UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

June 20, 2018

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   001-38530   82-4005693

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

47 Hulfish Street, Suite 210
Princeton, NJ
  08542
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (609) 436-0610

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☒

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On June 25, 2018, Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), closed (i) the initial public offering of 32,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and (ii) the concurrent private placement to an affiliate of Eldridge Industries, LLC (“Eldridge”) of 7,785,611 shares of Common Stock and 1,142,960 units of limited partnership interest (“OP Units”) in Essential Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and the Company’s operating partnership (the “Operating Partnership” and the “Concurrent Eldridge Private Placement”, respectively). In connection with the initial public offering, the Concurrent Eldridge Private Placement and related formation transactions, the Company entered into the following material agreements and certain other organizational documents, forms of which were previously described in, and filed as exhibits to, the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 and amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”):

Underwriting Agreement . On June 20, 2018, the Company and the Operating Partnership entered into an underwriting agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”), to issue and sell 32,500,000 shares of Common Stock, plus an additional 4,875,000 shares issuable upon the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants among the parties. These representations, warranties and covenants are not representations of factual information to investors about the Company and the Operating Partnership or their respective subsidiaries, and the sale of Common Stock pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement is not a representation that there has not been any change in the condition of the Company or the Operating Partnership. A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Agreement of Limited Partnership . Essential Properties OP G.P., LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as sole general partner of the Operating Partnership (the “General Partner”), entered into an agreement of limited partnership (the “Agreement of Limited Partnership”), effective June 25, 2018. As described in the Registration Statement, the Operating Partnership is structured to make distributions with respect to OP Units that will be equivalent to the distributions made to the Company’s common stockholders. The Agreement of Limited Partnership permits limited partners in the Operating Partnership to redeem their OP Units for cash or, at the Company’s election, Common Stock on a one-for-one basis beginning one year after the date of issuance. The Company is the sole member of the General Partner, and currently owns approximately 68.3% of the OP Units in the Operating Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Agreement of Limited Partnership, the General Partner has the exclusive power to manage and conduct the business of the Operating Partnership. Consequently, the Company, as the sole member of the General Partner, has full power and authority to do all things it deems necessary or desirable to conduct the business of the Operating Partnership, as set forth in the Agreement of Limited Partnership. A copy of the Agreement of Limited Partnership is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Stockholders Agreement . The Company entered into a stockholders agreement with Eldridge, and other stockholders who may become a party thereto, effective as of June 25, 2018 (the “Stockholders Agreement”), providing for certain governance rights and other matters relating to the Company, and setting forth the respective rights and obligations of such stockholders following the Company’s initial public offering. A copy of the Stockholders Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement . The Company also entered into a registration rights agreement with affiliates of Eldridge and other stockholders who may become a party thereto, effective as of June 25, 2018 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which such stockholders shall have certain registration rights with respect to resales of Common Stock held by affiliates of Eldridge purchased in the Concurrent Eldridge Private Placement and Common Stock that may be received upon exchange of OP Units. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.

Indemnification Agreements . The Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of the Company’s directors and executive officers effective as of June 25, 2018. These agreements provide, in general, that the Company will indemnify the applicable executive officer and director to the fullest extent permitted by law in connection with their service to the Company or on the Company’s behalf. A copy of each indemnification agreement is attached hereto as Exhibits 10.4 through 10.13 and incorporated herein by reference.

Revolving Credit Facility . On June 25, 2018, the Company and the Operating Partnership entered into an agreement with a group of lenders for a senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) in the maximum aggregate initial original principal amount of up to $300 million. Barclays Bank PLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA are joint lead arrangers, with Barclays Bank PLC acting as administrative agent.

 

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The Revolving Credit Facility has a term of four years with an extension option of up to 12-months exercisable by the Company, subject to certain conditions, and initially bears interest at an annual rate of applicable LIBOR plus the applicable margin. The applicable LIBOR will be the rate with a term equivalent to the interest period applicable to the relevant borrowing. The applicable margin will initially be a spread set according to a leverage-based pricing grid. At the Company’s election, on and after receipt of an investment grade corporate credit rating from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investment Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), the applicable margin will be a spread set according to the Company’s corporate credit ratings by S&P and/or Moody’s. The facility is freely prepayable at any time and is mandatorily prepayable by the Company if borrowings exceed the borrowing base or the facility limit. The Company may re-borrow amounts paid down, subject to customary borrowing conditions. The Company is required to pay revolving credit fees throughout the term of the facility based upon its usage of the facility, at a rate which depends on its usage of the facility during the period before the Company receives an investment grade corporate credit rating from S&P or Moody’s, and which rate shall be based on the corporate credit rating from S&P and/or Moody’s after the time, if applicable, the Company receives such a rating. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will receive an investment grade corporate rating from S&P and/or Moody’s. The facility has an accordion feature to increase, subject to certain conditions, the maximum availability of the facility by up to $200 million.

The Operating Partnership is the borrower under the facility, and the Company and each of its subsidiaries that owns a direct or indirect interest in an eligible real property asset are guarantors under the facility. The Company is subject to financial covenants under the facility, including maintaining: a limitation on total consolidated leverage of not more than 60% of the Company’s total consolidated assets with a step up on two non-consecutive occasions to 65%, at the Company’s election, for two consecutive quarters each following a material acquisition; a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.50x; a consolidated tangible net worth of at least 75% of the Company’s tangible net worth at the date of the facility plus 75% of future net equity proceeds; a consolidated secured leverage ratio of not more than 50% of the Company’s total consolidated assets; a secured recourse debt ratio of not more than 10% of the Company’s total consolidated assets; an unencumbered leverage ratio of not more than 60% of the Company’s consolidated unencumbered assets with a step up on two non-consecutive occasions to 65%, at the Company’s election, for two consecutive quarters each following a material acquisition; and an unencumbered interest coverage ratio of at least 1.75x. Additionally, the Revolving Credit Facility restricts the Company’s ability to pay distributions to its stockholders under certain circumstances. However, the Company may make distributions to the extent necessary to qualify or maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Revolving Credit Facility contains certain covenants that, subject to exceptions, limit or restrict the Company’s incurrence of indebtedness and liens, disposition of assets, transactions with affiliates, mergers and fundamental changes, modification of organizational documents, changes to fiscal periods, making of investments, negative pledge clauses and lines of business and REIT qualification. A copy of the Revolving Credit Facility is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.14 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Employment Agreements . Effective as of June 25, 2018, each of the following executive officers entered into an employment agreement with the Company, setting forth the position, duties, compensation, benefits, term of employment and other terms and conditions relating to such executive officer’s employment:

 

Name    Position
Peter M. Mavoides (age 51)    President and Chief Executive Officer
Gregg A. Seibert (age 54)    Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary
Hillary P. Hai (age 37)    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

The employment agreements are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.15 through Exhibit 10.17 and are incorporated herein by reference. For biographical information on the aforementioned executive officers, see “Management—Biographical Summaries of Director Nominees and Executive Officers” in the Registration Statement.

Indemnification Agreements . In addition, each of the Company’s executive officers and each of the directors of the Company has entered into an indemnification agreement with the Company effective as of June 25, 2018, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.4 through 10.13 and incorporated herein by reference. These agreements provide, in general, that the Company will indemnify the applicable executive officer and director to the fullest extent permitted by law in connection with their service to the Company or on the Company’s behalf.

 

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2018 Incentive Award Plan . Effective as of June 19, 2018, the Company adopted its 2018 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”), attached hereto as Exhibit 10.18 and incorporated herein by reference. The purposes of the Plan are to align the interests of the Company’s stockholders and those eligible for awards, to attract and retain officers, directors, employees, and other service providers, and to motivate award recipients to act in the long-term best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, other stock awards, performance awards and LTIP units. Officers, employees, non-employee directors, consultants, independent contractors and agents who provide services to the Company or to any subsidiary of the Company are eligible to receive such awards. Subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Plan, the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Plan is equal to 3,550,000 shares. 691,290 shares of restricted Common Stock have been issued under the Plan as of the date hereof.

Board of Directors . On June 20, 2018, Mr. Scott A. Estes was elected to the Board of Directors of the Company concurrent with the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Mr. Estes serves on the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Estes and any other person pursuant to which he was selected to serve as a director of the Company.

As of June 25, 2018, Messrs. Paul T. Bossidy, Todd J. Gilbert, Anthony D. Minella, Stephen D. Sautel and Ms. Joyce DeLucca were elected to the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering. Mr. Bossidy is the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Sautel and Ms. DeLucca will serve on the Company’s Audit Committee. Messrs. Bossidy and Sautel and Ms. DeLucca will serve on the Company’s Compensation Committee. Messrs. Bossidy and Sautel will serve on the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Bossidy or Ms. DeLucca and any other person pursuant to which such director was selected to serve as a director of the Company. Messrs. Gilbert, Minella and Sautel were nominated by Eldridge pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement and elected to the Board of Directors of the Company.

Biographical information regarding the directors, equity awards made to eligible non-employee directors, a description of the material terms of the directors’ annual compensation and relationships required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K have previously been reported by the Company in the Registration Statement.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

Articles of Amendment and Restatement . On June 19, 2018, the Company filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland its Articles of Amendment and Restatement, amending and restating the Company’s original Articles of Incorporation filed and dated January 12, 2018. A copy of the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, which became effective on the filing date of June 19, 2018, is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Amended and Restated Bylaws . The Company also adopted its Amended and Restated Bylaws effective June 25, 2018, amending its original Bylaws dated January 12, 2018. A copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws dated June 25, 2018 is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

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Exhibit No.

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2018, among the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, on the other hand
  3.1    Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, dated as of June 19, 2017
  3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company
10.1    Agreement of Limited Partnership of Essential Properties, L.P., dated as of June 25, 2018
10.2    Stockholders Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and the persons named therein, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.3    Registration Rights Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and the persons named therein, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.4    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Paul T. Bossidy, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.5    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Daniel P. Donlan, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.6    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Joyce DeLucca, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.7    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Scott A. Estes, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.8    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Todd J. Gilbert, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.9    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Hillary P. Hai, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.10    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Peter M. Mavoides, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.11    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Anthony D. Minella, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.12    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Stephen D. Sautel, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.13    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Gregg A. Seibert, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.14    Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2018, among the Company, the Operating Partnership, the several lenders from time to time parties thereto, Barclays Bank PLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA.
10.15†    Employment Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Peter M. Mavoides, effective as of June 25, 2018.
10.16†    Employment Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Gregg A. Seibert, effective as of June 25, 2018.
10.17†    Employment Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Hillary P. Hai, effective as of June 25, 2018.
10.18†    Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. 2018 Incentive Award Plan, effective as of June 19, 2018.

 

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2018, among the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and Goldman Sachs  & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, on the other hand
  3.1    Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, dated as of June 19, 2017
  3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company
10.1    Agreement of Limited Partnership of Essential Properties, L.P., dated as of June 25, 2018
10.2    Stockholders Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and the persons named therein, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.3    Registration Rights Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and the persons named therein, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.4    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Paul T. Bossidy, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.5    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Daniel P. Donlan, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.6    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Joyce DeLucca, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.7    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Scott A. Estes, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.8    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Todd J. Gilbert, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.9    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Hillary P. Hai, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.10    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Peter M. Mavoides, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.11    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Anthony D. Minella, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.12    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Stephen D. Sautel, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.13    Indemnification Agreement between Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Gregg A. Seibert, dated as of June 25, 2018.
10.14    Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June  25, 2018, among the Company, the Operating Partnership, the several lenders from time to time parties thereto, Barclays Bank PLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA.
10.15†    Employment Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Peter M. Mavoides, effective as of June 25, 2018.
10.16†    Employment Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Gregg A. Seibert, effective as of June 25, 2018.
10.17†    Employment Agreement among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Hillary P. Hai, effective as of June 25, 2018.
10.18†    Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. 2018 Incentive Award Plan, effective as of June 19, 2018.

 

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.
Dated: June 26, 2018    
    By:  

/s/ Peter M. Mavoides

      Peter M. Mavoides
      President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 1.1

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value per Share

 

    

Underwriting Agreement

June 20, 2018

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

As representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I hereto,

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282-2198

and

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Essential Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership” and, together with the Company, the “Transaction Entities”), propose, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of 32,500,000 shares (the “Firm Shares”) and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to 4,875,000 additional shares (the “Optional Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Stock”) of the Company (the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof being collectively called the “Shares”).

As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. has agreed to reserve out of the Shares set forth opposite its name on Schedule I to this Agreement, up to 1,625,000 Shares, for sale to the Company’s employees, officers, and directors and other parties associated with the Company (collectively, “Participants”), as set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriting”. The Securities to be sold by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the “Directed Shares”) will be sold by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price. Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participants by 7:30 A.M. New York City time on the business day following the date on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as set forth in the Prospectus.


Prior to the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4), the Company, the Operating Partnership and certain of their affiliates and subsidiaries will complete a series of transactions described more fully in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (each as defined below) under the caption “Structure and Formation of Our Company — Formation Transactions” (collectively, the “Formation Transactions”). As part of the Formation Transactions, the Company will, among other things, (1) consolidate the ownership of the real properties (the “Properties”) and other assets described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the Company and the Operating Partnership and (2) contribute the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares to the Operating Partnership in exchange for interests in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”). A list of material agreements pursuant to which the Formation Transactions will be completed is set forth on Schedule III hereto (collectively, the “Operative Documents”).

1. Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(a) A registration statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-225215) (the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Shares has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto excluding exhibits thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, and for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission since being declared effective; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined in Section 1(c) hereof) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; the final prospectus relating to the Shares, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is hereinafter called the

 

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“Prospectus”; any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act is hereinafter called a “Section 5(d) Communication”; any Section 5(d) Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act is hereinafter called a “Section 5(d) Writing”; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Shares is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”);

(b) (A) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

(c) For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement. The Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by the information listed on Schedule II(b) hereto, taken together (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and each Section 5(d) Writing, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that these representations and warranties shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information (as defined in Section 9(b) of this Agreement);

(d) From the time of initial confidential submission of a draft registration statement relating to the Shares with the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which a Section 5(d) Communication was made) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”);

(e) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement, as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

 

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(f) Neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, (i) sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or (ii) entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, there has not been (x) any change in the capital stock (other than as a result of (i) the exercise, if any, of stock options or the award, if any, of stock options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii) the issuance, if any, of stock upon conversion of Company securities as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus) or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change or effect, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change or effect, in or affecting (i) the business, properties, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Transaction Entities or their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, or (ii) the ability of the Transaction Entities to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(g) Upon consummation of the Formation Transactions, the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries will have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or a ground lease relating to, all of the Properties owned by them and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, deeds of trust, pledges, claims, restrictions, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Pricing Prospectus or such as do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries are held by them under valid, existing and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries; no third party has any option or right of first refusal to purchase any Property or any portion thereof or interest therein, that is significant individually or in the aggregate, except as disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(h) The Company has been duly formed and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus, and to enter into and perform its obligations (i) under this Agreement and the Operative Documents, to the extent it is a party to such agreements, and (ii) in connection with the Formation Transactions; and the Company has been duly qualified as

 

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a foreign corporation or other foreign entity for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification in such jurisdiction, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

(i) The Operating Partnership has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has the power and authority necessary to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus, and to enter into and perform its obligations (i) under this Agreement and the Operative Documents, to the extent it is a party to such agreements, and (ii) in connection with the Formation Transactions, the Operating Partnership has been duly qualified as a foreign limited partnership for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification in such jurisdiction, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the General Partner (as defined below), immediately following the Formation Transactions, will be the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and at the First Time of Delivery, the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, will be in full force and effect, and the aggregate percentage interests of the Company, of the General Partner and the limited partners in the Operating Partnership will be as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided that to the extent any portion of the Underwriters’ option to purchase Optional Shares is exercised as of the First Time of Delivery, the percentage interest of such partners in the Operating Partnership will be adjusted accordingly and, additionally, to the extent any portion of such option is exercised subsequent to the First Time of Delivery, the Company will contribute the proceeds from the sale of the Optional Shares to the Operating Partnership (or to the general partner of the Operating Partnership, which will contribute such proceeds to the Operating Partnership) in exchange for a number of OP Units equal to the number of Optional Shares issued;

(j) Essential Properties OP G.P., LLC (the “General Partner”) has the power and authority, as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, to cause the Operating Partnership to enter into and perform the Operating Partnership’s obligations under this Agreement. The Company is and will be the sole member of the General Partner.

(k) Each subsidiary of the Company (after giving effect to the Formation Transactions) (other than the Operating Partnership) has been (i) duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) duly qualified as a foreign entity for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(l) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and conform in all material respects to the description of the Stock contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are, or upon consummation of the Formation Transactions will be, owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens or encumbrances described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(m) The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters hereunder have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to the description of the Stock contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights;

(n) The OP Units to be issued in the Formation Transactions have been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Operating Partnership and, at the First Time of Delivery, will be validly issued; the issuance and sale by the Operating Partnership of the OP Units in connection with the Formation Transactions are exempt from the registration requirements of the Act and applicable state securities, real estate syndication and Blue Sky laws; the terms of the OP Units conform in all material respects to the description related thereto contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) no OP Units are reserved for any purpose, (ii) there are no outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for any OP Units, and (iii) there are no outstanding options, rights (preemptive or otherwise) or warrants to purchase or subscribe for OP Units or any other securities of the Operating Partnership;

(o) The Common Shares (other than the Shares) to be issued and sold by the Company in connection with the Formation Transactions (the “Formation Shares”) have been duly and validly authorized and, when the Formation Shares have been issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the applicable Operative Document against payment of the consideration set forth therein, the Formation Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the issuance of the Formation Shares is not subject to any preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company; and the issuance and sale by the Company of the Formation Shares are exempt from the registration requirements of the Act and applicable state securities, real estate syndication and Blue Sky laws;

(p) The issue and sale of the Shares and the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries (to the extent such entity is a party thereto) of their obligations under, this Agreement, the Operative Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of,

 

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or constitute a default under, (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries are a party or by which the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries are bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries are subject, except, in the case of this clause (A) for such conflicts, defaults, breaches, or violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) the Organization Documents (as defined below) of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries or (C) or any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or under the Operative Documents, or in connection with the consummation of the Formation Transactions, except such as have been obtained under the Act, the approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the underwriting terms and arrangements and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

“Organizational Documents” means the following, each as amended from time to time: (i) in the case of a corporation, its charter and bylaws; (ii) in the case of a limited or general partnership, its partnership certificate, certificate of formation or similar organizational document and its partnership agreement; (iii) in the case of a limited liability company, its articles of organization, certificate of formation or similar organizational documents and its operating agreement, limited liability company agreement, membership agreement or other similar agreement; (iv) in the case of a trust, its certificate of trust, certificate of formation or similar organizational document and its trust agreement or other similar agreement; and (v) in the case of any other entity, the organizational and governing documents of such entity.

(q) Neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its Organizational Documents, (ii) in violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for such violations or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(r) The statements set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and Prospectus under the caption “Description of Our Capital Stock”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Stock, under the captions “Prospectus Summary—Structure and Formation of Our Company,” “Prospectus Summary—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of Our Common Stock,” “Prospectus Summary—Our Tax Status,” “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” “Executive Compensation,” “Structure and

 

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Formation of Our Company,” “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Essential Properties, L.P.,” “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws,” “Federal Income Tax Considerations”, and under the caption “Underwriting”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects;

(s) Other than as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or of which any Property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others;

(t) Neither of the Transaction Entities is and, after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the OP Units in connection with the Formation Transactions, the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof, neither of the Transaction Entities will be, an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

(u) At the time of filing the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Shares, and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined under Rule 405 under the Act;

(v) Ernst & Young LLP, who has certified certain financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

(w) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) has taken all necessary actions to ensure that, within the time period required, the Company and its subsidiaries will maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) and (ii) currently maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting;

 

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(x) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting;

(y) The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by the Company and its subsidiaries in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure;

(z) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Transaction Entities;

(aa) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective directors or officers nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) made, offered, promised or authorized any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense; (ii) made, offered, promised or authorized any direct or indirect unlawful payment; or (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law;

(bb) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the requirements of applicable anti-money laundering laws, including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended by the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the anti-money laundering laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, threatened;

(cc) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective directors or officers nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person,” the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity

 

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(i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or the target of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions;

(dd) The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus under the Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Act, to the extent applicable;

(ee) The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including, without limitation, trade secrets and other unpatented or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) used in the operation of the business as now operated, except where the failure to own or possess such rights would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has received any notice of, nor is there any reasonable basis for, any claim of infringement, misappropriation, violation of or conflict with any such rights of others; the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps in accordance with normal industry practice to maintain the confidentiality of all material trade secrets and confidential information owned, used or held for use by the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries;

(ff) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, except for such noncompliance, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(gg) The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries possess all licenses, permits, certificates and other authorizations from, and have made all declarations and filings with, all governmental authorities required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate their respective properties and to carry on their respective businesses as now or proposed to be conducted as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, “Permits”), except where the failure to obtain such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all of their respective obligations with respect to such Permits, and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(hh) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or arrangements between either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any person, on the other hand, granting such person the right to require either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their respective subsidiaries; no person has the right, pursuant to any contract, agreement or arrangement, to have the offer and sale of any such securities to be registered under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement;

(ii) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (ii) each of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (iii) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against either of the Transaction Entities or any of their

 

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respective subsidiaries and (iv) to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting either of the Transaction Entities or their respective subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws;

(jj) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Transaction Entities or one of their respective subsidiaries holds the lessor’s interest under the leases with any tenants occupying each Property (collectively, the “Leases”); except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any other party to any Lease, is in breach or default of any such Lease; and (ii) to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, no event has occurred or has been threatened in writing, that, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would, individually or in the aggregate, constitute an event of default under any Lease or would permit the termination, modification or acceleration under such Lease;;

(kk) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries is in violation of any municipal, state or federal law, rule or regulation concerning any Property; except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Properties complies with all applicable zoning laws, ordinances, regulations and deed restrictions or other covenants, except where the failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has received from any governmental authority any written notice of any condemnation of or zoning change, and neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their subsidiaries has received written notice of any such threatened condemnation or zoning change, that, in either case, if consummated, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ll) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no mortgages encumbering the Properties are or will be: (i) convertible (in the absence of foreclosure) into an equity interest in the entity owning such Property or in the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries; (ii) cross-defaulted to any indebtedness other than indebtedness of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries; or (iii) cross-collateralized to any property or assets not owned directly or indirectly by the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries;

(mm) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed (except where the failure to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect) and have paid all taxes required to be paid (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by U.S. GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company), and no unpaid tax deficiency has

 

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been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, has had a Material Adverse Effect; neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries have notice or knowledge of any unpaid tax deficiency that, if determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(nn) Each of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries are entitled to the benefits of insurance with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as are customary in the business in which they are engaged, and all such insurance is in full force and effect; neither of the Transaction Entities has any reason to believe that it or any of its respective subsidiaries will not be able to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted and at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied; without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, have obtained title insurance on the fee or leasehold interests, as the case may be, in each of the Properties, in such amounts as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its Properties and is prudent and customary for companies engaged in similar businesses;

(oo) Commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2018, the Company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (“ REIT ”) under the Code, and the Company’s current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for such taxable year and thereafter; all statements regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and descriptions of the Company’s organization and proposed method of operation set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are true, complete and correct in all material respects;

(pp) Neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any of their affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares (except that the Company makes no representation in this clause (pp) as to any activities of the Underwriters or their respective affiliates);

(qq) Except pursuant to the terms of the indebtedness described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) the Company is not prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making any distributions to its stockholders, (ii) the Operating Partnership is not prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Company to the extent permitted by applicable law, from making any other distribution on the Operating Partnership’s partnership interests, or from repaying the Company for any loans or advances made by

 

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the Company to the Operating Partnership, and (iii) no other subsidiary of either of the Transaction Entities is currently prohibited from paying any dividends or distributions directly or indirectly to the Transaction Entities, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or other equity interests, from repaying, directly or indirectly, to the Transaction Entities any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets directly or indirectly to the Transaction Entities or any other subsidiary of the Transaction Entities;

(rr) All statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Transaction Entities believe to be reliable and accurate in all material respects;

(ss) The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, in each case, to the extent that each such entity is a party thereto, have the legal right and power to enter into each of the Operative Documents; the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, in each case, to the extent that each such entity is a party thereto, have duly authorized, executed and delivered, or will execute and deliver prior to or concurrent with the First Time of Delivery, each of the Operative Documents; and each Operative Document constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, in each case, to the extent that it is a party thereto, enforceable against each of them that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, and, with respect to equitable relief, the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), and, with respect to rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder, except as rights may be limited by applicable law or policies underlying such law;

(tt) There are no contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been so described or filed as required;

(uu) The Transaction Entities have no debt securities or preferred stock that is rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating agency” (as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act);

(vv) No labor dispute with the employees of the either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, is imminent, and the Transaction Entities are not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its material tenants, which, in either case, would have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ww) The Shares have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject to notice of issuance;.

 

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(xx) Except for grants which are subject to consummation of the offering or the Formation Transactions or are otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not granted to any person or entity, a stock option or other equity-based award to purchase Common Shares, pursuant to an equity-based compensation plan or otherwise;

(yy) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among either of the Transaction Entities on the one hand, and the trustees, directors, officers, stockholders or other equity holders, customers or suppliers of the Transaction Entities on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which is not so described; and

(zz) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries (i) has any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter or (ii) intends to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Transaction Entity or such subsidiary to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

The Transaction Entities have not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, Securities to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Transaction Entities to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Transaction Entities, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Transaction Entities or their products.

2. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per share of $13.16, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (b) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the option to purchase Optional Shares as provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per share set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2 (provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares), that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying such number of Optional Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

 

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The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to 4,875,000 Optional Shares, at the purchase price per share set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised only by written notice from you to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement, setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless you and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

3. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.

4. (a) The Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in definitive or book-entry form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance. The Company will cause the certificates, if any, representing the Shares to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on June 25, 2018, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York time, on the date specified by the Representatives in the written notice given by the Representatives of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Optional Shares, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the “First Time of Delivery”, such time and date for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Second Time of Delivery”, and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery”.

(b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Shares and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8(n) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP at 355 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90071 (the “Closing Location”), and the Shares will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at such Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 4, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

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5. Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, agrees with each of the Underwriters:

(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Shares, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

(b) To use its commercially reasonable best efforts to take such action as you may reasonably request from time to time to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Shares, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or entity or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject as of the date hereof;

(c) Prior to 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the second New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with electronic copies of the Prospectus and with written copies at such time or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required under the Act at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an

 

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untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required under the Act to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable (which may be satisfied with the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System), but in any event not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(e) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Shares, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase shares of Stock or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Stock or any such substantially similar securities, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise without your prior written consent; provided that the foregoing clause shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) shares of Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of

 

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Stock (including OP Units) issued by the Company or the Operating Partnership in the Formation Transactions, (C) any shares of Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares (including OP Units) issued or granted pursuant to any equity incentive plan of the Company or the Operating Partnership referred to in the Pricing Disclosure Package, (D) any shares of Stock issued upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, (E) any shares of Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Stock (including OP Units), in the aggregate not to exceed 15% of the total number of shares of Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (assuming full conversion, exchange or exercise of all outstanding securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Stock (including OP Units)), issued in connection with property acquisitions, mergers or acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial relationships or other strategic transactions, provided, however, that the recipient of such shares of Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Stock shall be required to execute a lock-up letter, in substantially the form attached as Annex II hereto, (F) the filing of any registration statement pursuant to the Company’s registration obligations to third party investors that agreed to acquire shares of Stock in the Formation Transactions, and (G) the filing of a registration statement relating to the equity incentive plan of the Company and the Operating Partnership referred to in the Pricing Prospectus;

(f) During the period when a Prospectus relating to the Shares is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Act, the Transaction Entities will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and its rules and regulations;

(g) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

(h) To use its commercially reasonable best efforts to list for trading, subject to official notice of issuance, the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”);

(i) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act;

(j) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to 3a of the Commission’s Informal and Other Procedures (16 CFR 202.3a);

(k) Upon request of any Underwriter, to furnish, or cause to be furnished, to such Underwriter an electronic version of the Company’s trademarks, servicemarks and corporate logo for use on the website, if any, operated by such Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering of the Shares (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred;

(l) To promptly notify you if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Act and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period referred to in Section 5(e) hereof; and

 

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(m) To pay (i) all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program in an amount not to exceed $5,000, (ii) all costs and expenses incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of copies of the Directed Share Program material and (iii) all stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.

6. (a) The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a free writing prospectus required to be filed with the Commission; any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives is listed on Schedule II(a) or Schedule II(b) hereto;

(b) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and the Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433 under the Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show;

(c) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Section 5(d) Writing any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Section 5(d) Writing would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus , Section 5(d) Writing or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(d) The Company represents and agrees that (i) it has not engaged in, or authorized any other person to engage in, any Section 5(d) Communications, other than Section 5(d) Communications with the prior consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Act; and (ii) it has not distributed, or authorized any other person to distribute, any Section 5(d) Writings, other than those distributed with the prior consent of the Representatives that are listed on Schedule II(c) hereto; and the Company reconfirms that the Underwriters have been authorized to act on its behalf in engaging in Section 5(d) Communications;

 

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(e) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that any Section 5(d) Communications undertaken by it were with entities that are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Act; and

(f) The Company will use its best efforts to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2018, and the Company will use its best efforts to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code for so long as its board of directors determines it is in the Company’s best interest to so qualify.

