Attached files
Exhibit 3.6
INLAND WESTERN
RETAIL REAL ESTATE TRUST,
INC.PROPERTIES OF AMERICA, INC.
FIFTHSIXTH ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND
RESTATEMENT
FIRST: Inland Western Retail Real Estate
TrustProperties of America, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Company), desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.
SECOND: The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is: Inland
Western Retail Real Estate TrustProperties of America, Inc. (the Company). So far as may be practicable, the business of the Company shall be
conducted and transacted under that name.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
The name and address of the incorporator shall be David J. Kaufman, 227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3400, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Said incorporator, an individual older than eighteen
(18) years, shall form the corporation under the general laws of Maryland.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSES AND POWERS
The purposes for which the Company is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, qualifying as a real estate investment trust (a REIT) under Sections 856 through 860, or any successor sections, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)), for which corporations may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.
ARTICLE
IVIII
RESIDENT OFFICE/AGENT AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The post office address
of the principal office of the Company in the State of Maryland is c/o The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 300 East Lombard351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland
21202.21201. The Company may have such other offices and places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board of Directors may from time to time
determine. The Company shall continuously maintain in the State of Maryland a registeredprincipal office and a
registeredresident agent whose office is identical with such registeredprincipal
office. The post office address of the Companys registered officeresident agent in the State of Maryland is 300 East
Lombard351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.21201. The name of the Companys
registeredresident agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Incorporated. The Company reserves the power to change its
registeredresident agent and registeredprincipal office at any time.
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ARTICLE
VIV
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Charter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ACQUISITION EXPENSES means expenses related to the Companys selection, evaluation and
acquisition of, and investment in, Properties, whether or not acquired or made, including but not limited to legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, costs of appraisals and surveys, nonrefundable option payments on Property not
acquired, accounting fees and expenses, computer use related expenses, architectural and engineering reports, environmental and asbestos audits, title insurance and escrow fees, and personal and miscellaneous expenses related to the selection and
acquisition of Properties.
ACQUISITION FEE
means the total of all fees and commissions paid by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to any Person, or paid by any Person to any Affiliate of the Company and remitted to the Company, in connection with making or investing in mortgage
loans or the purchase, development or construction of Property by the Company. Included in the computation of such fees or commissions shall be any real estate commission, selection fee, Development Fee, Construction Fee, non-recurring management
fee, loan fees or points or any fee of a similar nature, however designated.
AFFILIATE means, with respect to any other Person, (i) any
Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with the power to vote, 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person; (ii) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or
indirectly owned, controlled or held, with the power to vote, by such other Person; (iii) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person; (iv) any executive officer, director,
trustee or general partner of such other Person; and (v) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.
ASSET COVERAGE means the ratio which the value of the total assets
of the Company, less all liabilities and indebtedness for unsecured borrowings, bears to the aggregate amount of all unsecured borrowings of the Company.
AVERAGE ASSETS means, for any period, the average of the total book value of our real estate assets plus the total value of our loans
receivables secured by real estate, before reserves for depreciation or bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves. We will compute our average assets by taking the average of these values at the end of each month during the quarter for which we
are calculating the fee.
CASH FLOW means,
with respect to any period: (i) all cash receipts derived from investments made by the Company; plus (ii) cash receipts from operations (including any interest from temporary investments of the Company) without deduction for depreciation
or amortization, less (iii) cash receipts used to pay operating expenses.
CHARTER means the charter of the Company, as that term is defined
in the MGCL.
CODE means the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, and the Regulations promulgated thereunder (sometimes referred to as the Treasury Regulations) or corresponding provisions of
subsequent revenue laws.
COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATE
COMMISSION means the real estate or brokerage commission paid for the purchase or sale of a Property which is reasonable, customary and competitive in light of the size, type and location of such
Property.
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CONTRACT PRICE FOR THE
PROPERTY means the amount actually paid or allocated to the purchase, development, construction or improvement of a Property exclusive of Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses.
CONSTRUCTION FEE means a fee or other remuneration for acting as
general contractor and/or construction manager to construct improvements, supervise and coordinate projects or to provide major repairs or rehabilitation on the Companys Property.
DEVELOPMENT FEE means a fee for the packaging of the Property of
the Company, including negotiating and approving plans, and undertaking to assist in obtaining zoning and necessary variances and necessary financing for the specific Property, either initially or at a later date.
DIRECTOR(S) means the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company.
EQUITY
STOCK means stock that is either common stock or preferred stock of the Company.
INDEPENDENT EXPERT means a Person with no material current or prior business or personal relationship with a Director and who is
engaged, to a substantial extent, in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets of the type held by the Company.
MARKET PRICE means on any date the average of the Closing Price (as defined below) per Share for the five consecutive Trading Days
(as defined below) ending on such date. The Closing Price on any date means the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on
which the Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, or, if the Shares are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Shares selected by the Board, or if there is no
professional market maker making a market in the Shares, the average of the last ten (10) purchases by the Company pursuant to its Share Repurchase Program (the
SRP), and if there are fewer than ten (10) of such purchases under the SRP, then the average of such lesser number of purchases, or, if the SRP is not then in
existence, the price at which the Company is then offering Shares to the public if the Company is then engaged in a public offering of Shares, or if the Company is not then offering Shares to the public, the price at which a Stockholder may purchase
Shares pursuant to the Companys Distribution Reinvestment Program (the DRP) if such DRP is then in existence, or if the DRP is
not then in existence, the fair market value of the Shares as determined by the Company, in its sole discretion. Trading Day shall mean a day on which the principal
national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed is open for the transaction of business or, if the Shares are not listed on any national securities exchange shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the State of Illinois are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. The term regular way means a trade that is effected in a recognized
securities market for clearance and settlements pursuant to the rules and procedures of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, as opposed to a trade effected
ex-clearing for same-day or next-day settlement.
NET ASSETS or NET ASSET VALUE means the total assets
of the Company (other than intangibles) at cost before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves less total liabilities of the Company, calculated at least quarterly on a basis consistently applied.
NET INCOME means, for any period, total revenues applicable to
such period, less the expenses applicable to such period other than additions to or allowances for reserves for depreciation, amortization or bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves; provided, however, that Net Income shall not include the gain
from the sale of the Companys assets.
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ORGANIZATION AND OFFERING
EXPENSES means all those expenses incurred by and to be paid from the assets of the Company in connection with and in preparing the Company for registration and subsequently offering and distributing shares of
common stock of the Company to the public, including, but not limited to, total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters attorneys paid by the Company), expenses
for printing, engraving, mailing, salaries of the Companys employees while engaged in sales activity, charges of transfer agents, registrars, trustees, escrow holders, depositories, experts, expenses of
qualification of the sale of the securities under federal and state laws, including taxes and fees, and accountants and attorneys fees and expenses.
PERSON means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate,
trust, partnership (whether general or limited), limited liability company, association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.
PROPERTY or
PROPERTIES means any, or all, respectively, of the real property and improvements thereon owned or to be owned by the Company, directly or indirectly through one or more
of its Affiliates.
PROSPECTUS means any
document, notice, or other communication satisfying the standards set forth in Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and contained in a currently effective registration statement filed by the Company with, and declared effective
by, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or if no registration statement is currently effective, then the Prospectus contained in the most recently effective registration statement.
REIT means a real estate investment trust as defined by the Code
and the applicable Regulations.
ROLL-UP means
a transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion or consolidation either directly or indirectly of the Company and a Roll-Up Entity and the issuance of securities of such Roll-Up Entity to the Stockholders of the Company. Such term does
not include:
(a) a transaction involving securities of the Company that have been for at
least 12 months listed on a national securities exchange; or
(b) a transaction involving
the conversion to corporate, trust or association form of only the Company, if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no significant adverse change in any of the following:
ROLL-UP ENTITY means a partnership, REIT, corporation, trust or
other entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of a proposed Roll-Up transaction.
STOCKHOLDERS means holders of shares of Equity Stock.
