit facility or other existing similar lines
of credit in the ordinary course of business; (ii) refinancings of Indebtedness becoming due and
payable in accordance with their terms on terms and in such amounts reasonably acceptable to
Parent; (iii) Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred in order to finance the redemptions
contemplated by Section 3.08(a) on terms and in such amounts reasonably acceptable to Parent; (iv)
Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred in order to finance acquisitions set forth in Section
4.17(d) of the Disclosure Schedule on terms reasonably acceptable to Parent with a maturity of not
more than one year and prepayable without penalty; (v) Indebtedness for borrowed money assumed in
connection with the acquisition of Torrey View (without material modification of existing terms),
(vi) Indebtedness for borrowed money with a maturity of not more than one year and prepayable
without penalty in a principal amount not in excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate for the Company
and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (vii) Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred in order for
the Company to pay the quarterly dividend on Company Common Shares permitted by Section
6.01(b)(iv)(B), and for the Operating Partnership to make the corresponding quarterly distributions
payable to holders of Class A Units permitted by Section 6.01(b)(iv)(C) and to pay dividends on the
Company Preferred Shares declared and paid in accordance with the terms thereof; and (vii)
inter-company Indebtedness among the Company and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(e) (i) modify, amend or terminate any Material Contract or enter into any new Contract that,
if entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be listed in
Section 4.17 of the Disclosure Schedule as a Material Contract, in each case other than in the
ordinary course of business; or (ii) enter into any Contract that would limit or otherwise restrict
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their successors, or that would, after the Company
Merger Effective Time, limit or otherwise restrict Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of
their successors, from engaging or competing in any material line of business or in any geographic
area in any material respect;
(f) except as required by Law or any Plans and as provided in Section 6.01 of the Disclosure
Schedule, (i) increase the compensation or benefits payable to its directors, officers or
non-executive employees, except for increases in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice in salaries (including annual merit or promotion increases in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice), wages, bonuses, incentives or benefits of employees of the
Company or any Subsidiary or (ii) grant to any director, officer, employee or
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independent
contractor of the Company or of any Subsidiary any new employment, retention, bonus, severance,
change of control or termination pay equity-based cash awards (including cash bonuses or dividend
equivalent rights), grant any increase in, or otherwise alter or amend, any right to receive any
severance, change of control, retention or termination pay or benefits or establish, adopt, enter
into or amend any collective bargaining, bonus, profit-sharing, thrift, compensation, stock option,
restricted stock, stock unit, dividend equivalent, pension, retirement, deferred compensation,
employment, loan, retention, indemnification, consulting, termination, severance or other similar
plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement with any trustee, officer or employee or, in
each such case other than consulting agreements or arrangements, with any independent contractor;
(g) repurchase, repay or pre-pay any Indebtedness, except repayments of revolving credit
facilities or other similar lines of credit in the ordinary course of business, payments made in
respect of any termination or settlement of any interest rate swap or other similar hedging
instrument relating thereto, prepayments of mortgage indebtedness secured by one or more Company
Properties in accordance with their terms, as such loans become due and payable or payment of
Indebtedness in accordance with its terms; or pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims,
liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), except in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;
(h) except as required by the SEC or changes in GAAP which become effective after the date of
this Agreement or as may be required by the Company’s outside auditing firm, in which case the
Company shall notify Parent, change in any material respect GAAP financial accounting principles or
policies;
(i) (i) except in connection with a right being exercised by a tenant under an existing
Company Lease, enter into any new lease (including renewals) for in excess of 50,000 square feet of
net rentable area at a Company Property, (ii) except in connection with a right being exercised by
a tenant under an existing Company Lease, terminate or materially modify or amend any Company Lease
that relates to in excess of 50,000 square feet of net rentable area, or (iii) subject to Parent’s
consent in its sole discretion, enter into, terminate or materially modify or amend any Ground
Lease;
(j) (A) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other
Persons (other than to (1) Subsidiaries or (2) any JV Entity or (3) as required by any Material
Contract in effect on the date hereof); or (B) authorize, or enter into any commitment for, any new
material capital expenditure (such authorized or committed new material capital expenditures being
referred to hereinafter as the “
Capital Expenditures”) other than (i) Capital Expenditures
required to be made pursuant to Company Leases that the Company is permitted to enter into pursuant
to Section 6.01(i), (ii) Capital Expenditures for items in the Company’s 2006 Budget or 2007 Budget
for which there are executed Contracts in effect as of the date hereof, (iii) any additional budgeted project not
included in clause (ii) and not exceeding $5,000,000, provided that, in the case of any such
additional budgeted project, the Company shall consult with Parent prior to commencing such project
and shall in good faith consider any requests or other comments Parent may have with respect to any
such additional budgeted projects, (iv) Capital Expenditures in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice necessary to maintain the physical and structural integrity of the
Company Properties and as
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reasonably determined by the Company to be necessary to keep the Company
Properties in working order, to comply with Laws, and to repair and/or prevent damage to any of the
Company Properties as is necessary in the event of an emergency situation, and (v) predevelopment
costs and development costs identified in Section 6.01(j) of the Disclosure Schedule;
(k) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any (i) material Action or material
liability other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (ii) any
Action that is brought by any current, former or purported holder of any securities of the Company
in its capacity as such and that (A) requires any payment to such security holders by the Company
or any Subsidiary or (B) adversely affects in any material respect the ability of the Company and
the Subsidiaries to conduct their business in a manner consistent with past practice;
(l) make, change or rescind any material Tax election, amend any material Tax Return, or
settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign income Tax liability, audit,
claim or assessment, or enter into any material closing agreement related to Taxes, or knowingly
surrender any right to claim any material Tax refund unless in each case such action is required by
law or necessary (i) to preserve the status of the Company as a REIT under the Code, or (ii) to
qualify or preserve the status of any Subsidiary as a partnership for federal income tax purposes
or as a qualified REIT subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary pursuant to the applicable
provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be (provided that in such events the Company
shall notify Parent of such election and shall not fail to make such election in a timely manner);
(m) enter into, amend or modify any material Tax Protection Agreement, or take any action that
would violate any Tax Protection Agreement or otherwise give rise to any material liability of the
Company or any Subsidiary with respect thereto;
(n) amend any term of any outstanding equity security or equity interest of the Company or any
Subsidiary;
(o) subject to Parent’s consent in its sole discretion, sell or otherwise dispose of, or
consent to any Liens other than Permitted Liens on, any of Company Properties or other material
assets other than pending sales of Company Properties pursuant to (i) definitive agreements
executed prior to the date hereof and identified in Section 6.01(o)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule
or (ii) agreements hereafter executed to sell additional Company Properties identified in Section
6.01(o)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule for not less than the applicable targeted sales prices
specified therein;
(p) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution or adopt resolutions
providing for or authorizing such liquidation or dissolution, except with respect to Subsidiaries
that sell all or substantially all of the assets held by such Subsidiaries, or taxable REIT
subsidiaries whose activities are related solely to such assets, and which sales are otherwise
permitted pursuant to this Agreement;
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(q) fail to use its best commercial efforts to maintain in full force and effect the existing
insurance policies or to replace such insurance policies with comparable insurance policies
covering the Company, Company Properties, Subsidiaries and their respective properties, assets and
businesses or substantially equivalent policies;
(r) initiate or consent to any material zoning reclassification of any owned or material
leased Company Properties or any material change to any approved site plan, special use permit,
planned unit development approval or other land use entitlement affecting any owned or material
leased Company Properties except to the extent any of the foregoing would not materially adversely
affect the value of the affected Company Properties;
(s) effectuate a “plant closing” or “mass layoff,” as those terms are defined in WARN or
similar state or local law; or
(t) announce an intention, enter into any agreement or otherwise make a commitment, to do any
of the foregoing.
SECTION 6.02 Other Actions. Each party agrees that, between the date of this
Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time, except as contemplated by this Agreement, such
party shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the other parties
hereto, take or cause to be taken any action that would reasonably be expected to materially delay
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or enter into any agreement or
otherwise make a commitment, to take any such action.
