Exhibit 1.1

 

 

Life Storage, Inc.

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Dated: June 15, 2021

 

 


Table of Contents

 

     Page  

SECTION 1. Description of Securities

     1  

SECTION 2. Placements

     3  

SECTION 3. Sale of Placement Securities by the Agent

     4  

SECTION 4. Suspension of Sales

     7  

SECTION 5. Representations and Warranties

     8  

SECTION 6. Sale and Delivery to the Agent; Settlement

     24  

SECTION 7. Covenants of the Transaction Entities

     27  

SECTION 8. Payment of Expenses

     35  

SECTION 9. Conditions of the Agent’s Obligations

     36  

SECTION 10. Indemnification

     38  

SECTION 11. Contribution

     40  

SECTION 12. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery

     41  

SECTION 13. Termination of Agreement

     42  

SECTION 14. Notices

     43  

SECTION 15. Parties

     43  

SECTION 16. Adjustments for Stock Splits

     43  

SECTION 17. Governing Law and Time

     44  

SECTION 18. Waiver of Jury Trial

     44  

SECTION 19. Effect of Headings

     44  

SECTION 20. Definitions

     44  

SECTION 21. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses

     46  

SECTION 22. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship

     46  

SECTION 23. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolutions Regime

     47  

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A-1 and A-2       Forms of Issuance Placement Notice and Forward Placement Notice
Exhibit B       Authorized Individuals for Placement Notices and Acceptances
Exhibit C-1 and C-2       Forms of Opinions of Company Counsel and Maryland Counsel
Exhibit D       Form of Officer’s Certificate
Exhibit E       Issuer Pricing Free Writing Prospectus
Exhibit F       CFO Certificate
Exhibit G       Form of Master Forward Confirmation


Life Storage, Inc.

Up to $500,000,000 of Shares of Common Stock

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

June 15, 2021

The Several Agents, Forward Purchasers and Forward Sellers

Listed in Schedule 1 hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Life Storage, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), together with Life Storage LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and Life Storage Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the general partner of the Operating Partnership and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company and the Operating Partnership, the “Transaction Entities”) confirm their agreement (this “Agreement”) with (i) each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Truist Securities, Inc., Jefferies LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and BTIG, LLC, each in its capacity as agent for the Company (collectively, the “Agents” and individually, an “Agent”), (ii) each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Truist Bank, Jefferies LLC, HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., each (or its affiliate assignee) in its capacity as purchaser under any Forward Contract (as defined below) (collectively, the “Forward Purchasers” and individually, a “Forward Purchaser”), and (iii) each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Truist Securities, Inc., Jefferies LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., each in its capacity as agent for the Forward Purchaser in connection with the offering and sale of any Forward Hedge Shares (as defined below) hereunder (collectively, the “Forward Sellers” and individually, a “Forward Seller”), as follows:

SECTION 1. Description of Securities.

The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through the Agents, acting as agent and/or principal, or sell through the Forward Sellers, shares (the “Securities”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) having an aggregate sale price of up to $500,000,000 (the “Placement Shares,” which hereinafter refers to, collectively, the Issuance Shares (as defined below) and the Forward Hedge Shares offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through the Agents or sell through the Forward Sellers such number of Placement Shares that (i) exceeds the number of Securities included in the Prospectus (as defined below) pursuant to which the offerings contemplated hereunder are being made, or (ii) exceeds the number of authorized but unissued Securities (the lesser of (i) and (ii), the “Maximum Amount”). It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that if the Placement Shares are offered or sold through the Forward Seller, then the Forward Seller shall be acting solely as sales agent for the Forward Purchaser with respect to the offering and sale of such Placement Shares.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary

 

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contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 regarding the number or amount of Placement Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and neither the Agents nor the Forward Sellers shall have any obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of the Placement Shares through the Agents and sale through the Forward Sellers will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) that was filed by the Company and became effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(e) (“Rule 462(e)”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue the Securities. For purposes of hereof, “Forward Hedge Shares” means all Securities borrowed by a Forward Purchaser or its affiliate and offered and sold by its affiliated Forward Seller in connection with any Forward Transaction (as defined in Section 2(b) below) that has occurred or may occur in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. “Issuance Shares” shall refer to all Placement Shares other than the Forward Hedge Shares.

The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-257031), including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Securities to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement. The Company will furnish to the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, for use by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, copies of the prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Securities. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement and any Replacement Registration Statement (as defined in Section 7(a) hereof), in either case, as amended when it became effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR.

 

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SECTION 2. Placements.

(a) Each time that the Company wishes to issue Issuance Shares hereunder (each, an “Issuance Placement” and together with any sale of the Forward Hedge Shares by the Forward Sellers in connection with a Forward Transaction, collectively, the “Placements” and each, a “Placement”), it will notify the designated Agent by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Securities to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Issuance Shares, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Issuance Shares that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (an “Issuance Placement Notice”), a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Exhibit A-1. The Issuance Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Exhibit B (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from such Agent set forth on Exhibit B, as such Exhibit B may be amended from time to time. If such Agent wishes to accept such proposed terms included in the Issuance Placement Notice (which it may decline to do so for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, such Agent will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day following the Business Day on which such Issuance Placement Notice is delivered to such Agent, issue to the Company a notice by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and such Agent set forth on Exhibit B) setting forth the terms that the Agent is willing to accept. Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Agent until the Company delivers to the Agent an acceptance by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”), which email shall be addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and the Agent set forth on Exhibit B. The Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by the Company of such Agent’s acceptance of the terms of the Issuance Placement Notice or upon receipt by the Agent of the Company’s Acceptance, as the case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Issuance Shares has been sold, (ii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph, the Company terminates the Issuance Placement Notice, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent Issuance Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 13 or (v) either party shall have suspended the sale of the Placement Shares in accordance with Section 4 below; provided, however, that any such notice shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Agent in connection with the sale of the Issuance Shares shall be mutually agreed to in writing by the parties but shall not exceed 2.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of any Issuance Shares pursuant to this Agreement. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to an Issuance Placement or any Issuance Shares unless and until the Company delivers an Issuance Placement Notice to the Agent and either (i) the applicable Agent accepts the terms of such Issuance Placement Notice or (ii) where the terms of such Placement Notice are amended, the Company accepts such amended terms by means of an Acceptance pursuant to the terms set forth above, and

 

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then only upon the terms specified in the Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of an Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the terms of the Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) will control

SECTION 3. Sale of Placement Shares by the Agents and the Forward Sellers.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation (as defined below) and any “Supplemental Confirmation” thereunder, on any Trading Day (as defined below) during the term on which the conditions set forth in Section 9 have been satisfied, the Company may request to enter into a Forward Transaction by delivering a written notice (which notice shall specify that it relates to a “Forward Transaction”) to the designated Forward Purchaser and its affiliated Forward Seller, containing the parameters of the Forward Transaction it desires, in accordance with this Agreement (a “Forward Placement Notice” and together with any Issuance Placement Notice, collectively, the “Placement Notices” and each a “Placement Notice”), the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-2. Such Forward Placement Notice shall include, for purposes of (and as defined under) the related Master Forward Confirmation, the proposed (i) first day of the Forward Selling Hedge Period, (ii) Maturity Date, (iii) last day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period, (iv) Forward Hedge Number, (v) Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate, (vi) Spread, (vii) Initial Stock Loan Rate, (v) Maximum Stock Loan Rate, (vi) Forward Price Reduction Dates and (viii) Forward Price Reduction Amounts (together, the “Proposed Confirmation Terms”). The Forward Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Exhibit B (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from such Forward Purchaser and related Forward Seller as set forth on Exhibit B, as such Exhibit B may be updated from time to time with respect to the individuals of each party, by such party providing written notice to the other party of the addition or deletion of individuals of such party. Each Forward Placement Notice is subject to review and acceptance by the applicable Forward Purchaser and Forward Seller. Such Forward Purchaser and the Forward Seller may accept such Proposed Confirmation Terms (which they may decline to do for any reason in their sole discretion) by e-mail to one of the individuals at the Company named on Exhibit B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time, confirming the terms of such Forward Placement Notice. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that none of the Company, the Forward Purchaser or the Forward Seller will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Forward Placement Notice or any Forward Hedge Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Forward Placement Notice to a Forward Purchaser and the related Forward Seller and such Forward Purchaser and the Forward Seller accept the terms of such Forward Placement Notice, and then only upon the terms specified in the Forward Placement Notice, this Agreement and the Master Forward Confirmation. In the event of a conflict between the terms of Section 2 or Section 3 of this Agreement and an accepted Forward Placement Notice with respect to a Forward Transaction, the terms of such Forward Placement Notice will control with respect to such Forward Transaction. As used herein, “Forward Transaction” means the transaction resulting from an accepted Forward Placement Notice providing for the sale by such Forward Seller of Forward Hedge Shares as specified in such Forward Placement Notice, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the applicable Forward Contract. “Master Forward Confirmation” means each letter agreement by and between the Company and a Forward Purchaser (including all provisions incorporated by

 

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reference therein, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit G). “Forward Contract” means, for each Forward Transaction, the contract evidencing such Forward Transaction between the Company and such Forward Purchaser, which shall be composed of the relevant Master Forward Confirmation and the related “Supplemental Confirmation” (as defined in such Master Forward Confirmation) for such Forward Transaction.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 6(a), each Agent, for the period specified in the Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Issuance Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). Such Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Issuance Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Issuance Shares sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by the Agent (as set forth in Section 6(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the terms of the Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Agents may sell Issuance Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. Subject to the terms of the Issuer Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Agents may also sell Issuance Shares by any other method permitted by law, including but not limited to in privately negotiated transactions. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that any Agent will be successful in selling Issuance Shares, and (ii) the applicable Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Issuance Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Issuance Shares as required under this Section 3. For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which shares of Common Stock are purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted.

(c) (i) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and as set forth in each Master Forward Confirmation and each “Supplemental Confirmation” under the related Master Forward Confirmation, upon acceptance of a Forward Placement Notice by such Forward Purchaser and Forward Seller, and unless the sale of the Forward Hedge Shares described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the Master Forward Confirmation, such Forward Purchaser will use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow Forward Hedge Shares up to the Forward Hedge Number specified in the relevant Forward Placement Notice accepted by such Forward Purchaser and the relevant Forward Seller will use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Forward Hedge Shares, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Forward Placement Notice. “Forward Hedge Number” means the maximum number of Forward Hedge Shares to be sold by a Forward Seller with respect to any Forward Transaction, as specified in the Forward Placement Notice for such Forward Transaction, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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(i) No Forward Placement Notice may be delivered hereunder (i) if the Forward Hedge Selling Period specified therein would overlap in whole or in part with any Forward Hedge Selling Period specified in any other Forward Placement Notice delivered hereunder unless the Placement Shares to be sold under all such previously delivered Forward Placement Notices have all been sold or (ii) if any Forward Hedge Selling Period specified therein would overlap in whole or in part with any Unwind Period under (and as defined in) any Forward Contract entered into between the Company and any Forward Purchaser. As used herein, the “Forward Hedge Selling Period” is the period of consecutive Trading Days (as determined by the Company in the Company’s sole discretion and specified in the applicable Forward Placement Notice) beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which such Forward Placement Notice is delivered or deemed to be delivered; provided, that if, prior to the scheduled end of any Forward Hedge Selling Period, (x) any event occurs that would permit such Forward Purchaser to designate a “Scheduled Trading Day” as an “Early Valuation Date” (as each such term is defined in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation) under, and pursuant to, the provisions opposite the caption “Early Valuation” in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation or (y) a “Bankruptcy Termination Event” (as such term is defined in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation) occurs, then the Forward Hedge Selling Period shall immediately terminate as of the first such occurrence (or, if later, when persons at such Forward Seller responsible for executing sales of Forward Hedge Shares become aware of such occurrence).

(ii) No later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following Effective Date (as defined in the Master Forward Confirmation), such Forward Purchaser shall execute and deliver to the Company, a “Supplemental Confirmation” in respect of the Forward Contract for such Forward Hedge Selling Period, which “Supplemental Confirmation” shall set forth the “Trade Date” for such Forward Transaction (which shall, subject to the terms of the relevant Master Forward Confirmation, be the last Trading Day of such Forward Hedge Selling Period), the “Effective Date” for such Forward Transaction (which shall, subject to the terms of the relevant Master Forward Confirmation, be the date one Settlement Cycle (as such term is defined in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation) immediately following the last Trading Day of such Forward Hedge Selling Period), the initial “Number of Shares” for such Forward Transaction (which shall, subject to the terms of the relevant Master Forward Confirmation, be the number of Forward Hedge Shares sold during such Forward Hedge Selling Period), the “Maturity Date” for such Forward Transaction (which shall, subject to the terms of the relevant Master Forward Confirmation, be the date set forth opposite the caption “Maturity Date” in the Forward Placement Notice for such Forward Transaction), the “Forward Price Reduction Dates” for such Forward Transaction (which shall be each of the dates set forth below the caption “Forward Price Reduction Dates” in the Forward Placement Notice for such Forward Transaction), the “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” corresponding to such Forward Price Reduction Dates (which shall be each amount set forth opposite each “Forward Price Reduction Date” and below the caption “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” in the Forward Placement

 

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Notice for such Forward Transaction), the “Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate” for such Forward Transaction (which shall be the amount set forth opposite the term “Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate” in the accepted Forward Placement Notice), the “Spread” for such Forward Transaction (which shall be the amount set forth opposite the term “Spread” in the accepted Forward Placement Notice), the “Initial Forward Price” for such Forward Transaction (which shall be determined as provided in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation), the “Volume-Weighted Hedge Price” (which shall be determined as provided in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation), the “Initial Stock Loan Rate” (which shall be as determined by the Calculation Agent (as defined in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation)), the “Maximum Stock Loan Rate” (which shall be as determined by the Calculation Agent) and the “Notice Settlement Number” (which shall be as determined by the Calculation Agent).

(iii) For each Forward Transaction, the Company shall be obligated to enter into a Forward Contract with such Forward Purchaser if and when the Company delivers a Forward Placement Notice to such Forward Purchaser and the related Forward Seller, and such Forward Purchaser and the related Forward Seller have accepted such Forward Placement Notice as provided in Section 2(b) of this Agreement. In the event that either (i) in the sole judgment of a Forward Purchaser (or an agent thereof), it is unable to borrow and deliver any Forward Hedge Shares up to the Forward Hedge Number for sale with respect to an instruction under this Agreement after using commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices for similar transactions and applicable law and regulation, or (ii) in the sole judgment of such Forward Purchaser, such Forward Purchaser (or its agent) would incur a stock loan cost that is more than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate (as set forth in the accepted Forward Placement Notice) to do so, then the obligation herein of the applicable Forward Seller with respect to sales of Placement Shares in connection with such instruction shall only extend to the aggregate number of Forward Hedge Shares that the Forward Purchaser (or its agent) is able to so borrow below such cost

SECTION 4. Suspension of Sales. The Company, the applicable Agent or the applicable Forward Seller, as the case may be, may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Exhibit B, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Exhibit B), suspend any sale of Placement Shares; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Exhibit B hereto, as such Exhibit B may be amended from time to time.