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES means the aggregate expenses
of every character paid or incurred by the Company as determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but excluding:
(a) the expenses of raising capital (such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration and other fees, printing
and other such expenses, and taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and stock exchange listing of the shares of common stock of the Company);
(b) interest payments;
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(c) taxes;
(d) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad debt reserves; and
(e) Acquisition Fees, Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on resale of Property and other expenses
connected with the acquisition, disposition and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (such as the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property).
ARTICLE VI
STOCK
SECTION
1.4.1. AUTHORIZED STOCK. The total number of shares of Equity
Stockall classes or series of stock of the Company which the Company has authority to issue
(Equity
Stock) is 650,000,000 shares, of which 640,000,000 are shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share
(Common Stock), and 10,000,000 are shares of preferred stock, $.001 par value per share (Preferred Stock). The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of Equity Stock having par value is $650,000. If shares of one class
of Equity Stock are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of Equity Stock pursuant to this Article VIIV, the number of authorized shares of the former
class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of Equity Stock of all
classes that the Company has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of Equity Stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. To the extent permitted by Maryland
law and subject to any preferential rights in favor of any class of Preferred Stock of the Company, the Board of Directors, without any action by the
Stockholdersstockholders of the Company, may amend the Charterthis charter of the Company
(as amended, supplemented and restated from time to time, this
Charter)
from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of Equity Stock or the number of shares of Equity Stock of any class or series that the Company has authority to issue.
SECTION
2.4.2. LIQUIDATION. Subject to any preferential rights in favor of any
class of Preferred Stock, upon liquidation or dissolution of the Company, each issued and outstanding share of Common Stock shall be entitled to participate pro rata in the assets of the Company remaining after payment of, or adequate provision for,
all knownthe debts and liabilities of the Company.
SECTION 3.4.3. COMMON
STOCK.(a) Subject to the provisions of Article IXVI of this Charter regarding Equity Stock (as such term is defined
therein)and except as otherwise provided in this Charter, each issued and outstanding share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters
presented for a vote of Stockholdersstockholders. Shares of Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
(b) A majority of voting shares of Equity Stock present in person or by proxy at an Annual Meeting at which a
quorum is present, may, without the necessity for concurrence by the Directors, vote to elect the Directors. A quorum shall be 50% of the then outstanding voting shares of Equity Stock.
(c) With respect to voting shares of Equity Stock owned by the Directors or any Affiliate, neither the Directors
nor any Affiliate may vote or consent on matters submitted to the Stockholders regarding the removal of the Directors or any Affiliate or any transaction between the Company and any of them. In determining the requisite percentage interest of voting
shares of Equity Stock necessary to approve a matter on which the Directors or any Affiliate may not vote or consent, any shares of Equity Stock owned by any of them shall not be included.(d) The Board of Directors may reclassify any
unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time ininto one or more classes or series of
stockEquity Stock. The holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends when and as authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by the Company, but only
out of funds legally available therefor.
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SECTION
4.4.4. PREFERRED STOCK. The Board of Directors may classify any unissued
shares of Preferred Stock and reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of any series from time to time, ininto one or more classes or
series of stockEquity Stock.
SECTION
5.4.5. CLASSIFIED OR RECLASSIFIED SHARES. Prior to issuance of classified
or reclassified shares of any class or series of Equity Stock, the Board of Directors by resolution shall: (i) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other
series and classes of stockEquity Stock of the Company; (ii) specify the number of shares to be included in the class or series; (iii) subject to the
provisions of Article IXVI of this Charter regarding Equity Stock, and subject to the express terms of any class or series of
stockEquity Stock of the Company outstanding at the time, set or change the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (iv) cause the Company to file articles supplementary with the
State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (SDAT). Any of the terms of any class or series of stockEquity Stock set or changed pursuant to
clause (iii) of this Section 54.5 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside this Charter (including determinations by the Board of
Directors or other facts or events within the control of the Company) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of
stockEquity Stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary filed with the SDAT or
other part of this Charter.
SECTION
6.4.6. GENERAL NATURE OF EQUITY STOCK. All shares of Equity Stock shall be
personal property entitling the Stockholdersstockholders only to those rights provided in this Charter. The
StockholdersSubject to any preferential rights in favor of any class of Preferred Stock and to Section 4.2 of this Article IV, the stockholders shall have no interest in
any Propertiesassets of the Company and shall have no right to compel any partition, or
division, of the Company or dividend or distribution of any assets of the Company or any
Properties.
SECTION 7. FRACTIONAL SHARES OF EQUITY STOCK. The Company may, without
the consent or approval of any Stockholder, issue fractional shares of Equity Stock, eliminate a fraction of a Share by rounding up or down to a full Share, arrange for the disposition of a fraction of a Share by the person entitled to it, or pay
cash for the fair value of a fraction of a Share.
SECTION
8.4.7. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. Except as may be provided by the Board of
Directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of stockEquity Stock pursuant to
Section 54.5 of this Article VI, no StockholderIV or as may otherwise be provided by a
contract approved by the Board of Directors, no stockholder of the Company shall, as such Stockholderstockholder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe
for any additional shares of Equity Stock or any other security of the Company which it may issue or sell.
SECTION
9.4.8. CHARTER AND BYLAWS. All persons who shall
acquireThe rights of all stockholders and the terms of all Equity Stock shall acquire the
sameare subject to the provisions of this Charter and the bylaws of the Company (the Bylaws), as this Charter and such Bylaws may be amended from time-to-time.
SECTION 10. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EQUITY STOCK. The
Company shall not issue:
(a) Common Stock which is non-voting or assessable;
(b) Warrants, options or similar evidences of a right to buy its Equity Stock, unless
(i) issued to all of its holders of Equity Stock ratably, (ii) as part of a financing arrangement, or (iii) as part of a stock option plan to Directors, officers or employees of the Company;
(c) (i) Common Stock which is redeemable at the option of the holder; (ii) debt securities unless the
historical debt service coverage (in the most recently completed fiscal year) as adjusted for known charges is sufficient to properly service the higher level of debt; and (iii) options or warrants to purchase Equity Stock to any Directors or
their Affiliates except on the same terms as sold to the general public, provided that the Company may
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issue options or warrants to persons not affiliated with the Company at exercise prices not less than the fair market value of such securities on the date of grant and for consideration
(which may include services that in the judgment of the Directors have a market value not less than the value of such option of the date of grant), and provided further that options or warrants issuable to Directors or Affiliates thereof shall not
exceed an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Equity Stock on the date of grant of any options or warrants; or
(d) Shares of Equity Stock on a deferred payment basis or similar arrangement.SECTION
11.4.9. RIGHTS OF OBJECTING STOCKHOLDERS. Holders of
shares of Equity Stock are not entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting Stockholderstockholder
provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 or Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law or any successor statute unless
the Board of Directors, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of Equity Stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of
such determination in connection with which holders of such shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.
SECTION 4.10. MAJORITY VOTE SUFFICIENT. Notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a greater proportion of votes, any such action shall be taken or approved if taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast with respect to such action.
SECTION 4.11. STOCKHOLDERS CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting only if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders.
ARTICLE
VIIV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION
1.5.1. NUMBER AND CLASSIFICATION. The number of
Directorsdirectors of the Company initially shall be
eightnine, which number may be increased or decreased only by the Board of Directors pursuant to the
Bylaws, but; provided, however, that
such number shall never be less than three, nor more than eleven. Thethe minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law. The Board of Directors may
establish such committees as they deemit deems appropriate as provided in the Bylaws.
The names of the members of the Board of Directors (the
Directors) who shall serve until the next annual meeting of the
Stockholdersstockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:
Kenneth H. Beard
Frank A. Catalano, Jr.
Paul R. Gauvreau
Gerald M. Gorski
Steven P. Grimes
Brenda G. Gujral
Richard P. Imperiale
Kenneth E. Masick
Barbara A. Murphy
SECTION 2. ELECTION AND TERM. Each Director (other than aThe Company elects pursuant to Section 3-804(c) of the
Maryland General Corporation Law that, except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of Equity Stock, any and all vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the remaining Directors in office, even if the remaining Directors do not constitute a quorum, and any Director elected to fill the unexpired term of another Director) is elected by the voting Stockholders and shall serve a
one year term and hold officea vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which such vacancy occurred and until his or her successor is duly
elected and qualifyqualifies.