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 7.01 Proxy Statement; Other Filings. As promptly as practicable following the
date of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the preliminary Proxy
Statement and each of the Company and Parent shall, or shall cause their respective affiliates to,
prepare and, after consultation with each other, file with the SEC all Other Filings that are
required to be filed by such party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Each
of the Company and Parent shall furnish all information concerning itself and its affiliates that
is required to be included in the Proxy Statement or, to the extent applicable, the Other Filings,
or that is customarily included in proxy statements prepared in connection with transactions of the
type contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the Company and Parent shall use its reasonable
efforts, after consultation with the other, to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments
of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings, and the Company shall use its
reasonable efforts to cause the definitive Proxy Statement to be cleared by the SEC and mailed to the Company’s
shareholders as promptly as reasonably practicable following clearance from the SEC. The Company
shall promptly notify Parent upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any
request from the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or the Other
Filings and shall promptly provide Parent with copies of all correspondence between the Company and
its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC and its staff, on the other hand, relating to the
Proxy Statement or the Other Filings. If at any time prior to the Company Shareholders’ Meeting,
any information relating to the Company Parties or the Buyer Parties or any of their
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respective affiliates, officers or directors, should be discovered by the Company or Parent which should be
set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings, so that the
Proxy Statement or the Other Filings shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the
party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties, and an appropriate
amendment or supplement describing such information shall be filed with the SEC and, to the extent
required by applicable Law, disseminated to the shareholders of the Company. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary stated above, prior to filing or mailing the Proxy Statement or filing the
Other Filings (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC
with respect thereto, the Company shall provide Parent a reasonable opportunity to review and
comment on such document or response and will include in such documents or responses all comments
reasonably proposed by Parent, and to the extent practicable, the Company will provide Parent with
the opportunity to participate in any substantive calls between the Company, or any of its
Representatives, and the SEC concerning the Proxy Statement.
SECTION 7.02 Company Shareholders’ Meeting. The Company shall, in accordance with
applicable Law and the Company Charter and Company Bylaws, duly call, give notice of, convene and
hold a meeting of its shareholders (including any adjournments or postponements thereof, the
“Company Shareholders’ Meeting”) as promptly as practicable after the date that the Proxy
Statement is cleared by the SEC, for the purpose of obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval.
Except to the extent that the Company Board shall have withdrawn, qualified or modified its
approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the Company Merger in compliance with Section
7.04(c), the Company Board shall recommend to holders of the Company Common Shares that they
approve this Agreement and the Company Merger and shall include such recommendations in the Proxy
Statement (the “Company Recommendation”). Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated
in accordance with Section 9.01, the Company shall hold the Company Shareholders’ Meeting
regardless of whether the Company Board has withdrawn, qualified or modified its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Company Merger. Subject to Section 7.04(c), the Company
will use reasonable best efforts to solicit or cause to be solicited from its shareholders proxies
in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the Company Merger.
SECTION 7.03 Access to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) Subject to applicable Law, from the date hereof until the Company Merger Effective Time,
the Company shall, and shall cause the Subsidiaries and the Representatives of the Company and the
Subsidiaries to, afford Parent and its Representatives, following notice from Parent to the Company
in accordance with this Section 7.03, reasonable access during normal business hours to the
officers, employees, agents, properties, offices, plants and other facilities, books and records of
the Company and each Subsidiary, and all other financial, operating and other data and information
relating to the Company and each Subsidiary and JV Entity as Parent may reasonably request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Parent nor any of its Representatives shall (i) contact or
have any discussions with any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s employees, agents, or
representatives, unless in each case Parent obtains the prior written consent of the Company, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) contact or have
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any discussions with any of the
landlords/sublandlords, tenants/subtenants, or licensees or franchisees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, unless in each case Parent obtains the prior written consent of the Company, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided, that clauses (i) and (ii) shall not be
applicable to contacts or discussions not related to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and shall not be applicable to contacts and discussions with the Company’s executive
officers or its financial advisors, or (iii) damage any property or any portion thereof. Without
limiting the provisions of this Section 7.03(a) and subject to any rights of tenants under Company
Leases, Parent and its Representatives shall have the right to conduct appraisal and environmental
and engineering inspections of each of the Company Properties; provided, however,
that neither the Buyer Parties nor their Representatives shall have the right to take and analyze
any samples of any environmental media (including soil, groundwater, surface water, air or
sediment) or any building material or to perform any invasive testing procedure on any building or
property. Parent shall schedule and coordinate all inspections with the Company and shall give the
Company at least three (3) Business Days prior written notice thereof, setting forth the inspection
or materials that Parent or its representatives intend to conduct. The Company shall be entitled
to have representatives present at all times during any such inspection. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access to
or to disclose information where such access or disclosure would jeopardize the attorney-client
privilege of the Company or the Subsidiaries or contravene any Law or binding agreement entered
into prior to the date of this Agreement (provided that upon the request of Parent the
Company and the Subsidiaries shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain consent from the
applicable Third Party or enter into a customary joint defense agreement, if applicable, to enable
the disclosure of such information). No investigation conducted under this Section 7.03, however,
shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made in this Agreement.
(b) Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, all information obtained by Parent pursuant to
this Section 7.03 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the confidentiality agreement dated
November 7, 2006 between Blackstone Real Estate Advisors V L.P. and the Company (the
“Confidentiality Agreement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the prior written
consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, Blackstone Real Estate Advisors V
L.P. and its Representatives (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) may furnish Evaluation
Material (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) to any Person in connection with such
Person’s potential investment in Parent or its affiliates or evaluation of the acquisition of
assets of the Company in connection with or following the Closing, in each case, so long as any
such Person has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Company in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Company.
SECTION 7.04 No Solicitation of Transactions.
(a) Subject to Section 7.04(c), none of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other
Subsidiary shall, nor shall it authorize, directly or indirectly, any Representative of the
Company, the Operating Partnership or any other Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit
or knowingly facilitate (including by way of furnishing nonpublic information or assistance) any
inquiries with respect to, or the making of, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) enter into discussions
or negotiate with any Person in furtherance of such inquiries or to obtain an Acquisition Proposal
or release any Person from any standstill agreement or
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similar obligation to the Company or any
Subsidiary other than the automatic termination of standstill obligations pursuant to the terms of
agreements as in effect as of the date hereof, by virtue of the execution and announcement of this
Agreement or otherwise, (iii) withdraw, modify or amend the Company Recommendation in any manner
adverse to any Buyer Party, or fail to make the Company Recommendation (any event described in this
clause (iii), a “Change in Recommendation”), (iv) approve, endorse or recommend any
Acquisition Proposal, or (v) enter into any agreement in principle, arrangement, understanding,
contract or agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall, and shall direct its
Representatives to, immediately cease any discussions, negotiations or communications with any
party or parties with respect to any Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 7.04 shall preclude the Company, the Operating Partnership or their respective
Representatives from contacting any such party or parties solely for the purpose of complying with
the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 7.04(a).
(b) The Company and the Operating Partnership shall promptly, and in any event within
forty-eight hours after receipt, notify Parent of the receipt of (i) an Acquisition Proposal, (ii)
any request for information relating to the Company or any Subsidiaries (other than requests for
information unrelated to an Acquisition Proposal) or (iii) any inquiry or request for discussions
or negotiations regarding any Acquisition Proposal, which any director, executive officer or
trustee of the Company or any financial advisor, investment banker or attorney for the Company may
receive after the date hereof. Such notification shall include, to the extent then known, the
identity of the parties and a copy of such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry or request or, if not made
in writing, a summary written description thereof. The Company and the Operating Partnership shall
keep Parent reasonably informed on a prompt basis as to any material developments regarding any
such proposal, indication, inquiry or request. None of the Company or any Subsidiary shall, after
the date of this Agreement, enter into any confidentiality agreement that would prohibit them from
providing such information to Parent. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary
to, terminate, waive, amend or modify any provision of any existing standstill or confidentiality
agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, in each case relating to an
Acquisition Proposal.
