Description of Registrants Securities

The following is a summary of the material terms of securities of American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (referred to herein as “we”, “us” or “our”) registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our charter and bylaws and applicable provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”). Each of our charter and bylaws is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K to which this exhibit is filed or incorporated by reference.

Our charter authorizes us to issue up to 1,200,000,000 shares of stock, of which 1,000,000,000 shares are designated as common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “common stock”), and 200,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “preferred stock”). Of the 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock authorized, 200,000,000 shares are classified as Class T common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Class T common stock”), 100,000,000 shares are classified as Class I common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Class I common stock”), and 700,000,000 shares are unclassified common stock.  Our charter authorizes our board of directors (our “Board”), without stockholder approval, to amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we are authorized to issue. 

Under Maryland law, stockholders are not generally liable for our debts or obligations solely as a result of their status as stockholders.

Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and except as may otherwise be specified in our charter, each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including the election of directors. Except as provided with respect to any other class or series of our stock, the holders of our common stock will possess the exclusive voting power to vote on all matters at all meetings of the stockholders. The holders of our Class I common stock have exclusive voting rights on any amendment of the charter that would alter only the contract rights of the Class I common stock and no holders of any other class or series of our stock are entitled to vote thereon, and holders of Class I common stock have no voting rights on any amendment to the charter that would alter only the contract rights of any other class or series of common stock.

Holders of shares of our common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights, nor do they have any preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities.

Holders of our common stock generally have no appraisal rights unless our Board determines that appraisal rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of common stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which stockholders would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, shares of common stock will have equal distribution, liquidation and other rights.

Our Class T common stock and Class I common stock are identical to our common stock, including with respect to voting and distribution rights, except that our charter provides that, upon the listing of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (or such later date not exceeding 12 months from the date of listing as may be approved by our Board), each share of our Class T common stock and Class I common stock will automatically, and without any stockholder action, convert into one share of our listed common stock. Our Board has approved August 5, 2024 as the date on which our Class T common stock and Class I common stock will automatically convert into our listed common stock.

Our charter provides that any tender offer made by any person, including any “mini-tender” offer, must comply with the provisions of Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including the notice and disclosure requirements. Among other things, the offeror must provide us notice of such tender offer at least 10 business days before initiating the tender offer. No stockholder may transfer any shares held by such stockholder to any person who initiates a tender offer that does not comply with such provisions (a “Non-Compliant Tender Offer”), unless such stockholder shall have first offered such shares to us at the tender offer price offered in such Non-Compliant Tender Offer. In addition, the non-complying offeror will be responsible for all of our expenses in connection with that offeror’s noncompliance. The tender offer provision in our charter is not applicable to any listed shares of our stock.

Under our charter, our Board, without stockholder approval, is authorized to designate and approve the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series, to establish the number of shares in each class or series, and to fix the terms thereof. Our Board could authorize the issuance of additional shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction that holders of common stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of some, or a majority, of the shares of common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then-market price of such shares of common stock.

Our Board may, without common stockholder approval, classify any unissued shares of our preferred stock and reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock or previously classified shares of our preferred stock into other classes or series of stock. Before authorizing the issuance of shares of any new class or series, our Board must set, subject to the provisions of our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series of stock. In addition, our charter authorizes our Board, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without stockholder approval, to amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock, or the number of shares of any class or series of stock, that we are authorized to issue. These actions can be taken without common stockholder approval, unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law, the terms of any other class or series of our stock, or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded.

In order for us to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), we must meet several requirements concerning the ownership of our outstanding capital stock. Specifically, no more than 50.0% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include specified private foundations, employee benefit plans and trusts, and charitable trusts) during the last half of any taxable year beginning with the second taxable year in which we qualified as a REIT. In addition, the outstanding shares of stock must be owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a 12-month taxable year or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year beginning with the second taxable year in which we qualified as a REIT. We may prohibit certain acquisitions and transfers of shares of our stock so as to ensure our qualification as a REIT under the Code. However, we cannot assure you that this prohibition will be effective.

Our charter contains a limitation on ownership that prohibits any individual or entity from directly acquiring beneficial or constructive ownership of more than 9.9% in value of the aggregate of the then outstanding shares of our capital stock (which includes common stock and any preferred stock we may issue) or more than 9.9% (in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the then outstanding shares of our common stock.

