SUB-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

This SUB-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is entered into as of October 5, 2012, by and among (i) ARMOUR RESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager”), (ii) STATON BELL BLANK CHECK LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Manager”), (iii) JAVELIN Mortgage Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation, but solely with respect to Sections 1, 6(a), 11(a), 14(a), 14(b), 15, and 18 through 32 (the “REIT”), and (iv) JEFFREY J. ZIMMER and SCOTT J. ULM, but solely with respect to Sections 1, 11(a), 14(a), 15(a), 18 through 30, and 32 (Messrs. Zimmer and Ulm, together, the “Members” and, each, a “Member”).

 

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Manager and the REIT are entering into that certain Management Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended from time to time, the “Management Agreement”), pursuant to which the Manager will provide day-to-day operating and investment advisory services to the REIT on the terms and conditions set forth therein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Manager wishes to enter into this Agreement with the Sub-Manager in order to engage the Sub-Manager to serve as a sub-advisor to the Manager to support the performance of the Manager’s services under the Management Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

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

 

1.            Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Management Agreement. In addition, the following terms shall have the respective meanings assigned to them below, unless otherwise indicated:

 

“Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement; provided, however, that except with respect to Section 14, the term “Affiliate” shall not include ARMOUR or any of its subsidiaries.

 

“Agreement” means this Sub-Management Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

“ARMOUR” means ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation.

 

“Base Management Fee” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Bell Control Persons” means, collectively: (i) Marc H. Bell, (ii) any Affiliate of Marc H. Bell, (iii) any entity, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by Marc H. Bell and (iv) upon Marc H. Bell’s death or disability, the executors, attorneys in fact, administrators of Marc H. Bell or his estate, or any trustee (whether or not as a testamentary trustee or as a successor trustee under a non-testamentary trust), if any, with respect to Marc H. Bell.

 

“Board of Directors” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Business Day” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Cause” means a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction (a) that the Sub-Manager has materially breached this Agreement, such material breach has had a material adverse effect on the Manager or the REIT, and such material breach has continued for a period of 30 days after receipt by the Sub-Manager of written notice thereof specifying such breach and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30-day period, (b) that an action taken or omitted to be taken by the Sub-Manager in connection with this Agreement constitutes willful misconduct or gross negligence that results in material harm to the Manager and/or the REIT and such willful misconduct or gross negligence has not been cured within a period of 30 days after receipt by the Sub-Manager of written notice thereof specifying such willful misconduct or gross negligence and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30-day period, or (c) that an action taken or omitted to be taken by the Sub-Manager in connection with this Agreement constitutes fraud that results in material harm to the Manager and/or the REIT.

 

 

“Code Section 409A” has the meaning set forth in Section 32 of this Agreement.

 

“Effective Date” means the date of this Agreement.

 

“Initial Term” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Guidelines” means the REIT’s investment guidelines and other parameters for Investments, financing activities and operations, any modifications to which shall be approved by a majority of the Independent Directors, as the same may be modified from time to time with such approval.

 

 “Gross Equity Raised” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Independent Directors” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Interest Rate” means the current (as of the Termination Date) London Interbank Offered Rate as quoted by Citibank, N.A. (or any successor entity thereto) for interest periods of one year, plus 200 basis points per annum, compounding quarterly.

 

“Investment Company Act” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Investments” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(iii) of this Agreement.

 

“Management Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Manager” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Member” and “Members” have the respective meanings set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Member Entities” means, separately and collectively, the Members and their direct and indirect subsidiaries; provided, however, that the term “Member Entities” shall not include the REIT or ARMOUR or any of their respective subsidiaries.

 

"Parties" has the meaning set forth in Section 32(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Person” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Real Estate Investment Trust” has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“REIT” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Staton Control Persons” means, collectively: (i) Daniel C. Staton, (ii) any Affiliate of Daniel C. Staton, (iii) any entity, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by Daniel C. Staton and (iv) upon Daniel C. Staton’s death or disability, the executors, attorneys in fact, administrators of Daniel C. Staton or his respective estate, or trustee (whether or not as a testamentary trustee or as a successor trustee under a non-testamentary trust), if any, with respect to Daniel C. Staton.