 

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SECTION 5. Representations and Warranties.

(a) Representations and Warranties of the Transaction Entities. Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, as of the date hereof and as of each Representation Date (as defined below) on which a certificate is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) of this Agreement, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date (as defined below), and agrees with the Agents, the Forward Purchasers, and the Forward Sellers as follows:

(1) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Securities have been duly registered under the Securities Act pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, and any Replacement Registration Statement will have become effective under the Securities Act, no stop order preventing or suspending the use of any base prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with to the Commission’s satisfaction.

At the respective times each of the Registration Statement, any Replacement Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became or becomes effective and as of the date hereof, the Registration Statement, any Replacement Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the conditions for the use of Form S-3 as set forth in the General Instructions thereto, and the Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Securities as contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5)). The Registration Statement, as of the date hereof and each effective date with respect thereto, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, and at each Applicable Time and Settlement Date, as the case may be, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

The representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers or the Forward Sellers expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information described as such in Section 10(b). There is no contract or other document required to be described in the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that has not been described or filed as required.

 

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The copies of the Registration Statement and any Replacement Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, any other preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto delivered and to be delivered to the Agents, the Forward Purchasers, and the Forward Sellers (electronically or otherwise) in connection with the offering of the Securities were and will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus relating to the Securities, as of its issue date and as of each Applicable Time and Settlement Date, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any incorporated document deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified, or included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information described as such in Section 10(b).

At the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement, at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act and at the date hereof, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, including not having been and not being an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an “ineligible issuer”), and has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form; and, without limitation to the foregoing, the Company has at all relevant times met, meets and will at all relevant times meet the requirements of Rule 164 for the use of a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby.

 

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Each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus heretofore filed, when it was filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and any further documents so filed and incorporated after the date of this Agreement will, when they are filed, conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; no such document when it was filed (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and no such document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

(2) Prior Written Communications. Any offer that is a written communication relating to the Securities made prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement by the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 163 of the Securities Act and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, including without limitation the legending requirement.

(3) Accuracy of Statements in Prospectus. The statements in the Prospectus, as supplemented in the Prospectus Supplement under the headings “Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Restrictions On Transfer/Ownership Limits,” “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws” and “Plan of Distribution” and the information in the Registration Statement under Part II, Item 15, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, summaries of agreements or documents, or summaries of legal matters or proceedings, accurately and fairly present and summarize the matters referred to therein; provided, however, that the foregoing sentence shall not apply to statements made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Agents, Forward Purchasers or Forward Sellers expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information described as such in Section 10(b).

(4) Description of Securities. The Common Stock, the authorized but unissued Preferred Stock, and the Company’s charter and bylaws conform in all material respects to all of the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such statements conform to the rights set forth in the respective instruments and agreements defining the same.

(5) REIT Status. The Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for each taxable year commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 1995, and its current and proposed organization and method of operation (as described in the Prospectus, as supplemented in the preliminary prospectus and the management representation letter, to be delivered by the Company to Phillips Lytle LLP on June 15, 2021) will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2021 and thereafter.

 

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(6) Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities to be sold hereunder by the Agent as principal or agent for the Company, other than the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Agent.

(7) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Transaction Entities.

(8) Authorization of Securities. The Issuance Shares and the shares of Common Stock to be sold pursuant to any Forward Contract (the “Forward Settlement Shares”) have been duly authorized for issuance, sale, and delivery pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

(9) No Transfer Taxes. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance by the Company or sale by the Company of the Securities.

(10) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Securities Act, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

(11) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (in each case exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), except as otherwise stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, properties, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Effect”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction or agreement; and (iii) there has been no dividends or distributions of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company except for regular quarterly dividends on the Common Stock or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

 

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(12) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who have expressed their opinions with respect to the Company’s financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules and internal control over financial reporting filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus, are, to the Company’s knowledge, independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).

(13) Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries, as the case may be, as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their respective operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting schedules of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting schedules comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The selected financial data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Any pro forma consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and any pro forma adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein and any such pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the computation or compilation of such pro forma financial statements. All of the disclosures contained in or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. No other financial statements (pro forma or otherwise) or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the preliminary prospectus or prospectus. The Company’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and ratios of earnings to fixed charges included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus have been calculated in compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. The interactive data in the eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has in all material respects been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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(14) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power, as the case may be, to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each subsidiary is duly qualified and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim. Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock, partnership interests or membership units of the Company’s subsidiaries that are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly-owned subsidiaries are owned free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances, except for such interests, claims, liens or encumbrances granted in respect of indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(15) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus (except for issuances subsequent to March 31, 2021, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans (including any exercise of equity awards pursuant thereto), the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan or the Company’s “at-the-market” program). The Common Stock (including the Securities) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and (ii) have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws, except with respect to clause (ii) only, as previously disclosed in documents that the Company has filed in accordance with the Exchange Act. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights and all such plans have been approved or adopted in accordance with applicable law, rule or regulations, including without limitation, the rules of the NYSE.

 

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(16) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under its charter, by-laws or organizational documents, (ii) in Default under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, deed of trust, note, contract, franchise, lease or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or such subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”) or (iii) in violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) only, for such Defaults or violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Forward Contracts, and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any Default under the charter, by-laws or organizational documents of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, and (iii) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency (including FINRA) is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Forward Contracts, and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws. As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(17) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary, or any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(18) Labor Matters. No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(19) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business as now conducted or as proposed in the Prospectus to be conducted. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a) no party has been granted an exclusive license to use any portion of such Intellectual Property owned by the Company; (b) there is no material infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company; (c) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to any material Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (d) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and (e) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company’s business as now conducted infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim.

(20) Possession of Licenses and Permits. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and current licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such license, certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(21) Title to Property. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 5(a)(13) above (or elsewhere in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus), in each case, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens,

 

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encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.

(22) Tax Returns. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign tax returns in a timely manner, and has paid (i) all taxes required to be paid by any of them and (ii) any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them, in all cases in a timely manner, except for any taxes, assessments, fines or penalties as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which all appropriate provisions have been made in accordance with GAAP in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 5(a)(13) above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined. The Operating Partnership is properly classified as a partnership or disregarded entity, and not as a corporation or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes throughout the period from its formation through the date hereof. Each of the subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership that is a partnership or a limited liability company (other than an entity for which a taxable REIT subsidiary election has been made) is properly classified either as a disregarded entity or as a partnership, and not as a corporation or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes.

(23) Investment Company Act. The Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement, or the offering and sale of any Forward Hedge Shares hereunder and the transactions contemplated by each Forward Contract, and the application of the proceeds hereof and thereof as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.

(24) Insurance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. All policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and

 

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there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(25) No Restrictions. (a) No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, or repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company, pursuant to or under (i) any mortgage loan agreement so long as neither the Company nor the subsidiary is in default under the applicable mortgage loan agreement, and, as of the date hereof, none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in default under any such mortgage loan agreement, or (ii) any third party joint venture agreement, operating agreement or partnership agreement (each, a “JV Agreement”), so long as such dividends, distributions and repayments are made in accordance with the terms of the applicable JV Agreement; and (b) no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company under the Company’s and the subsidiaries’ existing mortgage loan agreements and JV Agreements, subject to customary approval rights and customary prohibitions under the applicable mortgage loan agreements and JV Agreements and except as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or to the extent such limitation would not impair the Company’s ability to maintain its status as a real estate investment trust under the Code.

(26) Actively Traded Security. The Common Stock is an “actively traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.

(27) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(28) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

(29) Internal Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains (i) effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

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(30) No Material Weakness in Internal Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or in any document incorporated by reference therein, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(31) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(32) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Transaction Entities nor any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Transaction Entities or any other person acting on behalf of the Transaction Entities or any of their subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in (i) a violation by such persons of the FCPA; (ii) making or taking of an act in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift or benefit, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign or domestic political party or government (including any government-owned or controlled entity) or official or employee thereof or any candidate for foreign political office; (iii) the use of any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; or (iv) the making, offering, requesting or taking of, or the agreement to take, an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Transaction Entities, their subsidiaries and their controlled affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted, maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance with anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws. “FCPA” means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

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(33) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, threatened.

(34) OFAC. Neither the Transaction Entities nor any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Transaction Entities or any of their subsidiaries (i) is currently subject to any sanctions administered or imposed by the United States (including any actions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”)); and (ii) will not directly or indirectly use any of the proceeds of the offering of the Placement Shares hereunder or the Forward Settlement Shares under the Forward Contract, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity in any manner that will result in a violation of any economic sanctions imposed by the United States (including any administered or enforced by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce) (collectively, “Sanctions”), or would reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of Sanctions against, any person (including any person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). None of the Transaction Entitles nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any director, officer, agent, employee or controlled affiliate, or other person acting on behalf of the Transaction Entities, is a person that is, or is 50% or more owned or otherwise controlled by a person that is: (A) the subject of any Sanctions; or (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (currently, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region). For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of any Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(35) Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation, order, permit or other requirement relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum

 

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products (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environment Concern (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys’ fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”), pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, (iii) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no past, present or anticipated future actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law, require expenditures to be incurred pursuant to Environmental Law, or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any pending or threatened proceeding under Environmental Law to which a governmental authority is a party and which is reasonably likely to result in monetary sanctions of $500,000 or more.

(36) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(37) ERISA Compliance. None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any member of the Company that could have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any member of the Company that could have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred or, to the Company’s knowledge, is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (ii) a material increase in the Company’s “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA that could have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company related to their employment that could have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which any member of the Company may have any liability.

(38) No Other Contracts. Other than this Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Agent for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(39) No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of the members of any of them.

(40) Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(41) Subsidiaries. The Operating Partnership and Life Storage Holdings, Inc. are the only significant subsidiaries of the Company as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.

 

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(42) Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any outstanding borrowings from, or is a party to any line of credit, credit agreement or other credit facility or otherwise has a borrowing relationship with, any bank or other lending institution affiliated with the Agent, and the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to repay any debt owed to the Agent or any affiliate thereof.

(43) Statistical and Market Related Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(44) Issuance of Unregistered Securities. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in documents that the Company has filed in accordance with the Exchange Act, the Company has not issued any capital stock other than pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or in reliance upon a valid exemption from registration thereunder.

(45) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the NYSE and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, (iv) the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the applicable Grant Date and (v) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinate the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

(46) NYSE. The outstanding shares of Common Stock and the Securities to be sold by the Company hereunder have been approved for listing, subject only to official notice of issuance, on the NYSE, and are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act or delisting any such securities from the NYSE, nor has the Company received any notification that

 

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the Commission or the NYSE is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The Company is in compliance with the rules and regulations of the NYSE, including, without limitation, the requirements for continued listing of the Common Stock on NYSE, and there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, threatened or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated, and the Company has not received any notice form the NYSE, regarding the revocation of such or otherwise regarding the delisting of shares of Common Stock from NYSE.

(47) Proprietary Trading by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers, and the Forward Sellers. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers, and the Forward Sellers has informed the Company that each may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell shares of Common Stock for its own account while this Agreement is in effect, and shall be under no obligation to purchase Securities on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by such Agent, Forward Purchaser, or Forward Seller in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable); provided, that no such purchase or sales shall take place while a Placement Notice is in effect (except (i) as agreed by such Agent, Forward Purchaser, or Forward Seller in such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) or (ii) to the extent an Agent or Forward Seller may engage in sales of Placement Shares purchased or deemed purchased from the Company as a “riskless principal” or in a similar capacity).

(48) Miscellaneous Matters. The Company has presently outstanding unsecured non-convertible debt with a term of issue of at least four years, which is rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization in one of its four highest generic rating categories. The Company has filed with the Commission all material required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since April 30, 2013.

(49) Cybersecurity. (i)(x) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Transaction Entities’ or their subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) and (y) the Transaction Entities and their subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data, except with respect to this clause (i), for any such security breach or other compromise, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) the Transaction Entities and their subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except with respect to this clause (ii), where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) the Transaction Entities and their subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.

 

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(b) Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers or to their respective counsel shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by each of the Transaction Entities to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 6. Sale and Delivery to Agents and Forward Sellers; Settlement.

(a) Sale of Issuance Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the designated Agent’s acceptance of the terms of an Issuance Placement Notice or upon receipt by the designated Agent of an Acceptance, as the case may be, and unless the sale of the Issuance Shares described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such Agent, for the period specified in the Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Issuance Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). The Transaction Entities acknowledge and agree that (i) there can be no assurance that the designated Agent will be successful in selling Issuance Shares, (ii) the designated Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Transaction Entities or any other person or entity if it does not sell Issuance Shares for any reason other than a failure by the designated Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Issuance Shares as required under this Section 6 and (iii) the designated Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase Securities on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by such Agent in the Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).

(b) Sale of Forward Hedge Shares. Each of the Company and the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers acknowledge and agree that (i) there can be no assurance that the Forward Purchasers or their affiliates will be successful in borrowing, or that the Forward Sellers will be successful in selling Forward Hedge Shares, (ii) the Forward Sellers will incur no liability or obligation to the Company, the Forward Purchasers or any other person or entity if they do not sell Forward Hedge Shares borrowed by the Forward Purchasers or their affiliates for any reason other than a failure by such Forward Seller to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Forward Hedge Shares as required under Section 3(c), and (iii) the Forward Purchasers will incur no liability or obligation to the Company, the Forward Sellers or any other person or entity if they or their affiliates do not borrow Forward Hedge Shares for any reason other than a failure by such Forward Purchaser to use its commercially reasonable efforts to borrow or cause its affiliate to borrow such Forward Hedge Shares as required under Section 3(c). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Forward Purchaser’s obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow or cause its affiliate to borrow all or any portion of the Forward Hedge Shares (and a Forward Seller’s obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such portion of the Forward Hedge Shares) for any Forward Transaction hereunder shall be subject in all respects to the provision “Effectiveness” in Section 3 of the relevant Master Forward Confirmation. In acting hereunder, a Forward Seller will be acting as agent for its affiliated Forward Purchaser and not as principal.

 

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(c) Settlement of Placement Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the second (2nd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is (i) required by applicable law or rules and regulations or (ii) as is industry practice for regular-way trading and mutually agreed upon by the Agents or the Forward Sellers, as the case may be, and the Company) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Issuance Securities sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by the Agent at which such Placement Shares were sold, after deduction for (i) the Agent’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to the Agent hereunder pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales. The amount of proceeds to be delivered to such Forward Purchaser by the related Forward Seller on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Forward Hedge Shares sold will be equal to the related Aggregate Forward Hedge Price (as defined in Section 20).