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SECTION
3.5.2. RESIGNATION, REMOVAL OR DEATH. Any Director may
resign by written notice to the Board of Directors, effective upon execution and delivery to the Company of such written notice or upon any future date specified in the
noticeREMOVAL. 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 may
only be removed at any time, with or withoutfor cause, at an annual or special meeting
of the Stockholders,stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less
thanshares entitled to cast a majority of the shares of Equity Stock then outstanding andall the
votes entitled to votebe cast generally in the election of Directors. For purposes of this paragraph, cause shall mean with respect to any particular
Director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such Director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Company through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.
SECTION 4. SERVICE AS NOMINEE. Legal title to any Property shall be vested in the Company, but the Company
may cause legal title to any such Property to be held by or in the name of any or all of the Directors or any other person as nominee. Upon the resignation or removal of any Director, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Director, he shall automatically
cease to have any right, title or interest in and to any Property and shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Directors require for the conveyance of any such Property held in his name, and shall account to the remaining Directors
as they require for all such Property which he holds as Director. Any right, title or interest of the Director in and to any Property shall automatically vest in successor and additional Directors upon their qualification and acceptance of election
or appointment as Directors, and they shall thereupon have all the rights and obligations of Directors, whether or not any conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered. Written evidence of the qualification and acceptance of election or
appointment of successor and additional Directors may be filed with the records of the Company and in any such other offices, agencies or places as the Company or Directors may deem necessary or desirable.
SECTION 5. DUTIES AND
POWERS.5.3. DUTIES AND POWERS.
(a) GENERAL. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. All powers of
the Company may be exercised by or under authority of the Board of Directors except as conferred on or reserved to the Stockholdersstockholders by law or by this
Charter or the Bylaws. This Charter shall be construed with a presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Board of Directors. Any construction of this Charter or determination made in good faith by the Board of Directors
concerning its powers and authority hereunder shall be conclusive. The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board of Directors included in this Charter or in the Bylaws shall in no way be construed or deemed by inference or
otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit the powers conferred upon the Board of Directors under the Maryland General Corporation Law, the general laws of the State of Maryland or any other applicable laws as now or hereafter in force.
(b) REIT QUALIFICATION. The Board of Directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company to qualify for
U.S. federal income tax treatment in accordance with the provisions of the Code or corresponding provisions of subsequent revenue laws applicable to a REIT. In furtherance of the
foregoing, the Board of Directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary, and may take such actions as in its sole judgment and discretion are desirable, to preserve the
statusqualification of the Company as a REIT; provided, however, that. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a majority of the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interest of the Company to continue to have the Company qualify as a REIT, the Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the Companys
REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board of Directors also may determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Article IX is no longer required for REIT
qualification.
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(c) AUTHORIZATION BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EQUITY STOCK
ISSUANCE; AUTHORITY TO DECLARE STOCK DIVIDENDS OF
DIFFERENT CLASSES. The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of Equity Stock of the Company of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible
into shares of its Equity Stock or any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a Equity
Stockstock split or Equity Stockstock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations,
if any, as may be set forth in this Charter or the Bylaws. Subject to any preferential rights in favor of any class of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors, in accordance with
Section 2-309(c)(5)(i) of the Maryland General Corporation Law, is hereby specifically authorized to, at any time, cause the Company to declare and/or pay a dividend payable in shares of any one class or multiple classes of Equity Stock to the
holders of shares of any other class or classes of Equity Stock without obtaining stockholder approval.
(d) DISTRIBUTIONS. The Company intends
to pay regular quarterly distributions to its Stockholders (Distributions). However, the Company reserves the right to pay Distributions on a monthly basis in an amount
determined by the Board of Directors. Distributions will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Companys ability to pay Distributions and the size of these Distributions will depend upon a variety
of factors. There can be no assurance that Distributions will be made or that any particular level of Distributions established in the future, if any, will be maintained by the Company.
To the extent possible, the Company seeks to avoid the fluctuations in Distributions which might result if Distributions were
based on actual cash received during the Distribution period. To avoid fluctuation, the Company may use Cash Flow received during prior periods, or Cash Flow received subsequent to the Distribution period and prior to the payment date for such
Distribution, in order to pay annualized Distributions consistent with the Distribution level established from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Companys ability to maintain this policy is dependent
upon the Companys Cash Flow and the applicable requirements for qualifying as a REIT as contained in Code Section 856 through 960 and the Regulations promulgated thereunder. There can be
no assurance that there will be Cash Flow available to pay Distributions, or that Distribution amounts will not fluctuate. Distributions will be calculated with record and Distribution declaration dates. However, the Board of Directors could, at any
time, elect to pay Distributions monthly, and later switch back to quarterly, to reduce administrative costs.
Distributions in-kind shall not be permitted, except for Distributions of: (i) readily marketable securities;
(ii) beneficial interests in a liquidating trust established for the dissolution of the Company and the liquidation of its assets; or (iii) Distributions of in-kind property which meet all of the following conditions: (a) the
Directors advise each Stockholder of the risks associated with direct ownership of the in-kind Property; (b) the Directors offer each Stockholder the election of receiving in-kind property Distributions; and (c) the Directors distribute
in-kind property only to those Stockholders who accept the Directors offer.
The Company shall endeavor to declare and pay such Distributions as shall be necessary under the Code; however, Stockholders
shall have no right to any Distribution unless and until declared by the Directors. The exercise of the powers and rights of the Company pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the provisions of any class or series of Equity Stock at the
time outstanding. The receipt by any person in whose name any shares of Equity Stock are registered on the records of the Company or by his, her or its duly authorized agent shall be a sufficient discharge for all dividends or distributions payable
or deliverable in respect of such shares of Equity Stock and from all liability related to the application thereof.
(ed) DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PROGRAM. The
Directors may adopt a distribution reinvestment program on such terms and conditions as shall be set forth in the Prospectus, which program may be amended from time to time by the Directors, provided, however, that such program shall, at a
minimum, provide for the following:they determine to be appropriate.
(i) All material information regarding the Distribution to the Stockholder and the effect of reinvesting such Distribution, including the tax consequences thereof, shall be
provided to the Stockholder at least annually; and
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(ii) Each Stockholder participating in the distribution
reinvestment program shall have a reasonable opportunity to withdraw from the distribution reinvestment program at least annually after receipt of the information required in subparagraph (i) above.
(f) REVIEW OF INVESTMENT POLICIES. The Directors shall establish written policies on investments and borrowing
and shall monitor the administrative procedures, investment operations and performance of the Company to assure that such policies are carried out. The Directors shall review such policies of the Company, with sufficient frequency and at least
annually to determine that the policies being followed by the Company at any time are in the best interests of the Stockholders. Each such determination and the basis therefor shall be set forth in the minutes of the Board of Directors.
(g) DETERMINATION OF CONSIDERATION. The consideration paid for Properties acquired by the Company
shall ordinarily be based upon the fair market value of the Properties and approved by a majority of the Directors. In cases in which a majority of the Directors so determine, or if assets are acquired from a Director or an Affiliate pursuant to
Section 5 of Article VIII of this Charter, such fair market value shall be as determined by a qualified independent real estate appraiser selected by the Directors.
(h) RESERVED POWERS OF BOARD. The Board of Directors, without any action by the Stockholders of the Company,
shall have and may exercise, on behalf of the Company, without limitation, the exclusive power to adopt, alter and repeal any provision of the Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.
SECTION 6. PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES. A Director shall perform his or her duties as a Director, including his or her duties as
a member of a committee of the Board of Directors on which he or she serves in accordance with Maryland law. A Director who performs his or her duties in accordance with Maryland law has no liability by reason of being or having been a
Director.
SECTION 7. FIDUCIARY DUTY. The Directors shall be deemed to be in a fiduciary relationship
to the Company and the Stockholders.
