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EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.Financial_Report.xls
10-Q - FORM 10-Q - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.d506416d10q.htm
EX-4.1 - EX-4.1 - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.d506416dex41.htm
EX-3.2 - EX-3.2 - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.d506416dex32.htm
EX-32.2 - EX-32.2 - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.d506416dex322.htm
EX-10.1 - EX-10.1 - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.d506416dex101.htm
EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.d506416dex312.htm
EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.d506416dex311.htm
EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.d506416dex321.htm

Exhibit 3.1

SIXTH ARTICLES OF

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

FOR

INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.

a Maryland corporation

FIRST: Independence Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.

SECOND: The following provisions and Exhibit A are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”). So far as may be practicable, the business of the Company shall be conducted and transacted under that name. Under circumstances in which the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) determines that the use of the name “Independence Realty Trust, Inc.” is not practicable, it may use any other designation or name for the Company.

ARTICLE II

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 and engaging in business as a real estate investment trust 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 Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) and the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.

ARTICLE III

RESIDENT AGENT AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE

The name and address of the resident agent for service of process of the Company in the State of Maryland is CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1660, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The address of the Company’s principal office in the State of Maryland is c/o CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1660, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The Company may have such other offices and places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board may from time to time determine.

ARTICLE IV

STOCK

SECTION 4.1 AUTHORIZED SHARES. The total number of shares of stock (“Shares”) that the Company shall have authority to issue is 350,000,000 shares, of which (i) 300,000,000 shall be designated as common stock, $0.01 par value per Share (the “Common Shares”); and (ii) 50,000,000 shall be designated as preferred stock, $0.01 par value per Share (the “Preferred Shares”). The aggregate par value of all authorized Shares having par value is $3,500,000. If Shares of one (1) class of stock are classified or reclassified into Shares of another class of stock pursuant to Section 4.2(ii) or Section 4.3 of this Article IV, 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, as the case may be, so that the aggregate number of Shares of all classes that the Company has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of Shares set forth in the


first sentence of this Section 4.1. The Board, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and subject to any preferential rights in favor of any class or series of Preferred Shares, and without any action by the stockholders, may amend the charter of the Company (as amended, corrected, supplemented and/or restated from time to time, the “Charter”) from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of Shares or the number of Shares of any class or series that the Company has authority to issue.

SECTION 4.2 COMMON SHARES.

(i) COMMON SHARES SUBJECT TO TERMS OF PREFERRED SHARES. The Common Shares shall be subject to the express terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares.

(ii) DESCRIPTION. Subject to Section 4.9 of this Article IV and except as may otherwise be specified in the Charter, each Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters upon which stockholders are entitled to vote. The Board may classify or reclassify any unissued Common Shares from time to time into one (1) or more classes or series of stock.

(iii) DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS. The Board from time to time may authorize the Company to declare and pay to stockholders such dividends or other distributions in cash or other assets of the Company or in Securities, including in Shares of one class payable to holders of Shares of another class, or from any other source as the Board in its discretion shall determine. The Board shall endeavor to authorize the Company to declare and pay such dividends and other distributions as shall be necessary for the Company to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), within the meaning of Sections 856 through 860 of the Code and any successor or other related provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the Board has determined, in its sole discretion, that maintaining the Company’s qualification as a REIT is not in the best interests of the Company; provided, however, stockholders shall have no right to any dividend or other distribution unless and until authorized by the Board and declared by the Company. The exercise of the powers and rights of the Board pursuant to this section shall be subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding. As used in this Section 4.2 and throughout the Charter, “Securities” means any of the following issued by the Company, as the text requires: Shares, any other stock, shares or other evidences of equity or beneficial or other interests, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in, temporary or interim certificates for, receipts for, guarantees of, or warrants, options or rights to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

(iv) RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or any distribution of the assets of the Company, the aggregate assets available for distribution to holders of the Common Shares shall be determined in accordance with applicable law. Each holder of Common Shares of a particular class shall be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of Common Shares of such class, that portion of such aggregate assets available for distribution (after payment of, or adequate provision for, the debts and liabilities of the Company) as the number of outstanding Common Shares of such class held by such holder bears to the total number of outstanding Common Shares of such class then outstanding. Other than as set forth in this Section 4.2, and subject to any preferential rights in favor of any class or series of Preferred Shares, the stockholders shall have no interest in any assets 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.