(d) Delivery of Placement Shares.

(i) On or before each Settlement Date for any Issuance Placement, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Issuance Shares being sold by crediting the applicable Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided such Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”) or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each such Settlement Date, such Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Issuance Shares on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 10(a) hereto, it will (i) hold the applicable Agent harmless against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense whatsoever (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent and (ii) pay to the applicable Agent any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

(ii) Each sale of Forward Hedge Shares will be settled as between such Forward Purchaser and the Forward Seller on each Settlement Date therefor. On or before each such Settlement Date, such Forward Purchaser will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Forward Hedge Shares being sold by crediting the related Forward Seller or its designee’s account (provided such

 

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Forward Seller shall have given the Forward Purchaser written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at DTC through DWAC or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by such Forward Purchaser and the Forward Seller which in all cases shall be freely tradeable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each such Settlement Date, such Forward Seller will deliver the related Aggregate Forward Hedge Price (as defined in Section 20) to the related Forward Purchaser in same day funds delivered to an account designated by such Forward Purchaser prior to the relevant Settlement Date.

(e) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the applicable Agent, Forward Purchaser, or Forward Seller, as the case may be, may request in writing at least one full business day before the Settlement Date. The certificates for the Issuance Shares and Forward Settlement Shares will be made available for examination and packaging by the applicable Agent, Forward Purchaser, or Forward Seller, as the case may be, in The City of New York not later than noon (New York time) on the business day prior to the Settlement Date. The Company shall deliver the Securities, if any, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the applicable Agent, Forward Purchaser, or Forward Seller, as the case may be, shall otherwise instruct.

(f) Limitations on Offering Size. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares, if after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Shares, the aggregate number or aggregate gross proceeds of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount and (B) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold by the Company under this Agreement and notified to the Agents, the Forward Purchasers, and the Forward Sellers in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company and notified to the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Seller in writing. Further, under no circumstances shall the aggregate offering price of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement, including any separate underwriting or similar agreement covering principal transactions described in Section 1 of this Agreement, exceed the Maximum Amount.

(g) Limitations on Managers. The Company agrees that an offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Placement Shares shall only be effected by or through any one Agent or Forward Seller, as the case may be, on any single given day, and the Company shall in no event request that any other Agent or Forward Seller, as the case may be, sell the Placement Shares on the same day. Blackout Periods. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not offer, sell or deliver, or request the offer or sale of, any Placement Shares and, by notice to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers, given by telephone (confirmed promptly by facsimile transmission or email), shall cancel any instructions for the offer or sale of any Placement Shares, and the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers shall not be obligated to offer or sell any Placement Shares, (i) during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information or (ii) except as provided in Section 6(h), at any time from and including the date (each, an “Announcement Date”) on which the Company shall issue a press release containing, or

 

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shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (each, an “Earnings Announcement”) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files (a “Filing Time”) a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement.

(h) Sales during Quarterly Blackout Periods. If the Company wishes to offer, sell or deliver Placement Shares at any time during the period from and including an Announcement Date through and including the time that is 24 hours after the corresponding Filing Time, the Company shall (i) prepare and deliver to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers (with a copy to their respective counsel) a Current Report on Form 8-K which shall include substantially the same financial and related information as was set forth in the relevant Earnings Announcement (other than any earnings projections, similar forward-looking data and officers’ quotations) (each, an “Earnings 8-K”), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers, and obtain the consent of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers to the filing thereof (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), (ii) provide the Agent with the officers’ certificate, opinions/letters of counsel and accountants’ letter called for by Sections 7(o), (p) and (q); respectively, (iii) afford the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers the opportunity to conduct a due diligence review in accordance with Section 7(m) and (iv) file such Earnings 8-K with the Commission, then the provisions of clause (ii) of Section 6(g) shall not be applicable for the period from and after the time at which the foregoing conditions shall have been satisfied (or, if later, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the relevant Earnings Announcement was first publicly released) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the Filing Time of the relevant Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, as the case may be. For purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that (A) the delivery of any officers’ certificate, opinions/letters of counsel and accountants’ letter pursuant to this Section 6(h) shall not relieve the Company from any of its obligations under this Agreement with respect to any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be, including, without limitation, the obligation to deliver officers’ certificates, opinions/letters of counsel and accountants’ letters as provided in Section 7 and (B) this Section 6(h) shall in no way affect or limit the operation of the clause (i) of Section 6(g), which shall have independent application.

SECTION 7. Covenants of the Transaction Entities. Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, covenants with the Agent as follows:

(a) Registration Statement Amendments; Payment of Fees. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any comment letter from the Commission or any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Agents’, Forward

 

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Purchasers’, and Forward Sellers’ ’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Agents’, Forward Purchasers’, and Forward Sellers’ reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers (provided, however, that the failure of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, or Forward Sellers to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the respective rights of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Transaction Entities in this Agreement); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Placement Shares or a security convertible into the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers within a reasonable period of time before the filing and none of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Seller has reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers to make such objection shall not relieve the Transaction Entities of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the respective rights of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Transaction Entities in this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) of the Securities Act). If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Securities remain unsold, then, prior to issuing any Placement Notice with respect to any such unsold Securities, the Company will take such action as is necessary or appropriate in accordance with this Section 7(a) to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the Prospectus forming part of the expiring Registration Statement. In such event, if the Company has not already done so and is eligible to do so, it will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file with the Commission either (A) a new automatic shelf registration statement or (B), if the Company is not then eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, a new shelf registration statement in either case, relating to any unsold Securities and in a form satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel (such filing, a “Replacement Registration Statement”). If the Replacement Registration Statement does not become effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Replacement Registration Statement to be declared effective by, or as soon as possible (and in any event within 180 days) after, the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of any unsold Securities to continue as contemplated in the Prospectus forming part of the expiring Registration Statement.

(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any other order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the loss or suspension of any

 

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exemption from any such qualification, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement or if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of any qualification of the Securities for offering or sale and any loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification, and if any such stop order is issued or any such suspension or loss occurs, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers and their respective counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement (and exhibits thereto), the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, that are filed with the Commission during any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities and at such locations as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request. The copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto furnished to the Agent will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If at any time when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be delivered in connection with a pending sale of the Placement Shares (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 172), any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Agent such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as any of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers may reasonably request. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted, conflicts or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or included, includes or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will, subject to Section 7(a) hereof, promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

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(e) Blue Sky and Other Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Seller, to cause the Issuance Shares and Forward Settlement Shares to be listed on the NYSE and to qualify the Placement Shares for offering and sale, or to obtain an exemption for the Securities to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers may designate and to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Securities (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Placement Shares have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement).

(f) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Agent the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

(g) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Issuance Shares and the proceeds (if any) received upon settlement of any Forward Contract in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(h) Listing. During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Placement Shares (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on the NYSE.

(i) Filings with the NYSE. The Company will timely file with the NYSE all material documents and notices required by the NYSE of companies that have or will issue securities that are traded on the NYSE.

(j) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during any period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

 

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(k) Notice of Other Sales. The Company will not, without (i) giving the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers at least five (5) business days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale and (ii) the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers suspending activity under this program for such period of time as requested by the Company or as deemed appropriate by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers in light of the proposed sale, (A) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with Common Stock, or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing (other than a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, a registration statement on Form S-8 or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) or (B) enter into any swap or other agreement or any transaction that transfers in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (x) the Securities to be offered and sold through the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Seller pursuant to this Agreement or any terms agreement, (y) Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan as it may be amended or replaced from time to time and (z) equity incentive awards approved by the Board of Directors or the compensation committee thereof or the issuance of Common Stock upon exercise thereof.

(l) Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during a fiscal quarter in which the Company intends to tender a Placement Notice or sell Placement Shares, advise the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

(m) Due Diligence Cooperation. The Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and/or Forward Sellers or their respective counsel or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as the Agent may reasonably request.

(n) Disclosure of Sales. The Company will disclose in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock sold through the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers , the net proceeds received by the Company with respect to all such sales pursuant to this Agreement, and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers with respect to all such sales pursuant to this Agreement.

(o) Representation Dates; Certificate. On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and:

 

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(1) each time the Company:

(i) files the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or amends or supplements the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares;

(ii) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act;

(iii) files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or

(iv) files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than an earnings release, to “furnish” information pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K) under the Exchange Act; and

(2) at any other time reasonably requested by the Agent (each such date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (1)(i) through (iv) and any time of request pursuant to this Section 7(o) shall be a “Representation Date”),

the Transaction Entities shall furnish the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D within two (2) Trading Days of any Representation Date. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(o) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date; provided, however, that such waiver shall not apply for any Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Agent with a certificate under this Section 7(o), then before the Company delivers the Placement Notice or any of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers sells any Placement Shares, the Transaction Entities shall provide the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, dated the date of the Placement Notice.

(p) Legal Opinion. On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and within two (2) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Transaction Entities are obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D for which no waiver is applicable, the Transaction Entities shall cause to be furnished to each of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers a written opinion of Phillips Lytle LLP, counsel to the Transaction Entities (“Company Counsel”), and Venable LLP, special Maryland counsel to the Company (“Maryland Counsel”), or other counsel satisfactory to the Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-1 and Exhibit C-2, respectively, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinions

 

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for subsequent Representation Dates, counsel may furnish the Agent with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(p) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

(q) Comfort Letter. On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, within two (2) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Transaction Entities are obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D for which no waiver is applicable, the Transaction Entities shall cause its independent accountants (and any other independent accountants whose report is included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) to furnish the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date of the Comfort Letter is delivered, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

(r) CFO Certificate. On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, within two (2) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Transaction Entities are obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D for which no waiver is applicable, the Transaction Entities shall cause the chief financial officer of the Company, on behalf of itself and the Operating Partnership, to deliver a certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F hereto.

(s) Market Activities. The Transaction Entities will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Securities to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Securities to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement other than the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers; provided, however, that the Company may bid for and purchase its Common Stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act; and provided further, that no such bids or purchases shall be made by the Company during the two (2) Trading Days before or after any sale of any Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

(t) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable and customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

 

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(u) Compliance with Laws. The Company and each of its subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, all material environmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and the Company and each of its subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations and with applicable environmental laws, except where the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor its subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act, assuming no change in the Commission’s current interpretation as to entities that are not considered an investment company.

(w) Securities Act and Exchange Act. The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Placement Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. The Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 and 15 of the Exchange Act in the manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

(x) No Offer to Sell. Other than a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) approved in advance in writing by the Company and the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers in its capacity as principal or agent hereunder, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers in its capacity as such) will not, directly or indirectly, make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any free writing prospectus relating to the Securities to be sold by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers as principal or agent hereunder.

(y) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and its subsidiaries will use their best efforts to comply with all effective applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(z) Regulation M. If the Company has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Company or the Common Stock, it shall promptly notify each of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers and sales of the Placement Shares under this Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party.

(aa) REIT Treatment. The Company will use its best efforts to enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Code for 2021 and any subsequent tax years that include any portion of the term of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 8. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Expenses. The Transaction Entities will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and any Forward Contract, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto, (ii) the word processing, printing and delivery to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers of this Agreement, any Forward Contract, and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Placement Shares to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Transaction Entities, (v) the qualification or exemption of the Placement Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers of copies of any permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers to investors, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Agent of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any Canadian “wrapper” and any supplements thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of the Custodian and the transfer agent and registrar for the Securities, (ix) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agent in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Forward Settlement Shares on the NYSE, and (xi) the disbursements of counsel for the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers in connection with the copying and delivery of closing documents delivered by the Company or the Company’s accountants or counsel (including any local counsel), (xii) all other expenses incurred in connection with presentations (electronic, audiovisual or otherwise) to prospective purchasers of the Placement Shares and (xiii) if Securities having an aggregate offering price of $15,000,000 or more have not been offered and sold under this Agreement, by the first anniversary of the date hereof (or such earlier date at which the Company terminates this Agreement) (the “Determination Date”), the Transaction Entities shall reimburse each of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Seller for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers incurred by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any Forward Contract (the “Expenses”). The Expenses shall be due and payable by the Transaction Entities to the Agent within five (5) business days of the Determination Date.

(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 or Section 13(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse each of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers for all of its out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for each of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges, unless Securities having an aggregate offering price of $15,000,000 or more have previously been offered and sold under this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9. Conditions to Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers Obligations. The obligations of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, and Forward Sellers hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Transaction Entities contained in this Agreement or in certificates of any officer of the Transaction Entities or any subsidiary of the Transaction Entities delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Transaction Entities (or waiver by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers in their sole discretion) of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement or any Replacement Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for (i) all sales of Placement Shares issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices (each as amended by a corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and (ii) the sale of all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice (each as amended by a corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).

(b) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c) No Misstatement or Material Omission. The Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in the reasonable opinion of any of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers is material, or omits to state a fact that in the opinion of any of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

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(d) Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

(e) Opinion of Counsel for Company. The Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall have received the favorable opinions of Company Counsel and Maryland Counsel, required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(p) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(p).

(f) Representation Certificate. The Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(o).

(g) Accountants Comfort Letter. The Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(q) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(q).

(h) Approval for Listing. The Issuance Shares and the Forward Settlement Shares shall either have been (i) approved for listing on NYSE, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Issuance Shares and the Forward Settlement Shares on NYSE at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.

(i) No Suspension. Trading in the Securities shall not have been suspended on the NYSE.

(j) Additional Documents. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(o), counsel for the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, contained in this Agreement.

(k) Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

(l) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section 9 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by each of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers as to itself by notice to the Company, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 8 hereof and except that, in the case of any termination of this Agreement, Sections 5, 10, 11, 12 and 21 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

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(m) CFO Certificate. The Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall have received the CFO certificate required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(r) on or before the date on which such delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(r).

SECTION 10. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification by the Transaction Entities. The Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, its respective affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act (each, an “Affiliate”), its respective selling agents and each person, if any, who controls the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact, in each case, necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided, that (subject to Section 10(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers ), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing, defending against, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense in connection with any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

 

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provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information described as such in Section 10(b). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 10(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Indemnification by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers. The Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers agree, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section 10, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of the Agent: the information in (1) the second sentence of the first paragraph and (2) the second paragraph, in each case under the caption “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest).”

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. Counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected as follows: counsel to each of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, its respective Affiliates, its respective selling agents and each person, if any, who controls the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall be selected by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers; and counsel to the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers and each person, if any, who controls the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the

 

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Exchange Act, in each case in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 10 or Section 11 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 10(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(e) Other Agreements with Respect to Indemnification and Contribution. The provisions of this Section 10 and in Section 11 hereof shall not affect any agreements among the Transaction Entities with respect to indemnification of each other or contribution between themselves.