SECTION
8.5.4. DETERMINATIONS BY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to
the direction of the Board of Directors consistent with this Charter, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Company and every holder of shares of its Equity Stock: (i) the amount of the net income of the Company for any
period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of its Equity Stock or the payment of other distributions on its Equity Stock; (ii) the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus,
annual or other cash flow, funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; (iii) the
amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall
have been paid or discharged); (iv) any interpretation of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or
other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of Equity Stock; (v) the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by
the Company; (v or any shares of Equity Stock of the Company; (vi) any matters relating to the acquisition, holding
andor disposition of any assets by the Company; or (vi(vii) the number of shares of Equity
Stock of any class; or (viii) any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Company or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise to
be determined by the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE VIII
PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING AND
REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS OF THE COMPANY
AND OF ITS DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS
Until such time as the Board of Directors shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, that it is no longer in the best
interests of the Company or its Stockholders that the Company continue to operate as a REIT, or until such time as the Company shall fail to qualify as a REIT.
SECTION 1. LIMITATION ON ORGANIZATION AND OFFERING EXPENSES. The Organization and Offering Expenses paid in
connection with the Companys formation or the syndication or sale of shares of Common Stock shall be reasonable and shall in no event exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the proceeds raised in such syndication or
sale.
SECTION 2. LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION FEES AND
EXPENSES. The total of all Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses paid by the Company in connection with the purchase of a property by the Company shall be reasonable, and shall in no event
exceed an amount equal to 6% of the Contract Price for the Property, or in the case of a mortgage loan, 6% of the funds advanced; provided, however, that a majority of the Directors not otherwise interested in the transaction may approve fees and
expenses in excess of these limits if they determine the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to the Company.
SECTION 3. LIMITATION ON TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES. The annual Total Operating Expenses of the Company shall not
exceed in any fiscal year the greater of 2% of the Average Assets of the Company or 25% of the Companys Net Income. The Directors have a fiduciary responsibility to limit the Companys annual Total
Operating Expenses to amounts that do not exceed the limitations described above. The Directors may, however, determine that a higher level of Total Operating Expenses is justified for such period because of unusual and non-recurring expenses. Any
such finding by the Directors and the reasons in support thereof shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting of Directors. Within 60 days after the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company for which Total Operating Expenses (for the 12 months
then ended) exceed 2% of Average Assets or 25% of Net Income, whichever is greater, as described above, there shall be sent to the Stockholders a written disclosure of such fact. If the Directors determine that such higher Total Operating Expenses
are justified, such disclosure will also contain an explanation of the Directors conclusion.
SECTION 4. LIMITATION ON REAL ESTATE COMMISSIONS. If the Company sells property, the Company may pay real estate brokerage fees
which are reasonable, customary and competitive, taking into consideration the size, type and location of the Property (Competitive Real Estate Commission), which shall not in the
aggregate exceed the lesser of the Competitive Real Estate Commission or an amount equal to 6% of the gross sales price of the Property.
SECTION 5. LIMITATION ON TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.
(a) SALES AND LEASES TO COMPANY. The Company shall not purchase Property from any of the Directors or any
Affiliate thereof, unless a majority of Directors not otherwise interested in such transaction approve the transaction as being fair and reasonable to the Company and at a price to the Company no greater than the cost of the asset to such Director
or any Affiliate thereof, or if the price to the Company is in excess of such cost, that substantial justification for such excess exists and such excess is reasonable. In no event shall the cost of such asset to the Company exceed its appraised
value at the time of acquisition of the Property by the Company.
(b) SALES AND LEASES TO
DIRECTOR OR ANY AFFILIATE. A Director or any Affiliate thereof shall not acquire assets from the Company unless approved by a majority of Directors, not otherwise interested in such transaction, as being fair and reasonable to the Company. The
Company may lease assets to a Director or any Affiliate thereof only if approved by a majority of the Directors, not otherwise interested in such transaction, as being fair and reasonable to the Company.
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(c) LOANS. No loans may be made by the Company to a Director or any
Affiliate thereof except as provided in Article X of this Charter hereof, or to wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Company may not borrow money from a Director or any Affiliate thereof, unless a majority of Directors not otherwise
interested in such transactions, approve the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to the Company than loans between unaffiliated parties under the same circumstances.
(d) INVESTMENTS. The Company shall not invest in joint ventures with a Director or any Affiliate thereof, unless
a majority of Directors not otherwise interested in such transactions, approve the transaction as being fair and reasonable to the Company and on substantially the same terms and conditions as those received by the other joint ventures. The Company
shall not invest in equity securities unless a majority of Directors not otherwise interested in such transaction approve the transaction as being fair, competitive, and commercially reasonable.
(e) OTHER TRANSACTIONS. All other transactions between the Company and a Director or any Affiliate thereof,
shall require approval by a majority of the Directors not otherwise interested in such transactions as being fair and reasonable to the Company and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company than those available from unaffiliated
third parties.
SECTION 6. LIMITATION ON BORROWING. The Company may not incur indebtedness to
enable it to make Distributions except as necessary to satisfy the requirement that the Company distribute at least the percentage of its REIT taxable income required for annual distribution of dividends by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or otherwise as necessary or advisable to assure that the Company maintains its qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. The aggregate borrowing of the Company, secured and unsecured, shall be reasonable in relation to the
Net Assets of the Company and shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors at least quarterly. The aggregate amount of Company borrowings in relation to the Net Assets shall, in the absence of a satisfactory showing that a higher level of borrowing
is appropriate, not exceed 300% of Net Assets. Any excess in borrowing over such 300% of Net Assets level shall be approved by a majority of the Directors and disclosed to Stockholders in the Companys next quarterly report to Stockholders,
along with justification for such excess. Any excess in borrowing over such 300% of Net Assets level shall be subject to the approval by the Stockholders.
ARTICLE IXVI
RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
SECTION
1.6.1. DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this Article
IXVI, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
AGGREGATE STOCK OWNERSHIP LIMIT. The term Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit shall mean not more than 9.8 (or such other amount
designated by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.2.8) percent in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Equity Stock. The value of the outstanding shares of Equity Stock shall be determined by
the Board of Directors in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. The term Beneficial Ownership shall mean ownership of Equity Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Equity Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code, provided, however, that in determining the number of shares Beneficially Owned by a Person, no share shall be counted more than once. Whenever a Person Beneficially Owns shares of Equity Stock that are not actually outstanding (e.g., shares issuable upon the exercise of an option or the conversion of a convertible security) (Option Shares), then, whenever this Charter requires a determination of the percentage of outstanding shares of a class of Equity Stock Beneficially Owned by such Person, the Option Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person shall also be deemed to be outstanding. The terms Beneficial Owner, Beneficially Owns and Beneficially Owned shall have the correlative meanings.
BUSINESS DAY. The term Business Day shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
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CHARITABLE BENEFICIARY. The term Charitable Beneficiary shall mean one
or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction
under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.American Red Cross, until such time as the Trustee designates one or more other nonprofit organizations pursuant to
Section 6.3.6.
COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP LIMIT. The term Common Stock Ownership Limit shall mean not more
than 9.8 (or such other amount designated by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.2.8) percent (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the
aggregate of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company. The number and value of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in
good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.
CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP. The term Constructive Ownership shall mean ownership of Equity Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Equity Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms Constructive Owner, Constructively Owns and Constructively Owned shall have the correlative meanings.
EQUITY STOCK. The term Equity
Stock shall mean all classes or series of stock of the Company, including, without limitation, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.
EXCEPTED HOLDER. The term Excepted Holder shall mean a
Stockholderstockholder of the Company for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by this Charter or by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section
2.7.6.2.7.
EXCEPTED HOLDER LIMIT. The term
Excepted Holder Limit shall mean, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board of Directors pursuant to
Section 2.7,6.2.7, and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.8,6.2.8,
the percentage limit established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2.7.6.2.7.
INITIAL DATE. The term Initial Date shall mean the date upon which thethese Sixth Articles of Amendment
and Restatement containing this Article IXVI are filed with
and accepted by the SDAT.
