Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 6, 2022, by and among Watermark Lodging Trust, Inc., the Parent Entities named therein, Ruby Merger Sub I LLC, Ruby Merger Sub II LP, and CWI 2 OP, LP

Contract Categories: Mergers & Acquisitions - Merger Agreements
EX-2.1 2 tm2214819d1_ex2-1.htm EXHIBIT 2.1

 

Exhibit 2.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

DATED AS OF MAY 6, 2022

 

BY AND AMONG

 

Watermark Lodging Trust, INC.,

 

CWI 2 OP, LP,

 

The Parent Entities Named Herein,

 

Ruby Merger Sub I LLC

 

AND

 

Ruby Merger Sub II LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

Article I THE MERGERS 2
Section 1.1. The Mergers 2
Section 1.2. Governing Documents 2
Section 1.3. Officers, General Partner and Limited Partners of the Surviving Entities 3
Section 1.4. Effective Times 3
Section 1.5. Closing of the Mergers 4
Section 1.6. Effects of the Mergers 4
Section 1.7. Tax Consequences 4
Article II MERGER CONSIDERATION; COMPANY SHARES; COMPANY PREFERRED SHARES; PARTNERSHIP UNITS 5
Section 2.1. Effect on Company Shares; Effect on Company Preferred Shares 5
Section 2.2. Partnership Unit Merger Consideration; Effect on Partnership Units 6
Section 2.3. Treatment of Restricted Stock Unit Awards 7
Section 2.4. Exchange Fund; Transfer Books 7
Section 2.5. Exchange Procedures 8
Section 2.6. Withholding Rights 10
Section 2.7. Dissenters' Rights 10
Section 2.8. Adjustment of Certain Merger Consideration 10

Article III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY PARTIES 

11
Section 3.1. Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries 11
Section 3.2. Capitalization 12
Section 3.3. Authority 14
Section 3.4. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents 15
Section 3.5. Company SEC Documents; Financial Statements 16
Section 3.6. Information Supplied 18
Section 3.7. Absence of Certain Changes 18
Section 3.8. Undisclosed Liabilities 19
Section 3.9. Permits; Compliance with Laws 19
Section 3.10. Litigation 20

 

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Section 3.11. Employee Benefits 20
Section 3.12. Labor Matters 22
Section 3.13. Tax Matters 23
Section 3.14. Properties 26
Section 3.15. Environmental Matters 29
Section 3.16. Intellectual Property 30
Section 3.17. Contracts 31
Section 3.18. Opinion of Financial Advisor 33
Section 3.19. Takeover Statutes 34
Section 3.20. Vote Required 34
Section 3.21. Insurance 34
Section 3.22. Investment Company Act 34
Section 3.23. Brokers 35
Section 3.24. Acknowledgement of No Other Representations or Warranties 35
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT ENTITIES, MERGER SUB I AND MERGER SUB II 36
Section 4.1. Organization 36
Section 4.2. Authority 37
Section 4.3. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents 37
Section 4.4. Litigation 38
Section 4.5. Brokers 38
Section 4.6. Information Supplied 39
Section 4.7. Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II 39
Section 4.8. Sufficient Funds 39
Section 4.9. Guaranty 41
Section 4.10. Solvency 41
Section 4.11. Absence of Certain Arrangements 41
Section 4.12. Tax Matters 42
Section 4.13. Acknowledgement of No Other Representations and Warranties 42
Article V COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS 43
Section 5.1. Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Mergers 43
Section 5.2. Access to Information 49
Section 5.3. Proxy Statement 52

 

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Section 5.4. Company Shareholders' Meeting 53
Section 5.5. Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings 54
Section 5.6. Solicitation; Acquisition Proposals; Adverse Recommendation Change 57
Section 5.7. Public Announcements 60
Section 5.8. Directors' and Officers' Indemnification 61
Section 5.9. Employee Matters 63
Section 5.10. Notification of Certain Matters 64
Section 5.11. Dividends 65
Section 5.12. FIRPTA Certificate 65
Section 5.13. Rule 16b-3 Matters 65
Section 5.14. Company Series B Preferred Shares 65
Section 5.15. Financing 66
Section 5.16. Financing Cooperation 68
Section 5.17. Satisfaction of Indebtedness 71
Section 5.18. Company Warrants 72
Section 5.19. REIT Qualification 72
Article VI CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGERS 72
Section 6.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligations to Effect the Mergers 72
Section 6.2. Conditions to the Obligations of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II 73
Section 6.3. Conditions to Obligations of the Company and the Partnership 74
Section 6.4. Frustration of Closing Conditions 74
Article VII TERMINATION 75
Section 7.1. Termination 75
Section 7.2. Effect of the Termination 77
Section 7.3. Fees and Expenses 77
Section 7.4. Payment of Amount or Expense 79
Article VIII MISCELLANEOUS 80
Section 8.1. Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties 80
Section 8.2. Entire Agreement; Assignment 80
Section 8.3. Notices 81
Section 8.4. Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial 82
Section 8.5. Interpretation; Certain Definitions 83

 

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Section 8.6. Parties In Interest 83
Section 8.7. Severability 84
Section 8.8. Specific Performance 84
Section 8.9. Amendment 85
Section 8.10. Extension; Waiver 85
Section 8.11. Counterparts 86
Section 8.12. Debt Financing Sources 86
Section 8.13. Definitions 87

 

Exhibits  
Exhibits A-1, A-2 Forms of Closing Certificates
Exhibit B Form of REIT Qualification Opinion
Exhibit C Form of REIT Officer's Certificate
   
Schedules  
Schedule A Parent Entities' Knowledge
Schedule B Parent Entities' Section 5.1 Approval

 

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of May 6, 2022, is by and among Watermark Lodging Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), Ruby I Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Parent 1"), Ruby II Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Parent 2"), Ruby III Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Parent 3"), and Ruby IV Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Parent 4"; each of Parent 1, Parent 2, Parent 3 and Parent 4 is referred to herein as a "Parent Entity" and such entities are collectively referred to as the "Parent Entities"), Ruby Merger Sub I LLC, a Maryland limited liability company ("Merger Sub I"), Ruby Merger Sub II LP, a Delaware limited partnership ("Merger Sub II"), and CWI 2 OP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership").

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the parties wish to effect a business combination through (i) a merger of Merger Sub II with and into the Partnership, with the Partnership being the surviving entity (the "Partnership Merger"), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the "DRULPA") and (ii) immediately following the consummation of the Partnership Merger, a merger of Merger Sub I with and into the Company, with the Company being the surviving entity (the "Company Merger" and, together with the Partnership Merger, the "Mergers"), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Maryland Limited Liability Company Act (the "MLLCA") and the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL");

 

WHEREAS, the Company is the sole general partner of the Partnership through which the Company operates its business, and, as of the date hereof, the Company owns approximately 99% of the outstanding Class A OP Units of the Partnership (the "Class A Partnership Units") and 100% of the outstanding Series B Preferred Partnership Units of the Partnership (the "Series B Preferred Partnership Units");

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company Board") has unanimously declared the Company Merger advisable, and unanimously approved this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Parent Entities, as the sole members of Merger Sub I, have approved this Agreement and the Company Merger and determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of Merger Sub I to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Company Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Company, as the sole general partner of the Partnership, has approved this Agreement and the Partnership Merger and determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of the Partnership and the limited partners of the Partnership for the Partnership to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Partnership Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, Ruby GP Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Merger Sub II GP"), as the sole general partner of Merger Sub II, has approved this Agreement and the Partnership Merger and determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of Merger Sub II and its limited partners for Merger Sub II to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Partnership Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, as an inducement to the Company and the Partnership entering into this Agreement, Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners IV-A L.P., Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners IV-B L.P., Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners IV-C L.P., Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners IV-C (ER) SCSp, and BSREP IV Brookfield L.P. (collectively, the "Guarantors") are entering into a guaranty with the Company (the "Guaranty"), pursuant to which the Guarantors are guaranteeing certain obligations of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II under this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Parent Entities, the Partnership, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II and the Company desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Mergers as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Article I
THE MERGERS

 

Section 1.1.      The Mergers.

 

(a)            Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the DRULPA, at the Partnership Merger Effective Time, Merger Sub II and the Partnership shall consummate the Partnership Merger, pursuant to which (i) Merger Sub II shall be merged with and into the Partnership and the separate existence of Merger Sub II shall thereupon cease and (ii) the Partnership shall be the surviving partnership in the Partnership Merger (the "Surviving Partnership").

 

(b)            Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the MLLCA and the MGCL, at the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company and Merger Sub I shall consummate the Company Merger, pursuant to which (i) Merger Sub I shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate existence of Merger Sub I shall thereupon cease and (ii) the Company shall be the surviving entity in the Company Merger (the "Surviving Company"), such that, immediately following the Company Merger, the Parent Entities shall be the sole holders of common stock of the Surviving Company.

 

Section 1.2.      Governing Documents.

 

(a)            At the Company Merger Effective Time, the name of the Surviving Company shall be "Watermark Lodging Trust, Inc." At the Company Merger Effective Time, the articles of incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, as amended by the Company Merger Articles of Merger, shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Company until thereafter amended as provided in the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Company or by applicable Law. The bylaws of Merger Sub I, as in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Company until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

 

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(b)            At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership, as in effect immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time (the "Certificate of Limited Partnership"), shall be the certificate of limited partnership of the Surviving Partnership until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law. At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Partnership Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time shall be the limited partnership agreement of the Surviving Partnership until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

 

Section 1.3.      Officers, General Partner and Limited Partners of the Surviving Entities.

 

(a)            The Parent Entities shall be the sole holders of common stock of the Surviving Company following the Company Merger Effective Time.

 

(b)            The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Company from and after the Company Merger Effective Time, until their respective successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, or removal.

 

(c)            The Company shall be the sole general partner and a limited partner of the Surviving Partnership following the Partnership Merger Effective Time and prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, entitling the Company to such rights, duties and obligations as are more fully set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(d)            The Surviving Company shall be the sole general partner of the Surviving Partnership following the Company Merger Effective Time, entitling the Surviving Company to such rights, duties and obligations as are more fully set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Section 1.4.      Effective Times.

 

(a)            On the Closing Date, the Partnership shall duly execute and file a certificate of merger (the "Partnership Merger Certificate") with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "DSOS") in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Partnership Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Partnership Merger Certificate with the DSOS or on such other date and time as may be mutually agreed to by the Company and Parent and specified in the Partnership Merger Certificate in accordance with the DRULPA (such date and time, the "Partnership Merger Effective Time").

 

(b)            On the Closing Date, Merger Sub I and the Company shall duly execute and file articles of merger (the "Company Merger Articles of Merger") with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT") in accordance with the Laws of the State of Maryland. The Company Merger shall become effective upon the acceptance for record of the Company Merger Articles of Merger by the SDAT or on such other date and time as may be mutually agreed to by the parties and specified in the Company Merger Articles of Merger in accordance with the MGCL (such date and time, the "Company Merger Effective Time"), it being understood and agreed that the parties shall cause the Company Merger Effective Time to occur immediately after the Partnership Merger Effective Time.

 

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(c)            Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the parties shall cause the Company Merger Effective Time and the Partnership Merger Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date, with the Company Merger Effective Time occurring immediately after the Partnership Merger Effective Time.

 

Section 1.5.      Closing of the Mergers. The closing of the Mergers (the "Closing") shall take place at a time to be specified by the parties on the third Business Day after satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver of such conditions), at the offices of Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, or remotely by exchange of documents and signatures (or their electronic counterparts), or at such other time, date and place as may be mutually agreed to in writing by the parties hereto (the date on which the Closing occurs, the "Closing Date"); provided, however, that in no event shall the Closing be required to occur prior to the earlier to occur of (i) a date specified by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II on no less than three (3) Business Days' written notice to the Company, and (ii) October 21, 2022.

 

Section 1.6.      Effects of the Mergers.

 

(a)            The Company Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the MLLCA and the MGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Company Merger Effective Time, all the properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub I shall vest in the Surviving Company, and all debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the Company and Merger Sub I shall become the debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the Surviving Company.

 

(b)            The Partnership Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DRULPA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Partnership Merger Effective Time, all the properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Partnership and Merger Sub II shall vest in the Surviving Partnership, and all debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the Partnership and Merger Sub II shall become the debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the Surviving Partnership.

 

Section 1.7.      Tax Consequences. The parties intend that for U.S. federal, and applicable state and local, income tax purposes (a) the Company Merger shall be treated as (i) a taxable sale of the Company Capital Stock to the Parent Entities in exchange for the Company Share Merger Consideration and the Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration, and (b) (i) the Partnership Merger shall be treated as a taxable sale of the Class A Partnership Units by Minority Limited Partners. The parties hereto agree not to take any position on any Tax Return that is inconsistent with the foregoing treatment for all U.S. federal, and, if applicable, state and local tax purposes unless otherwise required by a final "determination" as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code.

 

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Article II
MERGER CONSIDERATION; COMPANY SHARES;
COMPANY PREFERRED SHARES; PARTNERSHIP UNITS

 

Section 2.1.      Effect on Company Shares; Effect on Company Preferred Shares.

 

(a)            Limited Liability Company Interests of Merger Sub I. At the Company Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Company Merger and without any action on the part of any holder thereof, each limited liability company interest in Merger Sub I issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Company.

 

(b)            Company Share Merger Consideration; Conversion of Company Shares. At the Company Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Company Merger and without any action on the part of any holder thereof, (i) each share of Class A Common Stock (each, a "Company A Share") (other than any Excluded Shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall automatically be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $6.768, without interest (such amount, the "Per Company A Share Merger Consideration"), and (i) each share of Class T Common Stock (each, a "Company T Share," and the Company T Shares and the Company A Shares, collectively, the "Company Shares") (other than any Excluded Shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall automatically be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $6.699, without interest (such amount, the "Per Company T Share Merger Consideration"). The sum of the aggregate amount of cash payable to holders of Company A Shares as the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration plus the aggregate amount of cash payable to holders of Company T Shares as the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration is hereinafter referred to as the "Company Share Merger Consideration." Each of the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration and the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration shall be subject to adjustments as contemplated by Section 2.8 and Section 5.11.

 

(c)            Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration. At the Company Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Company Merger and without any action on the part of any holder thereof, each share of Series B Preferred Stock (each, a "Company Series B Preferred Share") (other than any Excluded Shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, automatically converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Per Series B Preferred Share Redemption Price (such amount, the "Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration"). The aggregate amount of cash payable to holders of Company Series B Preferred Shares as the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration is hereinafter referred to as the "Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration".

 

(d)            Cancellation of Company Shares and Company Preferred Shares Owned by Parent, the Company or Merger Sub I. At the Company Merger Effective Time, each issued and outstanding Company Share and Company Series B Preferred Share that is owned by the Parent Entities or Merger Sub I or any Subsidiary of Parent, the Company or Merger Sub I immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (collectively, the "Excluded Shares"), if any, shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no cash, Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or other consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.

 

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(e)            Cancellation of Company Shares and Company Preferred Shares. As of the Company Merger Effective Time, all Company Shares and Company Series B Preferred Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a Company Share or Company Series B Preferred Share (other than Excluded Shares, if any) shall cease to have any rights with respect to such interest, except the right to receive the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration or the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration, as the case may be.

 

Section 2.2.      Partnership Unit Merger Consideration; Effect on Partnership Units.

 

(a)            Partnership Unit Merger Consideration; Conversion of Class A Partnership Units. At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without any action on the part of any holder thereof, each Class A Partnership Unit, other than Excluded Units, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall be converted into, and shall be cancelled in exchange for, the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, without interest (the "Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration"). The aggregate amount of cash payable to holders of Class A Partnership Units as the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration is herein referred to as the "Partnership Unit Merger Consideration," and together with the Company Share Merger Consideration, the Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration and the aggregate Per Company A Share Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Company RSU Awards pursuant to Section 2.3(a), is herein referred to as the "Merger Consideration".

 

(b)            Partnership Units Held by the Company. At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any partnership interest in the Partnership, each Partnership Unit held by the Company or any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time (collectively, the "Continuing Units") shall be unaffected by the Partnership Merger and shall remain outstanding as a Partnership Unit of the Surviving Partnership held by the Company or relevant wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(c)            Cancellation of Parent Entity and Merger Sub II-Owned Partnership Units. At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any partnership interest in the Partnership, each Partnership Unit held by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub II or any of their respective wholly owned Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time (collectively, the "Cancelled Units" and, together with the Continuing Units, the "Excluded Units") shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, with no consideration to be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.

 

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(d)            Cancellation of Merger Sub II Interests. At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without any action on the part of any holder thereof, each partnership interest in Merger Sub II shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist, the holders thereof shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.

  

Section 2.3.            Treatment of Restricted Stock Unit Awards.

 

(a)            Company Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Effective immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, each award of restricted stock units (whether vested or unvested) (each, a "Company RSU Award") that is outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled, with the holder of each such Company RSU Award becoming entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of the rights of such holder with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to (i) the number of Company Shares subject to the Company RSU Award immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time multiplied by (ii) the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration (less any applicable income and employment withholding Taxes).

 

(b)            Prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Company shall deliver all required notices (which notices shall have been approved by the Parent Entities, in their reasonable discretion) to each holder of Company RSU Awards setting forth each holder's rights pursuant to the Company Share Incentive Plan stating that such Company RSU Awards shall be treated in the manner set forth in this Section 2.3.

 

(c)            Cash amounts payable to (i) employees pursuant to Section 2.3(a) shall be paid through the Company's payroll, less any applicable income and employment withholding Taxes, and (ii) non-employee directors shall be paid by customary ACH transfer in each case within ten (10) Business Days following the Company Merger Effective Time.

 

(d)            Prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Company shall take all actions necessary for the treatment of the Company RSU Awards contemplated by this Section 2.3 and to ensure that, following the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no Company RSU Awards shall exist (and no holder of any rights in respect thereof shall have any further rights other than as expressly contemplated by this Section 2.3).

 

Section 2.4.            Exchange Fund; Transfer Books.

 

(a)            Paying Agent. Prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Parent Entities shall, at their sole cost and expense, appoint DST Systems, Inc. (or another bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to the Company) to act as Paying Agent (the "Paying Agent") and enter into an agreement with the Paying Agent with respect thereto, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company, for the payment or exchange in accordance with this Article II of the Merger Consideration (other than any payments in respect of Company RSU Awards). At or prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Parent Entities shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Paying Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Company Shares, the Company Series B Preferred Shares and the Class A Partnership Units, an amount in cash sufficient to pay the Merger Consideration less the portion of the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of Company RSU Awards (which amounts in respect of Company RSU Awards shall be paid or delivered directly to the Surviving Company) (the portion of the Merger Consideration so deposited with the Paying Agent being referred to herein as the "Exchange Fund"). The Paying Agent shall make payments of the Merger Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with this Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose other than a purpose expressly provided for in this Agreement. Any and all interest earned on cash deposited in the Exchange Fund shall be paid to the Surviving Company.

 

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(b)            Share and Unit Transfer Books. On the Closing Date, the share transfer books of the Company and the unit transfer books of the Partnership shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of the Company Shares, the Company Series B Preferred Shares or Partnership Units (except for the transfer of Partnership Units owned by the Company in the Company Merger). From and after the Closing Date, the holders of book-entry shares (each such book-entry share, a "Book-Entry Share") or book-entry units (each such book-entry unit, a "Book-Entry Unit") representing Company Shares, the Company Series B Preferred Shares or Partnership Units outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time or the Partnership Merger Effective Time, as applicable, shall cease to have rights with respect to such shares or units, as applicable, except as otherwise provided for herein. On or after the Closing Date, any Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units presented to the Paying Agent, the Surviving Company or the Surviving Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be exchanged for the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, with respect to the Company Shares, the Company Series B Preferred Shares or Partnership Units formerly represented thereby.

 

Section 2.5.            Exchange Procedures.

 

(a)            Procedure. As soon as practicable after the Closing Date (but in any event within five (5) Business Days), the Surviving Company shall cause the Paying Agent to (i) mail to each holder of record of Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units that, immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, represented outstanding Company Shares or the Company Series B Preferred Shares or that, immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, represented Class A Partnership Units, which were converted into the right to receive or be exchanged for the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.1 and Section 2.2: an instruction request letter (which shall be in customary form and have such other provisions as Parent and the Company may mutually agree and specify) that includes instructions for effecting the exchange of Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units for the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, to which the holder thereof is entitled, and (ii) subject to the requirements of this Section 2.5(a), make, and the Paying Agent shall make, delivery and disbursement of the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, to the holders of the Company Shares, Company Series B Preferred Shares or Class A Partnership Units, as applicable, that were converted into the right to receive in exchange therefor the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable. No interest shall be paid or accrue for the benefit of the holders of the Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units on any cash payable hereunder.

 

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(b)            No Further Ownership Rights in the Company Shares, Company Series A Preferred Shares, Company Series B Preferred Shares or Class A Partnership Units. On the Closing Date, holders of Company Shares, the Company Series B Preferred Shares or Class A Partnership Units that are converted into the right to receive Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, shall cease to be, and shall have no rights as, stockholders of the Company or limited partners of the Partnership other than the right to receive the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, as provided under this Article II. The Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, paid or delivered in exchange for Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units, in accordance with the terms of this Article II shall be deemed to have been paid, delivered or issued, as the case may be, in full satisfaction of all rights and privileges pertaining to the Company Shares, Company Series B Preferred Shares or Class A Partnership Units, as applicable, exchanged therefor.

 

(c)            Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the holders of Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units for twelve (12) months after the Closing Date shall be delivered to the Surviving Company; and any holders of Company Shares, Company Series B Preferred Shares or Class A Partnership Units prior to the Company Merger Effective Time or Partnership Merger Effective Time, as applicable, who have not theretofore complied with this Article II shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Company and only as general creditors thereof for payment of the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, in each case without any interest thereon, upon compliance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(a) and subject to Section 2.5(d).

 

(d)            No Liability. None of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, the Surviving Company, the Partnership, Merger Sub II, the Surviving Partnership, the Company or the Paying Agent, or any employee, officer, trustee, director, agent or affiliate thereof, shall be liable to any Person in respect of Merger Consideration from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units immediately prior to the time at which such amounts would otherwise escheat to, or become the property of, any Governmental Entity shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Company, free and clear of any claims or interest of any such holders or their successors, assigns or personal representatives previously entitled thereto.

 

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(e)            Investment of Exchange Fund. After the Closing Date, the Paying Agent shall invest any cash included in the Exchange Fund as directed by the Surviving Company. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to the Surviving Company. Until the termination of the Exchange Fund pursuant to Section 2.5(c), to the extent that there are losses with respect to such investments, or the cash portion of the Exchange Fund diminishes for other reasons below the level required to make prompt payments of the Company Share Merger Consideration, the Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration or the cash portion of the Partnership Unit Merger Consideration as contemplated hereby, the Surviving Company shall promptly replace or restore the portion of the Exchange Fund lost through investments or other events so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is, at all times, maintained at a level sufficient to make all such payments.

  

Section 2.6.           Withholding Rights. Each of the Company, the Surviving Company, the Partnership, the Surviving Partnership, Parent, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II and the Paying Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any Person such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment (and, with respect to the Company RSU Awards, the payment of proceeds in settlement of such Company RSU Awards, as set forth in Section 2.3) under the Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law. To the extent that any of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II believes it is required to deduct and withhold from any amounts treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as payable to the holders of Class A Partnership Units (other than as a result of the failure of such Persons to provide a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 or a change in applicable Law after the date of this Agreement), Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Company of such requirement at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing and shall reasonably cooperate with the Company to take any steps available to reduce or eliminate such withholding requirement. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by the Company, the Surviving Company, the Partnership, the Surviving Partnership, Parent, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or the Paying Agent, as applicable (such amounts to be timely paid over to the appropriate Governmental Entity), such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

 

Section 2.7.         Dissenters' Rights. No dissenters' or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Mergers.

 

Section 2.8.         Adjustment of Certain Merger Consideration. In the event that, subsequent to the date of this Agreement but prior to the Company Merger Effective Time or the Partnership Merger Effective Time, as applicable, the Company Shares, the Company Series B Preferred Shares or the Class A Partnership Units issued and outstanding shall, through a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the capitalization of the Company or the Partnership, as applicable, increase or decrease in number or be changed into or exchanged for a different kind or number of securities, then an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made to the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration, the Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration and the Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration, as applicable, to provide the holders the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event; provided, however, that nothing set forth in this Section 2.8 shall be construed to supersede or in any way limit the prohibitions set forth in Section 5.1 hereof.

 

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Article III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY PARTIES

  

Except (a) as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents furnished or filed one Business Day prior to the date hereof (excluding, in each case, any disclosures set forth in any risk factor or forward-looking statements section or other statements that, in each case, are cautionary, non-specific, predictive or forward-looking in nature) (provided that this exception shall not apply to the Company's representations and warranties in Section 3.2(a)) (it being agreed that all such Company SEC Documents shall be deemed to have been made available to Parent for the purposes of all references in this Agreement to documents or other information having been or to be "delivered," "made available," "provided," or words of similar import, to Parent) or (b) as disclosed in the separate disclosure letter which has been delivered by the Company to the Parent Entities in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, including the documents attached to or incorporated by reference in such disclosure letter (the "Company Disclosure Letter") (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall also be deemed to be disclosed with respect to any other section or subsection in this Agreement to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure; provided that nothing in the Company Disclosure Letter is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the Company or the Partnership made herein), the Company and the Partnership hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II as follows:

 

Section 3.1.             Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

 

(a)            The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Maryland. The Partnership is a limited partnership duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Each other Company Subsidiary is a corporation or other legal entity duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize such concept), as applicable, under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, except where the failure to be so existing and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Company Subsidiary has requisite corporate or other legal entity, as the case may be, power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have such power and authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Company Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize such concept) where the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)            The Company has made available to the Parent Entities true and complete copies of (i) the charter of the Company (the "Company Charter"), (ii) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the "Company Bylaws"), (iii) the Partnership Agreement and (iv) the Certificate of Limited Partnership, in each case as in effect as of the date hereof and together with all amendments thereto. Each of the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws, the Partnership Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership was duly adopted and is in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor the Partnership is in violation in any material respect of any such documents.

 

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(c)            Section 3.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list of each Company Subsidiary, together with its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation and the ownership interest (and percentage interest) of the Company or a Company Subsidiary and any other Person, as applicable, in such Company Subsidiary.