7. The Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Section 5(d) Writing, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, any of the Operative Documents, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey (which fees and disbursements of counsel shall not exceed $10,000) (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the Exchange; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Shares (which fees and disbursements of counsel shall not exceed $35,000); (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates, if applicable; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

8. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Transaction Entities herein or in certificates of any officer of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof are, at and as of the Applicable Time and such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Transaction Entities shall have performed all of their obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

 

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(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; all material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Pricing Prospectus, Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

(b) Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you such written opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information from the Transaction Entities as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(c) Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Transaction Entities, shall have furnished to you one or more written opinions, dated such Time of Delivery, to the effect set forth on Annex I-A hereto;

(d) Venable LLP, special counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery, to the effect set forth on Annex I-B hereto;

(e) At the time of the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, the Company shall have furnished to you a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, with respect to certain financial data contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, to the effect set forth on Annex 1-D hereto;

(f) At the time of the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, to the effect set forth in Annex I-C hereto;

 

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(g) (i) Neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their respective subsidiaries or any change or effect, or any development involving a prospective change or effect, in or affecting (x) the business, properties, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (y) the ability of the Transaction Entities to perform their obligations under this Agreement or the Operative Documents, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(h) On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded to the debt securities of each of SCF RC Funding I LLC’s, SCF RC Funding II LLC’s and SCF RC Funding III LLC’s (collectively, the “Master Trust Issuers”) by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Master Trust Issuers’ debt securities;

(i) On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

 

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(j) The Shares to be sold at such Time of Delivery shall have been duly listed for trading, subject to official notice of issuance, on the Exchange;

(k) The Company shall have obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of an agreement from each officer, director and stockholder of the Company listed on Annex II-A hereto, substantially to the effect set forth in Annex II hereof;

(l) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses;

(m) All of the transactions that are to occur in order to consummate the Formation Transactions shall have been or will be substantially concurrently consummated as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and

(n) The Transaction Entities shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers of such Transaction Entity satisfactory to you as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each of the Transaction Entities herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by each of the Transaction Entities of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (g) of this Section and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request.

9. (a) The Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “roadshow” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Act (a “roadshow”), or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or any Section 5(d) Writing, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided , however , that the Transaction Entities shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow, or any Section 5(d) Writing, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

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(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Transaction Entities against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Transaction Entities may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow or any Section 5(d) Writing, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow or any Section 5(d) Writing, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information; and will reimburse the Transaction Entities for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Transaction Entities in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. As used in this Agreement with respect to an Underwriter and an applicable document, “Underwriter Information” shall mean the written information furnished to the Transaction Entities by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figure appearing in the fifth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”, and the information contained in the twelfth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”.

(c) The Transaction Entities jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless Citigroup Global Markets Inc., the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and each person, who controls Citigroup Global Markets Inc. within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (“Citigroup Entities”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim), insofar as such losses, claims damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (i) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of the securities which immediately following the effective date of the Registration Statement, were subject to a properly confirmed agreement to purchase; or (ii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability is finally judicially determined to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Citigroup Entities.

 

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(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof in respect of such action or proceeding, then in addition to such separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for Citigroup Global Markets Inc., the directors, officers, employees and agents of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., and all persons, if any, who control Citigroup Global Markets Inc. within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act for the defense of any losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising out of the Directed Share Program.

(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the

 

26


Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by either of the Transaction Entities on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Transaction Entities and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (e) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (e). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (e) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(f) The obligations of the Transaction Entities under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Transaction Entities may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each broker-dealer affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

10. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Shares which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled

 

27


to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Shares.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Optional Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

11. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Transaction Entities and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Transaction Entities, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Transaction Entities, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

 

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12. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 or Section 8(i)(i), (iii), (iv) or (v) hereof, the Transaction Entities shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason, any Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Transaction Entities will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so delivered, but the Transaction Entities shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof.

13. In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by the Representatives.

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the representatives in care of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Registration Department, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel, facsimile number 1-646-291-1469; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Peter M. Mavoides; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request; provided, however, that notices under subsection 5(e) shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the representatives at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Control Room, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel, facsimile number 1-646-291-1469; and, if to any person subject to the Lock-Up Period pursuant to the lockup letters described in Section 8(k), shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of such person set forth in the signature page to the lock-up letter executed by such person. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

The Company hereby acknowledges that in accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

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14. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Transaction Entities and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers and directors of the Transaction Entities, the officers and directors of

each Underwriter and each person who controls the Transaction Entities or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

15. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

16. The Transaction Entities acknowledge and agree that (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Transaction Entities, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Transaction Entities with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Transaction Entities on other matters) or any other obligation to the Transaction Entities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Transaction Entities have consulted their own legal and financial advisors to the extent they deem appropriate. The Transaction Entities agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Transaction Entities, in connection with the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto.

17. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Transaction Entities and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

18. This Agreement and any transaction contemplated by this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflict of laws that would result in the application of any law other than the laws of the State of New York. The Transaction Entities agree that any suit or proceeding arising in respect of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement will be tried exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if that court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, in any state court located in The City and County of New York, and the Company agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of, and to venue in, such courts.

19. The Transaction Entities and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

20. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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21. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Transaction Entities are authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Transaction Entities relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Transaction Entities. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Transaction Entities for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

 

Very truly yours,
Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Hillary Hai

Name:   Hillary Hai
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Essential Properties, L.P.
By:   Essential Properties OP G.P., LLC,
its general partner
By:  

/s/ Hillary Hai

Name:   Hillary Hai
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

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Accepted as of the date hereof:
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
By:  

/s/ Matt Leavitt

Name:   Matt Leavitt
Title:   Managing Director
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:  

/s/ Scott Eisen

Name:   Scott Eisen
Title:   Managing Director

On behalf of each of the Underwriters

 

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SCHEDULE I

 

     Total Number of
Firm Shares

to be Purchased
 
Underwriter       

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     9,750,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     9,750,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     3,250,000  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

     2,437,500  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     2,437,500  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     1,625,000  

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

     1,625,000  

Evercore Group L.L.C.

     975,000  

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

     650,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

     32,500,000  
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE II

(a) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package :

Electronic roadshow dated June 11, 2018

(b) Information other than the Pricing Prospectus that comprise the Pricing Disclosure Package:

The initial public offering price per share for the Shares is $14.00

The number of Shares purchased by the Underwriters is 32,500,000

(c) Section 5(d) Writings:

None


SCHEDULE III

1. Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company

2. Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company

3. Certificate of Conversion of the Operating Partnership

4. Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership

5. Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, to be in effect upon the completion of this offering

6. Stockholders Agreement, among the Company, Eldridge Industries, LLC, and the other stockholders from time to time party thereto, to be in effect upon the completion of this offering

7. Registration Rights Agreement, by and among the Company, EPRT Holdings, LLC and Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

8. Private Placement Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2018, by and between the Company and Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

9. Private Placement Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2018, by and between the Operating Partnership and Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

Exhibit 3.1

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES REALTY TRUST, INC.

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

FIRST : Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.

SECOND : The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:

ARTICLE I

INCORPORATOR

Sharon Kroupa, whose address is c/o Venable LLP, 750 E. Pratt Street, Suite 900, Baltimore, MD 21202, being at least 18 years of age, formed a corporation under the general laws of the State of Maryland on January 12, 2018.

ARTICLE II

NAME

The name of the corporation (the “Corporation”) is:

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute (the “Code”)) for which corporations may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force. For purposes of the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”), “REIT” means a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code or any successor provision.

 


ARTICLE IV

PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT

The address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is c/o The Corporation Trust, Incorporated, 2405 York Road, Suite 201, Lutherville, MD 21093. The name of the resident agent of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust, Incorporated whose post address is 2405 York Road, Suite 201, Lutherville, MD 21093. The resident agent is a Maryland corporation.

ARTICLE V

PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING

AND REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS OF THE

CORPORATION AND OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 5.1 Number of Directors . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation is one, which number may be increased or decreased only by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws of the Corporation, as the same may be amended or restated (the “Bylaws”), but shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”). The name of the director who shall serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and qualifies is:

Peter M. Mavoides

Any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

The Corporation elects, effective at such time as it becomes eligible under Section 3-802 of the MGCL to make the election provided for under Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, that, except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of stock, any and all vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors remaining in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which such vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

Section 5.2 Extraordinary Actions . Except as specifically provided in Section 5.8 (relating to removal of directors) and in Article VIII (relating to amendments to the Charter), notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Section 5.3 Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance . The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of stock of the Corporation of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into shares of its

 

2


stock of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Charter or the Bylaws.

Section 5.4 Preemptive and Appraisal Rights . Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of stock pursuant to Section 6.4 or as may otherwise be provided by a contract approved by the Board of Directors, no holder of shares of stock of the Corporation shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of stock of the Corporation or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell. Holders of shares of stock shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board of Directors upon such terms and conditions as may be specified by the Board of Directors, determines that such rights apply, with respect to all or any shares of all or any classes or series of stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.

Section 5.5 Indemnification . To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity and (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity, in either case, from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his or her service in such capacity. The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Charter shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer. The Corporation may, with the approval of its Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to an individual who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation. The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in the Charter shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement or otherwise.

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or the Bylaws inconsistent with this Section, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

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Section 5.6 Determinations by Board . The determination as to any of the following matters, made by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its stock: the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, acquisition of its stock or the payment of other distributions on its stock; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other cash flow, funds from operations, adjusted funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been set aside, paid or discharged); any interpretation or resolution of any ambiguity with respect to any provision of the Charter (including any of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation) or of the Bylaws; the number of authorized or outstanding shares of stock of any class or series of the Corporation; the value, fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the value, or fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation or of any shares of stock of the Corporation; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation; any interpretation of the terms and conditions of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other entity, including, without limitation, the Stockholders Agreement (as may be amended from time to time, the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), by and among the Company, Eldridge Industries, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Eldridge”), and the other stockholders from time to time a party thereto, and the Limited Partnership Agreement of Essential Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership; the compensation of directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Corporation or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 5.7 REIT Qualification . If the Corporation elects to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT, the Board of Directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Corporation as a REIT; however, if the Board of Directors determines (subject, to the extent required by the Stockholders’ Agreement, to the consent of Eldridge provided in accordance with the Stockholders’ Agreement) that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT, the Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the Corporation’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, also may (a) determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Article VII is no longer required for REIT qualification and (b) make any other determination or take any other action pursuant to Article VII.

 

4


Section 5.8 Removal of Directors . Subject to the rights of holders of shares of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock (as defined below) to elect or remove one or more directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors; except that, to the extent required by the Stockholders’ Agreement, no director who is an Eldridge Nominee (as defined in the Stockholders’ Agreement) may be removed as a director without the consent of Eldridge provided in accordance with the Stockholders’ Agreement. For the purpose of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean, with respect to any particular director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Corporation through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.

Section 5.9 Corporate Opportunities . (a) If any director or officer of the Corporation who is also an officer, employee, agent, Affiliate or designee of Eldridge or any of Eldridge’s Affiliates (each, an “Eldridge Designee”), acquires knowledge of a potential business opportunity, the Corporation renounces, on its behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries, any potential interest or expectation in, or right to be offered or to participate in, such business opportunity, unless it is a Retained Opportunity (as defined in Section 5.9(b) below). Accordingly:

(i) Except for Retained Opportunities, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, Eldridge, its Affiliates, each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, actuaries, consultants or financial advisors or any other Person (as such term is defined in Article VII) associated with or acting on behalf of Eldridge or its Affiliates (collectively, the “Representatives”), and any Eldridge Designee, has the right to, and has no duty not to (x) directly or indirectly engage in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation, including those deemed to be competing with the Corporation, or (y) directly or indirectly do business with any client, customer or supplier of the Corporation.

(ii) In the event that Eldridge, any Representative of Eldridge or any Eldridge Designee acquires knowledge of a potential business opportunity (other than a Retained Opportunity), Eldridge, such Representative or such Eldridge Designee shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, have no duty to communicate or present such opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, direct or indirect subsidiaries, stockholders or other equity holders for breach of any duty by reason of the fact that Eldridge, such Representative or such Eldridge Designee, directly or indirectly, pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person, or does not present such opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.

(iii) Except for Retained Opportunities, (A) no Eldridge Designee is required to present, communicate or offer any business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries and (B) each Eldridge Designee, on his or her own behalf or on behalf of Eldridge or its Affiliates, shall have the right to hold and exploit any business opportunity, or to direct, recommend, offer, sell, assign or otherwise transfer such business opportunity to any person or entity other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries.

 

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(iv) The taking by an Eldridge Designee for himself or herself, or the offering or other transfer to another person or entity, of any potential business opportunity, other than a Retained Opportunity, whether pursuant to the Charter or otherwise, shall not constitute or be construed or interpreted as (A) an act or omission of the director committed in bad faith or as the result of active or deliberate dishonesty or (B) receipt by the director of an improper benefit or profit in money, property, services or otherwise.

(b) For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term “Retained Opportunity” shall mean any business opportunity of which any Eldridge Designee or other Representative of Eldridge (i) becomes aware as a direct result of his, her or its capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and (i)(A) which the Corporation is financially able to undertake, (B) which the Corporation is not prohibited by contract or applicable law from pursuing or undertaking, (C) which, from its nature, is in the line of the Corporation’s business, (D) which is of practical advantage to the Corporation and (E) in which the Corporation has an interest or a reasonable expectancy.

(c) For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term “Affiliate” shall, mean with respect to any specified Person, (i) any Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person or (ii) in the event that the specified Person is a natural Person, a member of the immediate family of such Person;  provided  that the Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of Eldridge. As used in this definition, the term “control” 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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(d) The Corporation shall have the power, by resolution of the Board of Directors, to renounce any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities or classes or categories of business opportunities that are presented to the Corporation or developed by or presented to one or more directors or officers of the Corporation.

Section 5.10 Subtitle 8 . In accordance with Section 3-802(c) of the MGCL, the Corporation is prohibited from electing to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3-803, 3-804(a)-(b) or 3-805 of the MGCL, unless such election is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK

Section 6.1 Authorized Shares . The Corporation has authority to issue 650,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and 150,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $6,500,000. If shares of one class of stock are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of stock pursuant to Section 6.2, 6.3 or 6.4 of this Article VI, the number of

 

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authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of stock of all classes that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. The Board of Directors, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without any action by the stockholders of the Corporation, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that the Corporation has authority to issue.

Section 6.2 Common Stock . Subject to the provisions of Article VII and except as may otherwise be specified in the Charter, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter upon which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote. The Board of Directors may reclassify any unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time into one or more classes or series of stock.

Section 6.3 Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors may classify any unissued shares of Preferred Stock and reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of any class or series from time to time, into one or more classes or series of stock.

Section 6.4 Classified or Reclassified Shares . Prior to the issuance of classified or reclassified shares of any class or series of stock, the Board of Directors by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation; (b) specify the number of shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Article VII and subject to the express terms of any class or series of stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Corporation to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”). Any of the terms of any class or series of stock set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 6.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Charter (including determinations by the Board of Directors or other facts or events within the control of the Corporation) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary or other Charter document.

Section 6.5 Action by Stockholders . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors may be taken without a meeting by consent, in writing or by electronic transmission, in any manner and by any vote permitted by the MGCL and set forth in the Bylaws.

Section 6.6 Charter and Bylaws . The rights of all stockholders and the terms of all stock of the Corporation are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws.

 

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ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

Section 7.1 Definitions . For the purpose of this Article VII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, another Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person.

Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit . The term “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” shall mean 7.5% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 7.2.8 of the Charter.

Beneficial Ownership . The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

Business Day . The term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Capital Stock . The term “Capital Stock” shall mean all classes or series of stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.

Charitable Beneficiary . The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 7.3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.

Common Stock Ownership Limit . The term “Common Stock Ownership Limit” shall mean 7.5% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 7.2.8 of the Charter.

Constructive Ownership . The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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Designated Investment Entity . The term “Designated Investment Entity” shall mean (i) a pension trust that qualifies for look-through treatment under Section 856(h) of the Code, (ii) an entity that qualifies as a regulated investment company under Section 851 of the Code or (iii) a Qualified Investment Manager if, in each case no Beneficial Owner of such entity (or Beneficial Owner of the shares of Capital Stock held by such entity) would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit or the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, as applicable, if such Beneficial Owner owned directly the shares of Capital Stock that are held by such Designated Investment Entity and that are Beneficially Owned by such Beneficial Owner.

Designated Investment Entity Limit . The term “Designated Investment Entity Limit” shall mean (i) with respect to shares of Common Stock, 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 7.2.8 of the Charter, and (ii) with respect to shares of Capital Stock, 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 7.2.8 of the Charter.

Excepted Holder . The term “Excepted Holder” shall mean a stockholder of the Corporation for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by the Charter or by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.2.7.

Excepted Holder Limit . The term “Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean ( provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.2.7 and subject to any increase pursuant to Section 7.2.7(a) or decrease pursuant to 7.2.7(d)) the percentage limit established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.2.7.

Initial Date . The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date of the closing of the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the initial underwritten public offering of the Corporation.

Market Price . The term “Market Price” on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding shares of Capital Stock, the Closing Price for such Capital Stock on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Capital Stock, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Capital Stock, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if such Capital Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such Capital Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if such Capital Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Capital Stock is not quoted by any such

 

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organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Capital Stock selected by the Board of Directors or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Capital Stock, the fair market value of the Capital Stock, as determined by the Board of Directors.

NYSE . The term “NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

Person . The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit applies.

Prohibited Owner . The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of this Article VII, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 7.2.1, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

Qualified Investment Manager . The term “Qualified Investment Manager” shall mean an entity (i) who for compensation engages in the business of advising others as to the value of securities or as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities; (ii) who purchases securities in the ordinary course of its business and not with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the Corporation, nor in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, including any transaction subject to Rule 13d-3(b) under the Exchange Act; and (iii) who has or shares voting power and investment power within the meaning of Rule 13d-3(a) under the Exchange Act. A Qualified Investment Manager shall be deemed to Beneficially Own all shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by each of its Affiliates, after application of the beneficial ownership rules under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act; provided however , that such Affiliate meets the requirements set forth in the preceding clause (ii).

Restriction Termination Date . The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Board of Directors determines pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Charter that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the applicable restriction or limitation on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of shares of Capital Stock set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Corporation to qualify as a REIT.

Transfer . The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire or change its Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such action or cause any such event, of Capital Stock or the right to vote (other than solely pursuant to a revocable proxy) or receive dividends on Capital Stock, including (a) the granting

 

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or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock or any interest in Capital Stock or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

Trust . The term “Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 7.3.1.

Trustee . The term “Trustee” shall mean the Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and a Prohibited Owner that is appointed by the Corporation to serve as trustee of the Trust.

Section 7.2 Capital Stock .

Section 7.2.1 Ownership Limitations . During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 7.4:

(a) Basic Restrictions . Except as provided in Section 7.2.7,

(i) (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder or a Designated Investment Entity, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder or a Designated Investment Entity, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit, (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder and (4) no Designated Investment Entity shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Designated Investment Entity Limit.

(ii) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock would result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, without limitation, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Corporation owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Corporation from such tenant would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).

(iii) Any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock that, if effective, would result in the Capital Stock being beneficially owned by less than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock.

 

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(b) Transfer in Trust . If any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii),

(i) then that number of shares of the Capital Stock the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 7.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such shares; or

(ii) if the transfer to the Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii), then the Transfer of that number of shares of Capital Stock that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock.

(iii) To the extent that, upon a transfer of shares of Capital Stock pursuant to this Section 7.2.1(b), a violation of any provision of this Article VII would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of shares of Capital Stock by a single Trust would violate the 100 stockholder requirement applicable to REITs), then shares of Capital Stock shall be transferred to that number of Trusts, each having a distinct Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of this Article VII.

Section 7.2.2 Remedies for Breach . If the Board of Directors shall at any time determine that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 7.2.1 or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 7.2.1 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Directors may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Corporation to redeem shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided , however , that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 7.2.1 shall automatically result in the transfer to the Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Directors.

Section 7.2.3 Notice of Restricted Transfer . Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock that will or may violate Section 7.2.1(a) or any Person who would have owned shares of Capital Stock that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.2.1(b) shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

 

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Section 7.2.4 Owners Required To Provide Information . From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

(a) every owner of five percent or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Corporation stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of Capital Stock of each class or series Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall promptly provide to the Corporation in writing such additional information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporation’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, the Common Stock Ownership Limit, any Excepted Holder Limit and the Designated Investment Entity Limit; and

(b) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Capital Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Capital Stock for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall promptly provide to the Corporation in writing such information as the Corporation may request, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

Section 7.2.5 Remedies Not Limited . Subject to Section 5.7 of the Charter, nothing contained in this Section 7.2 shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation in preserving the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

Section 7.2.6 Ambiguity . In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or any definition contained in Section 7.1, the Board of Directors may determine the application of the provisions of this Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 or any such definition with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 requires an action by the Board of Directors and the Charter fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors may determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board of Directors, if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 7.2.2) acquired Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock in violation of Section 7.2.1, such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the shares of Capital Stock which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such shares of Capital Stock based upon the relative number of the shares of Capital Stock held by each such Person.

 

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Section 7.2.7 Exceptions .

(a) Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii), upon receipt of such representations and agreements as the Board of Directors may require, the Board of Directors, may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a Person from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, the Common Stock Ownership Limit and/or the Designated Investment Entity Limit, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person.

(b) Prior to granting any exception or creating or increasing an Excepted Holder Limit pursuant to Section 7.2.7(a), the Board of Directors may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

(c) Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter, placement agent or initial purchaser which participates in a public offering or a private placement of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, the Common Stock Ownership Limit, the Designated Investment Entity Limit, or any of such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.

(d) The Board of Directors may only revoke an exemption previously granted to an Excepted Holder or reduce an Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Common Stock Ownership Limit.

Section 7.2.8 Increase or Decrease in Common Stock Ownership Limit, the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or the Designated Investment Entity Limit . Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii) and this Section 7.2.8, the Board of Directors may from time to time increase or decrease the Common Stock Ownership Limit, the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or the Designated Investment Entity Limit for one or more Persons and increase or decrease the Common Stock Ownership Limit, the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or the Designated Investment Entity Limit for all other Persons. No decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit, Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or Designated Investment Entity Limit will be effective for any Person whose percentage of ownership of Capital Stock is in excess of such decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit, Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or Designated Investment Entity Limit, as applicable, until such time as such Person’s percentage of ownership of Capital Stock equals or falls below the decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit, Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or Designated Investment Entity Limit, as applicable; provided , however , any further acquisition of Capital Stock by any such Person (other than a Person for whom an

 

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exemption has been granted pursuant to Section 7.2.7(a) or an Excepted Holder) in excess of the Capital Stock owned by such person on the date the decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit, Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or Designated Investment Entity Limit, as applicable, became effective will be in violation of the Common Stock Ownership Limit, the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or the Designated Investment Entity Limit, as applicable. No increase to the Common Stock Ownership Limit, the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or the Designated Investment Entity Limit may be approved if the new Common Stock Ownership Limit, Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and/or the Designated Investment Entity Limit would allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own, in the aggregate more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding Capital Stock.

Section 7.2.9 Legend . Each certificate for shares of Capital Stock, if certificated, shall bear substantially the following legend:

The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Corporation’s Charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit unless such Person is (a) an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable) or (b) a Designated Investment Entity (in which case the Designated Investment Entity Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, unless such Person is (a) an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable) or (b) a Designated Investment Entity (in which case the Designated Investment Entity Limit shall be applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Capital Stock that would result in the Corporation being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iv) no Person may Transfer shares of Capital Stock if such Transfer would result in the Capital Stock of the Corporation being owned by fewer than 100 Persons. Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts or intends to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock which cause or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership provided in (i), (ii) or (iii) above are violated, the shares of Capital Stock in excess or in violation of the

 

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above limitations will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the Corporation may redeem shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion if the Board of Directors determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, if the ownership restrictions provided in (iv) above would be violated or upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio . All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Charter of the Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Corporation at its Principal Office.

Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate or any notice in lieu of a certificate may state that the Corporation will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of the shares to a stockholder on request and without charge.

Section 7.3 Transfer of Capital Stock in Trust .

Section 7.3.1 Ownership in Trust . Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 7.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer of shares of Capital Stock to a Trust, such shares of Capital Stock shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 7.2.1(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Corporation and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Corporation as provided in Section 7.3.6.

Section 7.3.2 Status of Shares Held by the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the Trust.

Section 7.3.3 Dividend and Voting Rights . The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient

 

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of such dividend or other distribution to the Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or other distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole and absolute discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust and (ii) to recast such vote; provided , however , that if the Corporation has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, until the Corporation has received notification that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred into a Trust, the Corporation shall be entitled to rely on its stock transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes and determining the other rights of stockholders.

Section 7.3.4 Sale of Shares by Trustee . Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee of the Trust shall sell the shares held in the Trust to a person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 7.2.1(a). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 7.3.4. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust ( e.g. , in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Trust. The Trustee must reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.3.3 of this Article VII. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner and any other amounts held by the Trustee with respect to such shares shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 7.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.

Section 7.3.5 Purchase Right in Stock Transferred to the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Corporation must reduce the amount

 

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payable to the Trustee by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.3.3 of this Article VII. The Corporation may pay the amount of such reduction to the Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 7.3.4. Upon such a sale to the Corporation, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and any dividends or other amounts held by the Trustee with respect to the shares to the Charitable Beneficiary.

Section 7.3.6 Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries . By written notice to the Trustee, the Corporation shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries of the interest in the Trust such that the shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries. Neither the failure of the Corporation to make such designation nor the failure of the Corporation to appoint the Trustee before the automatic transfer provided in Section 7.2.1(b) shall make such transfer ineffective, provided that the Corporation thereafter makes such designation and appointment.

Section 7.4 NYSE Transactions . Nothing in this Article VII shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VII and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VII.

Section 7.5 Enforcement . The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VII.

Section 7.6 Non-Waiver . No delay or failure on the part of the Corporation or the Board of Directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Corporation or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any shares of outstanding stock. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on stockholders, directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation. Except as set forth in this Article VIII and except for those amendments permitted to be made without stockholder approval under Maryland law or by specific provision in the Charter, any amendment to the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a

 

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majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Any amendment to Section 5.9 of the Charter or to this sentence of the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Further, to the extent required by the Stockholders’ Agreement, no amendment to Section 5.7, Section 5.8 or this sentence of the Charter shall be effective without the consent of Eldridge provided in accordance with the Stockholders’ Agreement.

ARTICLE IX

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no present or former director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article IX, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or Bylaws inconsistent with this Article IX, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

THIRD : The amendment to and restatement of the charter as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.

FOURTH : The current address of the principal office of the Corporation is as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

FIFTH : The name and address of the Corporation’s current resident agent are as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

SIXTH : The number of directors of the Corporation and the names of those currently in office are as set forth in Article V of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

SEVENTH : The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation had authority to issue immediately prior to this amendment and restatement was 100,000,000, consisting of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all shares of stock having par value was $1,000,000.00.

 

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EIGHTH : The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation has authority to issue pursuant to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter is 650,000,000, consisting of 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 150,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $6,500,000.

NINTH : The undersigned officer acknowledges these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned officer acknowledges that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and attested to by its Secretary on this 19th day of June, 2018.

 

ATTEST:       ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES REALTY TRUST, INC.  

/s/ Gregg A. Seibert

      By:  

/s/ Peter M. Mavoides

  (SEAL)

Gregg A. Seibert

Secretary

       

Peter M. Mavoides

President

 

 

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Exhibit 3.2

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES REALTY TRUST, INC.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE . The principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors may designate.

Section 2. ADDITIONAL OFFICES . The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. PLACE . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING . An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS .

(a) General . Each of the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president and Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in subsection (b)(4) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors, whoever has called the meeting. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.

(b) Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings . (1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the “Record Date Request Notice”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Request Record Date”). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the


solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which a Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary.

(2) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) shall be delivered to the secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall (a) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the secretary), (b) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (d) be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.

(3) The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 3(b), the secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.

(4) In the case of any special meeting called by the secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder-Requested Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided , however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the “Delivery Date”), a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on the 90 th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if

 

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such 90 th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30 th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 3(b).

(5) If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the secretary: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (A) the secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting from time to time without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

(6) The chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after actual receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

 

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(7) For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Section 4. NOTICE . Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless such stockholder objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

Subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.

Section 5. ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT . Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the vice chairman of the board, if there is one, the chief executive officer, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and, within each rank, in their order of seniority, the secretary, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The secretary or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the secretary, or if the secretary presides at the meeting, an assistant secretary, or, in the absence of all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for

 

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the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance or participation at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments; (d) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed and when announcement of the results should be made; (e) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (f) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (g) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (h) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with any rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 6. QUORUM . At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If such quorum is not established at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may conclude the meeting or adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting.