Any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void and the proposed transferee will acquire no rights in such stock. Any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in violation of the ownership limits discussed above or in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to maintain our qualification as a REIT (including, but not limited to, any attempted transfer that would result in us owning an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by us from such tenant would cause us to fail to satisfy any gross income requirement described in Section 856(c) of the Code), will cause the number of shares of our stock causing the violation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) to be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the proposed transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares of our stock. If the transfer to the trust would not be effective for any reason to prevent any of the foregoing, the transfer of that number of shares that otherwise would cause a person to violate any of the restrictions described above will be null and void and the proposed transferee will acquire no rights in such shares of our stock. The automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the transfer. We will designate a trustee of the trust that will not be affiliated with us or any prohibited owner. We will also name one or more charitable organizations as a beneficiary of the trust. Shares-in-trust will remain issued and outstanding shares of stock and will be entitled to the same rights and privileges as all other shares of the same class or series of stock. The trustee will receive all dividends and other distributions on the shares-in-trust and will hold such dividends and other distributions in trust for the benefit of the beneficiary. The trustee will vote all shares-in-trust during the period they are held in trust and, subject to Maryland law, will have the authority (1) to rescind as void any vote cast by the proposed transferee prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and (2) to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast the vote.

Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee of the trust will sell the shares-in-trust to a person, selected by the trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limits discussed above and distribute to the applicable prohibited owner an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the sales proceeds received by the trustee for such shares-in-trust (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) and (2) (a) if the prohibited owner gave value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in trust, the price paid by the prohibited owner for such shares-in-trust or (b) if the prohibited owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the market price, or, in the event no market price is available for such shares, the fair market value, of such shares-in-trust on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in trust. Upon such sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the share of stock sold will terminate. The trustee may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which have been paid to the prohibited owner and are owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. Any amount received by the trustee in excess of the amount to be paid to the prohibited owner will be distributed to the beneficiary of the trust.

If, prior to our discovery that shares have been transferred to the trustee, such shares are sold by the prohibited owner, then such shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and, to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that the prohibited owner was entitled to receive, such excess must be paid to the trustee upon demand. In addition, all shares-in-trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (1) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such shares-in-trust (or, in the case of devise, gift, or other event other than a transfer for value, the market price or, in the event no market price is available for such shares, the fair market value, of such shares of stock at the time of such devise, gift, or other event) and (2) the market price or, in the event no market price is available for such shares, the fair market value, of such shares of stock on the date we, or our designee, accepts such offer. We will have the right to accept the offer until the trustee has sold the shares. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner. We may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which have been paid to the prohibited owner and are owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. We may pay the amount of such reduction to the trustee for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary.

Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire shares of our stock in violation of the foregoing restrictions or who would have owned shares of our stock that resulted in a transfer to any such trust is required to give immediate written notice to us of such event or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, at least 15 days’ prior written notice. Such person shall provide to us such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such transfer on our status as a REIT.

The foregoing restrictions continue to apply until our Board determines it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the foregoing restrictions is no longer required for REIT qualification.

Our Board, in its sole discretion, may exempt a person (prospectively or retroactively) from the limitation on ownership of more than 9.9% in value of the aggregate of the then outstanding shares of our capital stock (which includes common stock and any preferred stock we may issue) or more than 9.9% (in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the then outstanding shares of our common stock. However, our Board may not exempt any person whose ownership of our outstanding stock would result in our being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise would result in our failure to maintain our qualification as a REIT. In order to be considered by our Board for exemption, a person also must not own and represent that it will not own, directly or indirectly, an interest in our tenant (or a tenant of any entity which we own or control) that would cause us to own, directly or indirectly, more than a 9.9% interest in the tenant within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code. The person seeking an exemption must represent to the satisfaction of our Board that it will not violate these two restrictions. The person also must agree that any violation or attempted violation of these restrictions will result in the automatic transfer of the shares of stock causing the violation to the trust.

Any stockholder of record who owns more than 5.0% (or such lower level as required by the Code and the regulations thereunder) of the outstanding shares of our stock during any taxable year, within 30 days after the end of such taxable year, will be asked to deliver a statement or affidavit setting forth the name and address of such record owner, the number of shares of our stock actually owned by such stockholder, and such information regarding the beneficial ownership of the shares of our stock as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such actual or beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits.

Our unclassified common stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “AHR.”

The transfer agent and registrar for shares of our common stock, including our Class T common stock and Class I common stock, is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Our charter provides that the number of our directors may be increased or decreased pursuant to our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that the number of directors on our Board may not be fewer than the minimum number required under the MGCL, which is one, nor, unless our bylaws are amended, more than 15. We have elected by a provision of our charter to be subject to a provision of Maryland law requiring that, except as otherwise provided in the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any individual elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

At each annual meeting of our stockholders, our stockholders will elect each of our directors to serve until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. In both contested and uncontested elections, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of shares of our outstanding common stock can elect all the directors then standing for election and the holders of the remaining shares of common stock will not be able to elect any directors.

