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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

  

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 7, 2020

 

 

 

CATCHMARK TIMBER TRUST, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   001-36239   20-3536671

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission File

Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 2650

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(855) 858-9794

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

  

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

Title of each class   Trading
Symbol(s)
  Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share   CTT   New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
 
Emerging growth company ¨
   
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01.Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On May 7, 2020, CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), of which the Company is the sole general partner, entered into a Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, B. Riley FBR, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, as sales agents and/or principals (the “Agents”). Under the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the Company may sell shares of its Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“common stock”), from time to time, to or through the Agents, up to an aggregate offering price of $75,000,000 (the “Offering”). Offers and sales, if any, may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on or through the New York Stock Exchange, or any other existing trading market for the Company’s common stock in the United States or to or through a market maker, or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, in negotiated transactions, or any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and as otherwise agreed with the applicable Agent, including in block transactions or any other method permitted by law. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Company will pay each Agent compensation for the sale of shares up to 2% of the gross sales price per share for the shares sold through such Agent.

 

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from any sales of shares of common stock resulting from the Offering to reduce outstanding indebtedness, to fund acquisitions and investments, including joint venture investments, and/or for other general corporate purposes. Net proceeds used to repay indebtedness may be applied to amounts outstanding on the multi-draw term facility under the Company’s amended and restated credit agreement with CoBank ACB, as administrative agent.

 

The Company is not obligated to sell, and the Agents are not obligated to buy or sell, any shares under the Distribution Agreement. No assurance can be given that the Company will sell any shares under the Distribution Agreement, or, if it does, as to the price or amount of shares that it sells, or the dates when such sales will take place.

 

The shares will be offered pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-236793), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 7, 2020 (the “Registration Statement”).

 

A copy of the Distribution Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Report”), and the information in the Distribution Agreement is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by this reference. The representations, warranties and covenants made by the Company in the Distribution Agreement were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreement, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to anyone who is not a party thereto. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were made only as of specified dates. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of the Company’s affairs. The foregoing description of the Distribution Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 1.1.

 

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Equity Distribution Agreement listed below and filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Report, as well as the other materials that are being filed as exhibits to this Report, are being filed pursuant to Item 601 of the Commission’s Regulation S-K in lieu of filing the otherwise required exhibits to the Registration Statement. This Report is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, and, as such, the Company are incorporating by reference the exhibits to this Report to cause them to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement as exhibits thereto. By filing this Report, and the exhibits hereto, however, the Company does not believe that any of the information set forth herein or in the exhibits hereto represent, either individually or in the aggregate, a “fundamental change” (as such term is used in Item 512(a)(1)(ii) of the Commission’s Regulation S-K) in the information set forth in, and incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement.

 

Exhibit No.   Exhibit Description
1.1   Distribution Agreement, dated May 7, 2020, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, B. Riley FBR, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated.
5.1   Legality Opinion of Venable LLP.
8.1   Tax Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP.
23.1   Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2   Consent of Alston & Bird LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  CATCHMARK TIMBER TRUST, INC.
   
Date: May 7, 2020 By: /s/ Lesley H. Solomon
    Lesley H. Solomon
    General Counsel and Secretary

 

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Exhibit 1.1

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

 

May 7, 2020

 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, Florida 33716

Attention: Jeff Fordham 

 

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

777 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Attention: Syndicate

 

B. Riley FBR, Inc.

299 Park Avenue, 21st Floor

New York, NY 10171

Attention: Alan Forman, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

338 Greenwich Street

17th Floor – 17-035

New York, New York 10013

Attention: General Counsel

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

200 Vesey Street

New York, New York 10281

Attention: Andrew R. Jones, Ivana Rupcic-Hulin 

 

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

501 North Broadway, 10th Floor

Saint Louis, Missouri 63102

Attention: Chad Gorsuch

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), each confirms its agreement with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (“Raymond James”), Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (“Baird”), B. Riley FBR, Inc. (“FBR”), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”), and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel”), as agents and/or principals under any Terms Agreement (as defined in Section 1(a) below) (Raymond James, Baird, FBR, Citi, RBC and Stifel, together, the “Agents,” and each individually, an “Agent”), with respect to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company, in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions described below in this Distribution Agreement (this “Agreement”), of shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of the Company having an aggregate Gross Sales Price (as defined in Section 2(b) below) of up to $75,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”) on the terms set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement. Such shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares” and are described in the Prospectus referred to below.

 

 

 

 

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-236793), which became effective on May 7, 2020 (the “registration statement”), for the registration of the Shares and other securities of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Act”). Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein, means the registration statement, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to the Agents, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Act, to be part of the registration statement at the effective time, and (3) any registration statement filed to register the offer and sale of Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, and shall also include any subsequent registration statement filed upon the expiration of the registration statement. The Registration Statement sets forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan of distribution of the Shares and contains additional information concerning the Company and its business.

 

Except where the context otherwise requires, as used herein: “Basic Prospectus” means the prospectus dated May 7, 2020, filed as part of the Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such prospectus; “Prospectus Supplement” means the final prospectus supplement relating to the Shares, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier time as may be required under the Act), in the form furnished by the Company to the Agents in connection with the offering of the Shares; “Prospectus” means the Prospectus Supplement (and any additional prospectus supplement prepared in accordance with the provision of Section 4(c) of this Agreement and filed in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b)) together with the Basic Prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement; “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” means the documents listed on Exhibit C attached hereto and any other “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Act) that relates to the Shares, and which the Company and the Agent acting as sales agent or principal for the relevant transaction reasonably agree from time to time is a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall, unless otherwise stated, be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall, unless stated otherwise, be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. References in this Agreement to financial statements or other information that is “contained,” “included,” “described,” “set forth” or “provided” in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any similar references shall, unless stated otherwise, include any information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

The Company and the Agents agree as follows:

 

1.       Issuance and Sale.

 

a.Upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and provided the Company provides the Agents with any due diligence materials and information reasonably requested by the Agents and necessary for the Agents to satisfy their respective due diligence obligations, on any Exchange Business Day (as defined below) selected by the Company, the Company and an Agent shall enter into an agreement in accordance with Section 2 hereof regarding the number of Shares to be placed by such Agent, as agent, and the manner in which and other terms upon which such placement is to occur (each such transaction being referred to as an “Agency Transaction”). For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing limitation shall not apply to sales solely to employees or security holders of the Company or its subsidiaries, or to a trustee or other person acquiring such securities for the accounts of such persons in which any of Raymond James, Baird, Citi, FBR, RBC or Stifel is acting for the Company in a capacity other than as Agent under this Agreement. The Company may also offer to sell the Shares directly to any Agent, as principal, in which event such parties shall enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”) in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2 of this Agreement (each such transaction being referred to as a “Principal Transaction”). As used herein, (i) the “Term” shall be the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (x) the date on which the aggregate Gross Sales Price (as defined below) of Shares issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement is equal to the Maximum Amount and (y) any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8, (ii) an “Exchange Business Day” means any day during the Term that is a trading day for the Exchange (as defined below) other than a day on which trading on the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time, and (iii) “Exchange” means the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

 

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b.Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, the Company appoints the Agents as agents in connection with the offer and sale of Shares in any Agency Transactions entered into hereunder. The Agents will use their commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with their normal trading and sales practices, to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions hereof and of the applicable Transaction Acceptance (as defined below). Neither the Company nor any Agent shall have any obligation to enter into an Agency Transaction. The Company shall be obligated to issue and sell through the Agents, and the applicable Agent shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and as provided herein and in the applicable Transaction Acceptance, to place Shares only if and when the Company makes a Transaction Proposal (as defined below) to such Agent related to such an Agency Transaction and a Transaction Acceptance related to such Agency Transaction has been delivered to the Company by such Agent as provided in Section 2 below.

 

c.The Agents, as agents in any Agency Transaction, hereby covenant and agree not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the Exchange that qualify for delivery of a Prospectus in accordance with Rule 153 under the Act and meet the definition of an “at-the-market offering” under Rule 415(a)(4) under the Act (such transactions are hereinafter referred to as “At-the-Market Offerings”) (B) block transactions and (C) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in their capacity as agents of the Company as shall be agreed by the Company and the Agents in writing, including, but not limited to, privately negotiated transactions.

 

d.If Shares are to be sold in an Agency Transaction in an At-the-Market Offering, the applicable Agent will confirm in writing to the Company the number of Shares sold on any Exchange Business Day and the related Gross Sales Price and Net Sales Price (as each of such terms is defined in Section 2(b) below) following the close of trading on the Exchange each day in which the Shares are sold under this Agreement, and in any event no later than the opening of trading on the immediately following Exchange Business Day.

 

e.If the Company shall default on its obligation to deliver Shares to an Agent pursuant to the terms of any Agency Transaction or Terms Agreement, other than as the result of bad faith or willful misconduct of such Agent, the Company shall (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and its successors and assigns from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (ii) notwithstanding any such default, pay to the Agent the commission to which it would otherwise be entitled in connection with such sale in accordance with Section 2(b) below.

 

f.The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agents will be successful in selling the Shares, (ii) the Agents shall not incur any liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if they do not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the applicable Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (iii) the Agents shall not be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as may otherwise be specifically agreed by an Agent and the Company in a Terms Agreement.

 

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2.Transaction Acceptances and Terms Agreements.
   
a.The Company may, from time to time during the Term, propose to any Agent that they enter into an Agency Transaction to be executed on a specified Exchange Business Day or over a specified period of Exchange Business Days, which proposal shall be made to the Agent by telephone or by email and shall set forth the information specified below (each, a “Transaction Proposal”). If the applicable Agent agrees to the terms of such proposed Agency Transaction or if the Company and the applicable Agent mutually agree to modified terms for such proposed Agency Transaction, then such Agent shall promptly deliver to the Company by email a notice (each, a “Transaction Acceptance”) confirming the terms of such proposed Agency Transaction as set forth in such Transaction Proposal or setting forth the modified terms for such proposed Agency Transaction as agreed by the Company and such Agent, as the case may be, whereupon such Agency Transaction shall become a binding agreement between the Company and such Agent. Each Transaction Proposal shall specify:

 

(i)the Exchange Business Day(s) on which the Shares subject to such Agency Transaction are intended to be sold (each, a “Purchase Date”);

 

(ii)the maximum number of Shares to be sold by the Agent (the “Specified Amount of Shares”) on, or over the course of, such Purchase Date(s);

 

(iii)the lowest price, if any, at which the Company is willing to sell Shares on each such Purchase Date or a formula pursuant to which such lowest price shall be determined (each, a “Floor Price”); and

 

(iv)the Agent’s discount or commission, in accordance with Section 2(b) below.

 

A Transaction Proposal shall not set forth a Specified Amount of Shares that, when added to the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares previously purchased and to be purchased pursuant to pending Transaction Acceptances (if any) hereunder and any Terms Agreements, results or could result in a total amount of shares that exceeds the Maximum Amount nor shall it set forth a Floor Price which is lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) or, if permitted by applicable law and the Company’s charter and bylaws, a duly authorized committee thereof. The Company shall have responsibility for maintaining records with respect to the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares sold and for otherwise monitoring the availability of Shares for sale under the Registration Statement and for ensuring that the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares offered and sold does not exceed the Maximum Amount, and the price at which any Shares are offered or sold is not lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Board or, if permitted by applicable law and the Company’s charter and bylaws, a duly authorized committee thereof. In the event that more than one Transaction Acceptance with respect to any Purchase Date(s) is delivered by an Agent to the Company, the latest Transaction Acceptance shall govern any sales of Shares for the relevant Purchase Date(s), except to the extent of any action occurring pursuant to a prior Transaction Acceptance and prior to the delivery to the Company of the latest Transaction Acceptance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the terms of any Agency Transaction contemplate that Shares shall be sold on more than one Purchase Date, then the Company and the applicable Agent shall mutually agree to such additional terms and conditions as they deem reasonably necessary in respect of such multiple Purchase Dates, and such additional terms and conditions shall be set forth in or confirmed by, as the case may be, the relevant Transaction Acceptance and be binding to the same extent as any other terms contained therein. The Company or the applicable Agent may, upon notice to the other such party by telephone (confirmed promptly by e-mail), suspend or terminate the offering of the Shares pursuant to Agency Transactions for any reason; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice or their respective obligations under any Terms Agreement. During the term of any such suspension, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver (or cause to be delivered) any of the documents referred to in Sections 6(b) through 6(d) hereof, be deemed to affirm any of the representations or warranties in this Agreement pursuant to Section 3 or 6(a) hereof, or be obligated to conduct any due diligence session referred to in Section 6(f) hereof until the termination of the suspension and the recommencement of the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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b.The Purchase Date(s) in respect of the Shares deliverable pursuant to any Transaction Acceptance shall be set forth in or confirmed by, as the case may be, the applicable Transaction Acceptance. The applicable Agent’s commission for any Shares sold through such Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be a percentage equal to not more than 2.0% of the actual sales price of such Shares (the “Gross Sales Price”), as mutually agreed to in writing by the Agent and the Company and confirmed by the applicable Transaction Acceptance; provided, however, that such commission shall not apply when an Agent acts as principal, in which case such commission or a discount shall be set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company engages the Agent for a sale of Shares in an Agency Transaction that would constitute a “distribution” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company and the Agent will agree to compensation that is customary for the Agent with respect to such transaction. The Gross Sales Price less the Agent’s commission or discount and after deduction for any transaction fees, transaction taxes or similar taxes or fees imposed by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization in respect of the sale of the applicable Shares is referred to herein at the “Net Sales Price.”

 

c.Except as provided in Section 2(d) below, the applicable Agent shall pay the Net Sales Price for Shares issued by the Company and sold through such Agent on any Purchase Date pursuant to a Transaction Acceptance to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Company specified in Exhibit D (or such other account which the Company shall provide to the applicable Agent at least one Exchange Business Day prior to the applicable Agency Settlement Date (as defined below)) against delivery of such Shares to such Agent’s account, or an account of such Agent’s designee, at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”) or by such other means of delivery as may be agreed to by the Company and the applicable Agent. Such payment and delivery shall be made at or about 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second Exchange Business Day following each Purchase Date, unless another date shall be agreed upon by the Company and the applicable Agent (each, an “Agency Settlement Date”).

 

d.Notwithstanding section 2(c) above, the applicable Agent may, in its discretion, pay the Gross Sales Price (instead of the Net Sales Price) for Shares issued by the Company and sold through such Agent on any Purchase Date pursuant to a Transaction Acceptance to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Company specified in Exhibit D (or such other account which the Company shall provide to the applicable Agent at least one Exchange Business Day prior to the applicable Agency Settlement Date (as defined below)) against delivery of such Shares to such Agent’s account, or an account of such Agent’s designee, at The Depository Trust Company through its DWAC or by such other means of delivery as may be agreed to by the Company and the applicable Agent. In the event that the applicable Agent delivers the Gross Sales Price to the Company at an Agency Settlement Date pursuant to this section, the aggregate Gross Sales Price and aggregate commissions or discounts and any transaction fees, transaction taxes or similar taxes or fees imposed by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization in respect of the sale of the applicable Shares may be set forth and invoiced in a periodic statement from such Agent to the Company and payment of such amounts shall be made promptly by the Company after its receipt thereof.

 

e.If, as provided in the related Transaction Proposal, a Floor Price has been set by the Company with respect to a Purchase Date and the applicable Agent thereafter determines and notifies the Company that the Gross Sales Price for such Agency Transaction would not be at least equal to such Floor Price, then the Company shall not be obligated to issue and sell through such Agent, and such Agent shall not be obligated to place, the Shares proposed to be sold pursuant to such Agency Transaction on such Purchase Date, unless the Company and the Agent otherwise agree in writing.

 

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f.If either the Company or the applicable Agent 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 Shares, it shall promptly notify the other party, and sales of the Shares under this Agreement, any Transaction Acceptance or any Terms Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the reasonable judgment of each party. On or prior to the delivery of a prospectus that is required (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, the Company and the Agents shall calculate the average daily trading volume (as defined under “ADTV” by Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) of the Class A Common Stock based on market data provided by Bloomberg L.P. or such other sources as agreed upon by the Company and the Agents.

 

g.If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares pursuant to this Agreement but other than as set forth in Section 2(a) of this Agreement, it will notify the Agents of the proposed terms of the Principal Transaction. If an Agent, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which any Agent may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Company and the applicable Agent shall enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Principal Transaction.

 

The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement shall not be binding on the Company or any Agent unless and until the Company and such Agent have each executed and delivered such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement shall control.

 

Each sale of the Shares to an Agent in a Principal Transaction shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and a Terms Agreement, which shall provide for the sale of such Shares to, and the purchase thereof by, the applicable Agent. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by such Agent. The commitment of an Agent to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained, and shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth, in this Agreement and such Terms Agreement. Any such Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the applicable Agent pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, the applicable Agent, if any, acting together with such Agent in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Principal Settlement Date”; and, together with any Agency Settlement Date, a “Settlement Date”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares.

 

h.Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not offer, sell or deliver, or request the offer or sale, of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement (whether in an Agency Transaction or a Principal Transaction) and, by notice to the Agents given by telephone (confirmed promptly by email), shall cancel any instructions for the offer or sale of any Shares, and the Agents shall not be obligated to offer or sell any Shares, (i) during any period in which the Company is, or reasonably could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information, or (ii) at any time from and including the date on which the Company shall issue a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (an “Earnings Announcement”) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files 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.

 

i.Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and the Agents, as sales agents, shall not be obligated to use their commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, to sell, any Shares at a price lower than the Floor Price, or in a number or with an aggregate gross or net sales price in excess of the number or aggregate gross or net sales price, as the case may be, authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, in each case by the Board or, if permitted by applicable law and the Company’s charter and bylaws, a duly authorized committee thereof, or in a number in excess of the number of Shares approved for listing on the Exchange, or in excess of the number or amount of Shares available for issuance on the Registration Statement or as to which the Company has paid the applicable registration fee, it being understood and agreed by the parties hereto that compliance with any such limitations shall be the sole responsibility of the Company.

 

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3.Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company and the Operating Partnership.
   

Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, hereby represents and warrants to the Agents, on and as of (i) the date hereof, (ii) each date on which the Company receives a Transaction Acceptance (the “Time of Acceptance”), (iii) each date on which the Company executes and delivers a Terms Agreement, (iv) each Time of Sale (as defined in Section 3(a)), (v) each Settlement Date, and (vi) each Bring-Down Delivery Date (as defined in Section 6(b)) (each such date listed in (i) through (vi), a “Representation Date”), as follows:

 

a.The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act. The Company filed with the Commission the Registration Statement on such form, including a Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Shares. When the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was or is declared effective, it (i) complied or will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) did not or will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. When any Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424 of the Act) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission, such Prospectus as amended or supplemented, together with all of the then issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and did not or will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. If applicable, the Prospectus delivered to the Agents for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the representations and warranties in this paragraph 3(a) shall apply to statements in, or omissions from, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information herein or otherwise furnished in writing to the Company by an Agent specifically for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. With respect to the preceding sentence, the Company acknowledges that the only information furnished in writing by the Agents for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus are the statements set forth in Exhibit E hereto (collectively, the “Information Supplied by the Agents”). As used herein, “Time of Sale” means (i) with respect to each offering of Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the time of the applicable Agent’s initial entry into contracts for the sale of such Shares, and (ii) with respect to each offering of Shares pursuant to any relevant Terms Agreement, the time of sale of such Shares to the applicable Agent, as principal.

 

b.As of each Representation Date, none of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus includes or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Information Supplied by the Agents.

 

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c.The Registration Statement is effective under the Act and no stop order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus or any free writing prospectus has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are threatened under the Act. Any required filing of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act has been or will be made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b). Any material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) or Rule 163(b)(2) of the Act has been or will be made in the manner and within the time period required by such rules.

 

d.The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, at the time they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder 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, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

e.Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Shares or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Agents as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified by the Prospectus. 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 or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Agents and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

f.The consolidated financial statements of the Company (including all notes and schedules thereto) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive loss (or profit), consolidated statements of equity and consolidated statements of changes in cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; and such financial statements and related schedules and notes thereto, and the unaudited financial information filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein and subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end adjustments) and the other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company. The summary and selected financial data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus fairly present the information shown therein as at the respective dates and for the respective periods specified and have been presented on a basis consistent with the consolidated financial statements set forth in the Prospectus and other financial information.

 

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g.Deloitte & Touche LLP (the “Auditor”), the certified public accountants who have certified the financial statements (including the related notes thereto and supporting schedules) filed or incorporated by reference as part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and whose reports are filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement, is and, during the periods covered by its reports, was an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act and the Exchange Act.

 

h.Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and each of their respective subsidiaries is duly organized and validly existing as a corporation, limited partnership or other organization in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has all requisite corporate or organizational power and authority to carry on its business as is currently being conducted as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and to own, lease and operate its properties. Furthermore, each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or location of the assets or properties owned, leased or licensed by it requires such qualification, except where the failure to so register or qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, properties, assets or results of operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”); and to the Company’s knowledge, no proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing, or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail, such power and authority or qualification. As used in this Agreement, “subsidiaries” shall mean all of the wholly-owned and partially-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company and the Operating Partnership set forth on Schedule I hereto, each a “subsidiary.”

 

i.The Registration Statement initially became effective within three years of the date hereof. If, immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares sold by the Company is less than the Maximum Amount and this Agreement has not expired or been terminated, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Agent, will use its reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline, and will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired Registration Statement. Upon the filing of a new shelf registration pursuant to this paragraph, references herein to the Registration Statement relating to the Shares shall include such new shelf registration statement.

 

j.Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries has all requisite corporate or organizational power and authority, and all necessary authorizations, approvals, consents, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental or regulatory bodies or any other person or entity (collectively, the “Permits”), to own, lease and license its assets and properties and conduct its business, all of which are valid and in full force and effect, except where the lack of such Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed in all material respects all of its obligations with respect to such Permits and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of any of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries thereunder. Except as may be required under the Act and state and foreign Blue Sky laws, no other Permits are required to enter into, deliver and perform this Agreement and to issue and sell the Shares.

 

k.(i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Act) of the Shares and (ii) at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Act, including (but not limited to) the Company or any other subsidiary in the preceding three years not having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a judicial or administrative decree or order as described in Rule 405 of the Act.

 

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l.(i) Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries owns or has the valid right, title and interest in and to, or has valid licenses to use, each material trade name, trade and service mark, trade and service mark registration, patent, patent application copyright, license, invention, technology, know-how, approval, trade secret and other similar rights (collectively “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries as now conducted or as proposed in the Prospectus to be conducted. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership have created any lien or encumbrance on, or granted any right or license with respect to, any such Intellectual Property except where the failure to own or obtain such licenses or rights to use any such Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no claim pending against the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property and the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries have not received notice or otherwise become aware that any Intellectual Property that any of them uses or has used in the conduct of their respective businesses infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has become aware that any material Intellectual Property that any of them uses or has used in the conduct of their respective businesses infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party.

 

(ii)       The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries own or have a valid right to access and use all computer systems, networks, hardware, software, databases, websites, and equipment used to process, store, maintain and operate data, information, and functions used in connection with the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries (the “Company IT Systems”). The Company IT Systems are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries as currently conducted, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable backup, security and disaster recovery technology consistent in all material respects with applicable regulatory standards and customary industry practices

 

m.Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries has good and valid title to all property (real and personal) described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale information and the Prospectus as being owned by it, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances except (i) such as are described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale information and the Prospectus or (ii) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be materially burdensome to the use of the property or the conduct of the business of the Company and the Operating Partnership or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All property (real and personal) held under lease by the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries is held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be materially burdensome to the use of the property or the conduct of the business of the Company and the Operating Partnership or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

n.Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any event which would have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the Company has not sustained any loss or interference with its assets, businesses or properties (whether owned or leased) from fire, explosion, earthquake, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any court or legislative or other governmental action, order or decree which would have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, other than as described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company has not (A) issued any securities other than pursuant to employee compensation plans or inducement awards granted in reliance on NYSE Rule 312.03(c) or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money, except such liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (B) entered into any transaction not in the ordinary course of business or (C) except for regular dividends on the Class A Common Stock in amounts per share that are consistent with past practice, declared or paid any dividend or made any distribution on any shares of its stock or redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired or agreed to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock.

 

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o.There is no document, contract or other agreement required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not described or filed as required by the Act. Each description of a contract, document or other agreement in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus accurately reflects in all material respects the terms of the underlying contract, document or other agreement. Each contract, document or other agreement described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or listed in the exhibits to the Registration Statement to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is a party or to which its assets are bound is in full force and effect and is valid and enforceable by and against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity and, with respect to equitable relief, the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), and with respect to indemnification thereunder, except as rights may be limited by applicable law or policies underlying such law. None of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is and, to the Company’s, the Operating Partnership’s or any of the subsidiaries’ knowledge, no other party is, in material default in the observance or performance of any term or obligation to be performed by it under any such agreement, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a material default. No material default exists, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a material default, in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition, by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries of any other agreement or instrument to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries or its properties or business may be bound or affected.

 

p.Nothing has come to the attention of the Company or the Operating Partnership that has caused the Company or the Operating Partnership to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale information and the Prospectus are not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

q.None of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, agreement of limited partnership, or other organizational documents, (ii) in default under, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, limitation on voting rights, equity, trust or other encumbrance, preferential arrangement, defect or restriction of any kind whatsoever, upon, any property or assets of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries pursuant to, any bond, debenture, note, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject or (iii) in violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, except (in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above) for violations or defaults that would not (individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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r.This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Operating Partnership.

 

s.Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company or the Operating Partnership nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale, by the Company of the Shares) will (i) give rise to a right to terminate or accelerate the due date of any payment due under, or conflict with or result in the breach of any term or provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default) under, or require any consent or waiver under, or result in the execution or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Operating Partnership is a party or by which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of its properties or businesses is bound, or any franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the Operating Partnership, except in each case as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) violate any provision of the charter or bylaws of the Company, or the certificate of limited partnership or agreement of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership.

 

t.The Company has authorized capital stock as set forth under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” in the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. There are no statutory preemptive or other similar statutory rights to subscribe for or to purchase or acquire any shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company or any such rights pursuant to its charter or bylaws or any agreement or instrument to or by which the Company is a party or bound. The Shares, when issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and none of them will be issued in violation of any preemptive or other similar right. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except for the 2017 Incentive Plan, units of limited partnership in the Operating Partnership (“Units”), which are exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock, and long-term incentive plan units of limited partnership in the Operating Partnership (“LTIP Units”), which are convertible into Units upon the achievement of certain events, neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has outstanding any options to purchase, or any warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of Class A Common Stock, Units or any such warrants or convertible securities or obligations. There are no outstanding stock options under any stock-based compensation plans of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any their respective subsidiaries. The Class A Common Stock, Units, LTIP Units and the Shares conform in all material respects to all statements in relation thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

u.Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any stock or other securities of the Company, except for such rights as have been effectively complied with, satisfied or waived.

 

v.Except as described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or the Operating Partnership is a party or of which any property of the Company or the Operating Partnership is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or the Operating Partnership could individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others.

 

w.All necessary corporate action has been duly and validly taken by the Company to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company.

 

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x.No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, is threatened or imminent, except for such problems or disputes which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Operating Partnership are not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries plans to terminate employment with the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor practice, and except for matters which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is (A) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened, (B) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries and (C) no union representation dispute currently existing concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, (A) no union organizing activities are currently taking place concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries and (B) there has been no violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, any applicable wage or hour laws or any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries.

 

y.No transaction has occurred between or among the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of officers, partners or directors, shareholders or any affiliate or affiliates of any such officer, partner or director or shareholder of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries on the other hand that is required to be described in and is not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

z.Other than activities conducted pursuant to applicable exemptions contained in Regulation M under the Exchange Act, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership has taken directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Class A Common Stock or any security of the Company or the Operating Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.

 

aa.The Company, the Operating Partnership and each of the subsidiaries has filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which are required to be filed through the date hereof, (other than certain state and local tax returns, as to which the failure to file, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), which returns are true, complete and correct in all material respects, or has received timely extensions thereof, and neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any subsidiary is in default in the payment of any taxes that were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all tax deficiencies asserted as a result of any federal, state, local or foreign tax audits have been paid or finally settled and no issue has been raised in any such audit that, by application of the same or similar principles, reasonably could be expected to result in a proposed deficiency for any other period not so audited. There are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, local or foreign tax return for any period. There are no tax audits or investigations pending, which if adversely determined would have a Material Adverse Effect; nor are there any material proposed additional tax assessments against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries.

 

bb.The Shares have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

 

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cc.The books, records and accounts of the Company accurately reflect, the transactions in, and dispositions of, the assets of, and the results of operations of, the Company. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

dd.The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act), which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within the Company, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are required to be prepared, (ii) provide for the periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of such disclosure controls and procedures at the end of the periods in which the periodic reports are required to be prepared, and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

 

ee.Based on the evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures, to the Company’s knowledge, there is no (i) material weakness or significant deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls which would adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls, or (ii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a role in the Company’s internal controls.

 

ff.The Auditor has not been engaged by the Company to perform any “prohibited activities” (as defined in Section 10A of the Exchange Act).

 

gg.Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no material off-balance sheet arrangements (as defined in Item 303 of Regulation S-K) that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, revenues or expenses, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

hh.The Company and its directors or officers, in their capacities as such, are each in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications. The principal executive officers (or their equivalents) and principal financial officers (or their equivalents) of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission, and the statements contained in each such certification are complete and correct. The Company is, and has taken all necessary actions to ensure that its directors and officers in their capacities as such are, each in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the NYSE, the rules and regulations of the Commission and the NYSE promulgated thereunder

 

ii.Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale information and the Prospectus, the Company, the Operating Partnership and each of the subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which it is engaged; and neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a comparable cost.

 

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jj.Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing of, by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company and the Operating Partnership of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated required to be obtained or performed by the Company or the Operating Partnership (except such additional steps as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”)) or may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering by the Agents under the state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect.

 

kk.To the Company’s knowledge, there are no affiliations with FINRA among the Company’s officers, directors or any five percent or greater stockholder of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or otherwise disclosed in writing to the Agent.

 

ll.The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permits, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended and (b) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries owns, leases or occupies any property that appears on any list of hazardous sites compiled by any state or local governmental agency. There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

mm.Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership is, or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus, will be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

nn.Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; and the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance in all material respects therewith.

 

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oo.The operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the “United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001” (the “Patriot Act”) or the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency.

 

pp.Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company and the Operating Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

qq.Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not sold or issued any shares of Class A Common Stock during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulations D or S of, the Act, other than shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock options plans or other employee compensation plans, pursuant to inducement awards granted in reliance on NYSE Rule 312.03(c) or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.

 

rr.The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under ERISA) established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries or their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA and all other applicable state and federal laws. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company, the Operating Partnership or a subsidiary, any member of any group or organization described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), of which the Company, the Operating Partnership or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined in ERISA). Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, that would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

ss.The Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for each taxable year commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2009, and its organization and method of operation (as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale information) 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, 2020 and thereafter. All statements regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and descriptions of the Company’s organization and method of operation set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale information are true, complete and correct in all material respects.

 

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Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or the Operating Partnership and delivered to the Agents in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or the Operating Partnership to the Agents as to the matters covered thereby.

 

4.    Certain Covenants of the Company and the Operating Partnership. Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership covenants and agrees with the Agents as follows:

 

a.The Company will use its reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto to become effective, if it has not already become effective, and will advise the Agents promptly, and if it is reasonably requested by any Agent, it will confirm such advice in writing (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective and the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Prospectus and the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) if Rule 430A under the Act is employed, when the Prospectus has been timely filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, (iii) of the receipt of any comments of the Commission, or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the suspension of qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purposes; and (v) within the period of time referred to in Section 4(h) hereof, of any change in the Company’s condition (financial or other), business, prospects, properties or results of operations, or of any event that comes to the attention of the Company or the Operating Partnership that makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any additions thereto or changes therein in order to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading in any material respect, or of the necessity to amend or supplement the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) to comply with the Act or any other law. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time. The Company will provide the Agents with copies of the form of Prospectus, in such number as the Agents may reasonably request, and file with the Commission such Prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Act before the close of business on the first business day immediately following the date hereof.

 

b.The Company will furnish to the Agents, without charge, upon request, a photocopy of the signed original of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and all exhibits thereto, and will also furnish to the Agents, without charge, such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto as any Agent may reasonably request.

 

c.The Company will promptly file with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the reasonable judgment of the Company or the Agents be required by the Act or requested by the Commission.

 

d.The Company will furnish a copy of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the Agents and counsel for the Agents for review and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Agents reasonably object, unless (i) in the judgment of counsel to the Company, such filing is required by applicable law or (ii) it is advisable in furtherance of a Commission request.

 

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e.The Company will not make any offer relating to the Class A Common Stock that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the Agents’ prior consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

f.The Company will retain in accordance with the Act all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed pursuant to the Act; and, if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company will notify the Agents and, upon reasonable request, file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to the Agents as many copies as the Agents may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance;

 

g.Prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company has delivered or will deliver to the Agents, without charge, in such quantities as the Agents have reasonably requested or may hereafter reasonably request, copies of each form of the Prospectus. Consistent with the provisions of Section 4(h) hereof, the Company consents to the use, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Shares are offered by any Agent, prior to the date of the Prospectus, of each Prospectus so furnished by the Company.

 

h.As soon as is practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and thereafter from time to time for such period as in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Agents a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered in connection with sales by any Agent, and for so long a period as any Agent may request for the distribution of the Shares, the Company will deliver to such Agent, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus and any Time of Sale information in a Terms Agreement (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) as they may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus and the Time of Sale information (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the jurisdictions in which the Shares are offered by any Agent both in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares and for such period of time thereafter as the Prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered in connection with sales by any Agent or any dealer. If at any time prior to the later of (i) the completion of the distribution of the Shares pursuant to the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement; or (ii) the expiration of prospectus delivery requirements with respect to the Shares under Section 4(a)(3) of the Act and Rule 174 thereunder, any event shall occur that in the judgment of the Company or in the opinion of counsel for the Agents is required to be set forth in the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) or should be set forth therein in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act or any other law, the Company will forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 5 hereof, file with the Commission and use its reasonable efforts to cause to become effective as promptly as possible an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will furnish to the Agents, without charge, a reasonable number of copies thereof.

 

i.The Company will cooperate with the Agents and counsel for the Agents in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the Agents under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Agents may reasonably designate and will file such consents to the service of process or other documents as may be reasonably necessary in order to effect and maintain such registration or qualification for so long as required to complete the distribution of the Shares; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the general service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares, as contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject. In the event that the qualification of the Shares in any jurisdiction is suspended, the Company shall so advise the Agents promptly in writing. If the Class A Common Stock fails to be, or ceases to be, listed on a national securities exchange, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to qualify or register its Class A Common Stock for sale in non-issuer transactions under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the “Blue Sky” laws of each state where necessary to permit market-making transactions and secondary trading and will comply with such “Blue Sky” laws and will continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect during the Term of this Agreement.

 

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j.The Company will make generally available to its security holders a consolidated earnings statement (in a form complying with the provisions of Rule 158), which need not be audited, covering a twelve-month period commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement and the Rule 462 Registration Statement, if any, and ending not later than 15 months thereafter, as soon as practicable after the end of such period, which consolidated earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

 

k.During the Term of this Agreement, the Company will furnish or make available (which may be satisfied by EDGAR filings or the Company’s website postings) to the Agents, upon reasonable request, as soon as available, a copy of each proxy statement, quarterly or annual report or other report of the Company mailed to stockholders or filed with the Commission, FINRA or the NYSE or any national securities exchange and (ii) from time to time such other information concerning the Company as the Agents may reasonably request.

 

l.If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated after execution pursuant to any provision hereof (except pursuant to a termination under Section 8 hereof) or if this Agreement shall be terminated by the Agents because of any inability, failure or refusal on the part of the Company to perform in all material respects any agreement herein or to comply in all material respects with any of the terms or provisions hereof or to fulfill in all material respects any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Agents for all fees and expenses of counsel for the Agents reasonably incurred by the Agents in connection herewith, subject to an aggregate maximum reimbursement of $150,000.

 

m.The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares to be sold by it hereunder in accordance in all material respects with the statements under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

 

n.The Company will comply with all provisions of any undertakings contained in the Registration Statement.

 

o.The Company will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action designed, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the shares of Class A Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.

 

p.The Company will timely file with the NYSE all documents and notices required by the NYSE of companies that have securities that are traded on the NYSE.

 

q.The Company shall maintain, at its expense, a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of its incorporation or the rules of any national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed, a registrar (which, if permitted by applicable laws and rules may be the same entity as the transfer agent) for the Class A Common Stock.

 

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r.Except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Agents, the Company shall pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Agents and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment); (ii) the registration, issue and delivery of the Shares; (iii) the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such states or other jurisdictions as the Agents may reasonably designate with the prior written consent of the Company as aforesaid (including filing fees and the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents in connection therewith) and the printing and furnishing of copies of any “Blue Sky” surveys to the Agents; (iv) the listing of the Shares on the Exchange and any registration thereof under the Exchange Act; (v) any filing for review, and any review, of the public offering of the Shares by FINRA (including filing fees and the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents in connection therewith); (vi) the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Company and of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; and (vii) the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder and under any Terms Agreement; provided that, except as otherwise agreed with the Company, the Agents shall be responsible for any transfer taxes on resale of Shares by it and any costs and expenses associated with the sale and marketing of the Shares. Except as provided in paragraph (l) or in this paragraph (r), the Agents shall pay their own out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents, which fees and disbursements shall be divided between the Agents in amounts proportionate to the aggregate offering amount sold by each Agent under this Agreement; provided, however, that if an aggregate of $50,000,000 of Shares have not been sold under this Agreement by the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement (or such earlier date on which the Company terminates this Agreement), the Company shall reimburse the Agents for the reasonable documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents incurred in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, subject to an aggregate maximum reimbursement of $150,000.

 

s.If any Agency Transactions or Principal Transactions are pending, the Company will not, without (A) giving the applicable Agent at least two Exchange Business Days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale and (B) the applicable Agent suspending activity under this program for such period of time as requested by the Company or deemed appropriate by such Agent in light of the proposed sale, (i) offer, pledge, publicly 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 to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable, redeemable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock, other than pursuant to (a) a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 of the Act, (b) a registration statement on Form S-8 or Form S-4, (c) in connection with the 2017 Incentive Plan or any other stockholder approved employee compensation plan or Class A Common Stock ownership plan of the Company, (d) the conversion of Units outstanding as of the date of this Agreement or Units issued upon conversion of LTIP Units outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and described in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or issued after the date of this Agreement under equity compensation plans described in clause (c) of this sentence, or (e) any dividend reinvestment plan; or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Class A Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

t.If immediately prior to the Renewal Deadline, the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares sold by the Company is less than the Maximum Amount and this Agreement has not expired or been terminated, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new shelf registration statement relating to the Shares in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and will use its reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline, and will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired Registration Statement. References herein to the Registration Statement relating to the Shares shall include such new shelf registration statement.

 

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u.The Company will use its best efforts to meet the requirements to qualify, for the taxable year ending December 31, 2020, for taxation as a REIT under the Code and the Company will use its best efforts to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code unless the Company’s Board of Directors determines in good faith that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to so qualify or to be so qualified.

 

5.    Execution of Agreement. The Agents’ obligations under this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions in connection with and on the date of the execution of this Agreement:

 

a.The Company shall have delivered to the Agents:

 

(i)an officers’ certificate signed by two officers of the Company (one of whom shall be the Chief Financial Officer or other senior financial officer) certifying as to the matters set forth in Exhibit B hereto;

 

(ii)an opinion and negative assurance statement of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel to the Company, addressed to the Agents and dated the date of this Agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and the Agents’ counsel;

 

(iii)an opinion of Venable LLP, Maryland counsel to the Company, addressed to the Agents and dated the date of this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and the Agents’ counsel;

 

(iv)a comfort letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP, addressed to the Agents and dated the date of this Agreement, addressing such matters as the Agents may reasonably request;

 

(v)evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel that the Shares have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution at or before the time of purchase on the relevant Purchase Date;

 

(vi)evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and the Agents’ counsel that the Registration Statement remains effective;

 

(vii)resolutions duly adopted by the Board, and certified by an officer of the Company, authorizing the Company’s execution of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Shares; and

 

(viii)such other documents as the Agents shall reasonably request.

 

b.The Agents shall have received a letter or letters, which shall include legal opinions and negative assurance statements, of King & Spalding LLP, counsel to the Agents, addressed to the Agents and dated the date of this Agreement, addressing such matters as the Agents may reasonably request.

 

6.    Additional Covenants of the Company and the Operating Partnership. Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, further covenants and agrees with each of the Agents as follows:

 

a.Each Transaction Proposal made by the Company that is accepted by an Agent by means of a Transaction Acceptance and each execution and delivery by the Company and the Operating Partnership of a Terms Agreement shall be deemed to be (i) an affirmation that the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Operating Partnership herein contained and contained in any certificate delivered to such Agent pursuant hereto are true and correct at such Time of Acceptance or the date of such Terms Agreement, as the case may be, and (ii) an undertaking that such representations, warranties and agreements will be true and correct on any applicable Time of Sale and Settlement Date, as though made at and as of each such time (it being understood that such representations, warranties and agreements shall relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented at the time of such Transaction Acceptance or Terms Agreement, as the case may be).

 

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b.Each time that (i) the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (including, except as noted in the proviso at the end of this Section 6(b), by the filing of any Incorporated Document), (ii) there is a Principal Settlement Date pursuant to a Terms Agreement, or (iii) the Agents shall reasonably request, provided that the Agent shall not make such a request during periods that there is no proposed Agency Transaction pursuant to a delivery of a Transaction Proposal (each date referred to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, a “Bring-Down Delivery Date”), the Company shall, unless the Agent agrees otherwise, furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent a certificate, dated as of such Bring-Down Delivery Date and delivered within two Exchange Business Days after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, delivered on such Principal Settlement Date, of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 5(a)(i) hereof, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented at the time of delivery of such certificate, or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 5(a)(i) hereof furnished to the Agents is true and correct as of such Bring-Down Delivery Date as though made at and as of such date (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented at the time of delivery of such certificate); provided, however, that the filing of a proxy statement in connection with the Company’s annual or special meeting of stockholders or a Current Report on Form 8-K will not constitute a Bring-Down Delivery Date under clause (i) above unless either (A) (x) such Current Report on Form 8-K is filed at any time during which either a Transaction Acceptance is binding and the Company has not suspended the use thereof (and prior to the settlement of the Shares specified therein) or a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) or such Current Report on Form 8-K is filed at any time from and including the date of a Terms Agreement through and including the related Settlement Date and (y) the Agent has reasonably requested that such date be deemed to be a Bring-Down Delivery Date based upon the event or events reported in such Current Report on Form 8-K; or (B) such Current Report on Form 8-K contains capsule financial information, historical or pro forma financial statements, supporting schedules or other financial data, including any Current Report on Form 8-K or part thereof under Item 2.02 that is considered “filed” under the Exchange Act but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any Current Report on Form 8-K or any part thereof under Item 2.02 or 7.01 that is “furnished”; and provided, further, that any Current Report on Form 8-K or amendment thereto filed in connection with any acquisition announced prior to the date hereof will not constitute a Bring-Down Delivery Date; and provided, further, that an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the offering of other securities pursuant to the Registration Statement will not constitute a Bring-Down Delivery Date.

 

c.On each Bring-Down Delivery Date, the Company shall, unless the Agents agree otherwise, cause to be furnished to the Agents (a) the written opinion and, if not included in such opinion, negative assurance letter of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel to the Company, and (b) the written opinion of Venable LLP, Maryland counsel to the Company, each dated as of the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date and delivered within two Exchange Business Days after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, dated and delivered on such Principal Settlement Date, of the same tenor as the opinions and letters referred to in Section 5(a)(ii) hereof, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented at the time of delivery of such opinions and letters, or, in lieu of such opinions and letters, such counsel shall furnish the Agents with a letter substantially to the effect that the Agents may rely on the opinion and letter of such counsel referred to in Section 5(a)(ii), furnished to the Agents, to the same extent as though they were dated the date of such letter authorizing reliance (except that statements in such last opinion and letter of such counsel shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented at the time of delivery of such letters authorizing reliance).

 

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d.On each Bring-Down Delivery Date, the Company shall, unless the Agents agree otherwise, cause Deloitte & Touche LLP (or the Company’s then-current independent registered public accounting firm) to furnish to the Agents a comfort letter, dated as of the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date and delivered within two Exchange Business Days after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, delivered on such Principal Settlement Date, of the same tenor as the letter referred to in Section 5(a)(iv) hereof, but modified to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented at the date of such letter, and, if the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall include or incorporate by reference the financial statements of any entity or business (other than the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries), the Company shall, if requested by the Agents, cause a firm of independent registered public accountants to furnish to the Agents a comfort letter, dated as of the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date and delivered as promptly as practicable after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, delivered on such Principal Settlement Date, addressing such matters as the Agents may reasonably request.

 

e.(i) No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Act shall be pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Act (in the case of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Act); and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Agents and no suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, shall have occurred and be in effect at the time the Company delivers a Transaction Proposal to any Agent; and (ii) the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a 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 at the time the Company delivers a Transaction Proposal to any Agent.

 

f.The Company and the Operating Partnership shall reasonably cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review requested by the Agents or the Agents’ counsel from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any Terms Agreement, including: (i) at any Time of Sale for any Principal Transaction or Principal Settlement Date, providing information and making available appropriate documents and appropriate corporate officers of the Company and the Operating Partnership and, upon reasonable request, representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP (and, if the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free-Writing Prospectus shall include or incorporate by reference the financial statements of any entity or business (other than the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries), representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm that audited or reviewed such financial statements) for an update on diligence matters with representatives of the Agents and (ii) at each Bring-Down Delivery Date and otherwise as the Agents may reasonably request, providing information and making available documents and appropriate corporate officers of the Company, the Operating Partnership and representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP (and, if the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free-Writing Prospectus shall include or incorporate by reference the financial statements of any entity or business (other than the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries), representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm that audited or reviewed such financial statements) for one or more due diligence sessions with representatives of the Agents and their counsel.

 

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g.Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver (or cause to be delivered) any of the documents referred to in Sections 6(b) through 6(d) hereof, be deemed to affirm any of the representations or warranties in this Agreement pursuant to Section 3 or 6(a) hereof after the date hereof during periods in which no Agency Transaction is then-contemplated until the Company delivers a Transaction Proposal pursuant to this Agreement.

 

h.The Company shall disclose, in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in its Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed by the Company with the Commission from time to time, the amount of the Shares sold through the Agents under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, and the gross and net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Shares and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter or, in the case of an Annual Report on Form 10-K, during the fiscal year covered by such Annual Report and the fourth quarter of such fiscal year.

 

All opinions, letters and other documents referred to in Sections 6(b) through (d) above shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agents. The Agents will provide the Company with such notice (which may be oral, and in such case, will be confirmed via e-mail as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter) as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances when requesting an opinion, letter or other document referred to in Sections 6(b) through (d) above.

 

7.    Conditions of the Agents’ Obligation. The Agents’ obligation to solicit purchases on an agency basis for the Shares or otherwise take any action pursuant to a Transaction Acceptance and to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

a.At the Time of Acceptance, at the time of the commencement of trading on the Exchange on the Purchase Date(s) and at the relevant Time of Sale and Agency Settlement Date, or with respect to a Principal Transaction pursuant to a Terms Agreement, at the time of execution and delivery of the Terms Agreement by the Company and the Operating Partnership and at the relevant Time of Sale and Principal Settlement Date:

 

(i)The representations, warranties and agreements on the part of the Company and the Operating Partnership herein contained or contained in any certificate of an officer or officers, general partner, managing member or other authorized representative of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects.

 

(ii)The Company and the Operating Partnership shall have performed and observed its covenants and other obligations hereunder and/or under any Terms Agreement, as the case may be, in all material respects.

 

(iii)Trading in the Class A Common Stock on the Exchange shall not have been suspended.

 

(iv)From the date of this Agreement, no event or condition of a type described in Section 3(n)(i) or (ii) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus and the effect of which in the reasonable judgment of the Agent makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the applicable Settlement Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

(v)The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Transaction Acceptance or pursuant to a Terms Agreement, as applicable, shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.

 

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(vi)(A) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the relevant Settlement Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares and (B) no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the relevant Settlement Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares.

 

(vii)(A) No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act shall be pending before or to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership threatened by the Commission and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act shall have been received by the Company or the Operating Partnership; (B) the Prospectus and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Act (in the case of any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Act); (C) all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Agent; and (D) no suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and no initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, shall have occurred and be in effect. The Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a 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 at the time the Company or the Operating Partnership delivers a Transaction Proposal to the Agent or the Company, the Operating Partnership and the applicable Agent execute a Terms Agreement, as the case may be.

 

(viii)No amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall have been filed to which the applicable Agent shall have reasonably objected in writing.

 

b.Subsequent to the relevant Time of Acceptance or, in the case of a Principal Transaction, subsequent to execution of the applicable Terms Agreement, (A) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any debt securities or preferred equity securities of or guaranteed by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act; and (B) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any debt securities or preferred equity securities of or guaranteed by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading) in each case that has not been described in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus issued prior to any related Time of Sale.

 

c.Within two Exchange Business Days after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, on such Principal Settlement Date, the Agent shall have received the officer’s certificates, opinions and negative assurance letters of counsel, as applicable, and comfort letters and other documents provided for under Sections 6(b) through (d), inclusive. For purposes of clarity and without limitation to any other provision of this Section 7 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that each Agent’s obligations, if any, to solicit purchases of Shares on an agency basis or otherwise take any action pursuant to a Transaction Acceptance shall, unless otherwise agreed in writing by such Agent, be suspended during the period from and including a Bring-Down Delivery Date through and including the time that such Agent shall have received the documents described in the preceding sentence.

 

8.    Termination.

 

a.(i) The Company and the Operating Partnership may terminate this Agreement in their sole discretion at any time upon prior written notice to the Agents. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except that (A) with respect to any pending sale, the obligations of the Company and the Operating Partnership, including in respect of compensation of the Agents, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination; and (B) the provisions of Sections 4 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, only Section 4(r)), 9, 13, 14, 16 and 22 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination; and (ii) in the case of any sale by the Company and the Operating Partnership pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of the Company and the Operating Partnership pursuant to such Terms Agreement and this Agreement may not be terminated by the Company or the Operating Partnership without the prior written consent of the applicable Agent.

 

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b.(i) Each Agent may terminate its own obligations under the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase Shares in its sole discretion at any time upon giving prior written notice to the Company and the Operating Partnership. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except that the provisions of Sections 4 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, only Section 4(r)), 9, 13, 14, 16 and 22 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination; and (ii) in the case of any purchase by an Agent pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of such Agent pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination by such Agent at any time prior to or at the Principal Settlement Date if since the time of execution of the Terms Agreement or the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, (A) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by the NYSE; (B) trading of any securities issued by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the counter market; (C) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York state authorities; or (D) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, solely in the case of events and conditions described in this clause (D), in the Agent’s judgment, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus or such Terms Agreement. If the Agent elects to terminate its obligations pursuant to this Section 8(b)(ii), then the Company shall be notified promptly in writing.

 

c.This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the earliest of (A) termination of the Agreement pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) above or otherwise by mutual written agreement of the parties and (B) such date that the Maximum Amount of Shares has been sold in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any Terms Agreements, in each case except that the provisions of Sections 4 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, only Section 4(r)), 9, 13, 14, 16 and 22 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

d.Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agents, the Company or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, or such later date as may be required pursuant to Section 8(a) or (b). If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 hereof.

 

9.    Indemnity and Contribution.

 

a.The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Agents and their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls any Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable out of pocket legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to the Agents furnished to the Company in writing by the Agents expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Agents consists of the Information Supplied by the Agents.

 

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b.Each Agent agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Operating Partnership, their respective directors, and their officers who signed the Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the Operating Partnership to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Agent furnished to the Company or the Operating Partnership in writing by such Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed upon that only such information furnished by the Agents as of the date of this Agreement consists of the Information Supplied by the Agents.

 

c.If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either Section 9(a) or 9(b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 9 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 9. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 9 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) included both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for (A) the Agents and their respective affiliates and their directors and officers and their control persons, if any, who are parties to such proceeding, as a group or (B) the Company, the Operating Partnership, their respective directors, their respective officers who signed the Registration Statement and control persons of the Company or the Operating Partnership, if any, who are parties to such proceeding, as a group, as the case may be, and that all such reasonable fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Agents and their respective affiliates, directors and officers and their control persons, if any, shall be designated in writing by the Agents, and any such separate firm for the Company, the Operating Partnership, their respective directors, their respective officers who signed the Registration Statement and control persons of the Company or the Operating Partnership, if any, shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification is or could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested an Indemnifying Person to reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 9(c), the Indemnifying Person agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such Indemnifying Person of the aforesaid request, (ii) such Indemnifying Person 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 Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement, unless such failure to reimburse the Indemnified Person is based on a dispute with a good faith basis as to the obligation of the Indemnifying Person arising under this Section 9 to indemnify the Indemnified Person, and the Indemnifying Person shall have notified the Indemnified Person of such good faith dispute prior to the date of such settlement.

 

27

 

 

d.If the indemnification provided for in Sections 9(a) and 9(b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such Sections, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the applicable Agent, on the other, from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreements; 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) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the applicable Agent, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the applicable Agent, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Operating Partnership from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreements and the total discounts and commissions received by the applicable Agent in connection therewith bear to the aggregate Gross Sales Price of such Shares. The relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the applicable Agent, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, or by the applicable Agent, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

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e.The Company, the Operating Partnership and the Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 9(d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 9(d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, in no event shall an Agent be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discounts and commissions received by such Agent with respect to the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreements exceeds the amount of any damages that such Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

f.The remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

 

10.   Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of communication (a) if to the Agents, to (i) Raymond James & Associates, Inc., 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716 to the attention of Jeff Fordham (fax no. (866) 597-3996, email: Jeff.Fordham@RaymondJames.com), (ii) Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, to the attention of Syndicate Department (fax no. (414) 298-7474, with a copy to the Legal Department, (iii) B. Riley FBR, Inc., 299 Park Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10171, to the attention of ATM Administration, email: atmadmin@brileyfbr.com), (iv) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, to the attention of General Counsel (fax no. (646) 291-1469), (v) RBC Capital Markets, LLC, 200 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281 to the attention of Equity Syndicate Department (fax no. (212) 428-6260, email: equityprospectus@rbccm.com), and (v) Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, One South Street, 15th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 to the attention of Syndicate Department (fax no. (443) 224-1273, email: SyndProspectus@stifel.com), and with copy for informational purposes to King & Spalding LLP, 1180 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, Attn: Keith M. Townsend, C. (fax no. (404) 572-5133, email: ktownsend@kslaw.com), and if to the Company or the Operating Partnership, to CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., 5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 2650, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 to the attention of Ursula Godoy-Arbelaez (email: ursula.godoy-arbelaez@catchmark.com) and Lesley Solomon (email: lesley.solomon@catchmark.com); and with a copy for informational purposes to Alston & Bird LLP, 1201 West Peachtree St., NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, Attn: Rosemarie Thurston, Michael Kessler (email: rosemarie.thurston@alston.com; michael.kessler@alston.com).

 

11.   No Fiduciary Relationship. Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledges and agrees that the Agents are each acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s-length contractual counterparty to the Company and the Operating Partnership with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby and any Terms Agreements (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other person. Additionally, the Agents are not advising the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company and the Operating Partnership shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Agents shall not have any responsibility or liability to the Company or the Operating Partnership with respect thereto. Any review by an Agent of the Company or the Operating Partnership, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of such Agent and shall not be on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership.

 

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12.   Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share related numbers contained in this Agreement, any Transaction Proposal and any Transaction Acceptance shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split effected with respect to the Shares.

 

13.   Governing Law; Construction.

 

a.This Agreement, any Terms Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

b.The Section headings in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement.

 

14.   Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and the officers, directors, affiliates and controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement or any Terms Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any such Terms Agreement or any provision contained herein or therein. No purchaser of Shares from or through any Agent shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of purchase.

 

15.   Counterparts. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

16.   Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Agents contained in this Agreement or any Terms Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable Agent.

 

17.   Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under Act; the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Act.

 

18.   Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto or thereto as the case may be.

 

19.   Agents as Market Makers. The Agents and one or more of their respective affiliates may make markets in the Class A Common Stock or other securities of the Company, in connection with which they may buy and sell, as agent or principal, for long or short account, shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities of the Company at the same time that such Agent is acting as agent pursuant to this Agreement; provided that each Agent acknowledges and agrees that any such transactions are not being, and shall not be deemed to have been, undertaken at the request or direction of, or for the account of, the Company and that the Company has and shall have no control over any decision by any Agent or any of their respective affiliates to enter into any such transactions.

 

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20.   Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth herein, no claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have nonexclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each of the Agents and the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries, on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates, waives any right it may have to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim, whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise, in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the Agents and the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Agents, the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Agents, the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries, as applicable, is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

 

21.   Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

22.   Waiver of Trial by Jury. The Company, the Operating Partnership and each of the Agents hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any action, claim, suit or legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  CATCHMARK TIMBER TRUST, INC.
   
   
   
  /s/ Brian M. Davis
  Name: Brian M. Davis
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
   
   
  CATCHMARK TIMBER OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
   
  By: CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.
  Its: General Partner
   
   
   
  /s/ Brian M. Davis
  Name: Brian M. Davis
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

 

[Signature Page to Distribution Agreement]

 

 

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the

date first above written:

 

RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, Inc.
     
     
By: /s/ Steven Loffman       
Name: Steven Loffman  
Title: Managing Director  

 

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
     
     
By: /s/ Christopher Walter  
Name: Christopher Walter  
Title: Director  

 

B. Riley FBR, Inc.
     
     
By: /s/ Patricia McNicoll  
Name: Patricia McNicoll  
Title: SMD & Co-Head of Investment Banking  

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
     
     
By: /s/ Matthew T. Morris  
Name: Matthew T. Morris  
Title: Director  

 

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC
     
     
By: /s/ Donovan Campbell  
Name: Donovan Campbell  
Title: Managing Director  

 

STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
   
     
By: /s/ Chad Gorsuch  
Name: Chad Gorsuch  
Title: Managing Director  

 

[Signature Page to Distribution Agreement]

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Subsidiaries

 

CatchMark LP Holder, LLC

CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P.

Timberlands II, LLC

CatchMark Timber TRS, Inc.

CatchMark TRS Harvesting Operations, LLC

CatchMark HBU, LLC

CatchMark Texas Timberlands, L.P.

CatchMark Texas Timberlands GP, LLC

CatchMark Southern Holdings II GP, LLC

CatchMark Southern Timberlands II, L.P.

CatchMark South Carolina Timberlands, LLC

CatchMark TRS Harvesting Operations II, LLC

Creek Pine Holdings, LLC

Triple T GP, LLC

CatchMark TRS Creek Management, LLC

CatchMark TRS Investments, LLC

CatchMark TRS Management, LLC

CTT Employee, LLC

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

TERMS AGREEMENT

 

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P. 

 

_____________, 20__

 

[Applicable Agent]

[Agent’s Notice Address]

 

Dear Sirs:

 

Each of CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Distribution Agreement dated May 7, 2020 (the “Distribution Agreement”) among the Company, the Operating Partnership, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (“Raymond James”), Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (“Baird”), B. Riley FBR, Inc. (“FBR”), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”) and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel”) (Raymond James, Baird, FBR, Citi, RBC and Stifel, collectively, the “Agents” and each individually, an “Agent”), to issue and sell to [name of applicable Agent] the securities specified in the Schedule hereto (the “Purchased Securities”). Unless otherwise defined below, terms defined in the Distribution Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.

 

Each of the provisions of the Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Agents, as agents of the Company and the Operating Partnership, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Settlement Date set forth in the Schedule hereto.

 

An amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to [name of applicable Agent], is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company and the Operating Partnership agrees to issue and sell to [name of applicable Agent], and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company and the Operating Partnership, the Purchased Securities at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule hereto.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of the Distribution Agreement or this Terms Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Operating Partnership consent to [name of applicable Agent] trading in the Class A Common Stock for [name of applicable Agent]’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Purchased Securities occur pursuant to this Terms Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

35

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between [name of applicable Agent], the Company and the Operating Partnership.

 

   Very truly yours,
    
    
  CATCHMARK TIMBER TRUST, INC.
    
    
    
  Name: Brian M. Davis
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
    
    
  CATCHMARK TIMBER OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
    
  By: CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.
  Its: General Partner
      
      
      
  Name: Brian M. Davis
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
      
Accepted and agreed as of     
the date first above written:     
      
[name of applicable Agent]     
      
By: /s/     
  Name:      
  Title:     

 

36

 

 

Schedule to Terms Agreement

 

 

Title of Purchased Securities:

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

Number of Shares of Purchased Securities:

[] shares

 

Initial Price to Public:

$[] per share

 

Purchase Price Payable by [name of applicable Agent]:

$[] per share

 

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

[By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.]

 

Method of Delivery:

[To [name of applicable Agent]’s account, or the account of [name of applicable Agent]’s designee, at The Depository Trust Company via DWAC in return for payment of the purchase price.]

 

Settlement Date:

[], 20__

 

Closing Location:

[]

 

Documents to be Delivered:

 

The following documents referred to in the Distribution Agreement shall be delivered on the Settlement Date as a condition to the closing for the Purchased Securities (which documents shall be dated on or as of the Settlement Date and shall be appropriately updated to cover any Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses and any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses and any documents incorporated by reference therein):

 

(1) the officer’s certificate referred to in Section 5(a)(i);

(2) the opinion and negative assurance letter of the Company’s outside counsel referred to in Section 5(a)(ii);

(3) the comfort letter referred to in Section 5(a)(iv);

(4) the opinion and negative assurance letter referred to in Section 5(b); and

(5) such other documents as [name of applicable Agent] shall reasonably request.

 

Time of sale: [] [a.m./p.m.] (New York City time) on [], []

 

37

 

 

Time of sale information:

 

  · The number of shares of Purchased Securities set forth above
  · The initial price to public set forth above
  · [Other]

 

38

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE

 

Dated __________, 20__

 

We, [name], [title] of CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and [name], [title] of CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), do hereby certify that this certificate is signed by us pursuant to Sections 5(a)(i) and 6(b) of the Distribution Agreement dated May 7, 2020 among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, B. Riley FBR, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (the “Agreement”), and do hereby further certify on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership, and not in our respective individual capacities, as follows:

 

1. The representations and warranties each of the Company and the Operating Partnership in the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof as though made on and as of this date;

 

2. The Company and the Operating Partnership have performed all obligations and satisfied all conditions on their respective parts to be performed or satisfied pursuant to the Agreement on or prior to the date hereof in all material respects;

 

3. The Company’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-236793) and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective under the Act; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the undersigned, threatened by the Commission; no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company or the Operating Partnership; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission have been complied with; and

 

4. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has not been any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, prospects, properties, assets or results of operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

39

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

PERMITTED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES

 

None.

 

40

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

COMPANY WIRE TRANSFER INFORMATION

 

41

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE AGENTS

 

Information Supplied by Raymond James:

 

The legal name of Raymond James is Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

 

Information Supplied by Baird:

 

The legal name of Baird is Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.

 

Information Supplied by FBR:

 

The legal name of FBR is B. Riley FBR, Inc.

 

Information Supplied by Citi:

 

The legal name of Citi is Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

Information Supplied by RBC:

 

The legal name of RBC is RBC Capital Markets, LLC.

 

Information Supplied by Stifel:

 

The legal name of Stifel is Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

 

Information Supplied by the Agents:

 

The Company will pay the Agents a commission equal to not more than 2.0% of the gross sales price of any Shares sold through such Agent, as agent. The remaining sales proceeds, after deduction for any transaction fees, transaction taxes or similar taxes or fees imposed by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization in respect of the sale of the applicable Shares, will equal the net proceeds for the sale of the Shares.

 

42

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

   

 

 

May 7, 2020

 

 

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 2650

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

 

Re:Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-236793)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have served as Maryland counsel to CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of shares of Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 (the “Shares”), covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement, and all amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). The Shares are to be issued from time to time pursuant to the Prospectus Supplement and the Distribution Agreement (each as defined herein) in one or more transactions deemed to be “at the market” offerings (each, an “Offering” and, collectively, the “Offerings”) under Rule 415 of the 1933 Act.

 

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

 

1.             The Registration Statement;

 

2.             The Prospectus, dated May 7, 2020, as supplemented by a Prospectus Supplement, dated May 7, 2020 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the 1933 Act;

 

3.             The charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

 

4.             The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

 

5.             A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

 

6.             Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) relating to, among other matters, (a) the sale, issuance and registration of the Shares, (b) the authorization of the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Distribution Agreement and (c) the delegation to certain officers of the Company (the “Authorized Officers”) of the power to determine, subject to certain parameters established by the Board, the number of Shares and the offering price of each Share to be sold from time to time pursuant to the Distribution Agreement (the “Resolutions”), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

 

7.             The Distribution Agreement, dated May 7, 2020 (the “Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, B. Riley FBR, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated;

 

 

  
  

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

May 7, 2020

Page 2

 

 

  

8.             A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

 

9.             Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

 

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

 

1.             Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.

 

2.             Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

 

3.             Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

 

4.             All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

 

5.             The Shares will not be issued in violation of any restriction or limitation contained in Article VI of the Charter.

 

6.             Upon the issuance of any of the Shares, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

 

1.             The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

 

2.             The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and, when and to the extent issued against payment therefor in accordance with the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement, the Distribution Agreement, the Resolutions and any other actions relating to the Shares taken by the Board or the Authorized Officers, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

 

  
  

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

May 7, 2020

Page 4

 

 

 

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning federal law or the laws of any other state. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter. The opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of judicial decisions which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.

 

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.

 

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Offerings (the “Current Report”), which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report and the said incorporation by reference and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.

 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Venable LLP

 

 

Exhibit 8.1

 

 

The Atlantic Building

950 F Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004-1404

202-239-3300 | Fax: 202-239-3333

 

May 7, 2020

 

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 2650

Atlanta, GA 30328

 

Re:CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.
  At-the-Market Public Offering of Shares of Class A Common Stock

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have represented CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of up to $75,000,000 of shares of its Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Shares”), pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-236793) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 28, 2020, as amended on May 4, 2020 and declared effective by the Commission on May 7, 2020 (the “Registration Statement”), the prospectus dated May 7, 2020 contained therein, and the related prospectus supplement, dated May 7, 2020. The Shares are being issued and sold pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 7, 2020 (the “Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P. and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, B. Riley FBR, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated acting as Agents party to the Distribution Agreement. This opinion letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 16 of the Commission’s Form S-3 and Item 601(b)(8) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. Capitalized terms used in this letter and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Distribution Agreement

 

In connection with this opinion, we have made such legal and factual inquiries as we have deemed necessary or appropriate, including an examination of the Company’s Sixth Articles of Amendment and Restatement (as amended), the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (as amended), the Registration Statement, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us to render this opinion. In addition, the Company provided us with, and we are relying upon, a certificate dated as of the date hereof (the “Officer’s Certificate”) containing certain factual representations and covenants of an officer of the Company relating to, among other things, the actual and proposed operations of the Company and the entities in which it holds direct or indirect interests. For purposes of our opinion, however, we have not made an independent investigation of the facts, representations and covenants set forth in the Officer's Certificate, the Registration Statement, or in any other document. We have assumed and relied on the representations that the information presented in the Officer's Certificate and the Registration Statement accurately and completely describes all material facts relevant to our opinion. We have assumed that such statements, representations and covenants are true without regard to any qualification as to knowledge or belief. We are not, however, aware of any facts inconsistent with the representations contained in the Officer’s Certificate or the facts in the above referenced documents. Our opinion is conditioned on the continuing accuracy and completeness of such statements, representations and covenants. Any material change or inaccuracy in the facts referred to, set forth, or assumed herein or in the Officer's Certificate may affect our conclusions set forth herein.

 

Alston & Bird LLP www.alston.com
Atlanta | Beijing | Brussels | Charlotte | Dallas | London | Los Angeles | New York | Raleigh | San Francisco | Silicon Valley | Washington, D.C.

 

 

Page 2

 

In rendering the opinion set forth herein, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject, in all respects, to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in this opinion letter, it is our opinion that:

 

(i)            Commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2009, the Company has been organized, and has operated, in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation of the Company as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the present and proposed method of operation (as described in the Registration Statement and the Officer’s Certificate) of the Company will permit the Company to continue to so qualify.

 

(ii)           The description of the law and the legal conclusions contained in the Registration Statement under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” are correct in all material respects.

 

The Company’s qualification as a REIT depends on the Company’s ongoing satisfaction of the various requirements under the Code and described in the Registration Statement under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” relating to, among other things, the nature of the Company’s gross income, the composition of the Company’s assets, the level of distributions to the Company’s stockholders, and the diversity of the Company’s ownership. Alston & Bird LLP will not review the Company’s compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis. No assurances can be given that the Company will satisfy these requirements.

 

An opinion of counsel merely represents counsel’s best judgment with respect to the probable outcome on the merits and is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts. There can be no assurance that positions contrary to our opinion will not be taken by the Internal Revenue Service or that a court considering the issues would not hold contrary to such opinion.

 

 

Page 3

 

Our opinion is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative positions of the Internal Revenue Service, and existing judicial decisions, any of which could be changed at any time, possibly on a retroactive basis. Any such changes could adversely affect this opinion. In addition, as noted above, our opinion is based solely on the documents that we have examined and the representations that have been made to us and cannot be relied upon if any of the facts contained in such documents or in such additional information is, or later becomes, inaccurate or if any of the representations made to us is, or later becomes, inaccurate. Finally, our opinion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax matters specifically covered herein, and we have not opined on any other tax consequences to the Company or any other person, and we express no opinion with respect to other federal laws, the laws of any other jurisdiction, the laws of any state or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state.

 

This opinion letter is provided to you for your use solely in connection with the offering of the Shares described herein and may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to or relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose without our express written consent or used in any other transaction or context. No opinion other than that expressly contained herein may be inferred or implied. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof and we make no undertaking, and expressly disclaim any duty, to supplement or update this opinion letter, if, after the date hereof, facts or circumstances come to our attention or changes in the law occur which could affect such opinion.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement (or to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 8.1 to a Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement). In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Alston & Bird LLP
   
  ALSTON & BIRD LLP

 

 

 

 

v3.20.1
Cover
May 07, 2020
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Amendment Flag false
Document Period End Date May 07, 2020
Entity File Number 001-36239
Entity Registrant Name CATCHMARK TIMBER TRUST, INC.
Entity Central Index Key 0001341141
Entity Tax Identification Number 20-3536671
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code MD
Entity Address, Address Line One 5 Concourse Parkway
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 2650
Entity Address, City or Town Atlanta
Entity Address, State or Province GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 30328
City Area Code 855
Local Phone Number 858-9794
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(b) Security Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol CTT
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company false