The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough stockholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.

Section 7. VOTING . A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share entitles the holder thereof to vote for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the holder is entitled to vote. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the Charter. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, entitles the holder thereof to cast one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

Section 8. PROXIES . A stockholder of record may vote in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by applicable law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

 

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Section 9. VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS . Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, managing member, manager, general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any trustee or fiduciary, in such capacity, may vote stock registered in such trustee’s or fiduciary’s name, either in person or by proxy.

Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.

The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date, the time after the record date within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or appropriate. On receipt by the secretary of the Corporation of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.

Section 10. INSPECTORS . The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and (v) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

Section 11. ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS .

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders . (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining

 

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stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 11(a).

(2) For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 11 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150 th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120 th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in connection with the Corporation’s first annual meeting or in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(3) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

(i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act;

(ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the stockholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom;

(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person,

(A) the class, series and number of all shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or any affiliate thereof (collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,

 

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(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person,

(C) whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of Company Securities for such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities and

(D) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;

(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 11(a) and any Proposed Nominee,

(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee and

(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;

(v) the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee or other business proposal; and

(vi) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business.

 

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(4) Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a written undertaking executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) that such Proposed Nominee (a) is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (b) will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation, upon request by the stockholder providing the notice, and shall include all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act, or would be required pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed or over-the-counter market on which any securities of the Corporation are traded).

(5) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 11(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(6) For purposes of this Section 11, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the

 

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Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 11, is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120 th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90 th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) General . (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 11 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11.

(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 11. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 11.

(3) For purposes of this Section 11, “the date of the proxy statement” shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, any proxy statement filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.

 

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Nothing in this Section 11 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.

(5) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, if the stockholder giving notice as provided for in this Section 11 does not appear in person or by proxy at such annual or special meeting to present each nominee for election as a director or the proposed business, as applicable, such matter shall not be considered at the meeting.

Section 12. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . The Board of Directors or chairman of the meeting may permit one or more stockholders to participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

Section 13. CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or any successor statute (the “MGCL”), shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the Corporation. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

Section 14. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS . By virtue of a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors prior to or at the time of the adoption of these Bylaws (and the adoption of these Bylaws shall be deemed to be, and shall be conclusive evidence of, the adoption of such resolution), any business combination (as defined in Section 3-601(e) of the MGCL) between the Corporation and any other person or entity or group of persons or entities is exempt from the provisions of Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL. The approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors shall be required in order for the Board of Directors to revoke, alter or amend such resolution or otherwise adopt any resolution that is inconsistent with this Section 14 of this Article II or with a prior resolution of the Board of Directors that exempts any business combination between the Corporation and any other person, whether identified specifically, generally or by type, from the provisions of Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

Section 1. GENERAL POWERS . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE, QUALIFICATIONS AND RESIGNATION .

 

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(a) A majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors,  provided  that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL nor more than 15, and, provided, further , that to the extent required by the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of [                ] (as may be amended from time to time, the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), by and among the Company, Eldridge Industries, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Eldridge”), and the other stockholders from time to time a party thereto, the number of directors may not be increased without the consent of Eldridge provided in accordance with the Stockholders’ Agreement. The tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors.

(b) For so long as the Stockholders’ Agreement is in effect, in order for an individual to be qualified to be nominated for election as a director, or to serve as a director, the nomination and election of such individual, when considered together with all other individuals nominated for election as directors, must comply with the requirements of, and not cause the Corporation to violate, the Stockholders’ Agreement.

(c) Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.

Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS . An annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place of annual or regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

Section 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the time and place of any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place of special meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

Section 5. NOTICE . Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given

 

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when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

Section 6. QUORUM . A majority of the directors then serving shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a majority of such directors is present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other percentage of a specified group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or such other percentage of such group.

The directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough directors to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum.

Section 7. VOTING . The action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum, but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws.

Section 8. ORGANIZATION . At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board or, in the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman of the board, if any, shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman of the board, the chief executive officer or, in the absence of the chief executive officer or if the chief executive officer is not a director, the president or, in the absence of the president or if neither the chief executive officer nor the president is a director, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting. The secretary or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the Corporation, or, in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 9. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 10. CONSENT BY DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 11. VACANCIES . If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder. Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

Section 12. COMPENSATION . Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they perform or engage in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 13. RELIANCE . Each director and officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the director or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other person, as to a matter which the director or officer reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, with respect to a director, by a committee of the Board of Directors on which the director does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.

Section 14. RATIFICATION . The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders. Any action or inaction questioned in any proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and such ratification shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

Section 15. EMERGENCY PROVISIONS . Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 15 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (i) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.

 

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ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and other committees, composed of one or more directors and having such composition as may be required by the Stockholders’ Agreement, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to act in the place of such absent member.

Section 2. POWERS . The Board of Directors may delegate to any committee appointed under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, any committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority to one or more subcommittees, composed of one or more directors, as the committee deems appropriate.

Section 3. MEETINGS . Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide.

Section 4. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 5. CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

Section 6. VACANCIES . Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to appoint the chair of any committee, to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

 

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ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS . The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or appropriate. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors, except that the chief executive officer or president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

Section 2. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION . Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.

Section 3. VACANCIES . A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term.

Section 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . The Board of Directors may designate from among its members a chairman of the board, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate the chairman of the board as an executive or non-executive chairman. The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

Section 5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

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Section 6. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 7. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 8. PRESIDENT . In the absence of a chief executive officer, the president shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. In the absence of a designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief operating officer. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

Section 9. VICE PRESIDENTS . In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such vice president by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president, senior vice president, or vice president for particular areas of responsibility.

Section 10. SECRETARY . The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

Section 11. TREASURER . The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors and in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a chief financial officer by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation.

Section 12. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS . The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 13. COMPENSATION . The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director.

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

Section 1. CONTRACTS . The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors and executed by the chief executive officer, the president or any other authorized person.

Section 2. CHECKS AND DRAFTS . All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or such other officer or agent of the Corporation as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. DEPOSITS . All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Corporation as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may determine.

ARTICLE VII

STOCK

Section 1. CERTIFICATES . Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MGCL and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in any manner permitted by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no difference in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

 

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Section 2. TRANSFERS . All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.

The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE . Any officer of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation has determined that such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.

Section 4. FIXING OF RECORD DATE . The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such record date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in this section, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if postponed or adjourned, except if the meeting is postponed or adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting shall be determined as set forth herein.

Section 5. STOCK LEDGER . The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

 

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Section 6. FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS . The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue fractional shares of stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as it may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of units consisting of different securities of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VIII

ACCOUNTING YEAR

The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution.

ARTICLE IX

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 1. AUTHORIZATION . Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.

Section 2. CONTINGENCIES . Before payment of any dividend or other distribution, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its sole discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

ARTICLE X

SEAL

Section 1. SEAL . The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall contain the name of the Corporation and the year of its incorporation and the words “Incorporated Maryland” or such other language as may be approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.

Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL . Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE XI

WAIVER OF NOTICE

Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission, given by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by statute. The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE XII

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in Section 1-101(p) of the MGCL, or any successor provision thereof, (b) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (c) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the stockholders of the Corporation, (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL or the charter or Bylaws of the Corporation, or (e) any other action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws;  provided , that any amendment to Section 13 or Section 14 of Article II must also be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and provided, further that, to the extent required by the Stockholders’ Agreement, no amendment to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) of Article III, Section 1 of Article IV or this proviso shall be effective without the consent of Eldridge provided in accordance with the Stockholders’ Agreement.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

a Delaware limited partnership

THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION, UNLESS THE TRANSFEROR DELIVERS TO THE PARTNERSHIP AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE PARTNERSHIP, TO THE EFFECT THAT THE PROPOSED SALE, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR “BLUE SKY” LAWS.

June 25, 2018


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

     Page  
ARTICLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS      1  
Section 1.1.   Defined Terms      1  
Section 1.2.   Interpretation      14  
ARTICLE 2 ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS      15  
Section 2.1.   Continuation      15  
Section 2.2.   Name      15  
Section 2.3.   Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office      15  
Section 2.4.   Power of Attorney      15  
Section 2.5.   Term      16  
Section 2.6.   Admission of Limited Partners      17  
Section 2.7.   U.S. Tax Classification      17  
Section 2.8.   Not Publicly Traded for Tax Purposes      17  
ARTICLE 3 PURPOSE      17  
Section 3.1.   Purpose and Business      17  
Section 3.2.   Powers      18  
Section 3.3.   Representations and Warranties by the Parties      18  
ARTICLE 4 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS      19  
Section 4.1.   Capital Contributions of the Partners      19  
Section 4.2.   Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests      20  
Section 4.3.   Contribution of Proceeds of Issuance of Securities by the Company      23  
Section 4.4.   Additional Funds      23  
Section 4.5.   Preemptive Rights      24  
ARTICLE 5 DISTRIBUTIONS      24  
Section 5.1.   Priority and Timing of Distributions of Available Cash      24  
Section 5.2.   Amounts Withheld      25  
Section 5.3.   Distributions Upon Liquidation      25  
Section 5.4.   Restrictions on Distributions      25  
Section 5.5.   Compliance with REIT Requirements      25  
ARTICLE 6 ALLOCATIONS      26  
Section 6.1.   Allocations For Capital Account Purposes      26  
Section 6.2.   Economic Capital Account Balances of LTIP Unitholders      26  


ARTICLE 7 MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS      27  
Section 7.1.   Management      27  
Section 7.2.   Certificate of Limited Partnership      30  
Section 7.3.   Restrictions on General Partner Authority      31  
Section 7.4.   Reimbursement of the General Partner and the Company      31  
Section 7.5.   Outside Activities of the General Partner      31  
Section 7.6.   Contracts with Affiliates      32  
Section 7.7.   Indemnification      32  
Section 7.8.   Liability of the General Partner      34  
Section 7.9.   Other Matters Concerning the General Partner      35  
Section 7.10.   Title to Partnership Assets      36  
Section 7.11.   Reliance by Third Parties      36  
Section 7.12.   Partner Approval for Extraordinary Transactions      37  
ARTICLE 8 RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS      38  
Section 8.1.   Limitation of Liability      38  
Section 8.2.   Management of Business      38  
Section 8.3.   Outside Activities of Limited Partners      38  
Section 8.4.   Return of Capital      38  
Section 8.5.   Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership      39  
Section 8.6.   Redemption Right      39  
Section 8.7.   Conversion of LTIP Units      41  
Section 8.8.   Voting Rights of LTIP Units      44  
ARTICLE 9 BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS      44  
Section 9.1.   Records and Accounting      44  
Section 9.2.   Fiscal Year      44  
Section 9.3.   Reports      45  
ARTICLE 10 CERTAIN TAX MATTERS      45  
Section 10.1.   Preparation of Tax Returns      45  
Section 10.2.   Tax Elections      45  
Section 10.3.   Partnership Representative      46  
Section 10.4.   Section 83 Safe Harbor Election      47  
Section 10.5.   Withholding      48  
ARTICLE 11 TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS      49  
Section 11.1.   Transfer      49  
Section 11.2.   Transfer of General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interest      49  
Section 11.3.   Limited Partners’ Rights to Transfer      51  
Section 11.4.   Substituted Limited Partners      52  


Section 11.5.

 

Assignees

     53  

Section 11.6.

 

General Provisions

     53  
ARTICLE 12 ADMISSION OF PARTNERS      54  

Section 12.1.

 

Admission of Successor General Partner

     54  

Section 12.2.

 

Admission of Additional Limited Partners

     54  

Section 12.3.

 

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

     55  
ARTICLE 13 DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION      55  

Section 13.1.

 

Dissolution

     55  

Section 13.2.

 

Winding Up

     56  

Section 13.3.

 

Compliance with Timing Requirements of Regulations

     57  

Section 13.4.

 

Deemed Contribution and Distribution

     58  

Section 13.5.

 

Rights of Limited Partners

     58  

Section 13.6.

 

Notice of Dissolution

     58  

Section 13.7.

 

Termination of Partnership and Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

     58  

Section 13.8.

 

Reasonable Time for Winding Up

     58  

Section 13.9.

 

Waiver of Partition

     59  
ARTICLE 14 AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS      59  

Section 14.1.

 

Amendment of Partnership Agreement

     59  

Section 14.2.

 

Meetings of the Partners

     60  
ARTICLE 15 GENERAL PROVISIONS      61  

Section 15.1.

 

Addresses and Notice

     61  

Section 15.2.

 

Further Action

     61  

Section 15.3.

 

Binding Effect

     61  

Section 15.4.

 

Creditors

     61  

Section 15.5.

 

Waiver

     62  

Section 15.6.

 

Counterparts

     62  

Section 15.7.

 

Applicable Law

     62  

Section 15.8.

 

Invalidity of Provisions

     62  

Section 15.9.

 

Entire Agreement

     62  


EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A – Partners’ Contributions and Partnership Interests
Exhibit B – Capital Account Maintenance
Exhibit C – Special Allocation Rules
Exhibit D – Notice of Redemption
Exhibit E – Constructive Ownership Definition
Exhibit F – Conversion Notice
Exhibit G – Forced Conversion Notice
Exhibit H – Schedule of Partners’ Ownership with Respect to Tenants


AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

THIS AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES, L.P. (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of June 25, 2018, is entered into by and among Essential Properties OP G.P., LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), and the Persons (as defined below) that are party hereto from time to time and whose names are set forth on Exhibit A as attached hereto (as it may be amended from time to time).

WHEREAS, the limited partnership was formed on June 20, 2018, following the conversion of Essential Properties Realty Trust LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, into a Delaware limited partnership;

WHEREAS, the General Partner and Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), EPRT Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Security Benefit Life Insurance Company, a Kansas stock insurance company, as the initial limited partners (collectively, the “ Initial Limited Partners ”), desire to enter into this Agreement of Limited Partnership of Essential Properties, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”); and

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the Initial Limited Partners have made, and the Initial Limited Partners will make certain additional, capital contributions to the Partnership as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1.1. Defined Terms

The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

704(c) Value ” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution, as determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt. Subject to Exhibit B , the General Partner shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, use such method as it deems reasonable and appropriate to allocate the aggregate of the 704(c) Values of Contributed Properties in a single or integrated transaction among the separate properties on a basis proportional to their respective fair market values.

Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del . C. §17-101, et seq ., as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor to such statute.


Actions ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.7(a) .

Additional Funds ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.4(a) .

Additional Limited Partner ” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section  12.2 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

Adjusted Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each Partnership taxable year (i) increased by any amounts which such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) and (ii) decreased by the items described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means, with respect to any Partner, the deficit balance, if any, in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Partnership taxable year.

Adjusted Property ” means any property, the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Exhibit B .

Adjustment Event ” means any of the following events: (A) the Partnership makes a distribution on all outstanding Partnership Units in Partnership Units, (B) the Partnership subdivides the outstanding Partnership Units into a greater number of Partnership Units or combines the outstanding Partnership Units into a smaller number of Partnership Units, or (C) the Partnership issues any Partnership Units in exchange for its outstanding Partnership Units by way of a reclassification or recapitalization of its Partnership Units. If more than one Adjustment Event occurs, the adjustment to the LTIP Units under Section  4.2(c) need be made only once using a single formula that takes into account each and every Adjustment Event as if all Adjustment Events occurred simultaneously. For the avoidance of doubt, the following shall not be Adjustment Events: (x) the issuance of Partnership Units in a financing, reorganization, acquisition or other similar business transaction, (y) the issuance of Partnership Units pursuant to the Plan, or any employee benefit or compensation plan or distribution reinvestment plan, or (z) the issuance of any Partnership Units to the Company in respect of a capital contribution to the Partnership of proceeds from the sale of securities by the Company.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person; (ii) any Person owning or controlling ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding voting interests of such Person; (iii) any Person of which such Person owns or controls ten percent (10%) or more of the voting interests; or (iv) any officer, director, general partner or trustee of such Person or of any Person referred to in clauses (i), (ii), or (iii) above.

 

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Agreed Value ” means (i) in the case of any Contributed Property as of the time of its contribution to the Partnership, the 704(c) Value of such property, reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed, and (ii) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution as determined under Code Section 752 and the Regulations thereunder.

Agreement ” means this Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Articles of Incorporation ” means the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company dated June 19, 2018, as amended.

Assignee ” means a Person to whom all or a portion of a Partnership Interest has been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement, but who has not become a Substituted Limited Partner, and who has the rights set forth in Section  11.5 .

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any period for which such calculation is being made,

(i) the sum of:

(a) the Partnership’s Net Income or Net Loss (as the case may be) for such period (without regard to adjustments resulting from allocations described in Sections 1(a) through 1(e) of Exhibit C );

(b) Depreciation and all other noncash charges deducted in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period;

(c) the amount of any reduction in the reserves of the Partnership referred to in clause (ii)(f) below (including reductions resulting because the General Partner determines such amounts are no longer necessary);

(d) the excess of proceeds from the sale, exchange, disposition, or refinancing of Partnership property for such period over the gain recognized from such sale, exchange, disposition, or refinancing during such period (excluding Terminating Capital Transactions); and

(e) all other cash received by the Partnership for such period that was not included in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period;

(ii) less the sum of:

(a) all principal debt payments made by the Partnership during such period;

(b) capital expenditures made by the Partnership during such period;

 

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(c) investments made by the Partnership during such period in any entity (including loans made thereto) to the extent that such investments are not otherwise described in clause (ii)(a) or (ii)(b) ;

(d) all other expenditures and payments not deducted in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period;

(e) any amount included in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period that was not received by the Partnership during such period;

(f) the amount of any increase in reserves during such period which the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion; and

(g) the amount of any working capital accounts and other cash or similar balances which the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate, in its sole and absolute discretion.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Available Cash shall not include any cash received or reductions in reserves, or take into account any disbursements made or reserves established, after commencement of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership.

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Book -Tax Disparities ” means, with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Exhibit  B and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.

Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Exhibit B .

Capital Account Limitation ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.7(b) .

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, any cash, cash equivalents or the Agreed Value of Contributed Property which such Partner contributes or is deemed to contribute to the Partnership pursuant to Section  4.1 , 4.2 , or 4.3 .

Carrying Value ” means (i) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, the 704(c) Value of such property, reduced (but not below zero) by all Depreciation with respect to such property charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts following the contribution of or adjustment with respect to such property; and (ii) with respect to any other Partnership property,

 

4


the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Exhibit B , and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

Cash Amount ” means an amount of cash per Partnership Unit equal to the Value on the Valuation Date of the REIT Shares Amount.

Certificate ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership as filed in the office of the Delaware Secretary of State on June 20, 2018, as amended and/or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and the Act.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, as interpreted by the applicable regulations thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of future law.

Common Units ” means the Partnership Units other than any series of units of limited partnership interest issued in the future and designated as preferred or otherwise different from the Common Units, including with respect to the payment of distributions, including distributions upon liquidation.

Company ” means Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation.

Compensation Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Company, or if no such committee exists, the Board of Directors.

Concurrent Offering ” means the private placement of REIT Shares pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement among the Company and the other parties named therein.

Consent ” means the consent or approval of a proposed action by a Partner given in accordance with Section  14.2 .

Constituent Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.7(g) .

Constructively Own ” means ownership under the constructive ownership rules described in Exhibit E .

Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Act (but excluding cash), contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Exhibit B , such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property for purposes of Exhibit B , but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property for such purposes.

Conversion Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.7(b) .

 

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Conversion Factor ” means 1.0, subject to adjustment as follows: (i) in case the Company shall (A) make a distribution on the outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares, (B) subdivide or reclassify the outstanding REIT Shares into a greater number of REIT Shares, or (C) combine or reclassify the outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, the Conversion Factor in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution or subject to such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that a holder of Partnership Units shall be entitled to receive, upon exchange thereof, the number of REIT Shares which the holder would have owned at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately prior to such determination; (ii) in case the Partnership shall subdivide or reclassify the outstanding Partnership Units into a greater number of Partnership Units, the Conversion Factor in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of Partnership Unit holders subject to such subdivision or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that a holder of Partnership Units shall be entitled to receive, upon exchange thereof, the number of REIT Shares which the holder would have owned at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately prior to such determination; (iii) in case the Company (A) shall issue rights or warrants to all holders of REIT Shares entitling them to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares at a price per share less than the daily market price per REIT Share on the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants, (B) shall not issue similar rights or warrants to all holders of Partnership Units entitling them to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares or Partnership Units at a comparable price (determined, in the case of Partnership Units, by reference to the Conversion Factor), and (C) cannot issue such rights or warrants to a Redeeming Partner as otherwise required by the definition of “REIT Shares Amount” set forth in this Article  1 , then the Conversion Factor in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination shall be increased by multiplying such Conversion Factor by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of REIT Shares outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the maximum number of REIT Shares so offered for subscription or purchase, and of which the denominator shall be the number of REIT Shares outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of REIT Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of REIT Shares so offered for subscription would purchase at such daily market price per share, such increase of the Conversion Factor to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination; and (iv) in case the Company shall, by distribution or otherwise, distribute to all holders of its REIT Shares, (A) capital shares of any class other than its REIT Shares, (B) evidence of its indebtedness or (C) assets (excluding any rights or warrants referred to in clause (iii) above, any cash distribution lawfully paid under the laws of the state of organization of the Company, and any distribution referred to in clause (i) above) and shall not cause a corresponding distribution to be made to all holders of Partnership Units, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the ratio determined by multiplying the Conversion Factor in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the daily market price per REIT Share on the date fixed for such determination, and of which the denominator shall be such daily market price per REIT Share less the fair market value (as

 

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determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a Board resolution certified by the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the holders of the Partnership Units) of the portion of the capital shares or evidences of indebtedness or assets so distributed applicable to one REIT Share, such adjustment to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution.

Conversion Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.7(b) .

Conversion Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.7(a) .

Covered Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.8(a) .

Debt ” means, as to any Person, as of any date of determination, (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (ii) all amounts owed by such Person to banks or other Persons in respect of reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments guaranteeing payment or other performance of obligations by such Person, (iii) all indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services secured by any lien on any property owned by such Person, to the extent attributable to such Person’s interest in such property, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment thereof, and (iv) obligations of such Person incurred in connection with entering into a lease which, in accordance with GAAP, should be capitalized.

Depreciation ” means, for each taxable year, an amount equal to the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such year, except that if the Carrying Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Carrying Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such year bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided , however , that if the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Carrying Value using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.

Distribution Payment Date ” means the dates upon which the General Partner makes distributions in accordance with Section  5.1 .

Economic Capital Account Balances ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.1(c) .

Eldridge ” means Eldridge Industries, LLC and its Affiliates.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended and in effect from time to time, as interpreted by the applicable regulations thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section or Title of ERISA shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of future law.

Event of Bankruptcy ” has the meaning set forth in Section  13.1(g) .

 

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Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

final adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.3(b) .

Forced Conversion ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.7(c) .

Forced Conversion Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.7(d) .

Funding Debt ” means any Debt incurred by or on behalf of the General Partner for the purpose of providing funds to the Partnership.

GAAP ” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

General Partner ” means Essential Properties OP G.P., LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, or any Person who becomes an additional or a successor general partner of the Partnership.

General Partner Interest ” means a Partnership Interest held by the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership. A General Partner Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service, which administers the internal revenue laws of the United States.

Incapacity ” or “ Incapacitated ” means, (i) as to any individual Partner, death, total physical disability or entry by a court of competent jurisdiction adjudicating him incompetent to manage his Person or his estate; (ii) as to any corporation which is a Partner, the filing of a certificate of dissolution, or its equivalent, for the corporation or the revocation of its charter; (iii) as to any partnership or limited liability company which is a Partner, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the partnership; (iv) as to any estate which is a Partner, the distribution by the fiduciary of the estate’s entire interest in the Partnership; (v) as to any trustee of a trust which is a Partner, the termination of the trust (but not the substitution of a new trustee); or (vi) as to any Partner, the bankruptcy of such Partner. For purposes of this definition, bankruptcy of a Partner shall be deemed to have occurred when (a) the Partner commences a voluntary proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect; (b) the Partner is adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a final and non-appealable order for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect has been entered against the Partner; (c) the Partner executes and delivers a general assignment for the benefit of the Partner’s creditors; (d) the Partner files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the Partner in any proceeding of the nature described in clause (b) above; (e) the Partner seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for the Partner or for all or any substantial part of the Partner’s properties; (f) any proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief of or against such Partner under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect has not been dismissed within one hundred twenty (120) days after the commencement thereof; (g) the appointment without the Partner’s consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator has not been vacated or stayed within ninety (90) days of such appointment; or (h) an appointment referred to in clause (g) which has been stayed is not vacated within ninety (90) days after the expiration of any such stay.

 

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Indemnitee ” means (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding by reason of (A) his or its status as the General Partner, or as a trustee, director, officer, shareholder, partner, member, employee, representative or agent of the General Partner or of an Affiliate of the General Partner or as an officer, employee, representative or agent of the Partnership, or (B) his or its liabilities, pursuant to a loan guarantee or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including any indebtedness which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken assets subject to); and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.

Initial Eldridge Partnership Unit Transactions ” means (i) the Partnership Units held by EPRT Holdings, LLC following the conversion of Essential Properties Realty Trust LLC into a Delaware limited partnership and (ii) the Partnership Units purchased by Eldridge in a private placement of Partnership Units concurrent with the Initial Public Offering.

Initial Limited Partners ” means each of the Company, EPRT Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Security Benefit Life Insurance Company, a Kansas stock insurance company.

Initial Public Offering ” means the initial public offering of REIT Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to that certain underwriting agreement, dated June 20, 2018 among the Company, the Partnership and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the underwriters named therein.

Limited Partner ” means the Initial Limited Partners and any other Person named as a limited partner of the Partnership in Exhibit A attached hereto, as such Exhibit m ay be amended from time to time, or any Substituted Limited Partner or Additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership. For purposes of this Agreement and the Act, the Limited Partners shall constitute a single class or group of limited partners.

Limited Partner Interest ” means a Partnership Interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Partners and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled, as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. A Limited Partner Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

Liquidating Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section  13.1 .

Liquidator ” has the meaning set forth in Section  13.2 .

LTIP Unit ” means a Partnership Unit which is designated as an LTIP Unit and which has the rights, preferences and other privileges designated in Section  4.2(c) and in the Plan in respect of LTIP Unitholders. The allocation of LTIP Units among the Partners shall be set forth on Exhibit A , as may be amended from time to time.

 

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LTIP Unit Agreement ” means each or any, as the context implies, LTIP Unit Agreement entered into by an LTIP Unitholder upon acceptance of an award of LTIP Units under the Plan (as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time).

LTIP Unitholder ” means a Partner that holds LTIP Units.

Net Income ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, subject to the specific adjustments provided for in Section 1(b) of Exhibit B .

Net Loss ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, subject to the specific adjustments provided for in Section 1(b) of Exhibit B .

New Securities ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.2(b) .

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1), and the amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a Partnership taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

Nonrecourse Liability ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

Notice of Redemption ” means the Notice of Redemption substantially in the form of Exhibit D to this Agreement.

Partner ” means a General Partner or a Limited Partner, and “ Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners collectively.

Partner Approval ” shall be deemed to have been obtained when the sum of (i) the Partnership Units issued in the Initial Eldridge Partnership Unit Transactions set forth in Exhibit A and consenting to the transaction that are held directly or indirectly by Eldridge and EPRT Holdings, LLC, plus (ii) the product of (a) the Partnership Units held by the Company and its Subsidiaries multiplied by (b) the percentage of the votes that were cast in favor of the transaction by the Company’s common stockholders out of the total votes entitled to be cast by the Company’s common stockholders, exceeds 50% of the aggregate number of Partnership Units issued in the Initial Eldridge Partnership Unit Transactions set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and Partnership Units held by the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding at such time.

Partner Minimum Gain ” means an amount, with respect to each Partner Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such Partner Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

 

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Partner Nonrecourse Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2), and the amount of Partner Nonrecourse Deductions with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt for a Partnership taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

Partnership ” means the limited partnership heretofore formed and continued under the Act and pursuant to this Agreement, and any successor thereto.

Partnership Interest ” means an ownership interest in the Partnership held by either a Limited Partner or the General Partner and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. A Partnership Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2), and the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain, as well as any net increase or decrease in a Partnership Minimum Gain, for a Partnership taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

Partnership Record Date ” means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of Available Cash pursuant to Section  5.1 , which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the Company for a distribution to its shareholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

Partnership Unit ” means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued pursuant to Sections 4.1 , 4.2 and 4.3 . The number of Partnership Units outstanding and the Percentage Interest in the Partnership represented by such Units are set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto, as such Exhibit m ay be amended from time to time. The ownership of Partnership Units shall be evidenced by such form of certificate for units as the General Partner adopts from time to time unless the General Partner determines that the Partnership Units shall be uncertificated securities.

Partnership Unit Economic Balance ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.1(c) .

Partnership Year ” means the fiscal year of the Partnership, which shall be the calendar year.