Our charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect or remove one or more directors, a director or the entire Board may be removed at any time, but only by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.

Under the MGCL, certain business combinations between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:     

•any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10.0% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock; or         

•an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10.0% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation.

A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which such person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board of directors.

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least: 

•80.0% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and     

•two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares of stock held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares of our common stock in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares of our common stock.

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our Board has adopted a resolution providing that any business combination between us and any other person is exempted from this statute, provided that such business combination is first approved by our Board. This resolution, however, may be altered or repealed in whole or in part at any time.

The MGCL provides that holders of control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights with respect to such shares except to the extent approved by a vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares of stock owned by the acquiror, by officers or by employees who are directors of the corporation are excluded from shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: 

•one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

•one-third or more but less than a majority; or

•a majority or more of all voting power. 

Control shares do not include shares of stock the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval or shares acquired directly from the corporation. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel our Board to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares of stock. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders’ meeting.

If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares of stock are considered and not approved or, if no such meeting is held, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders’ meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares of stock as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.

The control share acquisition statute does not apply (1) to shares of stock acquired in a merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction, or (2) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions of shares of our stock by any person. This bylaw provision may be amended or eliminated at any time in the future by our Board.

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:

•a classified board of directors;

•a two-thirds vote requirements for removing a director;

•a requirements that the number of directors be fixed only by a vote of the board of directors;

•a requirements that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by the remaining directors then in office and, if the board is classified, for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and

•a majority requirement for the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders.

In our charter, we have elected that, except as may be provided by our Board in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, vacancies on our Board will only be filled by the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we require the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors in order to remove a director, vest in our Board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships and require, unless called by the chairman of our Board, the chief executive officer, the president or our Board the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders in order to call a special meeting to act on such matter. Our Board has adopted a resolution and we have filed Articles Supplementary to our charter providing that we may not elect to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 that would permit us to classify our Board without stockholder approval. In the future, our Board may elect, without stockholder approval, to adopt one or more of the other provisions of Subtitle 8.

Special meetings of stockholders may be called by the chairman of the board of directors, the chief executive officer, the president and the board of directors and must also be called by our secretary to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting. The presence either in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting will constitute a quorum. Generally, the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast is necessary to take stockholder action, except as described in the next paragraph and except that a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect a director.

Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge with another entity, convert into another entity, consolidate with one or more other corporations, sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets or engage in a statutory share exchange unless declared advisable by our Board and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation’s charter. Our charter provides that these matters (other than certain amendments to the provisions of our charter related to the removal of directors and the vote required for certain amendments) may be approved by stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Stockholders are not entitled to exercise any of the rights of an objecting stockholder provided for in Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL unless our Board determines that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of the determination in connection with which stockholders would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights. Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock, any director may be removed from office at any time, but only by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.

Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to our Board and the proposal of business to be considered by our stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of our Board or (3) by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by our Board for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, at the time of giving the advance notice required by the bylaws and at the time of the meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual nominated or on such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to our Board at a special meeting may be made only (1) by or at the direction of our Board or (2) provided that the meeting has been called for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by our Board for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, at the time of giving the advance notice required by the bylaws and at the time of the meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual nominated and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.

Our bylaws provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL (other than any action arising under federal securities laws), including, without limitation, (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our directors or officers or other employees to us or to our stockholders, or (c) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors or officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, our charter or our bylaws, or (2) any other action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors or officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. None of the foregoing actions, claims or proceedings may be brought in any court sitting outside the State of Maryland unless we consent in writing to such court.

Our bylaws provide that our Board has the exclusive power to adopt, alter, or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (1) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (2) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates the liability of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The MGCL requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity against reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with such proceeding. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless the following can be established:

Under the MGCL, a court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by the corporation or in its right, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses. The MGCL also permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

Our charter requires us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to any present or former director or officer of us or any of our subsidiaries who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or any individual who, while a director or officer of us or any of our subsidiaries and at our request or at the request of any of our subsidiaries, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, manager, member or trustee and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers that provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

We have purchased and intend to maintain insurance on behalf of all of our directors and executive officers against liability asserted against or incurred by them in their official capacities, whether or not we are required or have the power to indemnify them against the same liability.

Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), we have been informed that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.