SECTION 11. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 10 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Transaction Entities on the one hand and of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Issuance Shares and Forward Settlement Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Issuance Shares and Forward Settlement Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total commissions received by the Agents and Forward Sellers, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.

 

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The relative fault of the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Agent and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Transaction Entities and the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 11 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 11. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 11 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 11, the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 11, each Affiliate, selling agent, director, officer or employee of the Agent and each person, if any, who controls any of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and shall have the same rights to contribution as the Agent, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

SECTION 12. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Transaction Entities or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive delivery of the Securities to the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers.

 

41


SECTION 13. Termination of Agreement.

(a) Termination; General. Each of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers may terminate this Agreement as to itself, by notice given to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof in the United States or internationally or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in the Placement Shares has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the NYSE, or if trading generally on the NYSE MKT, the NYSE or the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or, with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems, in Europe, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

(b) Termination by the Company. The Company shall have the right, by giving three (3) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.

(c) Termination by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers. Each of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall have the right, by giving three (3) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement as to itself in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.

(d) Automatic Termination. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 13, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares through the Agents and/or Forward Sellers on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein with an aggregate sale price equal to the amount set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement.

(e) Continued Force and Effect. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Section 9(l) or Sections 13(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties.

(f) Effectiveness of Termination. Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

42


(g) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 13, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 8 hereof, and except that, in the case of any termination of this Agreement, Section 5, Section 8, Section 10, Section 11, Section 12, Section 13, Section 14, Section 17, Section 18 and Section 22 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 14. Notices. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Life Storage, Inc., 6467 Main Street, Williamsville, New York 14221, fax no. 716-633-3397, Attention: Andrew J. Gregoire, Chief Financial Officer. Notices to the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers shall be delivered to the address for such Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller, as applicable, set forth on Schedule 1, in each case, with a copy to:

Hogan Lovells US LLP

555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

Attn: Michael E. McTiernan

Email: michael.mctiernan@hoganlovells.com

Facsimile No.: (202) 637-5910

SECTION 15. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, the Transaction Entities and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, the Transaction Entities and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 10 and 11 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, the Transaction Entities and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Issuance Shares from the Agents shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, each Forward Purchaser party to this Agreement may assign its rights under this Agreement to enter into a Forward Contract to an affiliate of such Forward Purchaser without the consent of any of the Transaction Entities.

SECTION 16. Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all stock-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Securities.

 

43


SECTION 17. Governing Law and Time. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in New York County, New York, including the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in connection with any claim brought with respect to this Agreement or related matter and waives any right to claim such forum would be inappropriate, including concepts of forum non conveniens.

SECTION 18. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE TRANSACTION ENTITIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

SECTION 19. Effect of Headings. The Section and Exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 20. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

Applicable Time” means the time of each sale of any Securities or any securities pursuant to this Agreement.

Forward Hedge Price” means, for any Forward Contract, the product of (x) an amount equal to one (1) minus the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate for such Forward Contract and (y) the “Volume-Weighted Hedge Price” (as defined in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation) for such Forward Contract.

Forward Hedge Selling Commission” means, for any Forward Contract, the product of (x) the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate for such Forward Contract and (y) the “Volume-Weighted Hedge Price” (as defined in the relevant Master Forward Confirmation) for such Forward Contract.

Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate” means, for any Forward Contract, a rate mutually agreed between the Company and a Forward Seller, not to exceed 2.0%.

Capital Stock” means any Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EDGAR” means the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system.

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.”

 

44


Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, and all free writing prospectuses that are listed in Exhibit E hereto, in each case in the form furnished (electronically or otherwise) to the Agent for use in connection with the offering of the Securities.

Lien” means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

Organizational Documents” means (a) in the case of a corporation, its charter and by-laws; (b) in the case of a limited or general partnership, its partnership certificate, certificate of formation or similar organizational document and its partnership agreement; (c) in the case of a limited liability company, its articles of organization, certificate of formation or similar organizational documents and its operating agreement, limited liability company agreement, membership agreement or other similar agreement; (d) in the case of a trust, its certificate of trust, certificate of formation or similar organizational document and its trust agreement or other similar agreement; and (e) in the case of any other entity, the organizational and governing documents of such entity.

Preferred Stock” means the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Rule 163,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424(b),” “Rule 430B,” “Rule 433” and “Rule 462(e)” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Replacement Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Shares by the Agents or Forward Sellers outside of the United States.

 

45


SECTION 21. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of each Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller, and each Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by each Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit E hereto are Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

SECTION 22. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. Each of the Transaction Entities acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) each Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller is acting solely as agent and/or principal in connection with the public offering of the Securities and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Transaction Entities or any of their respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and each Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not each Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller has advised or is advising the Transaction Entities on other matters, and each Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller has no obligation to the Transaction Entities with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement;

(b) the public offering price of the Securities set forth in this Agreement was not established by the Agents, Forward Purchasers, or Forward Sellers;

(c) it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(d) none of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, or Forward Sellers has provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;

(e) it is aware that each of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, or Forward Sellers and its respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Transaction Entities and each of the Agents, Forward Purchasers, or Forward Sellers has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Transaction Entities by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and

 

46


(f) it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agents, Forward Purchasers, or Forward Sellers for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Agent shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Transaction Entities, employees or creditors of Transaction Entities.

SECTION 23. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller is a Covered Entity (as defined below) and becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from such Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of the Agent becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) under this Agreement that may be exercised against any Agent, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(c) As used in this Section 23:

BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

47


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the Agents, the Forward Purchasers, the Forward Seller and the Transaction Entities in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
LIFE STORAGE, INC.
By  

/s/ Andrew J. Gregoire

  Name: Andrew J. Gregoire
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
LIFE STORAGE LP
By: Life Storage Holdings, Inc., its General Partner
By  

/s/ Andrew J. Gregoire

  Name: Andrew J. Gregoire
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
LIFE STORAGE HOLDINGS, INC.
By  

/s/ Andrew J. Gregoire

  Name: Andrew J. Gregoire
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

as Agent and Forward Seller

By  

/s/ Thomas Yates

  Name: Thomas Yates
  Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Forward Purchaser

By  

/s/ Thomas Yates

  Name: Thomas Yates
  Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.

as Agent and Forward Seller

By  

/s/ Keith Carpenter

  Name: Keith Carpenter
  Title: Director

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


TRUIST BANK

as Forward Purchaser

By  

/s/ J. West Riggs

  Name: J. West Riggs
  Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


JEFFERIES LLC

as Agent, Forward Purchaser and Forward Seller

By  

/s/ Donald Lynaugh

  Name: Donald Lynaugh
  Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.

as Agent and Forward Seller

By  

/s/ Jeffrey Nicklas

  Name: Jeffrey Nicklas
  Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


HSBC BANK USA, N.A.

as Forward Purchaser

By  

/s/ Suzzette Scott

  Name: Suzzette Scott
  Title: Assistant Vice President

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

as Agent

By  

/s/ Jesse Taylor

  Name: Jesse Taylor
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. as agent for Citibank, N.A.

as Forward Seller
By  

/s/ Jesse Taylor

  Name: Jesse Taylor
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A.

as Forward Purchaser

By  

/s/ Eric Natelson

  Name: Eric Natelson
  Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


BTIG, LLC

as Agent

By  

/s/ Joseph Passaro

  Name: Joseph Passaro
  Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement]


EXHIBIT A-I

FORM OF ISSUANCE PLACEMENT NOTICE

 

From:    [                 ]
Cc:    [                 ]
To:    [                 ]

 

Subject:

Equity Distribution—Placement Notice

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement among Life Storage, Inc. (the “Company”), Life Storage LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and Life Storage Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with the Company and the Operating Partnership, the “Transaction Entities”), and each of [_] (collectively, the “Agents” and individually an “Agent”) dated ________, 2021 (the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that the designated Agent sell up to [*] of the Company’s shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a minimum market price of $[*] per share.

ADDITIONAL SALES PARAMETERS MAY BE ADDED, SUCH AS THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH SALES ARE REQUESTED TO BE MADE, SPECIFIC DATES THE SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD ON, THE MANNER IN WHICH SALES ARE TO BE MADE BY THE AGENT, AND/OR THE CAPACITY IN WHICH THE AGENT MAY ACT IN SELLING SHARES (AS PRINCIPAL, AGENT, OR BOTH)

 

A-1


EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF FORWARD PLACEMENT NOTICE

From: [Life Storage, Inc.]

To:    [Forward Purchaser]

Attention:

To: [Forward Seller]

Attention:

Subject:    At-The-Market Issuance – Forward Placement Notice

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated June 15, 2021 (the “Sales Agreement”), among Life Storage, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), together with Life Storage LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Life Storage Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the general partner of the Operating Partnership and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, with (i) each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Truist Securities, Inc., Jefferies LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and BTIG, LLC, each in its capacity as agent for the Company (collectively, the “Agents” and individually, an “Agent”), (ii) each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Truist Bank, Jefferies LLC, HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., each (or its affiliate assignee) in its capacity as purchaser under any Forward Contract (as defined below) (collectively, the “Forward Purchasers” and individually, a “Forward Purchaser”), and (iii) each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Truist Securities, Inc., Jefferies LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., each in its capacity agent for the Forward Purchaser in connection with the offering and sale of any Forward Hedge Shares (as defined below) hereunder (collectively, the “Forward Sellers” and individually, a “Forward Seller”), the Company hereby requests that the Company and the Forward Purchaser enter into a Forward Transaction with respect to Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, on the following terms. This Forward Placement Notice relates to a “Forward Transaction”.

The Company represents and warrants that each representation, warranty, covenant and other agreement of the Company contained in the Sales Agreement and the Master Forward Confirmation is true and correct on the date hereof and that as of the date hereof, its Prospectus (as defined in the Sales Agreement), including the documents incorporated by reference therein, does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

A-2


First Date of Forward Hedge Selling Period:    [_______], 20[__]
Maturity Date:    [_______], 20[__]
Last Date of Forward Hedge Selling Period:    [_______], 20[__]
Forward Hedge Number:    [_______]
Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate:    [_.__]%

Spread:

 

Initial Stock Loan Rate:

 

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

  

[_.__]%

 

[_____] basis points per annum

 

[_____] basis points per annum

 

Forward Price Reduction Dates    Forward Price Reduction Amounts
[                ]    USD[                ]
[                ]    USD[                ]
[                ]    USD[                ]
[                ]    USD[                ]

 

A-3


EXHIBIT G

FORM OF MASTER FORWARD CONFIRMATION

[See Attached]

 

G-1


FORM OF MASTER FORWARD CONFIRMATION

 

To:   

[Life Storage, Inc.] (“Counterparty”)

6467 Main Street, Williamsville,

New York 14221

From:   

[DEALER] (“Dealer”)

[DEALER CONTACT INFORMATION]

Re:    Master Confirmation for Issuer Share Forward Sale Transactions
Date:    [____ __], 20[__]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Master Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the transactions to be entered into from time to time (each, a “Transaction” and, collectively, the “Transactions”) between [DEALER] (“Dealer”) and Life Storage, Inc. (“Counterparty”) in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”), dated as of June 15, 2021, among Dealer, Counterparty, ., together with Life Storage LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and the other parties thereto. Each Transaction will be evidenced by a supplemental confirmation substantially in the form of Annex A hereto (each, a “Supplemental Confirmation”, and each such Supplemental Confirmation, together with this Master Confirmation, a “Confirmation” for purposes of the Agreement specified below). Each Confirmation will be a confirmation for purposes of Rule 10b-10 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

1. Each Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). For purposes of the Equity Definitions, each Transaction to which this Master Confirmation relates will be deemed to be a Share Forward Transaction.

Each Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of and be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement (the “ISDA Form”), as published by ISDA, as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed the ISDA Form on the date hereof (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of New York law (without regard to New York’s choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law) as the governing law and US Dollars (“USD”) as the Termination Currency; (ii) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement shall apply to Counterparty and Dealer, with a (X) “Threshold Amount” of USD 10 million for Counterparty. All provisions contained in the Agreement are incorporated into and shall govern each Confirmation except as expressly modified below. Each Confirmation will evidence a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the relevant Transaction and will replace any previous agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof.

The Transactions under this Master Confirmation shall be the only Transactions under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty or any confirmation or other agreement between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty are parties, none of the Transactions to which this Master Confirmation relates shall be considered a “Transaction” under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement.

In the event of any inconsistency among the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail in the order of precedence indicated: (i) such Supplemental Confirmation; (ii) this Master Confirmation; (iii) the Equity Definitions; and (iv) the Agreement.

 

1


2. The terms of the particular Transactions to which this Master Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

General Terms:

 

Trade Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be, subject to the provisions under the heading “Early Valuation” in Section 2 of this Master Confirmation and the provision in Section 24 of this Master Confirmation, the last Trading Day (as defined in the Sales Agreement) of the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as defined in the Sales Agreement) for such Transaction.
Effective Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the date that is one Settlement Cycle following the Trade Date for such Transaction, or such later date on which the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Master Confirmation shall have been satisfied or waived by Dealer, subject to the provision in Section 24 of this Master Confirmation.
Buyer:    Dealer
Seller:    Counterparty
Maturity Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the date set forth in the effective Forward Placement Notice (as defined in the Sales Agreement) as amended by any corresponding acceptance by Dealer for such Transaction (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day).
Shares:    The common stock (“Shares”), par value $0.01 per Share, of Counterparty (Ticker: “LSI”)
Number of Shares:    For each Transaction, initially, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the number of Shares equal to the aggregate number of Shares that are sold through the Forward Seller (as defined in the Sales Agreement) for the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as defined in the Sales Agreement) for such Transaction (the “Initial Number of Shares”); provided that the Number of Shares is subject to reduction as provided in Section 3 below.
   On each Relevant Settlement Date, the Number of Shares shall be reduced by the number of Settlement Shares settled on such date.
Settlement Currency:    USD
Exchange:    The New York Stock Exchange
Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Prepayment:    Not Applicable
Variable Obligation:    Not Applicable
Initial Forward Price:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the product of (i) an amount equal to 1 minus the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate (as defined in the Sales Agreement and specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction) applicable to such Transaction; and (ii) the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price for such Transaction (such product adjusted as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to (x) reflect on each day

 

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   during the Forward Hedge Selling Period and through the Effective Date the sum of 1 and the Daily Rate for such day multiplied by the then-Initial Forward Price as of such day and (y) reduce the then-Initial Forward Price by the relevant Forward Price Reduction Amount on each Forward Price Reduction Date, if any, occurring on or before the Trade Date).
Forward Price:   

For each Transaction, on the Effective Date of such Transaction, the Initial Forward Price, and on any day thereafter, the product of the Forward Price on the immediately preceding calendar day and

 

1 + the Daily Rate * (1/365);

 

provided that the Forward Price on each Forward Price Reduction Date shall be the Forward Price otherwise in effect on such date minus the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.