Percentage Interest ” means, as to a Partner, its interest in the Partnership as determined by dividing the Partnership Units owned by such Partner by the total number of Partnership Units then outstanding and as specified in Exhibit A attached hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

 

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Person ” means an individual or a real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association or other entity.

Plan ” means the Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and Essential Properties, L.P. 2018 Incentive Award Plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time, or any similar plan as may be adopted by the Company from time to time.

Qualified REIT Subsidiary ” means a qualified REIT subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 856(i)(2).

Recapture Income ” means any gain recognized by the Partnership upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.

Redeeming Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.6(a) .

Redemption Right ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  8.6(a) .

Regulations ” means the Income Tax Regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

REIT ” means a real estate investment trust under Code Section 856.

REIT Share ” means a share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company.

REIT Shares Amount ” means a number of REIT Shares equal to the product of the number of Partnership Units offered for redemption by a Redeeming Partner, multiplied by the Conversion Factor; provided , that in the event the Company issues to all holders of REIT Shares rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the shareholders to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively, the “ rights ”), and the Company can issue such rights to the Redeeming Partner, then the REIT Shares Amount shall also include such rights that a holder of that number of REIT Shares would be entitled to receive.

REIT Share Offering ” means a primary offering by the Company of its REIT Shares, including the Initial Public Offering, the Concurrent Offering and any other offerings.

Residual Gain ” or “ Residual Loss ” means any item of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to Section 2(b)(1)(a) or 2(b)(2)(a) of Exhibit C to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

Section  83 Safe Harbor ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.4 .

 

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Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Specified Redemption Date ” means the tenth (10th) Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of a Notice of Redemption; provided , that if the Company combines its outstanding REIT Shares, no Specified Redemption Date shall occur after the record date of such combination of REIT Shares and prior to the effective date of such combination.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities; or (ii) the outstanding equity interests, is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section  11.4 .

Surviving Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in Section  11.2(c)(ii) .

Tenant ” means any tenant from which the Company derives rent either directly or indirectly through partnerships or limited liability companies, including the Partnership.

Terminating Capital Transaction ” means any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or a related series of transactions that, taken together, result in the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership.

Termination Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section  11.2(c) .

Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.7(g) .

Trading Days ” means days on which the primary trading market for REIT Shares, if any, is open for trading.

Unrealized Gain ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (i) the fair market value of such property (as determined under Exhibit B ) as of such date; over (ii) the Carrying Value of such property (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Exhibit B ) as of such date.

Unrealized Loss ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (i) the Carrying Value of such property (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Exhibit B ) as of such date; over (ii) the fair market value of such property (as determined under Exhibit B ) as of such date.

Unvested LTIP Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.2(c) .

Valuation Date ” means the date of receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

 

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Value ” means, with respect to a REIT Share, the average of the daily market price for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Valuation Date. The daily market price for each such Trading Day shall be: (i) if the REIT Shares are listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market, the closing price on such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day; (ii) if the REIT Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market, the last reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner; or (iii) if the REIT Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than ten (10) days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided , that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten (10) days prior to the date in question, the Value of the REIT Shares shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate. In the event the REIT Shares Amount includes rights that a holder of REIT Shares would be entitled to receive, then the Value of such rights shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

Vested LTIP Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.2(c) .

Section 1.2. Interpretation .

Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in either the singular or the plural shall include the singular and the plural, and pronouns stated in either the masculine or the neuter gender shall include the masculine, the feminine and the neuter. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All references to “clauses,” “Sections” or “Articles” refer to clauses, Sections or Articles of this Agreement. All article or section titles or captions in this Agreement are for convenience only. They shall not be deemed part of this Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof.

Whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” or under a similar grant of authority or latitude, the General Partner shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires and may consider its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or by law or any other agreement contemplated herein.

 

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ARTICLE 2

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

Section 2.1. Continuation

The Partners hereby continue the Partnership as a limited partnership under and pursuant to the Act. Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, the rights and obligations of the Partners and the administration and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Act. The Partnership Interest of each Partner shall be personal property for all purposes.

Section 2.2. Name

The name of the Partnership heretofore formed and continued hereby shall be Essential Properties, L.P. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof. The words “Limited Partnership,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.3. Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office

The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware and the name and address of the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801. The principal office of the Partnership shall be c/o Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., 47 Hulfish Street, Suite 210, Princeton, NJ 08542, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems advisable.

Section 2.4. Power of Attorney

(a) Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner, any Liquidator, and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead to:

(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (a) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate and all amendments or restatements thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may or plans to conduct business or own property; (b) all instruments that the

 

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General Partner deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (c) all conveyances and other instruments or documents that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; (d) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article 11 , 12 or 13 or the Capital Contribution of any Partner; and (e) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of Partnership Interest; and

(ii) execute, swear to, seal, acknowledge and file all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner or any Liquidator, to make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or appropriate or necessary, in the sole discretion of the General Partner or any Liquidator, to effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner or any Liquidator to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article 14 or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, in recognition of the fact that each of the Partners will be relying upon the power of the General Partner and any Liquidator to act as contemplated by this Agreement in any filing or other action by it on behalf of the Partnership, and it shall survive and not be affected by the subsequent Incapacity of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Units and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or any Liquidator, acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney, and each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby waives any and all defenses which may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or any Liquidator, taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the General Partner’s or Liquidator’s request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or the Liquidator, as the case may be, deems necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

Section 2.5. Term

The term of the Partnership commenced on the date that the Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and shall continue until December 31, 2118, unless the Partnership is dissolved sooner pursuant to the provisions of Article 13 or as otherwise provided by law.

 

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Section 2.6. Admission of Limited Partners

On the date hereof, and upon the execution of this Agreement or a counterpart of this Agreement, each of the Persons identified as a limited partner of the Partnership on Exhibit A to this Agreement (other than the Initial Limited Partners which have already been admitted as limited partners of the Partnership) is hereby admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner of the Partnership.

Section 2.7. U.S. Tax Classification

The Partners intend for the Partnership to be treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes and no election to the contrary shall be made.

Section 2.8. Not Publicly Traded for Tax Purposes

The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, shall use its best efforts not to take any action which would result in the Partnership being a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of either Code Section 469(k)(2) or 7704(b). Subject to this Section  2.8 , it is expressly acknowledged and agreed by the Partners that the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, waive or otherwise modify the application with respect to any Partner(s) or Assignee(s) of any provision herein restricting, prohibiting or otherwise relating to (i) the transfer of a Limited Partner Interest or the Partnership Units evidencing the same, (ii) the admission of any Limited Partners and (iii) the Redemption Rights of such Partners, and that such waivers or modifications may be made by the General Partner at any time or from time to time, including concurrently with the issuance of any Partnership Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 3

PURPOSE

Section 3.1. Purpose and Business

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership formed pursuant to the Act; provided , however , that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the Company at all times to qualify as a REIT, unless the Company ceases to qualify as a REIT for reasons other than the conduct of the business of the Partnership or voluntarily revokes its election to be a REIT; (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or to own interests in any entity engaged in any of the foregoing; and (iii) to do anything necessary, convenient or incidental to the foregoing. In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the Company’s right, in its sole discretion, to cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the Company’s current status as a REIT inures to the benefit of all of the Partners and not solely to the General Partner, the Company or their Affiliates.

 

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Section 3.2. Powers

The Partnership is empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described herein and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership, and shall have, without limitation, any and all of the powers that may be exercised on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner pursuant to this Agreement; provided , however, that the Partnership may not, without the General Partner’s specific consent, which it may give or withhold in its sole and absolute discretion, take, or refrain from taking, any action which, in the judgment of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, (i) could adversely affect the ability of the Company to qualify and to continue to qualify as a REIT; (ii) could subject the Company to any additional taxes under Code Section 857 or Code Section 4981 or any other related or successor provision of the Code; or (iii) could violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, its securities or the Partnership, unless such action (or inaction) under clause (i), clause (ii) or clause (iii) above shall have been specifically consented to by the Company in writing.

Section 3.3. Representations and Warranties by the Parties

(a) Each Partner that is an individual represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) such Partner has the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and perform such Partner’s obligations hereunder, (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by such Partner will not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s property is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner is subject, (iii) such Partner is a “United States person” within the meaning of Code Section 7701(a)(30), and (iv) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms.

(b) Each Partner that is not an individual represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) its execution and delivery of this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by it have been duly authorized by all necessary action, including that of its general partner(s), committee(s), trustee(s), beneficiaries, director(s) and/or shareholder(s), as the case may be, as required, (ii) the consummation of such transactions shall not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, its certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, trust agreement, limited liability company operating agreement, declaration of trust, charter or bylaws, as the case may be, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s properties or any of its partners, beneficiaries, trustees or shareholders, as the case may be, is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner or any of its partners, trustees, beneficiaries or shareholders, as the case may be, is or are subject, (iii) such Partner is a “United States person” within the meaning of Code Section 7701(a)(30) and (iv) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms.

 

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(c) Each Partner further represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:

(i) Except as provided in Exhibit H hereto, at any time such Partner actually or Constructively Owns a 25% or greater capital interest or profits interest in the Partnership, it does not and will not, without the prior written consent of the General Partner, actually own or Constructively Own (a) with respect to any Tenant that is a corporation, any stock of such Tenant, and (b) with respect to any Tenant that is not a corporation, any interest in either the assets or net profits of such Tenant. This provision shall not apply to Eldridge so long as the exemption granted by the Board of Directors to Eldridge from the stock ownership limits in the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2018, is in effect, based on the representations provided by Eldridge in the waiver letter granting such exemption.

(ii) Upon request of the General Partner, it will promptly disclose to the General Partner the amount of REIT Shares or other capital shares of the Company that it actually owns or Constructively Owns.

Each Partner understands that if, for any reason, (a) the representations, warranties or agreements set forth above are violated, or (b) the Partnership’s actual or Constructive Ownership of REIT Shares or other capital shares of the Company violates the limitations set forth in the Articles of Incorporation, then (x) some or all of the Redemption Rights of the Partners may become non-exercisable, and (y) some or all of the REIT Shares owned by the Partners may be automatically transferred to a trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary, as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.

(iii) Without the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion, no Partner shall take any action that would cause the Partnership at any time to have more than 100 partners (including as partners those Persons indirectly owning an interest in the Partnership through a partnership, limited liability company, S corporation or grantor trust (such entity, a “ flow through entity ”), but only if substantially all of the value of such person’s interest in the flow through entity is attributable to the flow through entity’s interest (direct or indirect) in the Partnership).

(d) The representations and warranties contained in this Section  3.3 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Partner and the dissolution and winding up of the Partnership.

(e) Each Partner hereby acknowledges that no representations as to potential profit, cash flows, funds from operations or yield, if any, in respect of the Partnership or the Company have been made by any Partner or any employee or representative or Affiliate of any Partner, and that projections and any other information, including financial and descriptive information and documentation, which may have been in any manner submitted to such Partner shall not constitute any representation or warranty of any kind or nature, express or implied.

ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Section 4.1. Capital Contributions of the Partners

At the time of their respective execution of this Agreement, the Partners shall make or shall have made Capital Contributions as set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement. The Partners shall own Partnership Units of the class or series and in the amounts set forth in Exhibit A and

 

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shall have a Percentage Interest in the Partnership as set forth in Exhibit A , which Percentage Interest shall be adjusted in Exhibit A from time to time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to reflect accurately exchanges, redemptions, additional Capital Contributions, the issuance of additional Partnership Units (pursuant to any merger or otherwise), or similar events having an effect on any Partner’s Percentage Interest. Except as provided in Sections 4.2 , 4.3 and 10.5 , the Partners shall have no obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership.

Section 4.2. Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests

(a) The General Partner is hereby authorized, without the need for any vote or approval of any Partner or any other Person who may hold Partnership Units or Partnership Interests, to cause the Partnership from time to time to issue to any existing Partner (including the General Partner and the Company) or to any other Person, and to admit such Person as a limited partner in the Partnership, Partnership Units (including Common Units and preferred Partnership Units) or other Partnership Interests, in each case in exchange for the contribution by such Person of property or other assets, in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, or otherwise with such designations, preferences, redemption and conversion rights and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to Limited Partner Interests, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion subject to Delaware law, including (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Interests; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share, on a junior, senior or pari passu basis, in Partnership distributions; and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided , that no such additional Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests shall be issued to the Company unless either (a)(1) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Shares or other securities by the Company, which securities have designations, preferences and other rights such that the economic interests attributable to such securities are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Interests issued to the Company in accordance with this Section  4.2(a) , and (2) the Company shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the net proceeds, if any, raised in connection with such issuance, (b) the additional Partnership Interests are issued to all Partners in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests, or (c) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in connection with a contribution of property to the Partnership by the Company. In addition, the Company may acquire Units from other Partners pursuant to this Agreement.

(b) In accordance with, and subject to the terms of Section  4.3 , the Company shall not issue any REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares issued pursuant to Section  8.6 ) or other securities, or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares or other securities of the Company (or any Debt issued by the Company that provides any of the foregoing rights) (collectively, “ New Securities ”) other than to all holders of REIT Shares unless (i) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the Company Partnership Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the REIT

 

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Shares or other securities or New Securities; and (ii) the Company contributes to the Partnership the net proceeds, if any, from the issuance of such REIT Shares, other securities or New Securities and, if applicable, from the exercise of rights contained in such New Securities. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company is expressly authorized to issue REIT Shares, other securities or New Securities for less than fair market value, and the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue to the Company corresponding Partnership Interests, so long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the interests of the Company and the Partnership (for example, and not by way of limitation, the issuance of REIT Shares and corresponding Partnership Units in connection with an issuance of REIT Shares under the Plan or pursuant to an employee share purchase plan providing for employee purchases of REIT Shares at a discount from fair market value or employee share options that have an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the REIT Shares, either at the time of issuance or at the time of exercise, or in order to comply with the REIT share ownership requirements set forth in Code Section 856(a)(5)); and (y) the Company contributes all net proceeds from such issuance and exercise to the Partnership.

(c) The General Partner may from time to time issue LTIP Units to Persons who provide services to the Partnership, for such consideration as the General Partner may determine to be appropriate, and admit such Persons as Limited Partners. Subject to the following provisions of this Section  4.2(c) and the special provisions of Sections 6.1(c) , 8.7 and 8.8 , LTIP Units shall be treated as Partnership Units, with all of the rights, privileges and obligations attendant thereto. For purposes of computing the Partners’ Percentage Interests, holders of LTIP Units shall be treated as Partnership Unitholders and LTIP Units shall be treated as Partnership Units. In particular, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the Partnership shall maintain at all times a one-to-one correspondence between LTIP Units and Partnership Units for conversion, distribution and other purposes, including complying with the following procedures:

(i) If an Adjustment Event occurs, the General Partner shall make a corresponding adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain a one-for-one conversion and economic equivalence ratio between Partnership Units and LTIP Units. If the Partnership takes an action affecting the Partnership Units other than actions specifically defined herein as “Adjustment Events” and in the opinion of the General Partner such action would require an adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain the one-to-one correspondence described above, the General Partner shall have the right to make such adjustment to the LTIP Units, to the extent permitted by law and by the Plan, in such manner and at such time as the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances. If an adjustment is made to the LTIP Units as herein provided, the Partnership shall promptly file in the books and records of the Partnership an officer’s certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment, which certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such adjustment absent manifest error. Promptly after filing of such certificate, (i) the Partnership shall mail a notice to each LTIP Unitholder setting forth the adjustment to his or her LTIP Units and the effective date of such adjustment; and

 

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(ii) The LTIP Unitholders shall, in respect of each Distribution Payment Date, when, as and if authorized and declared by the General Partner out of assets legally available for that purpose, be entitled to receive distributions in an amount per LTIP Unit equal to the distributions per Partnership Unit paid to holders of record on the same record date established by the General Partner with respect to such Distribution Payment Date; provided , however , that no distributions shall be made in respect of any LTIP Unit that would cause the Economic Capital Account of the holder of such LTIP Unit to have a negative balance that is greater than the negative balance of the Economic Capital Account of each Partnership Unit generally. During any distribution period, so long as any LTIP Units are outstanding, no distributions (whether in cash or in kind) shall be authorized, declared or paid on Partnership Units, unless equal distributions have been or contemporaneously are authorized, declared and paid on the LTIP Units for such distribution period, except in the circumstances described in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Except to the extent required by the aforementioned proviso, the LTIP Units shall rank pari passu with the Partnership Units as to the payment of regular and special periodic or other distributions and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. As to the payment of distributions and as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, any class or series of Partnership Units or Partnership Interests which by its terms specifies that it shall rank junior to, on a parity with, or senior to the Partnership Units shall also rank junior to, or pari passu with, or senior to, as the case may be, the entitlement of the LTIP Units to such distribution. Subject to the terms of any LTIP Unit Agreement, an LTIP Unitholder shall be entitled to transfer his or her LTIP Units to the same extent, and subject to the same restrictions as holders of Partnership Units are entitled to transfer their Partnership Units pursuant to Article 11 .

LTIP Units shall be subject to the following special provisions:

(1) LTIP Unit Agreements . LTIP Units may, in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Company, be issued subject to vesting, forfeiture and additional restrictions on transfer pursuant to the terms of an LTIP Unit Agreement. The terms of any LTIP Unit Agreement may be modified by the Compensation Committee of the Company, from time to time in its sole discretion, subject to any restrictions on amendment imposed by the relevant LTIP Unit Agreement or by the Plan, if applicable. LTIP Units that have become vested under the terms of an LTIP Unit Agreement are referred to herein as “Vested LTIP Units”; all other LTIP Units shall be treated as “Unvested LTIP Units.”

(2) Forfeiture . Unless otherwise specified in the applicable LTIP Unit Agreement, upon the occurrence of any event specified in an LTIP Unit Agreement as resulting in either the right of the Partnership or the General Partner to repurchase LTIP Units at a specified purchase price or some other forfeiture of any LTIP Units, if the Partnership or the General Partner exercises such right to repurchase or forfeiture in accordance with the applicable LTIP Unit Agreement, then the relevant LTIP Units shall immediately, and without any further action, be treated as cancelled and no longer outstanding for any purpose. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable LTIP Unit Agreement, no consideration or other payment shall be due with respect to any LTIP Units that have been forfeited, other than any distributions declared with respect to a Partnership Record Date prior to the effective date of the forfeiture. In connection with any repurchase or forfeiture of LTIP Units, the balance of the portion of the Capital Account of the LTIP Unitholder that is attributable to all of his or her LTIP Units shall be reduced by the amount, if any, by which it exceeds the target balance contemplated by Section  6.1(c) , calculated with respect to the LTIP Unitholder’s remaining LTIP Units, if any.

 

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(3) Allocations . LTIP Unitholders shall receive certain special allocations of gain under Section  6.1(c) .

(4) Redemption . The Redemption Right provided to Limited Partners under Section  8.6 shall not apply with respect to LTIP Units unless and until they are converted to Partnership Units as provided in clause (vi) below and Section  8.7 .

(5) Legend . Any certificate evidencing an LTIP Unit shall bear an appropriate legend indicating that additional terms, conditions and restrictions on transfer, including any LTIP Unit Agreement, apply to the LTIP Unit.

(6) Conversion to Partnership Units . Vested LTIP Units are eligible to be converted into Partnership Units under Section  8.7 .

(7) Voting . LTIP Units shall have the voting rights provided in Section  8.8 .

Section 4.3. Contribution of Proceeds of Issuance of Securities by the Company

On the date of the completion of the Initial Public Offering and the Concurrent Offering, the Company shall contribute to the Partnership the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the Concurrent Offering in exchange for Partnership Units; and in connection with any other REIT Share Offering and any other issuance of REIT Shares, other securities or New Securities pursuant to Section  4.2 , the Company shall contribute to the Partnership any proceeds (or a portion thereof) raised in connection with such issuance in exchange for Partnership Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the REIT Shares or other securities or New Securities contributed to the Partnership; provided , that, in each case, if the proceeds actually received by the Company are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any underwriter’s discount or other expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the Company shall be deemed to have made a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount equal to the sum of the net proceeds of such issuance plus the amount of such underwriter’s discount and other expenses paid by the Company (which discount and expense shall be treated as an expense for the benefit of the Partnership in accordance with Section  7.4 ). In the case of employee purchases of New Securities at a discount from fair market value, the amount of such discount representing compensation to the employee, as determined by the General Partner, shall be treated as an expense of the issuance of such New Securities.

Section 4.4. Additional Funds

(a) The General Partner may, at any time and from time to time, determine that the Partnership requires additional funds (“ Additional Funds ”) for the acquisition of additional assets, for the redemption of Partnership Units or for such other purposes as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion. Additional Funds may be obtained by the Partnership, at the election of the General Partner, in any manner provided in, and in accordance with, the terms of this Section  4.4 without the approval of any Limited Partners.

 

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(b) The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by accepting Capital Contributions from any Partners or other Persons. In connection with any such Capital Contribution, the General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership from time to time to issue additional Partnership Units (as set forth in Section  4.2 above) in consideration therefor, and the Percentage Interests of the Partners shall be adjusted to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Units.

(c) The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by causing the Partnership to incur Debt to any Person upon such terms as the General Partner determines appropriate, including making such Debt convertible, redeemable or exchangeable for Partnership Units; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not incur any such Debt if (i) a breach, violation or default of such indebtedness would be deemed to occur by virtue of the transfer of any Partnership Interest, or (ii) such Debt is recourse to any Partner (unless the Partner otherwise agrees).

(d) The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by causing the Partnership to incur Debt with the Company if (i) such Debt is, to the extent permitted by law, on substantially the same terms and conditions (including interest rate, repayment schedule, and conversion, redemption, repurchase and exchange rights) as Funding Debt incurred by the General Partner, the net proceeds of which are loaned to the Partnership to provide such Additional Funds, or (ii) such Debt is on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Partnership than would be available to the Partnership from any third party; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not incur any such Debt if such Debt is recourse to any Partner (unless the Partner otherwise agrees).

Section 4.5. Preemptive Rights

No Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to (i) additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership; or (ii) the issuance or sale of any Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests.

ARTICLE 5

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 5.1. Priority and Timing of Distributions of Available Cash

The General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute at least quarterly all or such portion as the General Partner may in its sole discretion determine of Available Cash generated by the Partnership during such quarter or shorter period to the Partners that are Partners on the Partnership Record Date with respect to such quarter or shorter period in the following priority:

 

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(a) First, to the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests in arrears with respect to the immediately preceding calendar quarter in an amount equal to (1) the sum of (a) the General Partner’s reasonable estimate of the Net Income allocable to the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests under Section  6.1(a) with respect to such immediately preceding calendar quarter and (b) the General Partner’s determination of the Net Income so allocated in prior calendar quarters in the same calendar year, reduced by (2) the sum of (a) all distributions previously made under this subsection or under subsection B. with respect to all calendar quarters during the same calendar year and (b) any Net Loss allocable to the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests in such calendar quarter or any preceding calendar quarter of the same calendar year under Section  6.1(b) .

(b) Second, to the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests; provided , that in no event may a Partner receive a distribution of Available Cash with respect to a Partnership Unit if such Partner is entitled to receive a distribution out of such Available Cash with respect to a REIT Share for which such Partnership Unit has been exchanged, and any such distribution shall be made to the Company; and provided, further, that no LTIP Unitholder shall receive any distribution of Available Cash if and to the extent the balance of such LTIP Unitholder’s Adjusted Capital Account would be equal to or less than zero after such distribution is made unless the balances of the Adjusted Capital Accounts of all Partners in the Partnership would also be equal to or less than zero after such distribution is made.

Section 5.2. Amounts Withheld

All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any state or local tax law and Section  10.5 with respect to any allocation, payment or distribution to the Partners or Assignees shall be treated as amounts distributed to the Partners or Assignees pursuant to Section  5.1 for all purposes under this Agreement.

Section 5.3. Distributions Upon Liquidation

Proceeds from a Terminating Capital Transaction and any other cash received or reductions in reserves made after commencement of the liquidation of the Partnership shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with Section  13.2 .

Section 5.4. Restrictions on Distributions

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership, and the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership, shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable law.

Section 5.5. Compliance with REIT Requirements

Distributions payable with respect to any Partnership Units, other than any Partnership Units issued to the General Partner in connection with the issuance of REIT Shares by the Company, that were not outstanding during the entire quarterly period in respect of which any distribution is made shall be prorated based on the portion of the period that such Partnership Units were outstanding. The General Partner shall make such reasonable efforts, as determined by it in its sole and absolute discretion and consistent with the Company’s qualification as a REIT, to cause the Partnership to distribute sufficient amounts to enable the Company, for so long as the Company has determined to qualify as a REIT, to pay stockholder dividends that will (a) satisfy the requirements for qualifying as a REIT under the Code and Regulations (the “ REIT Requirements”) and (b) except to the extent otherwise determined by the Company, eliminate any federal income or excise tax liability of the Company.

 

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ARTICLE 6

ALLOCATIONS

Section 6.1. Allocations For Capital Account Purposes

For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Exhibit B ) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.

(a) After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit  C attached hereto, Net Income shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

(b) After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit  C attached hereto, Net Losses shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. In no event shall Net Losses be allocated to a Limited Partner to the extent such allocation would result in such partner having an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (per Unit) at the end of any taxable year in excess of the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (per Unit) of any other Limited Partner. All such Net Losses shall be allocated to the other Partners; provided , however , that appropriate adjustments shall be made to the allocation of future Net Income in order to offset such specially allocated Net Losses hereunder.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section  6.1(a) above, any net capital gains realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, including net capital gain realized in connection with an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership assets under Code Section 704(b), shall first be allocated to the LTIP Unitholders until the aggregate Economic Capital Account Balances of such LTIP Unitholders, to the extent attributable to their ownership of LTIP Units, are equal to the product of (i) the Partnership Unit Economic Balance, multiplied by (ii) the number of such LTIP Unitholders’ LTIP Units.

Section 6.2. Economic Capital Account Balances of LTIP Unitholders

For this purpose, the “Economic Capital Account Balances” of the LTIP Unitholders will be equal to their Capital Account balances, plus the amount of their shares of any Partner Minimum Gain or Partnership Minimum Gain, in either case to the extent attributable to their ownership of LTIP Units. Similarly, the “Partnership Unit Economic Balance” shall mean (i) the Capital Account balance of the Company, plus the amount of the Company’s share of any Partner Minimum Gain or Partnership Minimum Gain, in either case to the extent attributable to the Company’s ownership of Partnership Units and computed on a hypothetical basis after taking into account all allocations through the date on which any allocation is made under this Section  6.2 , divided by (ii) the number of the Company’s Partnership Units. Any such allocations shall

 

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be made among the LTIP Unitholders in proportion to the amounts required to be allocated to each under this Section  6.2 . The parties agree that the intent of this Section  6.2 is to make the Capital Account balances of the LTIP Unitholders with respect to each of their LTIP Units economically equivalent to the Capital Account balance of the Company with respect to each of its Partnership Units if the Carrying Value of the Partnership’s property has been adjusted in accordance with Exhibit B in a corresponding amount.

