Purchase Agreement (Joint Venture Interests), dated April 30, 2021, by and among RHPAHO, LLC and RHPAHP, LLC, as purchasers, and Aurora Convention Center Hotel Partners, LLC and RIDA Aurora 2018 Acquisition, LLC, as sellers
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Joint Venture Interests
This PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 30, 2021, is by and among RHPAHO, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and RHPAHP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Purchasers” and each a “Purchaser”), on the one hand, and Aurora Convention Center Hotel Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“RIDA Aurora,”), and RIDA Aurora 2018 Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“RIDA 2018”) (collectively, the “Sellers” and each a “Seller”), on the other hand.
RECITALS
A.Sellers are direct members of each of Aurora Convention Center Hotel Investors, LLC (“Propco Joint Venture”), a joint venture that owns indirectly through a wholly owned subsidiary, the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center hotel and convention center development in Aurora, Colorado (the “Investment”), and Aurora Convention Center Hotel Lessee Holdco, LLC (“Opco Joint Venture”), a joint venture that leases, indirectly through a wholly owned subsidiary, the Investment (collectively with the Propco Joint Venture, the “Joint Ventures” and each, a “Joint Venture”), and Sellers own the respective membership interests in each of the Joint Ventures as set forth on Annex B (collectively, the “Purchased Interests”).
B.RHPAHP, LLC is a member of the Propco Joint Venture, and RHPAHO, LLC is a member of the Opco Joint Venture.
C.The parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the timing, terms and conditions of the sale of all of Sellers’ ownership interest in the Propco Joint Venture to RHPAHP, LLC and the sale of all of the Sellers’ ownership interest in the Opco Joint Venture to RHPAHO, LLC.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties, intended to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, terms have the meanings specified or referred to in Annex A or as defined in this Agreement.
SALE AND TRANSFER OF PURCHASED INTERESTS; CLOSING
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
Sellers hereby make, jointly and severally, the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 to Purchasers:
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASERS
Purchasers jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Sellers as follows:
COVENANTS OF SELLERS AND PURCHASERS
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
(c)Compliance with Management Agreement; Consent. As of the Closing, no person shall be in default under the Management Agreement and Marriott Hotel Services, LLC shall have consented to the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Marriott Consent”).
(d)Ancillary Agreements. Purchasers and Sellers (and any Affiliates) shall have executed and delivered the Ancillary Agreements, each of which shall be in form satisfactory to each party in their sole but reasonable discretion (subject, however, to Section 5.3), and each party thereto shall have delivered its and its Affiliates’ signatures thereto in escrow.
SURVIVAL; Claims
TERMINATION
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
9.4Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial; Specific Performance.
[The following page is the signature page.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.
SELLERS:
AURORA CONVENTION CENTER
HOTEL PARTNERS LLC
By:/s/ Ira M. Mitzner
Name:Ira M. Mitzner
Title:Authorized Signatory
RIDA AURORA 2018 ACQUISITION, LLC
By:/s/ Ira M. Mitzner
Name:Ira M. Mitzner
Title:Authorized Signatory
PURCHASERS:
RHPAHP, LLC:
By:/s/ Colin V. Reed
Name:Colin V. Reed
Title:Chairman & CEO
RHPAHO, LLC:
By:/s/ Colin V. Reed
Name:Colin V. Reed
Title:Chairman & CEO
AGREED TO AS THE AFFILIATE INDEMNITOR OF SELLERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 7.1:
IRA M. MITZNER:
/s/ Ira M. Mitzner
Ira M. Mitzner
ANNEX A
DEFINITIONS
“Affiliate” of any Person means another Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Ancillary Agreements” means the following agreements that will be executed and delivered at Closing by Sellers and/or their Affiliate(s): assignments of contract rights for construction and materials warranties, designs, architect contracts, contractor agreements, and any construction-related contracts and rights related to the Investment and the intended expansion thereof, to the extent not already in the name of the Joint Ventures and their Subsidiaries, or the name of the Investment, including any necessary consents and endorsements of third parties, (including a general assignment of the foregoing by RIDA Development Corp.), and a mutual termination of the RIDA Development Agreement for the Investment and any expansion.
“Assignment of Membership Interests” means the Assignment and Assumption of Membership Interests and Release in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, together with any changes approved by each of Sellers, and Purchasers.
“Bankruptcy and Equity Exception” means the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium, reorganization or similar Legal Requirements affecting the rights of creditors generally and the availability of equitable remedies (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
“Business Day” means a day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the SEC or commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by Legal Requirements to be closed.
“Casualty” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(d) of this Agreement.
“Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Contract” means any note, bond, debenture, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other contract.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles and practices as in effect on the date hereof.
“Governmental Body” means any federal, state or local court, tribunal, administrative or regulatory agency or commission, arbitral or judicial body, or other governmental or administrative authority, domestic or foreign.