(v) VOTING RIGHTS. Except as may be provided otherwise in the Charter, and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares, the holders of the Common Shares shall have the exclusive right to vote on all matters (as to which a common stockholder shall be entitled to vote pursuant to applicable law) at all meetings of the stockholders.

SECTION 4.3 PREFERRED SHARES. The Board may classify any unissued Preferred Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Preferred Shares of any series from time to time, into one (1) or more classes or series of Shares.

SECTION 4.4 RESERVED.


SECTION 4.5 CLASSIFIED OR RECLASSIFIED SHARES. Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified Shares of any class or series, the Board by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of Shares; (b) specify the number of Shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Section 4.9 and the express terms of any class or series of Shares outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series of Shares; and (d) cause the Company to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland. Any of the terms of any class or series of Shares set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 4.5 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Charter (including determinations by the Board 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 Shares is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary or other charter document.

SECTION 4.6 STOCKHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, in writing or by electronic transmission, in any manner permitted by the MGCL and set forth in the Bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time (the “Bylaws”).

SECTION 4.7 CHARTER AND BYLAWS. The rights of all stockholders and the terms of all Shares are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws.

SECTION 4.8 RESERVED.

SECTION 4.9 RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER.

(i) DEFINITIONS. For purposes of the Charter, including this Section 4.9, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

AGGREGATE SHARE OWNERSHIP LIMIT” means 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding Shares and 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of Shares, or such other percentage determined by the Board in accordance with Section 4.9(ii)(h).

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP” means ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in the Shares 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 Sections 856(h)(1)(B) and 856(h)(3) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

BUSINESS DAY” means 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.

CHARITABLE BENEFICIARY” means one (1) or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 4.9(iii)(f), 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.

CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP” means ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in the Shares 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.

EXCEPTED HOLDER” means a stockholder for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by the Board pursuant to Section 4.9(ii)(g).

EXCEPTED HOLDER LIMIT” means, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board pursuant to Section 4.9(ii)(g), and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.9(ii)(h), the percentage limit established by the Board pursuant to Section 4.9(ii)(g).


MARKET PRICE” on any date means, with respect to any class or series of outstanding Shares, the closing price for such Shares on such date. The “closing price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Shares, 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 Shares, in either case as reported on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are Listed or admitted to trading or, if such 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, as reported by the principal automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Shares are not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Shares selected by the Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Shares, the fair market value of the Shares, as determined in good faith by the Board.

NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

OFFERING” means any public offering and sale of Shares pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act.

PERSON” means an individual, corporation, partnership, 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 legal entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in Section 4.9(i) hereof) applies.

PROHIBITED OWNER” means, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 4.9(ii)(a), would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the Shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE” means the first day on which the Board determines pursuant to Section 6.3 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 the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of Shares set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Company to qualify as a REIT.

TRANSFER” means any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares or the right to vote or receive dividends on Shares, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or any interest in Shares 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 or Constructive Ownership of Shares; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

TRUST” means any trust provided for in Section 4.9(iii)(a).

TRUSTEE” means any Person unaffiliated with the Company and a Prohibited Owner, that is appointed by the Company to serve as trustee of a Trust.

(ii) SHARES.

(a) OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS. Prior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 4.10:

(I) BASIC RESTRICTIONS.

(A)(1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and (2) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.


(B) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares to the extent that such Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Shares 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 failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Company actually owning or Constructively Owning an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) 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).

(C) Any Transfer of Shares that, if effective, would result in Shares being Beneficially Owned by fewer 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.

(II) TRANSFER IN TRUST. If any Transfer of Shares occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning Shares in violation of Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B),

(A) then that number of Shares the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) (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 4.9(iii), effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such Shares; or

(B) if the Transfer to the Trust described in clause (A) of this Section 4.9(ii)(a)(II) would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) then the Transfer of that number of Shares that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

(III) To the extent that, upon a transfer of Shares pursuant to Section 4.9(ii)(a)(II), a violation of any provision of this Section 4.9 would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of Shares by a single Trust would violate the 100 stockholder requirement applicable to REITs), then Shares shall be transferred to that number of Trusts, each having a distinct Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Trust, such that there is not violation of any provision of this Section 4.9.