 

 

“Staton/Bell Related Persons” means, either (A) collectively (i) Daniel C. Staton, (ii) any Affiliate of Daniel C. Staton, (iii) any trusts (or trustees thereof), family limited partnerships or other estate planning vehicles over which one or more Staton Control Persons exercise control, (iv) upon Daniel C. Staton’s death or disability, any executors, attorneys in fact, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of Daniel C. Staton or the respective estate, or any trust formed by either, and (v) to the extent any Staton Control Person retains voting control over the applicable interest, any charitable trust, organization or entity, or (B) collectively (i) Marc H. Bell, (ii) any Affiliate of Marc H. Bell, (iii) any trusts (or trustees thereof), family limited partnerships or other estate planning vehicles over which one or more Bell Control Persons exercise control, (iv) upon Marc H. Bell’s death or disability, any executors, attorneys in fact, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of Marc H. Bell or the respective estate, or any trust formed by either, and (v) to the extent any Bell Control Person retains voting control over the applicable interest, any charitable trust, organization or entity.

 

“Sub-Manager” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Sub-Manager Base Management Fee” means a fee calculated on a monthly basis and paid (by wire transfer of immediately available funds) quarterly in arrears.  The amount of such monthly fee shall be equal to (a) $115,000 (the “Monthly Retainer Amount”), plus (b) (i) ¼ times (ii) (A) the Base Management Fee for such one-month period minus (B) the monthly expenses of the Manager, as agreed by the Manager and the Sub-Manager from time to time (the “Monthly Expense Amount”); provided that the Monthly Expense Amount shall initially be $83,333.33, which shall be subject to increase from time to time to reflect actual increases in such costs subject to the mutual agreement of the Manager and Sub-Manager, not to be unreasonably withheld. To the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full in connection with the REIT’s initial public offering, the Monthly Retainer Amount will be increased to $130,000. In the event the Base Management Fee shall be less than the aggregate amounts calculated in accordance with the preceding sentence, payment (or allocation to the Manager with respect to the Monthly Expense Amount) shall be made in the following order: first to the Sub-Manager, the Monthly Retainer Amount; second, to the Manager, the Monthly Expense Amount; and third, to the Sub-Manager, an amount equal to (i) ¼ times (ii) such amount of Base Management Fee as remains following payment/allocation of the amounts required to be paid/ allocated pursuant to this sentence; provided, that any amount due to either the Sub-Manager or the Manager under the preceding sentence and not paid/ allocated as provided in this sentence shall be accrued for its account and paid/allocated as promptly as possible. For the avoidance of doubt, any residual amount of the Base Management Fee not required to be paid to the Sub-Manager or allocated to the Manager hereunder shall be for the benefit of the Manager and may be disposed of by the Manager or distributed to its members if, as and when the Manager may determine in its sole discretion.

 

“Sub-Manager Termination Fee” means a termination fee equal to 25% of the Termination Fee due payable to the Manager or its assignee under the Management Agreement.

 

“Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a) of this Agreement.

 

2.             Appointment.  The Manager hereby appoints the Sub-Manager to serve as sub-advisor on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Sub-Manager hereby accepts such appointment.

 

3.             Duties of the Sub-Manager.

 

(a)           The Sub-Manager shall provide the following services (the “Services”) to support the Manager’s performance of services to the REIT under the Management Agreement, in each case upon reasonable request by the Manager:

 

(i)       serving as a consultant to the Manager with respect to the periodic review of the Guidelines;

 

(ii)      identifying for the Manager potential new lines of business and investment opportunities for the REIT;

 

(iii)     identifying for and advising the Manager with respect to selection of independent contractors that provide investment banking, securities brokerage, mortgage brokerage and other financial services, due diligence services, underwriting review services, legal and accounting services, and all other services as may be required relating to the investments of the REIT and its subsidiaries (the “Investments”);

 

 

(iv)     advising the Manager with respect to the REIT’s stockholder and public relations matters;

 

(v)      advising and assisting the Manager with respect to the REIT’s capital structure and capital raising; and

 

(vi)     advising the Manager on negotiating agreements relating to programs established by the U.S. government.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Manager shall remain primarily and directly responsible for the provision of all services provided to the REIT under the Management Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Manager shall be solely responsible for (i) identifying and consummating all Investments to be made by the REIT and its subsidiaries, (ii) any and all portfolio monitoring or reporting services to be provided to the REIT and (iii) any matters relating to the REIT’s Real Estate Investment Trust qualification for U.S. federal income tax purposes or the status of the REIT and its Affiliates under the Investment Company Act.