Volume-Weighted Hedge Price:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the volume-weighted average of the prices per share of Forward Hedge Shares (as defined in the Sales Agreement) sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement on each Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as defined in the Sales Agreement) for such Transaction, as determined by the Calculation Agent.
Daily Rate:    For any day, the Overnight Bank Funding Rate minus the Spread.
Spread:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.
Overnight Bank Funding Rate:    For any day, the rate set forth opposite the caption “Overnight Bank Funding Rate” for such day on the page “OBFR01 <Index> <GO>” on the BLOOMBERG Professional Service, or any successor page; provided that if no such rate appears for such day on such page, Overnight Bank Funding Rate for such day will be determined by the Calculation Agent based on its estimate of the prevailing USD overnight bank funding rate for such day.
Forward Price Reduction Dates:    For each Transaction, as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be each date set forth under the heading “Forward Price Reduction Dates” in the effective Forward Placement Notice for such Transaction.
Forward Price Reduction Amount:    For each Forward Price Reduction Date of a Transaction, as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date in the effective Forward Placement Notice for such Transaction.

Valuation:

 

  
Valuation Date:    For any Settlement (as defined below) with respect to any Transaction, if Physical Settlement is applicable, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice (as defined below); or if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement is applicable, the last Unwind Date for such Settlement. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the last Unwind Date shall be determined by Dealer based on the completion of the unwinding of its hedge position.

 

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Unwind Dates:    For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, each day on which Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) purchases Shares in the market in connection with unwinding its hedge position in connection with such Settlement, starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement.
First Unwind Date:    For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice.
Unwind Period:    For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, the period starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement and ending on the Valuation Date for such Settlement, subject to “Early Valuation” below. If any Trading Day during an Unwind Period for any Transaction is a Disrupted Day, the Calculation Agent may make commercially reasonable adjustments to the terms of such Transaction (including, without limitation, the Cash Settlement Amount, the number of Net Share Settlement Shares and the Settlement Price) to account for the occurrence of such Disrupted Day.
Market Disruption Event:   

The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing clause (ii) in its entirety with “(ii) an Exchange Disruption, or” and inserting immediately following clause (iii) the phrase “, in each case, that the Calculation Agent determines, in its commercially reasonable judgement, is material.”

Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

Settlement Terms:   
Settlement:    With respect to any Transaction, any Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of all or any portion of such Transaction.
Settlement Notice:    For any Transaction, subject to “Early Valuation” below, Counterparty may elect to effect a Settlement of all or any portion of such Transaction by designating one or more Scheduled Trading Days following the Effective Date and on or prior to the Maturity Date for such Transaction to be Valuation Dates (or, with respect to Cash Settlements or Net Share Settlements, First Unwind Dates, each of which First Unwind Dates shall occur no later than a number of Scheduled Trading Days as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation (“Notice Settlement Number”) immediately preceding the Maturity Date for such Transaction) in a written notice to Dealer (a “Settlement Notice”) delivered no later than the applicable Settlement Method Election Date for such Transaction, which notice shall also specify (i) the number of Shares (the “Settlement Shares”) for such Settlement (not to exceed the number of Undesignated Shares as of the date of such Settlement Notice) and (ii) the Settlement Method applicable to such Settlement; provided that (A) Counterparty may not designate a First Unwind Date for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement of any Transaction if, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, any Shares have been designated as Settlement Shares for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement of such Transaction for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred; and (B) if the number of Undesignated Shares as of the Maturity Date for such Transaction is not zero, then the Maturity Date for such Transaction shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement of such Transaction

 

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   and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Undesignated Shares for such Transaction as of the Maturity Date for such Transaction (provided that if such Maturity Date occurs during the period from the time any Settlement Notice is given for a Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of such Transaction until the related Relevant Settlement Date, inclusive, then the provisions set forth below opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply to such Transaction as if the Maturity Date for such Transaction were the Early Valuation Date for such Transaction).
Undesignated Shares:    For any Transaction, as of any date, the Number of Shares for such Transaction minus the number of Shares designated as Settlement Shares for Settlements of such Transaction for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred.
Settlement Method Election:   

For any Transaction, applicable; provided that:

 

(i) Net Share Settlement shall be deemed to be included as an additional settlement method under Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions;

 

(ii) Counterparty may elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement for any Settlement of any Transaction only if Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer in the Settlement Notice containing such election that, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares, (B) Counterparty is electing the settlement method and designating the First Unwind Date specified in such Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-5”) or any other provision of the federal securities laws, (C) Counterparty is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)), (D) Counterparty would be able to purchase a number of Shares equal to the greater of (x) the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice and (y) a number of Shares with a value as of the date of such Settlement Notice equal to the product of (I) such number of Settlement Shares and (II) the applicable Relevant Forward Price for such Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in compliance with the laws of Counterparty’s jurisdiction of organization, (E) Counterparty is not electing Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares), and (F) such election, and settlement in accordance therewith, does not and will not violate or conflict with any law, regulation or supervisory guidance applicable to Counterparty, or any order or judgment of any court or other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets, and any governmental consents that are required to have been obtained by Counterparty with respect to such election or settlement have been obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been complied with; and

   (iii) Notwithstanding any election to the contrary in any Settlement Notice, Physical Settlement shall be applicable for any Settlement of any Transaction:
   (A) to all of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, at any time from the date such Settlement Notice is received by Dealer until the related First Unwind Date, inclusive, (I) the trading price per Share on the Exchange (as determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner) is below the Threshold Price or (II) Dealer determines, in its good faith and reasonable judgment, that it

 

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   would, after using commercially reasonable efforts, be unable to purchase a number of Shares in the market sufficient to unwind its hedge position in respect of the portion of such Transaction represented by such Settlement Shares and satisfy its delivery obligation hereunder, if any, by the Maturity Date (taking into account any additional share forward or other equity derivative transaction Counterparty has entered into) (x) in a manner that (A) would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be subject to the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18(b) under the Exchange Act and (B) based on advice of counsel, would not raise material risks under applicable securities laws or (y) due to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares (each, a “Trading Condition”); or
   (B) to all or a portion of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, on any day during the relevant Unwind Period, (I) the trading price per Share on the Exchange (as determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner) is below the Threshold Price or (II) Dealer determines, in its good faith and reasonable judgment or based on advice of counsel, as applicable, that a Trading Condition has occurred with respect to such Transaction, in which case the provisions set forth below in the fourth paragraph opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply as if such day were the Early Valuation Date and (x) for purposes of clause (i) of such paragraph, such day shall be the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period and the “Unwound Shares” shall be calculated to, and including, such day and (y) for purposes of clause (ii) of such paragraph, the “Remaining Shares” shall be equal to the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice minus the Unwound Shares determined in accordance with clause (x) of this sentence.
Threshold Price:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be 50% of the Initial Forward Price for such Transaction.
Electing Party:    Counterparty
Settlement Method Election Date:    With respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, the 5th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding (x) the Valuation Date for such Transaction, in the case of Physical Settlement, or (y) the First Unwind Date for such Transaction, in the case of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement.
Default Settlement Method:    Physical Settlement
Physical Settlement:    Notwithstanding Section 9.2(a)(i) of the Equity Definitions, on the Settlement Date for any Physical Settlement of any Transaction, Dealer shall pay to Counterparty an amount (“Physical Settlement Amount”) equal to the Forward Price for such Transaction on the relevant Valuation Date multiplied by the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement, and Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer such Settlement Shares. If, on any Settlement Date, the Shares to be delivered by Counterparty to Dealer hereunder are not so delivered (the “Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date occurs during the period from, and including, such Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to Dealer, then the portion of the Physical Settlement Amount payable by Dealer to Counterparty in respect of the Deferred Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date, multiplied by the number of Deferred Shares.
Settlement Date:    For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Physical Settlement is applicable, the Valuation Date for such Settlement.

 

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Net Share Settlement:    On the Net Share Settlement Date for any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, if the Net Share Settlement Amount for such Settlement is greater than zero, Counterparty shall deliver a number of Shares equal to such Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Dealer, and if such Net Share Settlement Amount is less than zero, Dealer shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the absolute value of such Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Counterparty, in either case, in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with such Net Share Settlement Date deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4, and, in either case, plus cash in lieu of any fractional Shares included in such Net Share Settlement Amount but not delivered due to rounding required hereby, valued at the Settlement Price. If, on any Net Share Settlement Date for any Transaction, the Shares to be delivered by Counterparty or Dealer hereunder upon Net Share Settlement are not so delivered (the “Net Share Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date with respect to such Transaction occurs during the period from, and including, such Net Share Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to such party, then the portion of the Net Share Settlement Shares for such Transaction deliverable by Dealer or Counterparty in respect of the Net Share Deferred Shares shall be adjusted by the Calculation Agent to reflect the occurrence of such Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.
Net Share Settlement Date:    For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, the date that follows the Valuation Date for such Settlement by one Settlement Cycle.
Net Share Settlement Amount:    For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, an amount equal to the Forward Cash Settlement Amount for such Settlement divided by the Settlement Price.
Cash Settlement:    On the Cash Settlement Payment Date in respect of which Cash Settlement applies, if the Forward Cash Settlement Amount is a positive number, Counterparty will pay the Forward Cash Settlement Amount to Dealer. If the Forward Cash Settlement Amount is a negative number, Dealer will pay the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount to Counterparty. Such amounts shall be paid on such Cash Settlement Payment Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
Forward Cash Settlement Amount:    Notwithstanding Section 8.5(c) of the Equity Definitions, the Forward Cash Settlement Amount for any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction shall be equal to (i) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement multiplied by (ii) an amount equal to (A) the Settlement Price for such Settlement minus (B) the Relevant Forward Price for such Settlement.
Relevant Forward Price:    For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction, the weighted average of the Forward Prices for such Transactions on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement (weighted based on the number of Shares purchased by Dealer or its agent or affiliate on each such Unwind Date in connection with unwinding Dealer’s hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent).

 

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Settlement Price:    For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction, the weighted average price of the purchases of Shares made by Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) during the Unwind Period in connection with unwinding its hedge position relating to such Settlement (weighted based on the number of Shares purchased by Dealer or its agent or affiliate on each Unwind Date in connection with unwinding its hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent), plus USD 0.04 per Share.
Unwind Activities:    The times and prices at which Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) purchases any Shares during any Unwind Period in connection with unwinding its hedge position in respect of each Transaction shall be determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Dealer concludes, in its reasonable discretion based on advice of counsel, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures generally applicable in similar situations and applied in a non-discriminatory manner (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer), for it to refrain from purchasing Shares in connection with unwinding its hedge position in respect of such Transaction on any Scheduled Trading Day (a “Regulatory Disruption”) that would have been an Unwind Date but for the occurrence of a Regulatory Disruption, Dealer may (but shall not be required to) notify Counterparty in writing that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred on such Scheduled Trading Day without specifying (and Dealer shall not otherwise communicate to Counterparty) the nature of such Regulatory Disruption, and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Scheduled Trading Day shall not be an Unwind Date for such Transaction and such Regulatory Disruption shall be deemed to be a Market Disruption Event; provided that Dealer may exercise its right to suspend under this sentence only in good faith in relation to events or circumstances that are not the result of actions of it or any of its Affiliates that are taken with the intent to avoid its obligations under the Transactions.
Relevant Settlement Date:    For any Settlement of any Transaction, the Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date for such Settlement, as the case may be.
Other Applicable Provisions:    To the extent Dealer is obligated to deliver Shares under any Transaction, the provisions of Sections 9.2 (last sentence only), 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to such Transaction; provided that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws that exist as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the issuer of the Shares.
Share Adjustments:   
Potential Adjustment Events:    An Extraordinary Dividend shall not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event. For the avoidance of doubt, a cash dividend on the Shares that differs from expected dividends as of the Trade Date of any Transaction shall not be a Potential Adjustment Event under Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions with respect to such Transaction.

 

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Extraordinary Dividend:    For any Transaction, any dividend or distribution declared by the Issuer with respect to the Shares that, in the commercially reasonable determination of Dealer, is a payment or distribution by the Issuer to holders of Shares that the Issuer announces will be an “extraordinary” or “special” dividend or distribution.
Regular Dividend Amount:    For each Transaction and for each calendar quarter, the amount set forth under the heading “Regular Dividend Amounts” in the Placement Notice as amended by any corresponding Forward Acceptance (each such term as defined in the Sales Agreement) for such Transaction and for such calendar quarter (or, if no such amount is specified, an amount determined by Dealer in good faith), as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.
Method of Adjustment:    Calculation Agent Adjustment
Additional Adjustment:    If, in Dealer’s commercially reasonable judgment, the stock loan fee to Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer), excluding the federal funds or other interest rate component payable by the relevant stock lender to Dealer or such affiliate under the terms of the applicable stock lender agreements, for any 20 Scheduled Trading Days over a period of 30 consecutive Scheduled Trading Days, of borrowing a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares to hedge its exposure to any Transaction exceeds a weighted average rate equal to the Initial Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction, the Calculation Agent may, without duplication, reduce the Forward Price for such Transaction in order to compensate Dealer for the amount by which such cost exceeded a weighted average rate equal to such Initial Stock Loan Rate during such period.
Extraordinary Events:   
Extraordinary Events:    In lieu of the consequences that would otherwise apply under Article 12 of the Equity Definitions to any applicable Extraordinary Event (excluding any Failure to Deliver, Increased Cost of Hedging, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow or any Extraordinary Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, but including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other applicable Additional Disruption Event), the provisions specified below under the heading “Early Valuation” paragraph below shall apply.
Merger Event:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of such Section beginning with the words “in each case if the Merger Date is on or before” in the fourth to last line thereof.
Tender Offer:    Applicable.
Delisting:    In addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Select Market or The Nasdaq Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange.
Additional Disruption Events:   
Change in Law:    With respect to any Transaction, applicable; provided that (A) any determination as to whether (i) the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing

 

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   statute) or (ii) the promulgation of or any change in or public announcement of the formal or informal interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in each case, constitutes a “Change in Law” shall be made without regard to Section 739 of the Dodd- Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date of such Transaction and (B) Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended (i) by replacing the parenthetical beginning after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof with the phrase “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” and (ii) by replacing the words “the interpretation” with the words “or public announcement of any formal or informal interpretation” in the third line thereof and (C) the words “, unless the illegality is due to an act or omission of the party seeking to elect termination of the Transaction with the intent to avoid its obligations under the terms of the Transaction” are added immediately following the word “Transaction” in the fifth line thereof; and provided further that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the phrase “and/or Hedge Position” after the word “Shares” in clause (X) thereof and (iii) by immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date”.
Failure to Deliver:    Applicable with respect to a Transaction if Dealer is required to deliver Shares under such Transaction; otherwise, Not Applicable.
Hedging Disruption:    Applicable
Increased Cost of Hedging:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) adding “or” before clause (B) of the second sentence thereof; (ii) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof; and (iii) deleting the third and fourth sentences thereof.
Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); (ii) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof and (iii) deleting the third, fourth and fifth sentences thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the announcement of any event that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event or Tender Offer, the term “rate to borrow Shares” as used in Section 12.9(a)(viii) of the Equity Definitions shall include any commercially reasonable cost borne or amount payable by the Hedging Party in respect of maintaining or reestablishing its hedge position, including, but not limited to, any assessment or other amount payable by the Hedging Party to a lender of Shares in respect of any merger or tender offer premium, as applicable.
Initial Stock Loan Rate:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.
Loss of Stock Borrow:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (A) of the first sentence thereof in its entirety and (ii) deleting the words “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares or” in the second sentence thereof..

 

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Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.
Hedging Party:    For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer
Determining Party:    For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer
Early Valuation:   
Early Valuation:   

For any Transaction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement, in any Supplemental Confirmation or in the Equity Definitions, at any time (x) concurrently with or following the occurrence of a Hedging Event with respect to such Transaction, the declaration by Issuer of Dividends and Other Distributions (as defined below), or an ISDA Event with respect to such Transaction or (y) if an Excess Ownership Position, an Excess Charter Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position exists, Dealer (or, in the case of an ISDA Event that is an Event of Default or Termination Event, the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date in respect of such event pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) shall have the right to designate any Scheduled Trading Day to be the “Early Valuation Date” for such Transaction, in which case the provisions set forth in this “Early Valuation” section shall apply to such Transaction, in the case of an Event of Default or Termination Event, in lieu of Section 6 of the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any amount calculated pursuant to this “Early Valuation” section (in respect of which Counterparty satisfies its payment and/or delivery obligations under this “Early Valuation” section) as a result of an Extraordinary Dividend shall not be adjusted by the value associated with such Extraordinary Dividend.

   Dealer represents and warrants to and agrees with Counterparty, assuming the accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties of Counterparty hereunder and under the Sales Agreement and the compliance with, and satisfaction of, the covenants and undertakings of Counterparty hereunder and under the Sales Agreement, that (i) based upon advice of counsel, Dealer (A) does not have actual knowledge of the existence as of the date hereof of an Excess Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (B) based on good faith inquiry in the ordinary course of Dealer’s business does not have actual knowledge as of the date hereof of any event or circumstance that will cause the occurrence of an Excess Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of the applicable Transaction; and (ii) assuming no event or circumstance by or within the control of Counterparty or its affiliates occurs in connection with which the “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Shares by Dealer Group (as defined below) and/or the “ownership” (howsoever defined under any Applicable Law) of Shares by Dealer Group or another Dealer Person (as defined below) would increase, Dealer will not knowingly cause the occurrence of an Excess Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of the applicable Transaction with the specific intent of causing the occurrence of an Early Valuation Date.
   Dividends and Other Distributions” means any dividend or distribution, on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring on any day following the Trade Date of such Transaction of (A) any cash dividend (other than an Extraordinary Dividend) to the extent all cash dividends having an ex-dividend date during the period from, and including, any Forward Price Reduction Date (with the Trade Date being a Forward Price Reduction Date for purposes of this clause only) to, but excluding,

 

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   the next subsequent Forward Price Reduction Date exceeds, on a per Share basis, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite the first date of any such period on Schedule I to the relevant Supplemental Confirmation, (B) any Extraordinary Dividend, (C) any share capital or other securities of another issuer acquired or owned (directly or indirectly) by Counterparty as a result of a spin-off or other similar transaction or (D) any other type of securities (other than Shares), rights or warrants or other assets, in any case for payment (cash or other consideration) at less than the prevailing market price, as determined in a commercially reasonable manner by Dealer.
   If the Early Valuation Date for a Transaction occurs on a date that is not during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, then such Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement of such Transaction, and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the Number of Shares on such Early Valuation Date; provided that Dealer may in its good faith and in a reasonable manner permit Counterparty to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of such Transaction, in which case Dealer, as Hedging Party, will determine, in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, the Scheduled Trading Day that will be the First Unwind Date for such Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement.
   If the Early Valuation Date for a Transaction occurs during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, then (i) (A) the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period shall be deemed to be such Early Valuation Date, (B) a Settlement shall occur in respect of such Unwind Period, and the Settlement Method elected by Counterparty in respect of such Settlement shall apply (subject to the provisions under “Settlement Terms” above in respect of the applicable Settlement Method), and (C) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Unwound Shares for such Unwind Period on such Early Valuation Date, and (ii) (A) such Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for an additional Physical Settlement of such Transaction (provided that Dealer may in its good faith and reasonable discretion elect that the Settlement Method elected by Counterparty for the Settlement described in clause (i) of this sentence shall apply, in which case Dealer, in its good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, will determine the Scheduled Trading Day that will be the First Unwind Date for such Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement) and (B) the number of Settlement Shares for such additional Settlement shall be the number of Remaining Shares on such Early Valuation Date.
   Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Nationalization or Merger Event, if at the time of the related Relevant Settlement Date the Shares have changed into cash or any other property or the right to receive cash or any other property, the Calculation Agent may adjust the terms of the applicable Transaction as it determines appropriate to account for such change to the nature of the Shares.
   If, upon designation of an Early Valuation Date by Dealer pursuant to this section, Counterparty fails to deliver the Settlement Shares relating to such Early Valuation Date when due or otherwise fails to perform obligations within its control in respect of any Transaction, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Counterparty and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply.
ISDA Event:    (i) Any Event of Default or Termination Event, other than an Event of Default or Termination Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, that gives rise to the right of either party to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement or (ii) the announcement of any event or transaction that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Delisting or Change in Law, in each case, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

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Hedging Event:    (i) (x) A Loss of Stock Borrow or (y) a Hedging Disruption, (ii) (A) an Increased Cost of Stock Borrow or (B) an Increased Cost of Hedging in connection with which, in the case of sub-clause (A) or (B), Counterparty does not elect, and so notify the Hedging Party of its election, in each case, within the required time period to either amend such Transaction pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(A) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(A) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or pay an amount determined by the Calculation Agent that corresponds to the relevant Price Adjustment pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(B) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(B) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or (iii) the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event during an Unwind Period and the continuance of such Market Disruption Event for at least eight Scheduled Trading Days.
Remaining Shares:    For any Transaction, on any day, the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of such day (or, if such day occurs during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of such day minus the Unwound Shares for such Transaction for such Unwind Period on such day).
Unwound Shares:    For any Transaction, for any Unwind Period in respect of such Transaction on any day, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Dealer has unwound (as determined by Dealer in good faith) its hedge position in respect of such Transaction in connection with the related Settlement as of such day.
Acknowledgments:   
Non-Reliance:    Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgments

Regarding Hedging Activities:

   Applicable
Additional Acknowledgments:    Applicable
Transfer:    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, Dealer may assign, transfer and set over all rights, title and interest, powers, privileges and remedies of Dealer under any Transaction, in whole or in part, to an affiliate of Dealer without the consent of Counterparty; provided that under the applicable law effective on the date of such transfer or assignment, Counterparty will not be required, as a result of such transfer or assignment, to pay an amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax greater than the amount, if any, that Counterparty would have been required to pay Dealer in the absence of such transfer or assignment; and Counterparty will not receive a payment from which an amount has been deducted or withheld for or on account of any Indemnifiable Tax in respect of which the other party is not required to pay an additional amount, unless Counterparty would not have been entitled to receive any additional amount in respect or such payment in the absence of such transfer or assignment; provided further that no Termination Event with respect to which Dealer is the Defaulting Party or an Affected Party, as the case may be, exists or would result therefrom, and no Extraordinary Event, Early Valuation, Market Disruption Event, ISDA Event, Excess Ownership Position or Excess Regulatory Ownership Position or other event or circumstance giving rise to a right or responsibility to terminate or cancel a Transaction or to make an adjustment to the terms of a Transaction would result therefrom.

 

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   Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of any Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty only to the extent of any such performance.
Calculation Agent:    Dealer; provided that, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the sole Defaulting Party, Counterparty shall have the right to select an independent leading dealer in the market for U.S. corporate equity derivatives to replace Dealer as Calculation Agent. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a written request by Counterparty, the Calculation Agent will, within five Business Days of its receipt of such written request, provide to Counterparty by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Counterparty in such written request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be; provided that Dealer shall not be required to disclose any proprietary or confidential models of Dealer or any information that is proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information.
Counterparty Payment Instructions:    To be provided by Counterparty

Dealer Payment Instructions:

 

The Office of Counterparty for each Transaction is:

  

To be provided by Dealer

 

Inapplicable, Counterparty is not a Multibranch Party

The Office of Dealer for each Transaction is:    [•]
Counterparty’s Contact Details for Purpose of Giving Notice:   

Life Storage, Inc.,

6467 Main Street, Williamsville,

New York 14221,

Attn: Andrew J. Gregoire, Chief Financial Officer

Email: [•]

Facsimile No.: [•]

Dealer’s Contact Details for Purpose of Giving Notice:    [Insert Dealer Name and Notice Information.]

3. Effectiveness. The effectiveness of each Supplemental Confirmation and the related Transaction on the Effective Date for such Supplemental Confirmation shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Dealer) of the following conditions:

 

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(a) the representations and warranties of Counterparty and the Operating Partnership contained in the Sales Agreement, and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Counterparty or the Operating Partnership, shall be true and correct on such Effective Date as if made as of such Effective Date;

(b) each of Counterparty and the Operating Partnership shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Sales Agreement on or prior to such Effective Date;

(c) all of the conditions set forth in Section 9 of the Sales Agreement shall have been satisfied;

(d) the effective date of the effective Forward Placement Notice (as defined in the Sales Agreement) shall have occurred as provided in the Sales Agreement;

(e) all of the representations and warranties of Counterparty hereunder and under the Agreement shall be true and correct on such Effective Date as if made as of such Effective Date;

(f) Counterparty shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it hereunder and under the Agreement on or prior to such Effective Date, including without limitation its obligations under Section 6 hereof; and

(g) Counterparty shall have delivered to Dealer, an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement and that the maximum number of Shares initially issuable under Transaction have been duly authorized and, upon issuance pursuant to the terms of such Transaction, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, if, in respect of any Transaction, (x) on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Settlement Date (as defined in the Sales Agreement) for the sale of Forward Hedge Shares in connection with Dealer establishing its hedge position (the “Forward Hedge Settlement Date”), Dealer, in its sole judgment, is unable, after using commercially reasonable efforts, to borrow and deliver for sale the full Number of Shares or (y) in Dealer’s sole judgment, it would incur a stock loan cost of more than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction with respect to all or any portion of such full Number of Shares, the effectiveness of the related Supplemental Confirmation and such Transaction shall be limited to the number of Shares Dealer is so able to borrow in connection with establishing its hedge position for such Transaction at a cost of not more than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be zero.

If the Sales Agreement is terminated prior to any such sale of Shares thereunder during such period, the parties shall have no further obligations in connection with the Master Confirmation, Supplemental Confirmation and the related Transaction, other than in respect of breaches of representations or covenants on or prior to such date. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Sales Agreement is terminated prior to the Forward Hedge Settlement Date, this Master Confirmation and the related Supplemental Confirmation shall remain in effect with respect to any Shares that had been sold by the Forward Seller for Dealer on or after the Trade Date and prior to such termination.

4. Additional Mutual Representations and Warranties. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement, each party represents and warrants to the other party, as of the date hereof and as of each Forward Placement Date (as defined in the Sales Agreement), Trade Date and Forward Hedge Settlement Date (as defined in the Sales Agreement), that it is an “eligible contract participant”, as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (as amended), and an “accredited investor” as defined in Section 2(a)(15)(ii) of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the “Securities Act”), and is entering into each Transaction hereunder as principal and not for the benefit of any third party.

5. Additional Representations and Warranties of Counterparty. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer, and agrees with Dealer, as of the date hereof and as of each Forward Placement Date (as defined in the Sales Agreement), Trade Date and Forward Hedge Settlement Date, that:

 

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(a) without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, it acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of any Transaction, including without limitation ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, FASB Statements 128, 133, as amended, 149 or 150, EITF 00-19, 01-6, 03-6 or 07-5, ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Liabilities & Equity Project;

(b) it shall not take any action to reduce or decrease the number of authorized and unissued Shares below the sum of (i) the aggregate Number of Shares across all Transactions plus (ii) the total number of Shares issuable upon settlement (whether by net share settlement or otherwise) of any other transaction or agreement to which it is a party;

(c) it will not repurchase any Shares if, immediately following such repurchase, the aggregate Number of Shares across all Transactions would be equal to or greater than 4.9% of the number of then-outstanding Shares and it will notify Dealer immediately upon the announcement or consummation of any repurchase of Shares in an amount that, taken together with the amount of all repurchases since the date of the last such notice (or, if no such notice has been given, since the Trade Date), exceeds 0.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares;

(d) it is not entering into this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares), or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) by others;

(e) (i) neither it nor any of its officers or directors is aware of any material non-public information regarding itself or the Shares; (ii) it is entering into this Master Confirmation (and any Supplemental Confirmation) and will provide any Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 or any other provision of the federal securities laws; (iii) it has not entered into or altered any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting any Transaction; and (iv) it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmations under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b5-1”);

(f) it is in compliance with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act, and its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, together with all reports subsequently filed by it pursuant to the Exchange Act, taken together and as amended and supplemented to the date of this representation, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(g) to its knowledge, no federal, state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares; provided that Counterparty makes no such representation or warranty regarding any such requirement that is applicable generally to the ownership of equity securities by Dealer;

(h) as of any Trade Date and as of the date of any payment or delivery by Counterparty or Dealer hereunder, it is not and will not be “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code);

(i) it is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

(j) it: (i) is an “institutional account” as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c); and (ii) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, and will exercise independent judgment in evaluating any recommendations of Dealer or its associated persons;

 

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(k) ownership positions held by Dealer or any of its affiliates solely in its capacity as a nominee or fiduciary (i) do not constitute “ownership” by Dealer and (ii) shall not result in Dealer being deemed or treated as the “owner” of such positions, in each case for purposes of the Issuer’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended from time to time;

(l) it understands, agrees and acknowledges that no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder shall be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations shall not be guaranteed by any affiliate of Dealer (subject to Section 8(b) of this Master Confirmation) or any governmental agency;

(m) in connection with this Master Confirmation, each Supplemental Confirmation, the Sales Agreement, each Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder (the “Relevant Transactions”), Counterparty acknowledges that none of Dealer and/or its affiliates is advising Counterparty or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction (for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any advisory relationship that Dealer and/or its affiliates may have, or may have had in the past, with Counterparty and/or its affiliates). Counterparty shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the Relevant Transactions, and none of Dealer and/or its affiliates shall have any responsibility or liability to Counterparty with respect thereto. Any review by the Dealer and/or its affiliates of Counterparty, the Relevant Transactions or other matters relating to the Relevant Transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of Dealer and/or its affiliates, as the case may be, and shall not be on behalf of Counterparty. Counterparty waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against Dealer and/or its affiliates arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the Relevant Transactions; and

(n) IT UNDERSTANDS THAT THE TRANSACTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO COMPLEX RISKS WHICH MAY ARISE WITHOUT WARNING AND MAY AT TIMES BE VOLATILE AND THAT LOSSES MAY OCCUR QUICKLY AND IN UNANTICIPATED MAGNITUDE AND IS WILLING TO ACCEPT SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND ASSUME (FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE) SUCH RISKS.