(b) REMEDIES FOR BREACH. If the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 4.9(ii)(a) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Shares in violation of Section 4.9(ii)(a) (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board 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 event, 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 event; provided, however, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 4.9(ii)(a) shall automatically result in the Transfer to the Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board or a committee thereof.

(c) NOTICE OF RESTRICTED TRANSFER. Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares that will or may violate Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) or any Person who would have owned Shares that resulted in a Transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.9(ii)(a)(II) 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 Company’s status as a REIT.

(d) OWNERS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. Prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

(I) every owner of more than five percent (5%) (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding Shares, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Company stating the name and address of such owner, the number


of Shares Beneficially Owned 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 Company’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit; and

(II) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or a Constructive Owner of Shares and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Shares for a Beneficial Owner or a Constructive Owner shall provide to the Company such information as the Company may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Company’s status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

(e) REMEDIES NOT LIMITED. Subject to Section 6.3 of the Charter, nothing contained in this Section 4.9(ii)(e) shall limit the authority of the Board to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Company and the interests of its stockholders in preserving the Company’s status as a REIT.

(f) AMBIGUITY. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 4.9(ii), Section 4.9(iii), or any definition contained in Section 4.9(i), the Board shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 4.9(ii) or Section 4.9(iii) or any such definition with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 4.9(ii) or Section 4.9(iii) requires an action by the Board and the Charter fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Section 4.9. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board (which the Board may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 4.9(ii)(b)) acquired Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares in violation of Section 4.9(ii)(a), such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the Shares which, but for such remedies, would have been actually owned by such Person, and second to Shares which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such Shares based upon the relative number of the Shares held by each such Person.

(g) EXCEPTIONS.

(I) Subject to Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(B), the Board, in its sole discretion, may (prospectively or retroactively) exempt a Person from the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if such Person agrees that any violation or attempted violation of Sections 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(B) and 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(C) or any representations or undertakings on which the Board has conditioned such exemption or Excepted Holder Limit (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Section 4.9(ii)(a) through Section 4.9(ii)(f)) will result in such Shares being automatically Transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 4.9(ii)(A)(II) and Section 4.9(iii).

(II) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 4.9(ii)(g), the Board 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 in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Company’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

(III) Subject to Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(B), an underwriter which participates in an Offering or a private placement of Shares (or Securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares (or Securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such Offering or private placement.

(IV) The Board 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 Aggregate Share Ownership Limit.

(h) INCREASE OR DECREASE IN AGGREGATE SHARE OWNERSHIP LIMIT. Subject to Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I)(B), the Board may from time to time increase the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for one


(1) or more Persons and decrease the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for all other Persons; provided, however, that the decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership of Shares is in excess of such decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit until such time as such Person’s percentage of Shares equals or falls below the decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, but any further acquisition of Shares in excess of such percentage ownership of Shares will be in violation of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and, provided further, that the new Aggregate Share Ownership Limit would not allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding Shares.

(i) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS UPON ISSUANCE OR TRANSFER. Upon issuance or Transfer of Shares prior to the Restriction Termination Date, the Company shall provide the recipient with a notice containing information about the Shares purchased or otherwise Transferred, in lieu of issuance of a share certificate, in a form substantially similar to the following:

LEGENDS. Prior to the Restriction Termination Date, each certificate for shares of Capital Stock, if certificated, or any written statement of information in lieu of a certificate delivered to a holder of uncertificated shares of Capital Stock shall bear substantially the following legend:

The securities of Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) are subject to restrictions on Beneficial and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the Company’s 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 Company’s charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own Shares in excess of 9.8% of the value of the total outstanding Shares or in excess of 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of Shares 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 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 (iii) any Transfer of Shares that, if effective, would result in the Shares of the Company being owned by fewer than 100 Persons (as 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. Any Person who Beneficially or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially or Constructively Own Shares which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially or Constructively Own Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Company in writing (or, in the case of an attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice). If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership as set forth in (i) and (ii) are violated, the Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one (1) or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the Company may redeem shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board in its sole discretion if the Board determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described in (i) and (ii) above may be void ab initio. All capitalized terms in this notice have the meanings defined in the Company’s charter, 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 Shares on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Company at its principal office.

(iii) TRANSFER OF SHARES IN TRUST.

(a) OWNERSHIP IN TRUST. Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 4.9(ii)(a)(II) that would result in a Transfer of Shares to a Trust, such Shares shall be Transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one (1) or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such Transfer to the Trustee shall be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the Transfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 4.9(ii)(a)(II). 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 4.9(iii)(f).

(b) STATUS OF SHARES HELD BY THE TRUSTEE. Shares held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding Shares. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the Shares held in trust 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.

(c) DIVIDEND AND VOTING RIGHTS. The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to Shares 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 have been Transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or other 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 other 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 have been Transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Company that the Shares 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 Section 4.9, until the Company has received notification that Shares have been Transferred into a Trust, the Company shall be entitled to rely on its stock Transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.

(d) SALE OF SHARES BY TRUSTEE. Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Company that Shares have been Transferred to the Trust, the Trustee 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 4.9(ii)(a)(I) or (II). 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 4.9(iii)(d). The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) 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 (2) the price per Share received by the Trustee 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 have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.9(iii)(c). 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 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 4.9, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.

(e) PURCHASE RIGHT IN STOCK TRANSFERRED TO THE TRUSTEE. Shares 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 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 4.9(iii)(c). The Company may pay the amount of such reduction to the Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Company shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the Shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 4.9(iii)(d). 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.

(f) DESIGNATION OF CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES. By written notice to the Trustee, the Company shall designate one (1) or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that (i) the Shares held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 4.9(ii)(a)(I) or (II) 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), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.


SECTION 4.10 SETTLEMENTS. Nothing in Section 4.9 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 provision of Sections 4.9, and any transfer in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in Section 4.9.

SECTION 4.11 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of Section 4.9 or any application of any such provision is determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the issue, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of Section 4.9 shall not be affected and other applications of such provision shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.

SECTION 4.12 ENFORCEMENT. The Company is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of Section 4.9.

SECTION 4.13 NON-WAIVER. No delay or failure on the part of the Company or the Board in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Company or the Board, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

SECTION 4.14 PREEMPTIVE AND APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Except as may be provided by the Board in setting the terms of classified or reclassified Shares pursuant to Section 4.5 or as may otherwise be provided by contract approved by the Board, no holder of Shares shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares or any other Security which it may issue or sell. Holders of Shares shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 or Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of Shares, to one (1) 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 4.15 EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of Shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of Shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 5.1 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors of the Company (each a “Director” and collectively the “Directors”) shall be four, which number may be increased or decreased only by the Board from time to time pursuant to the Bylaws; provided, however, that the number of Directors shall not be fewer than the minimum number required by the MGCL. The Company elects, at such time as it becomes eligible to make the election provided for under Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, that, except as may be provided by the Board in setting the terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares, any and all vacancies on the Board 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 a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which such vacancy occurred. No reduction in the number of Directors shall cause the removal of any Director from office prior to the expiration of his term, except as may otherwise be provided in the terms of any Preferred Shares. For the purposes of voting for Directors, each Share may be voted for as many individuals as there are Directors to be elected and for whose election the Share is entitled to be voted. Cumulative voting for Directors is prohibited.

The names of the current Directors who shall serve on the Board until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:

Scott F. Schaeffer

William C. Dunkelberg

Robert F. McCadden


DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.

SECTION 5.2 RESIGNATION, REMOVAL OR DEATH. Any Director may resign by written notice to the Board, effective upon execution and delivery to the Company of such written notice or upon any future date specified in the notice. Any Director or the entire Board may be removed from office but only for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Shares then outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, subject to the rights of any Preferred Shares to vote for such Directors. For the purpose 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.

ARTICLE VI

POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 6.1 GENERAL. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board. The Board may take any action that, in its sole judgment and discretion, is necessary or desirable to conduct the business of the Company. The Charter shall be construed with a presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Board. Any construction of the Charter or determination made in good faith by the Board concerning its powers and authority hereunder shall be conclusive. 

SECTION 6.2 AUTHORIZATION BY BOARD OF STOCK ISSUANCE. The Board may authorize the issuance from time to time of Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or Securities or rights convertible into Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Charter or the Bylaws.