 

(b)           The Sub-Manager shall, and shall cause its officers and employees to, devote such portion of its and their time to the provision of the Services to the Manager as necessary for the proper performance of all of the Services hereunder.

 

4.             Authority of the Sub-Manager.  The Sub-Manager is not authorized to advise or bind the REIT or to enter into any agreements relative to the REIT, and, with respect to the Manager, is to act only as an advisor to the Manager, upon reasonable request. The Sub-Manager shall have no obligation or authority under the Management Agreement.

 

5.            Confidentiality.  The Sub-Manager and the Manager shall each keep confidential any nonpublic information obtained in connection with the Services rendered under this Agreement and shall not disclose any such information (or use the same except in furtherance of its duties under this Agreement), except: (i) to the other party hereto and its respective employees, officers, directors, consultants or advisors; (ii) with the prior written consent of the other party hereto; or (iii) as required by law or legal process. The foregoing shall not apply to information which has previously become available through the actions of a Person not resulting a violation this Section 5 or to any information within the public domain or, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to Sub-Manager’s or its Affiliates’ business enterprises unrelated to the Services or the REIT or ARMOUR. The provisions of this Section 5 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement for a period of one year.

 

6.             Fees.

 

(a)           As compensation for all Services performed by the Sub-Manager under this Agreement, the Sub-Manager shall be paid (i) the Sub-Manager Base Management Fee by the Manager and (ii) in recognition of the level of the upfront effort and commitment of resources required by the Sub-Manager in connection with this Agreement, the Sub-Manager Termination Fee by the Manager pursuant to the terms set forth herein. Payment of the Sub-Manager Base Management Fee by the Manager to the Sub-Manager for any quarter shall be contingent upon the receipt by the Manager of the Base Management Fee under the Management Agreement for each of the three months in the quarter.  The Sub-Manager Base Management Fee shall be payable by the Manager to the Sub-Manager within five (5) Business Days of receipt by the Manager of the final Base Management Fee for such quarter; provided, however, that all the Sub-Manager Base Management Fees with respect to the services provided during a given calendar year shall be paid no later than sixty (60) days following the end of such calendar year. Payment of the Sub-Manager Termination Fee by the Manager to the Sub-Manager shall be contingent upon the receipt by the Manager of the Termination Fee under the Management Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Section 11, the Sub-Manager Termination Fee shall be payable by the Manager to the Sub-Manager within five (5) Business Days of receipt by the Manager of the Termination Fee; provided, however, that the Sub-Manager Termination Fee shall be paid no later than sixty (60) days following the end of the calendar year in which the Management Agreement is terminated entitling the Manager to the Termination Fee (which event will, in turn, terminate this Agreement).

 

 

(b)           The Manager agrees that, without the approval of the Sub-Manager (which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), it shall not agree to any modification of the Management Agreement that would both (i) amend or waive (A) the terms of payments due to the Manager under the Management Agreement or (B) the indemnification or expense reimbursement provisions of the Management Agreement and (ii) have either (A) a disproportionately adverse effect on the Sub-Manager or (B) a disproportionately positive effect on the Manager.

 

(c)           The Manager agrees to use reasonable best efforts to collect the Base Management Fee and the Termination Fee on a prompt and timely basis.

 

7.           Expenses.  Subject to receipt from the Sub-Manager of statements therefor, the Manager shall promptly submit to the REIT for reimbursement any expenses incurred by the Sub-Manager on behalf and at the request of the Manager that are eligible for reimbursement by the REIT pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement.  The Sub-Manager shall prepare a statement documenting such eligible expenses of the Sub-Manager during each month, and shall deliver such statement to the Manager within five (5) Business Days after the end of each month.  The Manager shall reimburse the Sub-Manager for such eligible expenses within five (5) Business Days of receipt by the Manager of reimbursement from the REIT for such eligible expenses (provided, that a failure to deliver such statement within such period shall not limit the rights of the Sub-Manager hereunder except to the extent it prevents the Manager from being reimbursed by the REIT).  Reimbursement by the Manager to the Sub-Manager for any expenses shall be contingent upon the receipt by the Manager of reimbursement from the REIT under the Management Agreement for such expenses, and the Manager will pursue such reimbursement with substantially the same level of effort that it pursues requests for reimbursement of its own expenses.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise: (a) the amount of expenses of the Sub-Manager eligible for reimbursement during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses of the Sub-Manager eligible for reimbursements in any other calendar year, (b) reimbursements to the Sub-Manager for expenses for which the Sub-Manager is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred by the Sub-Manager, (c) the right to payment or reimbursement hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit and (d) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