“ Joint Venture Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Joint Venture Agreement of Opco Joint Venture or Propco Joint Venture.
“Legal Requirement” means any United States, federal, state or local or any foreign law (in each case, statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, Order, ordinance, code, rule, statute, regulation (domestic or foreign) or other similar requirement enacted, issued, adopted, promulgated, entered into or applied by a Governmental Body.
“Lender Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b) of this Agreement.
“Liens” means any liens, charges, encumbrances, adverse rights or claims and security interests whatsoever (including any limitation on voting, sale, transfer or other disposition or exercise of any other attribute of ownership), excluding transfer restrictions imposed by securities laws.
“Loan Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated July 2, 2019 by and among Aurora Convention Center Hotel, LLC, as borrower thereunder, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, as amended to date.
“Material Casualty” shall mean casualty, for which the estimated cost to repair or restore the Property exceeds an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the aggregate construction costs for the Investment.
“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.
“Order” means any order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment, award, injunction, settlement or stipulation issued, promulgated, made, rendered or entered into by or with any Governmental Body (in each case, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent).
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Proceeding” means any claim, suit, action, proceeding, arbitration, mediation, audit, hearing, inquiry or, to the knowledge of the Person in question, investigation (in each case, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, formal or informal) in each case
commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Body or arbitrator.
“Proposed Purchase Price Allocation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(c) of this Agreement.
“Purchase Price” means an amount equal to $188,000,000.00.
“Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Purchaser Compliance Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(c) of this Agreement.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Sellers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Seller Compliance Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(c) of this Agreement.
“Subsidiary” when used with respect to any Person means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, (i) of which at least a majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly beneficially owned or controlled by such party or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries or (ii) that would be required to be consolidated in such party’s financial statements under generally accepted accounting principles as adopted (whether or not yet effective) in the United States.
“Tax” means any and all taxes of any kind, including, but not limited to, federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, statement, information statement, and other documentation (including any related or supporting information or schedule) filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes, including any supplement, amendment or claim for refund thereof.
“Transfer Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a) of this Agreement.
“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Code. All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provisions or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary or final Treasury Regulations.
ANNEX B
PURCHASED INTERESTS
Aurora Convention Center Hotel Partners, LLC: 31.1025041% Membership Interest in each of Opco Joint Venture and Propco Joint Venture
RIDA Aurora 2018 Acquisition, LLC: 3 ###-###-####% Membership Interest in each of Opco Joint Venture and Propco Joint Venture
ANNEX C
DEVELOPMENT/CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION
to the extent assignable without consent and in a Seller’s or its Affiliate’s possession or control, any records and documents relating to the construction and development of the Investment including (A) building permits and (B) plans and specifications, engineering drawings and prints with respect to the improvements on the Property, all operating manuals, and all books, data and records regarding the physical components systems of the improvements on the Property (the “Plans and Specifications”) (and if not assignable, Sellers will and will cause any Affiliate party thereto to, cooperate for the benefit of the Joint Ventures in the future);
Financing information including backup documentation for construction draws and expenditures; all documentation of the construction closeout and payments of claims;
All warranties and other evidence of rights related to the construction and improvements associated with the Investment;
Incentive documents and records, including orders, contracts, notices, legal memoranda, correspondence, and other documents;
Any and all records and documents relating to the proposed expansion of the Investment, plans and specifications, engineering drawings and prints with respect to the improvements, architects contracts, other contracts and all books, data and records regarding the development and improvements.
ANNEX D
NOTICE ADDRESSES
If to the Purchasers:
c/o Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.
One Gaylord Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (615) 316-6000
With a copy to:
Bass Berry & Sims PLC
150 Third Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37201
Attn: F. Mitchell Walker, Jr.
Phone: (615) 742-6200
If to the Sellers, to:
c/o RIDA Aurora, LLC
1777 Walker Street
Suite #501
Houston, TX 77010
Attn: Mr. Ira Mitzner and Mr. Luke Charlton
Phone: (713) 961-3835
With a copy to:
Morrison & Foerster LLP
250 West 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
Attn: Jeffrey J. Temple, Esq.
Phone: (212) 468-8031
EXHIBIT A
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS AND RELEASE
[Aurora Convention Center Hotel Investors, LLC/ Aurora Convention Center Hotel Lessee Holdco, LLC]
THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS AND RELEASE (this “Assignment”) is made and entered into effective as of May __, 2021, by Aurora Convention Center Hotel Partners, LLC and RIDA Aurora 2018 Acquisition, LLC, each a Delaware limited liability company (each an “Assignor” and collectively “Assignors”), and [RHPAHO, LLC/RHPAHP, LLC,] a Delaware limited liability company (“Ryman Member” or “Assignee”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration including the consummation of the transactions pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, Assignor and Assignee hereby agree as follows:
Each Assignor hereby agrees that the rights and obligations of the Assignors under the Propco Joint Venture Agreement and the Opco Joint Venture Agreement will terminate;
Each Assignor, on its own behalf and on behalf of any person claiming through the Assignor, its respective heirs, representatives, present and former parents, owners, partners, subsidiaries, Affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, members, managers, agents, attorneys, successors and assigns,
whether direct or indirect, including without limitation, the Assignor Releasees (the “Assignor Associates”) (for purposes of this Section 3, the Assignor, together with its respective Assignor Associates, the “Assignor Releasors”) hereby releases, waives and forever discharges Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., RHP Hotel Properties, LP, Ryman Member, Propco Joint Venture, Opco Joint Venture, their Subsidiaries and its and their respective Ryman Party Associates (for purposes of this Section 3, collectively, “Ryman Releasees”) of and from any and all actions, causes of action, claims, liabilities or obligations of any kind, known or unknown, in law, admiralty or equity (collectively, “Claims”), which any of such Assignor Releasors ever had, now has, or hereafter can, shall, or may have against any of such Ryman Releasees for, upon, or by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date of payment arising out of or relating to the ownership of Assignor’s Purchased Interests, the Propco Joint Venture Agreement, the Opco Joint Venture Agreement (and/or any predecessor agreements) or, but only as and to the extent relating to any of the foregoing, pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (Del. Code Ann. tit. 6, § 18-101 et seq.) with respect to the Opco Joint Venture and the Propco Joint Venture, including, but not limited to, claims that any of the Assignor Releasors may have against Ryman Member or their Affiliates as a member, manager, officer, or agent of Propco Joint Venture and/or Opco Joint Venture (collectively, “Assignor Released Claims”); provided that claims pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the agreements delivered pursuant thereto are not released. The Assignor, on behalf of itself and the other Assignor Releasors, hereby irrevocably covenants to refrain from, directly or indirectly, asserting any claim or demand, or commencing, instituting or causing to be commenced, any action, proceeding or claim of any kind against any of the Ryman Releasees based upon the Assignor Released Claims; and
Assignee (the “Ryman Party”), on its own behalf and on behalf of any person claiming through such Ryman Party, his or its respective heirs, representatives, present and former parents, owners, partners, subsidiaries, Affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, members, managers, agents, attorneys, successors and assigns, whether direct or indirect, including without limitation, the Ryman Releasees (the “Ryman Party Associates”) (for purposes of this Section 3, the “Ryman Party Releasors”) hereby releases, waives and forever discharges each Assignor and its, his or her respective Assignor Associates (for purposes of this Section 3, collectively, “Assignor Releasees”) of and from any and all Claims which any of such Ryman Party Releasors ever had, now has, or hereafter can, shall, or may have against any of such Assignor Releasees for, upon, or by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date of payment arising out of or relating to the Assignor’s ownership of Purchased Interests, the Propco Joint Venture Agreement, the Opco Joint Venture Agreement (and/or any predecessor agreements) or, but only as and to the extent relating to any of the foregoing, pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (Del. Code Ann. tit. 6, § 18-101 et seq.) with respect to the Opco Joint Venture and the Propco Joint Venture; including but not limited to, claims that any Ryman Party Releasors may have against Assignor as a member, manager, officer, or agent of Propco Joint Venture and/or Opco Joint Venture, without limitation, provided that claims pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the agreements delivered pursuant thereto are not released, or Section 4.6 of the Opco Joint Venture Agreement or the Propco Joint Venture Agreement with respect to withholding obligations (the foregoing are collectively, for purposes of this Section 3, the “Ryman Excluded Claims”) (for purposes of this Section 3, all Claims other than the Ryman Excluded Claims are “Ryman Released Claims”). The Ryman Party, on behalf of itself and the Ryman Party Releasors, hereby irrevocably covenants to refrain from, directly or indirectly, asserting any claim or demand, or commencing, instituting or causing to be commenced, any action, proceeding or claim of any kind against any of the Assignor Releasees based upon the Ryman Released Claims.
[Signature page(s) follow(s)]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Assignment as of the date first written above.
ASSIGNORS:
AURORA CONVENTION CENTER
HOTEL PARTNERS LLC
By:
Name:Ira M. Mitzner
Title:Authorized Signatory
RIDA AURORA 2018 ACQUISITION, LLC
By:
Name:Ira M. Mitzner
Title:Authorized Signatory
Assignee:
[RHPAHO, LLC/RHPAHP, LLC]
By:
Name:Scott Lynn
Title:Vice President
SCHEDULE A TO ASSIGNMENT OF MEMBERSHIP INTEREST
Purchased Interest owned by Assignor below and being conveyed hereunder:
Aurora Convention Center Hotel Partners, LLC: 31.1025041% Membership Interest in Opco Joint Venture/Propco Joint Venture
RIDA Aurora 2018 Acquisition, LLC: 3 ###-###-####% Membership Interest in Opco Joint Venture/Propco Joint Venture