SECTION 6.3 REIT QUALIFICATION. The Board shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Company as a REIT; however, if the Board determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the Board may revoke or otherwise terminate the Company’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board also may determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Section 4.9 of Article IV is no longer required for REIT qualification.

SECTION 6.4 DETERMINATIONS BY BOARD. The determination as to any of the following matters, made by or pursuant to the direction of the Board, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Company and every holder of Shares: 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 Shares or the payment of other distributions on Shares; 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; 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); any interpretation or resolution of any ambiguity with respect to any provision of the Charter (including 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 Shares) or the Bylaws; 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 or any Shares; the number of Shares of any class; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Company; any interpretation of the terms and conditions of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other organization or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Company or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or the Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board.

SECTION 6.5 ADVISOR AGREEMENTS. Subject to such approval of stockholders and other conditions, if any, as may be required by any applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Board may authorize the execution and performance by the Company of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other organization whereby, subject to the supervision and control of the Board, any such other person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other


organization shall render or make available to the Company managerial, investment, advisory and/or related services, office space and other services and facilities (including, if deemed advisable by the Board, the management or supervision of the investments of the Company) upon such terms and conditions as may be provided in such agreement or agreements (including, if deemed fair and equitable by the Board, the compensation payable thereunder by the Company).

ARTICLE VII

LIABILITY OF STOCKHOLDERS, DIRECTORS AND THE COMPANY

SECTION 7.1 LIMITATION OF STOCKHOLDER LIABILITY. No stockholder shall be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Company by reason of being a stockholder, nor shall any stockholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any person in connection with the Company’s assets or the affairs of the Company by reason of being a stockholder.

SECTION 7.2 LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION.

(a) To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits the 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 its stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 7.2(a), nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or Bylaws inconsistent with this Section 7.2(a), shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

(b) The Company shall have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (i) 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 (ii) 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 another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise from 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 such capacity. The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided hereby shall vest immediately upon election of a Director or officer. The Company shall have the power, with the approval of the Board, to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Company in any of the capacities described in (i) or (ii) above and to any employee or agent of the Company or a predecessor of the Company.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

The Company reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to its Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any outstanding Shares. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on stockholders, Directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation. All references to the Charter shall include all amendments thereto. Except for amendments permitted to be made without stockholder approval under Maryland law or by specific provision in the Charter, any amendment to the Charter shall be valid only if the Board has adopted a resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and declaring such amendment advisable and such amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

THIRD: The amendment and restatement of the charter as hereinabove set forth has been duly advised by the Board of Directors of the Company 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 III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.


FIFTH: The name and address of the Company’s current resident agent are as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

SIXTH: The number of directors of the Company and the names of the Directors currently in office are as set forth in Section 5.1 of Article V of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

SEVENTH: The undersigned acknowledges these Sixth 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.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Independence Realty Trust, Inc. has caused these Sixth Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and President, and attested by its Secretary, on this 7th day of May, 2013.

 

ATTEST:     INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.
By:  

/s/ Anders Laren

    By:  

/s/ Scott F. Schaeffer

  Anders Laren       Scott F. Schaeffer
  Secretary       Chief Executive Officer and President


EXHIBIT A

12.5% SERIES A CUMULATIVE NON-VOTING PREFERRED STOCK.

(i) DESIGNATION AND NUMBER. A series of Preferred Shares, designated the “12.5% Series A Cumulative Non-Voting Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), is hereby established. The total number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be one hundred and twenty five (125).

(ii) RANK. The Series A Preferred Stock shall, with respect to dividend and redemption rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, rank senior to all classes or series of Common Shares and to all other equity securities issued by the Company from time to time which, by their terms, provide that the Series A Preferred Stock shall rank senior to such other equity securities with respect to such rights (together with the Common Shares, the “Junior Securities”). The term “Equity Securities” shall not include convertible debt securities issued by the Company.

(iii) DIVIDENDS.

(a) Each holder of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board and declared by the Company, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative preferential cash dividends per share of Series A Preferred Stock at the rate of 12.5% per annum of the total of $1,000.00 plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon. Such dividends shall accrue on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock on a daily basis and be cumulative from the first date on which any share of Series A Preferred Stock is issued, such issue date to be contemporaneous with the receipt by the Company of subscription funds for the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Original Issue Date”), and shall be payable semi-annually in arrears on or before June 30 and December 31 of each year (each a “Dividend Payment Date”); provided, however, that if any Dividend Payment Date is not a business day, then the dividend which would otherwise have been payable on such Dividend Payment Date may be paid on the preceding business day or the following business day with the same force and effect as if paid on such Dividend Payment Date. Any dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock for any partial Dividend Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months (it being understood that the dividend payable on June 30, 2012 will be for less than a full Dividend Period). A “Dividend Period” shall mean, with respect to the first Dividend Period, the period from and including the Original Issue Date to and including the first Dividend Payment Date, and with respect to each subsequent Dividend Period, the period from but excluding a Dividend Payment Date to and including the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date or other date as of which accrued dividends are to be calculated. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in the share records of the Company at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the fifteenth day of the calendar month in which the applicable Dividend Payment Date falls or on such other date designated by the Board for the payment of dividends that is not more than 30 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”).

(b) No dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared by the Company or paid or set apart for payment by the Company at such time as the terms and provisions of any written agreement between the Company and any party that is not an affiliate of the Company, including any agreement relating to its indebtedness, prohibit such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provide that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law. For purposes hereof, “affiliate” shall mean any party that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall accrue whether or not the terms and provisions set forth in Section (iii)(b) of this Exhibit A at any time prohibit the current payment of dividends, whether or not the Company has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are authorized or declared. Furthermore, dividends will be declared and paid when due in all events to the fullest extent permitted by law and except as provided in Section (iii)(b) of this Exhibit A. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accumulate as of the Dividend Payment Date on which they first become payable.


(d) Unless full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all past Dividend Periods, no dividends (other than in Junior Securities) shall be declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment nor shall any other distribution be declared and made upon any Junior Securities, nor shall any Junior Securities be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Securities) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for other Junior Securities and except for transfers, redemptions or purchases made pursuant to the provisions of this Exhibit A).

(e) When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not set apart) on the Series A Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared and paid pro rata based on the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding.

(f) Any dividend payment made on shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock as described above.

(iv) LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE.

(a) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding are entitled to be paid, or have the Company declare and set apart for payment, out of the assets of the Company legally available for distribution to its stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of any Junior Securities, a liquidation preference per share of Series A Preferred Stock equal to the sum of the following (collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”): (i) $1,000.00, (ii) all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon through and including the earlier of the date of payment or the date that funds are set apart for payment, and (iii) if a Redemption Premium (as defined below) would be payable upon the redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with Section (iv)(a) of this Exhibit A, the per share Redemption Premium in effect on the earlier of the date of payment or the date that funds are set apart for payment of the Liquidation Preference. In the event that the Company elects to set apart the Liquidation Preference for payment, the Series A Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding until the holders thereof are paid the full Liquidation Preference therefor, which payment shall be made no later than immediately prior to the Company making its final liquidating distribution on the Common Shares. In the event that the Redemption Premium in effect on the payment date is less than the Redemption Premium on the date that the Liquidation Preference was set apart for payment, the Company may make a corresponding reduction to the funds set apart for payment of the Liquidation Preference.

(b) In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the available assets of the Company are insufficient to pay the full amount of the Liquidation Preference on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full Liquidation Preference to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

(c) After payment of the full amount of the Liquidation Preference to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.

(d) Upon the Company’s provision of written notice as to the effective date of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, accompanied by a check in the amount of the full Liquidation Preference to which each record holder of the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled, the Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding shares of stock of the Company and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate. Such notice shall be given by first class mail, postage pre-paid, to each record holder of the Series A Preferred Stock at the respective mailing addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the Company.

(e) The consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other business enterprise or of any other business enterprise with or into the Company, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company, shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.


(v) REDEMPTION.

(a) Right of Optional Redemption. The Company, at its option, may redeem shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price per share of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Redemption Price”) equal to $1,000.00 plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to and including the date fixed for redemption (except as provided in Section (v)(c) of this Exhibit A), plus a redemption premium per share (each, a “Redemption Premium”) calculated as follows based on the date fixed for redemption:

(I) until December 31, 2013, $100, and

(II) thereafter, no Redemption Premium.

If less than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed may be selected by any equitable method determined by the Company provided that such method does not result in the creation of fractional shares.

(b) Limitations on Redemption. Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been, or contemporaneously are, declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all past Dividend Periods, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Company unless all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed or acquired, and the Company shall not purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any Junior Securities (except by exchange for Junior Securities); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase by the Company of shares transferred to a Charitable Beneficiary pursuant to this Exhibit A in order to ensure that the Company remains qualified as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes or the purchase or acquisition of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

(c) Rights to Dividends on Shares Called for Redemption. Immediately prior to or upon any redemption of Series A Preferred Stock, the Company shall pay, in cash, any accrued and unpaid dividends to and including the redemption date, unless a redemption date falls after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before such Dividend Payment Date.

(d) Procedures for Redemption.

(I) Upon the Company’s provision of written notice as to the effective date of the redemption, accompanied by a check in the amount of the full Redemption Price through such effective date to which each record holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed is entitled or, if the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed are represented by certificates, the setting apart of such amount pursuant to Section (v)(d)(III) of this Exhibit A, shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed and shall no longer be deemed outstanding shares of stock of the Company and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate. Such notice shall be given by first class mail, postage pre-paid, to each record holder of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at the respective mailing addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the Company. No failure to give such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

(II) In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which Series A Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, such notice shall state: (A) the redemption date; (B) the Redemption Price; (C) the place or places where the Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered (if so required in the notice) for payment of the Redemption Price (if not otherwise included with the notice); and (D) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date. If less than all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed.


(III) If notice of redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock has been given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set apart by the Company for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption, then, from and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate, except the right to receive the Redemption Price therefor. If the Company shall so require and the notice of redemption shall so state, holders of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the certificates representing such Series A Preferred Stock, to the extent that such shares are certificated, at the place designated in such notice and, upon surrender in accordance with said notice of the certificates representing shares of Series A Preferred Stock so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state), such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed by the Company at the Redemption Price. In case less than all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate or certificates shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares of Series A Preferred Stock without cost to the holder thereof. In the event that the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed are uncertificated, such shares shall be redeemed in accordance with the notice and no further action on the part of the holders of such shares shall be required.

(IV) The deposit of funds with a bank or trust company for the purpose of redeeming Series A Preferred Stock shall be irrevocable except that:

(A) the Company shall be entitled to receive from such bank or trust company the interest or other earnings, if any, earned on any money so deposited in trust, and the holders of any shares redeemed shall have no claim to such interest or other earnings; and

(B) any balance of monies so deposited by the Company and unclaimed by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock entitled thereto at the expiration of two years from the applicable redemption dates shall be repaid, together with any interest or other earnings thereon, to the Company, and after any such repayment, the holders of the shares entitled to the funds so repaid to the Company shall look only to the Company for payment of the Redemption Price without interest or other earnings.

(e) Application of Exhibit A. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are subject to the provisions of this Exhibit A, including, without limitation, the provision for the redemption of shares transferred to the Trust for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary.

(f) Status of Redeemed Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock that shall at any time have been redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Company shall, after such redemption or acquisition, have the status of authorized but unissued Preferred Shares without designation as to series until such shares are once more classified and designated as part of a particular series by the Board.

(vi) VOTING RIGHTS. Except as provided in this Exhibit A, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter submitted to the stockholders of the Company for a vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, shall be required for (a) authorization or issuance of any equity security of the Company senior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, (b) any reclassification of the Series A Preferred Stock or (c) any amendment to this Charter, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise (an “Event”), which amendment materially and adversely affects any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock or increases the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number greater than 125; provided, however, with respect to the occurrence of any Event, so long as the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged or the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock receive Equity Securities of the successor or survivor of such Event with substantially identical rights as the Series A Preferred Stock, taking into account that, upon the occurrence of an Event, the Company may not be the surviving entity or the surviving entity may not be a corporation, the occurrence of such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock and in such case the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights with respect to the occurrence of such Event unless the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock is increased to a number greater than 125.


(vii) EXCLUSION OF OTHER RIGHTS. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or Securities. The Series A Preferred Stock shall have no preemptive or subscription rights. The Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any preferences or other rights other than those specifically set forth herein.