MARKET PRICE. The term Market
Price on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding shares of Equity Stock, the Closing Price for such Equity Stock on such date. The Closing Price on any date shall mean the last sale price for such
Equity Stock, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Equity Stock, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if such Equity Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed
on the principal national securities exchange on which such Equity Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if such Equity Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the principal automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Equity Stock is not quoted by any such
organizationsystem, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Equity Stock selected by the
Board of Directors or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Equity Stock, the fair market value of the Equity Stock, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.
MGCL. The term MGCL shall mean the Maryland
General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.
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NON-TRANSFER EVENT. The term Non-Transfer Event shall mean any event or other changes in circumstances other than a purported Transfer, including, without limitation, any change in the value of any shares of Equity Stock and any redemption of any shares of Equity Stock.
NYSE. The term NYSE shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.
OWNERSHIP LIMITS. The term Ownership Limits shall mean the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and the Common Stock Ownership Limit, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.2.8.
PERSON. The term Person shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Rule 13d-5(b) or Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit applies.
PROHIBITED OWNER. The term Prohibited Owner shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, any Person
who, but for the provisions of Section 2.1, would6.2.1, would beneficially own (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code),
Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Equity Stock, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record or actual owner of the shares
that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.
REIT. The term
REIT shall mean a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code.
RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. The term Restriction Termination Date shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which
the CompanyBoard of Directors determines pursuant to Section 55.3(b) of
Article VII of this Charter that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with all or any of the
restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of shares of Equity Stock set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Company to qualify as a
REIT, but only with respect to such restrictions and limitations.
TRANSFER. The term Transfer shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire
beneficial ownership (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code), Beneficial Ownership or Constructive
Ownership of Equity Stock or the right to vote or receive dividends on Equity Stock, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Equity Stock or the
right to vote or receive dividends on Equity Stock, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option) or entering into any agreement for
the sale, transfer or other disposition of Equity Stock (or of beneficial ownership (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code), Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership), (b) any disposition of any
securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Stock or any interest in Equity Stock or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in
beneficial ownership (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code), Beneficial Ownership or
Constructive Ownership of Equity Stock; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, beneficially owned (determined under the principles of
Section 856(a)(5) of the Code), Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms Transferring and Transferred shall have the correlative meanings.
TRUST. The term Trust shall mean any trust provided for in Section
3.1.6.3.1.
TRUSTEE. The term
Trustee shall mean the Person unaffiliated with the Company and aany Prohibited Owner, that is
a United States
person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and is appointed by the Company to serve as
trustee of the Trust. Until otherwise appointed by the Company, the initial Trustee shall be Goodwin Procter
LLP.
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SECTION
2.6.2. EQUITY STOCK.
SECTION 2.1.6.2.1. OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS.
During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 6.4:
(a) Basic Restrictions.
(i) (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Equity Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit and (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Equity Stock in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.
(ii) No Person shall Beneficially or Constructively Own
shares of Equity Stock to the extent that such Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Equity Stock would result in the Company being closely held within the meaning of 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.
(iii) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Equity Stock to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive
Ownership of Equity Stock would result in the Company failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Company owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a
tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B.
(iv) No
Person shall Constructively Own shares of Equity Stock to the extent that such Constructive Ownership would cause any income of the Company that would otherwise qualify as
rents from real
property for purposes of Section 856(d) of the Code if the income derived by the Company from such
tenant would cause the Company to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code)to fail to qualify as such.
(iiiv) Notwithstanding any other provisions contained
herein but subject to Section 46.4 of this Article IXVI, any Transfer of shares of
Equity Stock that, if effective, would result in the Equity Stock being beneficially owned by lessfewer than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of
Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void AB INITIO, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Equity Stock.
(b) TRANSFER IN TRUST. If any Transfer of shares of Equity Stockor Non-Transfer Event occurs which, if
effective or otherwise, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning (as applicable) shares of
Equity Stock in violation of Section 2.16.2.1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or
(ii) aboveiv),
(i) then that number of
shares of the Equity Stock the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership (as applicable) of which otherwise would
cause such Person to violate Section 2.16.2.1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or
(iiiv) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Trust for
the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 3,6.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such
Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, and such Person (or, if different, the direct or Beneficial Owner of such shares) shall
acquire no rights in such shares (or shall be divested of its rights in such shares); or
(ii) if the transfer to the Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of
Section 2.16.2.1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or
(iiiv), then the Transfer of that number of shares of Equity Stock that otherwise would cause any Person to violate
Section 2.16.2.1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or
(iiiv) shall be void AB INITIO, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Equity Stock.
SECTION
2.2.6.2.2. REMEDIES FOR BREACH. If the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee
thereof shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or other eventNon-Transfer
15
Event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 2.1
above6.2.1(a) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial
orOwnership, Constructive Ownership or beneficial ownership (determined under the principles of
Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) of any shares of Equity Stock in violation of Section 2.1 above6.2.1(a) (whether or not such violation is intended), the
Board of Directors or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other eventNon-Transfer
Event or otherwise prevent such violation, including, without limitation, causing the Company to redeem shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Company or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or
other eventNon-Transfer Event; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 2.1
above6.2.1(a) (or Non-Transfer Event that results in a violation of Section 6.2.1(a)) shall automatically
result in the transfer to the Trust described above, andor, whereif applicable,
such Transfer (or other event) shall be void AB INITIO as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
SECTION 2.3.6.2.3. NOTICE OF RESTRICTED
TRANSFER. Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or, Constructive Ownership
or beneficial ownership (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) of shares of Equity Stock that will or may violate
Section 2.16.2.1(a) above or any Person who held or would have owned shares of
Equity Stock that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16.2.1(b) shall immediately give written notice to the Company of
such event, or in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Company such other information as the Company may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such
Transfer on the Companys statusqualification as a REIT.
SECTION 2.4.6.2.4. OWNERS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION. From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(a) every owner of more than
five percent or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury
Regulationsregulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of any class or series of Equity Stock,
within 30 days afterupon request following the end of each taxable year of the Company, shall
give written noticeprovide in writing to the Company stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of
each class and series of Equity Stock and other shares of the Equity Stock Beneficially Owned by it and a description of
the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall provide to the Company such additional information as the Company may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Companys
statusqualification as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Stock Ownership
LimitLimits; and
(b) each Person who is a
Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Equity Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Equity Stock for a Beneficial
Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide in writing to the Company such information as the Company may request, in good
faith, in order to determine the Companys statusqualification as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to
determine such compliance.
SECTION
2.5.6.2.5. REMEDIES NOT LIMITED. Subject to
Section 55.3(b) of Article VII of this Charter, nothing contained in this
Section 26.2 shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Company and the
interests of its Stockholdersstockholders in preserving the Companys
statusqualification as a REIT.
SECTION 2.6. AMBIGUITY. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this
Section 2, Section 3, or any definition contained in Section 1, theSECTION 6.2.6. AMBIGUITY. The Board of
Directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 2 or Section 36.2 and Section 6.3 and any definition contained
in Section 6.1, including in the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 6.2, Section 6.3, or any such
definition, with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 26.2
or 36.3 requires an action by the Board of Directors and thethis Charter fails to
provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 1,
26.1, 6.2 or 3.6.3.
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SECTION
2.7.6.2.7. EXCEPTIONS.
(a) Subject to
Section 2.16.2.1(a)(iiiii), the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may
prospectively or retroactively exempt a Person from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and the Common Stock Ownership Limit, as the case may be, and
mayone or more of the ownership limitations set forth in Section 6.2.1(a)(i)(1), (2), and (3) and
establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person, may prospectively waive the provisions of Section 6.2.1(a)(ii) with respect to a Person, and/or may prospectively or
retroactively waive the provisions of Section 6.2.1(a)(iv) with respect to a Person if:
(i) the Board of Directors
obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individualsuch Persons Beneficial
orOwnership and Constructive Ownership of such shares of Equity Stock will violate Section 2.1(a)(ii);(ii) such Person
does not and represents that it will not own, actually or Constructively, an interest in a tenant of the Company (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Company) that would cause the Company to own, actually or Constructively, more
than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant and the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (for this
purpose, a tenant from whom the Company (or an entity owned or controlled by the Company) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue such that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, rent
from such tenant would not adversely affectin excess of the Ownership Limits or in violation of the limitations imposed by Section 6.2.1(a)(ii) or Section 6.2.1(a)(iv),
as applicable, will not now or in the future jeopardize the Companys ability to qualify as a REIT, shall not be treated as a tenant of the Company) under the
Code; and
(iii) ii) such Person agrees
that any violation or attempted violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Sections 2.16.2.1
through 2.66.2.6) will result in such shares of Equity Stock being automatically transferred to a Trust in accordance with Sections
2.16.2.1(b) and 3.6.3.
(b) Prior to granting any exceptionexemption or waiver or
creating any Excepted Holder Limit pursuant to Section 2.76.2.7(a), the Board of Directors may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an
opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Companys
statusqualification as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems
appropriate in connection with granting such exceptionexemption or waiver or creating any Excepted Holder Limit.
(c) Subject to Section 2.16.2.1(a)(ii)
aboveiii), an underwriter whichthat participates in a public offering or a private placement of
Equity Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Stock) may Beneficially Own orand Constructively Own shares of Equity Stock (or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Stock) in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, the Common Stock Ownership Limit, or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.
(d) The Board of Directors may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Common Stock Ownership Limit.
SECTION
2.8.6.2.8. INCREASE
OR DECREASE IN AGGREGATE STOCK OWNERSHIP AND COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP LIMITS.
TheSubject to Section 6.2.1(a)(iii), the Board of Directors may from time to time increase the Common Stock Ownership Limit and the Aggregate Stock
Ownership Limitone or both of the Ownership Limits for one or more Persons and decrease one or both of the Ownership Limits for all other Persons; provided, however, that any such
decreased Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership in Equity Stock is in excess of the decreased
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Ownership Limit until such time as such Persons percentage of Equity Stock equals or falls below the decreased Ownership Limit, but any further acquisition of Equity Stock in excess of such percentage ownership of Equity Stock will be in violation of the Ownership Limits; and provided, further, that the new Ownership Limits would not result in the Company being closely held within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) if five unrelated individuals were to Beneficially Own the five largest amounts of Equity Stock permitted to be Beneficially Owned under such new Ownership Limits, taking into account the immediately preceding proviso permitting ownership in excess of decreased Ownership Limits in certain cases.
SECTION
2.9.6.2.9. LEGEND. Each certificate for shares of Equity Stock, if
certificated, shall bear a legend that substantially the following legend:
The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose of the Companys
maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Subject to certain further restrictions and
except as expressly provided in the Companys Charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of the Companys Common Stock in excess of 9.8
percent (in value or number of shares) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially or
Constructively Own shares of Equity Stock of the Company in excess of 9.8 percent of the value of the total outstanding shares of Equity Stock of the Company, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be
applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own Equity Stock that would result in the Company being closely held
under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iv) no Person may Transfer shares of Equity Stock if such Transfer would result in the Equity Stock of the Company being
owned by fewer than 100 Persons. Any Person who Beneficially or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Equity Stock which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Equity
Stock in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Company. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership are violated, the shares of Equity Stock represented hereby will be automatically transferred to a
Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void AB INITIO. All capitalized terms in this
legend have the meanings defined in the charter of the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Equity Stock of the Company on
request and without charge.Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificatedescribes the foregoing restrictions on transfer and ownership, or, instead of such legend, the
certificate, if any, may state that the Company will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a stockholder on request and without charge.
SECTION 3.6.3.
TRANSFER OF EQUITY STOCK IN TRUST.
SECTION
3.1.6.3.1. OWNERSHIP IN TRUST. Upon any purported Transfer or other
eventNon-Transfer Event described in Section 2.16.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer
of shares of Equity Stock to a Trust, such shares of Equity Stock shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be
deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other eventNon-Transfer Event that results in the transfer to
the Trust pursuant to Section 2.16.2.1(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Company and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Company and any Prohibited
Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Company as provided in Section 3.6.6.3.6.
SECTION
3.2.6.3.2. STATUS OF SHARES HELD BY THE
TRUSTEE. Shares of Equity Stock held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding shares of Equity Stock of the Company. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit
economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the Trust.
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SECTION
3.3.6.3.3. DIVIDEND AND VOTING RIGHTS.
The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Equity Stock held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend
or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Company that the shares of Equity Stock have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or distribution to the Trustee upon demand and any dividend or
other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect
to shares held in the Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares of Equity Stock have been transferred to the TrusteeTrust, the
Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustees sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Company that the shares of Equity Stock have been transferred to the Trustee and
(ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Company has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have
the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article IXVI, until the Company has received notification that shares of Equity
Stock have been transferred into a Trust, the Company shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other Stockholderstockholder records for purposes of preparing
lists of Stockholdersstockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of
Stockholdersstockholders.
SECTION
3.4.6.3.4. SALE OF SHARES BY TRUSTEE.
Within 20 days ofAs soon as reasonably practicable after receiving notice from the Company that shares of Equity Stock have been transferred to the
Trust (and no later than 20 days after receiving notice in the case of shares of Equity Stock that are listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange), the Trustee of
the Trust shall sell the shares held in the Trust to a person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in
Section 2.16.2.1(a). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net
proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 3.4.6.3.4. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser
of (a) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be
held in the Trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust and
(b) the price per sharesales proceeds received by the Trustee
(net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Trust. The
Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which has been paid to the Prohibited Owner and is owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3.3 of this
Article VI. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Company that shares of Equity Stock have been transferred to
the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the
amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 3.4,6.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.
SECTION
3.5.6.3.5. PURCHASE RIGHT IN STOCK TRANSFERRED TO THE TRUSTEE. Shares of Equity Stock transferred to the
Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Company, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a
devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Company, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Company shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the
shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 3.4.6.3.4. Upon such a sale to the Company, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall
terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.; provided, however, that the Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the
Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which has been paid to the Prohibited Owner and is owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to
Section 6.3.3 of this Article VI. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary.
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SECTION
3.6.6.3.6. DESIGNATION OF CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES. By written notice to the Trustee, the Company shall
designatemay change the Charitable Beneficiary by designating one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that
(i) the shares of Equity Stock held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 2.16.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable
Beneficiary and (ii) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections
170(b)(1)(A) (other than clauses (vii) and (viii) thereof), 2055 and 2522 of the Code. Neither the failure of the
Company to make such designation nor the failure of the Company to appoint the Trustee before the automatic transfer provided for in Section 6.2(b)(i) shall make such transfer ineffective, provided that the Company thereafter makes such
designation and appointment. The designation of a nonprofit organization as a Charitable Beneficiary shall not entitle such nonprofit organization to serve in such capacity and the Company may, in its sole discretion, designate a different nonprofit
organization as the Charitable Beneficiary at any time and for any or no reason. Any determination by the Company with respect to the application of this Article VI shall be binding on each Charitable Beneficiary.
SECTION
4.6.4. NYSE TRANSACTIONS. Nothing in
this Article IXVI shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or
automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article IXVI
and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article IXVI.
SECTION
5.6.5. ENFORCEMENT. The Company is
authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article IXVI.
SECTION
6.6.6. NON-WAIVER. No delay or
failure on the part of the Company or the Board of Directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Company or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.
ARTICLE X
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The
investment policies set forth in this Article X shall be approved by a majority of the Directors. Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article X and so long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, a majority of the Directors may set the
investment policies if they determine that such policies are in the best interests of the Company. The Directors shall review the Companys investment policies at least annually to determine that the policies
being followed are in the best interests of the Stockholders.
The Company shall not make investments in:
(i) any foreign currency or bullion; (ii) short sales; and (iii) any security in any entity holding investments or engaging in activities prohibited by this Charter.
In addition to other investment restrictions imposed by the Directors from time to time consistent with the
Companys objective to qualify as a REIT, the Company will observe the following restrictions on its investments:
(a) Not more than 10% of the Companys total assets will be invested in unimproved real property or mortgage loans on unimproved real
property. For purposes of this paragraph, unimproved real properties does not include properties (i) acquired for the purpose of producing rental or other operating
income, (ii) having development or construction in process, and (iii) under contract or planned for development or construction within one year from the Companys purchase thereof;
(b) The Company may not invest in commodities or commodity future contracts. Such limitation is not
intended to apply to interest rate futures, when used solely for hedging purposes;
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(c) The Company may not invest in contracts for the sale of real
estate;
(d) The Company may not invest in or make mortgage loans unless an appraisal is
obtained concerning the underlying property. Mortgage indebtedness on any property shall not exceed such propertys appraised value. In cases in which the majority of Directors so determine, and in all cases in
which the mortgage loan involves the Directors or any Affiliates, such appraisal must be obtained from an Independent Expert concerning the underlying property. The appraisal shall be maintained in the
Companys records for at least five years, and shall be available for inspection and duplication by any Stockholder. In addition to the appraisal, a mortgagees or
owners title insurance policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or condition of the title must be obtained. The Company may not invest in real estate contracts of sale otherwise known as land
sale contracts;
(e) The Company may not make or invest in mortgage loans, including
construction loans, on any one property, if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Company, would exceed an amount equal to 85% of the appraised value of the property as determined by
appraisal unless substantial justification exists because of the presence of other underwriting criteria provided that such loans would in no event exceed the appraised value of the property at the date of the loans;
(f) The Company may not make or invest in any mortgage loans that are subordinate to any mortgage or equity
interest of any Director or Affiliates thereof;
(g) The Company may not acquire securities
in any company holding investments or engaging in activities prohibited by this Article X;
(h) The Company shall not invest in equity securities unless a majority of the Directors not otherwise
interested in such transaction approves the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable. Investments in entities affiliated with any Director or Affiliates thereof are subject to the restrictions on joint venture investments,
or pursuant to the SRP. Notwithstanding these restrictions, the Company may purchase its own securities, when traded on a secondary market or on a national securities exchange or market, if a majority of the Directors determine such purchase to be
in the best interests of the Company;
(i) The Company may not engage in any short sale or
borrow, on an unsecured basis, if such borrowing will result in an Asset Coverage of less than 300%;
(j) To the extent the Company invests in Properties, a majority of the Directors shall approve the consideration
paid for such Properties, based on the fair market value of the Property. If a majority of the Directors determine, such fair market value shall be determined by a qualified independent real estate appraiser selected by the Directors. In the event
the Company acquires Property from any Director or Affiliate, the provisions of Section 5 of Article VIII of this Charter are applicable;
(k) The Company may not invest in indebtedness (herein called Junior Debt) secured by a mortgage on
real property which is subordinate to the lien of other indebtedness (herein called Senior Debt), except where the amount of such Junior Debt, plus the outstanding
amount of the Senior Debt, does not exceed 90% of the appraised value of such Property, if after giving effect thereto, the value of all such investments of the Company (as shown on the books of the Company in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, after all reasonable reserves but before provision for depreciation) would not then exceed 25% of the Companys tangible assets. The value of all investments in Junior Debt of the Company
which does not meet the aforementioned requirements shall be limited to 10% of the Companys tangible assets (which would be included within the 25% limitation);
(l) The Company may not engage in trading, as compared with investment activities; and
(m) The Company may not engage in underwriting or the agency distribution of securities issued by
others.
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ARTICLE XI
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. ACCESS TO RECORDS. Any Stockholder and any designated representative thereof shall at all reasonable times, be permitted access to and may inspect and copy records of the
Company such as the Bylaws, minutes of proceedings of stockholders, annual statement of affairs, and other records specified under Maryland law at the business office of the Company, and, subject to the provisions of Maryland law requiring a minimum
level of stock ownership for access to books of account and stockholder records, an alphabetical list of names, addresses and, if part of the records kept by the Companys transfer agent, the business telephone numbers of the Stockholders of
the Company along with the number of shares of Equity Stock held by each of them (the Stockholder List), and may inspect and copy any of them for the purposes specified below. The Stockholder List) shall be maintained and updated
quarterly as part of the books and records of the Company. The copy of the Stockholder List maintained at the business office of the Company shall be printed in alphabetical order, on white paper, and in a readily readable type size (in no event
smaller than 10-point type). The Company shall impose a reasonable charge for expenses incurred in reproducing such list. The permitted purposes for which a Stockholder may request a copy of the Stockholder List include, without limitation, matters
relating to Stockholders voting rights under this Charter and the exercise of Stockholders rights under federal proxy laws. If the Directors of the Company neglect or refuse to exhibit, produce or mail a copy of the Stockholder List as
requested in accordance with and as required by applicable law and this Charter, the Directors shall be liable to any Stockholder requesting the Stockholder List for the costs, including reasonable attorneys fees, incurred by that Stockholder
for compelling the production of the Stockholder List, and for actual damages suffered by any Stockholder by reason of such refusal or neglect. It shall be a defense to such liability that the actual purpose and reason for the requests for
inspection or for a copy of the Stockholder List is to secure such list of Stockholders or other information for the purpose of selling such Stockholder List or copies thereof, or of using the same for a commercial purpose or other purpose not in
the interest of the applicant as a Stockholder relative to the affairs of the Company. The Company may require the Stockholder requesting the Stockholder List to represent in writing that the Stockholder List is not requested for a commercial
purpose unrelated to the Stockholders interest in the Company. The remedies provided hereunder to Stockholders requesting copies of the Stockholder List are in addition to, and shall not in any way limit, other remedies available to
Stockholders under federal law, or the laws of any state. Inspection of the Companys books and records by a state securities administrator shall be provided upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours.
SECTION 2. REPORTS AND MEETINGS.
(a) REPORTS. Each year the Company shall prepare an annual report
of its operations. The report shall include a balance sheet, an income statement, and a surplus statement. The financial statements in the annual report shall be certified by an independent certified public accountant based on the
accountants examination of the books and records of the Company in accordance with generally accepted auditing principles. The annual report shall also include: (i) the ratio of the costs of raising
capital during the period to the capital raised; (ii) the Total Operating Expenses of the Company stated as a percentage of Average Assets and as a percentage of Net Income; (iii) a report from the Directors that they believe the policies
being followed by the Company are in the best interests of the Stockholders and the basis for such determination; and (iv) separately stated, full disclosure of all material terms, factors and circumstances surrounding any and all transactions
involving the Company, the Directors and any Affiliates thereof occurring in the year for which the annual report is made. Directors shall examine and comment in the annual report on the fairness of all transactions involving the Company. The annual
report shall be submitted to each Stockholder at or before the annual meeting of the Stockholders and shall be placed on file at the Companys principal office within the earlier of 20 days after the annual
meeting of Stockholders or 120 days after the end of the Companys fiscal year. The Company may comply with this requirement using the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
(b)
MEETINGS. Meetings of Stockholders shall be held at any place in the United States as is provided in the Bylaws or as set by the Board of Directors under provisions in the Bylaws.
22
There shall be an annual meeting of the Stockholders of the Company to elect
Directors and transact any other business at such time as set forth in the Bylaws. The Directors are required to take reasonable steps to insure that the requirements of this Article XI are met. Special meetings of the Stockholders may be called by
the President, a majority of the Directors, or any other person specified in the Bylaws, and shall be called by the Secretary of the Company upon written request (which states the purpose of the meeting and the matter(s) to be acted upon) of
Stockholders holding in the aggregate not less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Equity Stock entitled to vote at such meeting. Upon receipt of such a written request, the Secretary of the Company) shall inform the Stockholders making the
request of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing a Notice of such meeting, notify each Stockholder entitled to Notice of the meeting within ten (10) days after receipt of the written Notice of a meeting and the purpose of the
meeting to be held on a date not less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days after distribution of such Notice. The Company will pay the reasonable cost of such notice and mailing for such a meeting.
Except as provided in the fourth sentence of the second paragraph of Section 2(c) of this Article XI, notice of any annual
or special meeting of Stockholders shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 90 days before such meeting and shall state the purpose of the meeting and the matters to be acted upon.
ARTICLE XII
ROLL-UPS
SECTION 1. APPRAISAL. In connection with a proposed Roll-Up, an appraisal of all of the Companys assets shall be obtained from an Independent Expert. The appraisal will be included in
a prospectus used to offer the securities of a Roll-Up Entity and shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the state regulatory commissions as an exhibit to the registration statement for the offering of the Roll-Up
Entitys shares. Accordingly, an issuer using the appraisal shall be subject to liability for violation of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and comparable provisions under state laws for any material misrepresentations
or material omissions in the appraisal.
The Companys assets shall be
appraised in a consistent manner. The appraisal shall:
(a) be based on an evaluation of all
relevant information;
(b) indicate the value of the
Companys assets as of a date immediately prior to the announcement of the proposed Roll-Up transaction; and
(c) assume an orderly liquidation of the Companys assets over a 12-month period.
The terms of the engagement of the Independent Expert shall clearly state that the engagement is for the benefit of the Company
and its Stockholders. A summary of the independent appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the appraisal, shall be included in a report to the Stockholders in connection with the proposed Roll-Up.
SECTION 2. STOCKHOLDER OPTIONS. Stockholders who vote no on the proposed Roll-Up shall have the choice
of:
(a) accepting the securities of the Roll-Up Entity offered in the proposed Roll-Up;
or
(b) one of either:
(i) remaining as Stockholders of the Company and preserving their interests therein on the same terms and
conditions as previously existed, or
23
(ii) receiving cash in an amount equal to the
Stockholders pro rata share of the appraised value of the net assets of the Company.
SECTION 3. RESTRICTIONS. The Company may not participate in any proposed Roll-Up which would:
(a) result in the Stockholders having rights to meetings less frequently or which are more restrictive to Stockholders than those provided in this Charter;
(b) result in the Stockholders having voting rights that are less than those provided in this Charter;
(c) result in the Stockholders having greater liability than as provided in this Charter;
(d) result in the Stockholders having rights to receive reports that are less than those provided in
this Charter;
(e) result in the Stockholders having access to records that are more limited
than those provided in this Charter;
(f) include provisions which would operate to
materially impede or frustrate the accumulation of shares of Equity Stock by any purchaser of the securities of the Roll-Up Entity (except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of the Roll-Up Entity);
(g) limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities in the Roll-Up Entity on
the basis of the number of shares of Equity Stock held by that investor;
(h) result in
investors in the Roll-Up Entity having rights of access to the records of the Roll-Up Entity that are less than those provided in this Charter; or
(i) place any of the costs of the transaction on the Company if the Roll-Up is not approved by a majority of the shares of Equity Stock; provided, however, that nothing herein
shall be construed to prevent participation in any proposed Roll-Up which would result in Stockholders having rights and restrictions comparable to those contained in this Article XII. Approval of a majority of the voting shares of Equity Stock is
required for the Company to engage in any Roll-Up which is in conformity with this Article XII.
SECTION
4. GENERAL. The provisions of this Article XII will cease to apply if the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to attempt, or continue, to qualify as a REIT.
SECTION 6.7. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Article VI or any application of any such provision is determined to be invalid by any federal or state court having jurisdiction over the issues, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected and other applications of such provisions shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.
ARTICLE
XIIIVII
AMENDMENTS AND EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS
SECTION 1. GENERAL. The Company reserves the right from time to time to make any
amendment to this Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in this Charter, of any unissued shares of Equity Stock. All rights and powers conferred by this
Charter on Stockholdersstockholders, Directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation. All references to this Charter shall include all amendments
thereto.
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SECTION 2. STOCKHOLDERS APPROVAL. Subject to (a) the provisions of any
class or series of Equity Stock at the time outstanding, (b) the restrictions on Roll-Ups described in Article XII of this Charter so long as applicable, (c) the limitations described in Article IX of this Charter, and
(d) Section 3 of this Article XIII, the Directors may not, without the approval of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares of Equity Stock: (i) except as otherwise permitted under Maryland law or by specific
provision in this Charter, amend this Charter or sell all or substantially all of the Companys assets other than in the ordinary course of the Companys business or in connection with liquidation and dissolution; nor (ii) except in
each case to the extent the Maryland General Corporation Law permits such transactions to be approved solely by the Board of Directors, cause a merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Company; nor (iii) dissolve or liquidate the Company.
The Company shall deem a sale of two-thirds or more of the Companys assets, based on the total number of Properties and mortgages owned by the Company, or the current fair market value of such Properties and mortgages, as a sale of
substantially all of the Companys assets.
SECTION 3. BY STOCKHOLDERS.
Notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring such action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, the holders of a majority of the then outstanding voting
shares of Equity Stock may, at a duly called meeting of such holders, vote to (i) amend this Charter, or (ii) dissolve the Company. Such action may also be taken by written consent of such holders. In the event that the holders of the then
outstanding voting shares of Equity Stock direct the amendment of this Charter or the dissolution of the Company, the proper officers of the Company shall promptly file such documents and take all such corporate action as is necessary to accomplish
such amendment or dissolution.
ARTICLE
XIVVIII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION
1.8.1. LIMITATION OF STOCKHOLDER LIABILITY. No
Stockholderstockholder shall be personally liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Company by reason
of its being a Stockholderstockholder, nor shall any Stockholderstockholder be subject
to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any Personperson or entity in connection with the
Propertyassets or the affairs of the Company.
SECTION
2.8.2. LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY. To the maximum extent
that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no present or former Director or officer of the Company shall be liable to the Company or to any
Stockholderstockholder for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this
Section 2,8.2, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of this Charter inconsistent with this
Section 2,8.2, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this
Section 28.2 with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
SECTION
3.8.3. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) ToThe Company shall have the power, to the maximum
extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Company shallto obligate itself to
indemnify, and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification,
shall to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any
individual who is a present or former Director or officer of the Company and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a Director or officer
of the Company and at the request of the Company, serves or has served as a Director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of
suchanother corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceedingfrom and against any claim or liability to which
such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his or her service in thatsuch capacity. The Company
mayshall have the power, with the approval of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof,
to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a Personperson who served a predecessor
of the Company in any of the capacities described in (a) or
25
(b) above and to any employee or agent of the Company or a predecessor of the Company. The indemnification and payment of expenses provided in this Charter shall not be deemed exclusive
of or limit in any way other rights to which any Person seeking indemnification or payment of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, regulation, insurance, agreement or otherwise. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this
Section 3, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of this Charter inconsistent with this Section 3, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this Section 3 with respect to any act or failure to act
which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
(b) The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of any Personperson who is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or its affiliates, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as
a Director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against
him/her and incurred by him/her in any such capacity, or arising out of his/her status as such, whether or not he/she is indemnified against such liability under the provisions of this Article.
THIRD: The amendment to and restatement of this charter as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the
boardBoard of directorsDirectors and approved by the stockholders of the Company as
required by law.
FOURTH: The current address of the principal office of the Company is as set forth in Article
IVIII of the foregoing amendment and restatement of this charter.
FIFTH: The name and address of the Companys current resident agent is as set forth in Article IVIII of the
foregoing amendment and restatement of this charter.
SIXTH: The number of directors of the Company and the names of
those currently in office are as set forth in Article VIIV of the foregoing amendment and restatement of this charter.
SEVENTH: The undersigned acknowledges these
FifthSixth Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the Company and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the
undersigned acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused these
FifthSixth Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive, President, Chief Financial Officer
and TreasurerPresident and attested to by its General Counsel and Secretary on this
20th day of ,
2010.March, 2012.
|
/s/Steven P. Grimes |
Steven P. Grimes |
Chief Executive Officer |
Attested to by:
|
/s/Dennis K. Holland |
Dennis K. Holland |
General Counsel and Secretary |
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