8.             Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(a)           The Sub-Manager shall not directly transfer all or any portion of its right to receive the Sub-Manager Base Management Fee, the Sub-Manager Termination Fee or any of the amounts payable to the Sub-Manager under this Agreement (but excluding proceeds thereof) to any other Person, without the prior written consent of the Manager (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

 

(b)           The consent of the Manager (which shall not be unreasonably be withheld, delayed or conditioned) shall be required prior to a transfer of membership interests in the Sub-Manager that would result in Staton/Bell Related Persons, in the aggregate, holding less than a majority in interest of the Sub-Manager.  The term transfer as used in this Section 8(b) shall include any actions that may result in any Staton/Bell Related Person ceasing to be a Staton/Bell Related Person.

 

9.            [Reserved].

 

10.           Relationship of Sub-Manager, Manager, Members and REIT.  The Manager and the Members, on the one hand, and the Sub-Manager, on the other hand, are not partners, members or joint venturers with each other nor with the REIT, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to make them such partners, members or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on any of them.  The relationship of the parties is intended to be contractual and not fiduciary in nature.

 

 

11.           Term and Termination.

 

(a)           Subject to Section 12(b), this Agreement shall terminate on the earliest to occur of (i) the expiration of the Initial Term of the Management Agreement, (ii) the termination of the Management Agreement by the REIT, or (iii) the effective date of the removal of the Sub-Manager for Cause (such earliest date, the “Termination Date”); provided that all rights and obligations with respect to any earned but unpaid Sub-Manager Base Management Fee and any other amounts payable under this Agreement with respect to periods prior to, on or in connection with the Termination Date shall survive the termination of this Agreement; provided, further, that, subject to the foregoing proviso, in the event of termination pursuant to clause (i) or (iii) above, there shall be no Sub-Manager Termination Fee paid to the Sub-Manager.  In the event of a termination pursuant to clause (ii) above, if, during the Initial Term, the REIT or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Manager or any Member Manager, on the other hand, enter into a new management agreement effective within six months of such termination, this Agreement will be deemed to apply with respect to such new management agreement; provided, however, that the Sub-Manager shall not be entitled to receive any fees during any period in which neither the Manager nor the Managing Member receives fees from the REIT or any of its Affiliates.  The applicable Member, or the Members, as may be the case, shall cause the applicable Member Manager, if it is not the Manager, to assume the Manager’s obligations under this Agreement. In the event one or more of the Sub-Manager and the applicable Member Manager believes in good faith that this Agreement should be amended to reflect differences between the new management agreement and the Management Agreement, the Sub-Manager and the applicable Member Manager shall enter into good faith negotiations with regard to any such appropriate amendments and the applicable Member, or the Members, as may be the case, shall cause the Member Manager to provide the Sub-Manager with the right to enter into any such amendments.  In any such event the applicable Member, or the Members, as the case may be, will provide the Sub-Manager with all information and certifications reasonably requested by the Sub-Manager.  Notwithstanding any delay in executing any such amendment, the Sub-Manager shall be entitled to the accrual for payment of fees (on the terms as so amended) commencing upon the receipt of management fees by the Manager or such Member Manager with regard to such new agreement.

 

(b)           Upon the termination of this Agreement (or, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii), the determination of termination in accordance with Section 14(b)), except to the extent inconsistent with applicable law, the Sub-Manager shall as promptly as reasonably practicable (A) deliver to the Manager one copy of all expense statements generated pursuant to Section 7 hereof covering the period following the date of the last provision of such expense statements to the Manager through the Termination Date; and (B) deliver to the Manager all property and documents of the REIT provided to or obtained by the Sub-Manager pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, including all copies and extracts thereof in whatever form, then in the Sub-Manager’s possession or under its control (provided that the Sub-Manager’s outside counsel may retain one copy to be kept confidential and used solely for archival purposes).

 

(c)           Subject to other provisions of this Agreement, if the Sub-Manager is removed for Cause, the effective date of a removal for Cause shall be the date upon which the Manager shall have delivered to Sub-Manager both (i) written notice that the Sub-Manager is being removed for Cause in accordance with this Sub-Management Agreement, and (ii) a copy of the applicable final, non-appealable order evidencing the required final determination of the court of competent jurisdiction.

 

12.           Assignment.  This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that the Manager may assign, in their entirety, its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any third party upon the assignment of its rights and obligations under the Management Agreement to such third party, provided that both the assignee agrees in writing to assume all obligations hereunder and the Manager shall continue to remain liable for its obligations to the Sub-Manager hereunder.

 

13.           Indemnification.  The Manager will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Sub-Manager to be indemnified by the REIT in accordance with the Management Agreement.

 

 

14.           Remedies; Limitation of Liability.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event shall the Members, the REIT or any of their Affiliates (including the Manager), on the one hand, or the Sub-Manager, on the other hand, be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Members, the REIT or their Affiliates, on the one hand, or the Sub-Manager, on the other hand, has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; provided, however, that in connection with any dispute between any Member Entities or the Manager, on the one hand, and the Sub-Manager, on the other hand, regarding the Sub-Manager’s right to receive payments under this Agreement, (x) if the Sub-Manager is finally determined to have been entitled to receive any amounts (not paid when due) under this Agreement, the Sub-Manager will be entitled to (1) reimbursement of reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with such dispute and collection of such amounts and (2) interest accruing at the Interest Rate on such unpaid amounts from the date payment was originally due until actually paid, and (y) if the Sub-Manager is finally determined not to have been entitled to receive any amounts (not paid when due) under this Agreement, the Manager will be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with such dispute.  Further, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither the Manager nor either of the Members (or any of their respective Affiliates) shall be liable to the Sub-Manager for payment of a Sub-Manager Base Management Fee, Sub-Manager Termination Fee or any similar compensation except to the extent that the Manager, the applicable Members or such Affiliate (as the case may be) or its permitted assignee has actually received a corresponding fee from the REIT.  This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may only be brought against, the entities that are expressly named as parties hereto and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth herein with respect to such party.  Except to the extent a named party to this Agreement (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such named party in this Agreement and not otherwise), no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any of the foregoing shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of the parties under this Agreement (whether for indemnification or otherwise) of or for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Manager will not be entitled to terminate this Agreement (except as expressly set forth in the termination provisions of this Agreement), withhold or offset amounts owed hereunder or otherwise seek recourse against the Sub-Manager for any breach of this Agreement, except that the Manager may seek payment of monetary damages to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction finally determines such damages shall be awarded to the Manager against the Sub-Manager as a result of Cause.

 

15.            Representations and Warranties of the REIT, Each Member and the Manager.  The REIT, the Manager and each of the Members each, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to the Sub-Manager, as follows:

 

(a)           It (a) in the case of the REIT, is a corporation and is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results, assets, operations or business prospects of it and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) in the case of the Manager, is a limited liability company and is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results, assets, operations or business prospects of the Manager and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (c) in the case of each Member, is a natural person.  It has all requisite corporate or other power and authority and all material licenses, permits and authorizations necessary to own and operate its properties, to carry on its businesses as now conducted and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

(b)           The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by it.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Sub-Manager, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable in accordance with its terms.  The execution and delivery by it of this Agreement, and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by it, do not and will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (ii) constitute a default under, (iii) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon its capital stock or membership interests, as applicable, or assets pursuant to, (iv) give any third party the right to modify, terminate or accelerate any obligation under, (v) result in a violation of, or (vi) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice to any court or administrative or governmental body pursuant to, its organizational documents (if applicable), or any law, statute, rule or regulation to which it is subject, or any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which it is a party or by which it is bound.

 

16.            Representations and Warranties of the Sub-Manager.  The Sub-Manager hereby represents and warrants to the Members, the REIT, and the Manager as follows:

 

(a)           The Sub-Manager is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results, assets, operations or business prospects of the Sub-Manager taken as a whole.  The Sub-Manager has all requisite power and authority and all material licenses, permits and authorizations necessary to own and operate its properties, to carry on its businesses as now conducted and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)           The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by the Sub-Manager.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Sub-Manager and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Members and the Manager, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Sub-Manager, enforceable in accordance with its terms.  The execution and delivery by the Sub-Manager of this Agreement, and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Sub-Manager, do not and will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (ii) constitute a default under, (iii) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Sub-Manager’s [capital stock,] membership interests or assets pursuant to, (iv) give any third party the right to modify, terminate or accelerate any obligation under, (v) result in a violation of, or (vi) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice to any court or administrative or governmental body pursuant to, the Sub-Manager’s certificate of formation or amended and restated limited liability company agreement, or any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Sub-Manager is subject, or any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Sub-Manager is a party or by which it is bound.

 

17.           Further Assurances.  The Sub-Manager and the Manager will use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and take such further action as may be required to give effect to the arrangements contemplated hereby, including without limitation the execution and delivery of such further agreements, documents and instruments as may be reasonably required therefor.

 

18.           Notices.  Unless expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, all notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made and received when (1) delivered by hand, (2) otherwise delivered by reputable overnight courier against receipt therefor, or (3) upon actual receipt of registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested.  The parties may deliver to each other notice by electronically transmitted facsimile copies or electronically transmitted mail (i.e., e-mail), provided that such facsimile or e-mail notice is followed within 24 hours by any type of notice otherwise provided for in this Section 18.  Any party may alter the address or other contact information to which communications or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change of address or other contact information in conformity with the provisions of this Section 18 for the giving of notice.  Any notice shall be duly addressed to the parties as follows:

 

If to the Manager:

 

ARMOUR Residential Management, LLC

3001 Ocean Drive, Suite 201

Vero Beach, FL  32963

Attention:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer

E-mail: ***@***

 

 

405 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10174

Attn: David G. Nichols, Jr., Esq.

E-mail: ***@***

 

If to the Sub-Manager:

 

Staton Bell Blank Check LLC

6800 Broken Sound Parkway

Boca Raton, FL  33487

Attention: Daniel C. Staton

E-mail: ***@***

 

If to Jeffrey J. Zimmer:

 

Jeffrey J. Zimmer

3001 Ocean Drive, Suite 201

Vero Beach, FL  32963

E-mail:   ***@***

If to Scott J. Ulm:

 

Scott J. Ulm

3001 Ocean Drive, Suite 201

Vero Beach, FL  32963

E-mail:   ***@***

If to the REIT:

 

JAVELIN Mortgage Investment Corp.

3001 Ocean Drive, Suite 201

Vero Beach, FL  32963

Attention:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer

Telecopy: (561) 348-2408

E-mail:   ***@***

 

with a copy given in the manner prescribed above, to:

 

Akerman Senterfitt

One Southeast Third Avenue, 25th Floor

SunTrust International Center

Miami, FL  33131

Attn.: Bradley D. Houser, Esq.

E-mail: ***@***

 

19.           Binding Nature of Agreement; Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns as provided in this Agreement.

 

20.           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.  The express terms of this Agreement control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement.  This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than in accordance with Section 29.

 

21.           GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES TO THE CONTRARY.

 

22.           Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.  Any proceeding or action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in any state court of the State of Florida or, in the case of claims to which the federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction, any federal court of the United States of America, in either case, located in the State of Florida, and each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or action, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and agrees not to bring any proceeding or action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any action, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 22.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT THAT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.

 

23.           No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.  No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of any party hereto, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. Subject to Section 14, the rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.  No waiver of any provision hereunder shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

 

24.           Headings.  The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed part of this Agreement.

 

25.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.  This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts of this Agreement, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.

 

26.           Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

27.           Gender.  Words used herein regardless of the number and gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter, as the context requires.

 

28.           Attorneys’ Fees.  Should any action or other proceeding be necessary to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or the various transactions contemplated hereby, the prevailing party or parties will be entitled to recover it or their actual reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses from the non-prevailing party or parties whose actions, or failure or omission to act, gave rise to such action or other proceeding.

 

 

29.           Amendments.  This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed (in whole or in part), except by a formal, definitive written agreement expressly referring to this Agreement, which agreement shall be executed by all the parties affected by such agreement.  If the REIT is such a party affected by any such agreement amending modifying or changing this Agreement, such agreement must be, if and when any of the stock of the REIT becomes publicly traded, approved by the Board of Directors.  The parties hereto expressly acknowledge that no consent or approval of the REIT’s stockholders is required in connection with any amendment, modification or change to this Agreement.

 

30.           Non-Disparagement.  (i) The Sub-Manager hereby agrees to refrain, and to use reasonable efforts to cause its members, to refrain from making any defamatory or derogatory statements concerning the REIT, the Manager and the Members, and (ii) the REIT, the Manager and the Members each hereby agrees to refrain from making any defamatory or derogatory statements concerning the Sub-Manager and its members.  This Section 30 shall survive termination of this Agreement for a period of five years.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit any individual or entity from making any truthful statements in response to a subpoena, in connection with a legal proceeding or as otherwise required by law or legal process.

 

31.           Authority.  Each signatory to this Agreement with respect to the Manager, Sub-Manager, or REIT warrants and represents that such signatory is authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of and to bind the party on whose behalf such signatory is signing this Agreement.

 

32.           Section 409A.

 

(a)           General.  It is the intention of all the parties to this Agreement (the "Parties") that the benefits and rights to which the Sub-Manager is entitled pursuant to this Agreement comply with Code Section 409A, to the extent that the requirements of Code Section 409A are applicable thereto, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with that intention.  If any of the Parties believes, at any time, that any such benefit or right that is subject to Code Section 409A does not so comply, it shall promptly advise the others and each of them shall negotiate reasonably and in good faith to amend the terms of such benefits and rights such that they comply with Code Section 409A (with the most limited possible economic effect on the Parties).

 

(b)           Distributions On Account Of Separation from Service.  To the extent required to comply with Code Section 409A, any payment or benefit required to be paid under this Agreement on account of termination of the Agreement (or any other similar term) shall be made only in connection with a "separation from service" with respect to the Sub-Manager within the meaning of Code Section 409A.

 

(c)           No Acceleration of Payments.  The Parties, neither individually or in combination, may accelerate any payment or benefit that is subject to Code Section 409A, except in compliance with Code Section 409A and the provisions of this Agreement, and no amount that is subject to Code Section 409A shall be paid prior to the earliest date on which it may be paid without violating Code Section 409A.

 

(d)           Six Month Delay for Specified Employees.  In the event that any payment under the Agreement is to be made to a “specified employee” (as described in Code Section 409A), then the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to undertake any actions that would cause such payment or benefit not to constitute deferred compensation under Code Section 409A.  In the event that, following such efforts, the REIT or the Manager determine (after consultation with its counsel) that such payment or benefit is still subject to the six-month delay requirement described in Code Section 409A(2)(b) in order for such payment or benefit to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A, then no such payment or benefit shall be made before the date that is six months after the specified employee’s “separation from service” (as described in Code Section 409A) (or, if earlier, the date of the specified employee’s death). Any payment or benefit delayed by reason of the prior sentence shall be paid out or provided in a single lump sum at the end of such required delay period in order to catch up to the original payment schedule.

 

(e)           Treatment of Each Installment as a Separate Payment.  For purposes of applying the provisions of Code Section 409A to this Agreement, each separately identified amount to which the Sub-Manager is entitled under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment.  In addition, to the extent permissible under Code Section 409A, any series of installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

By:     /s/ Jeffrey J. Zimmer                                                    

Name: Jeffrey J. Zimmer                                                         

Title:   Co-Managing Member                                              

By:  /s/ Daniel C. Staton                                                         

Name: Daniel C. Staton                                                          

Title:   Managing Member                                                     

JAVELIN MORTGAGE INVESTMENT CORP., solely with respect to Sections 1, 6(a), 11(a), 14(a), 14(b), 15, and 18 through 32

By:   /s/ Jeffrey J. Zimmer                                                       

Name: Jeffrey J. Zimmer                                                          

Title:   Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Vice Chairman 

JEFFREY J. ZIMMER, solely with respect to Sections 1, 11(a), 14(a), 15(a), 18 through 30, and 32

By:   /s/ Jeffrey J. Zimmer                                                      

Name: Jeffrey J. Zimmer                                                         

 

SCOTT J. ULM, solely with respect to Sections 1, 11(a), 14(a), 15(a), 18 through 30, and 32

By:   /s/ Scott J. Ulm                                                              

Name: Scott J. Ulm