(c) Subject to the Company Parties’ compliance with the provisions of this Section 7.04, and
only prior to the Company Shareholder Approval, following the receipt by the Company or any
Subsidiary of a written Acquisition Proposal, the Company Board may (directly or through
Representatives) (I) contact such Person and its advisors solely for the purpose of
clarifying the proposal and any material terms thereof and the conditions to consummation, so
as to determine whether the proposal for an Acquisition Proposal is reasonably likely to result in
a Superior Proposal and (II) if the Company Board determines in good faith following consultation
with its legal and financial advisors that such Acquisition Proposal is reasonably likely to result
in a Superior Proposal, the Company Board thereafter may (i) furnish non-public information with
respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries to the Person who made such proposal (provided that the
Company (A) has previously or concurrently furnished such information to Parent and (B) shall
furnish such information pursuant to a confidentiality agreement which is at least as favorable to
the Company as the Confidentiality Agreement), (ii) participate in negotiations regarding such
proposal, (iii) following receipt of a written Acquisition Proposal that constitutes a Superior
Proposal, (x) recommend that the Company’s shareholders approve such Superior Proposal and, in
connection therewith, effect a Change in Recommendation and
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(y) authorize the Company to enter into
a definitive agreement providing for the implementation of such Superior Proposal; provided
that the Company shall not enter into any such agreement unless this Agreement shall have been
terminated by the Company in accordance with Section 9.01(h). Nothing in this Section 7.04 or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall prevent the Company Board from (i) at any time prior to obtaining
the Company Stockholder Approval and other than in response to an Acquisition Proposal, effecting a
Change in Recommendation in the event that the Company Board has determined in good faith that the
failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its duties to the shareholders of the
Company under applicable Law, or (ii) taking and disclosing to the Company shareholders a position
contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal or from making any required disclosure to the Company’s shareholders under
applicable Law, including Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act or Item 1012(a) of
Regulation M-A; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Company Board
shall be permitted to recommend that the Company shareholders tender any securities in connection
with any tender or exchange offer (or otherwise approve, endorse or recommend any Acquisition
Proposal) or withdraw or modify the Company Recommendation, unless in each case such tender or
exchange offer constitutes a Superior Proposal and, in connection therewith, effects a Change in
Recommendation. In addition, nothing in this Section 7.04(c) shall prohibit the Company Parties
from taking any action that any court of competent jurisdiction orders the Company Parties to take.
(d) The Company shall not take any action to exempt any Person from the restrictions contained
in Article VII of the Company Charter or otherwise cause any of such restrictions not to apply
unless such actions are taken in connection with a termination of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9.01(h).
SECTION 7.05 Employee Benefits Matters.
(a) The Company has made available to Parent (or described on Section 7.05(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule) with all of the severance, change-in-control and similar obligations that are
payable by their terms upon or following consummation of the Mergers at the Company Merger
Effective Time or on the Closing Date, which are set forth in Section 7.05 of the Disclosure
Schedule. From and after the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent shall or shall cause the
Surviving Entity to honor in accordance with their terms all severance, change-of-control and
similar obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, and Parent shall pay or
provide when due to any applicable current or former officer or employee of the Company or any
Subsidiary any amounts payable and benefits to be provided under such agreements. From and after
the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent shall or shall cause the Surviving Entity to honor in
accordance with their terms any other employment related contracts, agreements, arrangements and
commitments of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) in effect immediately prior to the Company
Merger Effective Time that are applicable to any current or former employees or trustees of the
Company or any Subsidiary or any of their predecessors or (ii) which are described on Section
7.05(a) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(b) For a period of not less than twenty-four months after the Closing Date, with respect to
each employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (collectively, the “
Company Employees”) who
remains an employee of the Surviving Entity or its successors or assigns or
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any of their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Continuing Employees”), Parent shall or shall cause the
Surviving Entity to provide the Continuing Employees with (i) (A) base salary and (B) cash
incentive compensation opportunities (excluding any cash bonuses related to equity or equity-based
awards and/or dividend equivalent payments related to equity or equity-based awards), in each case
in an amount at least equal to the same level that was provided to each such Continuing Employee or
to which such Continuing Employee was entitled immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective
Time (and, in the case of bonuses, using target levels which are not less than those in effect
immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time), and (ii) employee benefits (excluding any
equity-based benefits), that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those provided to such
Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time. Each Continuing
Employee will be credited with his or her years of service with the Company and its Subsidiaries
(and any predecessor entities thereof) before the Closing Date under any new parallel employee
benefit plan of Parent or its Subsidiaries in which the Continuing Employee become entitled to
participate to the same extent as such employee was entitled, before the Closing Date, to credit
for such service under the respective Plan (except to the extent such credit would result in the
duplication of benefits and except with respect to benefit accrual under a defined benefit plan).
In addition, with respect to any such health benefit plan in which the Continuing Employee become
entitled to participate during the calendar year that includes the Closing Date, each Continuing
Employee shall be given credit for amounts paid by the employee under the respective Plan for
purposes of applying deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket maximums as though such amounts had
been paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the parallel plan, program or arrangement
of Parent or the Surviving Entity.
(c) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, Parent shall or shall cause the
Surviving Entity to provide severance benefits in accordance with Section 7.05(c) of the Disclosure
Schedule to any Continuing Employee who is either involuntarily terminated (other than for cause)
or asked to relocate the employee’s principal place of employment further than 25 miles, in each
case during the twenty-four month period following the Closing Date, in an amount that is at least
equal to the severance benefits that would have been paid to such employee pursuant to the terms of
the Equity Office Properties Trust Severance Pay Plan disclosed in Section 4.10(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule (but with a minimum payment equal to twelve weeks base salary), to be
calculated, however, on the basis of the employee’s service at
the time of the employee’s termination and the greater of the employee’s compensation at the
time of (i) the employee’s termination or (ii) the Company Merger Effective Date.
(d) Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company Board, or an appropriate committee
of non-employee directors thereof, shall adopt a resolution consistent with the interpretive
guidance of the SEC so that the disposition by any officer or director of the Company who is a
covered person of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder (“Section 16”) of Company Common Shares or options or other rights
to acquire Company Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement and the Company Merger shall be an
exempt transaction for purposes of Section 16.
(e) Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company Board shall take such actions as
are necessary to terminate all share or investment-based non-qualified deferred compensation
account-based arrangements (collectively, the “
Non-Qualified Account
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Plans”), in a manner that is compliant with Section 409A of the Code. Such action shall be contingent upon, and
effective as of, the Company Merger Effective Time. Payment of the Non-Qualified Account Plans
shall be in cash to the participants in the Non-Qualified Account Plans in a single lump-sum
payment by the Surviving Entity immediately following the Company Merger Effective Time; provided,
however, that payment shall be delayed to the date six months following a participant’s separation
from service in the event, and to the extent, prior to the Company Merger Effective Time the
Company Board determines that such delay is necessary to comply with the requirements of Section
409A of the Code.
(f) All restrictions on the disposition of Company Common Shares purchased under the Company’s
1997 Non-Qualified Employee Share Purchase Plan (the “Company ESPP”) shall terminate at the
Company Merger Effective Time. The Company shall send written notice of the pending Company Merger
that will result in the termination of the Company ESPP to all participating employees not later
than ten (10) Business Days after the date hereof. No new offering periods will be allowed to
commence under the Company ESPP during the period after the date hereof and prior to the Company
Merger Effective Time unless this Agreement has been terminated.
SECTION 7.06 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) Without limiting any additional rights that any director, officer, trustee, employee,
agent, or fiduciary may have under any employment or indemnification agreement or under the Company
Charter, the Company Bylaws, the Operating Partnership Agreement or this Agreement or, if
applicable, similar organizational documents or agreements of any of the Subsidiaries (each of
which shall remain in full force and effect following the Mergers and each of which Parent shall
cause the Surviving Entity and the Subsidiaries to honor), from and after the Company Merger
Effective Time, Parent, the Surviving Entity and the Operating Partnership shall: (i) indemnify and
hold harmless each person who is at the date hereof or during the period from the date hereof
through the Company Merger Effective Time serving as a trustee, director or officer of the Company
or the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “
Indemnified Parties”) to the fullest extent
authorized or permitted by applicable Law, as now or hereafter in effect, in connection with any
Claim and any judgments, fines, penalties and
amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or
payable in connection with or in respect of such judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in
settlement) resulting therefrom; and (ii) promptly pay on behalf of each of the Indemnified
Parties, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable Law, as now or hereafter in
effect, any Expenses incurred in defending, serving as a witness with respect to or otherwise
participating in any Claim in advance of the final disposition of such Claim, including payment on
behalf of or advancement to the Indemnified Party of any Expenses incurred by such Indemnified
Party in connection with enforcing any rights with respect to such indemnification and/or
advancement, in each case without the requirement of any bond or other security, but subject to
Parent’s or the Surviving Entity’s, as applicable, receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of
such Indemnified Party, if required by applicable Law, to repay such Expenses if it is ultimately
determined under applicable Laws that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified;
provided,
however, that neither Parent nor the Surviving Entity shall be liable for
any settlement effected without Parent’s or the Surviving Entity’s written consent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and shall not be obligated to pay the fees and
expenses of
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more than one counsel (selected by a plurality of the applicable Indemnified Parties)
for all Indemnified Parties in any jurisdiction with respect to any single Claim except to the
extent that two or more of such Indemnified Parties shall have conflicting interests in the outcome
of such action. The indemnification and advancement obligations of Parent and the Surviving Entity
pursuant to this Section 7.06(a) shall extend to acts or omissions occurring at or before the
Company Merger Effective Time and any Claim relating thereto (including with respect to any acts or
omissions occurring in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the consideration and approval thereof and the process
undertaken in connection therewith and any Claim relating thereto). All rights to indemnification
and advancement conferred hereunder shall continue after the date hereof as to a person who has
ceased to be a trustee, director or officer of the Company or the Subsidiaries and shall inure to
the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. For purposes
of this Section 7.06(a): (x) the term “Claim” means any threatened, asserted, pending or
completed Action, whether instituted by any party hereto, any Governmental Authority or any other
party, that any Indemnified Party in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such
Action, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, including any arbitration
or other alternative dispute resolution mechanism, arising out of or pertaining to matters that
relate to such Indemnified Party’s duties or service as a director or officer of the Company or any
of the Subsidiaries, at or prior to the Company Merger Effective Time; and (y) term
“Expenses” means reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations
(including experts’ fees, travel expenses, court costs, retainers, transcript fees, duplicating,
printing and binding costs, as well as telecommunications, postage and courier charges) paid or
incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in
(including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in or participate in, any
Claim for which indemnification is authorized pursuant to this Section 7.06(a), including any
Action relating to a claim for indemnification or advancement brought by an Indemnified Party.
Neither Parent nor the Surviving Entity shall settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment in any Claim in respect of which indemnification has been or could be sought by such
Indemnified Party hereunder unless (i) such settlement, compromise or judgment includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such Claim, (ii)
such Indemnified Party otherwise consents thereto, or (iii) Parent or the Surviving Entity acknowledges that such
Claim is subject to this Section 7.06.
(b) For a period of six (6) years from the Company Merger Effective Time, the charter and
bylaws or other organizational documents of the Surviving Entity and the Subsidiaries shall contain
provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification than are set forth in the Company
Charter, Company Bylaws or the applicable organizational documents of the Subsidiaries, which
provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from the
Company Merger Effective Time in any manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of
individuals who, at or prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, were directors, officers,
trustees, employees, agents, or fiduciaries (including fiduciaries under or with respect to any
employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA)) of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, unless such modification shall be required by Law and then only to the minimum extent
required by Law.
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(c) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall purchase a non-cancelable extended reporting
period endorsement under the Company’s existing directors’, trustees’ and officers’ liability
insurance coverage for the Company’s directors, trustees and officers in the same form as presently
maintained by the Company, with the same or comparably rated insurers as the Company’s current
insurer, which shall provide such directors, trustees and officers with coverage for six (6) years
following the Closing Date of not less than the existing coverage under, and have other terms not
less favorable in the aggregate to, the insured persons than the directors’, trustees’ and
officers’ liability insurance coverage presently maintained by the Company; provided that
the premium payable for such insurance shall not exceed 300% of the 2007 annual premium to be paid
by the Company for such insurance (such 300% amount being the “Maximum Premium”). The
Company agrees to consult with Parent in connection with purchasing such coverage. The Company
represents that the last annual premium paid by the Company for such insurance prior to the date of
this Agreement is set forth in Section 7.06(c) of the Disclosure Schedule. If the Company is
unable to obtain the insurance described in the first sentence of this Section 7.06(c) for an
amount less than or equal to the Maximum Premium, the Company shall be entitled to obtain as much
comparable insurance as possible for an amount equal to the Maximum Premium. Parent shall, and
shall cause the Surviving Entity to, maintain such policies in full force and effect, and continue
to honor all obligations thereunder.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the obligations under this
Section 7.06 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any
indemnitee to whom this Section 7.06 applies without the consent of each such affected indemnitee.
This Section 7.06 is intended for the irrevocable benefit of, and to grant third party beneficiary
rights to, the persons indemnified hereunder and their respective heirs, executors and personal and
legal representatives and shall be binding on all successors of the Surviving Entity. Each of such
persons and their respective heirs shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Section
7.06.
(e) If the Surviving Entity or any of its respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates
with or merges with or into any other person and shall not be the continuing or Surviving Entity,
partnership or other entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) liquidates,
dissolves or winds-up, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and
assets to any person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the
successors and assigns of the surviving entity assumes the obligations set forth in this Section
7.06.
(f) Parent shall cause the Surviving Entity and the Subsidiaries to perform all of the
obligations of the Surviving Entity under this Section 7.06 and the parties acknowledge and agree
that Parent guarantees the payment and performance of the Surviving Entity’s obligations pursuant
to this Section 7.06.
SECTION 7.07 Further Action; Reasonable Efforts.
(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 7.01, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall (i) make promptly its respective
filings and thereafter make any other required submissions, under the HSR Act and any other Law
with respect to this Agreement and the Mergers, if required, and (ii) use its reasonable efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and to do, or cause
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to be done, all things
necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the Mergers,
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using its reasonable efforts
to obtain all Permits, consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of
Governmental Authorities with the Company and the Subsidiaries as are necessary for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to fulfill the conditions to
the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The parties hereto agree to cooperate and assist one another in connection with all
actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 7.07, including the preparation and making of the
filings referred to therein and, if requested, amending or furnishing additional information
thereunder, including, subject to applicable Law and the Confidentiality Agreement, providing
copies of all related documents to the non-filing party and their advisors prior to filing, and, to
the extent practicable, none of the parties will file any such document or have any communication
with any Governmental Authority without prior consultation with the other party. Each party shall
keep the other apprised of the content and status of any communications with, and communications
from, any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
To the extent practicable and permitted by a Governmental Authority, each party hereto shall permit
representatives of the other party to participate in meetings and calls with such Governmental
Authority. None of the parties shall consent to any voluntary extension of any statutory deadline
or waiting period or to any voluntary delay of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement at the behest of any Governmental Authority without the consent of the other party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(c) Each of the parties hereto agrees to cooperate and use its reasonable best efforts to
defend through litigation on the merits any Action, including administrative or judicial Action,
asserted by any party in order to avoid the entry of, or to have vacated, lifted, reversed,
terminated or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent) that in whole or in part restricts, delays, prevents or prohibits
consummation of the Mergers, including by vigorously pursuing all available avenues of
administrative and judicial appeal.
(d) Each of the Buyer Parties, on the one hand, and the Company Parties, on the other hand,
shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any third party consents (i)
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii)
disclosed in Section 7.07(d) of the Disclosure Schedule or (iii) required to prevent a Company
Material Adverse Effect from occurring prior to the Company Merger Effective Time. In the event
that any Company Party shall fail to obtain any third party consent described above, the Company
Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts, and shall take such actions as are
reasonably requested by Parent, to minimize any adverse effect upon the Company Parties and the
Buyer Parties and their respective businesses resulting, or which would reasonably be expected to
result, after the Company Merger Effective Time, from the failure to obtain such consent.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in connection with obtaining any
approval or consent from any Person (other than a Governmental Authority) with respect to any
transaction contemplated by this Agreement, (i) unless required by the applicable agreement,
without the prior written consent of Parent which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed,
none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries shall pay or
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commit to pay to such Person whose
approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any commitment or
incur any liability or other obligation due to such Person and (ii) none of the Buyer Parties or
their respective affiliates shall be required to pay or commit to pay to such Person whose approval
or consent is being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any commitment or incur any
liability or other obligation.
SECTION 7.08 Certain Tax Matters.
(a) Parent and the Company shall cooperate in the preparation, execution and filing of all
returns, questionnaires, applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer or
gains, sales, use, transfer, value added, stock transfer or stamp taxes, any transfer, recording,
registration and other fees and any similar taxes that become payable in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together with any related interests, penalties or
additions to Tax, “Transfer Taxes”), and shall cooperate in attempting to minimize the
amount of Transfer Taxes. From and after the Company Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Entity
shall pay or cause to be paid, without deduction or withholding from any Merger Consideration,
including any consideration or amounts payable to holders of the Company Common Shares, Class A
Units, Company Preferred Shares, Company Share Options, SARs and/or Company Restricted Shares, all
Transfer Taxes.
(b) Parent shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all Tax Returns of the
Company and the Subsidiaries (including IRS Forms 1099) due after the Closing Date. Parent shall
cause all Tax Returns of Company and the Subsidiaries (including withholdings and withholding Tax
Returns) to be prepared on a basis consistent with the Tax Returns filed by them prior to the
Closing Date, including by the filing of a Form 1120-REIT for the Company for its 2006 and 2007
taxable years. Furthermore, Parent shall cause, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, the
Company to properly designate any dividends paid prior to the Closing Date as capital gain
dividends for purposes of Code Section 857(b)(3).
SECTION 7.09 Public Announcements. The parties hereto agree that no public release or public announcement concerning the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Mergers) shall be issued by a party
without the prior consent of the other parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
except as such release or announcement may be required by Law or the rules or regulations of any
securities exchange. The parties have agreed upon the form of a joint press release announcing the
Mergers and the execution of this Agreement.
SECTION 7.10 Cooperation with Financing.
(a) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to arrange the Financing on the terms and
conditions described in the Commitment Letters, including using reasonable best efforts to (i)
negotiate definitive agreements with respect thereto on terms and conditions contained therein and
(ii) to satisfy all conditions applicable to the Buyer Parties in such definitive agreements that
are within their control. In the event any portion of the Financing becomes unavailable on the
terms and conditions contemplated in the Commitment Letters, Parent shall use its reasonable best
efforts to arrange to obtain any such portion from alternative sources on comparable or more
favorable terms to Parent (as determined in the reasonable
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judgment of Parent) as promptly as
practicable following the occurrence of such event. Parent shall give the Company prompt written
notice of any material breach by any party of the Commitment Letters or any termination of the
Commitment Letters. Parent shall keep the Company informed on a reasonably current basis in
reasonable detail of the status of its efforts to arrange the Financing and shall not permit any
material amendment or modification to be made to, or any waiver of any material provision or remedy
under, the Commitment Letters without first consulting with the Company or, if such amendment would
or would be reasonably expected to materially and adversely affect or delay in any material respect
Parent’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, without first
obtaining the Company’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). For
the avoidance of doubt, if the Financing (or any alternative financing) has not been obtained, the
Buyer Parties shall continue to be obligated to consummate the Mergers on the terms contemplated by
this Agreement and subject only to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in
Sections 8.01 and 8.02 of this Agreement and to Parent’s rights under Section 9.01, regardless of
whether the Buyer Parties have complied with all of their other obligations under this Agreement
(including their obligations under this Section 7.10).
(b) The Company agrees to provide, and shall cause the Subsidiaries and its and their
Representatives to provide, all reasonable cooperation in connection with the arrangement of the
Financing as may be reasonably requested by Parent (provided that such requested cooperation does
not unreasonably interfere with the ongoing operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries),
including (i) participation in meetings, drafting sessions and due diligence sessions, (ii)
furnishing Parent and its financing sources with financial and other pertinent information
regarding the Company and the Subsidiaries as may be reasonably requested by Parent, (iii)
assisting Parent and its financing sources in the preparation of (A) any offering document for any
Financing to be raised to complete the Mergers and (B) materials for rating agency presentations,
(iv) reasonably cooperating with the marketing efforts of Parent and its financing sources for any
Financing to be raised by Parent to complete the Mergers, (v)
forming new direct or indirect Subsidiaries, (vi) providing and executing documents as may be
reasonably requested by Parent and (vii) without limiting the obligations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries under Sections 3.07 and 3.08, cooperating in connection with the repayment or
defeasance of any Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries as of the Partnership
Mergers Effective Time, including delivering such payoff, defeasance or similar notices under any
existing mortgage or mezzanine loans of the Company or any Subsidiary as reasonably requested by
Parent;
provided that none of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be required to pay any
commitment or other similar fee or make any other payment other than reasonable out-of-pocket costs
or incur any other liability in connection with the Financing or any of the foregoing prior to the
Company Merger Effective Time. Parent shall, promptly upon request by the Company, reimburse the
Company for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company, its Subsidiaries and their
Representatives in connection with such cooperation. The Buyer Parties shall, on a joint and
several basis, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Subsidiaries and their respective
Representatives from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses,
interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with the
arrangement of the Financing (including any action taken in accordance with this Section 7.10(b))
and any information utilized in connection therewith (other than historical information relating to
the Company or the Subsidiaries). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the condition set
forth in Section 8.02(b), as it applies to the Company’s
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obligations under this Section 7.10(b),
shall be deemed satisfied unless the Financing (or any alternative financing) has not been obtained
primarily as a result of the Company’s or the Subsidiaries’ willful and material breach of its
obligations under this Section 7.10(b).
(c) All non-public or otherwise confidential information regarding the Company obtained by
Parent or its Representatives pursuant to paragraph (b) above shall be kept confidential in
accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.
SECTION 7.11 Resignations. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
obtain and deliver to Parent at the Closing evidence reasonably satisfactory to Parent of the
resignation effective as of the Partnership Merger Effective Time, of those directors of the
Company or any Subsidiary designated by Parent to the Company in writing at least five calendar
days prior to the Closing.
SECTION 7.12 Takeover Statutes. If any takeover statute is or becomes applicable to
this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each of the
parties and their respective boards of directors or boards of trustees (or managing members or
general partners, as applicable) shall use their reasonable efforts to (a) take all necessary
action so that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and (b) otherwise act to
eliminate or minimize the effects of such takeover statute.
SECTION 7.13 Delisting and Deregistering of Securities. Parent and the Company shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company
Common Shares to be de-listed from the NYSE and de-registered under the Exchange Act promptly
following the Company Merger Effective Time.
SECTION 7.14 Tax Matters. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Company Merger Effective Time, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall:
(a) continue to operate in such a manner as to permit the Company to continue to qualify as a
REIT throughout the period from the date hereof to the Company Merger Effective Time;
(b) prepare and timely file all material Tax Returns required to be filed by them on or before
the Closing Date (“Post-Signing Returns”) in a manner consistent with past practice, except
as otherwise required by applicable Laws;
(c) fully and timely pay all material Taxes due and payable in respect of such Post-Signing
Returns that are so filed; and
(d) properly reserve (and reflect such reserve in their books and records and financial
statements) for all material Taxes payable by them for which no Post-Signing Return is due prior to
the Company Merger Effective Time in a manner consistent with past practice.
SECTION 7.15 Notices of Certain Events.
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(a) The Company Parties shall notify Parent promptly of (i) any written communication and, to
the knowledge of the Company, any other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of
such Person (or another Person) is or may be required in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from the Company, any of the Subsidiaries
or their Representatives), (ii) any communication from any Governmental Authority in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from the Company,
any of the Subsidiaries or their Representatives), (iii) any material Actions threatened or
commenced against or otherwise affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries that are related to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (iv) any effect, event, development or change
between the date of this Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time which, to the knowledge of
the Company, causes or is reasonably likely to cause the conditions set forth in Section 8.02(a) or
8.02(b) not to be satisfied.
(b) The Buyer Parties shall notify the Company promptly of (i) any written communication and,
to the knowledge of Parent, any other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of
such Person (or another Person) is or may be required in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from Parent, any of its subsidiaries or
their Representatives), (ii) any communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from Parent, any of its
subsidiaries or their Representatives), (iii) any material Actions threatened or commenced against
or otherwise affecting Parent or any of its subsidiaries that are
related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (iv) any effect, event,
development or change between the date of this Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time,
which to the knowledge of Parent, causes or is reasonably likely to cause the conditions set forth
in Section 8.03(a) or 8.03(b) not to be satisfied.
(c) The delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 7.15 shall not limit or otherwise
affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS
SECTION 8.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The obligations of the
Company Parties and Buyer Parties to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction or
waiver in writing (where permissible) of the following conditions:
(a) The Company shall have obtained the Company Shareholder Approval.
(b) Any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the
Mergers under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated, and any approval required
thereunder shall have been obtained.
(c) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any
injunction, order, decree or ruling (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in
effect and has the effect of making consummation of either Merger illegal or prohibiting
consummation of either Merger;
provided,
however, that prior to a party
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asserting this condition such party shall, in the case of an injunction or order, have used its reasonable
best efforts to prevent the entry of any such injunction or other order and to appeal as promptly
as possible any such injunction or other order that may be entered.
SECTION 8.02 Conditions to the Obligations of the Buyer Parties. The obligations of
the Buyer Parties to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing of
the following additional conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Company Parties contained in this Agreement that
(i) are not made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of the Closing, as though made
on and as of the Closing, and (ii) are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of
such date, in each case except where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true
and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company
Material Adverse Effect” set forth in such representations and warranties (other than the
representation in clause (b) of Section 4.08)) does not have and would not have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. In addition, the representations and warranties
set forth in Sections 4.03(a), (b) and (g) shall be true and correct in all material respects and
the representations and warranties set forth in clause (b) of Section 4.08 shall be true and
correct in all respects as of the Closing, as though made on and as of the Closing (in
each case except to the extent expressly made as of a specific date, in which case as of such
specific date).
(b) The Company Parties shall have performed, in all material respects, all obligations and
complied with, in all material respects, their agreements and covenants to be performed or complied
with them under this Agreement on or prior to the Company Merger Effective Time.
(c) The Company shall have delivered to Parent a certificate, dated the date of the Company
Merger Effective Time, signed by an officer of the Company and certifying as to the satisfaction of
the conditions specified in Sections 8.02(a) and 8.02(b).
(d) Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been an effect. event, development
or change that, individually or in the aggregate with all other effects, events, developments and
changes, has resulted or would result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Parent and the Company shall have received a tax opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, or other
counsel to the Company satisfactory to Parent, dated as of the date of the Closing Date, prior to
the Company Merger Effective Time, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit F (such opinion
shall be based upon customary assumptions and customary representations made by the Company and its
Subsidiaries in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit F, and such opinion and representations
shall be subject to such changes or modifications from the language set forth on such exhibits as
may be deemed necessary or appropriate by Sidley Austin LLP (or such counsel rendering the opinion)
and as shall be reasonably satisfactory to Parent) opining that the Company has been organized and
has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code for all
taxable periods commencing with the Company’s taxable year ended December 31, 1997 through and
including the taxable year of the Company ending on the Closing Date (determined without taking
into account, or giving
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effect to, the Company Merger or any transaction undertaken by the Company
pursuant to Section 2.06, and assuming for such purposes that the Company shall satisfy the
applicable distribution requirements under the Code for the taxable year including the Closing
Date).
(f) At or prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative
agent under the Credit Agreement, shall have provided the Company Parties with a “payoff” letter
acknowledging that, subject to repayment of the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the
Credit Agreement, together with all interest accrued thereon and any other fees or expenses payable
thereunder, (i) the Credit Agreement shall be terminated, (ii) any and all Liens held by Bank of
America, N.A. or any other collateral agent under the Credit Agreement related thereto shall be
released and (iii) the Company and the Subsidiaries shall be released from any and all material
liabilities and obligations under the Credit Agreement and any related guaranties (other than any
obligations under any indemnification or similar provision that survive such termination).
(g) Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, with respect to each series of Senior Notes,
either (i) the requisite consents specified in Section 3.07(a) of the Disclosure Schedule shall
have been received under the Debt Offers with respect to the Senior Notes, and the Company, the
Operating Partnership and certain of the other Subsidiaries and the respective
trustees shall have executed the supplemental indentures described in Section 3.07 of this
Agreement to the respective indentures governing the Senior Notes, such supplemental indentures to
become effective promptly following the receipt of the required consents with the amendments
provided for therein to become operative upon the acceptance of the Senior Notes for payment
pursuant to the Debt Offers and concurrently with the Company Merger Effective Time, or (ii) the
Company and the Operating Partnership shall have complied with Section 3.08(b) to the extent that
such Senior Notes can be redeemed.
SECTION 8.03 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company Parties.
The obligations of the Company Parties to consummate the Mergers are subject to the
satisfaction or waiver in writing (where permissible) of the following additional conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Buyer Parties in this Agreement that (i) are not
made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of the date of the Closing, as though made
on and as of the Closing, and (ii) are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of
such date, in each case except where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true
and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Parent
Material Adverse Effect” set forth in such representations and warranties) does not have and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) The Buyer Parties shall have performed, in all material respects, all obligations and
complied with, in all material respects, their agreements and covenants to be performed or complied
with by them under this Agreement on or prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time.
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(c) Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the date of the Company
Merger Effective Time, signed by an officer of the Company and certifying as to the satisfaction of
the conditions specified in Sections 8.03(a) and 8.03(b).
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Mergers may be
abandoned at any time prior to the Company Merger Effective Time by action taken or authorized by
the Board of Directors or members of the terminating party or parties, notwithstanding any
requisite approval of the Company Merger by the shareholders of the Company, and whether before or
after the shareholders of the Company have approved the Company Merger at the Company Shareholders’
Meeting, as follows (the date of any such termination, the “Termination Date”):
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) by either Parent or the Company if the Company Merger Effective Time shall not have
occurred on or before the six-month anniversary of the date of this
Agreement (the
“End Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 9.01(b) shall not be available to a party whose failure to fulfill any
obligation under this Agreement materially contributed to the failure of the Company Merger
Effective Time to occur on or before such date;
(c) by either Parent or the Company if any Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued,
promulgated, enforced or entered any injunction, order, decree or ruling or taken any other action
(including the failure to have taken an action) which, in either such case, has become final and
non-appealable and has the effect of making consummation of any Merger illegal or otherwise
preventing or prohibiting consummation of any Merger (“Governmental Order”);
provided, however, that the terms of this Section 9.01(c) shall not be available to
any party unless such party shall have used its reasonable best efforts to oppose any such
Governmental Order or to have such Governmental Order vacated or made inapplicable to such Merger;
(d) by Parent if each of it, MergerCo and Merger Partnership is not in material breach of its
obligations under this Agreement, and if (i) any of the representations and warranties of the
Company Parties herein are or become untrue or incorrect such that the condition set forth in
Section 8.02(a) would be incapable of being satisfied by the End Date, or (ii) there has been a
breach on the part of any of the Company Parties of any of its covenants or agreements herein such
that the condition set forth in Section 8.02(b) would be incapable of being satisfied by the End
Date;
(e) by the Company if each of the Company Parties is not in material breach of its obligations
under this Agreement, and if (i) any of the representations and warranties of Parent, MergerCo or
Merger Partnership herein are or become untrue or inaccurate such that the condition set forth in
Section 8.03(a) would be incapable of being satisfied by the End Date; or (ii) there has been a
breach on the part of Parent, MergerCo or Merger Partnership or any of their
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respective covenants
or agreements herein such that the conditions set forth in Section 8.03(b) would be incapable of
being satisfied by the End Date.
(f) by the Company or Parent if the Company Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the
Company Shareholders’ Meeting upon a vote taken on the Company Merger;
(g) by Parent:
(i) if the Company Board withdraws, modifies or amends the Company Recommendation in
any manner adverse to the Buyer Parties;
(ii) if (i) the Company Board approves, endorses or recommends an Acquisition Proposal,
(ii) the Company enters into a contract or agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal
(other than a confidentiality agreement entered into in compliance with Section 7.04(c)),
(iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for any outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company that constitutes an Acquisition Proposal (other than by any of the Buyer Parties) is
commenced prior to obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval and the Company Board fails to
recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its shareholders
(including, for these purposes, by taking no
position with respect to the acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its
shareholders, which shall constitute a failure to recommend against acceptance of such
tender offer or exchange offer) within ten Business Days after commencement, or (iv) the
Company or the Company Board publicly announces its intention to do any of the foregoing; or
(iii) if the Company Board hereafter exempts any Person other than Parent or any of its
Affiliates from the provisions of Article VII of the Company Charter or is required to
provide such exemption by the terms of Article VII of the Company Charter; or
(h) by the Company if the Company Board approves, and authorizes the Company to enter into, a
definitive agreement providing for the implementation of a Superior Proposal, but only so long as:
(i) the Company Shareholder Approval has not yet been obtained;
(ii) the Company is not then and has not been in breach of any of its obligations under
Section 7.04 in any material respect;
(iii) the Company Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with its
financial advisor, that such agreement constitutes a Superior Proposal;
(iv) the Company has notified Parent in writing that it intends to enter into such
agreement, attaching the most current version of such agreement (including any amendments,
supplements or modifications) to such notice;
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(v) during the three (3) Business Day period following Parent’s receipt of such
notice, (i) the Company shall have offered to negotiate with (and, if accepted, negotiated
in good faith with), and shall have caused its respective financial and legal advisors to
offer to negotiate with (and, if accepted, negotiate in good faith with), Parent in making
adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the Company to
proceed with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii)
the Company Board shall have determined in good faith, after the end of such three Business
Day period, after considering the results of any such negotiations and the revised proposals
made by Parent, if any, that the Superior Proposal giving rise to such notice continues to
be a Superior Proposal; and
(vi) the Company pays to Parent the Company Termination Fee in accordance with Section
9.03(b)(ii) simultaneously with such termination (any purported termination pursuant to this
Section 9.01(h) shall be void and of no force or effect unless the Company shall have made
such payment).
SECTION 9.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.01, this Agreement
shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no liability under this Agreement on the part of
any party hereto (or any Representatives thereof) except that the indemnification and reimbursement
obligations of the Buyer Parties contained in Sections 2.06, 3.07 and 7.10(b), the Guarantee
referred to in Section 5.07(c) and the provisions of Section 7.03(b), Section 7.10(c), this Section
9.02, Section 9.03 and Article X shall survive any such termination; provided,
however, that nothing herein shall relieve any party hereto from liability for any willful
breach of any of its representations or warranties, or any breach of its covenants or agreements
set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination.
SECTION 9.03 Fees and Expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 9.03, all expenses (including fees and
expenses payable to Representatives and hedging counterparties) incurred by any party to this
Agreement or its Affiliates on its behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (“Expenses”) shall be paid by the party incurring such
expenses, whether or not the Mergers are consummated.
(b) The Company agrees that if this Agreement shall be terminated:
(i) by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 9.01(b) or Section 9.01(f) or by
Parent pursuant to Section 9.01(d) (however, only in the event of a termination pursuant to
Section 9.01(d) that relates to a breach by the Company Parties of their obligations under
Section 7.02 or Section 7.04) and (A) an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made to the
Company Parties or publicly announced prior to such Termination Date (and with respect to
termination pursuant to Section 9.01(b), such Acquisition Proposal was not withdrawn prior
to the Termination Date), and (B) concurrently with such termination or within twelve (12)
months following the Termination Date, the Company enters into a Contract with respect to an
Acquisition
Proposal, or an Acquisition Proposal is consummated (in each case whether or not such
Acquisition Proposal was the same Acquisition Proposal referred to in the foregoing
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clause
(A)), then the Company shall pay to Parent, if and when such Contract is entered into or
consummation of such Acquisition Proposal occurs, as applicable, the Company Termination Fee
(and for purposes of this Section 9.03(b)(i), “50%” shall be substituted for “20%” in the
definition of Acquisition Proposal); or
(ii) by Parent pursuant to Section 9.01(g), or the Company pursuant to Section 9.01(h),
then the Company shall pay to Parent the Company Termination Fee on the Termination Date,
and with respect to a termination pursuant to Section 9.01(h), such payment shall be made
before or concurrently with such termination and shall be a condition to the effectiveness
of such termination.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 9.03(b)(ii) for termination by the Company pursuant to
Section 9.01(h), the Company Termination Fee shall be paid by the Company as directed by Parent in
writing in immediately available funds within three (3) Business Days after the date of the event
giving rise to the obligation to make such payment.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Termination Fee” means an amount equal to
$200,000,000.
(e) Subject to Section 10.06, if this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to
Section 9.01(e), Parent shall pay to the Company within three (3) Business Days after the date of
termination, the reasonable Expenses of the Company Parties not to exceed $7,500,000 (the
“Company Expenses”). If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section
9.01(d), the Company shall pay to Parent within three (3) Business Days after the date of
termination, the reasonable Expenses of the Buyer Parties not to exceed $7,500,000 (the “Parent
Expenses”), and to the extent any Parent Expenses are paid by the Company to Parent, such
amount shall be deducted from any Company Termination Fee that may thereafter be payable by the
Company pursuant to Section 9.03(b). Subject to Section 10.06, the payment of Company Expenses or
Parent Expenses set forth in this Section 9.03 is not an exclusive remedy, but is in addition to
any other rights or remedies available to the parties hereto (whether at law or in equity), and in
no respect is intended by the parties hereto to constitute liquidated damages, or be viewed as an
indicator of the damages payable, or in any other respect limit or restrict damages available in
case of any breach of this Agreement.
(f) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 9.03
are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In the event that the
Company shall fail to pay the Company Termination Fee or Parent Expenses when due or Parent shall
fail to pay the Company Expenses when due, the Company or Parent, as the case may be, shall
reimburse the other party for all reasonable costs and expenses actually incurred or accrued by
such other party (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with the
collection under and enforcement of this Section 9.03.
SECTION 9.04 Escrow.
(a) To the extent that the Company Parties recover money damages pursuant to and subject to
Section 10.06 and the Guarantee (the “Damages Amount”), Parent shall instruct the escrow
agent to pay to the Operating Partnership from the Damages Amount deposited into
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escrow in
accordance with the next sentence, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Damages Amount and (ii)
the sum of (1) the maximum amount that can be paid to the Operating Partnership without causing the
Company to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and 856(c)(3) of the Code determined
as if the payment of such amount did not constitute income described in Sections 856(c)(2)(A)-(H)
or 856(c)(3)(A)-(I) of the Code (“Qualifying Income”), as determined by the Company’s
independent certified public accountants, plus (2) in the event the Company receives either (A) a
letter from the Company’s counsel indicating that the Company has received a ruling from the IRS
described in Section 9.04(b) or (B) an opinion from the Company’s outside counsel as described in
Section 9.04(b), an amount equal to the Damages Amount less the amount payable under clause (1)
above. To secure Parent’s obligation to pay these amounts, Parent shall deposit into escrow an
amount in cash equal to the Damages Amount with an escrow agent selected by Parent and on such
terms (subject to Section 9.04(b)) as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Operating Partnership,
Parent and the escrow agent. Subject to the terms of Section 10.06 and the Guarantee, the payment
or deposit into escrow of the Damages Amount pursuant to this Section 9.04 shall be made at the
time Parent is obligated to pay the Operating Partnership such amount pursuant to Section 10.06 and
the Guarantee by wire transfer or bank check.
(b) The escrow agreement shall provide that the Damages Amount in escrow or any portion
thereof shall not be released to the Operating Partnership unless the escrow agent receives any one
or combination of the following: (i) a letter from the Company’s independent certified public
accountants indicating the maximum amount that can be paid by the escrow agent to the Operating
Partnership without causing the Company to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and
(3) of the Code determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute Qualifying Income or
a subsequent letter from the Company’s accountants revising that amount, in which case the escrow
agent shall release such amount to the Company, or (ii) a letter from the Company’s counsel
indicating that the Company received a ruling from the IRS holding that the Damages Amount would
either constitute Qualifying Income or would be excluded from gross income within the meaning of
Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code (or alternatively, the Company’s outside counsel has
rendered a legal opinion to the effect that the receipt by the Operating Partnership of the Damages
Amount would constitute Qualifying Income, would be excluded from gross income within the meaning
of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code or would not otherwise disqualify Company as a REIT), in
which case the escrow agent shall release the remainder of the Damages Amount to the Operating
Partnership. Parent agrees to amend this Section 9.04 at the reasonable request of the Company in
order to (x) maximize the portion of the Damages Amount that may be distributed from the escrow
account to the Operating Partnership hereunder without causing the Company to fail to meet the
requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, (y) improve the Company’s chances of
securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 9.04(b) or (z) assist the Company in
obtaining a favorable legal opinion from its outside counsel as described in this Section 9.04(b).
The escrow agreement shall also provide that any portion of the Damages Amount held in escrow for
ten years shall be released by the escrow agent to Parent. Any costs and expenses of the escrow
agent shall be borne solely by the Company.
SECTION 9.05 Waiver. At any time prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company, on the one hand, and
Parent, on the other hand, may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other
act of the other party, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the
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representations and warranties of the other
party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with
any agreement of the other party or any condition to its own obligations contained herein. Any
such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the
Company (on behalf of the Company Parties) or Parent (on behalf of the Buyer Parties), as
applicable. The failure of any party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise
shall not constitute a waiver of those rights.
ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.01 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered
pursuant hereto shall terminate at the Company Merger Effective Time.
SECTION
10.02 Notices.
All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery
in person, by prepaid overnight courier (providing proof of delivery), by facsimile or by
registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties
at the following addresses or facsimile numbers (or at such other address for a party as shall be
specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.02):
(a) if to any Buyer Party:
c/o Blackstone Real Estate Partners V L.P.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
(b) if to any Company Party:
Equity Office Properties Trust
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
with copies to:
Sidley Austin LLP
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
SECTION 10.03 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being
enforced by any rule of law or public policy or the application of this Agreement to any person or
circumstance is invalid or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all
other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and
effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. To such end, the
provisions of this Agreement are agreed to be severable. Upon such determination that any term or
other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties
as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
SECTION 10.04 Amendment.
This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto by action taken by their respective board
of directors (or similar governing body or entity) at any time prior to the Company Merger
Effective Time; provided, however, that, after approval of the Company Merger by
the shareholders of the Company, no amendment may be made without further shareholder approval
which, by Law or in accordance with the rules of the NYSE, requires further approval by such
shareholders. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the
parties hereto.
SECTION 10.05 Entire Agreement; Assignment.
This Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement and the Disclosure Schedule,
constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any
of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether
pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise), except any of the Buyer Parties may assign
this Agreement to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent, provided, however, that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning party of its
obligations hereunder if the assignee does not perform its obligations.
SECTION 10.06 Remedies. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.07 or elsewhere in this Agreement, any and all
remedies expressly conferred upon a party to this Agreement shall be cumulative with, and not
exclusive of, any other remedy contained in this Agreement, at law or in equity and the exercise by
a party to this Agreement of any one remedy shall not preclude the exercise by it of any other
remedy. Without limiting the right to receive any payment it may be entitled to receive under
Sections 2.06 and 7.10(b), each of the Company Parties agrees that to the extent it has incurred
losses or damages (including any amounts paid by Parent pursuant to Section 9.03(e)) in connection
with this Agreement the maximum aggregate
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liability of the Buyer Parties and Guarantor for such
losses or damages shall be limited to an amount equal to the amount of the Guarantee, and in no
event shall the Company Parties seek to recover any money damages in excess of such amount from the
Buyer Parties or Guarantor or their respective Representatives and affiliates in connection
therewith.
SECTION 10.07 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of
this Agreement were not performed by any Company Party in accordance with the terms hereof and
that, prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.01, the Buyer Parties shall
be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement by the Company
Parties and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the
United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which
they are entitled at law or in equity. The parties acknowledge that none of the Company Parties
shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that the Company Parties’ sole
and exclusive remedy with respect to any such breach shall be the remedy set forth in Section 10.06
and the Guarantee; provided, however, the Company Parties shall be entitled to seek
specific performance to prevent any breach by the Buyer Parties of Sections 7.03(b) and 7.10(c).
SECTION 10.08 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto,
and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other
person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement,
other than the provisions of Section 7.06 (which are intended to be for the benefit of the persons
covered thereby and the persons entitled to payment thereunder and may be enforced by such
persons).
SECTION 10.09
Governing Law; Forum.
The Company Merger shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Maryland applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State without
regard to its rules of conflict of laws. Except as provided in the immediately
proceeding sentence, this Agreement and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of
or relating to this Agreement, or the negotiation, validity or performance of this Agreement, or
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of
Delaware without regard to its rules of conflict of laws.
Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the
sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the
“Delaware Courts”) for any litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the
negotiation, validity or performance of this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby
(and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto except in such courts), waives any
objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to
plead or claim in any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in any
inconvenient forum. Each of the parties hereto agrees, (a) to the extent such party is not
otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent
in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process, and (b) that
service of process may also be made on such party by prepaid certified mail to the address for
notice in Section 10.02 with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the United States Postal
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Service constituting evidence of valid service. Service made pursuant to (a) or (b) above shall
have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party personally within the State of
Delaware.
SECTION 10.10 Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 10.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in two
or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute
one and the same agreement.
SECTION 10.12 Waiver. Except as provided in this Agreement, no action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including
any investigation by or on behalf of any party, shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party
taking such action of compliance with any representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision hereunder
shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach of the same or any
other provision hereunder.
SECTION 10.13 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law
any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any litigation directly or indirectly
arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto (a) certifies that no
representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, to it
that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver
and (b) acknowledges that it and the other hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as applicable, by, among other things, the
mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 10.13.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the
date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
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EQUITY OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
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By |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
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Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
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EOP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: Equity Office Properties Trust, its general
partner
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By |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
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Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
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BLACKHAWK PARENT LLC
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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BLACKHAWK ACQUISITION TRUST
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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BLACKHAWK ACQUISITION L.P.
By: Blackhawk Acquisition Trust, its sole general
partner
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER