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8-K
Sotherly Hotels Inc. · Oct 27, 6:30 AM ET
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Sotherly Hotels Inc. 8-K
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Contents
111
ARTICLE ITHE MERGER
Section 1.01 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the MGCL and the MLLCA, at the Effective Time: (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”); (b) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease; and (c) the Company will continue its corporate existence under the MGCL as the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”).
Section 1.02 Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) will take place at 10:00 A.M., Memphis, Tennessee time, as soon as practicable (and, in any event, within three (3) Business Days) after the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions to the Merger set forth in ARTICLE VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all such conditions), unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to its terms or unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto; provided, that notwithstanding the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VI, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, in no event shall the Closing be required to occur prior to the date that is fifteen (15) Business Days after the Company Stockholders Meeting. The Closing shall take place remotely by exchange of documents and signatures (or their electronic counterparts), unless another place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto. The actual date of the Closing is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Section 1.03 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company, Parent, and Merger Sub will cause the articles of merger (the “Articles of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged, and filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the MGCL and the MLLCA and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the MGCL and the MLLCA. The Merger will become effective at such time as the Articles of Merger have been duly filed with, and accepted for record by, the SDAT or at such later date or time (not to exceed thirty (30) days after the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT) as may be agreed by the Company and Parent in writing and specified in the Articles of Merger in accordance with the MGCL and MLLCA (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).
Section 1.04 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and in the applicable provisions of the MGCL and MLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, the assets of the Company and Merger Sub, including any legacies which each would have been capable of taking transfer to, shall vest in, and devolve on the Surviving Corporation without further act or deed, and the Surviving Corporation shall be liable for all the debts and obligations of the Company and Merger Sub.
Section 1.05 Charter; By-Laws. At the Effective Time: (a) the charter of the Company (including any articles supplementary) (the “Charter”) shall be the charter of the Surviving Corporation until, subject to Section 5.07(a), thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof and applicable Law; and (b) the by-laws of the Company shall be amended and restated so as to read in their entirety as set forth on Exhibit B, and, as so amended and restated, shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation until, subject to Section 5.07(a), thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof and applicable Law.
Section 1.06 Directors and Officers. The managers and officers of Merger Sub, in each case, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, or removal in accordance with the Charter and by-laws of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 1.07 Tax Treatment of the Merger. With respect to the Company Common Stock (including any Company Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that a holder thereof elects to have converted, at the Effective Time, into Company Common Stock in accordance with the Charter upon exercise of conversion rights triggered by the closing of the Merger), the parties hereto hereby confirm, covenant and agree to treat the Merger, for United States federal income tax purposes (and any applicable state and local income tax purposes), as the taxable sale and purchase of such Company Common Stock. Unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state of local Law), all parties shall file all United States federal, state and local Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the intended tax treatment of the Merger described in this Section 1.07, and no party shall take a position inconsistent with such treatment.
ARTICLE IIEFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK; PAYMENT FOR SHARES
Section 2.01 Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, or the Company or the holder of any equity securities of Parent, Merger Sub, or the Company:
Section 2.02 Surrender and Payment.
Section 2.03 Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company shall occur (other than the issuance of additional shares of capital stock of the Company as permitted by this Agreement), including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split), or combination, exchange, readjustment of shares, or similar transaction, or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock, the Merger Consideration and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change; provided, however, that this sentence shall not be construed to permit the Company to take any action with respect to its securities that is prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.
Section 2.04 Withholding Rights. Each of the Paying Agent, Parent, Merger Sub, and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this ARTICLE II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any Tax Laws. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld and timely remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity by the Paying Agent, Parent, Merger Sub, or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Paying Agent, Parent, Merger Sub, or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.
Section 2.05 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen, or destroyed and, if required by Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent will issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen, or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this ARTICLE II.
Section 2.06 Treatment of Stock-Based Compensation.
Section 2.07 Dissenters Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights or rights of an objecting stockholder pursuant to the MGCL shall be available with respect to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE IIIREPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Section 3.01 Organization; Standing and Power; Organizational Documents; Subsidiaries.
Section 3.02 Capital Structure.
Section 3.03 Authority; Non-Contravention; Governmental Consents; Board Approval; Anti-Takeover Statutes.
Section 3.04 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Section 3.05 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2024 and until the date of this Agreement, (a) except as set forth on Section 3.05(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been conducted in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and (b) there has not been any adverse change, event, development or state of circumstances that, individually or in the aggregate, has had, or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.06 No Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued, absolute contingent or otherwise, of a type required by GAAP as of the date hereof to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet (or in the notes thereto) other than (a) as reflected, disclosed or reserved against in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2024 or the notes thereto included in the Company SEC
Documents, (b) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2024, (c) liabilities or obligations incurred or permitted to be incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, or (d) liabilities or obligations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.07 Taxes.
Section 3.08 Intellectual Property.
Section 3.09 Compliance; Permits.
Section 3.10 Litigation. Except as set forth on Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no material Legal Action to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by any Order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Entity from engaging in or continuing to conduct the business of the Company or the Subsidiaries of the Company as currently conducted. No Order of any Governmental Entity has been issued in any proceeding to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries of the Company is or was a party, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, in any other proceeding, that enjoins or requires the Company or any Subsidiaries of the Company to take action of any kind with respect to its businesses, assets or properties. Except as set forth on Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, since the date that is three years prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has received or made any written settlement offer for any material Legal Action to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or potentially could be a party, other than settlement offers that do not exceed $100,000 individually.
Section 3.11 Brokers’ and Finders’ Fees. Except for fees payable pursuant to an engagement letter listed in Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter with the party named on Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter (the “Company Financial Advisor”), a correct and complete copy of which has been provided to Parent, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for investment banker, brokerage, or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.12 Employee Benefits; Labor Matters.
Section 3.13 Properties.
Section 3.14 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Section 3.14 of the Company Disclosure Letter and except as would not be expected to adversely affect the Company or the Subsidiaries of the Company in any material respect: (i) no written notification, demand, request for information, citation, summons, notice of violation or order has been received, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been assessed and no investigation, action, suit or proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of Company, is threatened, in each case relating to Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, and relating to or arising out of any Environmental Law or Hazardous Substance; (ii) Company and the Subsidiaries are, and for the past five (5) years, have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws and all applicable Environmental Permits; (iii) Company and Subsidiaries are in possession of all Environmental Permits necessary for Company and Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect; (iv) any and all Hazardous Substances disposed of by Company and the Subsidiary since December 31, 2021 were disposed in accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (v) Company and the Subsidiaries are not subject to any Order, determination or award by any Governmental Entity pursuant to any Environmental Laws, any Environmental Permit or with respect to any Hazardous Substance; (vi) to the Knowledge of Company, there is no Hazardous Substance in the environment or within the building materials at any Company Owned Real Property, Ground Leased Real Property, or other real property subject to any of the Company Real Property Leases, and (vii) there are no liabilities or obligations of Company or any of the Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise arising under or relating to any Environmental Law or any Hazardous Substance, and there is no condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liability or obligation.
Section 3.15 Material Contracts.
Section 3.16 Insurance. The Company has made available to Parent copies of all material insurance policies and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance contracts providing coverage for the Company Real Property (the “Company Insurance Policies”). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company Insurance Policies are in full force and effect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach or default, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action which, with or without notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit termination or modification of, any Company Insurance Policies. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and to the Knowledge of the Company no notice of cancellation or termination, other than pursuant to the expiration of a term in accordance with the terms thereof, has been received with respect to any Company Insurance Policies.
Section 3.17 Proxy Statement. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the proxy statement relating to the matters to be submitted to the Company’s stockholders at the Company Stockholders Meeting (such proxy statement and any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”) or any other document filed with any other Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (a) in the case of the Proxy Statement, at the time the Proxy Statement is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting to be held in connection with the Merger, contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading at such applicable time, or (b) with respect to any other document to be filed by Company with the SEC in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, at the time of its filing with the SEC, 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, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of clarification, no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect
to statements made in the Proxy Statement based on information supplied by Parent or its Representatives in writing expressly for inclusion in the Proxy Statement.
Section 3.18 Anti-Corruption Matters. Since January 1, 2020, none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any director, officer or, to the Knowledge of the Company, employee or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has: (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment, or other unlawful payments relating to political activity; (ii) made any unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or to any foreign or domestic political party or campaign or violated any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iii) made any other unlawful payment under any applicable Law relating to anti-corruption, bribery, or similar matters. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has disclosed to any Governmental Entity that it violated or may have violated any Law relating to anti-corruption, bribery, or similar matters. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Governmental Entity is investigating, examining, or reviewing the Company’s compliance with any applicable provisions of any Law relating to anti-corruption, bribery, or similar matters.
Section 3.19 Related Person Transactions. Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed through and including the date of this Agreement, since December 31, 2024, there have been no transactions, or series of related transactions, agreements, arrangements, or understandings in effect, nor are there any currently proposed transactions, or series of related transactions, agreements, arrangements, or understandings, that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K that have not been otherwise disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof.
Section 3.20 Fairness Opinion. The Company Board has received the opinion of the Company Financial Advisor (or its oral opinion to be confirmed in writing) to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement and based upon and subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, and, as of the date of this Agreement, such opinion has not been withdrawn, revoked, or modified.
Section 3.21 No Other Representations or Warranties; Acknowledgment of Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties.
ARTICLE IVREPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Section 4.01 Organization. Parent is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
Section 4.02 Authority; Non-Contravention; Governmental Consents; Board Approval.
Section 4.03 Proxy Statement. None of the information with respect to Parent or Merger Sub that Parent or any of its Representatives furnishes in writing to the Company expressly for use or incorporation in the Company Proxy Statement, will, at the time such Proxy Statement is filed with the SEC in definitive form, at the time it (or any amendment or supplement thereto) is first disseminated to the Company’s stockholders, or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting,
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 made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading at such applicable time.
Section 4.04 Financial Capability; Solvency. Parent has or will have, and will cause Merger Sub to have, prior to the Effective Time, sufficient funds to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration contemplated by this Agreement and to perform the other obligations of Parent and Merger Sub contemplated by this Agreement. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is entering into this Agreement with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Assuming that (a) the conditions to the obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger have been satisfied or waived, (b) the representations and warranties set forth in ARTICLE III are true and correct, and (c) the financial projections or forecasts provided by the Company to Parent prior to the date hereof have been prepared in good faith on assumptions that were and continue to be reasonable, then immediately following the Closing, after giving effect to all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Surviving Corporation (on a consolidated basis) will, after giving effect to the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, be Solvent. As used in this Section 4.04, the term “Solvent” shall mean, with respect to a particular date, that on such date, (a) the “present fair saleable value”, of Parent and, after the Closing, Parent and the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) will exceed their total “liabilities, including a reasonable estimate of the amount of all contingent and other liabilities,” as such quoted terms are generally determined in accordance with applicable Laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) Parent and, after the Closing, Parent and the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) will be able to pay all of its liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as they mature, and (c) Parent, and, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) will not have an unreasonably small amount of capital for the operation of the businesses in which it is engaged or intends to engage. For purposes of the foregoing definition, “will not have an unreasonably small amount of capital for the operation of the businesses in which it is engaged or intends to engage” means that Parent and, after the Closing, Parent and the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis), will be able to generate enough cash from operations, asset dispositions or refinancings, or a combination thereof, to meet its obligations as they become due.
Section 4.05 Debt Financing.
Section 4.06 Legal Proceedings. As of the date hereof, there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, Legal Action against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub, nor is there any injunction, Order, judgment, ruling, or decree imposed upon Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub, in each case, by or before any Governmental Entity, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.07 Ownership of Company Common Stock. Neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates or Associates is a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL) of any shares of Company Common Stock.
Section 4.08 Compliance With Laws.
Section 4.09 Brokers. Neither Parent, Merger Sub, nor any of their respective Affiliates has incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for investment banker, brokerage, or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement for which the Company would be liable in connection the Merger.
Section 4.10 No Other Representations or Warranties; Acknowledgment of Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties.
ARTICLE VCOVENANTS
Section 5.01 Conduct of Business of the Company.
Section 5.02 Conduct of Parent.
Section 5.03 Access to Information; Confidentiality.
Section 5.04 No Solicitation.
Section 5.05 Stockholders Meeting; Preparation of Proxy Materials; Approval by Sole Member of Merger Sub.
Section 5.06 RESERVED.
Section 5.07 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
Section 5.08 Commercially Reasonable Efforts.
Section 5.09 Public Announcements. The initial press release with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be a release mutually agreed to by the Company and Parent. Thereafter, each of the Company and Parent agrees that no public release, statement or announcement concerning the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby shall be issued by any party without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed), except as may be required by: (a) applicable Law, (b) court process, (c) the rules or regulations of any applicable United States securities exchange, or (d) any Governmental Entity to which the relevant party is subject or submits, provided, in each such case, the party making the release, statement or announcement shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to allow the other party reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.09 shall not apply to any release, statement or announcement made with respect to: (i) a Company Adverse Recommendation Change issued or made in compliance with Section 5.04; (ii) any other disclosure issued or made in compliance with Section 5.04; (iii) the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby that is substantially similar (and identical in any material respect) to those in a previous release, statement, announcement made by the Company or Parent in accordance with this Section 5.09, or (iv) is otherwise immaterial in substance.
Section 5.10 Anti-Takeover Statutes. If any “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium,” or other anti-takeover Law becomes or is deemed to be applicable to Parent, the Merger Sub, the Company, the Merger, or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, then each of the Company and the Company Board shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to render such anti-takeover Law inapplicable to the foregoing.
Section 5.11 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, each of the parties shall take all such steps as may be required or appropriate to cause to be exempt under Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act any dispositions of shares of Company Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to such shares) that are treated as dispositions under such rule and result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each director or officer of the Company who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Section 5.12 Stock Exchange Delisting; Deregistration. To the extent requested by Parent, prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall cooperate with Parent and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under applicable Laws and the rules and policies of Nasdaq to enable the delisting by the Surviving Corporation of the shares of Company Common Stock from Nasdaq and the deregistration of the shares of Company Common Stock under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, and in any event no more than ten (10) days after the Effective Time.
Section 5.13 Obligations of Merger Sub; Subsidiaries. Parent will take all action necessary to cause Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Company will take all action necessary to cause its Subsidiaries to comply with the obligations set forth in or relating to this Agreement.
Section 5.14 Resignations. The Company shall cause each director of the Company or any director of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to resign in such capacity, with such resignations to be effective as of the Effective Time.
Section 5.15 Conversion of Preferred Stock.
Section 5.16 Treatment of LP Interests. The Company shall offer to purchase for the same per share Merger Consideration that each share of Company Common Stock receives pursuant to this Agreement, simultaneously with the Closing of the Merger, the LP Interests held by the limited partners (other than the Company) in the Partnership pursuant to agreements in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent and in accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 7.01(c) of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement dated December 13, 2004, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), that must be complied with so that the limited partners of the Partnership (other than the Company) are not required under the Partnership Agreement to vote on, consent to, waive any rights with respect to or otherwise approve the Merger, this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 5.17 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect, or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title, and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties, or assets of the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.
Section 5.18 Tax Matters. Parent and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the preparation, execution and filing of all Tax Returns, questionnaires, applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer or gains, sales, use, transfer, value added, stock transfer or stamp taxes, any transfer, recording, registration and other fees and any similar taxes that become payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together with any related interest, penalties or additions to such taxes, “Transfer Taxes”), and shall reasonably cooperate in attempting to minimize the amount of Transfer Taxes.
Section 5.19 Termination of Company Employee Plans. The Company shall terminate, or cause to be terminated, its 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) effective as of the last business day prior to the Closing Date and in connection therewith fully vest all accounts of all participants in the 401(k) Plan and provide for the distribution of all such accounts pursuant to applicable Laws. Additionally, if requested by the Parent, the Company shall terminate, or cause to be terminated, any additional Company Employee Plans as may be requested by the Parent. The Company shall deliver to Parent at Closing duly executed resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company reflecting the termination of the 401(k) Plan and any other designated Company Employee Plans.
Section 5.20 Financing Cooperation.
Section 5.21 Financing.
Section 5.22 Notification of Certain Matters.
ARTICLE VICONDITIONS
Section 6.01 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible pursuant to applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions:
Section 6.02 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible pursuant to applicable Law) by Parent and Merger Sub on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
Section 6.03 Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
ARTICLE VIITERMINATION, AMENDMENT, AND WAIVER
Section 7.01 Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing (whether before or after the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote) by the mutual written consent of Parent, Merger Sub, and the Company.
Section 7.02 Termination by Either Parent or the Company. This Agreement may be terminated by either Parent or the Company at any time prior to the Closing (except as provided otherwise below, whether before or after the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote):
Section 7.03 Termination By Parent. This Agreement may be terminated by Parent at any time prior to the Closing (except as provided otherwise below, whether before or after the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote):
Section 7.04 Termination By the Company. This Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time prior to the Closing (except as provided otherwise below, whether before or after the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote):
Section 7.05 Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination. The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this ARTICLE VII (other than pursuant to Section 7.01) shall deliver written notice of such termination to the other party or parties hereto specifying with particularity the reason for such termination, and any such termination in accordance with this Section 7.05 shall be effective immediately upon delivery of such written notice. If this Agreement is properly and validly terminated pursuant to this ARTICLE VII, it will become void and of no
further force and effect, with no liability on the part of any party to this Agreement (or any stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent, or Representative of such party) to any other party or parties hereto, except that: (a) Section 5.03(b), this Section 7.05, Section 7.06, and ARTICLE VIII (and any related definitions contained in any such Sections or Article) shall survive termination and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms, and (b) except as expressly set forth in Section 7.06, no such termination shall relieve any party of any liability for deliberate fraud by such party or the Willful Breach by such party that occurs prior to such termination.
Section 7.06 Fees and Expenses Following Termination.
Section 7.07 Amendment. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects, whether before or after receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, by written agreement signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that following the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, there shall be no amendment or supplement to the provisions of this Agreement which by Law would require further approval by the holders of Company Common Stock without such approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may this Section 7.07 or Section 8.15(b) (and any other provision of this Agreement to the extent that an amendment of such provision would modify the substance of this Section 7.07 or Section 8.15(b)) be amended in any manner materially adverse to the Debt Financing Sources with respect to any Debt Financing without the prior written consent of such Debt Financing Source adversely affected.
Section 7.08 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, Parent or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, may: (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other party(ies); (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other party(ies) contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered under this Agreement; or (c) unless prohibited by applicable Law, waive compliance with any of the covenants, agreements, or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by such party. The failure of any party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise will not constitute a waiver of such rights.
ARTICLE VIIIMISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01 Definitions.
Section 8.02 Interpretation; Construction.
Section 8.03 Survival. None of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered under this Agreement will survive the Effective Time. This Section 8.03 does not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties contained in this Agreement which, by its terms, contemplates performance after the Effective Time. The Confidentiality Agreement will survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
Section 8.04 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all Legal Actions (whether based on contract, tort, or statute) arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement or the
actions of any of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance, or enforcement hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Maryland or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of Laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Maryland.
Section 8.05 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any Legal Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Circuit Courts of the State of Maryland, or in the event (but only in the event) that such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such Legal Action, in any state or federal court within the State of Maryland. Each of the parties hereto agrees and agree that service of process on such party at the address referred to in Section 8.07 (or such other address as may be specified in accordance with Section 8.07) by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the United States Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service shall be deemed effective service of process. Service made pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Maryland. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such Legal Action for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any Legal Action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim, or otherwise, in any Legal Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder: (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 8.05; (b) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise); and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (i) the suit, action, or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action, or proceeding is improper, or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
Section 8.06 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING
OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION; (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 8.06.
Section 8.07 Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (a) when delivered by hand (providing proof of delivery); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); or (c) on the date sent by email if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or to such other Persons or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.07):
Section 8.08 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all exhibits, annexes, and schedules referred to herein), the Company Disclosure Letter, the Parent Disclosure Letter, and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Parent Disclosure Letter, and the Company Disclosure Letter (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Parent Disclosure Letter or the Company Disclosure Letter), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control.
Section 8.09 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and respective successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except: (a) the provisions of ARTICLE II (which, from and after the Effective Time, also shall be for the benefit of holders of Company Common Stock and Company Equity Awards immediately prior to the Effective Time), (b) Section 5.07 (which, from and after the Effective Time, also shall be for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties), (c) Section 5.15 and Section 5.16 (which, from and after the Effective Time, also shall be for the benefit of holders of Company Preferred Stock and holders of LP Interests (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries)), and (d) Section 5.20, Section 7.07 or Section 8.15(b) (which also shall be for the benefit of the Debt Financing Sources and their respective heirs, executors, estates, personal representatives, successors and assigns). The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties and are for the sole benefit of the parties. The representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the Parties of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the parties. Accordingly, Persons other than the parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.
Section 8.10 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, or incapable of being enforced under any applicable Law, the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the Parties.
The Parties further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that shall achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.
Section 8.11 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither Parent or Merger Sub, on the one hand, nor the Company on the other hand, may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party (Parent in the case of Parent and Merger Sub), other than the pledge of Parent’s rights hereunder as security to its Debt Financing Sources (but no such assignment shall relieve Parent of any of its obligations under this Agreement). No assignment shall relieve the assigning party of any of its obligations hereunder.
Section 8.12 Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any and all remedies expressly conferred upon a party to this Agreement will be cumulative with, and not exclusive of, any other remedy contained in this Agreement, at Law, or in equity. The exercise by a party to this Agreement of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise by it of any other remedy.
Section 8.13 Specific Performance.
Section 8.14 Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which will be one and the same agreement. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by facsimile or by electronic delivery in .pdf format will be sufficient to bind the parties hereto to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 8.15 Non-Recourse.
Section 8.16 Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, all expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the party incurring such expenses.
Section 8.17 Xerox Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (but in all cases subject to and without in any way limiting the rights, remedies and claims of Parent or any of its Affiliates under or pursuant to the Commitment Letter or any other agreement entered into with respect to the Debt Financing or any other loan or debt financing arrangement entered into in connection with this Agreement), each Company Related Party:
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