6. Additional Covenants of Counterparty.

(a) Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer on any Settlement Date or Net Share Settlement Date will be (i) newly issued, (ii) approved for listing or quotation on the Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and (iii) registered under the Exchange Act, and, when delivered by Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) to securities lenders from whom Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) borrowed Shares in connection with hedging its exposure to any Transaction, will be freely saleable without further registration or other restrictions under the Securities Act in the hands of those securities lenders, irrespective of whether any such stock loan is effected by Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer. Accordingly, Counterparty agrees that any Shares so delivered will not bear a restrictive legend and will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System. In addition, Counterparty represents and agrees that any such Shares shall be, upon such delivery, duly and validly authorized, issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free of any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance. Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that such approval for listing or quotation on the Exchange shall be a condition precedent for the purpose of Section 2(a)(iii) of the Agreement with respect to each obligation of Dealer under Section 2(a)(i) of the Agreement in respect of the relevant Transaction.

(b) Counterparty agrees that Counterparty shall not enter into or alter any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting any Transaction. Without limiting the generality of the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Unwind Activities” in Section 2 of this Master Confirmation, Counterparty acknowledges that it has no right to, and agrees that it will not seek to, control or influence Dealer’s decision to make any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B)(3)) under or in connection with any Transaction, including, without limitation, Dealer’s decision to enter into any hedging transactions.

(c) Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Counterparty or any officer, director, manager or similar person of Counterparty is aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares.

 

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(d) Counterparty shall promptly provide notice thereof to Dealer (i) upon the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Termination Event in respect of which Counterparty is a Defaulting Party or an Affected Party, as the case may be, and (ii) upon announcement of any event that, if consummated, would constitute an Extraordinary Event or Potential Adjustment Event.

(e) Neither Counterparty nor any of its “affiliated purchasers” (as defined by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall take any action that would cause any purchases of Shares by Dealer or any of its Affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 if such purchases were made by Counterparty. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during any Unwind Period, except with the prior written consent of Dealer, Counterparty will not, and will cause its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Rule 10b-18) not to, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of a derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or announce or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares.

(f) Counterparty will not take, or permit to be taken, any action to cause any “restricted period” (as such term is defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) to occur in respect of Shares or any security with respect to which the Shares are a “reference security” (as such term is defined in Regulation M) during any Unwind Period.

(g) Counterparty shall: (i) prior to the opening of trading in the Shares on any day on which Counterparty makes, or expects to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any Merger Transaction, notify Dealer of such public announcement; (ii) promptly notify Dealer following any such announcement that such announcement has been made; (iii) promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) provide Dealer with written notice specifying (A) Counterparty’s average daily Rule 10b-18 Purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months immediately preceding the announcement date for the Merger Transaction that were not effected through Dealer or its affiliates and (B) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding such announcement date. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Counterparty to Dealer that such information is true and correct. In addition, Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders. Counterparty acknowledges that any such notice may result in a Regulatory Disruption, a Trading Condition or, if such notice relates to an event that is also an ISDA Event, an Early Valuation, or may affect the length of any ongoing Unwind Period; accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 6(c) above. “Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization with respect to the Counterparty and/or the Shares as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act.

(h) Counterparty shall promptly execute any Supplemental Confirmation delivered to Counterparty by Dealer.

7. Termination on Bankruptcy. The parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or the Equity Definitions, each Transaction constitutes a contract to issue a security of Counterparty as contemplated by Section 365(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code and that each Transaction and the obligations and rights of Counterparty and Dealer thereunder (except for any liability as a result of breach of any of the representations or warranties provided by Counterparty in Section 4 or Section 5 above) shall immediately terminate, without the necessity of any notice, payment (whether directly, by netting or otherwise) or other action by Counterparty or Dealer, if, on or prior to the final Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date of any Transaction, an Insolvency Filing occurs or any other proceeding commences with respect to Counterparty under the Bankruptcy Code (a “Bankruptcy Termination Event”).

 

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8. Additional Provisions.

(a) Dealer acknowledges and agrees that Counterparty’s obligations under the Transactions are not secured by any collateral and that neither this Master Confirmation not any Supplemental Confirmations are not intended to convey to Dealer rights with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Counterparty; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement; provided further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transaction other than the Transactions to which this Master Confirmation relates.

(b) The parties hereto intend for:

(i) each Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362 (b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(j), 555 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code;

(ii) the rights given to Dealer pursuant to “Early Valuation” in Section 2 above to constitute “contractual rights” to cause the liquidation of a “securities contract” and to set off mutual debts and claims in connection with a “securities contract”, as such terms are used in Sections 555 and 362(b)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code;

(iii) any cash, securities or other property provided as performance assurance, credit support or collateral with respect to any Transaction to constitute “margin payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code;

(iv) all payments for, under or in connection with any Transaction, all payments for Shares and the transfer of Shares to constitute “settlement payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; and

(v) any or all obligations that either party has with respect to this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement to constitute property held by or due from such party to margin, guaranty or settle obligations of the other party with respect to the transactions under the Agreement (including the Transactions) or any other agreement between such parties.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, in no event will Counterparty be required to deliver in the aggregate in respect of all Settlement Dates, Net Share Settlement Dates or other dates on which Shares are delivered in respect of any amount owed under a Transaction a number of Shares greater than two times the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of the Trade Date for such Transaction (the “Capped Number”). The Capped Number shall be subject to adjustment only on account of (x) Potential Adjustment Events of the type specified in (1) Sections 11.2(e)(i) through (vi) of the Equity Definitions or (2) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions so long as, in the case of this sub-clause (2), such event is within Issuer’s control, (y) Merger Events requiring corporate action of Issuer (or any surviving entity of the Issuer hereunder in connection with any such Merger Event) and (z) Announcement Events that are not outside Issuer’s control. Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer (which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that any Transaction is outstanding) that the aggregate Capped Number of the Transactions is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transactions) on the date of the determination of the Capped Number (such Shares, the “Available Shares”). In the event Counterparty shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable as a result of this Section 8(b) (the resulting deficit, the “Deficit Shares”), Counterparty shall be continually obligated to deliver Shares, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, when, and to the extent that, (A) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries after the applicable Trade Date (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (B) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved and (C)

 

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Counterparty additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions (such events as set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, collectively, the “Share Issuance Events”). Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the occurrence of any of the Share Issuance Events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (A), (B) or (C) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered) and, as promptly as reasonably practicable, deliver such Shares thereafter. Counterparty shall not, until Counterparty’s obligations under each Transaction have been satisfied in full, use any Shares that become available for potential delivery to Dealer as a result of any Share Issuance Event for the settlement or satisfaction of any transaction or obligation other than the Transactions or reserve any such Shares for future issuance for any purpose other than to satisfy Counterparty’s obligations to Dealer under the Transactions.

(d) The parties intend for this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation to constitute a “Contract” as described in the letter dated October 6, 2003 submitted on behalf of Goldman, Sachs & Co. to Paula Dubberly of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Staff”) to which the Staff responded in an interpretive letter dated October 9, 2003.

(e) The parties intend for each Transaction (taking into account purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction) to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i) (A) under the Exchange Act and for this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation to constitute a binding contract or instruction satisfying the requirements of 10b5-1(c) and to be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).

(f) Counterparty acknowledges that:

(i) during the term of any Transaction, Dealer and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to any Transaction;

(ii) Dealer and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and derivatives linked to the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to any Transaction, including acting as agent or as principal and for its own account or on behalf of customers;

(iii) Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Counterparty’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the Settlement Price of any Transaction;

(iv) any market activities of Dealer and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price and the Settlement Price of any Transaction, each in a manner that may be adverse to Counterparty; and

(v) each Transaction is a derivatives transaction; Dealer may purchase or sell shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the price received by Counterparty under the terms of any Transaction.

9. Indemnification. Without duplication of any indemnification obligations under the Sales Agreement, Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and its assignees and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, financial losses resulting from the economic terms of any Transaction), claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of any breach of any covenant or representation made by Counterparty in this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement. Counterparty will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Dealer’s willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in performing the services that are subject of any Transaction. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any

 

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Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty. Counterparty also agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to Counterparty or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of Counterparty in connection with or as a result of any matter referred to in this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by Counterparty result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Indemnified Party. The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive the completion of the Transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation and any assignment and/or delegation of any Transaction made pursuant to the Agreement or this Master Confirmation (or any Supplemental Confirmation) shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments due as a result of this provision may not be used to set off any obligation of Dealer upon settlement of any Transaction.

10. Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be entitled to receive, or be deemed to receive, Shares to the extent that, upon such receipt of such Shares, (i) the “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Shares by Dealer, any other person that would have beneficial ownership of such Shares (any such person shall include without limitation any of Dealer’s affiliates’ business units subject to aggregation with Dealer for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), and all persons who may form a “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) with Dealer with respect to “beneficial ownership” of any Shares (collectively, “Dealer Group”), would be equal to or greater than 4.9% of the outstanding Shares (such condition, an “Excess Ownership Position”), (ii) violation would occur in respect of any restriction on ownership and/or transfer set forth in Article VII of Counterparty’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended from time to time, taking into account any waivers that are then in effect (such condition, the “Excess Charter Ownership Position”) or (iii) Dealer, any Dealer Group or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (any of Dealer, any Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under Sections 3-601 through 3-605 and 3-701 to 3-710 of the Maryland General Corporation Law or any state or federal bank holding company or banking laws, or any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders or organizational documents or contracts of Counterparty, in each case, applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), would own, beneficially own, constructively own, control, hold the power to vote or otherwise meet a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the lesser of (A) the maximum number of Shares that would be permitted under Applicable Laws and (B) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received or that would give rise to any consequences under the constitutive documents of Counterparty or any contract or agreement to which Counterparty is a party, in each case minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (such condition described in clause (iii), an “Excess Regulatory Ownership Position”). If any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, (i) Counterparty’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Counterparty shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Counterparty that such delivery would not result in (x) any Dealer Person directly or indirectly so beneficially owning in excess of 4.9% of the outstanding Shares or (y) the occurrence of an Excess Charter Ownership Position or Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (ii) if such delivery relates to a Physical Settlement, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer shall not be obligated to satisfy the portion of its payment obligation corresponding to any Shares required to be so delivered until the date Counterparty makes such delivery. Upon request of Dealer, Counterparty shall promptly confirm to Dealer the number of Shares then outstanding and Dealer shall then promptly advise Counterparty with respect to any limitations under this Section 10 applicable to any anticipated delivery of Shares hereunder; provided, however, that neither a failure by Counterparty to notify Dealer of the number of Shares then outstanding nor a failure of Dealer to advise Counterparty with respect to any applicable limitations shall be deemed a default hereunder and notwithstanding such failure the remainder of this Section 10 shall continue to apply. For the avoidance of doubt, any delivery of Shares made by Counterparty to Dealer that Dealer was not entitled to receive under the terms of this Section 10 shall not be deemed to satisfy any of the delivery obligations of Counterparty hereunder and Dealer shall promptly return such Shares to Counterparty, pending which Dealer shall be deemed to hold any such Shares solely as custodian for the benefit of Counterparty.

 

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11. Non-Confidentiality. The parties hereby agree that (i) effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning any Transaction, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of such Transaction and all materials of any kind, including opinions or other tax analyses, provided by Dealer and its affiliates to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that the foregoing does not constitute an authorization to disclose the identity of Dealer or its affiliates, agents or advisers, or, except to the extent relating to such tax structure or tax treatment, any specific pricing terms or commercial or financial information, and (ii) Dealer does not assert any claim of proprietary ownership in respect of any description contained herein or therein relating to the use of any entities, plans or arrangements to give rise to a particular United States federal income tax treatment for Counterparty.

12. Restricted Shares. If Counterparty is unable to comply with the covenant of Counterparty contained in Section 6(a) above or Dealer otherwise determines in its reasonable opinion that any Shares to be delivered to Dealer by Counterparty under any Transaction may not be freely returned by Dealer to securities lenders as described in the covenant of Counterparty contained in Section 6(a) above, then delivery of any such Settlement Shares (the “Unregistered Settlement Shares”) shall be effected pursuant to Annex B hereto, unless waived by Dealer.

13. Use of Shares. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that, except in the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall use any Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer on any Relevant Settlement Date with respect to any Transaction to return to securities lenders to close out borrowings created by Dealer (or its agents or affiliates, as applicable) in connection with its hedging activities related to exposure under such Transaction in a manner that Dealer or otherwise believes in good faith to be in compliance with applicable securities law.

14. Governing Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and all matters arising in connection with the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without reference to its choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law).

15. Set-Off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set-off delivery or payment obligations it owes to the other party under any Transaction against any delivery or payment obligations owed to it by the other party, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise.

16. Staggered Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer may, by prior notice to Counterparty, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.

17. Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Relevant Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery, with respect to some or all of the relevant Settlement Shares, if Dealer determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

18. Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. EACH OF DEALER AND COUNTERPARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON SUCH PARTY’S OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF SUCH PARTY’S STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS MASTER CONFIRMATION OR ANY SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER, COUNTERPARTY OR THEIR AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

 

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19. Jurisdiction. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

20. Counterparts. This Master Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Master Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

21. Delivery of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Counterparty to deliver cash or other assets in respect of the settlement of any Transaction, except in circumstances where the required cash or other asset settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, as in effect on the Trade Date.

22. Ownership Limit. Counterparty represents and undertakes to Dealer that Dealer, solely in its capacity as “Forward Purchaser” or “Forward Seller” (each as defined in the Sales Agreement) and solely with respect to its entering into and consummating the transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the Sales Agreement, will not, either individually or collectively with any other Forward Purchasers or Forward Sellers, be subject to the ownership limitations set forth in Article VII of Counterparty’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended from time to time.

23. Other Forwards. Counterparty agrees that it shall not (x) cause to occur, or permit to exist, any Forward Hedge Selling Period (as defined in the Sales Agreement) at any time there is (1) a “Forward Hedge Selling Period” (or equivalent concept) relating to any other issuer forward sale or similar transaction (including, without limitation, any “Transaction” under (as and defined under) any substantially identical master forward confirmation) with any financial institution other than Dealer (an “Other Forward Transaction”), (2) any “Unwind Period” (or equivalent concept) hereunder or under any Other Forward Transaction or (3) any other period in which Counterparty directly or indirectly issues and sells Shares pursuant to an underwriting agreement (or similar agreement including, without limitation, any equity distribution agreement) (such period, a “Selling Period”) that Counterparty enters into with any financial institution other than Dealer, or (y) cause to occur, or permit to exist, any Unwind Period at any time there is (1) an “Unwind Period” (or equivalent concept) under any Other Forward Transaction, (2) a “Forward Hedge Selling Period” (or equivalent concept) under any Other Forward Transaction or (3) any Selling Period. Dealer acknowledges, however, that, pursuant to the Sales Agreement, Counterparty may enter into one or more forward transactions (each, an “Other ATM Forward Transaction”) with another Forward Purchaser (as defined in the Sales Agreement) (an “Other Dealer”). Dealer and Counterparty agree that if Counterparty designates a “Relevant Settlement Date” (or equivalent concept) with respect to one or more Other ATM Forward Transactions for which “Cash Settlement” (or equivalent concept) or “Net Share Settlement” (or equivalent concept) is applicable, and the resulting “Unwind Period” (or equivalent concept) for such Other Forward Transaction coincides for any period of time with an Unwind Period for a Transaction (the “Overlap Unwind Period”), Counterparty shall notify Dealer at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to the commencement of such Overlap Unwind Period of the first Scheduled Trading Day and length of such Overlap Unwind Period, and Dealer shall be permitted to purchase Shares to unwind its hedge in respect of a Transaction only on alternating Scheduled Trading Days during such Overlap Unwind Period, commencing on the first, second, third or later Scheduled Trading Day of such Overlap Unwind Period, as notified to Dealer by Counterparty at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to such Overlap Unwind Period (which alternating Scheduled Trading Days, for the avoidance of doubt, would be every other Scheduled Trading Day if there is only one Other Dealer in such Overlap Unwind Period, every third Scheduled Trading Day if there are two Other Dealers, etc.).

 

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24. Forward Placement Notices. Counterparty and Dealer agree that, upon the effectiveness of any accepted Forward Placement Notice relating to a Forward Transaction (as such term is defined in the Sales Agreement), in respect of the Transaction to which such accepted Forward Placement Notice relates, each of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Master Forward Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction (including, without limitation, Dealer’s right to designate an Early Valuation Date in respect of such Transaction pursuant to Section the provisions above in Section 3 of this Master Forward Confirmation under the heading “Early Valuation,” and the termination of such Transaction following an Insolvency Filing pursuant to Section 7 of this Master Confirmation) shall govern, and be applicable to, such Transaction as of the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction as if the Trade Date for such Transaction were such first Trading Day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Forward Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation, the Agreement, or the 2002 Definitions, if Dealer designates an Early Valuation Date with respect to a Transaction (1) following the occurrence of an Event of Default or Termination Event, other than an Insolvency Filing, and such Early Valuation Date is to occur before the date that is one Settlement Cycle after the last day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction or (2) prior to Counterparty’s execution of the Supplemental Confirmation relating to such Transaction, then, for purposes of such Early Valuation Date, (i) a Supplemental Confirmation relating to such Transaction reasonably completed by Dealer (as if the Trade Date for such Transaction were the last day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period on which the Forward Seller sold Forward Hedge Shares for such Transaction) shall, notwithstanding the provisions under “Conditions to Effectiveness” above, be deemed to be immediately effective and (ii) in the case of (1), the Forward Price shall be deemed to be the Initial Forward Price (calculated assuming that the last Trading Day of such Forward Hedge Selling Period were the day immediately following the date Dealer so notifies Counterparty of such designation of an Early Valuation Date for purposes of such Early Valuation Date). For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that this Section 24 is triggered, the terms of such deemed Supplemental Confirmation shall be reviewed, confirmed or determined by the Calculation Agent to the same extent such terms would have been reviewed, confirmed or determined by the Calculation Agent if the parties had entered into a Supplemental Confirmation.

25. Tax Matters.

(a) For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement:

(i) Dealer makes the following representations: [Insert dealer-specific tax representations.]

(ii) Counterparty makes the following representations:

A. It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in Treasury Regulation section 1.1441-4(a)(3) (ii) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

B. It is a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State of Maryland, and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(J).

(b) Withholding Tax imposed on payments to non-US counterparties under the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. “Indemnifiable Tax”, as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement, shall not include any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, a FATCA Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.

(c) 871(m) Protocol (HIRE Act). To the extent that either party to the Agreement with respect to each Transaction is not an adhering party to the ISDA 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol published by the ISDA on November 2, 2015 and available at www.isda.org, as may be amended, supplemented, replaced or superseded from time to time (the “871(m) Protocol”), the parties agree that the provisions and amendments contained in the Attachment to the 871(m) Protocol are incorporated into and apply to the Agreement with respect to each Transaction as if set forth in full herein. The parties further agree that, solely for purposes of applying such provisions and amendments to the Agreement with respect to each Transaction, references to “each Covered Master Agreement” in the 871(m) Protocol

 

24


will be deemed to be references to the Agreement with respect to each Transaction, and references to the “Implementation Date” in the 871(m) Protocol will be deemed to be references to the Trade Date of each Transaction. For greater certainty, if there is any inconsistency between this provision and the provisions contained in any other agreement between the parties with respect to each Transaction, this provision shall prevail unless such other agreement expressly overrides the provisions of the Attachment to the 871(m) Protocol.

(d) Tax documentation. For the purposes of Sections 4(a)(i) and 4(a)(ii) of the Agreement, Counterparty shall provide to Dealer a valid and duly executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or any successor thereto (i) on or before the date of execution of this Master Confirmation; (ii) promptly upon reasonable demand by Dealer; and (iii) promptly upon learning that any such tax form previously provided has become invalid, obsolete, or incorrect. Additionally, Counterparty or Dealer shall, promptly upon reasonable request by the other party, provide such other tax forms and documents reasonably requested by such other party.

(e) Change of Account. Section 2(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended by the addition of the following after the word “delivery” in the first line thereof: “to another account in the same legal and tax jurisdiction”.

26. [U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol.

The parties acknowledge and agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof both parties have adhered to the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement, and for such purposes the Agreement shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement, Dealer shall be deemed a Regulated Entity and Counterparty shall be deemed an Adhering Party; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement, and for such purposes the Agreement shall be deemed a Covered Agreement, Dealer shall be deemed a “Covered Entity” and Counterparty shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity”; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement, and for such purposes the Agreement shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” Dealer shall be deemed a “Covered Entity” and Counterparty shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of the Agreement, both parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this Section 27. In the event of any inconsistencies between the Agreement and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC Stay Terms”), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this paragraph without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “the Agreement” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other. In addition, the parties agree that the terms of this paragraph shall be incorporated into any related covered affiliate credit enhancements, with all references to Dealer replaced by references to the covered affiliate support provider.

QFC Stay Rules” mean the regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. 252.2, 252.81–8, 12 C.F.R. 382.1- 7 and 12 C.F.R. 47.1-8, which, subject to limited exceptions, require an express recognition of the stay-and-transfer powers of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Orderly Liquidation Authority under Title II of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the override of default rights related directly or indirectly to the entry of an affiliate into certain insolvency proceedings and any restrictions on the transfer of any covered affiliate credit enhancements.]

[U.S. Resolution Stay Provisions.

(a) Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes

 

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(i) In the event that Dealer becomes subject to a proceeding under (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder or (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder (a “U.S. Special Resolution Regime”) the transfer from Dealer of this Master Confirmation, and any interest and obligation in or under, and any property securing, this Master Confirmation, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Master Confirmation, and any interest and obligation in or under, and any property securing, this Master Confirmation were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(ii) In the event that Dealer or an Affiliate becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, any Default Rights (as defined in 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable (“Default Right”)) under this Master Confirmation that may be exercised against Dealer are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Master Confirmation were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) Limitation on Exercise of Certain Default Rights Related to an Affiliate’s Entry Into Insolvency Proceedings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Confirmation, the parties expressly acknowledge and agree that:

(i) Counterparty shall not be permitted to exercise any Default Right with respect to this Master Confirmation or any Affiliate Credit Enhancement that is related, directly or indirectly, to an Affiliate of the Dealer becoming subject to receivership, insolvency, liquidation, resolution, or similar proceeding (an “Insolvency Proceeding”), except to the extent that the exercise of such Default Right would be permitted under the provisions of 12 C.F.R. 252.84, 12 C.F.R. 47.5 or 12 C.F.R. 382.4, as applicable; and

(ii) Nothing in this Master Confirmation shall prohibit the transfer of any Affiliate Credit Enhancement, any interest or obligation in or under such Affiliate Credit Enhancement, or any property securing such Affiliate Credit Enhancement, to a transferee upon or following an Affiliate of Dealer becoming subject to an Insolvency Proceeding, unless the transfer would result in the Counterparty being the beneficiary of such Affiliate Credit Enhancement in violation of any law applicable to the Counterparty.

(iii) For the purpose of this paragraph:

I. “Affiliate” is defined in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

II. “Credit Enhancement” means any credit enhancement or credit support arrangement in support of the obligations of Dealer under or with respect to this Master Confirmation, including any guarantee, collateral arrangement (including any pledge, charge, mortgage or other security interest in collateral or title transfer arrangement), trust or similar arrangement, letter of credit, transfer of margin or any similar arrangement.

(c) U.S. Protocol. If Counterparty has previously adhered to, or subsequently adheres to, the ISDA 2018 U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. as of July 31, 2018 (the “ISDA U.S. Protocol”), the terms of such protocol shall be incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation and the terms of the ISDA U.S. Protocol shall supersede and replace the terms of this section. For purposes of incorporating the ISDA U.S. Protocol, Dealer shall be deemed to be a Regulated Entity, Counterparty shall be deemed to be an Adhering Party, and this Master Confirmation shall be deemed to be a Protocol Covered Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this paragraph shall have the meanings given to them in the ISDA U.S. Protocol.

(d) Pre-existing In-Scope Agreements. Dealer and Counterparty agree that to the extent there are any outstanding “in-scope QFCs,” as defined in 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(d), that are not excluded under 12 C.F.R. § 252.88, between Dealer and Counterparty that do not otherwise comply with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 252.2, 252.81–

 

26


8 (each such agreement, a “Preexisting In-Scope Agreement”), then each such Preexisting In-Scope Agreement is hereby amended to include the foregoing provisions in this section, with references to “this Master Confirmation” being understood to be references to the applicable Preexisting In-Scope Agreement.]

27. [___]1

 

1 

If applicable, additional representations and covenants related to Forward Purchaser regulatory requirements such as Forward Purchaser’s use of agents, Company acknowledgement of risk disclosure, Company consent to transaction reporting, etc. to be added to particular master confirmations as customary.

 

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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty by executing this Master Confirmation and returning such copy to Dealer.

 

Yours faithfully,

[DEALER]

By: __________________________

Name:

Title:

[Signature Page to Master Confirmation]


Agreed and accepted by:

[LIFE STORAGE, INC.]

By: __________________________

Name:

Title:

[Signature Page to Master Confirmation]


ANNEX A

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION

 

To:    Life Storage, Inc. (“Counterparty”)
From:   

[DEALER] (“Dealer”)

[DEALER CONTACT INFORMATION]

Re:    Issuer Share Forward Sale Transactions
Date:    [ ]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this Supplemental Confirmation is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between [Dealer] (“Dealer”) and Life Storage, Inc. (“Counterparty”) on the Trade Date specified below. This Supplemental Confirmation is a binding contract between Dealer and Counterparty as of the relevant Trade Date for the Transaction referenced below.

(1) This Supplemental Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Master Confirmation dated as of [    _ , 20 ] (the “Master Confirmation”) between Dealer and Counterparty, as amended and supplemented from time to time. All provisions contained in the Master Confirmation govern this Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified below.

(2) The terms of the Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates are as follows:

Trade Date: [                ]

Effective Date: [                ]

Number of Shares: [                ]

Maturity Date: [                ]

Forward Hedge Selling

Commission Rate: [____]%

Initial Forward Price: USD [                ]

Threshold Price: USD [                ]

Volume-Weighted

Hedge Price: [                ]

Spread:    [                 ]% per annum

Notice Settlement

Number: [                ] Scheduled Trading Days

Initial Stock Loan Rate: [                ]

Maximum Stock

Loan Rate: [                ]


Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty by executing this Supplemental Confirmation and returning such copy to Dealer.

 

Yours faithfully,

[DEALER]

By: __________________________

Name:

Title:

[Signature Page to Supplemental Confirmation]


Agreed and accepted by:

LIFE STORAGE, INC.

By: _________________________

Name:

Title:

[Signature Page to Supplemental Confirmation]


Schedule I

FORWARD PRICE REDUCTION AMOUNTS

 

Forward Price Reduction Date:    Forward Price Reduction Amount:
[                ]    USD[                ]
[                ]    USD[                ]

REGULAR DIVIDEND AMOUNTS

 

For any calendar quarter:    USD[                ]


ANNEX B

PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

If Counterparty delivers Unregistered Settlement Shares pursuant to Section 12 above (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then:

(a) all Unregistered Settlement Shares shall be delivered to Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof;

(b) as of or prior to the date of delivery, Dealer and any potential purchaser of any such shares from Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) identified by Dealer shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for private placements of equity securities of issuers comparable to Counterparty (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them);

(c) as of the date of delivery, Counterparty shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) with Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate), substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its affiliates and the provision of customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters, and shall provide for the payment by Counterparty of all reasonable fees and expenses in connection with such resale, including all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, and shall contain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Counterparty reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales; and

(d) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate), Counterparty shall, if so requested by Dealer, prepare, in cooperation with Dealer, a private placement memorandum in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer.

In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall, in its good faith discretion, adjust the amount of Unregistered Settlement Shares to be delivered to Dealer hereunder in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Unregistered Settlement Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Dealer and may only be saleable by Dealer at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Unregistered Settlement Shares.

If Counterparty delivers any Unregistered Settlement Shares in respect of any Transaction, Counterparty agrees that (i) such Shares may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and (ii) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed after the applicable Settlement Date (or earlier, if applicable), Counterparty shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for the Shares to remove, any legends referring to any transfer restrictions from such Shares upon delivery by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer) to Counterparty or such transfer agent of seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer or its affiliates in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer).