Voting Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2021, between the Company and Diane Portnoy

Contract Categories: Business Operations - Voting Agreements
EX-10.2 4 tm2114171d1_ex10-2.htm EXHIBIT 10.2

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

VOTING AGREEMENT

 

THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of April 26, 2021, by and between Tremont Mortgage Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“TRMT”), and Diane Portnoy, an individual having a business address at c/o The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc., 442 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148 (the “Shareholder”).

 

RECITALS:

 

1.       The Shareholder is the beneficial and record owner of 882,407 common shares of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Shares”), of RMR Mortgage Trust, a Maryland statutory trust (the “Trust”).

 

2.       The Trust and TRMT are contemporaneously entering into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which, among other things, TRMT shall merge with and into the Trust, as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

3.        In connection with TRMT’s entry into the Merger Agreement, the Shareholder has agreed to vote in favor of the issuance of Common Shares in the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, the Parties agree as follows:

 

SECTION I 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings given therefor in the Merger Agreement. The terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:

 

1.1              “beneficially own”: the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended.

 

1.2              “Parties”: TRMT and the Shareholder.

 

1.3              “Transfer”: any sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, tender, encumbrance or other disposition, including through any “short sale” or derivative transactions.

 

 

 

 

SECTION II 

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Shareholder hereby represents and warrants to TRMT, as of the date of this Agreement, that:

 

(a)               Ownership. The Shareholder has good and marketable title to, and is the sole legal and beneficial owner of, the Common Shares set forth in the recitals, in each case free and clear of all liabilities, claims, liens, options, proxies, charges, participations and encumbrances of any kind or character whatsoever, other than those arising under the securities laws or under the Trust’s governing documents.

 

(b)               Authority to Execute and Perform Agreements. The Shareholder has the full legal right and power and all authority required to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform fully the Shareholder’s obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Shareholder, enforceable against the Shareholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(c)               No Conflicts; Consents.

 

(i)                 The execution and delivery by the Shareholder of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, conflict with or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under (A) any contract, agreement or other binding arrangement to which the Shareholder is a party or (B) any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court, governmental body, administrative agency or arbitrator applicable to the Shareholder.

 

(ii)                No consents, authorizations, orders or approvals of any governmental commission, board, or other regulatory body are required to be obtained or made by the Shareholder in connection with the execution and delivery by the Shareholder of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(d)               Investigation. The Shareholder has had a full opportunity to review and discuss this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and to ask all questions of TRMT, the Trust and the Trust’s trustees and executive officers necessary in order for the Shareholder to make an informed decision to enter into this Agreement.

 

SECTION III 

 

COVENANTS

 

3.1              Voting Arrangements. The Shareholder has revoked or terminated any proxies, voting trusts, voting agreements or similar arrangements previously given or entered into with respect to any Common Shares and agrees that, except pursuant to this Agreement, it shall not grant any proxies, deposit any Common Shares into a voting trust, or enter into any voting agreement with respect to any Common Shares now or hereafter owned, beneficially or of record, by the Shareholder.

 

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3.2              Lock-Up. The Shareholder will not (a) directly or indirectly, Transfer, or limit its right to vote in any manner, any Common Shares, or agree to do either of the foregoing, or (b) take any action which, in either case, would have the effect of preventing or disabling the Shareholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement.

 

SECTION IV 

 

VOTING; WAIVER OF RIGHTS

 

4.1              Agreement to Vote. The Shareholder hereby irrevocably agrees that at any meeting of the shareholders of the Trust held on or before the Merger Effective Time (the “Trust Shareholders Meeting”), and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, the Shareholder shall appear (in person or by proxy) at such Trust Shareholders Meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), and cause all of the Common Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum and shall vote (or cause to be voted) all Common Shares which it is entitled to vote (a) in favor of (i) the approval of the issuance of Common Shares in the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (ii) any other proposal in respect of which the vote of shareholders of the Trust is requested that could reasonably be expected to facilitate the issuance of Common Shares in the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any proposal to adjourn, recess or postpone the Trust Shareholders Meeting to solicit additional proxies in favor of the approval of the issuance of Common Shares in the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement if there are not sufficient votes to approve the issuance of Common Shares in the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement on the date on which such Trust Shareholders Meeting is held); and (b) against (i) the adoption or approval of any Superior Proposal and (ii) any other proposal in respect of which the vote or other approval of shareholders of the Trust is requested that could reasonably be expected to impede, materially interfere with, materially delay or prevent the consummation of the Transactions (including the issuance of Common Shares in the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement).

 

SECTION V 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1              Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Merger Effective Time or (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

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5.2              Notices. All notices, communications and deliveries required or permitted by this Agreement shall be made in writing signed by the Party making the same, shall specify the section of this Agreement pursuant to which it is given or being made, and shall be deemed given or made (i) on the date delivered if delivered by e-mail of a .pdf attachment (providing confirmation of transmission) or in person, or (ii) on the day after it is delivered, prepaid, to an overnight express delivery service that confirms to the sender delivery on such day, as follows:

 

If to TRMT, to:

 

Tremont Mortgage Trust

Two Newton Place

255 Washington Street, Suite 300

Newton, Massachusetts 02458

Attn: President

 

If to the Shareholder, to:

 

Diane Portnoy

c/o The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.

442 Main Street

Malden, MA 02148

 

or to such other representative or at such other address of a Party as such Party may furnish to the other Parties in writing.

 

5.3              Section and Other Headings; Interpretation. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and section references are to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. The singular and plural use of a defined term shall have the correlative meaning. The words “including” and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

 

5.4              Assignment; Successors in Interest. No assignment or transfer by the Shareholder of its rights and obligations under this Agreement shall be made except with the prior written consent of TRMT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their permitted successors and assigns, and any reference to a Party shall also be a reference to a permitted successor or assign.

 

5.5              No Third-Party Beneficiaries. With the exception of the Parties, there shall exist no right of any Person to claim a beneficial interest in this Agreement or any rights occurring by virtue of this Agreement.

 

5.6              Amendments. To the extent permitted by law, this Agreement may be amended by a subsequent writing signed by each of the Parties.

 

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5.7              Controlling Law; Integration; Waiver. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed, applied and enforced in accordance with the laws of The State of Maryland. This Agreement supersedes all negotiations, agreements and understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties. The failure of any Party at any time or times to require performance of any provisions of this Agreement shall in no manner affect the right to enforce the same. No waiver by any Party of any conditions, or of the breach of any term, provision, warranty, representation, agreement or covenant contained in this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances shall be deemed or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach of any other term, provision, warranty, representation, agreement or covenant contained in this Agreement.

 

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

 

5.9              Further Assurances. The Parties shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, to do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable, and to execute and deliver such documents and other papers, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

5.10            Specific Performance. The Parties hereto agree that the remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement will be inadequate and that any Party by whom this Agreement is enforceable shall be entitled to specific performance in addition to any other appropriate relief or remedy. Such Party may, in its sole discretion, apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance or injunctive or such other relief as such court may deem just and proper in order to enforce this Agreement or prevent any violation hereof and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, each Party waives any objection to the imposition of such relief.

 

5.11            Counterparts, Etc. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by e-mail with a pdf or similar attachment shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

  TREMONT MORTGAGE TRUST,
a Maryland real estate investment trust
   
   
  By: /s/ Thomas J. Lorenzini
  Name: Thomas J. Lorenzini
  Title: President
     
     
  DIANE PORTNOY
   
  /s/ Diane Portnoy

 

[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]