ARTICLE 7

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1. Management

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership are and shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. The General Partner may not be removed by the Limited Partners with or without cause, except with the consent of the General Partner, which it may give or withhold at its sole and absolute discretion. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted to a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Sections 7.3 and 7.12 , shall have full power and authority to do all things deemed necessary or desirable by it to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section  3.2 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section  3.1 , including:

(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money (including making prepayments on loans and borrowing money to permit the Partnership to make distributions to its Partners in such amounts as will permit the Company (so long as the Company desires to maintain its qualification as a REIT) to avoid the payment of any federal income tax (including, for this purpose, any excise tax pursuant to Code Section 4981) and to make distributions to its shareholders in amounts sufficient to permit the Company to maintain its REIT status), the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidence of indebtedness (including the securing of the same by deed, mortgage, deed of trust or other lien or encumbrance on the Partnership’s assets) and the incurring of any obligations it deems necessary for the conduct of the activities of the Partnership;

(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings or elections, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;

(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any assets of the Partnership (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege, or subscription right or other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Partnership) or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another entity (all of the foregoing subject to any prior approval only to the extent required by Section  7.3 );

 

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(iv) the mortgage, pledge, encumbrance or hypothecation of any assets of the Partnership, the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement and on any terms that it sees fit, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership, the Company or any of the Partnership’s or the Company’s Subsidiaries, the lending of funds to other Persons (including the Subsidiaries of the Partnership and/or the Company) and the repayment of obligations of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity investment, and the making of capital contributions to its Subsidiaries;

(v) the management, operation, leasing, landscaping, repair, alteration, demolition, disposition or improvement of any real property or improvements owned by the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership;

(vi) the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments that the General Partner considers useful or necessary or convenient to the conduct of the Partnership’s operations or the implementation of the General Partner’s powers under this Agreement, including contracting with consultants, accountants, legal counsel, other professional advisors and other agents and the payment of their expenses and compensation out of the Partnership’s assets;

(vii) the distribution of Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;

(viii) holding, managing, investing and reinvesting cash and other assets of the Partnership;

(ix) the collection and receipt of revenues and income of the Partnership;

(x) the establishment of one or more divisions of the Partnership, the selection and dismissal of employees of the Partnership (including employees who may be designated as officers with titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer” of the Partnership), and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors of the Partnership, and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

(xi) the maintenance of such insurance for the benefit of the Partnership and the Partners as it deems necessary or appropriate;

(xii) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property to, any further limited or general partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts, corporations, entities that are treated as REITs, “taxable REIT subsidiaries” or as foreign corporations for federal income tax purposes, joint ventures or other relationships that it deems desirable (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property or the making of loans to, its or the Company’s Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity investment from time to time or the incurrence of indebtedness on behalf of such Persons

 

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or the guarantee of obligations of such Persons and the making of any tax, regulatory or other filing or election with respect to any of the foregoing Persons); provided , that as long as the Company has determined to continue to qualify as a REIT, the Partnership may not engage in any such formation, acquisition or contribution that would cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT;

(xiii) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the settlement, compromise, submission to arbitration or any other form of dispute resolution, or abandonment of, any claim, cause of action, liability, debt or damages, due or owing to or from the Partnership, the commencement or defense of suits, legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations or other forms of dispute resolution, and the representation of the Partnership in all suits or legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations or other forms of dispute resolution, the incurrence of legal expense, and the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s direct or indirect investment in any Subsidiary or any other Person (including the contribution or loan of funds by the Partnership to such Persons);

(xv) the determination of the fair market value of any Partnership property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as the General Partner may adopt;

(xvi) the enforcement of any rights against any Partner pursuant to representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities relating to such Partner’s contribution of property or assets to the Partnership;

(xvii) the exercise, directly or indirectly, through any attorney-in-fact acting under a general or limited power of attorney, of any right, including the right to vote, appurtenant to any asset or investment held by the Partnership;

(xviii) the exercise of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of or in connection with any Subsidiary of the Partnership or any other Person in which the Partnership has a direct or indirect interest, or jointly with any such Subsidiary or other Person;

(xix) the exercise of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of any Person in which the Partnership does not have an interest pursuant to contractual or other arrangements with such Person;

(xx) the making, execution, delivery and performance of any and all deeds, leases, notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, conveyances, contracts, guarantees, warranties, indemnities, waivers, releases or legal instruments or agreements in writing necessary, appropriate or convenient, in the judgment of the General Partner, for the accomplishment of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement;

 

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(xxi) the issuance of additional Partnership Units and other partnership interests, as appropriate, in connection with Capital Contributions by Additional Limited Partners and additional Capital Contributions by Partners pursuant to Article 4 ; and

(xxii) the taking of any action necessary (or appropriate by the General Partner, in its discretion) to enable the Company to qualify as a REIT.

(b) Each of the Limited Partners agrees that the General Partner is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the above-mentioned agreements and transactions on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (except as provided in Section  7.3 ), the Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, to the fullest extent permitted under the Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation. The execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner or the Partnership of any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

(c) At all times from and after the date hereof, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to establish and maintain at any and all times working capital accounts and other cash or similar balances in such amounts as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate and reasonable from time to time.

(d) In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the General Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to (except as otherwise provided by this Agreement with respect to the qualification of the Company as a REIT), take into account the tax consequences to any Partner of any action taken by it. The General Partner and the Partnership shall not be liable to a Limited Partner under any circumstances as a result of an income tax liability incurred by such Limited Partner as a result of an action (or inaction) by the General Partner taken pursuant to its authority under this Agreement and in accordance with the terms of Section  7.3 .

Section 7.2. Certificate of Limited Partnership

The General Partner has filed the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents as may be reasonable and necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and any other state, or the District of Columbia, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent that such action is determined by the General Partner to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate or convenient, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate and do all of the things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware and each other state, or the District of Columbia, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section  8.5(a)(iv) , the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate or any amendment thereto or restatement thereof to any Limited Partner.

 

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Section 7.3. Restrictions on General Partner Authority

The General Partner may not take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation of this Agreement without the written Consent of Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners, or such other percentage of the Limited Partners as may be specifically provided for under a provision of this Agreement.

Section 7.4. Reimbursement of the General Partner and the Company

(a) Except as provided in this Section  7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles 5 and 6 regarding distributions, payments, and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.

(b) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, for all expenditures that each incurs relating to the ownership and operation of, or for the benefit of, the Partnership.

(c) As set forth in Section  4.3 , the Company shall be treated as having made a Capital Contribution in the amount of all expenses that it incurs and pays relating to the Initial Public Offering, the Concurrent Offering, any other REIT Share Offering and any other issuance of REIT Shares, other securities or New Securities pursuant to Section  4.2 , the proceeds from the issuance of which are contributed to the Partnership.

(d) In the event that the Company shall elect to purchase from its shareholders REIT Shares for the purpose of delivering such REIT Shares to satisfy an obligation under any distribution reinvestment program adopted by the Company, any employee share purchase plan adopted by the Company, or any similar obligation or arrangement undertaken by the Company in the future, the purchase price paid by the Company for such REIT Shares and any other expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such purchase shall be considered expenses of the Partnership and shall be reimbursed to the Company, subject to the condition that: (i) if such REIT Shares subsequently are sold by the Company, the Company shall pay to the Partnership any proceeds received by the Company for such REIT Shares (which sales proceeds shall include the amount of distributions reinvested under any distribution reinvestment or similar program; provided , that a transfer of REIT Shares for Partnership Units pursuant to Section  8.6 would not be considered a sale for such purposes); and (ii) if such REIT Shares are not retransferred by the Company within 30 days after the purchase thereof, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to cancel a number of Partnership Units held by the Company equal to the product obtained by multiplying the Conversion Factor by the number of such REIT Shares (in which case such reimbursement shall be treated as a distribution in redemption of Partnership Units held by the Company).

Section 7.5. Outside Activities of the General Partner

The General Partner shall not directly or indirectly enter into or conduct any business other than in connection with the ownership, acquisition and disposition of Partnership Interests and the management of the business of the Partnership, and such activities as are incidental thereto. The General Partner and any Affiliates of the General Partner may acquire Limited Partner Interests and shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a Limited Partner relating to such Limited Partner Interests.

 

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Section 7.6. Contracts with Affiliates

(a) The Partnership may lend or contribute funds or other assets to its or the Company’s Subsidiaries or other Persons in which it or the Company has an equity investment and such Persons may borrow funds from the Partnership, on terms and conditions established in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. The foregoing authority shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person.

(b) Except as provided in Section  7.5 , the Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions consistent with this Agreement and applicable law as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes are advisable.

(c) Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are determined by the General Partner in good faith to be fair and reasonable.

(d) The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of the Limited Partners, may propose and adopt, on behalf of the Partnership, employee benefit plans, share option plans, and similar plans funded by the Partnership for the benefit of employees of the General Partner, the Company, the Partnership, Subsidiaries of the Partnership or any Affiliate of any of them in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership, the Company, the General Partner or any Subsidiaries of the Partnership.

(e) The General Partner is expressly authorized to enter into, in the name and on behalf of the Partnership, and without the approval of the Limited Partners, a right of first opportunity arrangement and other conflict avoidance agreements with various Affiliates of the Partnership, the Company and the General Partner, on such terms as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes are advisable.

Section 7.7. Indemnification

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Partnership shall indemnify each Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership or the Company (“ Actions ”) as set forth in this Agreement, in which such Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, except:

 

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(i) if the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Action and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

(ii) for any loss resulting from any transaction for which such Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or otherwise in violation or breach of any provision of this Agreement; or

(iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, if the Indemnitee had reason to believe the act or omission was unlawful.

Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnitee, pursuant to a loan guaranty or otherwise for any indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including any indebtedness which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken subject to), and the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Partnership, to enter into one or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section  7.7 in favor of any Indemnitee having or potentially having liability for any such indebtedness. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section  7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, and neither the General Partner nor any Limited Partner shall have any obligation to contribute to the capital of the Partnership, or otherwise provide funds, to enable the Partnership to fund its obligations under this Section  7.7 .

(b) Reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding, upon receipt by the Partnership of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in Section  7.7(a) .

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section  7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity unless otherwise provided in a written agreement pursuant to which such Indemnities are indemnified.

(d) The Partnership may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain insurance, on behalf of the Indemnities and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) For purposes of this Section  7.7 , the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute

 

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fines within the meaning of this Section  7.7 ; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject any of the Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section  7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

(h) The provisions of this Section  7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnities, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons. Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section  7.7 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the Partnership’s liability to any Indemnitee under this Section  7.7 , as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification, or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

Section 7.8. Liability of the General Partner

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, none of the General Partner, its Affiliates, or any of their respective officers, trustees, directors, shareholders, partners, members, employees, representatives or agents or any officer, employee, representative or agent of the Partnership and its Affiliates (individually, a “ Covered Person ” and collectively, the “ Covered Persons ”) shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, any Partners or any Assignees for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of errors in judgment or of any act or omission if the Covered Person’s conduct did not constitute intentional harm or gross negligence.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law:

(i) the General Partner is acting for the benefit of not only the Partnership and the Limited Partners, but also the Company’s stockholders collectively;

(ii) in the event of a conflict between the interests of the Partnership or any Limited Partner, on the one hand, and the separate interests of the Company or its stockholders, on the other hand, the General Partner is under no obligation not to give priority to the separate interests of the Company or the stockholders of the Company and may give priority to the separate interests of the Company and its stockholders in a manner that is adverse to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, and any action or failure to act on the part of the Company or its directors that gives priority to the separate interests of the Company or its stockholders does not violate the duty of loyalty otherwise owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and/or the Limited Partners or any other Person bound by this Agreement; and

 

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(iii) the General Partner shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by the Partnership or any Limited Partner in connection with such decisions, except for liability for the General Partner’s intentional harm or gross negligence.

In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by law and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever a conflict arises between the interests of stockholders of the Company, on one hand, and any other Limited Partner, on the other hand, the General Partner will endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either the stockholders of the Company or any other Limited Partner; provided , however , that for so long as the Company owns a controlling economic interest in the Partnership, any conflict that cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either the stockholders of the Company or any other Limited Partner shall be resolved in favor of the stockholders of the Company, and any action taken by the General Partner in connection with any such conflict of interests shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty in law, at equity or otherwise.

(c) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section  7.1(a) , the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its employees and agents. The General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such employee or agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.

(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section  7.8 shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the Covered Person’s liability to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section  7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

(e) To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, any Covered Person acting under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of a Covered Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Covered Person.

Section 7.9. Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

(a) The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting, or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

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(b) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers, architects, engineers, environmental consultants and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion of such Persons as to matters which the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers and duly appointed attorneys-in-fact. Each such attorney shall, to the extent provided by the General Partner in the power of attorney, have full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and duty which is permitted or required to be done by the General Partner hereunder.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act, any action of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or any decision of the General Partner to refrain from acting on behalf of the Partnership, undertaken in the good faith belief that such action or omission is necessary or advisable in order (i) to protect the ability of the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT; (ii) for the Company otherwise to satisfy the REIT Requirements; or (iii) to avoid the Company incurring any taxes under Code Section 337(d), 857, 1374 or 4981, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.

Section 7.10. Title to Partnership Assets

Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, including Affiliates of the General Partner. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which legal title is held in the name of the General Partner or any nominee or Affiliate of the General Partner shall be held by the General Partner for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that the General Partner shall use its best efforts to cause beneficial and record title to such assets to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Partnership assets is held.

Section 7.11. Reliance by Third Parties

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner has full power and authority, without consent or approval of any other Partner or Person, to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and take any and all actions on behalf of the Partnership and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner as if the General Partner were the Partnership’s sole

 

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party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies which may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (i) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect; (ii) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership; and (iii) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

Section 7.12. Partner Approval for Extraordinary Transactions

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for so long as Eldridge owns a Partnership Interest representing at least 10% of the outstanding Partnership Units, the following actions shall require Partner Approval:

(i) a merger, consolidation or other combination of the Partnership’s assets with another entity not in the ordinary course of the Partnership’s business, a sale, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets or a reclassification, recapitalization or change of any outstanding shares of the Company’s or General Partner’s stock or other outstanding equity interests;

(ii) the adoption of a material amendment to this Agreement pursuant to Section  14.1 ;

(iii) the transfer of the Company’s interest in the Partnership or a change of control transaction of the Company as the controlling party of the General Partner;

(iv) the withdrawal of the General Partner pursuant to Section  11.2 ;

(v) the making of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or appointment or acquiescence in the appointment of a custodian, receiver or trustee for all or any part of the Partnership’s assets; and

(vi) the institution of any proceeding for bankruptcy on behalf of the Partnership.

The right to vote by such Limited Partners shall permanently terminate at such time as the Company owns a Partnership Interest greater than 90% of the aggregate of (a) the Partnership Units owned by the Company and (b) the Partnership Units issued in the Initial Eldridge Partnership Unit Transactions set forth in Exhibit  A attached hereto that are held directly or indirectly by Eldridge and EPRT Holdings, LLC. Partnership Units that may be issued to any Additional Limited Partner pursuant to Section  12.2 shall not be entitled to consent to the actions described in this Section  7.12 .

 

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ARTICLE 8

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

Section 8.1. Limitation of Liability

The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement, including Section  10.5 , or under the Act.

Section 8.2. Management of Business

No Limited Partner or Assignee (other than the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, trustee, director, member, employee or agent of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such) shall take part in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. The transaction of any such business by the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, trustee, director, member, employee or agent of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such, shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

Section 8.3. Outside Activities of Limited Partners

Subject to any agreements entered into pursuant to Section  7.6(e) and any other agreements entered into by a Limited Partner or its Affiliates with the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, any Limited Partner (other than the Company) and any officer, trustee, director, member, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or shareholder of any Limited Partner (other than the Company) shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities that are in direct competition with the Partnership or that are enhanced by the activities of the Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor any Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee. None of the Limited Partners (other than the Company) nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the Partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any other Person and such Person shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any such other Person, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or such other Person, could be taken by such Person.

Section 8.4. Return of Capital

Except pursuant to the right of redemption set forth in Section  8.6 , no Limited Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent of distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership as provided herein. Except to the extent provided by Exhibit C or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Limited Partner or Assignee, either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions.

 

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Section 8.5. Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership

(a) In addition to the other rights provided by this Agreement or by the Act, and except as limited by Section  8.5(c) , each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon written demand with a statement of the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense (including such copying and administrative charges as the General Partner may establish from time to time):

(i) to obtain a copy of the most recent annual and quarterly reports prepared by the Company and distributed to its shareholders, including, annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act;

(ii) to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each Partnership Year;

(iii) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate and all amendments thereto, together with executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

(iv) to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of any other property or services contributed by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner.

(b) The Partnership shall notify each Limited Partner, upon written request, of the then current Conversion Factor.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section  8.5 , the General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole and absolute discretion to be reasonable, any information that (i) the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information, the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership or could damage the Partnership or its business; or (ii) the Partnership is required by law or by agreements with an unaffiliated third party to keep confidential.

Section 8.6. Redemption Right

(a) Subject to Sections 8.6(b) and 8.6(c) and on or after such date, if any, as expressly provided for in any agreement entered into between the Partnership and any Limited Partner, each Limited Partner (other than the Company) shall have the right (the “ Redemption Right ”) to require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Redemption Date all or a portion of the Partnership Units (provided that such Partnership Units constitute Common Units) held by such Limited Partner at a redemption price per Unit equal to and in the form of the Cash Amount to be paid by the Partnership. The Redemption Right shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of

 

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Redemption delivered to the Partnership (with a copy to the Company) by the Limited Partner who is exercising the redemption right (the “ Redeeming Partner ”); provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be obligated to satisfy such Redemption Right if the Company elects to purchase the Partnership Units subject to the Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section  8.6(b) . A Limited Partner may not exercise the Redemption Right for less than one thousand (1,000) Partnership Units at any one time or, if such Limited Partner holds less than one thousand (1,000) Partnership Units, all of the Partnership Units held by such Partner. The Redeeming Partner shall have no right, with respect to any Partnership Units so redeemed, to receive any distributions paid on or after the Specified Redemption Date. The Assignee of any Limited Partner may exercise the rights of such Limited Partner pursuant to this Section  8.6 , and such Limited Partner shall be deemed to have assigned such rights to such Assignee and shall be bound by the exercise of such rights by such Assignee. In connection with any exercise of such rights by an Assignee on behalf of a Limited Partner, the Cash Amount shall be paid by the Partnership directly to such Assignee and not to such Limited Partner. Any Partnership Units redeemed by the Partnership pursuant to this Section  8.6(a) shall be cancelled upon such redemption.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section  8.6(a) , a Limited Partner that exercises the Redemption Right shall be deemed to have offered to sell the Partnership Units described in the Notice of Redemption to the Company, and the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to purchase directly and acquire such Partnership Units by paying to the Redeeming Partner either the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares Amount, as elected by the Company (in its sole and absolute discretion), on the Specified Redemption Date, whereupon the Company shall acquire the Partnership Units offered for redemption by the Redeeming Partner and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Partnership Units. If the Company shall elect to exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units under this Section  8.6(b) with respect to a Notice of Redemption, it shall so notify the Redeeming Partner within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by it of such Notice of Redemption. Unless the Company (in its sole and absolute discretion) shall exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units from the Redeeming Partner pursuant to this Section  8.6(b) , the Company shall not have any obligation to the Redeeming Partner or the Partnership with respect to the Redeeming Partner’s exercise of the Redemption Right. In the event the Company shall exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units with respect to the exercise of a Redemption Right in the manner described in the first sentence of this Section  8.6(b) , the Partnership shall have no obligation to pay any amount to the Redeeming Partner with respect to such Redeeming Partner’s exercise of such Redemption Right, and each of the Redeeming Partner, the Partnership and the Company shall treat the transaction between the Company and the Redeeming Partner, for federal income tax purposes, as a sale of the Redeeming Partner’s Partnership Units to the Company. Each Redeeming Partner agrees to execute such documents as the Company may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of REIT Shares upon exercise of the Redemption Right. In case of any reclassification of the REIT Shares (including any reclassification upon a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation) into securities other than REIT Shares, for purposes of this Section  8.6(b) , the Company (or its Successor) may thereafter exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units for the kind and amount of shares of such securities receivable upon such reclassification by a holder of the number of REIT Shares for which such Units could be purchased pursuant to this Section immediately prior to such reclassification.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section  8.6(a) and Section  8.6(b) , a Partner shall not be entitled to exercise the Redemption Right pursuant to Section  8.6(a) to the extent that the delivery of REIT Shares to such Partner on the Specified Redemption Date by the Company pursuant to Section  8.6(b) (regardless of whether or not the Company would in fact exercise its rights under Section  8.6(b) ) would (i) be prohibited, as determined in the sole discretion of the Company, under the Articles of Incorporation or (ii) cause the acquisition of REIT Shares by such Partner to be “integrated” with any other distribution of REIT Shares for purposes of complying with the Securities Act.

Section 8.7. Conversion of LTIP Units

(a) An LTIP Unitholder shall have the right (the “Conversion Right”), at his or her option, at any time to convert all or a portion of his or her Vested LTIP Units into Partnership Units; provided , however , that a holder may not exercise the Conversion Right for less than 100 Vested LTIP Units or, if such holder holds less than 100 Vested LTIP Units, all of the Vested LTIP Units held by such holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may a holder of Vested LTIP Units convert a number of Vested LTIP Units that exceeds (x) the Economic Capital Account Balance of such Limited Partner, to the extent attributable to its ownership of LTIP Units, divided by (y) the Partnership Unit Economic Balance, in each case as determined as of the effective date of conversion (the “Capital Account Limitation”). LTIP Unitholders shall not have the right to convert Unvested LTIP Units into Partnership Units until they become Vested LTIP Units; provided , however , that when an LTIP Unitholder is notified of the expected occurrence of an event that will cause his or her Unvested LTIP Units to become Vested LTIP Units, such LTIP Unitholder may give the Partnership a Conversion Notice conditioned upon and effective as of the time of vesting and such Conversion Notice, unless subsequently revoked by the LTIP Unitholder, shall be accepted by the Partnership subject to such condition. The General Partner shall have the right at any time to cause a conversion of Vested LTIP Units into Partnership Units. In all cases, the conversion of any LTIP Units into Partnership Units shall be subject to the conditions and procedures set forth in this Section  8.7 .

(b) Subject to the Capital Account Limitation, a holder of Vested LTIP Units may convert such Units into an equal number of fully paid and non-assessable Partnership Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section  4.2(c) . In order to exercise his or her Conversion Right, an LTIP Unitholder shall deliver a notice (a “Conversion Notice”) in the form attached as Exhibit F to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to a date (the “Conversion Date”) specified in such Conversion Notice; provided , however , that if the General Partner has not given to the LTIP Unitholders notice of a proposed or upcoming Transaction at least 30 days prior to the effective date of such Transaction, then LTIP Unitholders shall have the right to deliver a Conversion Notice until the earlier of (x) the 10th day after such notice from the General Partner of a Transaction or (y) the third Business Day immediately preceding the effective date of such Transaction. A Conversion Notice shall be provided in the manner provided in Section  15.1 . Each LTIP Unitholder covenants and agrees with the Partnership that all Vested LTIP Units to be converted pursuant to this Section  8.7(b) shall be free and clear of all liens. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a holder of LTIP Units may deliver a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section  8.6(a) relating to those Partnership Units that will be issued to such holder upon conversion of such LTIP Units into Partnership Units in advance of the Conversion Date;

 

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provided , however , that the redemption of such Partnership Units by the Partnership shall in no event take place until after the Conversion Date. For clarity, it is noted that the objective of this paragraph is to put an LTIP Unitholder in a position where, if he or she so wishes, the Partnership Units into which his or her Vested LTIP Units will be converted can be redeemed by the Partnership simultaneously with such conversion, with the further consequence that, if the Company elects to assume the Partnership’s redemption obligation with respect to such Partnership Units under Section  8.6(b) by delivering to such holder REIT Shares rather than cash, then such holder can have such REIT Shares issued to him or her simultaneously with the conversion of his or her Vested LTIP Units into Partnership Units. The General Partner shall cooperate with an LTIP Unitholder to coordinate the timing of the different events described in the foregoing sentence.

(c) The Partnership, at any time at the election of the General Partner, may cause any number of Vested LTIP Units held by an LTIP Unitholder to be converted (a “Forced Conversion”) into an equal number of Partnership Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section  4.2(c) ; provided , however , that the Partnership may not cause a Forced Conversion of any LTIP Units that would not at the time be eligible for conversion at the option of such LTIP Unitholder pursuant to Section  8.7 .

(d) In order to exercise its right of Forced Conversion, the Partnership shall deliver a notice (a “Forced Conversion Notice”) in the form attached as Exhibit G to the applicable LTIP Unitholder not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Conversion Date specified in such Forced Conversion Notice. A Forced Conversion Notice shall be provided in the manner provided in Section  15.1 .

(e) A conversion of Vested LTIP Units for which the holder thereof has given a Conversion Notice or the Partnership has given a Forced Conversion Notice shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable Conversion Date without any action on the part of such LTIP Unitholder, as of which time such LTIP Unitholder shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Partnership Units issuable upon such conversion. After the conversion of LTIP Units as aforesaid, the Partnership shall deliver to such LTIP Unitholder, upon his or her written request, a certificate of the General Partner certifying the number of Partnership Units and remaining LTIP Units, if any, held by such Person immediately after such conversion. The Assignee of any Limited Partner pursuant to Article 11 may exercise the rights of such Limited Partner pursuant to this Section  8.7 and such Limited Partner shall be bound by the exercise of such rights by the Assignee.

(f) For purposes of making future allocations under Section  6.1(c) and applying the Capital Account Limitation, the portion of the Economic Capital Account Balance of the applicable LTIP Unitholder that is treated as attributable to his or her LTIP Units shall be reduced, as of the date of conversion, by the product of the number of LTIP Units converted and the Partnership Unit Economic Balance.

(g) If the Partnership or the General Partner shall be a party to any transaction (including a merger, consolidation, unit exchange, self tender offer for all or substantially all Partnership Units or other business combination or reorganization, or sale of all or substantially

 

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all of the Partnership’s assets, but excluding any transaction which constitutes an Adjustment Event) in each case as a result of which Partnership Units shall be exchanged for or converted into the right, or the holders of such Partnership Units shall otherwise be entitled, to receive cash, securities or other property or any combination thereof (each of the foregoing being referred to herein as a “Transaction”), then the General Partner shall, immediately prior to the Transaction, exercise its right to cause a Forced Conversion with respect to the maximum number of LTIP Units then eligible for conversion, taking into account any allocations that occur in connection with the Transaction or that would occur in connection with the Transaction if the assets of the Partnership were sold at the Transaction price or, if applicable, at a value determined by the General Partner in good faith using the value attributed to the Partnership Units in the context of the Transaction (in which case the Conversion Date shall be the effective date of the Transaction). In anticipation of such Forced Conversion and the consummation of the Transaction, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each LTIP Unitholder to be afforded the right to receive in connection with such Transaction in consideration for the Partnership Units into which his or her LTIP Units will be converted the same kind and amount of cash, securities and other property (or any combination thereof) receivable upon the consummation of such Transaction by a holder of the same number of Partnership Units, assuming such holder of Partnership Units is not a Person with which the Partnership consolidated or into which the Partnership merged or which merged into the Partnership or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or an Affiliate of a Constituent Person. In the event that holders of Partnership Units have the opportunity to elect the form or type of consideration to be received upon consummation of a Transaction, prior to such Transaction the General Partner shall give prompt written notice to each LTIP Unitholder of such election, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to afford the LTIP Unitholders the right to elect, by written notice to the General Partner, the form or type of consideration to be received upon conversion of each LTIP Unit held by such holder into Partnership Units in connection with such Transaction. If an LTIP Unitholder fails to make such an election, such holder (and any of its transferees) shall receive upon conversion of each LTIP Unit held by him or her (or by any of his or her transferees) the same kind and amount of consideration that a holder of a Partnership Unit would receive if such Partnership Unit holder failed to make such an election. Subject to the rights of the Partnership and the Company under any LTIP Unit Agreement and the Plan, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable effort to cause the terms of any Transaction to be consistent with the provisions of this Section  8.7(g) and to enter into an agreement with the successor or purchasing entity, as the case may be, for the benefit of any LTIP Unitholders whose LTIP Units will not be converted into Partnership Units in connection with the Transaction that will (i) contain provisions enabling the holders of LTIP Units that remain outstanding after such Transaction to convert their LTIP Units into securities as comparable as reasonably possible under the circumstances to the Partnership Units and (ii) preserve as far as reasonably possible under the circumstances the distribution, special allocation, conversion, and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the LTIP Unitholders.

 

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Section 8.8. Voting Rights of LTIP Units

LTIP Unitholders shall have (a) those voting rights required from time to time by applicable law, if any, (b) the same voting rights as a holder of Partnership Units, with the LTIP Units voting as a single class with the Partnership Units and having one vote per LTIP Unit, and (c) the additional voting rights that are expressly set forth below. So long as any LTIP Units remain outstanding, the Partnership shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the LTIP Units outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting separately as a class), amend, alter or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, the provisions of this Agreement applicable to LTIP Units so as to materially and adversely affect any right, privilege or voting power of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such, unless such amendment, alteration, or repeal affects equally, ratably and proportionately the rights, privileges and voting powers of the holders of Partnership Units; but subject, in any event, to the following provisions: (i) with respect to any Transaction, so long as the LTIP Units are treated in accordance with Section  8.7(g) , the consummation of such Transaction shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such; and (ii) any creation or issuance of any Partnership Units or of any class or series of Partnership Interest including additional Partnership Units, LTIP Units or preferred Partnership Units, whether ranking senior to, junior to, or on a parity with the LTIP Units with respect to distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such. The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required will be effected, all outstanding LTIP Units shall have been converted into Partnership Units.

ARTICLE 9

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 9.1. Records and Accounting

The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership those records and documents required to be maintained by the Act and other books and records deemed by the General Partner to be appropriate with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section  9.3 . Any records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business may be kept on, or be in the form of, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided , that the records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial and tax reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, or such other basis as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 9.2. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year.

 

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Section 9.3. Reports

(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than one hundred five (105) days after the close of each Partnership Year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner as of the close of the Partnership Year, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the Company if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the Company, for such Partnership Year, presented in accordance with GAAP, such statements to be audited by a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than one hundred five (105) days after the close of each calendar quarter (except the last calendar quarter of each year), the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner as of the last day of the calendar quarter, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership, or of the Company, if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the Company, and such other information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or as the General Partner determines to be appropriate.

(c) The Partnership shall also cause to be prepared such reports and/or information as are necessary for the Company to determine its qualification as a REIT and its compliance with the requirements for REITs pursuant to the Code and Regulations.

ARTICLE 10

CERTAIN TAX MATTERS

Section 10.1. Preparation of Tax Returns

The General Partner shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns of Partnership income, gains, deductions, losses and other items required of the Partnership for federal and state income tax purposes and shall use all reasonable efforts to furnish, within ninety (90) days of the close of each taxable year, the tax information reasonably required by Limited Partners for federal and state income tax reporting purposes.

The Limited Partners shall promptly provide the General Partner with such information relating to the Contributed Properties as is readily available to the Limited Partners, including tax basis and other relevant information, as may be reasonably requested by the General Partner from time to time.

Section 10.2. Tax Elections

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine whether to make any available election pursuant to the Code, including the election under Code Section 754. Notwithstanding the above, in making any such tax election the General Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to the Limited Partners resulting from any such election.

(b) The General Partner shall make such tax elections on behalf of the Partnership as the Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners request; provided , that the General Partner believes that such election is not adverse to the interests of the Company, including its interest in preserving its qualification as a REIT. The General Partner can elect to use any method permitted by Code Section 704(c) and the

 

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Regulations thereunder to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of any property contributed to the Partnership by any Partner after the date hereof and such property’s initial Carrying Value. The General Partner shall have the right to seek to revoke any tax election it makes (including an election under Code Section 754) upon the General Partner’s determination, in its sole and absolute discretion, that such revocation is in the best interests of the Partners.

Section 10.3. Partnership Representative

(a) The General Partner shall be the “partnership representative,” within the meaning of Code Section 6223 (the “Partnership Representative”) of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes. Pursuant to Code Section 6230(e), upon receipt of notice from the IRS of the beginning of an administrative proceeding with respect to the Partnership, the Partnership Representative shall furnish the IRS with the name, address, taxpayer identification number, and profit interest of each of the Limited Partners and the Assignees; provided , however , that such information is provided to the Partnership by the Limited Partners and the Assignees.

(b) The Partnership Representative may, in its discretion, but is not required:

(i) to enter into any settlement with the IRS with respect to any administrative or judicial proceedings for the adjustment of Partnership items required to be taken into account by a Partner for income tax purposes (such administrative proceedings being referred to as a “tax audit” and such judicial proceedings being referred to as “judicial review”), and in the settlement agreement the Partnership Representative may expressly state that such agreement shall bind all Partners, except that such settlement agreement shall not bind any Partner (i) who (within the time prescribed pursuant to the Code and Regulations) files a statement with the IRS providing that the Partnership Representative shall not have the authority to enter into a settlement agreement on behalf of such Partner; or (ii) who is a “notice partner” (as defined in Code Section 6231(a)(8)) or a member of a “notice group” (as defined in Code Section 6223(b)(2));

(ii) in the event that a notice of a final administrative adjustment at the Partnership level of any item required to be taken into account by a Partner for tax purposes (a “ final adjustment ”) is mailed to the Partnership Representative, to seek judicial review of such final adjustment, including the filing of a petition for readjustment with the Tax Court or the filing of a complaint for refund with the United States Claims Court or the District Court of the United States for the district in which the Partnership’s principal place of business is located;

(iii) to intervene in any action brought by any other Partner for judicial review of a final adjustment;

(iv) to file a request for an administrative adjustment with the IRS and, if any part of such request is not allowed by the IRS, to file an appropriate pleading (petition or complaint) for judicial review with respect to such request;

(v) to enter into an agreement with the IRS to extend the period for assessing any tax which is attributable to any item required to be taken account of by a Partner for tax purposes, or an item affected by such item; and

 

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(vi) to take any other action on behalf of the Partners or the Partnership in connection with any tax audit or judicial review proceeding to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulations.

The taking of any action and the incurring of any expense by the Partnership Representative in connection with any such proceeding, except to the extent required by law, is a matter in the sole and absolute discretion of the Partnership Representative, and the provisions relating to indemnification of the General Partner set forth in Section  7.7 shall be fully applicable to the Partnership Representative in its capacity as such.

(c) The Partnership Representative shall receive no compensation for its services. All third party costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership Representative in performing its duties as such (including legal and accounting fees and expenses) shall be borne by the Partnership. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the Partnership from engaging an accounting and/or law firm to assist the Partnership Representative in discharging its duties hereunder, so long as the compensation paid by the Partnership for such services is reasonable.

Section 10.4. Section 83 Safe Harbor Election

Each Partner authorizes the General Partner to elect to apply the safe harbor (the “ Section  83 Safe Harbor ”) set forth in proposed Regulations Section 1.83-3(l) and proposed IRS Revenue Procedure published in Notice 2005-43 (together, the “Proposed Section 83 Safe Harbor Regulation”) (under which the fair market value of a Partnership Interest that is transferred in connection with the performance of services is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of the interest), or in similar Regulations or guidance, if such Proposed Section 83 Safe Harbor Regulation or similar Regulations are promulgated as final or temporary Regulations. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership should make such election, the General Partner is hereby authorized to amend this Agreement without the Consent of any other Partner to provide that (i) the Partnership is authorized and directed to elect the Section 83 Safe Harbor, (ii) the Partnership and each of its Partners (including any Person to whom a Partnership Interest, including an LTIP Unit, is issued in connection with the performance of services) will comply with all requirements of the Section 83 Safe Harbor with respect to all Partnership Interests Transferred in connection with the performance of services while such election remains in effect and (iii) the Partnership and each of its Partners will take all actions necessary, including providing the Partnership with any required information, to permit the Partnership to comply with the requirements set forth or referred to in the applicable Regulations for such election to be effective until such time (if any) as the General Partner determines, in its sole discretion, that the Partnership should terminate such election. The General Partner is further authorized to amend this Agreement to modify Article 6 to the extent the General Partner determines in its discretion that such modification is necessary or desirable as a result of the issuance of any applicable law, Regulations, notice or ruling relating to the tax treatment of the transfer of a Partnership Interests in connection with the performance of services. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each Partner expressly confirms that it will be legally bound by any such amendment.

 

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Section 10.5. Withholding

(a) Each Limited Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold from, or pay on behalf of or with respect to, such Limited Partner any amount of federal, state, local, or foreign taxes that the General Partner determines that the Partnership is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement, including any taxes required to be withheld or paid by the Partnership pursuant to Code Section 1441, 1442, 1445, or 1446. Any amount paid on behalf of or with respect to a Limited Partner shall constitute a loan by the Partnership to such Limited Partner, which loan shall be repaid by such Limited Partner within fifteen (15) days after notice from the General Partner that such payment must be made unless (i) the Partnership withholds such payment from a distribution which would otherwise be made to the Limited Partner, or (ii) the General Partner determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that such payment may be satisfied out of the available funds of the Partnership which would, but for such payment, be distributed to the Limited Partner. Any amounts withheld pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) or (ii) shall be treated as having been distributed to such Limited Partner.

(b) In the event that a Limited Partner fails to pay any amounts owed to the Partnership pursuant to this Section  10.5 when due, the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to make the payment to the Partnership on behalf of such defaulting Limited Partner, and in such event shall be deemed to have loaned such amount to such defaulting Limited Partner and shall succeed to all rights and remedies of the Partnership as against such defaulting Limited Partner. Without limitation, in such event the General Partner shall have the right to receive distributions that would otherwise be distributable to such defaulting Limited Partner until such time as such loan, together with all interest thereon, has been paid in full, and any such distributions so received by the General Partner shall be treated as having been distributed to the defaulting Limited Partner and immediately paid by the defaulting Limited Partner to the General Partner in repayment of such loan. Any amounts payable by a Limited Partner hereunder shall bear interest at the lesser of (A) the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal , plus four (4) percentage points, or (B) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date such amount is due (i.e., fifteen (15) days after demand) until such amount is paid in full. Each Limited Partner shall take such actions as the Partnership or the General Partner shall request in order to perfect or enforce the security interest created hereunder.

(c) Upon a Limited Partner’s complete withdrawal from the Partnership, such Limited Partner shall be required to restore funds to the Partnership to the extent that the cumulative amount of taxes withheld from or paid on behalf of, or with respect to, such Limited Partner exceeds the sum of such amounts (i) repaid to the Partnership by such Limited Partner, (ii) withheld from distributions to such Limited Partner and (iii) paid by the General Partner on behalf of such Limited Partner.

 

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ARTICLE 11

TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS

Section 11.1. Transfer

(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Article 11 with respect to a Partnership Unit, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the General Partner purports to assign all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person or by which a Limited Partner purports to assign all or any part of its Limited Partner Interest to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise. The term “transfer” when used in this Article 11 does not include (i) any redemption of Partnership Interests by the Partnership from a Limited Partner, (ii) any acquisition of Partnership Units from a Limited Partner by the Company pursuant to Section  8.6 , or (iii) any distribution of Partnership Units by a Limited Partner to its beneficial owners.

(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article 11 . Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article 11 shall be null and void.

(c) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article  11 , the Partnership Interests of the General Partner or the Company may be transferred, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, to any Person that is, at the time of such transfer, a Qualified REIT Subsidiary. Any transferee of the entire General Partner Interest pursuant to this Section  11.1(c) shall automatically become, without further action or Consent of any Limited Partners, the sole general partner of the Partnership, subject to all the rights, privileges, duties and obligations under this Agreement and the Act relating to a general partner. Upon any transfer permitted by this Section  11.1(c) , the transferor Partner shall be relieved of all its obligations under this Agreement. Additionally, the Partnership Interests of the General Partner may be transferred, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, to an Affiliate of the Company or to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the General Partner or the owner of all of the General Partner’s ownership interests. The provisions of Sections  11.2(b) , 11.3 , 11.4(a) and 11.5 shall not apply to any transfer permitted by this Section  11.1(c) .

Section 11.2. Transfer of General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interest

(a) The General Partner may not transfer any of its General Partner Interest or withdraw as General Partner, or transfer any of its Limited Partner Interest, except as provided in Sections  11.1(c) , 11.2(b) and 11.2(c) .

(b) Except as set forth in 11.1(c) or 11.2(c) , the General Partner shall not withdraw from the Partnership and shall not transfer all or any portion of its Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership (whether by sale, disposition, statutory merger or consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) unless Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners Consent to such transfer or withdrawal. Upon any transfer of the General Partner’s

 

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Partnership Interest pursuant to the Consent of the Limited Partners and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Section  11.2(b) , the transferee shall become a successor General Partner for all purposes herein, and shall be vested with the powers and rights of the transferor General Partner, and shall be liable for all obligations and responsible for all duties of the General Partner, once such transferee has executed such instruments as may be necessary to effectuate such admission and to confirm the agreement of such transferee to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to the Partnership Interest so acquired. It is a condition to any transfer by the General Partner otherwise permitted hereunder that the transferee assumes, by operation of law or express agreement, all of the obligations of the transferor General Partner under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Partnership Interest, and such transfer shall relieve the transferor General Partner of its obligations under this Agreement without the Consent of the Limited Partners. In the event that the General Partner withdraws from the Partnership, in violation of this Agreement or otherwise, or otherwise dissolves or terminates, or upon an Event of Bankruptcy of the General Partner, as described in Section  13.2 , the remaining Partners may agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership by selecting a successor General Partner in accordance with the Act.

(c) Except as provided in Section  7.12 and subject to the rights of any Holder of any Partnership Interest set forth on Exhibit A hereto, the General Partner may, without the Consent of the Limited Partners, transfer all of its Partnership Interest in connection with (a) a merger, consolidation or other combination of its assets with another entity not in the ordinary course of the Partnership’s business, (b) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or (c) a reclassification, recapitalization or change of any outstanding shares of the General Partner’s stock or other outstanding equity interests (each, a “ Termination Transaction ”) if:

(i) in connection with such Termination Transaction, all of the Limited Partners will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, for each Partnership Unit an amount of cash, securities or other property equal to the product of the Conversion Factor and the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid to a holder of one REIT Share in consideration of one REIT Share pursuant to the terms of such Termination Transaction; provided, that if, in connection with such Termination Transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding REIT Shares, each holder of Partnership Units shall receive, or shall have the right to elect to receive, the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property which such holder of Partnership Units would have received had it exercised its right to Redemption pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof and received REIT Shares in exchange for its Partnership Units immediately prior to the expiration of such purchase, tender or exchange offer and had thereupon accepted such purchase, tender or exchange offer and then such Termination Transaction shall have been consummated;

(ii) all of the following conditions are met: (w) substantially all of the assets directly or indirectly owned by the surviving entity are owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership or another limited partnership or limited liability company which is the survivor of a merger, consolidation or combination of assets with the Partnership (in each case, the “ Surviving Partnership ”); (x) the Limited Partners that held Partnership Units immediately prior to the consummation of such Termination Transaction own a percentage interest of the Surviving Partnership based on the relative fair market values of the net assets of the Partnership and the

 

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other net assets of the Surviving Partnership immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction; (y) the rights, preferences and privileges in the Surviving Partnership of such Limited Partners are at least as favorable as those in effect with respect to the Partnership Units immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and as those applicable to any other limited partners or non-managing members of the Surviving Partnership; and (z) the rights of such Limited Partners include at least one of the following: (a) the right to redeem their interests in the Surviving Partnership for the consideration available to such persons pursuant to Section 11.2(c)(i) or (b) the right to redeem their interests in the Surviving Partnership for cash on terms substantially equivalent to those in effect with respect to their Partnership Units immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, or, if the ultimate controlling person of the Surviving Partnership has publicly traded common equity securities, such common equity securities, with an exchange ratio based on the determination of relative fair market value of such securities and the REIT Shares; or

(iii) the Company is the surviving entity in the Termination Transaction and holders of REIT shares do not receive cash, securities or other property in the transaction.

Section 11.3. Limited Partners Rights to Transfer

(a) Except as provided in Section  11.3(b) , no Limited Partner shall Transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to any transferee without the written consent of the General Partner, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; provided , however , that if a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, such Incapacitated Limited Partner may transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 11 , a Limited Partner may Transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to any of its Affiliates and such transferee shall be admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner, all without obtaining the consent of the General Partner; provided , however , that Eldridge may Transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to an unaffiliated third party and such transferee shall be admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner, all without obtaining the consent of the General Partner, provided any such Transfer may be prohibited by the General Partner pursuant to Section  11.3(d) , 11.3(e) or 11.3(f) .

(c) If a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, the executor, administrator, trustee, committee, guardian, conservator or receiver of such Limited Partner’s estate shall have all of the rights of a Limited Partner, but not more rights than those enjoyed by other Limited Partners, for the purpose of settling or managing the estate and such power as the Incapacitated Limited Partner possessed to transfer all or any part of his or its interest in the Partnership. The Incapacity of a Limited Partner, in and of itself, shall not dissolve or terminate the Partnership.

(d) Without limiting the generality of Section  11.3(a) , the General Partner may prohibit any transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Interest if, in the opinion of legal counsel to the Partnership, such transfer would require filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act or would otherwise violate any federal or state securities laws or regulations applicable to the Partnership or the Partnership Units.

 

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(e) No transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Units may be made to any Person if (i) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, it would result in the Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a corporation or a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of either Code Section 469(k)(2) or 7704(b); (ii) such transfer is effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Code Section 7704; (iii) such transfer would cause the Partnership to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA or to Code Section 4975, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Code Section 4975(c)); (iv) such transfer would, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, cause any portion of the assets of the Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.3-101; (v) such transfer would subject the Partnership to be regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA; or (vi) such transfer would cause the Partnership to be terminated for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Code Section 708.

(f) No transfer of any Partnership Units may be made to a lender to the Partnership or any Person who is related (within the meaning of Section 1.752-4(b) of the Regulations) to any lender to the Partnership whose loan constitutes a Nonrecourse Liability, without the consent of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion.

(g) The General Partner shall keep a register for the Partnership on which the transfer, pledge or release of Partnership Units shall be shown and pursuant to which entries shall be made to effect all transfers, pledges or releases as required by the applicable sections of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended, in effect in the States of New Jersey and Delaware; provided , however , that if there is any conflict between such requirements, the provisions of the Delaware Uniform Commercial Code shall govern. The General Partner shall (i) place proper entries in such register clearly showing each transfer and each pledge and grant of security interest and the transfer and assignment pursuant thereto, such entries to be endorsed by the General Partner, and (ii) maintain the register and make the register available for inspection by all of the Partners and their pledgees at all times during the term of this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be deemed a consent to any pledge or transfer otherwise prohibited under this Agreement.

Section 11.4. Substituted Limited Partners

(a) No Limited Partner shall have the right to substitute a transferee as a Limited Partner in his or its place. The General Partner shall, however, have the right to consent to the admission of a transferee of the interest of a Limited Partner pursuant to this Section  11.4 as a Substituted Limited Partner, which consent may be given or withheld by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. The General Partner’s failure or refusal to permit a transferee of any such interests to become a Substituted Limited Partner shall not give rise to any cause of action against the Partnership or any Partner. A Person shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner only upon the aforementioned consent of the General Partner and the furnishing to the General Partner of (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section  2.4 and (ii) such other documents of the General Partner in order to effect such Person’s admission as a Substituted Limited Partner. The admission of any Person as a Substituted Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

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(b) A transferee who has been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner in accordance with this Article 11 shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the restrictions and liabilities of a Limited Partner under this Agreement.

(c) Upon the admission of a Substituted Limited Partner, the General Partner shall amend Exhibit A to reflect the name, address, number of Partnership Units and Percentage Interest (as applicable) of such Substituted Limited Partner and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the name, address and interest of the predecessor of such Substituted Limited Partner.

Section 11.5. Assignees

If the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, does not consent to the admission of any permitted transferee as a Substituted Limited Partner, as described in Section  11.4 , such transferee shall be considered an Assignee for purposes of this Agreement. An Assignee shall be deemed to have had assigned to it, and shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Partnership and the share of Net Income, Net Losses, Recapture Income, and any other items, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Partnership attributable to the Partnership Interest assigned to such transferee, but shall not be deemed to be a holder of a Partnership Interest for any other purpose under this Agreement, and shall not be entitled to vote such Partnership Interest in any matter presented to the Limited Partners for a vote (such Partnership Interest being deemed to have been voted on such matter in the same proportion as all other Partnership Interest held by Limited Partners are voted). In the event any such transferee desires to make a further assignment of any such Partnership Interest, such transferee shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Article 11 to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of his or its Partnership Interest.

Section 11.6. General Provisions

(a) No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted transfer of all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest in accordance with this Article 11 or pursuant to redemption of all of its Partnership Units, or the acquisition thereof by the Company, under Section  8.6 .

(b) Any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of its Partnership Interest in a transfer permitted pursuant to this Article 11 shall cease to be a Limited Partner upon the admission of all Assignees of such Partnership Interest as Substituted Limited Partners. Similarly, any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of its Partnership Units pursuant to a redemption of all of its Partnership Units, or the acquisition thereof by the Company, under Section  8.6 shall cease to be a Limited Partner.

(c) Transfers pursuant to this Article 11 may only be made on the first day of a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, unless the General Partner otherwise agrees.

 

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(d) If any Partnership Interest is transferred or assigned during any quarterly segment of the Partnership’s fiscal year in compliance with the provisions of this Article 11 or redeemed or transferred pursuant to Section  8.6 on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Net Income, Net Losses, each item thereof and all other items attributable to such interest for such Partnership Year shall be divided and allocated between the transferor Partner and the transferee Partner by taking into account their varying interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Code Section 706(d), using the interim closing of the books method. All distributions of Available Cash attributable to such Partnership Interest with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such transfer, assignment, or redemption shall be made to the transferor Partner or the Redeeming Partner, as the case may be, and in the case of a transfer or assignment other than a redemption, all distributions of Available Cash thereafter attributable to such Partnership Interest shall be made to the transferee Partner.

ARTICLE 12

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 12.1. Admission of Successor General Partner

A successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section  11.1(c) or 11.2 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to such transfer. Any such transferee shall carry on the business of the Partnership without dissolution. In each case, the admission shall be subject to the successor General Partner executing and delivering to the Partnership an acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect the admission. In the case of such admission on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, all items attributable to the General Partner Interest for such Partnership Year shall be allocated between the transferring General Partner and such successor as provided in Section  11.6(d) .

Section 12.2. Admission of Additional Limited Partners

(a) A Person who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section  2.4 and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the General Partner in order to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section  12.2 , no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

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(c) If any Additional Limited Partner is admitted to the Partnership on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Net Income, Net Losses, each item thereof and all other items allocable among Partners and Assignees for such Partnership Year shall be allocated among such Additional Limited Partner and all other Partners and Assignees by taking into account their varying interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Code Section 706(d), using the interim closing of the books method. All distributions of Available Cash with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such admission shall be made solely to Partners and Assignees, other than such Additional Limited Partner, and all distributions of Available Cash thereafter shall be made to all of the Partners and Assignees, including such Additional Limited Partner.

Section 12.3. Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

For the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Act to amend the records of the Partnership and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practical an amendment of this Agreement (including an amendment of Exhibit A ) and, if required by law, shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate and may for this purpose exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section  2.4 .

ARTICLE 13

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

Section 13.1. Dissolution

The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the withdrawal of the General Partner, any successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership without dissolution. The Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, only upon the first to occur of any of the following (“ Liquidating Events ”):

(a) the expiration of its term as provided in Section  2.5 ;

(b) an event of withdrawal of the General Partner, as defined in the Act, other than an event of bankruptcy as defined in the Act, unless, (i) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one remaining general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to and does carry on the business of the Partnership, or (ii) within ninety (90) days after such event of withdrawal not less than a majority of the Percentage Interests of the remaining Partners (or such greater Percentage Interest as may be required by the Act and determined in accordance with the Act), determined, in case the withdrawing General Partner continues as a Limited Partner, by both excluding and including Limited Partner Interests continuing to be held by the withdrawing General Partner, agrees in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of the date of withdrawal, of a successor General Partner;

 

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(c) from and after the date of this Agreement through December 31, 2069, an election to dissolve the Partnership made by the General Partner with the Consent of Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners;

(d) on or after January 1, 2070, an election to dissolve the Partnership made by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion;

(e) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act;

(f) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Partnership; or

(g) a final and non-appealable judgment is entered by a court of competent jurisdiction ruling that the General Partner is bankrupt or insolvent, or a final and non-appealable order for relief is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction against the General Partner, in each case under any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or hereafter in effect (hereinafter referred to as an “ Event of Bankruptcy ,” and such term as used herein is intended and shall be deemed to supersede and replace the events of withdrawal described in Section 17-402(a)(4) and (5) of the Act), unless prior to the entry of such order or judgment all of the remaining Partners agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of a date prior to the date of such order or judgment, of a substitute General Partner.

Section 13.2. Winding Up

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Partnership shall continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its creditors and Partners. No Partner shall take any action that is inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of the Partnership’s business and affairs. The General Partner, or, in the event there is no remaining General Partner, any Person elected by a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners (the General Partner or such other Person being referred to herein as the “ Liquidator ”), shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the Partnership and shall take full account of the Partnership’s liabilities and property and the Partnership property shall be liquidated as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof, and the proceeds therefrom (which may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, include REIT Shares of the Company) shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(i) First, in satisfaction of all of the Partnership’s debts and liabilities to creditors other than the Partners (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof);

(ii) Second, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s debts and liabilities to the General Partner;

(iii) Third, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s debts and liabilities to the other Partners; and

 

56


(iv) The balance, if any, to the General Partner and Limited Partners in accordance with their Capital Accounts, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for all periods.

The General Partner shall not receive any additional compensation for any services performed pursuant to this Article 13 .

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section  13.2(a) which require liquidation of the assets of the Partnership, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if prior to or upon dissolution of the Partnership the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners, the Liquidator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the Partnership (including to those Partners as creditors) and/or distribute to the Partners, in lieu of cash, as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section  13.2(a) , undivided interests in such Partnership assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable for liquidation. Any such distributions in kind shall be made only if, in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator, such distributions in kind are in the best interest of the Partners, and shall be subject to such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such properties as the Liquidator deems reasonable and equitable and to any agreements governing the operation of such properties at such time. The Liquidator shall determine the fair market value of any property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

(c) In the discretion of the Liquidator, a pro rata portion of the distributions that would otherwise be made to the General Partner and Limited Partners pursuant to this Article  13 may be:

(i) distributed to a trust established for the benefit of the General Partner and Limited Partners for the purposes of liquidating Partnership assets, collecting amounts owed to the Partnership, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Partnership or the General Partner arising out of or in connection with the Partnership. The assets of any such trust shall be distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners from time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the Liquidator, in the same proportions as the amount distributed to such trust by the Partnership would otherwise have been distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners pursuant to this Agreement; or

(ii) withheld or escrowed to provide a reasonable reserve for Partnership liabilities (contingent or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any installment obligations owed to the Partnership; provided , however , that such withheld or escrowed amounts shall be distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners in the manner and order of priority set forth in Section  13.2(a) as soon as practicable.

Section 13.3. Compliance with Timing Requirements of Regulations

In the event the Partnership is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), distributions shall be made pursuant to this Article 13 to the General Partner and Limited Partners who have positive Capital Accounts in compliance with Regulations

 

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Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2). If any Partner has a deficit balance in his or its Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), such Partner shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Partnership with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever.

Section 13.4. Deemed Contribution and Distribution

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 13 , in the event the Partnership is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), but no Liquidating Event has occurred, the Partnership’s property shall not be liquidated, the Partnership’s liabilities shall not be paid or discharged, and the Partnership’s affairs shall not be wound up. Instead, for federal income tax purposes and for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts pursuant to Exhibit B hereto, the Partnership shall be deemed to have contributed all Partnership property and liabilities to a new limited partnership in exchange for an interest in such new limited partnership and, immediately thereafter, the Partnership will be deemed to liquidate by distributing interests in the new limited partnership to the Partners.

Section 13.5. Rights of Limited Partners

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Limited Partner shall look solely to the assets of the Partnership for the return of its Capital Contributions and shall have no right or power to demand or receive property other than cash from the Partnership. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Limited Partner shall have priority over any other Partner as to the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions, or allocations.

Section 13.6. Notice of Dissolution

In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would, but for the provisions of an election or objection by one or more Partners pursuant to Section  13.1 , result in a dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall, within thirty (30) days thereafter, provide written notice thereof to each of the Partners.

Section 13.7. Termination of Partnership and Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

Upon the completion of the winding up of the Partnership and liquidation of its assets, as provided in Section  13.2 , the Partnership shall be terminated by filing a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, canceling all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware and taking such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership.

Section 13.8. Reasonable Time for Winding Up

A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding-up of the business and affairs of the Partnership and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section  13.2 , in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up, and the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect among the Partners during the period of liquidation.

 

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Section 13.9. Waiver of Partition

Each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

ARTICLE 14

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS

Section 14.1. Amendment of Partnership Agreement

(a) Subject to Section  7.12 , amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the General Partner or by Limited Partners holding twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Partnership Interests. Following such proposal, the General Partner shall submit any proposed amendment to the Limited Partners. The General Partner shall seek the written vote of the Partners on the proposed amendment or shall call a meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other business that it may deem appropriate. For purposes of obtaining a written vote, the General Partner may require a response within a reasonable specified time, but not less than fifteen (15) days, and failure to respond in such time period shall constitute a vote which is consistent with the General Partner’s recommendation with respect to the proposal. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an amendment hereto if it is approved by the General Partner and it receives the Consent of Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners.

(b) Notwithstanding Section  14.1(a) , the General Partner shall have the power, without the consent of the Limited Partners, to amend this Agreement as may be required to facilitate or implement any of the following purposes:

(i) to add to the obligations of the General Partner or surrender any right or power granted to the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner for the benefit of the Limited Partners;

(ii) to reflect the admission, substitution, termination, or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

(iii) to set forth the designations, rights (including redemption rights that differ from those specified in Section  8.6 ), powers, duties, and preferences of Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section  4.2(a) ;

(iv) to reflect a change that is of an inconsequential nature and does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect, or to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in this Agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions, or make other changes with respect to matters arising under this Agreement that will not be inconsistent with law or with the provisions of this Agreement; and

 

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(v) to satisfy any requirements, conditions, or guidelines contained in any order, directive, opinion, ruling or regulation of a federal or state agency or contained in federal or state law.

The General Partner shall provide notice to the Limited Partners when any action under this Section  14.1(b) is taken.

(c) Notwithstanding Section  14.1(a) and 14.1(b) , this Agreement shall not be amended without the Consent of each Partner adversely affected if such amendment would (i) convert a Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership into a General Partner Interest; (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited Partner in a manner adverse to such Limited Partner; (iii) alter rights of such Partner to receive distributions pursuant to Article 5 or Article  13 , or the allocations specified in Article 6 (except as permitted pursuant to Section  4.2 and Section  14.1(b)(iii) ) in a manner adverse to such Partner; (iv) alter or modify the Redemption Right and REIT Shares Amount as set forth in Section  8.6 , and the related definitions, in a manner adverse to such Partner; (v) cause the termination of the Partnership prior to the time set forth in Section  2.5 or 13.1 ; or (vi) amend this Section  14.1(c) ; provided , however , that the Consent of each Partner adversely affected shall not be required for any amendment or action that affects all Partners holding the same class or series of Partnership Units on a uniform or pro  rata basis. Any amendment consented to by any Partner shall be effective as to that Partner, notwithstanding the absence of such Consent by any other Partner.

(d) Notwithstanding Section  14.1(a) or Section  14.1(b) , the General Partner shall not amend Sections 4.2(a) , 7.5 , 7.6 , 11.2 or 14.2 without the Consent of Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners.

Section 14.2. Meetings of the Partners

(a) Meetings of the Partners may be called by the General Partner and shall be called upon the receipt by the General Partner of a written request by Limited Partners (other than the Company) holding twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Partnership Interests. The request shall state the nature of the business to be transacted. Notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Partners not less than seven (7) days nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of such meeting. Partners may vote in person or by proxy at such meeting. Whenever the vote or Consent of the Partners is permitted or required under this Agreement, such vote or Consent may be given at a meeting of the Partners or may be given in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section  14.1(a) . Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement (including without limitation Section  7.12 ), the Consent of holders of a majority of the Percentage Interests held by Limited Partners shall control.

(b) Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Partners may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth the action so taken is signed by a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Partners (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement). Such consent may be in one instrument or in several instruments, and shall have the same force and effect as a vote of a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Partners (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement). Such consent shall be filed with the General Partner. An action so taken shall be deemed to have been taken at a meeting held on the effective date so certified.

 

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(c) Each Limited Partner may authorize any Person or Persons to act for him by proxy on all matters in which a Limited Partner is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the Limited Partner or his or its attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Limited Partner executing it, such revocation to be effective upon the Partnership’s receipt of written notice of such revocation from the Limited Partner executing such proxy.

(d) Each meeting of the Partners shall be conducted by the General Partner or such other Person as the General Partner may appoint pursuant to such rules for the conduct of the meeting as the General Partner or such other Person deems appropriate. Without limitation, meetings of Partners may be conducted in the same manner as meetings of the shareholders of the Company and may be held at the same time, and as part of, meetings of the shareholders of the Company.

ARTICLE 15

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 15.1. Addresses and Notice

Any notice, demand, request or report required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to such Partner or Assignee at the address set forth in Exhibit  A or such other address of which such Partner shall notify the General Partner in writing.

Section 15.2. Further Action

The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 15.3. Binding Effect

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

Section 15.4. Creditors

Other than as expressly set forth herein with respect to the Indemnitees, none of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.

 

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Section 15.5. Waiver

No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

Section 15.6. Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on all of the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing his or its signature hereto.

Section 15.7. Applicable Law

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.

Section 15.8. Invalidity of Provisions

If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

Section 15.9. Entire Agreement

This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other prior written or oral understandings or agreements among them with respect thereto.

* * * * *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
Essential Properties OP G.P., LLC
By:  

/s/ Hillary P. Hai

  Name: Hillary P. Hai
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

LIMITED PARTNERS:

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

By:  

/s/ Hillary P. Hai

  Name: Hillary P. Hai
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

EPRT Holdings LLC

By:  

/s/ Anthony D. Minella

  Name: Anthony D. Minella
  Title: Manager

Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

By:  

/s/ Joseph W. Wittrock

  Name: Joseph W. Wittrock
  Title: Senior VP & Chief Investment Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES, L.P.]


EXHIBIT A

Partners’ Contributions and Partnership Interests

(As of June 25, 2018)

 

Name and Address

of Partner

   Cash
Contribution
     Agreed Value of
Contributed Property
     Total
Contribution
     Partnership
Units
    

Percentage

Interest

General Partner:

              

Essential Properties OP G.P., LLC

47 Hulfish Street, Suite 210

Princeton, NJ 08542

               1.0% general partner

Limited Partners:

              

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

47 Hulfish Street, Suite 210

Princeton, NJ 08542

   $ 563,998,554      $ 9,678,060      $ 573,676,614        40,976,901      67.3% limited partner

EPRT Holdings, LLC

47 Hulfish Street, Suite 210

Princeton, NJ 08542

     N/A      $ 250,790,288      $ 250,790,288        17,913,592      29.8% limited partner

Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

One Security Benefit Place

Topeka, KS 66636

   $ 16,001,440        N/A      $ 16,001,440        1,142,960      1.9% limited partner

 

+ Subject to change as a result of subsequent contributions by the Initial Limited Partners

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

CAPITAL ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE

1. Capital Accounts of the Partners

(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner a separate Capital Account in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions and any other deemed contributions made by such Partner to the Partnership pursuant to the Agreement; and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 1(b) and allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(a) of the Agreement and Exhibit C , and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made to such Partner pursuant to the Agreement, and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 1(b) and allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b) of the Agreement and Exhibit C .

(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, deduction or loss (“ Net Income ” or “ Net Loss ”) to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, unless otherwise specified in the Agreement, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Code Section 754 which may be made by the Partnership; provided , that the amounts of any adjustments to the adjusted bases of the assets of the Partnership made pursuant to Code Section 734 as a result of the distribution of property by the Partnership to a Partner (to the extent that such adjustments have not previously been reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts) shall be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Partners in the manner and subject to the limitations prescribed in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4).

(2) The computation of all items of income, gain, and deduction shall be made without regard to the fact that items described in Code Sections 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes.

(3) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

 

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(4) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such fiscal year.

(5) In the event the Carrying Value of any Partnership Asset is adjusted pursuant to Section 1(d), the amount of any such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1(b), any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Exhibit C or Section 6.1(c) of the Agreement shall not be taken into account for purposes of computing Net Income or Net Loss.

The amounts of the items of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Exhibit C or Section 6.1(c) of the Agreement shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in Sections 1(b)(1) through 1(b)(5) above.

(c) Generally, a transferee (including an Assignee) of a Partnership Unit shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor.

(d) (1) Consistent with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), and as provided in Section 1(d)(2), the Carrying Value of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as of the times of the adjustments provided in Section 1(d)(2), as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property and allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement.

(2) Such adjustments shall be made as of the following times: (a) immediately prior to the acquisition of an additional interest in the Partnership by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) immediately prior to the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of property as consideration for an interest in the Partnership; (c) in connection with the grant of an interest (including LTIP Units) in the Partnership (other than a de minimis interest), as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership by an existing Partner acting in a partner capacity or by a new partner acting in a partner capacity or in anticipation of being a partner; and (d) immediately prior to the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); provided , however , that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (c) above shall be made only if the General Partner determines that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners in the Partnership.

(3) In accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e), the Carrying Value of Partnership assets distributed in kind shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as of the time any such asset is distributed.

 

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(4) The Carrying Value of Partnership assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and Section 1(b)(1) or Section 1(f) of Exhibit C ; provided , however , that Carrying Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this Section 1(d)(4) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to Section 1(d)(2) is required in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this Section 1(d)(4).

(5) In determining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss for purposes of this Exhibit B , the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) shall be determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt, or in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Article 13 of the Agreement, shall be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt. The General Partner, or the Liquidator, as the case may be, shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines in its sole and absolute discretion to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties).

If the Carrying Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to Section 1(b)(2) or Section 1(b)(4), such Carrying Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Net Income and Net Loss.

(e) The provisions of the Agreement (including this Exhibit B and other Exhibits to the Agreement) relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-l(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. In the event the General Partner shall determine that it is prudent to modify (i) the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto (including debits or credits relating to liabilities which are secured by contributed or distributed property or which are assumed by the Partnership, the General Partner, or the Limited Partners) are computed; or (ii) the manner in which items are allocated among the Partners for federal income tax purposes, in order to comply with such Regulations or to comply with Code Section 704(c), the General Partner may make such modification without regard to Article 14 of the Agreement; provided , that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributable to any Person pursuant to Article 13 of the Agreement upon the dissolution of the Partnership. The General Partner also shall (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality between the Capital Accounts of the Partners and the amount of Partnership capital reflected on the Partnership’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q); and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause the Agreement not to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b). In addition, the General Partner may adopt and employ such methods and procedures for (i) the maintenance of book and tax capital accounts; (ii) the determination and allocation of adjustments under Code Sections 704(c), 734 and 743; (iii) the determination of Net Income, Net Loss, taxable income, taxable loss and items thereof under the Agreement and pursuant to the Code; (iv) the adoption of reasonable conventions and methods for the valuation of assets and the determination of tax basis; (v) the allocation of asset value and tax basis; and (vi) conventions for the determination of cost recovery, depreciation and amortization deductions, as it determines in its sole discretion are necessary or appropriate to execute the provisions of the Agreement, to comply with federal and state tax laws, and are in the best interest of the Partners.

 

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2. No Interest

No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions or on balances in Partners’ Capital Accounts.

3. No Withdrawal

No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of his or its Capital Contribution or his or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as provided in Articles 4, 5, 7 and 13 of the Agreement.

 

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EXHIBIT C

SPECIAL ALLOCATION RULES

1. Special Allocation Rules

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement or this Exhibit C , the following special allocations shall be made in the following order:

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.1 of the Agreement or any other provisions of this Exhibit C , if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f)(2)-(5), each Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain, as determined under Regulations Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(6). This Section 1(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. Solely for purposes of this Section 1(a), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Deficit shall be determined prior to any other allocations pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement of Partner Minimum Gain during such Partnership taxable year.

(b) Partner Minimum Gain Chargeback . Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 6.1 of the Agreement or any other provisions of this Exhibit C (except Section 1(a)), if there is a net decrease in Partner Minimum Gain attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt during any Partnership taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions referred to in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), each Partner who has a share of the Partner Minimum Gain attributable to such Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5), shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partner Minimum Gain attributable to such Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). This Section 1(b) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in such Section of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. Solely for purposes of this Section 1(b), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Deficit shall be determined prior to any other allocations pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement or this Exhibit with respect to such Partnership taxable year, other than allocations pursuant to Section 1(a).

(c) Qualified Income Offset . In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), and after giving effect to the allocations required under Sections 1(a) and 1(b) such Partner has an Adjusted Capital

 

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Account Deficit, items of Partnership income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of Partnership income, including gross income and gain for the Partnership taxable year) shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations, its Adjusted Capital Account Deficit created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible. This Section 1(c) is intended to constitute a qualified income offset under Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(d) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions for any Partnership taxable year shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines in its good faith discretion that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions must be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Regulations promulgated under Code Section 704(b), the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the Limited Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio for such Partnership taxable year which would satisfy such requirements.

(e) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Any Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any Partnership taxable year shall be specially allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).

(f) Code Section  754 Adjustments . To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Regulations.

(g) Curative Allocations . The allocations set forth in Section 1(a) through 1(f) of this Exhibit C (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations under Code Section 704(b). The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Partners intend to divide Partnership distributions. Accordingly, the General Partner is hereby authorized to divide other allocations of income, gain, deduction and loss among the Partners so as to prevent the Regulatory Allocations from distorting the manner in which Partnership distributions will be divided among the Partners. In general, the Partners anticipate that, if necessary, this will be accomplished by specially allocating other items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Partners so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each person is zero. However, the General Partner will have discretion to accomplish this result in any reasonable manner; provided , however , that no allocation pursuant to this Section 1(g) shall cause the Partnership to fail to comply with the requirements of Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d), -2(e) or -2(i).

 

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2. Allocations for Tax Purposes

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement and Section 1 of this Exhibit C .

(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, and deduction shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners as follows:

(1) (i) In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Partners, consistent with the principles of Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder, and with the procedures and methods described in Section 10.2 of the Agreement, to take into account the variation between the 704(c) Value of such property and its adjusted basis at the time of contribution; and

(ii) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement and Section 1 of this Exhibit C .

(2) (i) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall

1. first, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Exhibit B ; and

2. second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 2(b)(1) of this Exhibit C ; and

(ii) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement and Section 1 of this Exhibit C .

(c) To the extent that the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Code Section 704(c) permit the Partnership to utilize alternative methods to eliminate the disparities between the Carrying Value of property and its adjusted basis, the General Partner shall have the authority to elect the method to be used by the Partnership and such election shall be binding on all Partners.

 

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3. No Withdrawal

No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of its Capital Contribution or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as provided in Articles 4, 5, 8 and 13 of the Agreement.

 

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EXHIBIT D

NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

The undersigned Limited Partner hereby irrevocably requests Essential Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), to redeem                         Partnership Units in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and the Redemption Right referred to therein; and the undersigned Limited Partner irrevocably (i) surrenders such Partnership Units and all right, title and interest therein; and (ii) directs that the Cash Amount or REIT Shares Amount (as determined by the Company) deliverable upon exercise of the Redemption Right be delivered to the address specified below, and if REIT Shares are to be delivered, such REIT Shares be registered or placed in the name(s) and at the address(es) specified below. The undersigned hereby represents, warrants, and certifies that the undersigned (a) has marketable and unencumbered title to such Limited Partnership Units, free and clear of the rights or interests of any other person or entity; (b) has the full right, power, and authority to request such redemption and surrender such Partnership Units as provided herein; and (c) has obtained the consent or approval of all persons or entities, if any, having the right to consent or approve such redemption and surrender of Units. The undersigned Limited Partner further agrees that, in the event that any state or local property tax is payable as a result of the transfer of its Partnership Units to the Partnership or the Company, the undersigned Limited Partner shall assume and pay such transfer tax.

Dated: ___________________________

 

Name of Limited Partner:   

 

   Please Print
  

 

(Signature of Limited Partner)

  

 

(Street Address)

  

 

(City) (State) (Zip Code)

   Signature Guaranteed by:
  

 

If REIT Shares are to be issued, issue to:

Name: ____________________________

Please insert social security or identifying number:                                                                          

 

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EXHIBIT E

CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP DEFINITION

The term “Constructively Owns” means ownership determined through the application of the constructive ownership rules of Code Section 318, as modified by Code Section 856(d)(5). Generally, as of the date first set forth above, these rules provide the following:

a. an individual is considered as owning the Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for his spouse, his children, his grandchildren, and his parents;

b. an Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for a partnership, limited liability company or estate is considered as owned proportionately by its partners or beneficiaries;

c. an Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for a trust is considered as owned by its beneficiaries in proportion to the actuarial interest of such beneficiaries ( provided , however , that in the case of a “grantor trust” the Ownership Interest will be considered as owned by the grantors);

d. if ten (10) percent or more in value of the stock in a corporation is owned, actually or constructively, by or for any person, such person shall be considered as owning the Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for such corporation in that proportion which the value of the stock which such person so owns bears to the value of all the stock in such corporation;

e. an Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for a partner or member which actually or constructively owns a 25% or greater capital interest or profits interest in a partnership or limited liability company, or by or to or for a beneficiary of an estate or trust shall be considered as owned by the partnership, limited liability company, estate, or trust (or, in the case of a grantor trust, the grantors);

f. if ten (10) percent or more in value of the stock in a corporation is owned, actually or constructively, by or for any person, such corporation shall be considered as owning the Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for such person;

g. if any person has an option to acquire an Ownership Interest (including an option to acquire an option or any one of a series of such options), such Ownership Interest shall be considered as owned by such person;

h. an Ownership Interest that is constructively owned by a person by reason of the application of the rules described in paragraphs (a) through (g) above shall, for purposes of applying paragraphs (a) through (g), be considered as actually owned by such person; provided , however , that (i) an Ownership Interest constructively owned by an individual by reason of paragraph (a) shall not be considered as owned by him for purposes of again applying paragraph (a) in order to make another person the constructive owner of such Ownership Interest, (ii) an Ownership Interest constructively owned by a partnership, estate, trust, or corporation by reason of the application of paragraphs (e) or (f) shall not be considered as owned by it for purposes of

 

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applying paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) in order to make another person the constructive owner of such Ownership Interest, (iii) if an Ownership Interest may be considered as owned by an individual under paragraph (a) or (g), it shall be considered as owned by him under paragraph (g), and (iv) for purposes of the above described rules, an S corporation shall be treated as a partnership and any shareholder of the S corporation shall be treated as a partner of such partnership except that this rule shall not apply for purposes of determining whether stock in the S corporation is constructively owned by any person.

i. For purposes of the above summary of the constructive ownership rules, the term “ Ownership Interest ” means the ownership of stock with respect to a corporation and, with respect to any other type of entity, the ownership of an interest in either its assets or net profits.

 

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EXHIBIT F

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

The undersigned LTIP Unitholder hereby irrevocably (i) elects to convert the number of LTIP Units in Essential Properties, L.P. (the “Partnership”) set forth below into Partnership Units in accordance with the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time; and (ii) directs that any cash in lieu of Partnership Units that may be deliverable upon such conversion be delivered to the address specified below. The undersigned hereby represents, warrants, and certifies that the undersigned (a) has title to such LTIP Units, free and clear of the rights or interests of any other person or entity other than the Partnership; (b) has the full right, power, and authority to cause the conversion of such LTIP Units as provided herein; and (c) has obtained the consent or approval of all persons or entities, if any, having the right to consent or approve such conversion.

 

Name of LTIP Unitholder:   

 

   (Please Print: Exact Name as Registered with Partnership)

 

Number of LTIP Units to be Converted:  

 

 

Date of this Notice:

 

 

 

 

(Signature of Limited Partner: Sign Exact Name as Registered with Partnership)

 

(Street Address)                                         (City) (State) (Zip Code)

 

Signature Guaranteed by:

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT G

NOTICE OF FORCED CONVERSION

Essential Properties, L.P. (the “Partnership”) hereby irrevocably elects to cause the number of LTIP Units held by the LTIP Unitholder set forth below to be converted into Partnership Units in accordance with the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as it may be amended, supplemented and restated from time to time.

 

Name of LTIP Unitholder:

  

 

   (Please Print: Exact Name as Registered with Partnership)

 

Number of LTIP Units to be Converted:

 

 

 

Date of this Notice:

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT H

SCHEDULE OF PARTNERS’ OWNERSHIP

WITH RESPECT TO TENANTS

 

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Exhibit 10.2

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

among

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES REALTY TRUST, INC.,

ELDRIDGE INDUSTRIES, LLC

and

THE OTHER STOCKHOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME

PARTY HERETO

Dated as of June 25, 2018

THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT  (as amended, modified or supplemented in accordance with the terms hereof, this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of June 25, 2018, by and among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), Eldridge Industries, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Eldridge ”), and any other stockholders that may from time to time become party hereto (together with Eldridge, collectively, the “ Sponsor Stockholders ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, this Agreement is being made in connection with, among other things, Eldridge’s investment in an aggregate of $125,000,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and common units of partnership interest in Essential Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”), at a price per share and per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Common Stock offered to the public pursuant to the initial public offering of the Common Stock; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the foregoing transactions, the Company and Eldridge wish to set forth certain understandings and agreements, including with respect to corporate governance matters relating to the Company.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Certain Defined Terms . As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings as set forth below:

Affiliate ” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “ control ”, when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “ controlling ” and “ controlled ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing;  provided ,  however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership, shall be deemed an Affiliate of any of the Sponsor Stockholders, including Eldridge.

Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit ” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Beneficial Owner ”, “ Beneficially Own ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” have the meanings set forth in the Charter.

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the city of New York, New York are obligated by law to close.

Bylaws ” means the Bylaws of the Company, as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time.

Capital Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

Charter ” means the charter of the Company.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Common Stock Ownership Limit ” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Eldridge ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Eldridge Nominees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

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Excepted Holder Limit ” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Increase Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Joinder Agreement ” means the joinder agreement in form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit A .

Nomination Information ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Nomination Termination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(g)(iv).

NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange, or successor thereto.

Operating Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Outstanding Voting Power ” means the voting power of all outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Own ” means, with respect to shares of Common Stock, actual, beneficial or record ownership of such shares of Common Stock.

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

REIT ” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of the Code.

REIT Status Determination ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1

Representatives ” of a Person means such Person’s officers or directors (or Persons serving similar functions), employees, members, agents, partners, attorneys, accountants, actuaries, consultants and financial advisors.

Sponsor Stockholders ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Supplemental Information Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

Section 1.2. Construction . Unless the context requires otherwise, the gender of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter forms and the singular form of words shall include the plural and vice versa. Unless otherwise noted, all references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” (except to the extent the context otherwise provides). This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.

 

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ARTICLE II

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Section 2.1. Board Nomination Rights .

(a) The Company agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including with respect to any standard of conduct required of directors under Maryland law), to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board, or its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, for election at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company at which directors are to be elected (or consent in lieu of such a meeting) the individuals designated by Eldridge for election pursuant to this Section 2.1 (each, an “ Eldridge Nominee ” and collectively, the “ Eldridge Nominees ”), and to nominate, recommend and use its reasonable best efforts to solicit the vote of stockholders of the Company to elect the Eldridge Nominees (which efforts shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, include the inclusion in any proxy statement prepared, used, delivered or publicly filed by the Company to solicit the vote of its stockholders in connection with any such meeting of the recommendation of the Board that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the Eldridge Nominee(s)); provided , however , that no such action with respect to a particular Eldridge Nominee shall be required if the Board reasonably determines, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that such Eldridge Nominee has been involved in any of the events enumerated in Items 2(d) or (e) of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, or any comparable successor provision, or is subject to any order, decree or judgment of any governmental authority prohibiting service as a director of any public company, in which case Eldridge shall withdraw the designation of such Eldridge Nominee and shall designate another individual as an Eldridge Nominee, which replacement will also be subject to the requirements of this Section 2.1(a).

(b) For any meeting (or consent in lieu of meeting) of the Company’s stockholders for the purpose of electing directors, among other purposes, the Board, or its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, shall not nominate, in the aggregate, a number of nominees greater than the then-current number of director positions on the Board.

(c) Eldridge will take all necessary action to cause each Eldridge Nominee to consent to all reference and background checks and to provide such information (including information necessary to determine such Eldridge Nominee’s independence status as well as information necessary to determine any disclosure obligations of the Company) as the Board, or its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, may reasonably request in connection with the Company’s disclosure obligations or in connection with the Company’s legal, regulatory or stock exchange requirements (collectively, the “ Nomination Information ”), which requests shall be of the same type and scope as the Company requests of all other nominees to the Board.

 

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(d) Eldridge shall provide notice to the Company identifying each such Eldridge Nominee, together with all Nomination Information about such proposed Eldridge Nominee as shall be reasonably requested by the Board, or its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, no later than the earlier of (i) fifteen Business Days following the written request of the Company and (ii) the time by which such information is reasonably requested by the Board (or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee thereof) to be delivered (which time shall be concurrent with the request for such information from and otherwise consistent with the request for such information from the other nominees). If Eldridge fails to designate all of the Eldridge Nominees it is entitled to designate prior to such time, then the Eldridge Nominee(s) previously designated by Eldridge and then serving on the Board (if any) shall be the proposed Eldridge Nominee(s).

(e) Prior to the Nomination Termination Date, Eldridge shall have the exclusive right to designate a nominee to fill any and all vacancies created by reason of the death, resignation or removal of any Eldridge Nominee, and such nominee will be promptly elected to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies; provided , however , that no such action with respect to a particular Eldridge Nominee shall be required if the Board reasonably determines, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that such Eldridge Nominee has been involved in any of the events enumerated in Items 2(d) or (e) of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, or any comparable successor provision, or is subject to any order, decree or judgment of any governmental authority prohibiting service as a director of any public company, in which case Eldridge shall withdraw the designation of such Eldridge Nominee and shall designate another individual as an Eldridge Nominee, which replacement will also be subject to the requirements of this Section 2.1(e).

(f) Each Eldridge Nominee serving as a director shall be subject to the policies and requirements of the Company and the Board, including the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, in a manner consistent with the application of such policies and requirements to other members of the Board, and shall be entitled to the same rights, privileges and compensation applicable to all other members of the Board generally or to which all such members of the Board are entitled. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company shall indemnify, exculpate, and reimburse fees and expenses of the Eldridge Nominees (including by entering into an indemnification agreement in a form substantially similar to the Company’s form director indemnification agreement) and provide the Eldridge Nominees with director and officer insurance to the same extent it indemnifies, exculpates, reimburses and provides insurance for the other members of the Board pursuant to the Charter, the Bylaws, applicable law or otherwise.

(g) The obligations of the Company pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall be subject to the following:

(i) so long as Eldridge and its Affiliates Own, in the aggregate, shares of Common Stock representing at least 15% of the Outstanding Voting Power, the number of Eldridge Nominees which may be designated pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall equal the lowest whole number of directors that is at least 40% of the total number of directors;

 

5


(ii) in the event that Eldridge and its Affiliates Own, in the aggregate, shares of Common Stock representing less than 15% but greater than or equal to 10% of the Outstanding Voting Power, the number of Eldridge Nominees which may be designated by Eldridge pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall be equal to the lowest whole number of directors that is at least 25% of the total number of directors;

(iii) in the event that Eldridge and its Affiliates Own, in the aggregate, shares of Common Stock representing less than 10% but greater than or equal to 5% of the Outstanding Voting Power, the number of Eldridge Nominees which may be designated by Eldridge pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall be equal to the lowest whole number of directors that is at least 10% of the total number of directors; and

(iv) all obligations of the Company under this Section 2.1 shall terminate, and Eldridge shall have no further rights to designate any Eldridge Nominees, at such time as Eldridge and its Affiliates shall Own, in the aggregate, shares of Common Stock representing less than 5% of the Outstanding Voting Power (the date of termination of the obligations of the Company under this Section 2.1, the “ Nomination Termination Date ”).

As of the date of this Agreement, Eldridge has designated Todd J. Gilbert, Anthony D. Minella and Stephen D. Sautel as the initial Eldridge Nominees, and the Company has determined that such Eldridge Nominees satisfy the requirements of this Section 2.1.

Section 2.2. Committee Representation Rights . Until Eldridge and its Affiliates own, in the aggregate, shares of Common Stock representing less than 10% of the Outstanding Voting Power, subject to the satisfaction by the applicable Eldridge Nominee of the independence requirements of the Exchange Act and the requirements to qualify as an “independent director” under the rules of the NYSE and any other requirements or qualifications for directors serving on such committees imposed by the Company’s legal, regulatory or stock exchange requirements, or its corporate governance polices or committee charters generally applicable to directors serving on such committees, the Company shall appoint one Eldridge Nominee then serving on the Board, designated by Eldridge, to serve on each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. Eldridge may, but need not, designate a different Eldridge Nominee to serve on each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and may modify such designations, which shall be promptly effected by the Company.

Section 2.3. Eldridge Consent Rights . In addition to any approval or authorization of the Board or the stockholders of the Company required by law, the Charter or the Bylaws, the prior consent of Eldridge shall be required, until the Nomination Termination Date, to:

(a) Remove any Eldridge Nominee as a director;

(b) Increase the number of directors of the Company;

 

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(c) Amend Section 5.7, Section 5.8 or the last sentence of Article VIII of the Charter;

(d) Amend Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) of Article III, Section 1 of Article IV or the final proviso of Article XIII of the Bylaws; or

(e) Determine that the Company will no longer operate in such a manner as to qualify, or attempt to qualify, as a REIT.

ARTICLE III

OWNERSHIP WAIVER INCREASE

Section 3.1. Request for Increase . If Eldridge requests an increase in its Excepted Holder Limit (any such request, an “ Increase Request ”), and, if the Board timely makes a Supplemental Information Request (as defined in Section 3.2) and Eldridge provides all requested information, the Company shall increase the Excepted Holder Limit granted to Eldridge within 60 days of receipt of such Increase Request or, if a Supplemental Information Request is timely made in accordance with Section 3.2, within 60 days of receipt of all requested information unless, before such date, the Board, after consultation with nationally-recognized tax counsel, determines (a “ REIT Status Determination ”) that such an increase to Eldridge’s Excepted Holder Limit could permit five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding Capital Stock (for this purpose, each individual who Beneficially Owns shares of Capital Stock Beneficially Owned by Eldridge shall count as a separate Person, and Eldridge shall not be counted as a Person) or otherwise jeopardize the Company’s ability to qualify as a REIT.

Section 3.2. Supplemental Increase Request . In connection with any Increase Request, the Board may, within 30 days of receipt of any Increase Request, request from Eldridge such information, agreements or representations as are necessary or appropriate, in the sole discretion of the Board, in order for the Board to make a determination as to the Company’s ability to qualify as a REIT (any such request, a “ Supplemental Information Request ”). Eldridge agrees to fully cooperate with the Board and provide such information and access to its personnel as necessary, in the sole discretion of the Board, for the Board to make such a determination.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS

Section 4.1. Organization, Authority and Binding Effect .

(a) The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland. The Company has all requisite corporate power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and the Board. This

 

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Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (except as such enforcement may be subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and except as the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceedings therefor may be brought).

(b) Each Sponsor Stockholder that is an entity is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of formation. Each Sponsor Stockholder has all requisite entity power, capacity and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. For each Sponsor Stockholder that is an entity, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary entity action on the part of each Sponsor Stockholder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Sponsor Stockholder party hereto, and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each Sponsor Stockholder party hereto, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (except as such enforcement may be subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and except as the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceedings therefor may be brought).

Section 4.2. Cooperation for Tax Purposes . Each Sponsor Stockholder seeking an exemption from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or the Common Stock Ownership Limit, or seeking to establish or increase the Excepted Holder Limit shall:

(a) furnish a letter to the Board and/or its Representatives, which letter shall include such information and covenants (including representations as to its Beneficial Ownership, representations as to its ownership interests in other entities, covenants to refrain from obtaining ownership interests in certain entities, and any representations and covenants necessary to avoid the Company being treated as receiving income from a related Person) as the Board deems appropriate in order to conclude that granting the exemption and/or establishing or increasing the Excepted Holder Limit will not cause the Company to lose its status as a REIT.

(b) provide the Board and/or its Representatives with access to Representatives of such Sponsor Stockholder, as the Board deems appropriate in order to conclude that granting the exemption and/or establishing or increasing the Excepted Holder Limit will not cause the Company to lose its status as a REIT.

(c) provide such representations and undertakings, and cooperate with the Board and its Representatives (i) in such a manner as the Board deems appropriate in order to conclude that granting the exemption and/or establishing or increasing the Excepted Holder Limit will not cause the Company to lose its status as a REIT or (ii) in connection with the issuance of opinions by the Company’s advisors concerning the qualification of the Company as a REIT (including, without limitation, confirmation that the Company is not, by virtue of the ownership of any Tenant by such Sponsor Stockholder, receiving rent from any person related to the REIT within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code).

 

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ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1. Termination . This Agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further force and effect at the Nomination Termination Date.

Section 5.2. Sponsor Stockholder Actions . Any determination, consent or approval of, or notice or request delivered by, or any other action of, any Sponsor Stockholder shall be made by, and shall be valid and binding upon, all Sponsor Stockholders, if made by Eldridge.

Section 5.3. Further Assurances . Each of the parties hereto agrees that it shall use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary, proper or advisable to give effect to the obligations of the parties hereunder, including by executing and delivering such additional documents as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to effectuate this Agreement.

Section 5.4. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile, portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart to this Agreement.

Section 5.5. Consents, Designations and Notices . All consents, designations, notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications which are required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when received if personally delivered, when transmitted if transmitted by facsimile (with written confirmation of transmission) or electronic mail (read-receipt requested and received), and the Business Day after it is sent, if sent for next day delivery to a domestic address by recognized overnight delivery service ( e.g. , Federal Express). In each case notice shall be sent to:

(a) If to the Company:

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

47 Hulfish Street

Suite 210

Princeton, New Jersey 08542

Attention:     Peter M. Mavoides

E-mail:         pmavoides@essentialproperties.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attention:     J. Gerard Cummins

Facsimile:    (212) 839-5599

E-mail: jcummins@sidley.com

 

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(b) If to the Sponsor Stockholders:

Eldridge Industries, LLC

600 Steamboat Road

Greenwich, CT 06830

Attention:     Legal Department

E-mail:         legal@eldridge.com

Any party hereto may change the address, electronic mail address or facsimile number to which consents, demands, notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving each other party hereto notice in the manner herein set forth.

Section 5.6. Governing Law; Judicial Proceedings; Waiver of Jury Trial . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereof. In any judicial proceeding involving any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or if jurisdiction over the matter is vested exclusively in federal courts, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and the appellate courts to which orders and judgments thereof may be appealed. In any such judicial proceeding, the parties agree (a) to consent to the assignment of any proceeding in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland to the Business and Technology Case Management Program pursuant to Maryland Rule 16-205 (or any successor thereof); and (b) that in addition to any method for the service of process permitted or required by such courts, to the fullest extent permitted by law, service of process may be made by delivery provided pursuant to the directions in Section 5.5. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING ANY DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

Section 5.7. Enforcement . Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that the other parties would be damaged irreparably, and in a manner for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with its specific terms or otherwise are breached. Accordingly, each of the parties hereto agrees that the other parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof in any action instituted as provided in Section 5.6, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at law or in equity and that each party hereto agrees to waive any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond or other security in connection with such remedy.

 

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Section 5.8. Amendment and Modification; Waiver . This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto and any party subsequently made a party hereto. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any waiver of any obligation of the other parties shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such waiving party. The failure of any party hereto to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any party hereto of any of its rights under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise of such rights or any other rights under this Agreement.

Section 5.9. Assignment . None of the rights, privileges, or obligations set forth in, arising under, or created by this Agreement may be assigned or transferred without the prior consent in writing of each of the Company and Eldridge.

Section 5.10. Joinder . Upon the transfer of shares of Common Stock from Eldridge or another Sponsor Stockholder to an Affiliate of Eldridge, such Affiliate shall execute a Joinder Agreement to this Agreement. Following such transfer and the execution of a Joinder Agreement, such Affiliate of Eldridge shall be a Sponsor Stockholder pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, with all of the rights, privileges and obligations of a Sponsor Stockholder hereunder and shall be fully bound by, and subject to, all of the covenants, terms and conditions of this Agreement as though an original party hereto.

Section 5.11. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance or in any jurisdiction, shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (a) the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each other provision hereof shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, (b) as to such Person or circumstance or in such jurisdiction such provision shall be reformed to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and (c) the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances or in other jurisdictions shall not be affected thereby.

Section 5.12. Headings and Captions . The headings, subheadings and captions contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only, and in no way define, limit or describe the scope of this Agreement or the intent of any provision hereof.

Section 5.13. Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement, as well the terms and conditions of any increased Excepted Holder Limit granted by the Company to Eldridge pursuant to Article III, (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto and their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and (b) is not intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities upon any Person other than the parties hereto and thereto, as the case may be, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

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Section 5.14. Certain Transactions . In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend or distribution, subdivision, or any change in the Common Stock by reason of any recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or similar transaction, the term “Common Stock” used herein shall be deemed to refer to and include all such dividends and distributions and any other securities into which or for which any or all of such securities may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

COMPANY:
Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.
By:   /s/ Hillary P. Hai
Name: Hillary P. Hai
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
ELDRIDGE:
Eldridge Industries, LLC
By:   /s/ Todd L. Boehly
Name: Todd L. Boehly
Title: Manager

- Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement – Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. -


EXHIBIT A

JOINDER AGREEMENT

Reference is hereby made to the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of                     , 2018 (as amended from time to time, the “Stockholders Agreement”), by and among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Eldridge Industries, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any other stockholders that may from time to time become party thereto. Pursuant to and in accordance with Section 5.10 of the Stockholders Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees that, upon the execution of this Joinder Agreement, [he/she/it] shall become a party to the Stockholders Agreement and shall be deemed to be, and treated as, a Sponsor Stockholder pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, with all of the rights, privileges and obligations of a Sponsor Stockholder thereunder and shall be fully bound by, and subject to, all of the covenants, terms and conditions of the Stockholders Agreement as though an original party thereto.

Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Stockholders Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Joinder Agreement as of the         day of                                         ,             .

 

[STOCKHOLDER]
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES REALTY TRUST, INC.

and

the other parties hereto

Dated as of June 25, 2018

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

SECTION 1.1. Certain Definitions

     1  

SECTION 1.2. Other Definitional Provisions; Interpretation

     5  

ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS

     5  

SECTION 2.1. Piggyback Rights

     5  

SECTION 2.2. Demand Registration

     7  

SECTION 2.3. Registration Procedures

     12  

SECTION 2.4. Other Registration-Related Matters

     16  

ARTICLE III INDEMNIFICATION

     18  

SECTION 3.1. Indemnification by the Company

     18  

SECTION 3.2. Indemnification by the Holders and Underwriters

     18  

SECTION 3.3. Notices of Claims, Etc.

     19  

SECTION 3.4. Contribution

     20  

SECTION 3.5. Other Indemnification

     21  

SECTION 3.6. Non-Exclusivity

     21  

ARTICLE IV OTHER

     21  

SECTION 4.1. Notices

     21  

SECTION 4.2. Assignment

     21  

SECTION 4.3. Amendments; Waiver

     22  

SECTION 4.4. Third Parties

     22  

SECTION 4.5. Governing Law

     22  

SECTION 4.6. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION

     22  

SECTION 4.7. MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     23  

SECTION 4.8. Specific Performance

     23  

SECTION 4.9. Entire Agreement

     23  

SECTION 4.10. Severability

     23  

SECTION 4.11. Counterparts

     23  

SECTION 4.12. Effectiveness

     23  

SECTION 4.13. No Recourse

     23  

SECTION 4.14. Independent Nature of the Rights and Obligations of Holders

     24  

SECTION 4.15. Termination as to a Holder

     24  


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is dated as of June 25, 2018 and is by and among Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and the Holders (as defined below) from time to time party hereto.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company is effecting an underwritten initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of shares of its Common Stock (as defined below); and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant registration rights to the Holders on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1. Certain Definitions . As used in this Agreement:

Advice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

Affiliate ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, holiday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

Closing Date ” means the date of completion of the IPO.

Common Stock ” means the shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such common stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Control ” (including its correlative meanings, “ Controlled by ” and “ under common Control with ”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

Demand Party ” means the Sponsor Holder, or any group of Sponsor Holders collectively, then holding a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Sponsor Holders.


Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Family Group ” means, with respect to any individual, such individual’s spouse and descendants (whether natural or adopted) and any trust, partnership, limited liability company or similar vehicle established and maintained solely for the benefit of (or the sole members or partners of which are) such individual, such individual’s spouse and/or such individual’s descendants; provided that with respect to any Non-Sponsor Holder listed on Schedule I hereto, each other Non-Sponsor Holder listed on Schedule I hereto shall be deemed to be a member of such Non-Sponsor Holder’s Family Group.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

Holder ” means each Sponsor Holder and Non-Sponsor Holder.

Indemnified Party ” and Indemnified Parties ” have the meanings set forth in Section 3.1.

IPO ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Law ” means any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, injunction, order, decree, governmental approval, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority.

Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(f).

Non-Sponsor Holder ” means each Person listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Non-Sponsor Holders” and any Transferee of such Person to whom registration rights are assigned pursuant to Section 4.2.

Person ” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, a cooperative, an unincorporated organization, or other form of business organization, whether or not regarded as a legal entity under applicable Law, or any Governmental Authority.

Proceeding ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

Public Offering ” means a public offering of equity securities of the Company or any successor thereto or any Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to a registration statement declared effective under the Securities Act.

Registrable Securities ” means all shares of Common Stock and any Securities issued in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or into which the Common Stock may be converted or exchanged pursuant to any

 

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reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or any part of its assets, corporate conversion or other extraordinary transaction of the Company held by a Holder (whether now held or hereafter acquired), and including any such Securities received by a Holder upon the conversion or exchange of, or pursuant to such a transaction with respect to, other Securities held by such Holder, including any shares of Common Stock issued upon an exchange of units of limited partnership interests in Essential Properties, L.P. As to any Registrable Securities, such Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when:

(a) a registration statement covering such Registrable Securities has been declared effective and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement;

(b) such Registrable Securities shall have been sold pursuant to Section 4(a)(1), Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act;

(c) such Registrable Securities shall have been Transferred in a private transaction in which the Transferor’s registration rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the Transferee of the Securities;

(d) such Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to Section 4(a)(1), Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, without limitation thereunder on volume or manner of sale, except, in the case of Registrable Securities held by the Sponsor Holders, to the extent that the Sponsor Holders collectively own 2% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock; or

(e) such Registrable Securities cease to be outstanding.

Registration Expenses ” means any and all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including:

(a) all SEC, stock exchange, or FINRA registration and filing fees (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter,” as such term is defined in Rule 5121 of FINRA, and of its counsel);

(b) all fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky Laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities);

(c) all printing, messenger and delivery expenses;

(d) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or FINRA and all rating agency fees;

(e) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of its independent public accountants, including the expenses of any special audits and/or comfort letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance;

 

3


(f) any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by the issuers or sellers of Securities, including liability insurance if the Company so desires or if the underwriters so require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection with the requested registration, but excluding any underwriting discounts and commissions;

(g) the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of not more than one law firm together with appropriate local counsel (as selected by the Sponsor Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Sponsor Holders included in such registration) acting as counsel for all the Holders in connection with the registration;

(h) other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the holders of Registrable Securities incurred in connection with the registration;

(i) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to analyst and investor presentations or any “road show” undertaken in connection with the registration and/or marketing of the Registrable Securities (including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders); and

(j) any other fees and disbursements customarily paid by the issuers of securities.

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

Securities ” means capital stock, limited partnership interests, limited liability company interests, beneficial interests, warrants, options, notes, bonds, debentures, and other securities, equity interests, ownership interests and similar obligations of every kind and nature of any Person.

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Sponsor Holder ” means each Person listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Sponsor Holders” and any Transferee of such Person to whom registration rights are assigned pursuant to Section 4.2.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which: (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, representatives or trustees thereof is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the total voting power of stock (or equivalent ownership interest) of the limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or Control the managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

 

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Transfer ” (including its correlative meanings, “ Transferor ”, “ Transferee ” and “ Transferred ”) shall mean, with respect to any security, directly or indirectly, to sell, contract to sell, give, assign, hypothecate, pledge, encumber, grant a security interest in, offer, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any economic, voting or other rights in or to such security. When used as a noun, “ Transfer ” shall have such correlative meaning as the context may require.

SECTION 1.2. Other Definitional Provisions; Interpretation .

(a) 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. The word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement mean “including, without limitation,” unless otherwise specified. References in this Agreement to a designated “Article” or “Section” refer to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise specified and references to clauses without a cross-reference to a Section or subsection are references to clauses within the same Section or, if more specific, subsection. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” References to “day” means a calendar day unless otherwise indicated as a “Business Day.”

(b) The headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and do not limit or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(c) The meanings given to terms defined herein are equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

(d) When calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period is excluded. If the last day of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question ends on the next succeeding Business Day.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

SECTION 2.1. Piggyback Rights .

(a) If the Company proposes to register Securities for public sale (whether proposed to be offered for sale by the Company or by any other Person) under the Securities Act (other than a registration on Form S-4 or S-8, or any successor or other forms promulgated for similar purposes) in a manner which would permit registration of Registrable Securities for sale to the public under the Securities Act, it will give prompt written notice (which notice shall specify the intended method or methods of disposition) to the Holders of its intention to do so and of such Holder’s rights under this Section 2.1. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent such registration

 

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is being effected pursuant to the exercise of a demand right pursuant to Section 2.2(a), the Company shall not be obligated to provide such notice to the Demand Party or its Affiliates. Upon the written request of any Holder made within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder), the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Holders have so requested to be registered; provided that: (i) any Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Holder’s request for inclusion of any of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in any registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) by giving written notice to the Company of such withdrawal, provided , that, in the case of any underwritten offering, written notice of such withdrawal must be given to the Company prior to the time at which the offering price and underwriter’s discount is determined with the managing underwriter or underwriters; (ii) if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any Securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to proceed with the proposed registration of the Securities to be sold by it, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Holders and, thereupon, the Company shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses incurred in connection therewith) without prejudice to the rights of the Demand Party to request that such registration be effected as a registration under Section 2.2(a); and (iii) subject to clause (i), if such registration involves an underwritten offering, each Holder of Registrable Securities requesting to be included in the registration must, upon the written request of the Company, sell its Registrable Securities to the underwriters on the same terms and conditions as apply to the other Securities being sold through underwriters under such registration, with, in the case of a combined primary and secondary offering, only such differences, including any with respect to representations and warranties, indemnification and liability insurance, as may be customary or appropriate in combined primary and secondary offerings.

(b) Expenses . The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 2.1.

(c) Priority in Piggyback Registrations . If a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 involves an underwritten offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing (a copy of which shall be provided to the Holders) that, in its opinion, the number of Registrable Securities and other Securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering, so as to be likely to have a material and adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Securities offered in such offering, then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Securities the Company proposes to sell for its own account; and (ii) second, such number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by the Holders which, in the opinion of such managing underwriter, can be sold without having the material and adverse effect referred to above, which number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated pro rata among all such requesting Holders of Registrable Securities on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder ( provided that any Securities thereby allocated to any such Holder that exceed such Holder’s request shall be reallocated among the remaining requesting Holders in like manner). Any other selling holders of the Company’s Securities shall be included in an underwritten offering only with the consent of Sponsor Holders holding a majority of the shares being sold in such offering and, if so included, such securities, at the election of the Sponsor Holders, shall be subject to clause (ii) above in the same manner as the Registrable Securities held by the Holders or shall have priority after the shares of the Holders.

 

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(d) Excluded Transactions . The Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2.1 incidental to the registration of any of its Securities in connection with:

(i) the IPO;

(ii) a registration statement filed to cover solely issuances under employee benefits plans or dividend reinvestment plans;

(iii) any registration statement relating solely to the acquisition or merger after the date hereof by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of or with any other businesses, assets or properties; or

(iv) any registration related solely to an exchange by the Company of its own securities.

(e) Plan of Distribution, Underwriters, Advisors and Counsel . If a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 involves an underwritten offering, the Sponsor Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering shall have the right to (i) determine the plan of distribution, (ii) approve, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, the investment banker or bankers, managers and any provider of advisory services, which may include Affiliates of the Sponsor Holders, to administer the offering, including the lead managing underwriter, selected by the Company and (iii) select counsel for the selling Sponsor Holders.

(f) Shelf Takedowns . In connection with any shelf takedown (other than a shelf takedown at the request of the Demand Party, which shall be governed by Section 2.2(f), or a sale of Registrable Securities included on a Non-Sponsor Holder Registration Statement), the Holders may exercise “piggyback” rights in the manner described in this Agreement to have included in such takedown Registrable Securities held by them that are registered on such shelf registration statement.

SECTION 2.2. Demand Registration .

(a) General . At any time, upon the written request of the Demand Party requesting that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of Registrable Securities and specifying the amount and intended method of disposition thereof (including, but not limited to, an underwritten public offering), the Company shall (i) promptly give written notice of such requested registration to Holders other than the Demand Party and its Affiliates and to other holders of Securities entitled to notice of such registration, if any, and (ii) as expeditiously as possible, use its best efforts to file a registration statement to effect the registration under the Securities Act of:

 

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(i) such Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Demand Party in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof; and

(ii) the Registrable Securities of other Holders which the Company has been requested to register by written request given to the Company within fifteen (15) days after the giving of such written notice by the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to file a registration statement relating to any registration request under this Section 2.2(a):

(w) prior to the expiration or waiver of the applicable lockup period, if any, in respect of a previous Public Offering; or

(x) if the amount of Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Demand Party is less than $50,000,000 at the time of such request;

(y) If a registration statement covering the Registrable Securities is effective and available to the Demand Party and any other Holders; or

(z) if, in the good faith judgment of the Board, the Company is in possession of material non-public information the disclosure of which would be materially adverse to the Company and would not otherwise be required under Law, in which case the filing of the registration statement may be delayed until the earlier of the second Business Day after such conditions shall have ceased to exist and the 60th day after receipt by the Company of the written request from a Demand Party to register Registrable Securities under this Section 2.2(a); provided that the number of any such delays or any delay pursuant to Section 2.2(f) or 2.2(h) shall not exceed two in any twelve (12) month period.

(b) Form . Each registration statement prepared at the request of a Demand Party shall be effected on such form as reasonably requested by the Demand Party, including by a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act on a Form S-3 (or any successor rule or form thereto) if so requested by the Demand Party and if the Company is then eligible to effect a shelf registration and use such form for such disposition.

(c) Expenses . The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 2.2.

(d) Plan of Distribution, Underwriters, Advisors and Counsel . If a requested registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 involves an underwritten offering, the Demand Party shall have the right to (i) determine the plan of distribution, (ii) select the investment banker or bankers, managers and any provider of advisory services, which may include Affiliates of the Sponsor Holders, to administer the offering, including the lead managing underwriter ( provided that such investment banker or bankers, managers and providers of advisory services shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company) and (iii) select counsel for the selling Holders.

 

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(e) Priority in Demand Registrations . If a requested registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 involves an underwritten offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing (a copy of which shall be provided to each Holder that has requested that its Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering) that, in its opinion, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such offering (including Securities of the Company which are not Registrable Securities) exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering, so as to be likely to have a material and adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Securities offered in such offering, then the number of such Registrable Securities to be included in such offering shall be allocated pro rata among the Holders that have requested that their Registrable Securities be included in such offering, including pursuant to Section 2.2(i), if any, on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder ( provided that any Securities thereby allocated to any such Holder that exceed such Holder’s request will be reallocated among all such remaining parties in like manner). Any other selling holders of the Company’s Securities shall be included in an underwritten offering only with the consent of Sponsor Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold by all Sponsor Holders in such offering.

(f) Shelf Takedowns . Upon the written request of the Demand Party at any time and from time to time, the Company shall facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement a “takedown” of the Demand Party’s Registrable Securities off of an effective shelf registration statement. Upon the written request of the Demand Party, the Company shall file and seek the effectiveness of a post-effective amendment to an existing shelf registration statement in order to register up to the number of the Demand Party’s Registrable Securities previously taken down off of such shelf by the Demand Party and not yet “reloaded” onto such shelf registration statement.

In connection with the exercise by the Demand Party of a demand right pursuant to this Section 2.2(f), where the contemplated plan of distribution includes a customary “road show” or other substantial marketing effort by the Company and the underwriters (a “ Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering ”), the Demand Party shall also deliver the applicable demand request to any Non-Sponsor Holders of Registrable Securities included on the applicable shelf registration statement and, subject to the limitations in Section 2.2(e), the Sponsor Holders shall permit each such Non-Sponsor Holder to include all or a portion of its Registrable Securities in the Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering if such Non-Sponsor Holder notifies the Demand Party and the Company within two days after delivery of the demand request to such Non-Sponsor Holder of its election to participate (which election shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Non-Sponsor Holder). For the avoidance of doubt, any proposed offer and sale of Registrable Securities to one or more purchasers or underwriters by means of a block trade, bought deal or direct sale shall not be deemed to be a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to facilitate a “takedown” under this Section 2.2(f) if, in the good faith judgment of the Board, the Company is in possession of material non-public information the disclosure of which would be materially adverse to the Company and would not otherwise be required under Law, in which case the filing of the applicable prospectus or prospectus supplement may be delayed until the earlier of the second Business Day after such conditions shall have ceased to exist and the 60th day after receipt by the Company of the written request from a Demand Party to effect the takedown under this Section 2.2(f); provided that the number of any such delays or any delay pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(z) or 2.2(h) shall not exceed two in any twelve (12) month period.

 

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(g) No Inconsistent Agreements; Additional Rights . The Company has not entered, and shall not hereafter enter, into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement. If the Company has entered into or enters into a registration rights agreement with a third party, the Company shall promptly send a copy thereof to the Holders. If such registration rights agreement provides such third party with terms more favorable than those set forth herein with respect to Holders of an equal or greater number of the Company’s Common Stock (determined by reference to the Common Stock held by the Sponsor Holders collectively, on the one hand, and the Common Stock held by the Non-Sponsor Holders collectively, on the other), this Agreement shall, to the extent so requested by any such Holders, be amended so as to provide such Holders with substantially the same material terms as provided to such other third party.

In the event the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the shares of Common Stock are converted into Securities of another company, appropriate arrangements shall be made so that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue to be provided to Holders by the issuer of such Securities. To the extent such new issuer, or any other company acquired by the Company in a merger or consolidation, was bound by registration rights that would conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to modify any such “inherited” registration rights so as not to interfere in any material respects with the rights provided under this Agreement.

In addition, in the event that the Company effects the separation of any portion of its business into one or more entities (each, a “ NewCo ”), whether existing or newly formed, including without limitation by way of spin-off, split-off, carve-out, demerger, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction, and any Holder will receive equity interests in any such NewCo as part of such separation, the Company shall cause any such NewCo to enter into a registration rights agreement with each such Holder that provides each such Holder with registration rights vis-á-vis such NewCo that are substantially identical to those set forth in this Agreement.

(h) Non-Sponsor Holder Shelf Registration Statement . Any Non-Sponsor Holder that (i) owns at least 3% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (on a fully diluted basis) or (ii) is an Affiliate of the Company shall, in each case, be entitled to request the Company to register all or a portion of the Registrable Securities owned by such Non-Sponsor Holder on a Form S-3 (or any successor form thereto) if (x) such registration reasonably would be expected to be required under the Securities Act in light of such Non-Sponsor Holder’s contemplated plan of distribution and (y) the Company will be eligible to use such registration statement when filed (a “ Non-Sponsor Holder Registration ”) and such Non-Sponsor Holder may, in connection therewith, require the Company to file such registration statement with the SEC in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis, including, if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in the Securities Act) at the time of the filing of such registration statement, as an automatic shelf-registration. Following the receipt of a written request (a “ Non-Sponsor

 

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Holder Registration Request ”) for a Non-Sponsor Holder Registration in accordance with this Section 2.2(h), the Company shall use its best efforts to file such Form S-3 registration statement as promptly as practicable and shall use its best efforts to cause such Form S-3 registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof. The Company will give prompt written notice of a Non-Sponsor Holder Registration Request to the Sponsor Holders. Upon request from time to time by any holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Non-Sponsor Holder Registration, the Company promptly shall amend or supplement such Form S-3 registration statement as so requested to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed in accordance with the plan of distribution specified by the holder if such amendment or supplement shall be reasonably required under the Securities Act in light of such plan of distribution; provided , that the Company shall not be obligated to amend or supplement such Form S-3 registration statement if, in the good faith judgment of the Board, the Company is in possession of material non-public information the disclosure of which would be materially adverse to the Company and would not otherwise be required under Law, in which case the filing of such amendment or supplement may be delayed until the earlier of the second Business Day after such conditions shall have ceased to exist and the 60th day after receipt by the Company of the request to make such amendment or supplement under this Section 2.2(h); provided that the number of any such delays or any delay pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(z) or 2.2(f) shall not exceed two in any twelve (12) month period.

For purposes of this Section 2.2(h), including in computing the percentage of Common Stock owned by a Non-Sponsor Holder on a fully-diluted basis or in determining Registrable Securities of a Non-Sponsor Holder, the Non-Sponsor Holder shall be treated as owning, and shall be entitled to include in any registration and offering described in this Section 2.2(h), (i) all shares of Common Stock owned directly by the Non-Sponsor Holder and all shares of Common Stock owned by the Non-Sponsor Holder’s Affiliates and Family Group members and (ii) all shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of any option, warrant or conversion or exchange right owned by such Non-Sponsor Holder and such Non-Sponsor Holder’s Affiliates and Family Group members, whether or not such option, warrant or conversion or exchange right is immediately exercisable, and all such shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise shall be treated as outstanding, but no shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon exercise of any other option, warrant or conversion or exchange right shall be treated as outstanding.

Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, Section 2.3(q) and Section 2.4(d) shall not apply with respect to any registration or offering described in this Section 2.2(h), and the Company shall have no obligation under Section 2.3(i) to enter any underwriting or other agreement to the extent such agreement provides for a lockup.

(i) Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney; Underwritten Registrations . Upon delivering a request to participate in an offering under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2, a Non-Sponsor Holder will, if requested by the Company, execute and deliver a customary custody agreement and power of attorney in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company with respect to such Non-Sponsor Holder’s Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant thereto (a “Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney”). The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney will provide, among other things, that the Non-Sponsor Holder will deliver to and deposit in custody with the custodian and attorney-in-fact named therein a certificate or certificates representing such Registrable Securities (duly endorsed in blank by the registered owner or

 

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owners thereof or accompanied by duly executed stock powers in blank), if such Registrable Securities are certificated, and irrevocably appoint said custodian and attorney-in-fact with full power and authority to act under the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney on such Non-Sponsor Holder’s behalf with respect to the matters specified therein. Each Non-Sponsor Holder agrees to execute such other agreements as the Company may reasonably request to further evidence the provisions of this paragraph.

In addition, no Non-Sponsor Holder may participate in any underwritten registration pursuant to Section 2.2(a) or 2.2(f) unless such Non-Sponsor Holder (a) agrees to sell such holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Sponsor Holders (in the case of an underwritten registration pursuant to Section 2.2(a) through (f)), by the Company or other Person initiating the offering (in the case of an underwritten registration pursuant to Section 2.1) and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

SECTION 2.3. Registration Procedures . If and whenever the Company is required to file a registration statement with respect to, or to use its best efforts to effect or cause the registration of, any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement, the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:

(a) promptly prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate form with respect to such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable thereafter; provided , however , that before filing a registration statement or prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to counsel for the sellers of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such counsel, and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the SEC, (ii) fairly consider such reasonable changes in any such documents prior to or after the filing thereof as the counsel to the sellers of Registrable Securities being sold may request, and (iii) make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the sellers of the Registrable Securities being sold available for discussion of such documents;

(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period not in excess of two (2) years (which period shall not be applicable in the case of a shelf registration effected pursuant to a request under Section 2.2(b) or 2.2(h), which registration statements the Company shall keep effective until the applicable Holders’ Registrable Securities included on such registration statement are sold) and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement; provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto (other than any reports or other documents filed with the

 

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SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act), the Company shall (i) furnish to counsel for the sellers of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such counsel, and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the SEC, (ii) fairly consider such reasonable changes in any such documents prior to or after the filing thereof as the counsel to the sellers of Registrable Securities being sold may request, and (iii) make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the sellers of the Registrable Securities being sold available for discussion of such documents;

(c) furnish to each seller of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters of the securities being registered such number of copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits filed therewith, including any documents incorporated by reference), such number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and summary prospectus), in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such seller or underwriters may reasonably request, without charge, in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities by such seller or the sale of such securities by such underwriters (it being understood that, subject to the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Company consents to the use of the prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each seller and the underwriters or agents in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement of which such prospectus, amendment or supplement is a part);