 

(d)            Section 3.1(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list of Persons, other than the Company Subsidiaries, in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has an equity interest as of the date of this Agreement, together with the Company's or applicable Company Subsidiary's ownership interests and stated percentage interests in each such entity.

 

Section 3.2.            Capitalization.

 

(a)            The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 400,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of which 320,000,000 shares are classified as Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Class A Common Stock"), and 80,000,000 shares are classified as Class T Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Class T Common Stock" and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the "Company Common Stock"), and 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Company Preferred Stock"), of which 1,300,000 shares are designated as Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Series B Preferred Stock" or the "Company Preferred Stock" and, together with the Company Common Stock, "Company Capital Stock"). As of the close of business on May 4, 2022 (the "Capitalization Date"), (i) 168,067,404 shares of Class A Common Stock and 61,095,773 shares of Class T Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 231,255 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, and (iii) 1,861,568 Company RSU Awards were outstanding. All of the shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free of pre-emptive rights.

 

(b)            As of the Capitalization Date, the Company had no shares of Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock reserved for issuance, except for Company Common Stock that may be issued upon exchange of Class A Partnership Units issuable upon exercise of the Company Warrants, Company Common Stock that may be issued in settlement of Company RSU Awards and as set forth in Section 3.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

(c)            The Company has provided to the Parent Entities a true and complete list of each Company RSU Award outstanding as of the Capitalization Date and (i) the holder thereof, (ii) the number of Company Shares subject thereto (assuming target-level and maximum- level performance, as applicable), in each case, including accrued dividend equivalents with respect to each such award, and (iii) the grant date.

 

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(d)            As of the date hereof, except as provided in Section 3.2(a) and Section 3.2(b), and except for the Company Warrants and except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no (i) outstanding securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary convertible into or exchangeable for one or more shares of stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (ii) options, warrants or other rights or securities issued or granted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary relating to or based on the value of the equity securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (iii) Contracts that are binding on the Company or any Company Subsidiary that obligate the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, acquire, sell, redeem, exchange or convert any shares of stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or (iv) outstanding restricted shares, restricted share units, share appreciation rights, performance shares, performance units, deferred share units, contingent value rights, "phantom" shares or similar rights issued or granted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary that are linked to the value of the Company Common Stock. Since the Capitalization Date through the date hereof, the Company and the Partnership have not issued any Company Common Stock, Company Preferred Stock, Partnership Units, Company RSU Awards or other equity security (other than Company Stock issued as dividends in respect of Company Preferred Stock). The Company does not have a stockholder rights plan in place. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has not exempted any Person from the "Common Share Ownership Limit" or the "Aggregate Share Ownership Limit" or established or increased an "Excepted Holder Limit," as such terms are defined in the Company Charter, which exemption or "Excepted Holder Limit" remains in effect. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries having the right to vote on any matters on which holders of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries may vote. None of the Company Subsidiaries owns any Company Shares.

  

(e)            Except as provided in Section 3.2(g) and except as set forth in Section 3.2(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company or another Company Subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding shares of stock or other equity securities of each of the Company Subsidiaries, free and clear of any Liens other than transfer and other restrictions under applicable federal and state securities Laws and restrictions in the organizational documents of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and all of such outstanding shares or other equity securities have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable (as applicable) and free of preemptive rights. Except (i) pursuant to the Company Charter, (ii) pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, (iii) for equity securities and other instruments (including loans) in wholly owned Company Subsidiaries and (iv) as set forth in Section 3.2(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any obligation to acquire any equity interest in another Person, or to make any investment (in each case, in the form of a loan, capital contribution or similar transaction) in, any other Person (including any Company Subsidiary).

 

(f)            Except as set forth in Section 3.2(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter and for transfer restrictions in the organizational documents of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party to any Contract with respect to the voting of, that restricts the transfer of or that provides registration rights in respect of, any shares of stock of, or other voting securities or equity interests in, the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.

 

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(g)            The Company is the sole general partner of the Partnership. As of the Capitalization Date, the Company held 168,067,404 Class A Partnership Units, 61,095,773 Class T Partnership Units ("Class T Partnership Units," and together with the Class A Partnership Units, the "Partnership Units") and 231,255 Series B Preferred Partnership Units. In addition to the Partnership Units held by the Company, as of the Capitalization Date, 2,417,996 Class A Partnership Units were issued and outstanding and held by Persons other than the Company, and each such Class A Partnership Unit is redeemable in accordance with the Partnership Agreement in exchange for one share of Class A Common Stock. No Partnership Units are held by any Subsidiary of the Company. Section 3.2(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list as of the Capitalization Date of all holders of the Partnership Units (other than the Company) and the number and type of Partnership Units held by each such holder, as reflected on the Partnership Registry (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) of the Partnership. Other than the foregoing as of the Capitalization Date, no other Partnership Units (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) or other equity interests in the Partnership are issued and outstanding. Since the Capitalization Date through the date hereof, the Partnership has not issued any Partnership Units or other equity security (other than Partnership Units issued to the Company in connection with the issuance of Company Shares pursuant to Section 3.2(d) above or issued in respect of the Series B Preferred Partnership Units). Except for the Company Warrants and as set forth in Section 3.2(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no existing options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible securities or other rights, agreements or commitments which obligate the Partnership to issue, transfer or sell any partnership interests of the Partnership or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any partnership interests of the Partnership. Except as provided above or as set forth in Section 3.2(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and other than the Company Warrants and Series B Preferred Partnership Units, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Partnership to issue, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any partnership interests of the Partnership or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for any partnership interest in the Partnership. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Partnership Units that are owned by the Company are free and clear of any Liens other than any transfer and other restrictions under applicable federal and state securities Laws or the Partnership Agreement.

  

(h)            As of the date of this Agreement, there is no outstanding Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (d) of the definition thereof of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000 in principal amount, other than Indebtedness in the principal amounts (rounded to the nearest one hundred thousand dollars) identified in the instruments listed in Section 3.2(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

Section 3.3.            Authority.

 

(a)            The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the receipt of the Company Requisite Vote, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company Board and, other than the Company Requisite Vote and the filing of the Company Merger Articles of Merger with the SDAT, no additional corporate proceedings on the part of the Company or any Company Subsidiary are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability (i) may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws of general application, now or hereafter in effect, affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity (clauses (i) and (ii) collectively, the "Bankruptcy and Equity Exception").

 

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(b)            The Partnership has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership and the consummation by the Partnership of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Partnership and the Company in its capacity as the sole general partner of the Partnership and, other than the filing of the Partnership Merger Certificate with the DSOS, no additional proceedings on the part of the Partnership are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Partnership of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Partnership. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Partnership and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Partnership enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

 

(c)            The Company Board has unanimously (i) duly approved and declared advisable the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) duly approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the Company Requisite Vote, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Mergers, (iii) directed that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company Merger be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their approval and (iv) resolved, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to recommend the approval of the Company Merger by the stockholders of the Company, in each case, by resolutions duly adopted, which resolutions, except as permitted under Section 5.6, have not been subsequently rescinded, withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to the Parent Entities.

 

Section 3.4.            No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

 

(a)            None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company or the Partnership or the consummation by the Company or the Partnership of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will: (i) subject to obtaining the Company Requisite Vote, conflict with or violate any provision of the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws, the Certificate of Limited Partnership or the Partnership Agreement, as applicable; (ii) (A) conflict with or violate any provision of the organizational documents of any Company Subsidiary (other than the Partnership) and (B) assuming that all consents, approvals and authorizations described in Section 3.4(b) have been obtained and all filings and notifications described in Section 3.4(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or any of their respective properties or assets; or (iii) require any consent or approval under, violate, conflict with, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), or result in termination or give to others any right of termination, vesting, amendment, acceleration, cancellation, purchase or sale under or result in the triggering of any payment or creation of a Lien (other than a Company Permitted Lien) upon any of the respective properties or assets (including rights) of the Company or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to, any Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party (or by which any of their respective properties or assets (including rights) are bound) or any Company Permit, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), (x) as set forth in Section 3.4(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (y) as contemplated by Section 2.3 or (z) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b)            None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company or the Partnership or the consummation by the Company or the Partnership of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will require (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing or registration with or notification to, any Governmental Entity by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or with respect to any of their respective properties or assets, other than (i) the filing of the Company Merger Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Company Merger Articles of Merger by, the SDAT, (ii) the filing of the Partnership Merger Certificate with the DSOS, (iii) compliance with, and such filings as may be required under, Environmental Laws, (iv) compliance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, (v) filings as may be required under the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, (vi) compliance with any applicable federal or state securities or "blue sky" Laws, (vii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, permits, filings, registrations or notifications as may be required as a result of the identity of the Parent Entities or any of their affiliates, (viii) such filings as may be required in connection with the payment of any transfer and gain taxes and (ix) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits of, or to make such filings, registrations with or notifications to, any Governmental Entity would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.5.            Company SEC Documents; Financial Statements.

 

(a)            Since January 1, 2020, the Company has filed with or otherwise furnished to the SEC all registration statements, prospectuses, forms, reports, definitive proxy statements, schedules and documents required to be filed or furnished by it under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, together with all certifications required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act") (such documents and any other documents filed by the Company with the SEC, as they may have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, including those filed or furnished subsequent to the date hereof, collectively, the "Company SEC Documents"). As of their respective filing (or furnishing) dates or, if supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, as of the date of the most recent supplement, modification or amendment, the Company SEC Documents (i) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (ii) complied in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as the case may be, in each case as in effect on the date each such document was filed with or furnished to the SEC. None of the Company Subsidiaries is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. The Company has made available to the Parent Entities all comment letters and all material correspondence between the SEC, on the one hand, and the Company or the Partnership, on the other hand, since January 1, 2020. As of the date hereof, there are no material outstanding or unresolved comments received from the SEC with respect to any of the Company SEC Documents filed or furnished by the Company or the Partnership with the SEC and, as of the date hereof, to the Company's knowledge, none of the Company SEC Documents is the subject of ongoing SEC review. The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of the Company (including, in each case, any notes and schedules thereto) and the consolidated Company Subsidiaries included in or incorporated by reference into the Company SEC Documents (collectively, the "Company Financial Statements") (i) were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States ("GAAP") (as in effect in the United States on the date of such Company Financial Statement) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited financial statements, as permitted by SEC rules and regulations) and (ii) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and the consolidated Company Subsidiaries and the results of their operations and their cash flows as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of interim financial statements, for normal year-end adjustments).

 

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(b)            The Company has designed and maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) designed to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting for the Company and the Company Subsidiaries. The Company has designed and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company's management has completed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and, to the extent required by applicable Law, presented in any applicable Company report that is a report on Form 10-K or Form 10-Q or any amendment thereto, its conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by such report or amendment based on such evaluation. The Company has disclosed, based on the evaluation of its Principal Executive Officer and its Principal Financial Officer, to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (x) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of its internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company or any Subsidiary who have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, and each such deficiency, weakness and fraud so disclosed to auditors, if any, has been disclosed to the Parent Entities prior to the date of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the terms "significant deficiency" and "material weakness" have the meanings assigned to such terms in Auditing Standard No. 5 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

 

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(c)            None of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar contract or arrangement, including any contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among the Company or any Company Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated affiliate of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any "off-balance sheet arrangements" (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act) where the purpose is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Company or any Subsidiary in the Company's or such Subsidiary's audited financial statements or other Company SEC Documents.

 

Section 3.6.           Information Supplied. The Proxy Statement will not, at the time the Proxy Statement is first mailed to the Company's stockholders, at the time of the Company Shareholders' Meeting or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement, insofar as it relates to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or other information supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein, will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no representation or warranty is made by the Company or the Partnership with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their Representatives specifically for inclusion (or incorporation by reference) in the Proxy Statement.

 

Section 3.7.          Absence of Certain Changes. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or set forth in Section 3.7 of the Company Disclosure Letter, since December 31, 2021 through the date hereof, (a) the Company, the Partnership and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have conducted their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business, (b) there have not been any changes, events, state of facts or developments, that, individually or in the aggregate, have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (c) except for regular quarterly cash and/or in-kind dividends on the shares of Company Preferred Stock designated as Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (which were redeemed in full after December 31, 2021 but prior to the date of this Agreement), Company Series B Preferred Shares and Preferred Partnership Units and Partnership Units, there has not been any declaration, setting aside for payment or payment of any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect to any Company Shares, Partnership Units, Company Series B Preferred Shares or Preferred Partnership Units and (d) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that would be prohibited by Section 5.1(b) (other than the execution and delivery of this Agreement), if taken after the date hereof.

 

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Section 3.8.         Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has, or is subject to, any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) of a type required by GAAP as in effect on the date hereof to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries or in the notes thereto, other than liabilities and obligations (a) disclosed, reflected, reserved against or provided for in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2021 or in the notes thereto, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of business in all material respects since December 31, 2021, (c) incurred or permitted to be incurred under this Agreement or incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, or (d) that otherwise would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

  

Section 3.9.             Permits; Compliance with Laws.

 

(a)            (i) The Company and each Company Subsidiary is in possession of all franchises, authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, variances, exemptions, approvals and orders of any Governmental Entity (each, a "Permit") necessary for the Company and each Company Subsidiary to own, lease and operate its properties and assets, and to carry on and operate its businesses as conducted as of the date hereof (the "Company Permits"), and (ii) all such Company Permits are in full force and effect; except, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any Company Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing and no such suspension or cancellation will result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have established and continue to maintain internal policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the Laws referred to in Section 3.9(c) in all material respects.

 

(b)            The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Laws applicable to the Company, the Company Subsidiaries and their respective businesses and properties or assets, in each case except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, no investigation, review or proceeding by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or their operations is pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened in writing, and, to the Company's knowledge, no Governmental Entity has indicated an intention to conduct the same.

 

(c)            Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company's knowledge, any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, has (i) knowingly used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii) unlawfully offered or provided, directly or indirectly, anything of value to (or received anything of value from) any foreign or domestic government employee or official or any other Person, (iii) taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would constitute a violation in any material respect by such Persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "FCPA"), including making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any "foreign official" (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, (iv) made any payment to any customer, supplier or tenant, or to any officer, director, partner, employee or agent of any such customer, supplier or tenant, for the unlawful sharing of fees to any such customer, supplier or tenant or any such officer, director, partner, employee or agent for the unlawful rebating of charges, (v) engaged in any other unlawful reciprocal practice, or made any other unlawful payment or given any other unlawful consideration to any such customer, supplier or tenant or any such officer, director, partner, employee or agent of such customer, officer or tenant or (vi) taken any action or made any omission in violation of any applicable Law governing imports into or exports from the United States or any foreign country, or relating to economic sanctions or embargoes, corrupt practices, money laundering, or compliance with unsanctioned foreign boycotts.

 

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Section 3.10.         Litigation. Except as set forth in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter and except for stockholder or derivative litigation that may be brought after the date of this Agreement relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the Company's process leading up to this Agreement, there is no suit, claim, litigation, action, arbitration, investigation (including subpoena, civil investigation demand, audit, inquiry or request for documents or information from any Governmental Entity) or other proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative or otherwise) by or before any Governmental Entity (each a "Proceeding") pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or any Company Subsidiary (or against any of their properties or assets or against any of their present or former officers, employees or directors in their capacity as such) that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any outstanding order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator unrelated to this Agreement that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As of immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, there is no Proceeding to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing seeking to prevent, hinder, modify, delay or challenge the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 3.11.          Employee Benefits.

 

(a)            Section 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all "employee benefit plans," as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), and all other employee benefit plans or other benefit arrangements or payroll practices including bonus plans, fringe benefits, executive compensation, consulting or other compensation agreements, change in control agreements, incentive, equity or equity-based compensation, deferred compensation arrangements, share purchase, severance pay, sick leave, vacation pay, salary continuation, hospitalization, medical benefits, life insurance, other welfare benefits, cafeteria, scholarship programs, directors' benefit, bonus or other incentive compensation, which the Company or any Company Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, contributes to or has any obligation to contribute to or with respect to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate has any direct or indirect liability (each a "Company Employee Benefit Plan" and collectively, the "Company Employee Benefit Plans"), other than any Company Employee Benefit Plan that is not material.

 

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(b)            None of the Company Employee Benefit Plans is or has been subject to Title IV of ERISA or is or has been subject to Sections 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, nor is the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate obligated to contribute (and such entities have not, in the past six (6) years, had an obligation to contribute) to a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA (a "Multiemployer Plan"). Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any present or contingent liability under Title IV of ERISA, nor does any condition exist which would reasonably be expected to result in any such liability.

 

(c)            Correct and complete copies of the following documents, with respect to each of the material Company Employee Benefit Plans (other than a Multiemployer Plan, of which there are none) have been made available to the Parent Entities by the Company: (i) plan and related trust documents, and amendments thereto; (ii) the most recent Form 5500 and schedules thereto, if applicable; (iii) the most recent Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") determination letter, if any; (iv) the current summary plan description and any material modifications thereto, if applicable; (v) the most recent financial statements and actuarial valuations, if applicable; and (vi) all material correspondence regarding the Company Employee Benefit Plan with any Governmental Entity.

 

(d)            Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its ERISA Affiliates have performed all obligations required to be performed by them under all Company Employee Benefit Plans; (ii) the Company Employee Benefit Plans have been administered in compliance with their terms and the requirements of applicable Laws; (iii) all contributions and premium payments (including all employer contributions and employee salary reduction contributions) required to have been made under any of the Company Employee Benefit Plans, including to any funds or trusts established thereunder or in connection therewith, have been made by the due date thereof, or to the extent not yet due, will have been paid, or accrued in accordance with GAAP, prior to the Company Merger Effective Time; (iv) there are no actions, suits, arbitrations, investigations, audits or claims (other than routine claims for benefits) filed, or to the Company's knowledge, threatened in writing with respect to any Company Employee Benefit Plan; (v) the Company and its ERISA Affiliates have no liability as a result of any "prohibited transaction" (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) for any excise Tax or civil penalty; and (vi) none of the Company Employee Benefit Plans provide for continuing post-employment health, life insurance coverage or other welfare benefits for any participant or any beneficiary of a participant, except as may be required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA"), or similar state Law, or except with respect to a contractual obligation to reimburse any premiums such Person may pay in order to obtain health coverage under COBRA.

 

(e)            Each of the Company Employee Benefit Plans which is intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable opinion letter or determination letter from the IRS and, to the Company's knowledge, there is no fact which would adversely affect the qualified status of any such Company Employee Benefit Plan or the exemption of such trust.

 

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(f)            Except as set forth in Section 3.11(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Mergers will (either alone or in combination with any other event) (i) result in any compensatory payment becoming due, or increase the amount of compensation due, to any current or former Service Provider; (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Company Employee Benefit Plan; or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment (including the funding of a trust) or vesting of any compensation or benefits from the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any current or former Service Provider. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth in Section 3.11(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no amount payable to any current or former Service Provider (whether in cash or property or as a result of accelerated vesting) as a result of the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or in combination with any other event) would be nondeductible under Section 280G of the Code. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any obligations to gross-up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any current or former Service Provider for any Taxes incurred by such Service Provider, including Taxes incurred under Section 409A or 4999 of the Code, or any interest or penalty related thereto.

  

Section 3.12.          Labor Matters.

 

(a)            Except as set forth in Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is party to any collective bargaining agreement or similar labor agreement (excluding personal services contracts).

 

(b)            (i) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no employees of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries and, to the Company's knowledge, no persons located at any Company Property who are employees of the management company providing services pursuant to a Company Management Agreement ("CMA Employees"), are represented by any labor organization; (ii) no labor organization or group of employees of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or, to the Company's knowledge, any group of CMA Employees, has made a written demand to the Company or any Company Subsidiary for recognition or certification; (iii) there are no representation or certification proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently filed, or to the Company's knowledge, threatened in writing to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority with respect to any employees of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or, to the Company's knowledge, any CMA Employees; (iv) to the Company's knowledge, there are no organizing activities involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any CMA Employees pending with any labor organization or group of employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any CMA Employees; and (v) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (including, to the Company's knowledge, with respect to any CMA Employees at a Company Property) are not currently materially affected and have not been materially affected in the past by any actual or threatened work stoppage, strike or other labor disturbance.

 

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(c)            Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there are no unfair labor practice charges, grievances or complaints filed or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened in writing by or on behalf of any employee or group of employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or, to the Company's knowledge, any CMA Employees.

  

(d)            Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there are no complaints, charges or claims by any CMA Employee against the Company or any Company Subsidiary (or, to the knowledge of the Company, against any third-party management company providing services to any Company Property pursuant to a Company Management Agreement) filed or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing to be brought or filed, with any Governmental Entity or arbitrator based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment of any individual by the Company or any Company Subsidiary (or any such third-party management company).

 

(e)            Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each Company Subsidiary (and, to the knowledge of the Company, each third-party management company providing services to any Company Property pursuant to a Company Management Agreement) is in compliance with all applicable collective bargaining agreements and all Laws relating to the employment of labor with respect to any CMA Employee, including all such Laws relating to wages, hours, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and any similar state or local "mass layoff" or "plant closing" Law ("WARN"), collective bargaining, discrimination, civil rights, affirmative action, safety and health, workers' compensation and the collection and payment of withholding and/or social security Taxes and any similar Tax; and (ii) there has been no "mass layoff" or "plant closing" as defined by WARN with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary (or, to the Company's knowledge, at any Company Property) within the last six (6) months. During the past three (3) years, to the Company's knowledge, no claims of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct have been brought against any executive officer or director of the Company or any executive or management employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the level of Vice President or above.

 

Section 3.13.          Tax Matters.

 

(a)            The Company and each Company Subsidiary has timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it and all such filed Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. Except as set forth on Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all material Taxes due and payable by or on behalf of the Company and each Company Subsidiary (whether or not shown on a Tax Return) have been fully and timely paid, and adequate reserves or accruals for Taxes have been provided in accordance with GAAP with respect to any period for which Tax Returns have not yet been filed or for which Taxes are not yet due and owing, assuming, solely for purposes of this Section 3.13(a), that the Company continues to qualify as a REIT following the Company Merger Effective Time until the end of the taxable year that includes the Company Merger Effective Time.

 

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(b)            The Company (i) for all taxable years commencing with the Company's taxable year ended December 31, 2017, through December 31, 2021, has been organized and operated in conformity for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code (a "REIT") and (ii) has not taken or omitted to take any action which would reasonably be expected to result in the Company's failure to qualify as a REIT, and no challenge to the Company's status or qualification as a REIT is pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened in writing by any Governmental Entity. The Company has distributed (or, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, was deemed to have distributed) all of its net taxable income for its taxable year ended December 31, 2021 and each prior taxable year. The Company has not been required to avail itself of any REIT "savings provisions" under the Code (including, but not limited to, those set forth in Sections 856(c)(6), 856(c)(7) or 856(g)(5) of the Code), and has not been required to pay any "deficiency dividends" (within the meaning of Section 860 of the Code), in either case, to permit the Company to avoid the loss of its REIT qualification or avoid U.S. federal income or excise Taxes. The Company does not have any earnings and profits attributable to itself or any other corporation accumulated in any non-REIT year within the meaning of Section 857 of the Code. The Company has not (x) engaged, directly or indirectly, in any action that could result in any "prohibited transaction" Tax pursuant to Section 857(b)(6) of the Code or, to the Company's knowledge, any material Tax on a non-arm's length transaction described in Section 857(b)(7) of the Code, (y) incurred any liability for any material Taxes under Sections 857(b)(1), 857(b)(4), 857(b)(5), 857(b)(6)(A), 857(b)(7), 857(f), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code or (z) sold any asset subject to Tax under Section 337(d) of the Code (and the applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder). Each lease by the Company or a Company Subsidiary to a TRS (or Subsidiary of a TRS) complies with Section 856(d)(8) of the Code.

  

(c)            Section 3.13(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth each Company Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of organization, and its classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of the date hereof (and, if a Company Subsidiary has filed an Entity Classification Election on IRS Form 8832, the effective date of such election). Each entity that is listed in Section 3.13(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter as a partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company has, since the later of the date of its formation and the date on which the Company acquired an interest in such an entity, been treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership or disregarded entity, as the case may be, and not as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation. Each entity that is listed in Section 3.13(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter as a corporation has, since the later of the date of its formation or the date on which the Company acquired an interest in such an entity, been treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a REIT, a "qualified REIT subsidiary" pursuant to Section 856(i) of the Code (a "QRS") or a "taxable REIT subsidiary" pursuant to Section 856(l) of the Code (a "TRS"), as set forth on such schedule. The Company does not own any equity interest in an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes other than an interest in a TRS or interests in money market mutual funds that are treated as "cash and cash items (including receivables)" under IRS Revenue Ruling 2012-17 (2012-25 I.R.B. 1018).

 

(d)            Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be subject to rules similar to Section 1374 of the Code (or otherwise result in any "built-in gains" Tax under Section 337(d) of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder), or any similar state tax regime.

 

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(e)            Except as set forth in Section 3.13(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries: (i) is not currently the subject of any audits, examinations, investigations or other proceedings in respect of any material Tax or Tax matter by any Governmental Entity; (ii) has not received any notice in writing from any Governmental Entity that such an audit, examination, investigation or other proceeding is contemplated or pending; (iii) has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a material Tax assessment or deficiency; (iv) has not received a request for waiver of the time to assess any material Taxes, which request is still pending; (v) is not contesting any liability for material Taxes before any Governmental Entity; (vi) is not subject to any written claim or deficiency by a Governmental Entity for any material Tax which has not been satisfied by payment, settled or been withdrawn (and, to the Company's knowledge, no such other claim or deficiency is pending); (vii) is not subject to any written claim by a Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where the Company or such Company Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns that the Company or such Company Subsidiary is or may be subject to material taxation by that jurisdiction, which claim has not been satisfied by payment, settled or been withdrawn (and, to the Company's knowledge, no such other claim is pending); (viii) has no outstanding requests for any Tax ruling from any Governmental Entity and has not received a Tax ruling; and (ix) is not the subject of a "closing agreement" within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code (or any comparable agreement under applicable state, local or foreign Tax Law).

  

(f)            The Company and the Company Subsidiaries (i) have at all times been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes, (ii) have duly and timely withheld from employee salaries, wages and other compensation and have paid over to the appropriate Governmental Entity all material amounts required to be withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws, (iii) have in all material respects properly completed and timely filed all IRS Forms W-2 and 1099 required thereof, and (iv) have collected and remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity all material sales and use Taxes, or have been furnished properly completed exemption certificates and have in all material respects maintained all such records and supporting documents in a manner required by all applicable sales and use Tax statutes and regulations.

 

(g)            Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries: (i) has agreed to make any material adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code, (ii) has any knowledge that the IRS has proposed, in writing, such an adjustment or a change in accounting method with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (iii) has any application pending with the IRS or any other Governmental Entity requesting permission for any change in accounting method, (iv) has deferred any Tax payments under Section 2302 of the CARES Act, IRS Notice 2020-65, or any similar U.S. federal, state or local Law, that have not been subsequently paid, or has taken, claimed or applied for any employee retention tax credit.

 

(h)            Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has participated in or has liability or obligation with respect to any "listed transaction" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

 

(i)            In the past two (2) years, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has been a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled corporation" in a distribution in which the parties to such distribution treated the distribution as one to which Section 355 of the Code or Section 361 of the Code is applicable.

 

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(j)            Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary: (i) is or has ever been a member of an affiliated group of corporations filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or any Company Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of any state, local, or foreign Law), by contract or as a transferee or successor

 

(k)            Except as set forth in Section 3.13(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no Liens for Taxes on the Company or any Company Subsidiary or their assets, other than Company Permitted Liens.

 

(l)            The Company has made available true, correct and complete copies of (i) all U.S. federal and state income tax returns of the Company and each Company Subsidiary for all taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2019, and all examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Company and each Company Subsidiary, and (ii) all transfer pricing, valuation and similar reports used by the Company and each Company Subsidiary in connection with setting lease terms (collectively, the "Transfer Pricing Reports"). The Company and each Company Subsidiary have at all times operated in compliance with the Transfer Pricing Reports.

 

(m)            Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is or has ever been bound by any Tax Protection Agreement.

 

Section 3.14.          Properties.

 

(a)            Section 3.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list in all material respects of the common name and address of each real property owned (in fee, leasehold or otherwise) by the Company or a Company Subsidiary or leased (including ground leased) by the Company or a Company Subsidiary as lessee, licensee, grantee, or sublessee as of the date hereof (all such hotel real property interests, together with all buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under such hotel real property interests and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such hotel real property interests, are individually referred to herein as a "Company Property"). As of the date of this Agreement, except as indicated on Section 3.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (x) there are no real properties that the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is or may be obligated to buy, lease or sublease on the date hereof or at some future date and (y) there are no real properties that the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries have under contract to be sold or assigned and, in each case, there are no commitment, letters of intent or similar arrangement with respect to the same that remain active. Except as set forth on Section 3.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has granted any unexpired options, rights of first refusal, first negotiation, or first offer or other purchase rights or preferential options with respect to the purchase or lease of any Company Property or any material assets of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries that remain in effect as of the date hereof. The Company Property is all the real property necessary and sufficient for operation of the hotels as operated as of the date hereof in all material respects. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have the right to use and operate all Company Property as currently used and operated in all material respects.

 

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(b)            The Company or the Company Subsidiaries own good and valid title to the Company Properties, in each case, free and clear of Liens, except for Company Permitted Liens, none of which Company Permitted Liens have had, and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)            There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Partnership, threatened condemnation, expropriation, eminent domain or rezoning proceeding affecting all or any portion of any of the Company Properties which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)            Section 3.14(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each Major Lease, together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals, guarantees and extensions related thereto (collectively, the "Major Lease Documentation"), including the parties thereto and the real properties to which they relate. The Company has provided the Parent Entities with true, complete and correct copies of all Major Leases and Major Lease Documentation. With respect to each Major Lease, (x) such Major Lease is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable against the Company or relevant Company Subsidiary, (y) the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary is not in breach, violation, or default under such Major Lease and, to the Company's knowledge, the applicable counterparty is not in breach, violation or default under such Major Lease, in each case, except for such defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (z) and none of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has received written notice that it has violated or is in default under such Major Lease or given written notice that any counterparty has violated or in in default under any Major Lease that in either case remains uncured at the date of this Agreement, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company or a Company Subsidiary has exclusive possession of each Company Property, other than the Major Leases and any use and occupancy rights granted to third party tenants, subtenants, concessionaires, hotel guests or licensees pursuant to Contracts with respect to such real property entered into in the ordinary course of business and other than Company Permitted Liens.

 

(e)            Section 3.14(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each Company Management Agreement and identifies each Company Property that is subject to such Company Management Agreement, the Company or the Company Subsidiary that is a party to such agreement, the date of such agreement and each amendment relating thereto. The Company has provided the Parent Entities with true, complete and correct copies of all Company Management Agreements. With respect to each Company Management Agreement, (x) such Company Management Agreement is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable against the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary, (y) other than as set forth in Section 3.14(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor the applicable Company Subsidiary is in breach, violation or default under such Company Management Agreement and, to the knowledge of the Company or the Partnership, the applicable counterparty is not in breach, violation or default, under such Company Management Agreement, in each case, except for such breaches, violations or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (z) and, other than as set forth in Section 3.14(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has received written notice that it has violated or is in breach, violation or default under such Company Management Agreement nor given any notice that its counterparty is in breach, violation or default under any such Company Management Agreement that in either case remains uncured at the date of this Agreement, except in the case of clauses (x), (y), and (z) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(f)            Section 3.14(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each Company Franchise Agreement and identifies each Company Property that is subject to such Company Franchise Agreement, the Company or the Company Subsidiary that is a party to such agreement, the date of such agreement and each amendment relating thereto. The Company has provided the Parent Entities with true, complete and correct copies of all Company Franchise Agreements. With respect to each Company Franchise Agreement, (x) such Company Franchise Agreement is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable against the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary, (y) neither the Company nor the applicable Company Subsidiary is in breach, violation or default under such Company Franchise Agreement and, to the knowledge of the Company or the Partnership, the applicable counterparty is not in breach, violation or default, under such Company Franchise Agreement and (z), except as set forth in Section 3.14(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the Company or any of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries has received written notice that it is in breach, violation or default under such Company Franchise Agreement nor given any notice that its counterparty is in breach, violation or default under such Company Franchise Agreement, except in the case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), (i) for violations or breaches or defaults that have been cured or (ii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(g)            Section 3.14(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each Ground Lease, together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals and extensions related thereto. The Company has provided the Parent Entities with true, complete and correct copies of all Ground Leases. With respect to each Ground Lease, (x) such Ground Lease is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable against the parties thereto, (y) neither the Company nor the applicable Company Subsidiary is in breach, violation or default under such Ground Lease and, to the Company's knowledge, the applicable counterparty is not in breach, violation or default, in each case, except for such defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (z) and none of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has received written notice that it has violated or is in default under such Ground Lease nor given any notice that its counterparty is in breach, violation or default under a Ground Lease that remains uncured, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(h)            The Company has provided Parent with true, complete and correct copies of owners' title policies with respect to each Company Property. For each Company Property, a policy of title insurance (each, a "Company Title Insurance Policy") has been issued insuring, as of the effective date of each such insurance policy, the estate reflected in such Company Title Insurance Policy. To the knowledge of the Company, each such policy is in full force and effect. No material claim has been made against any such policy that remains outstanding.

 

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(i)            Except as set forth in Section 3.14(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter or Section 5.1(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor any agent of either the Company or any Company Subsidiary is currently performing any capital projects, renovation or construction projects which project has aggregate projected costs in excess of $5,000,000 at any owned real property or leased real property.

 

(j)            Neither the Company nor a Company Subsidiary has received any notice from any insurance company that has issued a policy with respect to any Company Property or from any lender requiring performance of any material structural or other repairs or alterations to any Company Property, which repairs or alterations have not been completed. Section 3.14(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list that is, to the Company's knowledge, true and complete, of any Company Property all or any portion of which is subject to a historic, preservation, landmark, cultural or any other similar designation (a "Designation"). To the knowledge of the Company, each Company Property subject to a Designation is in compliance with all Laws imposed in connection with such Designation and the Company is compliant with all zoning and land use Laws and requirements, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(k)            To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have good and valid title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, or other right to use, all personal property owned, used or held for use by them (other than property owned by tenants and used or held in connection with the applicable tenancy), except as, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company's or any of the Company Subsidiaries' ownership of or leasehold interest in any such personal property is subject to any Liens, except for Company Permitted Liens.

 

Section 3.15.         Environmental Matters. (a) Except as set forth in Section 3.15 of the Company Disclosure Letter or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

 

(i)            to the knowledge of the Company or the Partnership, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is, or for the past two (2) years has been, in violation of any Environmental Laws;

 

(ii)            to the knowledge of the Company or the Partnership, each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has all Company Permits required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are, and for the past two (2) years have been, each in compliance with their requirements;

 

(iii)            there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Partnership, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Law against or affecting the Company or the Company Subsidiaries; and

 

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(iv)            to the knowledge of the Company or the Partnership, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order or obligation for clean-up or remedial action, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Entity, against or affecting the Company or the Company Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

 

(b)            The Company has provided or made available to the Parent Entities copies of all material environmental assessments, reports, audits and all material correspondence and documents relating to (i) any material claims or investigations pursuant to Environmental Law that are open or pending as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) any material orders, writs, injunctions, and judgments relating to violations of or compliance with any Environmental Law and that are in effect as of the date of this Agreement and (iii) any other material liabilities or obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries pursuant to Environmental Law, which liabilities or obligations are open or pending as of the date of this Agreement, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) that are in the possession of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.16.          Intellectual Property.

 

(a)            Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries own or have the right to use in the manner currently used all Intellectual Property used by the Company or any Company Subsidiary in, and that are material to, the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as currently conducted (the "Company Intellectual Property"), and (ii) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has received, in the twelve (12) months preceding the date hereof, any written charge, complaint, claim, demand or notice challenging the validity of or right to use any of the Company Intellectual Property.

 

(b)            To the knowledge of the Company or the Partnership, the conduct of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe upon any Intellectual Property rights, other than patents of any other Person, (i) to the knowledge of the Company, the conduct of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe upon any patents of any other Person and (ii) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has received, in the twelve (12) months preceding the date hereof, any written charge, complaint, claim, demand or notice alleging any such infringement of the Intellectual Property rights of any other Person by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries that has not been settled or otherwise fully resolved, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), except for such matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)            The Company IT Assets are adequate for, and operate as required by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in connection with, the operation of their business as conducted at the date of this Agreement in all material respects, and, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company IT Assets are free from (i) material bugs, errors, or defects and (ii) viruses, ransomware, worms, backdoors, or other malware intended to materially and adversely affect the functionality of any Company IT Asset or the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the Personal Information stored therein. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable anti-malware, backup, security, business continuity, and disaster recovery measures and technology.

 

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(d)            The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in material compliance with, and have since January 1, 2021 materially complied with, the Data Privacy/Security Requirements. To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 2021, there has been no (a) loss, damage, or unauthorized use, access, or disclosure, or other breach of security of the Personal Information maintained by the Company or any Company Subsidiary (including, but not limited to, any event that would give rise to a breach or incident for which notification by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to individuals and/or governmental authorities is required under Data Privacy/Security Requirements), (b) breach or unauthorized intrusion of the security of any Company IT Asset, or (c) suit, claim, action, inquiry, investigation or proceeding pending or threatened in writing by or against the Company or any Company Subsidiary concerning any Data Privacy/Security Requirement or compliance therewith or violation thereof.

 

Section 3.17.          Contracts.

 

(a)            All Contracts, including amendments thereto, required to be filed as an exhibit to any report of the Company filed on or after January 1, 2022 pursuant to the Exchange Act of the type described in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC have been filed.

 

(b)            Other than the Contracts described in Section 3.17(a), Section 3.17(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list, in each case as of the date hereof, of each Contract (or the accurate description of principal terms in case of oral Contracts), including all amendments, supplements and side letters thereto that modify each such Contract in any material respect, to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of their respective assets are subject (other than any of the foregoing solely between the Company and any of the wholly owned Company Subsidiaries or solely between any wholly owned Company Subsidiaries) that:

 

(i)            is a limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement or joint venture agreement or similar Contract (including Joint Venture Agreements) with a third party (or sets forth material terms of any such arrangement);

 

(ii)            contains covenants of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries purporting to limit, in any material respect, either the type of business in which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates may engage or the geographic area in which any of them may so engage, other than (w) Company Permitted Liens, (x) special purpose entity requirements contained in the Existing Loan Documents or other documents governing Indebtedness of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or replacements of the foregoing, (y) customary provisions entered into by the Company or a Company Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and contained in Major Leases, Ground Leases, Company Management Agreements or Company Franchise Agreements or (z) contained in other recorded documents by which real property was conveyed by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to any user;

 

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(iii)            (a) evidences Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (d) of the definition thereof in excess of $10,000,000 of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, whether unsecured or secured or (b) evidences any indebtedness secured by any Company Property and/or direct ownerships therein (such Contracts, the "Existing Loan Documents");

 

(iv)            except for any capital contribution requirements and covenants to fund working capital needs or required capital, in each case as set forth in the organizational documents of any Person set forth in Section 3.17(b)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Letter or in any Joint Venture Agreements, Company Management Agreements, Company Franchise Agreements, Existing Loan Documents or other documents governing Indebtedness of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (x) requires the Company or any Company Subsidiary to make any investment (in each case, in the form of a loan, capital contribution or similar transaction) in any non–wholly owned Company Subsidiary or other Person in excess of $2,000,000 or (y) evidences a loan (whether secured or unsecured) made to any other Person in excess of $1,000,000 (excluding ordinary course extensions of trade credit (such as funding of customer non-recurring charges) or rent relief);

 

(v)            any Contract (other than solely among the Company and one or more Company Subsidiaries) provides for the sale, assignment, ground lease or exchange of, or option to sell, assign, ground lease or exchange, any Company Property or any portion thereof, or for the purchase, assignment, assumption, lease, ground lease or exchange of, or option to purchase, assign, ground lease or exchange, any real estate;

 

(vi)            other than Contracts for ordinary repair and maintenance, any Contract (other than solely among the Company and one or more Company Subsidiaries) relating to the development or construction of, or renovations, additions or expansions to, the Company Properties, under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has, or expects to incur, an obligation under such Contract of (A) individually, $2,000,000 or more, or (B) collectively with all obligations under any other Contracts for the applicable project with respect to which such Contract has been entered, $5,000,000 or more;

 

(vii)            relates to the settlement (or proposed settlement) of any pending or threatened suit or proceeding, other than any settlement that provides solely for the payment of less than $4,000,000 in cash (net of any amount covered by insurance or indemnification that is reasonably expected to be received by the Company or any Company Subsidiary);

 

(viii)            is with any current executive officer or director of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, any stockholder of the Company beneficially owning 5% or more of outstanding Company Shares or, to the Company's knowledge, any member of the "immediate family" (as such term is defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act) or any affiliate of any of the foregoing;

 

(ix)            is a material Contract that relates to material Company IT Assets or Intellectual Property (other than (A) generally commercially available, off-the-shelf licenses or services agreements, with annual aggregate payments in an amount of $1,000,000 or less in fiscal year 2021 or expected in fiscal year 2022 or (B) non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course of business);

 

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(x)            is a lease, sublease, license or other occupancy agreement, in each case with respect to real property to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party as lessee, sublessee, licensee, or grantee;

 

(xi)            is (A) a golf course operation or management agreement with respect to any Company Property or to which the Company and any Company Subsidiary is a party or (B) any other Contract that relates to access, use, or operation of any golf course in connection with any Company Property or to which the Company and any Company Subsidiary is a party and, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B), is in the Company or any Company Subsidiary's possession;

 

(xii)            any Contract not otherwise described above, other than a Major Lease, a Ground Lease, a Company Management Agreement or a Company Franchise Agreement, that is a binding individual purchase order or statement of work that calls for or guarantees aggregate payments by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries of more than $10,000,000 over the remaining term of such binding individual purchase order or statement of work.

 

Each Contract of a type described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 3.17 is referred to herein as a "Company Material Contract." To the knowledge of the Company, the Company has made available to the Parent Entities true and complete copies of all Company Material Contracts as of the date hereof, including amendments and supplements thereto that modify each such Contract in any material respect.

 

(c)            Except as set forth in Section 3.17(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter (i) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in (or has received any written claim of) breach of or default under the terms of any Company Material Contract, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a breach or default thereunder by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, in each case, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no other party to any Company Material Contract (other than any Major Leases, Ground Leases, Company Franchise Agreements and Company Management Agreements which are addressed in Section 3.14) is in breach of or default under the terms of any Company Material Contract where such breach or default would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) each Company Material Contract is a valid and binding agreement of the Company or a Company Subsidiary, as applicable, and, to the knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto and is in full force and effect, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, in each case except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.18.        Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company Board has received the opinion of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the various matters, limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth therein: (a) the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of Class A Common Stock and (b) the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of Class T Common Stock (in each case, other than such shares held by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II and their respective affiliates) pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders of Company Common Stock (other than the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II and their respective affiliates). Promptly following execution of this Agreement, the Company will provide a copy of such opinion to the Parent Entities and their representatives for informational purposes only.

 

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Section 3.19.          Takeover Statutes. The Company has taken all action required to be taken by it in order to exempt this Agreement and the Mergers from, and this Agreement and the Mergers are exempt from, the requirements of any "moratorium", "control share", "fair price", "affiliate transaction", "business combination" or other takeover Laws and regulations, in the MGCL (including the Maryland Business Combination Act and Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act) or the DRULPA (collectively, "Takeover Statutes").

 

Section 3.20.          Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of Company Shares entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the Company Merger at the Company Shareholders' Meeting is the only vote required of the holders of any shares of stock or other equity securities of the Company to approve the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the "Company Requisite Vote"). Other than the written consent of the Company, as the general partner of the Partnership and the holder of Percentage Interests (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Percentage Interests (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) of the Partners (as defined in the Partnership Agreement), approving this Agreement, the Company Merger and the Partnership Merger (which written consent has been obtained), no vote or consent of the holders of any Partnership Units is necessary to approve the Partnership Merger, the Company Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no dissenters or appraisal rights will be available to any holder of Partnership Units.

 

Section 3.21.          Insurance. Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list of the material insurance policies held by, or for the benefit of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, including the insurer under such policies and the type of and amount of coverage thereunder. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (a) all insurance policies maintained by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in full force and effect, (b) all premiums due and payable thereon have been paid, and (c) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in breach of or default under any of such insurance policies. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2020, the Company has not received written notice of termination or cancellation or denial of coverage with respect to any insurance policy, or written notice of failure to renew any such insurance policy or refusal of coverage thereunder, or any other notice that such policies are no longer in full force or effect or that the issuer of any such policy is no longer willing or able to perform its obligations thereunder.

 

Section 3.22.          Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

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Section 3.23.          Brokers. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has entered into any agreement or arrangement entitling any broker, finder, investment banker or financial advisor to any broker's or finder's fee or other fee or commission in connection with the Mergers, other than Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Hodges Ward Elliott, Inc. The Company has furnished to the Parent Entities true and complete copies of all Contracts between the Company and each of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Hodges Ward Elliott, Inc. relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which agreements disclose all fees payable thereunder.

 

Section 3.24.          Acknowledgement of No Other Representations or Warranties.

 

(a)            Except for the representations and warranties in this Article III or in any certificate delivered by the Company or the Partnership to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, neither the Company, the Partnership nor any Person on behalf of the Company or the Partnership makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company, the Partnership or any other Company Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, operations, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects, or any estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information or business and strategic plan information regarding the Company, the Partnership and the other Company Subsidiaries or with respect to any other information provided or made available to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or their respective Representatives in connection with the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including any information, documents, projections, forecasts, estimates, predictions or other material made available to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or their respective Representatives in "data rooms," management presentations or due diligence sessions in expectation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II acknowledge the foregoing. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for the representations and warranties in this Article III neither the Company, the Partnership nor any other Person makes or has made any express or implied representation or warranty to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective Representatives with respect to (a) any financial projection, forecast, estimate, budget or prospect information relating to the Company, the Partnership, any of the other Company Subsidiaries or their respective businesses or (b) any oral or written information presented to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective Representatives in the course of their due diligence investigation of the Company and the Partnership, the negotiation of this Agreement or the course of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)            The Company and the Partnership hereby acknowledge that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article IV or in any certificate delivered by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to the Company or the Partnership, neither the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II nor any of their affiliates, nor any other Person on behalf of any of them, has made or is making any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective affiliates or their respective business or operations, including with respect to any information provided or made available to the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives. Except with respect to the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article IV or in any certificate delivered by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to the Company or the Partnership or any breach of any covenant or other agreement of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II contained herein, the Company and the Partnership hereby acknowledge that neither the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, nor any of their affiliates, nor any other Person on their behalf, will have or be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to the Company, the Partnership or any of their affiliates on any basis (including in contract or tort, under federal or state securities Laws or otherwise) based upon the delivery, dissemination or any other distribution to the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives, or the use by the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives, of any information, documents, projections, forecasts, estimates, predictions or other material made available to the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective affiliates or their respective Representatives in expectation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 3.24 do not limit the express representations and obligations of the Guarantor contained in the Guaranty.

 

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Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT ENTITIES,
MERGER SUB I AND MERGER SUB II

 

The Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company and the Partnership as follows:

 

Section 4.1.            Organization.

 

(a)            Each of the Parent Entities is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Each of the Parent Entities is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing under the Laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair, individually or in the aggregate, the ability of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to consummate the Mergers. Each of the Parent Entities has all requisite power and authority to own, operate, lease and encumber its properties and carry on its business as now conducted. The certificate of formation of each of the Parent Entities is in full force and effect, and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding any Parent Entity have been commenced.

 

(b)            Merger Sub I is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Merger Sub I is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing under the Laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair, individually or in the aggregate, the ability of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to consummate the Mergers. Merger Sub I has all requisite power and authority to own, operate, lease and encumber its properties and carry on its business as now conducted. The certificate of formation of Merger Sub I is in full force and effect, and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding Merger Sub I have been commenced. Merger Sub I, immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, will be treated as an entity disregarded as separate from the Parent Entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

(c)            Merger Sub II is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Merger Sub II is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing under the Laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair, individually or in the aggregate, the ability of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to consummate the Mergers. Merger Sub II has all requisite power and authority to own, operate, lease and encumber its properties and carry on its business as now conducted. The certificate of limited partnership and partnership agreement of Merger Sub II are in full force and effect, and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding Merger Sub II have been commenced.

 

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(d)            Each Parent Entity was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby, and it has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 4.2.            Authority. Each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II and the consummation by them of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company or limited partnership action on the part of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, as applicable, and, other than the filing of the Company Merger Articles of Merger with the SDAT, no additional limited liability company or limited partnership proceedings on the part of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of them or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Partnership) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

 

Section 4.3.            No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

 

(a)            None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or the consummation by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement or any equivalent organizational or governing documents of each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II; (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals and authorizations described in Section 4.3(b) have been obtained and all filings and notifications described in Section 4.3(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or any of their respective properties or assets; or (iii) require any consent or approval under, violate, conflict with, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), or result in termination or give to others any right of termination, vesting, amendment, acceleration, cancellation, purchase or sale under, or result in the triggering of any payment or creation of a Lien (other than a Company Permitted Lien) upon any of the respective properties or assets of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II pursuant to, any Contract to which the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II is a party (or by which any of their respective properties or assets (including rights) are bound) or any Permit held by it or them, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to consummate the Mergers.

 

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(b)            None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or the consummation by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will require (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing or registration with or notification to, any Governmental Entity with respect to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective properties or assets, other than (i) the filing of the Company Merger Articles of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Company Merger Articles of Merger by, with the SDAT, (ii) the filing of the Partnership Merger Certificate with the DSOS, (iii) compliance with, and such filings as may be required under, Environmental Laws, (iv) compliance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, (v) such filings as may be required in connection with the payment of any transfer and gain taxes and (vi) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits of, or to make such filings, registrations with or notifications to, any Governmental Entity would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to consummate the Mergers.

 

Section 4.4.            Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no suit, claim, action or proceeding to which the Parent Entities or any of its Subsidiaries is a party pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent Entities, threatened in writing against any of the Parent Entities or any of their Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. As of the date hereof, none of the Parent Entities or any of their Subsidiaries is subject to any outstanding order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 4.5.            Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission payable by the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective stockholders in connection with the Mergers based upon arrangements made by and on behalf of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 4.6.            Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or any of their Representatives specifically for inclusion (or incorporation by reference) in the Proxy Statement will, at the time the Proxy Statement is first mailed to the Company's stockholders or at the time of the Company Shareholders' Meeting, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

Section 4.7.            Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II.

 

(a)            All of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in Merger Sub I are, and immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time will be, owned by the Parent Entities or one or more of their affiliates. Merger Sub I was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby, and it has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and prior to the Company Merger Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)            All of the issued and outstanding limited partnership interests in Merger Sub II are, and immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time will be, owned by the Parent Entities. Merger Sub II GP, is, and immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time will be, the sole general partner of Merger Sub II. Merger Sub II was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby, and it has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(c)            None of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or any of their respective Subsidiaries owns any Excluded Shares or beneficially owns (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) any Company Shares or Partnership Units or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Company Shares or Partnership Units, or holds any rights to acquire or vote any Company Shares or Partnership Units, other than pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 4.8.            Sufficient Funds.

 

(a)            Assuming (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company in Section 3.5(a) and Section 3.8 and (ii) that the Debt Financing is funded in accordance with the Debt Commitment Letter, at the Closing the Parent Entities will have sufficient cash on hand to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and satisfy all of its obligations under this Agreement, including the payment of the Merger Consideration, any fees and expenses of or payable by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or the Surviving Company, any payments in respect of equity compensation obligations required to be made in connection with, or as a result of, the Mergers and any repayment or refinancing of any outstanding Indebtedness of the Parent Entities, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries required in connection therewith (collectively, the "Financing Purposes").

 

(b)            As of the date of this Agreement, the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II have received (i) an executed equity commitment letter dated as of date of this Agreement (the "Equity Commitment Letter") from the equity financing sources party thereto (the "Equity Financing Sources") pursuant to which the Equity Financing Sources have committed to provide the amount of cash equity financing as set forth in the Equity Commitment Letter, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein (the "Equity Financing"), and (ii) an executed debt commitment letter and executed fee letter associated therewith, each dated as of date of this Agreement (such commitment letter, and all attached exhibits, schedules, annexes that are delivered on date of this Agreement and amendments thereto permitted by the terms hereof and any fee letter delivered on the date of this Agreement (which fee letter may be redacted as described below), collectively, the "Debt Commitment Letter" and, together with the Equity Commitment Letter, the "Commitment Letters") from the lenders party thereto (collectively, the "Lenders"), pursuant to which the Lenders have committed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter, to provide to the Parent Entities the amount of financing set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter (the "Debt Financing" and, together with the Equity Financing, the "Financing") for the Financing Purposes.

 

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(c)            A true, correct and complete copy of each of the fully executed Equity Commitment Letter, the fully executed Debt Commitment Letter and the fee and engagement letters related to the Debt Commitment Letter, each as in effect on date of this Agreement has been provided to the Company except that, in the case of the Debt Commitment Letter and related fee and engagement letters, the fees and other commercially sensitive information therein (including provisions in such fee letter related solely to fees, "flex terms" and economic terms) may have been redacted; provided, however, that no redacted term provides that the aggregate amount or net cash proceeds of the Debt Financing set forth in the unredacted portion of the Debt Commitment Letter could be reduced below the amount necessary to satisfy the Financing Purposes, or adds any conditions, contingencies or affects the availability of all or any portion of the Debt Financing (other than any fees, expenses, original issue discounts and similar premiums and charges) or the enforceability of the Debt Commitment Letter.

 

(d)            As of date of this Agreement, (i) the Parent Entities have fully paid (or caused to be paid) all commitment and other fees, if any, required by the Commitment Letters (including the fee and engagement letters related to the Debt Commitment Letter) to be paid on or before date of this Agreement and (ii) each Commitment Letter (including the fee and engagement letters related to the Debt Commitment Letter) is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Parent Entities and, to the knowledge of the Parent Entities, each other party thereto, and in full force and effect, has not been (other than as permitted hereunder), amended, modified, withdrawn, terminated or rescinded in any respect, and no event has occurred which (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) would reasonably be expected to constitute a breach thereunder on the part of the Parent Entities.

 

(e)            There are no side letters or other agreements relating to the Commitment Letters (including the fee letter entered into in connection with the Debt Financing) that would (A) impair, delay or prevent the consummation of the Mergers, (B) reduce the aggregate amount of the Debt Financing (unless such reduction is matched with an equal increase of the Equity Financing under the Equity Commitment Letter and/or Replacement Financing), (C) impose new or additional conditions or otherwise expand, amend or modify any of the conditions to the receipt of the Financing or (D) otherwise reasonably be expected to adversely affect the ability of the Parent Entities to timely consummate the Mergers. Except as expressly set forth in the Equity Commitment Letter, there are no conditions precedent to the obligation of the Equity Financing Sources to provide the Equity Financing or any contingencies that would permit the Equity Financing Sources to reduce the total amount of Equity Financing.

 

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(f)            As of date of this Agreement, the Parent Entities do not have any reason to believe that any of the conditions to the Financing applicable to them will not be satisfied on a timely basis or that the Financing will not be available to the Parent Entities on the date on which the Closing should occur pursuant to Section 1.5. The obligations of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II under this Agreement are not conditioned in any manner upon the Parent Entities obtaining any financing.

 

Section 4.9.            Guaranty. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Parent Entities have delivered the Guaranty to the Company and the Partnership. The execution, delivery and performance of the Guaranty by the Guarantors and the consummation by the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Guarantors, and no additional corporate proceedings on the part of the Guarantors are necessary to authorize such execution, delivery, performance or consummation. The Guaranty has been duly executed by the Guarantors, is in full force and effect, has not been withdrawn or terminated or otherwise amended, supplemented or modified in any respect, and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Guarantors, enforceable against each Guarantor in accordance with and subject to its terms and conditions, except as enforceability may be limited by the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. No event has occurred which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, could constitute a default, breach or a failure to satisfy a condition under the terms and conditions on the part of the Guarantors under the Guaranty. Each Guarantor has, and at all times will have, for so long as the Guaranty shall remain in effect in accordance with the Guaranty, access to sufficient capital to satisfy in full the full amount of the guaranteed obligations under the Guaranty. The provisions of this Section 4.9 do not limit the express representations of the Guarantors contained in the Guaranty.

 

Section 4.10.          Solvency. Assuming that (a) the conditions to the obligation of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II to consummate the Mergers set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 have been satisfied or waived, (b) the representations and warranties set forth in Article III are true and correct, and (c) the most recent financial projections or forecasts provided by the Company to the Parent Entities prior to the date hereof have been prepared in good faith on assumptions that were reasonable at such time, then at and immediately following the Company Merger Effective Time and after giving effect to all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Parent Entities, the Surviving Company and each Subsidiary of the Surviving Company, including the Surviving Partnership, will have adequate capital available to carry on their respective business. The Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II are not entering into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors.

 

Section 4.11.          Absence of Certain Arrangements. None of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II nor any of their affiliates has entered into any Contract with any bank or investment bank or other potential provider of debt or equity financing on an exclusive basis in connection with any transaction involving the Company or the Partnership (or otherwise on terms that would prohibit such provider from providing or seeking to provide such financing to any third party in connection with a transaction relating to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries), except for such actions to which the Company has previously agreed in writing. Other than this Agreement, the Guaranties and the Confidentiality Agreement, as of the date hereof, there are no Contracts or any commitments to enter into any Contract between the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or any of their respective controlled affiliates, on the one hand, and any director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Company or the Partnership, on the other hand, relating to (a) (i) this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) the businesses or operations of the Surviving Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including as to continuing employment) after the Company Merger Effective Time or the Surviving Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries after the Partnership Merger Effective Time or (b) pursuant to which any (i) such holder of Company Shares would be entitled to receive consideration of a different amount or nature than the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration or the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration (as the case may be) in respect of such holder's Company Shares, (ii) such holder of Company Shares has agreed to vote against any Superior Proposal or (iii) such stockholder, director, officer, employee or other affiliate of the Company has agreed to provide, directly or indirectly, any equity investment to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, the Company or the Partnership to finance any portion of the Mergers.

 

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Section 4.12.          Tax Matters. The acquisition of the Company by the Parent Entities will not cause the Company to be "closely held" (as defined in Section 856(h) of the Code (taking into account Section 856(h)(3))) or otherwise cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT.

 

Section 4.13.          Acknowledgement of No Other Representations and Warranties. The Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II hereby acknowledge that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article III or in any certificate delivered by the Company or the Partnership to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, neither the Company, the Partnership nor any of their affiliates, nor any other Person on behalf of the Company or the Partnership, has made or is making any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective affiliates or their respective business or operations, including with respect to any information provided or made available to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives. Except with respect to the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article III or in any certificate delivered by the Company or the Partnership to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or any breach of any covenant or other agreement of the Company or the Partnership contained herein, the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II hereby acknowledge that neither the Company, the Partnership, nor any of their affiliates, nor any other Person on their behalf, will have or be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or any of their affiliates on any basis (including in contract or tort, under federal or state securities Laws or otherwise) based upon the delivery, dissemination or any other distribution to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives, or the use by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives, of any information, documents, projections, forecasts, estimates, predictions or other material made available to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or their respective affiliates and Representatives, including in "data rooms," management presentations or due diligence sessions, in expectation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II and their respective affiliates and Representatives have relied on the results of their own independent investigation and the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article III.

 

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Article V
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

 

Section 5.1.            Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Mergers. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Partnership Merger Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 7.1 (the "Interim Period"), except as (a) otherwise expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (b) as required by Law, (c) required to comply with COVID-19 Measures or otherwise taken (or not taken) by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries reasonably and in good faith to respond to COVID-19 Measures, after using commercially reasonable efforts to provide advance notice to and consult with the Parent Entities (if reasonably practicable) with respect thereto, (d) as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter or (e) to the extent that the Parent Entities shall otherwise consent in writing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to, in all material respects, use commercially reasonable efforts to carry on their respective businesses in the ordinary course of business and use its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact and maintain in all material respects its current business organization, goodwill, assets and significant relationships with material suppliers, material tenants, material creditors and material lessors and other Persons with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has material business relations, keep available the services of its then-current officers and key employees, and maintain the status of the Company as a REIT. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the Interim Period, the Company will not and the Company shall cause each Company Subsidiary not to (except as (v) expressly permitted or expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as expressly contemplated by the transactions contemplated hereby, (w) as required by Law, (x) as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (y) to the extent requested by the Parent Entities pursuant to Section 5.12 or otherwise or (z) to the extent that the Parent Entities shall otherwise consent in writing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned):

 

(a)            (i) amend the Company Charter or Company Bylaws, Certificate of Limited Partnership, Partnership Agreement, or similar organizational or governance documents of the Company or the Partnership or (ii) amend the organizational or governance documents of any other Company Subsidiary, other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)            authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver or agree or commit to issue, sell or deliver (whether through the issuance or granting of options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase, forward equity sales or otherwise) any shares of any class, partnership interests or any equity equivalents (including any stock options or stock appreciation rights) or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares, partnership interests or any equity equivalents (including any stock options or stock appreciation rights), except for the issuance or sale of shares of Company Common Stock or Partnership Units (i) pursuant to the exercise of the Company Warrants, (ii) as dividends of Series B Preferred Stock on outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, (iii) pursuant to awards granted under the Company Share Incentive Plan that are outstanding as of the date hereof, or (iv) issuable upon exchange or redemption of Partnership Units in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement or (v) as permitted under 5.1(f);

 

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(c)            (i) split, combine or reclassify any of their respective share capital, partnership interests or other equity interests; (ii) except (A) as permitted pursuant to Section 5.11, (B) for the declaration and payment of cash or stock dividends or other distributions on the Company Series B Preferred Stock and the Preferred Partnership Units in accordance with their respective terms, (C) in transactions between the Company and one or more wholly owned Company Subsidiaries or solely between wholly owned Company Subsidiaries, or (D) for dividends or other distributions by any Company Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational or governing documents of such Company Subsidiary, authorize, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, shares or property or any combination thereof) in respect of their respective stock, partnership interests or other equity interests or make any actual, constructive or deemed distribution in respect of any shares of their respective stock, partnership interests or other equity interests or otherwise make any payments to equityholders in their capacity as such; (iii) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of their respective securities or any securities of any of their respective Subsidiaries, except in the case of clause (iii) (A) as may be required by the Company Charter or the Partnership Agreement (including any redemption of Class A Partnership Units or Preferred Partnership Units in accordance with the Partnership Agreement) or the retention or acquisition of any Company Shares tendered by current or former employees or directors in order to pay Taxes in connection with the settlement of Company RSU Awards, pursuant to the terms of the Company Share Incentive Plan, (B) as may be reasonably necessary for the Company to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code or avoid the payment of any income or excise tax (provided, that prior to taking any action pursuant to this clause (B), the Company shall (x) provide written notification to the Parent Entities of such proposed action and the reason(s) such proposed action is required, and (y) consider in good faith any suggestions the Parent Entities may have that would avoid or mitigate the requirements for such action), (C) for special circumstances redemptions under the Company's redemption plan or (D) the exercise of the call option with respect to the Company Warrants; or (iv) enter into any Contract with respect to the voting or registration of any share of stock or other equity interest of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;

 

(d)            subject to the provisions of Section 5.6, authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt, or effect, or adopt or effect a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, conversion, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;

 

(e)            other than as set forth in Section 5.1(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) incur, assume, or guarantee any Indebtedness or issue any debt securities, or assume or guarantee any Indebtedness of any Person, except (x) intercompany indebtedness among the Company and/or any wholly owned Company Subsidiaries in the ordinary course, (y) the incurrence of Indebtedness to fund transactions permitted pursuant to Section 5.1(i) or Section 5.1(n) and (z) the incurrence of Indebtedness for borrowed money in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7,500,000, (ii) prepay, refinance or amend any Indebtedness, except for (A) intercompany indebtedness among the Company and/or any wholly owned Company Subsidiaries and (B) mandatory payments under the terms of any Indebtedness in accordance with its terms, or (iii) make loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in any Person (except (x) as required or permitted by the Contracts listed on Section 5.1(e)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as in effect on the date hereof, (y) in connection with transactions permitted pursuant to Section 5.1(i) or Section 5.1(n));

 

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(f)            except as required by the terms of any Company Employee Benefit Plan or as contemplated by Section 5.9, (i) enter into, adopt, amend in any material respect or terminate any Company Employee Benefit Plan, (ii) enter into, adopt, amend or terminate any agreement, arrangement, plan or policy between the Company or any Company Subsidiary and one or more of their directors or executive officers, (iii) increase in any manner the compensation or fringe benefits of any employee, officer or director, except for (x) increases that in the aggregate do not exceed 10% of employees' salaries and wages and (y) if the Company Merger Effective Time has not occurred prior to or on December 1, 2022, increases in annual cash bonuses and restricted stock awards (I) by not more than 10% above the target amounts for the 2022 performance year, in the case of non-executive employees, and (II) by not more than the outperformance or "stretch" amounts approved by the Company Board's Compensation Committee (in the exercise of its reasonable judgement), in the case of members of the Company's Management Committee, (iv) grant to any officer, director or employee the right to receive any new severance, change of control or termination pay or termination benefits or any increase in the right to receive any severance, change of control or termination pay or termination benefits, except for (x) up to $4,000,000 of retention compensation and benefits set forth in Section 5.1(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter and (y) the adoption of a severance plan providing for the severance terms set forth in Section 5.1(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (v) except as otherwise provided in Section 5.1(f)(iv), enter into any new employment, loan, retention, consulting, indemnification, change-in-control, termination or similar agreement, (vi) grant any awards under any bonus, incentive, performance or other compensation plan or arrangement or Company Employee Benefit Plan (including the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock based or stock related awards, performance units, restricted stock, or long-term incentive plan units), except as permitted under Section 5.1(f)(iv), (vii) hire any new executive officer or any new employee who is not an executive officer other than with respect to a non-executive officer employee with a prospective total compensation package, including target base salary, cash bonus, and equity restricted stock award, of not more than $400,000, or (viii) take any action to fund, accelerate or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any employee plan, agreement, contract or arrangement or Company Employee Benefit Plan, except that the Company shall be permitted to accelerate the payment of annual cash bonuses for calendar year 2022 to a date prior to the Closing Date, up to an aggregate amount of $4,229,000;

 

(g)            other than as set forth in Section 5.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter and (i) other than in the ordinary course of business, sell, transfer, assign, dispose of, pledge or encumber (other than Company Permitted Liens) any material personal property, equipment or assets (other than as set forth in clause (ii) below) of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or (ii) except in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(e) and any execution of Major Leases, Ground Leases, Company Management Agreements and Company Franchise Agreements entered into in accordance with Section 5.1(n), sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of, lease, ground lease, license or encumber (other than Company Permitted Liens) any real property (including Company Property), except, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), for the execution of easements, covenants, rights of way, restrictions and other similar instruments in the ordinary course of business that, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially impair the existing use, operation or value of the property or asset affected by the applicable instrument;

 

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(h)            except as may be required as a result of a change in Law or in GAAP or statutory or regulatory accounting rules or interpretations with respect thereto or by any Governmental Entity or quasi-governmental authority (including the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any similar organization), make any material change in any financial accounting policies or financial accounting procedures that would materially affect the consolidated assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries;

 

(i)            except as set forth in Section 5.1(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, acquire (whether by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise) any interest in any Person (or equity interests thereof) or any assets, real property, personal property, equipment, business or other rights, other than (i) acquisitions of personal property and equipment in the ordinary course of business (including in connection with new development, construction, addition, expansion or renovation not otherwise prohibited by this Section 5.1) for consideration that does not individually or in the aggregate exceed $5,000,000, (ii) pursuant to existing contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary set forth on Section 5.1(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (iii) any other acquisitions of assets or businesses (excluding purchases of real property or a ground lease interest therein) pursuant to Contracts listed in Section 5.1(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter; and (iv) any acquisitions of real property (or a ground lease therein) pursuant to Contracts listed in Section 5.1(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter;

 

(j)            except (x) in each case if the Company determines, after prior consultation with the Parent Entities, that such action is reasonably necessary to preserve the status of the Company as a REIT or to preserve the status of any Company Subsidiary as a partnership, disregarded entity, or TRS for U.S. federal tax purposes, and (y) except in the case of clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of this Section 5.1(j), or as set forth in Section 5.1(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) file any material Tax Return that is materially inconsistent with a previously filed Tax Return of the same type for a prior taxable period (taking into account any amendments), (ii) make or change any material Tax election in a manner inconsistent with past practice (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company from designating dividends paid by it as "capital gain dividends" within the meaning of Section 857 of the Code), (iii) settle or compromise any Tax claim or assessment by any Governmental Entity for an amount payable by the Company or any Company Subsidiary in excess of $100,000 individually, or $500,000 in the aggregate, (iv) change any accounting method with respect to Taxes, (v) enter into any material closing agreement with a taxing authority, (vi) request any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment (other than in the ordinary course of business), (vii) surrender any right to a material Tax refund, or (vii) request any private letter ruling or similar ruling from any taxing authority;

 

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(k)            settle or compromise any claim, suit or proceeding against the Company or any Company Subsidiary (or for which the Company or any Company Subsidiary would be financially responsible) (whether or not commenced prior to the date of this Agreement), except for (i) settlements or compromises providing solely for payment of amounts less than $5,000,000 individually, or $10,000,000 in the aggregate, or (ii) claims, suits or proceedings arising from the ordinary course of operations of the Company involving collection matters (to the extent the Company is the defendant) or personal injury which are fully covered by adequate insurance (subject to customary deductibles); provided, that in no event shall the Company or any Company Subsidiary settle any Transaction Litigation except in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.5(c) (for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.1(k) shall not apply to any claim, suit or proceeding with respect to Taxes, as such Tax matters are provided for in Section 5.1(j));

 

(l)            enter into any new line of business;

 

(m)            (i) amend in any material respect or terminate (except as may be required under the terms thereof), or waive compliance with the material terms of or material breaches under, or assign, or renew or extend (except as may be required under the terms thereof) any Major Lease, Ground Lease, Company Management Agreement or Company Franchise Agreement, (ii) amend or terminate, or waive compliance with the terms of or breaches under, or assign, or renew or extend (except as may be required under the terms thereof) any other Company Material Contract or (iii) enter into a new Contract that, (A) if entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, would have been a Company Material Contract except to effect any matter that is otherwise permitted by the other subsections of this Section 5.1 or (B) contains a change of control or similar provision that would require a payment, consent or acceleration of rights to the other party or parties thereto in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including in combination with any other event or circumstance), except in connection with the refinancings of Indebtedness set forth in, and in accordance with, Section 5.1(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided, however, that if the Parent Entities fail to respond to the Company's written request for approval of any such action (which response may include a request for additional information) within 72 hours of receipt of any such request made to each of the Persons set forth on Schedule B hereto in the manner set forth in Section 8.3, the Parent Entities shall be deemed to have given its written consent to such action;

 

(n)            except as set forth in Section 5.1(n) of the Company Disclosure Letter, make, enter into any Contract for, or otherwise commit to, any capital expenditures (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include acquisitions) on, relating to or adjacent to any Company Property; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any Company Subsidiary shall be permitted to make, enter into Contracts for or otherwise commit to: (i) capital expenditures as required by Law, (ii) emergency capital expenditures in any amount that the Company determines is necessary in its reasonable judgment to maintain its ability to operate its businesses in the ordinary course and (iii) capital expenditures in an aggregate amount prior to the Closing of $5,000,000;

 

(o)            make any loans, advances, investments or capital contributions to any Person (other than the Company or any wholly owned Company Subsidiary) in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate, except (i) as required under the applicable organizational or governance documents of an entity as the same may be amended in accordance with this Agreement (provided that the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary has exercised all of its respective rights under such organizational or governance documents), (ii) as necessary to enable the Company, any Company Subsidiary, any joint venture or any Company Property to maintain compliance with covenants and obligations under Major Leases, Ground Leases, Company Management Agreements, Company Franchise Agreements, condominium documents and other Contracts, or (iii) as may be reasonably necessary to enable a Company Subsidiary to pay operating expenses and meet obligations as they come due;

 

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(p)            (i) consent to any amendment or modification of the terms of any existing joint venture that would reduce or diminish the Company's rights thereunder as managing member or general partner thereof, (ii) take any binding action with respect to any major decision, buy / sell, right of first offer, right of first refusal, forced sale, buyout, deadlock or other similar rights under any existing joint venture, other than major decisions involving the approval of Company Property-level budgets, capital expenditures permitted under Section 5.1(n) and entry into Contracts that are otherwise permitted by this Section 5.1(p) or (iii) take any binding action under any existing joint venture, including, without limitation, resigning as managing member or general partner thereof, that would reduce or diminish its rights thereunder; provided, however, that if the Parent Entities fail to respond to the Company's written request for approval of any such action (which response may include a request for additional information) within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of any such request made to each of the Persons set forth on Schedule B hereto in the manner set forth in Section 8.3, the Parent Entities shall be deemed to have given their written consent to such action;

 

(q)            (i) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in full force and effect the existing insurance policies (or to replace such insurance policies with comparable insurance policies) covering the Company or any Company Subsidiary and their respective properties, assets and businesses (including Company Properties); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be construed to require the Company or any Company Subsidiary to maintain or replace insurance policies owned by third party managers of the Company's hotel properties or (ii) agree to any material condemnation or payment of material condemnation proceeds;

 

(r)            enter into, modify or terminate any Tax Protection Agreement;

 

(s)            except as may be required as a result of a change in applicable Law, change (i) any posted privacy policy in any manner that is materially adverse to the rights or obligations of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries under such policy or (ii) materially diminish the standards of data and system security used for any material Company IT Asset; or

 

(t)            authorize or enter into any Contract or arrangement to do any of the actions described in Section 5.1(a) through Section 5.1(s).

 

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Company, the Partnership or any other Company Subsidiary prior to the Company Merger Effective Time or the Partnership Merger Effective Time, as applicable. Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time or the Partnership Merger Effective Time, as applicable, the Company, the Partnership, and the other Company Subsidiaries, as applicable, shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete unilateral control and supervision over its business operations.

 

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Section 5.2.      Access to Information.

 

(a)            During the Interim Period, the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to, (i) give the Parent Entities and its authorized Representatives and potential counterparties to Asset Sales and their respective Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, and upon reasonable advance notice, to all properties, facilities, personnel and books and records of the Company and each Company Subsidiary in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the operation of any business conducted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary and (ii) permit such inspections as the Parent Entities or any such counterparty may reasonably require and promptly furnish the Parent Entities or any such counterparty with such financial and operating data and other information with respect to the business, properties and personnel of the Company and each Company Subsidiary as the Parent Entities or such counterparty may reasonably request; provided that (x) all such access shall be coordinated through the Company or its designated Representatives, in each case in a manner so as not to interfere in any material respect with the normal business operations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary and in accordance with such reasonable procedures as they may establish (including any requirements or guidelines reasonably necessary in response to or related to COVID-19) and (y) all such counterparties to Asset Sales shall have entered into a customary non-disclosure agreement with the Company; provided, further, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Parent Entities and its affiliates and any such counterparty shall not conduct any environmental investigation at any Company Property involving sampling or other intrusive investigation of air, surface water, groundwater, soil or anything else at or in connection with any Company Property without the prior approval of the Company; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to (or to cause any Company Subsidiary to) afford such access or furnish such information to the extent that the Company believes in good faith that doing so would be reasonably likely to: (I) result in a risk of loss or waiver of attorney-client privilege, attorney work product or other legal privilege; (II) violate any obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with respect to confidentiality to any third party or otherwise breach, contravene or violate any Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is party; or (III) breach, contravene or violate any applicable Law (provided that the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allow for such access or disclosure in a manner that does not result in the events set out in clauses (I) through (III)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may satisfy its obligations set forth above with respect to the provision of access to information or personnel by electronic means if, and to the extent, physical access is not reasonably feasible as a result of COVID-19 or any COVID-19 Measures or would not be permitted under applicable Law. No investigation under this Section 5.2(a) or otherwise shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the Company or the Partnership or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement or limit or otherwise affect the rights or remedies available hereunder. Without limitation to the foregoing, prior to Closing, Parent together with its counsel shall have the right to continue its REIT and U.S. federal income tax compliance analysis of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, whether internally and/or through the use of a third-party accounting firm (the "REIT Accountant") and/or legal counsel. In connection therewith, the Company shall promptly provide all information reasonably requested by Parent and/or the REIT Accountant to confirm the Company's compliance with all applicable requirements related to the qualification of the Company as a REIT.

 

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(b)            Except as permitted pursuant to Section 5.2(a), the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II will hold and will cause their authorized Representatives to hold in confidence all documents and information concerning the Company and the Company Subsidiaries made available or provided to them or their Representatives by the Company, the Partnership or their Representatives in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the terms of that certain Non-Disclosure Agreement entered into between the Company and BGP Acquisitions LLC, dated February 4, 2022 (the "Confidentiality Agreement"); provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any information provided to the Financing Sources shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of the Debt Commitment Letter and/or "click-through" or similar confidentiality arrangements customarily included on syndication platforms or in confidential information memoranda.

 

(c)            Prior to the Closing, the Company shall use, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives (including the Company and the Company Subsidiaries' management teams) to use, their commercially reasonable efforts, at the sole cost and expense of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, to provide such cooperation with the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II in connection with any potential corporate restructuring of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries or potential sale of assets of the Company (the "Asset Sales") to affiliates of the Parent Entities or third parties (any such corporate restructuring and Asset Sales, the "Parent Approved Transactions") as reasonably requested by the Parent Entities (provided that such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries), including (but not limited to) using commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)            form new direct or indirect Company Subsidiaries pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Parent Entities;

 

(ii)            provided such actions would not adversely affect the Tax status of the Company or Company Subsidiaries, and are consummated no earlier than immediately prior to the Closing, and conditioned upon the Closing occurring, transfer or otherwise restructure its ownership of existing Company Subsidiaries, properties or other assets, in each case, pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Parent Entities;

 

(iii)            cause the Company's and the Company Subsidiaries' (and their respective Representatives') management teams, with appropriate seniority and expertise, to participate in a reasonable number of meetings, management presentations, due diligence sessions, drafting sessions, calls and meetings with prospective acquirers, in each case, upon reasonable notice at mutually agreed times and places;

 

(iv)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with the preparation of customary materials for management presentations, confidential information memoranda and similar documents reasonably necessary in connection with the Asset Sales, and assisting with the identification of any portion of the information that constitutes material non-public information;

 

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(v)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with the preparation of definitive documents relating to the Asset Sales, and any certificates and schedules related thereto;

 

(vi)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with obtaining third- party consents to the Asset Sales, and assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with the preparation of any required notices or similar documents, in each case, as may reasonably be requested by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, including, if required (as reasonably determined by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II), consent from third parties to existing joint-venture agreements, financing documents, property management agreements, ground leases, tax credit agreements, and purchase and sale agreements;

 

(vii)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II in the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II obtaining surveys and title insurance as reasonably requested by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, including by providing title affidavits or similar documents required by a nationally-recognized title company for (A) the deletion of any standard or pre- printed exceptions in any title insurance policies or pro forma or (B) the satisfaction of any requirement set forth in any title commitment and, to the extent appropriate, appraisals of real property and assist in obtaining assignments or similar documents as reasonably requested by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II;

 

(viii)            engage advisors and brokers as reasonably requested by the Parent Entities, provided the Company is afforded the opportunity to review such engagement agreements in advance and such agreements do not impose any obligations on the Company or any Company Subsidiary (other than monetary obligations and indemnification obligations for which the Parent Entities will be responsible in accordance with the last sentence of this Section 5.2(c)) that will survive termination of this Agreement; and

 

(ix)            subject to Section 5.2(a), provide the Parent Entities and their Representatives reasonable access to the Company and its Subsidiaries' properties and enter into customary engagements regarding the scope of such access.

 

At the written request of the Parent Entities, the Company shall, and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to, execute definitive documents relating to any Asset Sales, and any certificates, instruments and documents related thereto, provided that any such Asset Sale shall be conditioned upon the Closing occurring (or upon the immediate pendency of the Closing) and shall be consummated at such time as shall be specified by the Parent Entities but no earlier than immediately prior to the Closing.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.2(c): (i) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries shall be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 5.2(c) in contravention of (A) any organizational document of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, (B) any Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party (or by which any of their respective properties or assets (including rights) are bound) or any Company Permit, or (C) applicable Law; (ii) any Asset Sales or other Parent Approved Transactions, and any obligations of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to incur any liabilities with respect thereto, shall be contingent upon all of the conditions set forth in Article VI having been satisfied (or, with respect to Section 6.2, waived) and receipt by the Company of a written notice from the Parent Entities to such effect and that the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II are prepared to proceed immediately with the Closing and any other evidence reasonably requested by the Company that the Closing will occur, (iii) such actions (or the inability to complete such actions) under this Section 5.2(c) shall not affect or modify in any respect the obligations of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II under this Agreement, including the amount of or timing of payment of the Merger Consideration, and (iv) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries shall be required to take any such action pursuant to this Section 5.2(c) that could adversely affect the classification of the Company or any Company Subsidiary that is classified as a REIT, as a REIT. Such actions or transactions shall be undertaken in the manner (including in the order) specified by Parent and shall be subject to the limits set forth above, except as agreed by Parent and the Company.  Without limiting the foregoing, none of the representations, warranties or covenants of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries shall be deemed to apply to, or be deemed to be breached or violated by, the transactions or cooperation contemplated by this Section 5.2(c). The Parent Entities shall, promptly upon request by the Company, reimburse the Company for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries in performing their obligations under this Section 5.2(c) and the Parent Entities, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries arising therefrom (and in the event the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not consummated, the Parent Entities shall promptly reimburse the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries not previously reimbursed); provided, however, that if the Company consummates any Asset Sale (x) that is not contingent upon the Closing or (y) following the termination of this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for all out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries related to such Asset Sale.

 

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Section 5.3.      Proxy Statement.

 

(a)            As promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare a proxy statement (together with any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, the "Proxy Statement") and, after consultation with, and approval by, the Parent Entities (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), file the preliminary Proxy Statement with the SEC. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file the preliminary Proxy Statement with the SEC no later than twenty (20) Business Days after the date of this Agreement. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) obtain and furnish the information required to be included by the SEC in the Proxy Statement, and respond, after consultation with the Parent Entities, promptly to any comments made by the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement; and (ii) promptly upon the earlier of (A) receiving notification that the SEC is not reviewing the preliminary Proxy Statement and (B) the conclusion of any SEC review of the preliminary Proxy Statement, cause the definitive Proxy Statement to be mailed to the Company's stockholders and, if necessary, after the definitive Proxy Statement shall have been so mailed, promptly circulate amended or supplemental proxy materials and, if required in connection therewith, resolicit proxies; provided, however, that no such amended or supplemental proxy materials will be filed with the SEC or mailed by the Company without affording the Parent Entities a reasonable opportunity for consultation and review, and the Company shall consider in good faith any comments on such materials reasonably proposed by the Parent Entities. The Company will promptly notify the Parent Entities of the receipt of comments from the SEC and of any request from the SEC for amendments or supplements to the preliminary Proxy Statement or definitive Proxy Statement or for additional information, and will promptly supply the Parent Entities with copies of all written correspondence between the Company or its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or members of its staff, on the other hand, with respect to the preliminary Proxy Statement, the definitive Proxy Statement, the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Prior to responding to any comments of the SEC or members of its staff, the Company shall provide the Parent Entities with a reasonable opportunity to consult and review such response and the Company shall consider in good faith any comments on such response reasonably proposed by the Parent Entities. The Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II will cooperate with the Company in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement, including promptly furnishing to the Company any and all information regarding the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II and their respective affiliates as may be required to be disclosed therein. The Proxy Statement shall contain the Company Recommendation, except to the extent that the Company Board shall have effected an Adverse Recommendation Change, as permitted by and determined in accordance with Section 5.6.

 

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(b)            If at any time prior to the Company Shareholders' Meeting any event or circumstance relating to the Company or the Parent Entities or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or their respective officers or directors, should be discovered by the Company or the Parent Entities, as the case may be, which, pursuant to the Exchange Act, should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Proxy Statement, so that the Proxy Statement would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company or the Parent Entities, as the case may be, shall promptly inform the other party hereto, and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminated to the Company's stockholders. All documents that the Company is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Mergers will comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Section 5.4.      Company Shareholders' Meeting. The Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Proxy Statement is cleared by the SEC for mailing to the Company's stockholders in accordance with Section 5.3(a), duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of the holders of the Company Shares (the "Company Shareholders' Meeting") for the purpose of seeking the Company Requisite Vote. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to commence mailing the Proxy Statement to shareholders no later than five (5) Business Days following clearance of the Proxy Statement by the SEC. The Company, through the Company Board, shall recommend to holders of the Company Shares that they vote in favor of the Company Merger so that the Company may obtain the Company Requisite Vote (the "Company Recommendation") and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to solicit the Company Requisite Vote (including by soliciting proxies from the Company's stockholders), except in each case to the extent that the Company Board shall have effected an Adverse Recommendation Change, as permitted by and determined in accordance with Section 5.6. The Company shall keep the Parent Entities reasonably informed with respect to proxy solicitation activities and daily vote tallies as reasonably requested by the Parent Entities. Unless this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Company shall not submit to the vote of its stockholders any Company Acquisition Proposal other than the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company may (and at the written request of the Parent Entities shall) adjourn or postpone the Company Shareholders' Meeting after consultation with the Parent Entities (A) to the extent necessary to ensure that any required supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement is provided to the holders of Company Shares within a reasonable amount of time in advance of a vote on the Company Merger, (B) if additional time is reasonably required to solicit proxies in favor of the approval of the Company Merger or (C) if there are insufficient Company Shares represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Company Shareholders' Meeting; provided that in the case of clause (B) or clause (C), without the written consent of the Parent Entities, in no event shall the Company Shareholders' Meeting (as so postponed or adjourned) be held on a date that is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the Company Shareholders' Meeting was originally scheduled. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with Article VII, the obligations of the Company with respect to calling, giving notice of, convening and holding the Company Shareholders' Meeting and mailing the Proxy Statement (and any amendment or supplement thereto that may be required by Law) to the Company's stockholders shall not be affected by an Adverse Recommendation Change.

 

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Section 5.5.      Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings.

 

(a)            Each party hereto shall: (i) give the other parties prompt notice of the making or commencement of any request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity with respect to the Mergers; (ii) keep the other parties informed as to the status of any such request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding and (iii) promptly inform the other parties of (and provide copies of) any substantive communications to or from any Governmental Entity and keep the other parties reasonably informed regarding any substantive communications to or from a third party, in each case regarding the Mergers or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each party hereto will have the right to review in advance, and each party will consult and cooperate with the other parties and will consider in good faith the views of the other parties in connection with, any filing, analysis, appearance, presentation, memorandum, brief, argument, opinion or proposal made or submitted to any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, except as may be prohibited by any Governmental Entity or by any Law, in connection with any such request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding, each party hereto will permit authorized Representatives of the other parties to be present at each meeting or conference relating to such request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding and to have access to and be consulted in connection with any document, opinion or proposal made or submitted in writing to any Governmental Entity in connection with such request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding.

 

(b)            Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Mergers as promptly as practicable and to cause to be satisfied all conditions precedent to its obligations under this Agreement, including, to the extent consistent with the foregoing, (i) preparing and filing as promptly as practicable with the objective of being in a position to consummate the Mergers as promptly as practicable following the date of the Company Shareholders' Meeting, all documentation to effect all necessary or advisable applications, notices, petitions, filings, and other documents and to obtain as promptly as practicable all consents, waivers, licenses, orders, registrations, approvals, permits, rulings, authorizations and clearances necessary or advisable to be obtained from any Governmental Entity or any holder of Company Common Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any that are required to be obtained under any applicable federal, state or local Law, (ii) contesting, litigating and defending all lawsuits or other legal proceedings against it or any of its affiliates relating to or challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Mergers ("Transaction Litigation"), (iii) effecting all necessary or advisable registrations and other filings required under the Exchange Act or any other federal, state or local Law relating to the Mergers, and (iv) delivering an executed REIT Officer's Certificate for purposes of counsel's delivery of the REIT Qualification Opinion. The Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, the Company and the Partnership each shall promptly obtain and furnish the other (A) the information which may be reasonably required in order to make all necessary or advisable applications, notices, petitions and filings with any Governmental Entity and (B) any additional information which may be requested by a Governmental Entity and which the parties reasonably deem appropriate. Any information or materials provided to the other parties pursuant to this Section 5.5 may be provided on an "outside counsel only" basis, if appropriate, and that information or materials may also be redacted as necessary to (1) remove references concerning the valuation of the Company and the Partnership or other competitively sensitive materials, (2) comply with contractual arrangements and obligations or (3) address reasonable attorney-client or other privilege or confidentiality concerns.

 

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(c)            Without limiting the generality of the undertaking pursuant to this Section 5.5, the Parent Entities shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to, take any and all actions to avoid the entry of, and resist, vacate, modify, reverse, suspend, prevent, eliminate or remove any actual, anticipated or threatened temporary, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree, decision, determination or judgment entered or issued, or that becomes reasonably foreseeable to be entered or issued, in any proceeding or inquiry of any kind, in each case that would reasonably be expected to delay, restrain, prevent, enjoin or otherwise prohibit or make unlawful the consummation of the Mergers, including becoming subject to, consenting to, or offering or agreeing to, or otherwise taking any action with respect to, any requirement, condition, limitation, contract or order to (i) sell, license, assign, transfer, divest, hold separate or otherwise dispose of any assets, business or portion of business of the Company, the Surviving Company, the Partnership, the Surviving Partnership, the Parent Entities or any of their respective Subsidiaries, (ii) conduct, restrict, operate, invest or otherwise change the assets, business or portion of business of the Company, the Surviving Company, the Partnership, the Surviving Partnership, the Parent Entities or any of their respective Subsidiaries in any manner or (iii) impose any restriction, requirement or limitation on the operation of the business or portion of the business of the Company, the Surviving Company, the Partnership, the Surviving Partnership or any of their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that none of the Company, the Surviving Company, the Partnership, the Surviving Partnership, the Parent Entities or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be required to take any of the actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) unless the effectiveness of such action is conditioned upon the Closing. In no event shall the Company, the Surviving Company, the Partnership, the Surviving Partnership or any of their respective affiliates propose to any Governmental Entity or third party, negotiate, effect or agree to any action contemplated by clauses (i) through (iii) above without the prior written consent of the Parent Entities.

 

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(d)            The parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all third-party consents reasonably requested by the Parent Entities and required in connection with the Mergers. The Parent Entities shall, in consultation with the Company, prepare all notices or similar documents reasonably determined by the Parent Entities, in consultation with the Company, to be required in connection with the Mergers, including consents from third parties to existing joint-venture agreements, financing documents, property management agreements, ground leases, tax credit agreements, and purchase and sale agreements and any notice required pursuant to right of first offer or right of first refusal provisions contained in any Contract or other instrument to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound; providedhowever, that the Company shall not be required under this Section 5.5(d) to compensate any third party, make any accommodation commitment or incur any liability or obligation to any third party to obtain any such consent or approval, unless the Parent Entities or their affiliates agree to compensate any such third party on the Company's behalf or to promptly reimburse the Company for any payments made or liabilities to any such third party, in each case in connection with obtaining such consents or approvals, and the Company shall not compensate or agree to compensate any such third party, make any accommodation commitment or incur any liability or obligation to any such third party in connection with obtaining such consents or approvals without the prior written consent of the Parent Entities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II acknowledge and agree that it is not a condition to the Closing to obtain any third-party consents or to delivery any notices or similar documents to third parties and (ii) a breach by the Company or its Subsidiaries of their obligations under this Section 5.5(d) shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or a breach for purposes of Article VI or Article VII or a breach of the condition precedent set forth in Section 6.2(b), unless such breach is a willful and material breach on the part of the Company.

 

(e)            Each party shall keep the other parties reasonably informed regarding any Transaction Litigation. The Company shall promptly advise the Parent Entities in writing of the initiation of and any material developments regarding, and shall reasonably consult with and permit the Parent Entities and their Representatives to participate in the defense, negotiations or settlement of, any Transaction Litigation. The Company shall not and shall not permit any Company Subsidiaries nor any of its or their Representatives to, compromise or settle any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of the Parent Entities (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

(f)            Each of the Company and the Parent Entities shall (i) take all action necessary so that no Takeover Statute is or becomes applicable to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, this Agreement, the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) if any Takeover Statute becomes applicable to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, this Agreement, the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby, take all action necessary so that the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to minimize the effect of such Takeover Statute on the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(g)            Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall cooperate with the Parent Entities and use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under applicable Laws to cause the deregistration of the Class A Common Stock and Class T Common Stock under the Exchange Act.

 

(h)            After the Closing Date, the Parent Entities shall (i) timely prepare and file (or cause to be filed) any Tax Returns required to be filed on behalf of the Company and each Company Subsidiary and (ii) provide any information or reports to former stockholders of the Company and former holders of Class A Partnership Units relating to the Company or any Company Subsidiary required to be provided under applicable Law or that is reasonably required by such Persons for the purposes of Tax reporting or otherwise. Each of the foregoing actions shall be conducted in a manner consistent in all material respects with the past practice of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, provided, that the Parent Entities is authorized to cause each Company Subsidiary treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including the Partnership) to make an election under Section 754 of the Code for its taxable year that includes the Closing Date.

 

Section 5.6.      Solicitation; Acquisition Proposals; Adverse Recommendation Change.

 

(a)            Except as expressly permitted by this Section 5.6, the Company agrees that it shall, and shall cause each of the Company Subsidiaries and its and their officers and directors to, and shall direct its and their other Representatives to, immediately cease any solicitations, discussions, negotiations or communications with any Person that may be ongoing with respect to any Company Acquisition Proposal. Except as expressly permitted by this Section 5.6, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VII and the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Company agrees that it shall not, and shall cause each of the Company Subsidiaries and its and their officers and directors not to, and shall not authorize and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its and their other Representatives, not to, directly or indirectly through another Person, (A) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiry, discussion, offer, request or proposal that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Acquisition Proposal (an "Inquiry"), (B) engage in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any third party any non-public information in connection with, or knowingly facilitate in any way any effort by, any third party in furtherance of any Company Acquisition Proposal or Inquiry, (C) approve or recommend a Company Acquisition Proposal, (D) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, expense reimbursement agreement, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, share purchase agreement, asset purchase agreement, share exchange agreement, option agreement or other similar definitive agreement providing for or relating to a Company Acquisition Proposal or requiring the Company or the Partnership to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (any of the foregoing referred in this clause (D), other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, an "Alternative Acquisition Agreement"), or (E) propose or agree to do any of the foregoing.

 

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(b)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at any time prior to obtaining the Company Requisite Vote, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries may, directly or indirectly, through any Representative, in response to an unsolicited written bona fide Company Acquisition Proposal by a third party made after the date of this Agreement that did not result from a breach of this Section 5.6(b); (i)  furnish non-public information to such third party (and such third party's Representatives, including potential financing sources) making such Company Acquisition Proposal (provided, however, that (A) prior to so furnishing such information, the Company receives from the third party an executed confidentiality agreement on customary terms no more favorable in any material respect to such Person than the Confidentiality Agreement, it being understood that such confidentiality agreement need not contain any "standstill" or similar provisions that would prohibit the making or amendment of any non-public Company Acquisition Proposal to the Company Board (such confidentiality agreement, an "Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement"), (B) any non-public information concerning the Company or the Company Subsidiaries that is provided to such third party (or its Representatives) shall, to the extent not previously provided to the Parent Entities, be provided to the Parent Entities as promptly as practicable after providing it to such third party (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter)) and (C) the Company gives the Parent Entities written notice that the Company Board or any duly authorized committee thereof has made the determination contemplated by this Section 5.6(b), such notice to include the information set forth in Section 5.6(c), and (ii) engage in, enter into or otherwise participate in discussions or negotiations with such third party (and such third party's Representatives) with respect to the Company Acquisition Proposal if (but only if), in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, that such Company Acquisition Proposal constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal.

 

(c)            The Company shall notify the Parent Entities promptly (but in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours) after receipt of any Company Acquisition Proposal or any request for nonpublic information regarding the Company or any Company Subsidiary by any third party that informs the Company that it is considering making, or has made, a Company Acquisition Proposal, or any other Inquiry from any Person seeking to have discussions or negotiations with the Company regarding a possible Company Acquisition Proposal. Such notice shall be made in writing and shall identify the Person making such Company Acquisition Proposal or Inquiry and indicate the material terms and conditions of any Company Acquisition Proposals or Inquiries, to the extent known (including, if applicable, providing copies of any written Company Acquisition Proposals or Inquiries and any proposed agreements related thereto, which may be redacted to the extent necessary to protect confidential information of the business or operations of the Person making such Company Acquisition Proposal or Inquiry). The Company shall also promptly (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours) notify the Parent Entities, in writing, if it enters into discussions or negotiations concerning any Company Acquisition Proposal or provides nonpublic information to any Person in each case in accordance with Section 5.6(b), notify the Parent Entities of any change to the financial and other material terms and conditions of any Company Acquisition Proposal and otherwise keep the Parent Entities reasonably informed of the status and material terms of any Company Acquisition Proposal or Inquiry on a reasonably current basis, including by providing a copy of all written proposals, offers, or drafts of proposed agreements (which may be redacted to the extent necessary to protect confidential information of the business or operations of the Person making such Company Acquisition Proposal or Inquiry). Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall, after the date of this Agreement, enter into any confidential or similar agreement that would prohibit it from providing such information to the Parent Entities.

 

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(d)            Except as permitted by this Section 5.6(d), neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall (i) withhold, withdraw, modify or qualify in any manner adverse to the Parent Entities (or publicly propose to withhold, withdraw, modify or qualify in a manner adverse to the Parent Entities), the Company Recommendation, (ii) approve, adopt or recommend (or publicly propose to approve, adopt or recommend) any Company Acquisition Proposal, (iii) fail to include the Company Recommendation in the Proxy Statement (any of the actions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 5.6(d), an "Adverse Recommendation Change"), or (iv) approve, adopt, declare advisable or recommend (or agree to, resolve or propose to approve, adopt, declare advisable or recommend), or cause or permit the Company or any Company Subsidiary to enter into, any Alternative Acquisition Agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement entered into in accordance with this Section 5.6). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, at any time prior to obtaining the Company Requisite Vote, the Company Board may (A) effect an Adverse Recommendation Change if an Intervening Event has occurred and the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with the duties of the Company's directors under applicable Law, or (B) if the Company has not breached this Section 5.6(d) or Section 5.6(e) (other than, in the case of Section 5.6(e) any breach that has a de minimis effect) and has not breached the other subsections of this Section 5.6 in any material respect, effect an Adverse Recommendation Change and/or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(i) if the Company Board has received an unsolicited written bona fide Company Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section 5.6 and in the good faith determination of the Company Board, after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, constitutes a Superior Proposal, after having complied (other than any non-compliance that has a de minimis effect) with, and giving effect to all of the adjustments which may be offered by the Parent Entities pursuant to, Section 5.6(e), and such Company Acquisition Proposal is not withdrawn.

 

(e)            The Company Board shall only be entitled to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change and/or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(i) as permitted under Section 5.6(d) if (i) the Company has provided a prior written notice (a "Notice of Change of Recommendation") to the Parent Entities that the Company intends to take such action, identifying the Person making the Superior Proposal and describing the material terms and conditions of the Superior Proposal or Intervening Event, as applicable, that is the basis of such action, including, if applicable, copies of any written proposals or offers and any proposed written agreements related to a Superior Proposal (it being agreed that the delivery of the Notice of Change of Recommendation by the Company shall not constitute an Adverse Recommendation Change), (ii) during the four (4) Business Day period following the Parent Entities' receipt of the Notice of Change of Recommendation and ending at 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on such 4th Business Day (a "Notice of Change Period"), the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, negotiate with the Parent Entities in good faith (to the extent the Parent Entities desire to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement, so that, in the case of a Superior Proposal, such Superior Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Proposal, or, in the case of an Intervening Event, the need to make such Adverse Recommendation Change is obviated; and (iii) following the end of the Notice of Change Period, the Company Board shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, taking into account any changes to this Agreement proposed in writing by the Parent Entities in response to the Notice of Change of Recommendation or otherwise, that (A) the Superior Proposal giving rise to the Notice of Change of Recommendation continues to constitute a Superior Proposal or (B) in the case of an Intervening Event, the failure of the Company Board to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with the duties of the Company's directors under applicable Law. Any amendment to the financial terms or any other material amendment of such a Superior Proposal shall require a new Notice of Change of Recommendation, and the Company shall be required to comply again with the requirements of this Section 5.6(e); provided, however, that the Notice of Change Period shall be reduced to two (2) Business Days following receipt by the Parent Entities of any such new Notice of Change of Recommendation and ending at 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on such 2nd Business Day.

 

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(f)            Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company or the Company Board, directly or indirectly through its Representatives, from (i) taking and disclosing to the Company's stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a) or Rule 14d-9 or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any disclosure to the stockholders of the Company that is required by applicable Law or if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to make such disclosure would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Company's directors under applicable Law (for the avoidance of doubt, it being agreed that the issuance by the Company or the Company Board of a "stop, look and listen" or similar statement of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, shall not constitute an Adverse Recommendation Change); provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Company Board shall be permitted to recommend that the stockholders of the Company tender any securities in connection with any tender offer or exchange offer that is a Company Acquisition Proposal or otherwise effect an Adverse Recommendation Change with respect thereto, except as permitted by Section 5.6(d).

 

(g)            The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Company Subsidiary to, terminate, waive, amend or modify any provision of any standstill or confidentiality agreement to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, except solely to allow the applicable party to make a non-public Company Acquisition Proposal to the Company Board or to allow the disclosure of information to Debt Financing Sources. Other than in connection with the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company and the Company Board shall not take any actions to exempt any Person from the "Common Share Ownership Limit" or "Aggregate Share Ownership Limit" or establish or increase an "Excepted Holder Limit," as such terms are defined in the Company Charter unless such actions are taken concurrently with the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 7.1(c)(i).

 

Section 5.7.      Public Announcements. The Company and the Parent Entities shall consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements with respect to this Agreement or the Mergers and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the prior consent of the other party; provided, however, that a party may, without the prior consent of the other party, (a) issue such press release or make such public statement as may be required by applicable Law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange or quotation system if the party issuing such press release or making such public statement has provided the other party with an opportunity to review and comment (and the parties shall cooperate as to the timing and contents of any such press release or public statement) upon any such press release or public statement and (b) make any public statements with respect to this Agreement or the Mergers that are consistent with those in the Proxy Statement or in previous press releases or public statements made by the Company or the Parent Entities in accordance with this Section 5.7; provided, further, that no such consultation or consent shall be required with respect to any release, communication, announcement or public statement in connection with an Adverse Recommendation Change made in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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Section 5.8.      Directors' and Officers' Indemnification.

 

(a)            From and after the Company Merger Effective Time, the Parent Entities shall, and shall cause the Surviving Company and the Surviving Partnership to, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each current or former director or officer of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries and each fiduciary under benefit plans of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries (each an "Indemnified Party" and collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") against (i) all losses, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), judgments, fines, claims, actions, suits, damages or liabilities or, subject to the proviso of the next sentence, amounts paid in settlement in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (and whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Company Merger Effective Time), including in connection with the consideration, negotiation and approval of this Agreement, to the extent that they are based on or arise out of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or fiduciary under benefit plans, including payment on behalf of or advancement to the Indemnified Party of any expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with enforcing any rights with respect to such indemnification and/or advancement (the "Indemnified Liabilities"), and (ii) all Indemnified Liabilities to the extent they are based on or arise out of or pertain to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Company Merger Effective Time, and including any expenses incurred in enforcing such person's rights under this Section 5.8(a); provided that (x) none of the Surviving Company or the Surviving Partnership shall be liable for any settlement effected without their prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); and (y) none of the Surviving Company or the Surviving Partnership shall be obligated under this Section 5.8(a) to pay the fees and expenses of more than one legal counsel (selected by a plurality of the applicable Indemnified Parties) for all Indemnified Parties in any jurisdiction with respect to any single legal action except to the extent that, on the advice of any such Indemnified Party's counsel, two or more of such Indemnified Parties shall have conflicting interests in the outcome of such action. In the event of any such loss, expense, claim, damage or liability (whether or not asserted before the Company Merger Effective Time), the Surviving Company or the Surviving Partnership, as applicable, shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected by the Indemnified Parties promptly, and in any event within ten (10) days, after statements therefor are received and otherwise advance to such Indemnified Party upon request, reimbursement of documented expenses reasonably incurred (provided that, if required by applicable Law, the person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advance if it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such person is not legally entitled to indemnification under applicable Law).

 

(b)            The Parent Entities shall cause the Surviving Company to maintain the Company's officers' and directors' liability insurance policies in effect on the date hereof (accurate and complete copies of which have been previously provided to the Parent Entities) (the "D&O Insurance") for a period of not less than six (6) years after the Closing Date; provided that the Surviving Company may substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts with reputable and financially sound carriers containing terms no less advantageous to such former directors or officers so long as such substitution does not result in gaps or lapses of coverage with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Company Merger Effective Time; provided, further, that in no event shall the Parent Entities or the Surviving Company be required to pay annual premiums in the aggregate of more than an amount equal to 300% of the current annual premiums paid by the Company for such insurance (the "Maximum Amount") to maintain or procure insurance coverage pursuant hereto; provided, further, that if the amount of the annual premiums necessary to maintain or procure such insurance coverage exceeds the Maximum Amount, the Parent Entities and the Surviving Company shall procure and maintain for such six-year period the most advantageous policies as can be reasonably obtained for the Maximum Amount. In lieu of the foregoing, prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the Parent Entities shall have the option to cause coverage to be extended by obtaining a six-year "tail" policy or policies on terms and conditions no less advantageous than the Company's existing D&O Insurance, subject to the limitations set forth in the provisos above in this Section 5.8(b), and such "tail" policy or policies shall satisfy the provisions of this Section 5.8(b).

 

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(c)            The obligations of the Parent Entities and the Surviving Company under this Section 5.8 shall survive the Closing and the consummation of the Mergers and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any Indemnified Party to whom this Section 5.8 applies (it being expressly agreed that the Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 5.8 applies shall be third party beneficiaries of this Section 5.8, each of whom (including his or her heirs, executors or administrators and his or her Representatives, successors and assigns) may enforce the provisions of this Section 5.8) without the consent of the Indemnified Party (including the successors, assigns and heirs of such Indemnified Party) affected thereby. In the event that the Surviving Company or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving company or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all its properties and assets to any Person, or if the Parent Entities dissolve the Surviving Company, then, and in each such case, the Parent Entities shall cause proper provision to be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving Company shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.8.

 

(d)            For a period of not less than six (6) years from the Company Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Company and the Surviving Partnership shall provide to the Indemnified Parties the same rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses as provided to the Indemnified Parties under the charter and bylaws of the Company and similar organizational documents of the Company Subsidiaries as in effect as of the date hereof and the charter and bylaws of the Surviving Company and similar organizational documents of the Surviving Partnership shall not contain any provisions inconsistent with such rights. The contractual indemnification rights set forth in Section 5.8(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter in existence on the date of this Agreement with any of the current or former directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary shall be assumed by the Surviving Company and the Surviving Partnership without any further action and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms following the Company Merger Effective Time.

 

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(e)            The provisions of this Section 5.8 are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such person may have by contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement, including this Section 5.8, is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors' and officers' insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Company, any Company Subsidiaries or the Indemnified Parties, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 5.8 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

 

Section 5.9.      Employee Matters.

 

(a)            From and after the Company Merger Effective Time, for the period ending on the first anniversary of the Company Merger Effective Time (or, if shorter, during any applicable period of employment), the Parent Entities shall provide or cause its Subsidiaries, including the Surviving Company and the Surviving Partnership, to provide to each individual who is an employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time and who continues employment with the Surviving Company or any Subsidiary of the Surviving Company following the Company Merger Effective Time (each, a "Company Employee") (i) a base salary or wage rate, as applicable, that is no less favorable than the base salary or wage rate in effect with respect to such Company Employee immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, (ii) a target annual cash bonus opportunity that is no less favorable than the target annual cash bonus opportunity provided to such Company Employee immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, (iii) equity-based compensation that is substantially comparable to the equity-based compensation provided to similarly situated employees of the Parent Entities or their affiliates immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (provided that such equity-based compensation may be subject to performance-vesting terms with respect to a percentage thereof that is the same as (or lower than) the percentage of equity-based compensation provided to similarly situated employees of the Parent Entities or their affiliates in the immediately preceding year that was subject to performance-vesting terms), and (iv) other compensation and benefits (including severance benefits, paid-time off and health insurance that are substantially comparable, in the aggregate, to the other compensation and benefits provided to similarly situated employees of the Parent Entities or their affiliates immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time.

 

(b)            With respect to each benefit plan, program, policy or arrangement maintained by the Parent Entities or their affiliates, including the Surviving Company and the Surviving Partnership, following the Closing and in which any of the Company Employees participate (each, a "Parent Plan"), and except to the extent necessary to avoid duplication of benefits, service with the Company or any Company Subsidiary and the predecessor of any of them shall be treated as service with the Parent Entities or any of their affiliates, including the Surviving Company and the Surviving Partnership, for purposes of determining eligibility to participate, vesting (if applicable) and entitlement to benefits including any paid time off and severance plans (but not for accrual of or entitlement to pension benefits, post-employment welfare benefits, special or early retirement programs, window separation programs, or similar plans which may be in effect from time to time), to the extent that such service was recognized by the Company or any Company Subsidiary as of the date hereof. The Parent Entities shall take all necessary actions so that each Company Employee shall after the Company Merger Effective Time continue to be credited (until used) with the unused paid time off credited to such employee through the Company Merger Effective Time under the applicable paid time off policies of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries (subject to the same forfeiture conditions and accrual limits as applicable prior to the Company Merger Effective Time).

 

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(c)            The Parent Entities shall, or shall cause its Subsidiaries, including the Surviving Company and the Surviving Partnership, as the case may be, to (i) waive all limitations as to pre- existing conditions, exclusions, actively at work requirements, waiting periods or any other restriction that would prevent immediate or full participation under the health and welfare plans of the Parent Entities or any of their affiliates applicable to such Company Employee with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to all Company Employees and their dependents under any Parent Plan that is a welfare plan that such Company Employees may be eligible to participate in after the Closing Date, other than limitations, exclusions, actively at work requirements, waiting periods or other restrictions that are already in effect with respect to such employees and that have not been satisfied as of the Closing Date under any Company Employee Benefit Plan, (ii) waive any and all evidence of insurability requirements with respect to such Company Employees to the extent such evidence of insurability requirements were not applicable to the Company Employees under the comparable Company Employee Benefit Plans immediately prior to the Closing, and (iii) provide each such Company Employee and his or her dependents with full credit for any co-payments and deductibles satisfied prior to the Closing Date in satisfying any applicable deductible or out-of-pocket requirements for the plan year within which the Company Merger Effective Time occurs, and for any lifetime maximums, under any welfare plans in which such employees are eligible to participate after the Closing Date.

 

(d)            On and after the Closing Date, the Parent Entities shall cause the Surviving Company and the Surviving Partnership to honor all Company Employee Benefit Plans and compensation arrangements and agreements in accordance with their terms as in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (subject to any rights to terminate, amend or modify such Company Employee Benefit Plans and compensation arrangements and agreements in accordance with their terms in the Parent Entities' sole discretion).

 

(e)            Without limiting the generality of Section 8.6, no provision of this Section 5.9, express or implied, (i) is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities hereunder upon any Person (including any Company Employee and any dependent or beneficiary thereof) other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, (ii) shall constitute an amendment of, or an undertaking to amend, any Company Employee Benefit Plan or any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Parent Entities or any of their affiliates or (iii) is intended to prevent the Parent Entities or any of their affiliates from amending or terminating any Company Employee Benefit Plan in accordance with its terms or terminating the employment of any Company Employee.

 

Section 5.10.      Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give prompt notice to the Parent Entities, and the Parent Entities shall give prompt notice to the Company, of any notice or other communication received by such party from any Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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Section 5.11.      Dividends. During the Interim Period, the Company may make distributions to its respective stockholders and the Partnership may make distributions to the partners of the Partnership, including the Company, to allow the Company to make distributions to its stockholders, in each case (a) reasonably necessary (after giving effect to the distributions contemplated by clause (b)) for the Company or any such Company Subsidiary to (i) maintain its status as a REIT under the Code, or (ii) avoid the payment of income or excise tax under Sections 857 or 4981 of the Code (or any other entity-level Tax) or (b) in accordance with sub-clauses (B), (C), and (D) of clause (ii) of Section 5.1(c). If the Company declares a distribution to the Company's stockholders pursuant to clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Per Company A Share Merger Consideration and/or the Per Company T Share Merger Consideration (as applicable) shall be decreased by an amount equal to the amount per Company Share of such distribution. In the event that a distribution permitted under the terms of this Agreement (i) has a record date prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time and (ii) has not been paid as of the close of business on the date immediately prior to the Closing Date, such distribution shall be paid by the Company or Company Subsidiary on the Closing Date immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time to the applicable holders of record of the underlying security as of such record date.

 

Section 5.12.      FIRPTA Certificate. On the Closing Date, prior to the Company Merger, the Company shall deliver to Merger Sub I a duly executed IRS Form W-9, and the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and deliver to Merger Sub I at or prior to the Partnership Merger an IRS Form W-9 from each holder of Partnership Units (other than the Company); provided that the Parent Entities may waive any failure to comply with this Section 5.12 and withhold Taxes pursuant to Section 2.6.

 

Section 5.13.      Rule 16b-3 Matters. Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company shall be permitted to take such steps as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to cause dispositions of Company equity securities (including derivative securities) pursuant to the Mergers by each individual who is a director or officer of the Company to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 5.14.      Company Series B Preferred Shares. Promptly following the date that the Proxy Statement is mailed to the stockholders of the Company (and in any event no later than 20 Business Days prior to the anticipated Closing Date), the Company shall deliver a notice or notices of optional redemption and "Fundamental Change" (the "Series B Redemption/Fundamental Change Notice") pursuant to Sections 7 and 8 of the Articles Supplementary establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of the Company Series B Preferred Shares (the "Series B Articles Supplementary") to the holders of record of Company Series B Preferred Shares. The Series B Redemption/Fundamental Change Notice shall be prepared by the Company and shall comply with the specifications and timing requirement of the Series B Articles Supplementary and be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parent Entities, and shall state that each Company Series B Preferred Share held by such holder immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be redeemed by the Company effective as of the date immediately following the Closing Date, if then outstanding, with the redemption price per share equal to an amount in cash equal to the applicable optional redemption price, as such price is determined in accordance with Section 7 of the Series B Articles Supplementary (such amount, the "Per Series B Preferred Share Redemption Price"), with such redemption subject to and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing (the "Series B Preferred Share Redemption"). The Series B Redemption/Fundamental Change Notices shall include the other information required by the Series B Articles Supplementary. The Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration deposited with the Paying Agent in accordance with this Agreement shall also serve as the funds deposited to effect the Series B Preferred Share Redemption, to the extent necessary.

 

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Section 5.15.      Financing.

 

(a)            Each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and do, or cause to be done, as promptly as possible, all things necessary, proper or advisable to arrange and obtain the Debt Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Debt Commitment Letter (including the flex provisions in any fee letter) on or prior to the Closing Date, including maintaining in effect the Debt Commitment Letter and using reasonable best efforts to, as promptly as possible, (A) satisfy, or cause to be satisfied, on a timely basis, or obtain a waiver of, all conditions precedent in the Debt Commitment Letter that are to be satisfied by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, (B) negotiate and enter into definitive agreements with respect to the Debt Financing on the terms and conditions contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter subject to any amendments or replacements not prohibited by this Agreement, (C) consummate the Debt Financing at or prior to the Closing, including if all of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 have been satisfied using reasonable best efforts to cause the persons providing the Debt Financing to fund at Closing, and (D) comply with its obligations under the Debt Commitment Letter and Debt Documents.

 

(b)            The Parent Entities shall give the Company prompt (and in any event within two Business Days) written notice (i) of any breach or default (or any event or circumstance that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would reasonably be expected to result in breach or default) by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, or to the knowledge of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub I, any party to the Debt Commitment Letter or other definitive agreements with respect thereto (such definitive agreements related to the Debt Financing, collectively, with the Debt Commitment Letter, "Debt Documents"), in each case, which would reasonably be expected to delay or impair the Closing or make funding less likely to occur on or before the Closing, (ii) if and when the Parent Entities receives notice that any portion of the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter is not reasonably expected to be available for the Financing Purposes, (iii) of the receipt of any written notice or other written communication from any party to the Debt Commitment Letter with respect to any actual or potential breach, default, termination or repudiation by any party to the Debt Commitment Letter or other Debt Document, and (iv) of any expiration or termination of the Debt Commitment Letter or other Debt Document.

 

(c)            The Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II shall not, without the Company's prior written consent, permit or consent to any amendment, supplement or modification to be made to the Debt Commitment Letter or other Debt Document if such amendment, supplement or modification would or would reasonably be expected to (A) impair, delay or prevent the consummation of the Mergers, (B) reduce the aggregate amount of the Debt Financing (unless such reduction is matched with an equal increase in the Equity Financing pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter or any other replacement financing (such replacement financing, the "Replacement Financing"); provided, that, any such Replacement Financing shall not impose new or additional conditions or otherwise expand, amend or modify any of the conditions to the receipt of the Debt Financing (unless such new or additional conditions or expanded, amended or modified conditions could not be reasonably expected to (1) impair, delay or prevent the Closing, (2) make the timely funding of the Debt Financing or satisfaction of the conditions to obtaining the Debt Financing less likely to occur, or (3) adversely affect the ability of the Parent Entities to enforce its rights against other parties with respect to the Debt Financing), (C) impose new or additional conditions or otherwise expand, amend or modify any of the conditions to the receipt of the Debt Financing (unless such new or additional conditions or expanded, amended or modified conditions could not be reasonably expected to (1) delay or prevent the Closing, (2) make the timely funding of the Debt Financing or satisfaction of the conditions to obtaining the Debt Financing less likely to occur, or (3) adversely affect the ability of the Parent Entities to enforce its rights against other parties with respect to the Debt Financing) or (D) otherwise reasonably be expected to adversely affect (other than a de minimis manner) the ability of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to timely consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Parent Entities may amend, supplement, modify or waive any terms of the Debt Commitment Letter and/or the Debt Documents with respect thereto without the consent of the Company in order to (1) reduce the aggregate amount of the Debt Financing so long as such reduction is matched with an equal increase of the Replacement Financing, (2) correct typographical errors, (3) add lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners, syndication agents or similar entities (by assignment or otherwise) subject to the terms and restrictions set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter as in effect on the date of this Agreement or (4) reallocate commitments or assign or reassign titles or roles to, or between or among, any entities party thereto.

 

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(d)            The Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II shall keep the Company informed on a reasonably current basis and in reasonable detail of the efforts to obtain the Debt Financing. For purposes of this Agreement, references to the "Debt Commitment Letter" shall include such document(s) as permitted or required by this Section 5.15 to be amended, supplemented, modified or waived, in each case from and after such amendment, supplement, modification or waiver, and references to "Debt Financing" shall include any Replacement Financing permitted by this Section 5.15.

 

(e)            In the event of any Financing Failure Event, each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II shall use its reasonable best efforts to arrange to obtain, or cause to be obtained, alternative financing, including from alternative sources, in an amount sufficient to replace any unavailable portion of the Debt Financing ("Alternative Financing") as promptly as practicable following the occurrence of such Financing Failure Event, on terms that are not materially less favorable in the aggregate to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II than the terms of the Debt Commitment Letter (including any flex terms applicable thereto) and the provisions of this Section 5.15 and the Debt Financing Sources Protective Provisions shall be applicable to the Alternative Financing, and, for the purposes of this Section 5.15, Section 4.8 and the Debt Financing Sources Protective Provisions, all references to the Debt Financing shall be deemed to include such Alternative Financing and any Replacement Financing, all references to Debt Documents shall include the applicable documents for the Alternative Financing and any Replacement Financing, and all references to the Financing Sources shall include the Persons providing or arranging the Alternative Financing or any Replacement Financing. In the event that each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II has obtained substitute financing, the proceeds of which are received on the Closing Date and which amount substitutes an equivalent portion of the Debt Financing, for the purposes of Section 4.8 and Section 5.16, all references to the Debt Financing shall be deemed to include such substitute financing.

 

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(f)            Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II acknowledge and agree that the obtaining of the Debt Financing is not a condition to Closing.

 

Section 5.16.      Financing Cooperation.

 

(a)            Prior to the Closing, the Company shall use, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company Subsidiaries to use, their reasonable best efforts, at the sole cost and expense of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, to cooperate with the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II to the extent required by the Debt Financing Sources in connection with the arrangement of the Debt Financing, in each case as may be customary and reasonably requested by the Parent Entities (provided that such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries), including (but not limited to) using reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i)            cause the Company's and the Company Subsidiaries' (and their respective Representatives) management teams, with appropriate seniority and expertise, to participate in a reasonable number of meetings, lender presentations, due diligence sessions, drafting sessions, road shows, calls and meetings with prospective lenders and ratings agencies, in each case, upon reasonable notice at mutually agreed times and places, and only to the extent customarily needed for financing of the type contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter;

 

(ii)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with the preparation of customary materials for rating agency presentations, confidential information memoranda and similar documents reasonably necessary in connection with the Debt Financing, and assisting with the identification of any portion of the information that constitutes material non- public information;

 

(iii)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with the preparation of any guarantee, pledge and security documents contemplated by the Debt Financing, and any certificates and schedules related thereto and other customary definitive documents relating to the Debt Financing, any certificates and schedules related thereto, and otherwise reasonably assist in facilitating the pledging of collateral contemplated by the Debt Financing, as may be reasonably requested by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, in each case to the extent such items are effective no earlier than the Closing;

 

(iv)            subject to Section 5.5(d), assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with obtaining third- party consents to the Debt Financing, and assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with the preparation of any required notices or execute any supplemental indentures or similar documents, in each case, as may reasonably be requested by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, including, if required (as reasonably determined by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II), consent from third parties to existing joint-venture agreements, financing documents, property management agreements, ground leases, tax credit agreements, and purchase and sale agreements;

 

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(v)            furnish to the Parent Entities: (1) GAAP audited balance sheets and related statements of income, equity and cash flows for the Company and the Company's consolidated subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal years ended on December 31, 2019, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 (it being understood that the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II acknowledge receipt of the information described in this clause (1) as of the date hereof); (2) GAAP unaudited balance sheet and related statements of income, equity and cash flows for the Company and the Company's consolidated subsidiaries as of and for each fiscal quarter ended after December 31, 2021 and more than 45 days prior to the Closing Date, it being understood that, with respect to such information for each such fiscal year and subsequent interim period, such covenant shall be deemed satisfied through the filing with the SEC by the Company of its Annual Report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q with respect to the relevant period; and (3) historical financial, statistical and other pertinent information about the Company and the Company Subsidiaries customarily included in the Rule 144A offerings of commercial mortgage backed securities facilities, to the extent reasonably available and prepared by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (the information and financial statements referred to in subclauses (1), (2) and (3) above, the "Required Financial Information");

 

(vi)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II to the extent requested, with the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II's preparation of a pro forma balance sheet;

 

(vii)            upon the request by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, providing customary authorization and representation letters (including customary 10b-5 and material non-public information representations) in connection with the information provided as Required Financial Information in any confidential information memorandum (including prior to any bank meeting for the Debt Financing);

 

(viii)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II in the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II obtaining surveys and title insurance as reasonably requested by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, including by providing title affidavits or similar documents required by a nationally-recognized title company for (A) the deletion of any standard or pre- printed exceptions in any title insurance policies or pro forma or (B) the satisfaction of any requirement set forth in any title commitment and, to the extent appropriate, appraisals of real property and assist in obtaining assignments or similar documents as reasonably requested by the Parent Entities and not effective earlier than the Closing, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to minimize mortgage recording tax and other costs and expenses;

 

(ix)            at least four (4) Business Days prior to the Closing (in each case, to the extent requested at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing), provide all documentation and other information about the Company and any of its Subsidiaries as is reasonably requested in writing by the Parent Entities which the parties to the Debt Commitment Letter (other than the Parent Entities) reasonably determine is required by applicable "know your customer," anti-money laundering rules and regulations (including the PATRIOT Act) and the requirements of the beneficial ownership regulation pursuant to 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230;

 

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(x)            assist the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II with the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II obtaining property-level financing and facilities (including any agency financing and commercial mortgage backed security facilities) as may reasonably be requested by the Parent Entities;

 

(xi)            subject to Section 5.2(a), provide the Parent Entities and its Representatives and Debt Financing Sources (including any appraisers, engineers, environmental or rating agency personnel) reasonable access to the Company and its Subsidiaries' properties and enter into customary engagements regarding the scope of such access; and

 

(xii)            assist the Parent Entities with obtaining tenant and ground lessor estoppels (it is acknowledged that obtaining any such estoppel is not a condition to Closing).

 

(b)            Nothing in this Section 5.16 shall require any cooperation or other action by the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or its or their respective Representatives to the extent that it would unreasonably interfere in any material respect with the business or operations of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else contained herein to the contrary, nothing in this Section 5.16 shall require the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives (1) to execute or approve any definitive financing documents, including any credit or other agreements, pledge documents, security documents or other certificates in connection with the Debt Financing (other than customary authorization and representation letters in connection with the Debt Financing, if any, and solely to the extent set forth in Section 5.16(a)(vii) above), (2) to provide cooperation to the extent that it would reasonably be expected to conflict with or violate any applicable Law or result in a breach of, or a default under, any material contract to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party, (3) to breach, waive or amend any terms of this Agreement, (4) to provide cooperation to the extent it would cause any condition to the Closing set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 to not be satisfied or (5) to violate any obligation of confidentiality (not created in contemplation hereof) binding on the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or their Representatives. Additionally, (A) neither the Company nor any of the Company's Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or incur any commitment or other similar fee or incur or assume any liability or obligation in connection with any Debt Financing prior to the Closing (other than as are expressly reimbursable or payable by Parent and Merger Sub and except for the obligation to deliver the customary authorization and representation letter referenced above), (B) none of the directors of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, acting in such capacity, shall be required to authorize or adopt any resolutions approving the agreements, documents, instruments, actions and transactions contemplated in connection with the Debt Financing, (C) except as set forth in Section 5.16(a)(vii), none of the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives shall be required, prior to Closing, to make any representation to the Parent Entities, any of their affiliates, any lender, agent or lead arranger to any Debt Financing, or any other Person with respect to any action under this Section 5.16, as to the solvency of the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Representatives, or to deliver or require to be delivered any solvency or similar certificate and (D) except as set forth in Section 5.16(a)(iv), none of the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or any of its or their Representatives shall be required to seek any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification under any indebtedness. Nothing hereunder shall require any employee, officer, director or other Representative of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to deliver any certificate or opinion or take any other action that would result in personal liability to such employee, officer, director or other Representative. None of the representations, warranties or covenants of the Company and the Partnership set forth in this Agreement shall be deemed to apply to, or be deemed to be breached or violated by, any of the actions taken by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries at the request of any of the Parent Entities set forth in this Section 5.16. All non-public or otherwise confidential information regarding the Company obtained by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or any of their respective Representatives pursuant to this Section 5.16, shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement; provided that the Company agrees that the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II may share non-public or otherwise confidential information with the rating agencies and Debt Financing Sources as contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter if the recipients of such information are rating agencies and Debt Financing Sources in connection with the Debt Financing as contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter and agree to customary confidentiality arrangements, including customary "click through" confidentiality agreements and confidentiality provisions contained in customary bank books and offering memoranda, provided, in each case, that such confidentiality arrangements shall provide that the Company is a third-party beneficiary thereof and shall satisfy the confidentiality obligations under Regulation FD.

 

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(c)            The Parent Entities shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company and its affiliates, and its and their respective pre-Closing directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and professional advisors, from and against any liability, obligation or loss suffered or incurred by them in connection with any cooperation provided under this Section 5.16, the arrangement of the Debt Financing and any information provided in connection therewith (other than arising from historical financial information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries specifically for inclusion in such materials for the Debt Financing, but including any violation of the Confidentiality Agreement), except in the event such liabilities, obligations or losses arose out of or result from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates and Representatives. The Parent Entities shall promptly reimburse the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and Representatives for all reasonable, documented and invoiced costs incurred by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries in connection with any cooperation provided under this Section 5.16 or otherwise in connection with the Debt Financing (including reasonable and documented out-of- pocket auditor's and attorneys' fees and expenses). Subject to the Parent Entities' indemnification obligations under this Section 5.16, the Company hereby consents to the use of all of its and the Company Subsidiaries' corporate logos in connection with the initial syndication or marketing of the Debt Financing, so long as such logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended to or reasonably likely to harm or disparage the Company or its Subsidiaries or the reputation or goodwill of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 5.17.      Satisfaction of Indebtedness. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall, and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to, request and use commercial reasonable efforts to obtain pay-off letters (the "Pay-Off Letters") from the administrative agents or the lenders under the items of Indebtedness of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries specified by the Parent Entities by written notice not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing (the "Pay-Off Indebtedness"), in the agents' or the lenders' customary forms and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Parent Entities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to obtain any Pay-Off Letters that are not conditioned on, and subject to, the occurrence of the Closing. The Company shall, and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to, use their commercially reasonable efforts to deliver substantially final drafts of the Pay-Off Letters (which may omit the amounts due in respect of any revolving facility under the Pay-Off Indebtedness) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

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Section 5.18.      Company Warrants. Promptly following the date that the Proxy Statement is mailed to the stockholders of the Company (and in any event no later than 20 Business Days prior to the anticipated Closing Date), the Partnership shall deliver a "Call Notice" as defined in Section 3(c) of the Warrant Certificate (the "Warrant Call Notice") to the holders of record of Callable Securities. The Warrant Call Notice shall be prepared by the Partnership and shall comply with the specifications and timing requirement of the Warrant Certificate and be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parent Entities, and shall state that each Callable Security held by such holder immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be purchased by the Partnership effective as of immediately prior to the Closing at a price equal to the "Call Price" as defined in Section 3 of the Warrant Certificate, with such purchase subject to and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing (the "Warrant Call Option"). The Warrant Call Notice shall include the other information required by the Warrant Certificate. At or prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the Parent Entities shall pay or cause to be paid to the Partnership, the aggregate "Call Price" as defined in Section 3 of the Warrant Certificate with respect to the Warrant Call Option for the benefit of the holders of the Callable Securities.

 

Section 5.19.      REIT Qualification. Following the Closing, the Parent Entities will use reasonable best efforts to cause the Company to qualify as a REIT for its taxable year that includes the Company Merger Effective Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parent Entities shall not be liable for any failure to maintain the qualification of the Company as a REIT if such failure results from a breach by the Company of any representation set forth in Section 3.13, or such failure otherwise results from any action taken by the Company (or any failure of the Company to take any required action) prior to the Company Merger Effective Time that causes the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT after the Company Merger Effective Time.

 

Article VI
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGERS

 

Section 6.1.      Conditions to Each Party's Obligations to Effect the Mergers. The respective obligations of each party hereto to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions, any or all of which may be waived in whole or in part by the party being benefited thereby (which waiver shall be in such party's sole discretion), to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

 

(a)            Company Requisite Vote. The Company shall have obtained the Company Requisite Vote.

 

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(b)            No Injunctions, Orders or Restraints; Illegality. No Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making the Mergers illegal or otherwise restricting, preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Mergers.

 

Section 6.2.      Conditions to the Obligations of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II. The obligations of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II to effect the Mergers are further subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Parent Entities at or prior to the Closing Date:

 

(a)            Representations and Warranties. (i) Except for the representations and warranties referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) below, each of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Partnership contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct (determined without regard to any qualification by any of the terms "material" or "Company Material Adverse Effect" therein) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent a representation or warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such date, without regard to any such qualifications therein), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct has not had, or would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company and the Partnership contained in Section 3.1 (Organization and Qualification) and Section 3.2 (Capitalization) (other than clauses (c), (e) and (f) (Capitalization)) shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date except for de minimis inaccuracies (except to the extent a representation or warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such date) and (iii) the representations and warranties of the Company and the Partnership contained in Section 3.3 (Authority), Section 3.19 (Takeover Statutes) and Section 3.23 (Brokers) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent a representation or warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such date).

 

(b)            Performance and Obligations of the Company. Each of the Company and the Partnership shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations, agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed by it or complied with on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c)            Absence of Material Adverse Change. From the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred a change, event, state of facts or development that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)            Closing Certificate. The Parent Entities shall have received a certificate, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-1, signed on behalf of the Company, by an executive officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) and Section 6.2(b) are satisfied.

 

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(e)            REIT Opinion. The Company shall deliver to the Parent Entities the opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP, counsel to the Company (or such other nationally recognized tax counsel reasonably acceptable to the Parent Entities), dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Parent Entities, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (and with such changes as may be deemed reasonably necessary or appropriate by Clifford Chance US LLP, with the consent of the Parent Entities, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld) (the "REIT Qualification Opinion"), which REIT Qualification shall be based on an officer's certificate of the Company substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (and with such changes as may be deemed reasonably necessary or appropriate by Clifford Chance US LLP, with the consent of the Parent Entities, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld) (the "REIT Officer's Certificate").

 

Section 6.3.      Conditions to Obligations of the Company and the Partnership. The obligations of the Company and the Partnership to effect the Mergers are further subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date:

 

(a)            Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent a representation or warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such date).

 

(b)            Performance and Obligations of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II. Each of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations, agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed by it or complied with on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c)            Closing Certificate. The Company and the Partnership shall have received a certificate, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-2, signed on behalf of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II by an executive officer of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a) and Section 6.3(b) are satisfied.

 

Section 6.4.      Frustration of Closing Conditions. No party may rely, either as a basis for not consummating the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated hereby or terminating this Agreement and abandoning the Mergers, on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VI to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party's failure to act in good faith or to use reasonable best efforts to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Article VII
TERMINATION

 

Section 7.1.      Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and abandoned at any time prior to the Closing Date, whether before or after the receipt of the Company Requisite Vote (except as otherwise provided below):

 

(a)            by the mutual written consent of the Parent Entities and the Company; or

 

(b)            by either of the Company, on the one hand, or the Parent Entities, on the other hand, by written notice to the other, if:

 

(i)            any Governmental Entity of competent authority shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action in each case permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Mergers substantially on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and non- appealable; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(b)(i) shall not be available to a party if the issuance of such final, non-appealable order, decree or ruling or taking of such other action was primarily due to the failure of the Company or the Partnership, in the case of termination by the Company, or the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, in the case of termination by the Parent Entities, to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement; or

 

(ii)            the Mergers shall not have been consummated on or before November 7, 2022 (the "Outside Date"); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to the Company, if the Company or the Partnership, or to the Parent Entities, if the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, as applicable, shall have breached in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement in any manner that shall have caused or resulted in the failure to consummate the Mergers on or before such date; or

 

(iii)            the Company Requisite Vote shall not have been obtained at a duly held Company Shareholders' Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof at which the Company Merger is voted upon; or

 

(c)            by written notice from the Company to the Parent Entities, if:

 

(i)            prior to obtaining the Company Requisite Vote, the Company Board effects an Adverse Recommendation Change in accordance with Section 5.6 and the Company Board has approved, and concurrently with the termination hereunder, the Company enters into a definitive agreement providing for the implementation of a Superior Proposal that did not result from a breach of Section 5.6; provided that the Company shall have previously or concurrently paid the Company Termination Fee in accordance with Section 7.3(b) (and such termination shall not be effective until the Company has paid such Company Termination Fee in accordance with Section 7.3(b)); or

 

(ii)            the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II shall have breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement such that a condition set forth in Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b) would be incapable of being satisfied by the Outside Date; provided that neither the Company nor the Partnership shall have breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement in any material respect; or

 

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(iii)            (A) all of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 shall have been satisfied or waived by the Parent Entities (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing; provided that such conditions to be satisfied at the Closing would be satisfied as of the date of the notice referenced in clause (B) below if the Closing were to occur on the date of such notice), (B) on or after the date the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 1.5, the Company has delivered written notice to the Parent Entities to the effect that all of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 have been satisfied or waived by the Parent Entities (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing; provided that such conditions to be satisfied at the Closing would be satisfied as of the date of such notice if the Closing were to occur on the date of such notice) and the Company and the Partnership are prepared to consummate the Closing, and (C) the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II fail to consummate the Closing on or before the third (3rd) Business Day after delivery of the notice referenced in clause (B) above, and the Company and the Partnership were prepared to consummate the Closing during such three (3) Business Day period; or

 

(d)            by written notice from the Parent Entities to the Company, if:

 

(i)            the Company or the Partnership shall have breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement such that a condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b) would be incapable of being satisfied by the Outside Date; provided that neither the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I nor Merger Sub II shall have breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement in any material respect; or

 

(ii)            (A) the Company Board shall have effected, or resolved to effect, an Adverse Recommendation Change, (B) the Company shall have failed to publicly recommend against any tender offer or exchange offer subject to Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act that constitutes a Company Acquisition Proposal (including, for these purposes, by taking no position with respect to the acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by the Company's stockholders) within ten (10) Business Days after the commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer, (C) the Company Board shall have failed to publicly reaffirm the Company Recommendation within ten (10) Business Days after the date a Company Acquisition Proposal shall have been publicly announced (or if the Company Shareholders' Meeting is scheduled to be held within ten (10) Business Days from the date a Company Acquisition Proposal is publicly announced, promptly and in any event prior to the date on which the Company Shareholders' Meeting is scheduled to be held) or (D) the Company enters into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement entered into in compliance with Section 5.6).

 

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Section 7.2.      Effect of the Termination. In the event of the valid termination of this Agreement by either the Company or the Parent Entities as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, the Company, the Partnership, the Financing Sources or their respective affiliates or Representatives, relating to, based on or arising under or out of this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or the subject matter hereof (including the negotiation and performance of this Agreement), except (a) the provisions in Section 5.2(b) and this Section 7.2, Section 7.3, Section 7.4 and Article VIII shall survive, (b) the indemnification and reimbursement obligations of the Parent Entities and the Surviving Company (as the case may be) in Section 5.2(c), and Section 5.16(c) shall survive, (c) the Guaranty and the Confidentiality Agreement shall each continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms and (d) subject to Section 8.8, nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability for any fraud or any willful and intentional breach by such party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 7.3.      Fees and Expenses.

 

(a)            Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, whether or not the Mergers are consummated, all expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses.

 

(b)            In the event that this Agreement is terminated:

 

(i)            by the Parent Entities pursuant to Section 7.1(d)(ii),

 

(ii)            by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(i), or

 

(iii)            (A) by the Company or the Parent Entities pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(ii) or Section 7.1(b)(iii) or by the Parent Entities pursuant to Section 7.1(d)(i) and (B)(x) a Company Acquisition Proposal shall have been received by the Company or its Representatives or any Person shall have publicly proposed or publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make a Company Acquisition Proposal (and, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(iii), such Company Acquisition Proposal or publicly proposed or announced intention shall have been made prior to the Company Shareholders' Meeting) and (y) within twelve (12) months after a termination referred to in this Section 7.3(b)(iii) the Company enters into a definitive agreement relating to, or consummates, any Company Acquisition Proposal (with, for purposes of this clause (y), the references to "15%" in the definition of "Company Acquisition Proposal" being deemed to be references to "50%"), then the Company shall pay as directed by the Parent Entities the Company Termination Fee by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by the Parent Entities. The payment of the Company Termination Fee shall be made (1) in the case of a payment pursuant to Section 7.3(b)(i), within two (2) Business Days after the date of such termination by the Parent Entities, (2) in the case of a payment pursuant to Section 7.3(b)(ii), prior to or concurrently with such termination by the Company and (3) in the case of a payment pursuant to Section 7.3(b)(iii), within two (2) Business Days after the earlier of entry into a definitive agreement relating to the Company Acquisition Proposal referred to in clause (y) above and consummation of such Company Acquisition Proposal. "Company Termination Fee" means $50,000,000.

 

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(c)            In the event this Agreement is terminated by the Parent Entities or the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(iii) (Requisite Company Vote), then the Company will reimburse the Parent Entities for their reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, and performance of this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement up to an amount equal to $10,000,000 (the "Expense Reimbursement Payment") within two Business Days after termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(iii); provided that in no event shall the Company be required to pay the Expense Reimbursement Payment if the Company has paid the Company Termination Fee in full. The Expense Reimbursement Payment paid by the Company to the Parent Entities in accordance with this Section 7.3(c) shall be credited against any Company Termination Fee obligation that becomes due pursuant to Section 7.3(b).

 

(d)            In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(ii) or Section 7.1(c)(iii) or by the Parent Entities pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(ii) and the Company was then entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(ii) or Section 7.1(c)(iii), then the Parent Entities shall, within three (3) Business Days after the date of such termination, pay or cause to be paid to the Company by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by the Company, an amount equal to $150,000,000 (the "Parent Termination Fee").

 

(e)            The Company and the Parent Entities agree that the agreements contained in this Section 7.3 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that neither the Company Termination Fee nor the Parent Termination Fee (as applicable) is a penalty, but rather is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, or the Company (as applicable) in the circumstances in which the Company Termination Fee or the Parent Termination Fee (as applicable) is payable for the efforts and resources expended and opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the Mergers, which amount would otherwise be impossible to calculate with precision. If the Parent Entities receives the full payment of the Company Termination Fee from the Company pursuant to Section 7.3(b) under circumstances where a Company Termination Fee was payable, the receipt by the Parent Entities of the Company Termination Fee shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for any and all losses or damages suffered by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, the Financing Sources or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives in connection with this Agreement (and the termination hereof), the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby (and the abandonment thereof) or any matter forming the basis for such termination; and if the Company receives the full payment of the Parent Termination Fee from the Parent Entities pursuant to the Section 7.3(d) under circumstances where the Parent Termination Fee was payable, the receipt by the Company of the Parent Termination Fee shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for any and all losses or damages suffered by the Company or its affiliates or Representatives in connection with this Agreement (and the termination hereof), the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby (and the abandonment thereof) or any matter forming the basis for such termination.

 

(f)            In the event that the Parent Entities or the Company, as the case may be, is required to commence litigation to seek all or a portion of the amounts payable under this Section 7.3, and it prevails in such litigation, it shall be entitled to receive, in addition to all amounts that it is otherwise entitled to receive under this Section 7.3, all reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) which it has incurred in enforcing its rights hereunder, together with interest on the amount of the Company Termination Fee or the Parent Termination Fee, as applicable, at the prime lending rate as published in the Wall Street Journal, in effect on the date such payment is required to be made.

 

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(g)            The parties agree that in no event shall (i) the Parent Entities be required to pay the Parent Termination Fee on more than one occasion or (ii) the Company be required to pay the Company Termination Fee on more than one occasion.

 

Section 7.4.      Payment of Amount or Expense.

 

(a)            In the event that the Parent Entities are obligated to pay the Parent Termination Fee pursuant to Section 7.3(d), the Parent Entities shall pay to the Company from the applicable Parent Termination Fee deposited into escrow, if any, in accordance with the next sentence, an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the applicable Parent Termination Fee and (B) the sum of (1) the maximum amount that can be paid to the Company without causing the Company to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute income described in Sections 856(c)(2) or 856(c)(3) of the Code ("Qualifying Income"), as determined by the Company's independent certified public accountants, plus (2) in the event the Company receives either (X) a letter from the Company's counsel indicating that the Company has received a ruling from the IRS described in Section 7.4(b)(ii) or (Y) an opinion from the Company's outside counsel as described in Section 7.4(b)(ii), an amount equal to the applicable Parent Termination Fee less the amount payable under clause (1) above. To secure the Parent Entities' obligation to pay these amounts, the Parent Entities shall deposit into escrow an amount in cash equal to the applicable Parent Termination Fee with an escrow agent selected by the Company and on such terms (subject to Section 7.4(b)) as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company, the Parent Entities and the escrow agent as reflected in an escrow agreement among such parties, provided that the payment or deposit into escrow shall be at the Company's option. The payment or deposit into escrow of the applicable Parent Termination Fee pursuant to this Section 7.4(a) shall be made at the time the Parent Entities are obligated to pay the Company such amount pursuant to Section 7.3(d) by wire transfer of same day funds.

 

(b)            The escrow agreement shall provide that the applicable Parent Termination Fee in escrow or any portion thereof shall not be released to the Company unless the escrow agent receives any one or combination of the following: (i) a letter from the Company's independent certified public accountants indicating the maximum amount that can be paid by the escrow agent to the Company without causing the Company to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code in such year determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute Qualifying Income or a subsequent letter from the Company's accountants revising that amount, in which case the escrow agent shall release such amount to the Company, or (ii) a letter from the Company's counsel indicating that the Company received a ruling from the IRS holding that the receipt by the Company of the applicable Parent Termination Fee would either constitute Qualifying Income or would be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code (or alternatively, the Company's outside counsel has rendered a legal opinion to the effect that the receipt by the Company of the applicable Parent Termination Fee would either constitute Qualifying Income or would be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code), in which case the escrow agent shall release the remainder of the applicable Parent Termination Fee to the Company. The Parent Entities agree to amend this Section 7.4 at the reasonable request of the Company in order to (x) maximize the portion of the applicable Parent Termination Fee that may be distributed to the Company hereunder without causing the Company to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, (y) improve the Company's chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 7.4(b) or (z) assist the Company in obtaining a favorable legal opinion from its outside counsel as described in this Section 7.4(b). The Parent Entities shall be deemed to have satisfied its obligations pursuant to this Section 7.4 so long as it deposits into escrow the applicable Parent Termination Fee , notwithstanding any delay or reduction in payment to the Company, and shall have no further liability with respect to payment of the applicable Parent Termination Fee . The portion of applicable Parent Termination Fee that remains unpaid as of the end of a taxable year shall be paid as soon as possible during the following taxable year, subject to the foregoing limitations of this Section 7.4. The Company shall fully indemnify the Parent Entities and hold the Parent Entities harmless from and against any liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by it resulting directly or indirectly from the escrow agreement, including in connection with the Parent Entities' compliance with clauses (x), (y) and (z) of this Section 7.4(b).

 

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Article VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 8.1.      Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, exhibit, schedule or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants or agreements, shall survive beyond the Company Merger Effective Time, except for those covenants and agreements contained herein and therein that by their terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Company Merger Effective Time (including the covenants and agreements in Section 5.8, Section 5.9, and this Article VIII).

 

Section 8.2.      Entire Agreement; Assignment.

 

(a)            This Agreement (including the exhibits, schedules and other documents delivered pursuant hereto) constitutes, together with the Guaranties and the Confidentiality Agreement, the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

(b)            Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or transferred, in whole or in part, by operation of Law (including by merger or consolidation) or otherwise by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, however, that (i) from and after the Closing, the Parent Entities may assign their rights under this Agreement to the Debt Financing Sources or other lender as collateral security in connection with the Debt Financing and (ii) prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement to the Company's stockholders, the Parent Entities may designate, by written notice to the Company, one or more wholly owned direct or indirect Subsidiaries to be a party to the Mergers in lieu of Merger Sub I and/or Merger Sub II, in which event all references herein to Merger Sub I and/or Merger Sub II shall be deemed references to such other Subsidiary, except that all representations and warranties made herein with respect to Merger Sub I and/or Merger Sub II as of the date of this Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties made with respect to such other Subsidiary as of the date of such designation; provided, further, that any such designation shall not impede or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or relieve any party hereto of any of its obligations hereunder. Any assignment in violation of this Section 8.2(b) shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

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Section 8.3.      Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made (a) as of the date delivered if delivered personally and (b) on the next Business Day if (i) sent by email of a .pdf attachment (with a copy delivered personally or sent by prepaid overnight carrier (providing proof of delivery)) or (ii) sent by prepaid overnight carrier (providing proof of delivery), to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be specified by the parties by like notice):

 

(a)            if to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II:

 

c/o Brookfield Asset Management 

250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor

New York, New York 10281 

Attention: Murray Goldfarb

Email: [*]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP 

One New York Plaza

New York, New York 10004 

Attention: Warren S. de Wied & Laurinda Martins

Email:[*]; [*]

 

(b)            if to the Company or the Partnership:

 

Watermark Lodging Trust, Inc.

50 North Riverside Plaza, Suite 4200

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attention: Michael G. Medzigian

Email: [*]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Clifford Chance US LLP

31 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention: Kathleen L. Werner

Email: [*]

 

or to such other address as the Person to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the other in writing in the manner set forth above.

 

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Section 8.4.      Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)            This Agreement and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the negotiation, validity or performance of this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Maryland (other than with respect to issues relating to the Partnership Merger that are required to be governed by the DRULPA), in each case without regard to its rules of conflict of laws that would result in the application of any laws other than those specified above.

 

(b)            Each of the parties hereto hereby (i) irrevocably submits to and agrees to be subject to the personal jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of Baltimore City, Maryland and/or the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (the "Chosen Courts"), for the purpose of any claim, action, suit or proceeding (whether based in contract, tort or otherwise), directly or indirectly, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the actions of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance and enforcement thereof, (ii) irrevocably agrees that all such claims, actions, suits or proceedings may and shall be brought before, and determined by, only a Chosen Court with subject matter jurisdiction over such claim(s), action(s), suit(s) or proceeding(s), (iii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and (iv) agrees that it will not (except for a suit on the judgment as expressly permitted by Section 8.4(d)) bring any claim, action, suit or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than a Chosen Court. In any judicial proceeding in the Courts of the State of Maryland, each of the parties further consents to the assignment of such proceeding to the Business and Technology Case Management Program pursuant to Maryland Rule 16-205 (or any successor thereof).

 

(c)            Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the service of the summons and complaint and any other process in any other claim, suit, action or proceeding relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, on behalf of itself or its property, in the manner provided by Section 8.3 and nothing in this Section 8.4 shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.

 

(d)            Each party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any claim, suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.

 

(e)            EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 8.4(e).

 

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Section 8.5.      Interpretation; Certain Definitions. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, exhibit or schedule, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of, or an exhibit or schedule to, this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation 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." 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. The word "extent" in the phrase, "to the extent" shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply "if." All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other instrument made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any Law defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such Law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor Laws. Any references to any Contract are to such Contract as amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time. References to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns. All references to "dollars" or "$" refer to currency of the United States of America. All references to wholly owned Company Subsidiaries shall mean the Partnership and any Company Subsidiary directly or indirectly wholly owned by the Partnership. All references to the "ordinary course of business" shall mean the "ordinary course of business consistent with past practice".

 

Section 8.6.      Parties In Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and its successors and permitted assigns, and, except as provided in Section 5.8 and Section 8.12, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein. The parties hereto further agree that the rights of third party beneficiaries under Section 5.8 shall not arise unless and until the Company Merger Effective Time occurs. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties hereto and are for the sole benefit of the parties hereto. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties may be subject to waiver by the parties hereto in accordance with Section 8.10 without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties hereto of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the parties hereto. Consequently, Persons other than the parties hereto may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.

 

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Section 8.7.      Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.

 

Section 8.8.      Specific Performance.

 

(a)            The parties hereto agree that irreparable harm, for which monetary damages (even if available) would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of the Company or the Partnership hereunder to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement) were not performed by the Company or the Partnership in accordance with their specified terms or in the event of any actual or threatened breach of this Agreement by the Company or the Partnership. Accordingly, the parties acknowledge and agree that, except where this Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with Article VII, the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, on behalf of themselves and the third party beneficiaries of this Agreement provided in Section 8.6, shall be entitled to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent and/or remedy a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement by the Company or the Partnership and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which the Parent Entities are entitled at Law or in equity. The parties further agree (i) the seeking of remedies provided for pursuant to this Section 8.8(a) by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II shall not in any respect constitute a waiver by any such party of its respective right to seek any other form of relief that may be available to it under this Agreement, including under Section 7.3, in the event that this Agreement has been terminated or in the event that the remedies provided for in Section 8.8(a) are not available or otherwise not granted and (ii) nothing set forth in this Agreement shall require the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II to institute any proceeding for (or limit any such party's right to institute any proceeding for) specific performance under this Section 8.8 prior or as a condition to exercising any termination right under Article VII (and pursuing damages after such termination), nor shall the commencement of any legal proceeding by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II seeking remedies pursuant to this Section 8.8(a) or anything set forth in this Section 8.8 restrict or limit such party's right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with the terms of Article VII or pursue any other remedies under this Agreement that may be available then or thereafter. Each of the Company and the Partnership agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance, or other equitable relief on the basis that the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II has an adequate remedy at Law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or in equity. The Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with the request for or grant of any order or injunction to prevent a breach of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the terms hereof. Each of the Company and the Partnership agrees not to assert that a remedy of specific performance is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to Law or inequitable for any reason, nor to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy.

 

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(b)            It is agreed that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company's and the Partnership's sole and exclusive remedy relating to a breach of this Agreement by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II shall be to seek recovery of the Parent Termination Fee, in circumstances in which it is payable in accordance with Section 7.3(d), and the additional costs and expenses provided in Section 7.3(e); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be entitled to seek specific performance to prevent any breach by the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II of Section 5.2(b). Except as provided in this Section 8.8(b), none of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives shall have any further liability, whether pursuant to a claim at Law or in equity, to the Company, the Partnership or any of their affiliates or Representatives, in connection with this Agreement (and the termination hereof), the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby (and the abandonment thereof) or any matter forming the basis for such termination, and none of the Company, the Partnership or any of their affiliates or Representatives shall be entitled to bring or maintain any action or claim against the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives for damages or any equitable relief arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (and the termination hereof), the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby (and the abandonment thereof) or any matter forming the basis for such termination.

 

Section 8.9.      Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by action taken by the Company, the Partnership, the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II at any time before or after approval of the Mergers by the Company Requisite Vote but, after such approval, no amendment shall be made which requires the approval of the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law without obtaining such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of all of the parties hereto.

 

Section 8.10.      Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Closing Date, each party hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any breaches or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other parties contained herein or in any document, certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto, or (c) subject to Section 8.9, waive compliance by the other parties with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of any party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the Company, the Partnership, the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.

 

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Section 8.11.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by electronic delivery in .pdf format shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.12.      Debt Financing Sources. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each of the parties hereto, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, hereby: (a) agrees that any action, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, involving the Debt Financing Sources arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Debt Financing or any of the agreements entered into in connection herewith or with the Debt Financing or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York and any appellate court thereof and each such party irrevocably submits itself and its property with respect to any such action to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court, and such action shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to any conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction), (b) agrees not to bring or support any action of any kind or description, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against any Debt Financing Source in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Debt Financing or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder in any forum other than any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York, (c) agrees that service of process upon any party hereto or any of their Subsidiaries or affiliates in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 8.3, (d) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action in any such court, (e) knowingly, intentionally and voluntarily waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law trial by jury in any action brought against any Debt Financing Source in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Debt Financing or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder, (f) agrees that none of the Debt Financing Sources will have any liability relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Debt Financing or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, and, in furtherance of the foregoing, each of the parties hereto agrees not to, and to cause its respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys, advisors, auditors, representatives and other agents not to, (x) seek to enforce this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter, or the definitive documents with respect to the Debt Financing against, make any claims for breach of any of the foregoing against, or seek to recover monetary damages from, any Debt Financing Source in connection with any of the foregoing or (y) seek to enforce any Debt Financing commitments against, make any claims for breach of the Debt Financing commitments of any Debt Financing Source against, or seek to recover monetary damages from, or otherwise sue, any Debt Financing Source in connection with this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter, or the definitive documents with respect to the Debt Financing and the obligations of the Debt Financing Sources thereunder (provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall affect the rights of the Parent Entities and its Subsidiaries against the Debt Financing Sources with respect to the Debt Financing or any of the transactions contemplated thereby), (g) without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (f), agrees that no Debt Financing Source shall be subject to any special, consequential, punitive or indirect damages or damages of a tortious nature and (h) agrees that the Debt Financing Sources are express third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, any of the provisions (collectively, "Debt Financing Sources Protective Provisions") in Section 7.2 (to the extent such section applies to the Debt Financing Sources), Section 7.3(e) (to the extent such section applies to the Debt Financing Sources) and this Section 8.12 and such provisions and the definition of "Debt Financing Sources" shall not be amended in any way material and adverse to the Debt Financing Sources without the prior written consent of the Debt Financing Sources.

 

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Section 8.13.      Definitions.

 

(a)            The following terms shall have the meanings defined in the Section indicated:

 

Term Section
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement 5.6(b)
Adverse Recommendation Change 5.6(d)
Agreement Preamble
Alternative Acquisition Agreement 5.6(a)
Alternative Financing 5.15(e)
Asset Sale 5.2(c)
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception 3.3(a)
Book-Entry Share 2.4(b)
Book-Entry Unit 2.4(b)
Cancelled Units 2.2(c)
Capitalization Date 3.2(a)
Certificate of Limited Partnership 1.2(b)
Chosen Courts 8.4(b)
Class A Common Stock 3.2(a)
Class A Partnership Units Recitals
Class T Common Stock 3.2(a)
Class T Partnership Units 3.2(g)
Closing 1.5
Closing Date 1.5
CMA Employees 3.12(d)
COBRA 3.11(d)
Commitment Letters 4.8(b)
Company Preamble
Company A Share 2.1(b)
Company Board Recitals
Company Bylaws 3.1(b)
Company Capital Stock 3.2(a)
Company Charter 3.1(b)
Company Common Stock 3.2(a)
Company Disclosure Letter Article III
Company Employee 5.9(a)

 

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Term Section
Company Employee Benefit Plan 3.11(a)
Company Financial Statements 3.5(a)
Company Intellectual Property 3.16(a)
Company Material Contract 3.17(b)
Company Merger Recitals
Company Merger Articles of Merger 1.4(b)
Company Merger Effective Time 1.4(b)
Company Permits 3.9(a)
Company Preferred Stock 3.2(a)
Company Property 3.14(a)
Company Recommendation 5.4
Company Requisite Vote 3.20
Company RSU Award 2.3(a)
Company SEC Documents 3.5(a)
Company Series B Preferred Share 2.1(c)
Company Share(s) 2.1(b)
Company Share Merger Consideration 2.1(b)
Company Shareholders' Meeting 5.4
Company T Share 2.1(b)
Company Termination Fee 7.3(b)(iii)
Company Title Insurance Policy 3.14(h)
Confidentiality Agreement 5.2(b)
Continuing Units 2.2(b)
Debt Commitment Letter 4.8(b)
Debt Documents 5.15(b)
Debt Financing 4.8(b)
Debt Financing Sources Protective Provisions 8.12
Designation 3.14(j)
D&O Insurance 5.8(b)
DRULPA Recitals
DSOS 1.4(a)
Equity Commitment Letter 4.8(b)
Equity Financing 4.8(b)
Equity Financing Sources 4.8(b)
ERISA 3.11(a)
Exchange Fund 2.4(a)
Excluded Shares 2.1(d)
Excluded Units 2.2(c)
Existing Loan Documents 3.17(b)(iii)
Expense Reimbursement Payment 7.3(c)
FCPA 3.9(c)
Financing 4.8(b)
Financing Purposes 4.8(a)
GAAP 3.5(a)
Guarantors Recitals

 

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Term Section
Guaranty Recitals
Indemnified Liabilities 5.8(a)
Indemnified Party 5.8(a)
Inquiry 5.6(a)
Interim Period 5.1
IRS 3.11(c)
Lenders 4.8(b)
Maximum Amount 5.8(b)
Merger Consideration 2.2(a)
Merger Sub I Preamble
Merger Sub II Preamble
Merger Sub II GP Recitals
Mergers Recitals
MGCL Recitals
MLLCA Recitals
Multiemployer Plan 3.11(b)
Notice of Change of Recommendation 5.6(e)
Notice of Change Period 5.6(e)
Outside Date 7.1(b)(ii)
Parent 1 Preamble
Parent 2 Preamble
Parent 3 Preamble
Parent 4 Preamble
Parent Approved Transactions 5.2(c)
Parent Entities Preamble
Parent Plan 5.9(b)
Parent Termination Fee 7.3(d)
Partnership Preamble
Partnership Merger Recitals
Partnership Merger Certificate 1.4(a)
Partnership Merger Effective Time 1.4(a)
Partnership Unit Merger Consideration 2.2(a)
Partnership Units 3.2(g)
Paying Agent 2.4(a)
Pay-Off Indebtedness 5.17
Pay-Off Letters 5.17
Per Company A Share Merger Consideration 2.1(b)
Per Company Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration 2.1(c)
Per Company T Share Merger Consideration 2.1(b)
Per Partnership Unit Merger Consideration 2.2(a)
Per Series B Preferred Share Redemption Price 5.14
Permit 3.9(a)
Proceeding 3.10
Proxy Statement 5.3(a)
QRS 3.13(c)

 

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Term Section
Qualifying Income 7.4(a)
REIT 3.13(b)
REIT Accountant 5.2(a)
Replacement Financing 5.15(c)
Required Financial Information 5.16(a)(v)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act 3.5(a)
SDAT 1.4(b)
Series B Articles Supplementary 5.14
Series B Preferred Partnership Units Recitals
Series B Preferred Share Merger Consideration 2.1(c)
Series B Preferred Share Redemption 5.14
Series B Preferred Share Redemption Price 5.14
Series B Preferred Stock 3.2(a)
Series B Redemption/Fundamental Change Notice 5.14
Surviving Company 1.1(b)
Surviving Partnership 1.1(a)
Takeover Statutes 3.19
Transaction Litigation 5.5(b)
Transfer Pricing Reports 3.13(l)
TRS 3.13(c)
WARN 3.12(e)
Warrant Call Notice 5.18
Warrant Call Option 5.18

 

(b)            In addition to the other terms defined throughout this Agreement, which are listed in Section 8.13(a), the following terms shall have the following meanings when used in this Agreement:

 

"affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the first-mentioned Person.

 

"Business Day" means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banks located in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by applicable Law to close.

 

"Callable Securities" means the (a) Company Warrants, (b) Class A Partnership Units issued upon exercise of any Company Warrants and (c) shares of Company Common Stock issued upon redemption of Class A Partnership Units described in clause (b).

 

"CARES Act" means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Pub. L. 116-136) and any administrative or other guidance published with respect thereto by any Governmental Entity, or any other Law or executive order or executive memo (including the Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster, dated August 8, 2020) intended to address the consequences of COVID-19, including the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act and the Health Economic Assistance, Liability and Schools Act and any other U.S., non-U.S., state or local stimulus fund or relief programs or Laws enacted by a Governmental Entity in connection with or in response to COVID-19.

 

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"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

"Company Acquisition Proposal" means any inquiry, offer or proposal from any Person or "group" (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) regarding any of the following (other than the Mergers) involving any of the Company or the Partnership or any other Company Subsidiary: (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation, business combination or other similar transaction involving the Company or the Partnership; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, sale of equity interests, share exchange, joint venture, business combination or otherwise, of 15% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Partnership and the other Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (as determined on a book-value basis (including Indebtedness secured solely by such assets)), in a single transaction or series of related transactions; (iii) any issue, sale or other disposition (including by way of merger, consolidation, sale of equity interests, share exchange, joint venture, business combination or otherwise) of securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing 15% or more of the voting power of the Company or 15% or more of the equity interests or general partner interests in the Partnership; (iv) any tender offer or exchange offer for 15% or more of any class of equity security of the Company or 15% or more of the equity interests or general partner interests in the Partnership or the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act in connection therewith; (v) any other transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any third party proposes to acquire control of assets of the Company or the Partnership and any other Company Subsidiary having a fair market value equal to or greater than 15% of the fair market value of all of the assets of the Company and the Partnership and the other Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, immediately prior to such transaction; or (vi) any public announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the foregoing.

 

"Company Franchise Agreement" means franchise, license or other similar agreement providing the right to utilize a brand name or other rights of a hotel chain or system at any of the Company Properties, together with each amendment, guaranty or other agreement or document binding on the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary and relating thereto.

 

"Company IT Assets" means the hardware, software, systems, networks, websites, and other electronic and information technology assets and equipment owned or licensed by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (excluding third-party operating businesses, such as franchisees, lessees, managers and vendors) and used in their business, including pursuant to outsourced or cloud computing arrangements.

 

"Company Management Agreement" means any management agreement pursuant to which any third party manages or operates any of the Company Properties on behalf of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, together with each amendment, guaranty or other agreement or document binding on the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary and relating thereto.

 

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"Company Material Adverse Effect" means any change, event, state of facts or development that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (i) the business, financial condition, assets or continuing results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Company or the Partnership to consummate the Mergers before the Outside Date; provided, however, that in the case of clause (i), no change, event, state of facts or development resulting from any of the following shall be deemed to be or taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a "Company Material Adverse Effect": (a) the entry into or the announcement, pendency or performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the consummation of any transactions contemplated hereby, including (i) the identity of the Parent Entities and its affiliates, (ii) by reason of any communication by the Parent Entities or any of its affiliates regarding the plans or intentions of the Parent Entities with respect to the conduct of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries following the Company Merger Effective Time, (iii) the failure to obtain any third party consent in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) the impact of any of the foregoing on any relationships with customers, suppliers, vendors, business partners, employees or any other Person, (b) any change, event or development in or affecting financial, economic, social or political conditions generally or the securities, credit or financial markets in general, including interest rates or exchange rates, or any changes therein, in the United States or any other countries, or any change, event or development generally affecting the industries in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate, (c) any change in the market price or trading volume of the equity securities of the Company or of the equity or credit ratings or the ratings outlook for the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries by any applicable rating agency; provided, however, that the exception in this clause (c) shall not prevent the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such change, if not otherwise excluded from the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect, from being taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred, (d) the suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, (e) any adoption, implementation, proposal or change after the date hereof in any applicable Law or GAAP or interpretation of any of the foregoing, (f) any action taken or not taken in accordance with the written instructions or consent of the Parent Entities or to which the Parent Entities are expressly deemed to have consented under the provisions of this Agreement, (g) any action expressly required to be taken by this Agreement or taken at the request of the Parent Entities (including pursuant to Section 5.12), (h) the failure of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to meet any internal or public projections, budgets, forecasts or estimates of revenues, earnings or other financial results for any period ending on or after the date of this Agreement (provided, however, that the exception in this clause (h) shall not prevent the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such failure, if not otherwise excluded from the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect, from being taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred; and provided, further, that this clause (h) shall not be construed as implying that the Company is making any representation or warranty with respect to any internal or public projections, budgets, forecasts or estimates of revenues, earnings or other financial results for any period), (i) the commencement, occurrence, continuation or escalation of any war (whether or not declared), civil disobedience, sabotage, armed hostilities, military or para-military actions or acts of terrorism (including cyberattacks) in the United States or any other countries, (j) any actions or claims made or brought by any of the current or former stockholders or equityholders of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (or on their behalf or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, but in any event only in their capacities as current or former stockholders or equityholders) arising out of this Agreement or the Mergers or (k) the existence, occurrence or continuation of any force majeure events, including any earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tropical storms, fires or other natural disasters, any national, international or regional calamity or any outbreak of illness, epidemic, pandemic or other public health event (including COVID-19) or any COVID-19 Measures or other restrictions to the extent relating to, or arising out of, any outbreak of illness, epidemic, pandemic or other public health event (including COVID-19) or any material worsening of any of the foregoing; provided that (i) with respect to clauses (b), (e), (i) and (k) such changes, events, state of facts or developments may be taken into account to the extent they disproportionately adversely affect the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies operating in the United States in the industries in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate and (ii) clause (a)(iii) shall not apply to the use of Company Material Adverse Effect in Section 3.4 (or Section 6.2(a) as it relates to Section 3.4).

 

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"Company Permitted Liens" means (a) statutory Liens for Taxes, assessments or other charges by Governmental Entities not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith and for which appropriate reserves have been established on the Company Financial Statements in accordance with Law or GAAP (to the extent required by applicable Laws or GAAP), (b) mechanic's, workmen's, repairmen's, carrier's, warehousemen's or other like Liens (i) arising in the ordinary course for amounts not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith and for which appropriate reserves have been established on the Company Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP (to the extent required by GAAP) or (ii) recorded notices of commencement or similar filings of record arising in connection with construction in progress for amounts not yet due and payable, (c) Liens for which title insurance coverage has been obtained pursuant to the applicable Company Title Insurance Policy issued to the Company or a Company Subsidiary, (d)  easements, overlaps, encroachments and any matters that are disclosed by a survey of the property, a copy of which survey is made available to the Parent Entities, (e) Liens securing Indebtedness for borrowed money existing as of the date hereof or that the Company or a Company Subsidiary is permitted to enter into pursuant to the terms of Section 5.1 or as otherwise specified herein, (f) (i) rights of tenants under space leases in effect at or with respect to the Company Properties, as tenants only, and (ii) rights of hotel guests or licensees pursuant to Contracts with respect to such real property entered into in the ordinary course of business in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), without any right of first refusal, right of first offer or other option to purchase any Company Property (or any portion thereof), (g) title of any owned or leased real property lying within the boundary of any public or private road, easement or right of way, (h) Liens created, imposed or promulgated by Law or by any Governmental Entities, including zoning regulations, use restrictions and building codes, which are not violated by the current use or structure of the real property or any improvements thereon (it being agreed that legal non-conforming uses do not constitute a violation of such Laws for purposes hereof), (i) such other non-monetary Liens or imperfections of title, easements, covenants, rights of way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances disclosed in policies or commitments of title insurance that (A) are disclosed in a policy or commitment of title insurance, a copy of which policy or commitment was made available to the Parent Entities (which disclosed matters, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be deemed to be Company Permitted Liens), or (B) individually or in the aggregate, do not, and would not reasonably be expected to, materially impair the existing use, operation, structure, or value of the property or asset affected by the applicable Lien, (j) Liens, rights or obligations created by or resulting from the acts or omission of the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II or any of their affiliates and their respective investors, lenders, employees, officers, directors, members, shareholders, agents, representatives, contractors, invitees or licensees or any Person claiming by, through or under any of the foregoing, (k) as set forth on Section 8.13(b)(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter and (l) any other Liens not otherwise included in clauses (a) through (k) above, that individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to materially adversely impair the current use, operation or value of the subject real property or asset.

 

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"Company Share Incentive Plan" means the CWI 2 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

"Company Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company, including the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.

 

"Company Warrants" means the 16,778,446 warrants to purchase Class A Partnership Units pursuant to the Warrant Certificate.

 

"Contract" means any binding agreement, contract, lease (whether for real or personal property), commitment, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, loan or evidence of Indebtedness, to which a Person is a party or to which the properties or assets of such Person are subject.

 

"COVID-19" means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions or mutations thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks.

 

"COVID-19 Measures" means any quarantine, "shelter in place", "stay at home", workforce reduction, social distancing, operating standard, shut down, closure, sequester, safety or similar Law, guideline or recommendation by any Governmental Entity, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, in each case, in connection with or in response to COVID-19, including the CARES Act and Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Pub. L. 116-127).

 

"Data Privacy/Security Requirements" means (i) all applicable rules of self-regulatory organizations and codes of conduct, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), (ii) all applicable Laws concerning the privacy, protection, security, and processing of Personal Information, and (iii) all contractual obligations concerning information security and data privacy (including the Processing of Personal Information).

 

"Debt Financing Sources" means the Lenders and the other entities, if any, that have committed to provide or arrange or otherwise enter into agreements in connection with all or any part of the Debt Financing, including the parties to any joinder agreements or credit agreements entered into pursuant to the Debt Commitment Letter or relating thereto, together with their respective affiliates, and their respective affiliates', officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in their respective capacities as such.

 

"delivered," "made available" or "provided," or words of similar import, mean with respect to documents or information required to be provided by the Company or the Partnership to the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, any documents or information (i) posted by the Company or any of its Representatives in the Company's electronic data room, (ii) filed or furnished by the Company with, and available through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System or (iii) otherwise made reasonably available by the Company or its Representatives to the Parent Entities, in each case prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

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"Environmental Laws" means all Laws which (a) regulate or relate to (i) the protection or clean-up of the environment, (ii) occupational safety and health in respect of any toxic, hazardous, harmful or deleterious substances, or (iii) the treatment, storage, transportation, handling, exposure to, disposal or Release of any toxic, hazardous, harmful or deleterious substances or (b) impose liability with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

"ERISA Affiliate" means any entity, trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is considered a single employer together with the Company or any Company Subsidiary under ERISA Section 4001(b) or part of the same "controlled group" with the Company or any Company Subsidiary for purposes of Code Section 414.

 

"Exchange Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

"Expenses" means all expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a party hereto and its affiliates) incurred by the Company, the Partnership and the Company Subsidiaries in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement, the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Proxy Statement, the solicitation of proxies from shareholders, any other filings with the SEC and all other matters related to the Closing of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

"Financing Failure Event" means any event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to make all or any portion of the Debt Financing unavailable on the terms and conditions in the Debt Commitment Letter (including, as necessary, any flex terms applicable thereto or any related fee letter).

 

"Financing Sources" means the Equity Financing Sources and the Debt Financing Sources.

 

"Governmental Entity" means any court, tribunal or any government or political subdivision thereof, whether federal, state, county, local or foreign, or any agency, authority, official or instrumentality of such governmental or political subdivision, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government.

 

"Ground Lease" means a ground lease under which the Company or a Company Subsidiary is a lessee or sublessee with respect to any Company Property, together with each amendment, guaranty or other agreement or document binding on the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary and relating thereto.

 

"Hazardous Materials" means any toxic, reactive, corrosive, ignitable or flammable chemical, or chemical compound, or hazardous substance, hazardous material or hazardous waste, whether solid, liquid or gas, that is subject to regulation, control or remediation, or for which liability or standards of care are imposed under any Environmental Laws, including petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof), asbestos, radioactive materials, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, and toxic mold.

 

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"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money, including obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (b) all reimbursement obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries under letters of credit to the extent such letters of credit have been drawn, obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries in respect of interest rate, currency or other swaps, hedges or similar derivative arrangements, (d) all capital lease obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries, (e) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of, or a contingent payment for, property, assets, goods or services, including any deferred acquisition purchase price, "earn-out" or similar agreements (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries for guarantees of another Person in respect of any items set forth in clauses (a) through (e), and (g) all outstanding prepayment premium obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries, if any, and accrued interest, fees and expenses related to any of the items set forth in clauses (a) through (c). For the avoidance of doubt, "Indebtedness" shall not include any liability for Taxes and shall not include any Indebtedness from the Company to a wholly owned Company Subsidiary (or vice versa) or between wholly owned Company Subsidiaries.

 

"Intellectual Property" means intellectual property rights, including in the following: (a) United States and non-U.S. patents, provisional patent applications, patent applications, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, divisions, reissues, patent disclosures, industrial designs, inventions (whether or not patentable or reduced to practice) and improvements thereto, (b) United States, state and non-U.S. trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, designs, logos, slogans, social media identifiers, domain names and general intangibles of like nature, including all goodwill associated therewith, and any registrations and applications to register the foregoing, (c) United States and non-U.S. copyrights and mask works (as defined in 17 U.S.C. §901) and pending applications to register the same and (d) trade secrets and confidential ideas, know-how, concepts, methods, processes, formulae, technology, algorithms, models, reports, data, customer lists, supplier lists, mailing lists, business plans and other proprietary information, all of which derive value, monetary or otherwise, from being maintained in confidence.

 

"Intervening Event" means a material event, development or change in circumstances with respect to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that occurred or arose after the date of this Agreement, which (a) was unknown to, nor reasonably foreseeable by, the Company Board as of or prior to the date of this Agreement and (b) first becomes known to or by the Company Board prior to the receipt of the Company Requisite Vote; provided, however, that none of the following will constitute, or be considered in determining whether there has been, an Intervening Event: (i) the receipt, existence of or terms of an Inquiry or Company Acquisition Proposal or any matter relating thereto or consequence thereof and (ii) changes in the market price or trading volume of the Company Shares or the fact that the Company meets or exceeds internal or published projections, budgets, forecasts or estimates of revenues, earnings or other financial results for any period (provided, however, that the underlying causes of such change or fact shall not be excluded by this clause (ii)).

 

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"Joint Venture Agreements" means the organizational and other governing documents of the Company Subsidiaries set forth in Section 8.13(b)(2) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

"know" or "knowledge" of any Person that is not an individual means (i) with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of such persons listed in Section 8.13(b)(3) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and (ii) with respect to the Parent Entities, the actual knowledge of the persons listed in Schedule A hereto.

 

"Law" means any federal, state, local or foreign law (including common law), statute, code, directive, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, writ, stipulation, award, injunction or decree of any Governmental Entity.

 

"Lien" means any lien, mortgage, pledge, conditional or installment sale agreement, restriction on transfer, purchase option, right of first refusal, preferential option, easement, security interest, charge, encumbrance, deed of trust, right-of-way or other encumbrance of any nature, whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of Law. A non-exclusive license of Intellectual Property shall not be deemed to be a Lien.

 

"Major Lease" means any lease, sublease or occupancy agreement of real property under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is the lessor or sublessor or serves in a similar capacity and that provides for annual rentals of $1,000,000 or more or is between two affiliates of the Company; provided that any such lease, sublease or occupancy agreement between the Company and any Company Subsidiary or between Company Subsidiaries shall not constitute a Major Lease.

 

"Minority Limited Partner" means any holder of Class A Partnership Units, other than any such holder that is the Company, any Company Subsidiary, the Surviving Company, the Parent Entities, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Surviving Company, the Parent Entities or Merger Sub II.

 

"Partnership Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership as may be further amended from time to time.

 

"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization, other entity or other entity.

 

"Personal Information" means any information defined as "personal information," "personally identifiable information," or "private information" under applicable Law.

 

"Processing" means any operation performed on Personal Information, including the collection, creation, receipt, access, use, handling, compilation, analysis, monitoring, maintenance, retention, storage, transmission, transfer, protection, disclosure, distribution, destruction, or disposal of Personal Information.

 

"Release" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, migrating, dumping or disposing into the indoor or outdoor environment.

 

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"Representative" means, with respect to any Person, such Person's directors, partners, managers, officers, employees, consultants, advisors (including counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts, consultants and financial advisors), agents and other representatives and, in the case of the Parent Entities, its Financing Sources.

 

"SEC" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

"Service Provider" means any employee, director or individual independent contractor of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries.

 

"Subsidiary" means, with respect to a Person, another Person at least a majority of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such first Person and/or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or of which such first Person and/or one of its Subsidiaries serves as a general partner (in the case of a partnership) or a manager or managing member (in the case of a limited liability entity) or similar function.

 

"Superior Proposal" means a bona fide written Company Acquisition Proposal (except that, for purposes of this definition, the references in the definition of "Company Acquisition Proposal" to "15%" shall be replaced by "50%") made by a third party on terms that the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company's outside legal counsel and financial advisors, (A) would result, if consummated, in a transaction that is more favorable to the Company's stockholders (solely in their capacity as such) from a financial point of view than the Company Merger and (B) is reasonably likely to be consummated, after taking into account (x) the financial, legal, regulatory and any other aspects of such proposal, (y) the likelihood and timing of consummation (as compared to the Company Merger) and (z) any changes to the terms of this Agreement proposed by the Parent Entities and any other information provided by the Parent Entities (including pursuant to Section 5.6 of this Agreement).

 

"Tax" and "Taxes" means any and all U.S. federal, state, local or foreign income, gross income, gross receipts, windfall profit, severance, property, production, sales, use, license, excise, stamp, transfer, mortgage recording, occupancy, hotel occupancy, rent, commercial rent, franchise, margin, employment, payroll, withholding, abandoned property, unclaimed property, escheat, social security (or similar, including FICA), alternative or add-on minimum tax, or any other tax, custom, duty, impost, levies, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Entity.

 

"Tax Protection Agreements" means any Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (a) any liability to holders of equity of a Company Subsidiary (including holders of Partnership Units) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (b) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a holder of equity of a Company Subsidiary (including holders of Partnership Units), the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries have agreed to (i) maintain a minimum level of debt or continue a particular debt or allow such holder to guarantee any debt or provide any "deficit restoration obligation", (ii) retain or not dispose of assets manner, or make an in-kind distribution of assets, for a period of time that has not since expired, (iii) make or refrain from making Tax elections, (iv) operate (or refrain from operating) in a particular manner, (v) only dispose of assets in a particular manner, (vi) use (or refrain from using) a specified method of taking into account book tax disparities under Section 704(c) of the Code with respect to one or more properties and/or (vii) use (or refrain from using) a particular method of allocating one or more liabilities of such party or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries under Section 752 of the Code; (c) limited partners of the Partnership (or any other Company Subsidiary) have guaranteed, indemnified or assumed debt of the Partnership (or such other Subsidiary) or entered into any "deficit restoration obligations"; and/or (d) any other agreement that would require the general partner, manager or managing member of the Partnership (or any other Company Subsidiary) to consider separately the interests of any limited partner or member or any group of limited partners or members.

 

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"Tax Return" means any return, report, document, declaration or any other information return or similar statement filed or required to be filed with respect to any Tax, including any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax and including any schedule or attachment.

 

"Warrant Certificate" means the Warrant Certificate issued by the Partnership on July 24, 2020, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf as of the day and year first above written.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  Watermark Lodging Trust, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Michael G. Medzigian
    Name: Michael G. Medzigian
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  PARTNERSHIP:
   
  CWI 2 OP, LP
   
  By: Watermark Lodging Trust, Inc.,
  its general partner
   
  By: /s/ Michael G. Medzigian
    Name: Michael G. Medzigian
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

  PARENT 1:
   
  Ruby I Holdings LLC
   
  By: /s/ Murray Goldfarb
    Name: Murray Goldfarb
    Title: Authorized Signatory
   
  PARENT 2:
   
  Ruby II Holdings LLC
   
  By: /s/ Murray Goldfarb
    Name: Murray Goldfarb
    Title: Authorized Signatory
   
  PARENT 3:
   
  Ruby III Holdings LLC
   
  By: /s/ Murray Goldfarb
    Name: Murray Goldfarb
    Title: Authorized Signatory
   
  PARENT 4:
   
  Ruby IV Holdings LLC
   
  By: /s/ Murray Goldfarb
    Name: Murray Goldfarb
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

  MERGER SUB I:
   
  Ruby Merger Sub I LLC
   
  By: /s/ Murray Goldfarb
    Name: Murray Goldfarb
    Title: Authorized Signatory
   
  MERGER SUB II:
   
  Ruby Merger Sub II LP
   
  By: Ruby GP Sub LLC
   
  By: /s/ Murray Goldfarb
    Name: Murray Goldfarb
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger