Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
OF
PLYMOUTH OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC.
FIRST: Plymouth Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, desires to amend and
restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.
SECOND: The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in
effect and as hereinafter amended:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Plymouth Opportunity REIT, Inc. (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Except as provided below, the purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in
any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, qualifying as a real
estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860, or any successor sections, of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)), for which corporations may be organized under the
MGCL and the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for so long as the Corporation is externally advised by the Advisor, it shall not be
a proper purpose of the Corporation to make any significant investment unless the Advisor has
recommended that the Corporation make such investment.
ARTICLE III
PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT
The name and address of the resident agent for service of process of the Corporation in the
State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21201. The address of the Corporations principal office in the State of Maryland is c/o
The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. The
Corporation may have such other offices and places of business within or outside the State of
Maryland as the board may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE IV
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context
otherwise requires:
Acquisition Expenses. Expenses including but not limited to legal fees and expenses,
travel and communications expenses, cost of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on property
not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance and miscellaneous expenses related to
selecting and acquiring properties, or making or investing in loans, whether or not the acquisition
or investment is made.
1
Acquisition Fees. The total of all fees and commissions, excluding Acquisition
Expenses, paid by any party to any party in connection with making or investing in loans or the
purchase, development or construction of property by the Corporation. Included in the computation
of such fees or commissions shall be any real estate commission, selection fee, Development Fee,
Construction Fee, nonrecurring management fee, origination fees, loan fees or points or any fee of
a similar nature, however designated. Excluded shall be Development Fees and Construction Fees paid
to any Person not affiliated with the Sponsor in connection with the actual development and
construction of a project.
Advisor. The Person responsible for directing or performing the day-to-day business
affairs of the Corporation, including a Person to which an Advisor subcontracts substantially all
such functions.
Advisory Agreement. The agreement between the Corporation and the Advisor pursuant to
which the Advisor will direct or perform the day-to-day business affairs of the Corporation.
Affiliate. An Affiliate of another Person includes any of the following:
(a) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with power
to vote, 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person;
(b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or
indirectly owned, controlled or held, with power to vote, by such other Person;
(c) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common
control with such other Person;
(d) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such other
Person; and
(e) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer,
director, trustee or general partner.
Average Invested Assets. For a specified period, the average of the aggregate book
value of the assets of the Corporation invested, directly or indirectly in equity interests in and
loans secured by real estate, before deducting depreciation, bad debts or other non-cash reserves,
computed by taking the average of such values at the end of each month during such period.
Business Day. Any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal
holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law,
regulation or executive order to close.
Capital Stock. All classes or series of stock of the Corporation, including, without
limitation, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.
2
Code. The term shall have the meaning as provided in Article II herein.
Common Stock. The term shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.
Common Stockholders. The registered holders of Common Stock.
Construction Fee. A fee or other remuneration for acting as general contractor and/or
construction manager to construct improvements, supervise and coordinate projects or to provide
major repairs or rehabilitation on a property.
Contract Purchase Price. The amount actually paid or allocated in respect of the
purchase, development, construction or improvement of an asset exclusive of Acquisition Fees and
Acquisition Expenses.
Corporate Governance Committee. The term shall have the meaning as provided in Section
10.1 herein.
Corporation. The term shall have the meaning as provided in Article I herein.
Development Fee. A fee for the packaging of the Corporations property, including the
negotiation and approval of plans and any assistance in obtaining zoning and necessary variances
and financing for a specific property, either initially or at a later date.
Directors. The members of the board of directors, which manages the Corporation.
Independent Directors. The directors of the Corporation who are not associated and
have not been associated within the last two years, directly or indirectly, with the Sponsor or
Advisor of the Corporation.
(a) A director shall be deemed to be associated with the Sponsor or Advisor if he
or she:
(i) owns an interest in the Sponsor, Advisor or any of their Affiliates;
(ii) is employed by the Sponsor, Advisor or any of their Affiliates;
(iii) is an officer or director of the Sponsor, Advisor or any of their
Affiliates;
(iv) performs services, other than as a director, for the Corporation;
(v) is a director for more than three REITs organized by the Sponsor or advised
by the Advisor; or
3
(vi) has any material business or professional relationship with the Sponsor,
Advisor or any of their Affiliates.
(b) For purposes of determining whether or not a business or professional
relationship is material pursuant to (a)(vi) above, the annual gross revenue derived by the
director from the Sponsor, Advisor and their Affiliates shall be deemed material per se if
it exceeds 5% of the directors:
(i) annual gross revenue, derived from all sources, during either of the last two
years; or
(ii) net worth, on a fair market value basis.
(c) An indirect relationship shall include circumstances in which a directors
spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother- or father-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law or
brother- or sister-in-law is or has been associated with the Sponsor, Advisor, any of their
Affiliates or the Corporation.
Independent Expert. A Person (selected by the Corporate Governance Committee) with no
material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor or a director who is
engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets
of the type held by the Corporation.
Initial Investment. An investment of $200,000 by the Sponsor
to acquire an equity interest in the Corporation.
Initial Public Offering. The initial public offering of Common Stock registered on
Registration Statement No. 333-173048 on Form S-11.
Leverage. The aggregate amount of indebtedness of the Corporation for money borrowed
(including purchase money mortgage loans) outstanding at any time, both secured and unsecured.
Listed. Approved for trading on any securities exchange registered as a national
securities exchange under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The term Listing
shall have the correlative meaning.
MGCL. The Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.
NASAA REIT Guidelines. The Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts
as revised and adopted by the North American Securities Administrators Association on May 7, 2007.
Net Assets. The total assets of the Corporation (other than intangibles) at cost,
before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves, less total liabilities, calculated
quarterly by the Corporation on a basis consistently applied.
4
Net Income. For any period, total revenues applicable to such period less the expenses
applicable to such period other than additions to reserves for depreciation or bad debts or other
similar non-cash reserves.
Organization and Offering Expenses. All expenses incurred by and to be paid from the
assets of the Corporation in connection with or preparing the Corporation for registration of and
subsequently offering and distributing its shares to the public, including, but not limited to,
total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters
attorneys); any expense allowance granted by the Corporation to the underwriter or any
reimbursement of expenses of the underwriter by the Corporation; expenses for printing, engraving
and mailing; salaries of employees while engaged in sales activity; charges of transfer agents,
registrars, trustees, escrow holders, depositaries and experts; and expenses of qualification of
the sale of the securities under Federal and state laws, including taxes and fees, accountants and
attorneys fees.
Person. An individual, corporation, association, business trust, estate, trust,
partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity.
Preferred Stock. The term shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.
Prospectus. The term shall have the meaning as defined in Section 2(10) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), including a preliminary prospectus, an
offering circular as described in Rule 253 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Act or, in the case of an intrastate offering, any document by whatever name known
utilized for the purpose of offering and selling securities to the public.
REIT. Real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.
Roll-Up Entity. A partnership, real estate investment trust, corporation, trust or
similar entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of a proposed
Roll-Up Transaction.
Roll-Up Transaction. A transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion or
consolidation, either directly or indirectly, of the Corporation and the issuance of securities of
a Roll-Up Entity to the Common Stockholders.
Such term does not include:
(a) a transaction involving securities of the Corporation that have been Listed
for at least 12 months or traded through the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation National Market System; or
(b) a transaction involving the conversion to corporate, trust or association
form of only the Corporation, if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no
significant adverse change in any of the following:
5
(i) the voting rights of Common Stockholders;
(ii) the term of existence of the Corporation;
(iii) Sponsor or Advisor compensation; or
(iv) the Corporations investment objectives.
SDAT. The State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.
Sponsor. Any Person directly or indirectly instrumental in organizing, wholly or in
part, the Corporation or any Person who will control, manage or participate in the management of
the Corporation, and any Affiliate of such Person. Not included is any Person whose only
relationship with the Corporation is as that of an independent property manager of the
Corporations assets and whose only compensation is as such. Sponsor does not include wholly
independent third parties such as attorneys, accountants and underwriters whose only compensation
is for professional services. A Person may also be deemed a Sponsor of the Corporation (as to be
determined by the Corporate Governance Committee) by:
(a) taking the initiative, directly or indirectly, in founding or organizing the
business or enterprise of the Corporation, either alone or in conjunction with one or more
other Persons;
(b) receiving a material participation in the Corporation in connection with the
founding or organizing of the business of the Corporation, in consideration of services or
property, or both services and property;
(c) having a substantial number of relationships and contacts with the
Corporation;
(d) possessing significant rights to control the Corporations properties;
(e) receiving fees for providing services to the Corporation which are paid on a
basis that is not customary in the industry; or
(f) providing goods or services to the Corporation on a basis which was not
negotiated at arms length with the Corporation.
Total Operating Expenses. All expenses paid or incurred by the Corporation, as
determined under generally accepted accounting principles, that are in any way related to the
operation of the Corporation or to Corporation business, including advisory fees, but excluding (a)
the expenses of raising capital such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit,
accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration and other fees, printing and other such
expenses and taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration
and stock exchange listing of the Capital Stock; (b) interest payments; (c) taxes; (d) non-cash
expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad debt reserves; and (e) Acquisition
Fees, Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on the resale of real property and other
expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition and ownership of real estate interests,
mortgage loans or other property (other than commissions on the sale of assets other than real
property), including the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance,
repair and improvement of property.
6
Unimproved Real Property. The real property of the Corporation that has the following
three characteristics:
(a) an equity interest in real property which was not acquired for the purpose of
producing rental or other operating income;
(b) there is no development or construction in progress on such land; and
(c) no development or construction on such land is planned in good faith to
commence on such land within one year.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1. Authorized Shares. The Corporation has authority to issue
1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (Common Stock), and 10,000,000
shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (Preferred Stock). The aggregate par value
of all authorized shares of Capital Stock having par value is $10,100,000. If shares of Capital
Stock of one class are classified or reclassified into shares of Capital Stock of another class
pursuant to this Article V, the number of authorized shares of Capital Stock of the former class
shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of Capital Stock of the latter class
shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares of Capital Stock so
classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of Capital Stock of all classes
that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of
Capital Stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. The board of directors, with the
approval of a majority of the directors and without any action by the stockholders of the
Corporation, may amend the charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number
of shares of Capital Stock or the number of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series that the
Corporation has the authority to issue.
Section 5.2. Common Stock. Subject to the provisions of Article VI, each share of
Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. The board of directors may reclassify
any unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series of Capital
Stock.
Section 5.3. Preferred Stock. The board of directors may classify any unissued
shares of Preferred Stock and reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of Preferred
Stock of any series from time to time in one or more series of Capital Stock. A majority of our
Independent Directors who do not have an interest in the transaction must approve any issuance of
Preferred Stock.
7
Section 5.4. Classified or Reclassified Shares. Prior to the issuance of
classified or reclassified shares of any class or series, the board of directors by resolution
shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of
Capital Stock of the Corporation; (b) specify the number of shares to be included in the class or
series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Article VI and subject to the express terms
of any class or series of Capital Stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time, the
preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends
or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or
series; and (d) cause the Corporation to file articles supplementary with the SDAT. Any of the
terms of any class or series of Capital Stock set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section
5.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the charter (including
determinations by the board of directors or other facts or events within the control of the
Corporation) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts,
events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of Capital Stock is
clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary filed with the SDAT.
Section 5.5. Charter and Bylaws. The rights of all stockholders and the terms of
all shares of Capital Stock are subject to the provisions of the charter and the bylaws.
Section 5.6. No Preemptive Rights. Except as may be provided by the board of
directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of Capital Stock pursuant to
Section 5.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract approved by the board of directors, no
holder of shares of Capital Stock of any class shall have any preemptive right to subscribe to or
purchase any additional shares of any class or series, or any bonds or convertible securities of
any nature.
Section 5.7. Issuance of Shares Without Certificates. Unless otherwise provided
by the board of directors, the Corporation shall not issue stock certificates. The Corporation
shall continue to treat the holder of uncertificated Capital Stock registered on its stock ledger
as the owner of the shares noted therein until the new owner delivers a properly executed form
provided by the Corporation for that purpose. With respect to any shares of Capital Stock that are
issued without certificates, information regarding restrictions on the transferability of such
shares that would otherwise be required by the MGCL to appear on the stock certificates will
instead be furnished to stockholders upon request and without charge.
Section 5.8. Suitability and Minimum Investment of Stockholders. Until the Common
Stock is Listed, the following provisions shall apply to purchases of shares of Common Stock:
(a) To purchase Common Stock, the purchaser must represent to the Corporation:
(i) that such purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the
beneficiary, the fiduciary account or the grantor or donor who directly or indirectly
supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) has a
minimum annual gross income of $70,000 and a net worth (excluding home, home furnishings
and automobiles) of not less than $70,000; or
8
(ii) that such purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that
the beneficiary, the fiduciary account or the grantor or donor who directly or indirectly
supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) has a
net worth (excluding home, home furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $250,000.
(b) The Sponsor, each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the
Corporation, and each broker or dealer or registered investment adviser recommending the
purchase of shares to a customer shall make every reasonable effort to determine that the
purchase of shares is a suitable and appropriate investment for each Common Stockholder. In
making this determination, the Sponsor, each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor
or the Corporation, or each broker or dealer or registered investment adviser recommending
the purchase of shares to a customer shall ascertain that the prospective Common
Stockholder: (i) meets the minimum income and net worth standards set forth in Section 5.8;
(ii) can reasonably benefit from the Corporation based on the prospective stockholders
overall investment objectives and portfolio structure; (iii) is able to bear the economic
risk of the investment based on the prospective stockholders overall financial situation;
and (iv) has apparent understanding of (1) the fundamental risks of the investment; (2) the
risk that the stockholder may lose the entire investment; (3) the lack of liquidity of the
shares; (4) the restrictions on transferability of the shares; and (5) the tax consequences
of the investment. The Sponsor, each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the
Corporation, or each broker or dealer or registered investment adviser recommending the
purchase of shares to a customer shall make this determination on the basis of information
it has obtained from a prospective stockholder, including information indirectly obtained
from a prospective stockholder through such stockholders investment adviser, financial
advisor or bank acting as a fiduciary. Relevant information for this purpose will include
at least the age, investment objectives, investment experience, income, net worth,
financial situation and other investments of the prospective stockholder, as well as any
other pertinent factors. The Sponsor, each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor
or the Corporation, or each broker or dealer or registered investment adviser recommending
the purchase of shares to a customer shall cause to be maintained for at least six years
records of the information used to determine that an investment in shares is suitable and
appropriate for a Common Stockholder.
The Sponsor and each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Corporation may
each rely upon (i) the Person directly recommending the purchase of shares to a customer if that
Person is a FINRA member broker or dealer that has entered into a selling agreement with the
Sponsor or the Corporation or their Affiliates or (ii) a registered investment adviser that has
entered into an agreement with the Sponsor or the Corporation or their Affiliates to make
suitability determinations with respect to the customers of the registered investment adviser who
may purchase shares.
(c) Each purchase of shares of Common Stock shall comply with the requirements
regarding minimum initial and subsequent cash investment amounts set forth in any then
effective registration statement of the Corporation as such registration statement has been
amended or supplemented as of the date of such purchase or any higher or lower applicable
state requirements with respect to minimum initial and subsequent cash investment amounts
in effect as of the date of the issuance or transfer.
9
Section 5.9. Distribution Reinvestment Plans. The board may establish, from time
to time, a distribution reinvestment plan or plans. Under any distribution reinvestment plan, (a)
all material information regarding distributions to the Common Stockholders and the effect of
reinvesting such dividends, including the tax consequences thereof, shall be provided to the Common
Stockholders not less often than annually, and (b) each Common Stockholder participating in such
plan shall have a reasonable opportunity to withdraw from the plan not less often than annually
after receipt of the information required in clause (a) above.
Section 5.10. Distributions. The board of directors may from time to time
authorize the Corporation to declare and pay to stockholders such dividends or other distributions
as the board of directors in its discretion shall determine. The board of directors shall endeavor
to authorize the Corporation to declare and pay such dividends and other distributions as shall be
necessary for the Corporation to qualify as a REIT under the Code; provided, however, that
stockholders shall have no right to any dividend or other distribution unless and until authorized
by the board and declared by the Corporation.
Distributions in kind shall not be permitted, except for distributions of readily marketable
securities, distributions of beneficial interests in a liquidating trust established for the
dissolution of the Corporation and the liquidation of its assets in accordance with the terms of
the charter or distributions that meet all of the following conditions: (a) the board of directors
advises each Common Stockholder of the risks associated with direct ownership of the property, (b)
the board of directors offers each Common Stockholder the election of receiving such in-kind
distributions and (c) in-kind distributions are made only to those Common Stockholders who accept
such offer.
Section 5.11. Actions Required if Common Stock Not Listed.
If by October 1, 2018 the
shares of Common Stock are not Listed, then the board of directors must adopt a resolution that
declares a proposed liquidation is advisable on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in
the resolution and direct that the proposed liquidation be submitted for consideration at either an
annual or special meeting of the stockholders; provided, however, that such board action may be
postponed if the board of directors and the Corporate Governance Committee determine by a majority vote that a liquidation is
not then in the best interest of the Corporations stockholders. If such board action is so
postponed, the board of directors shall revisit the issue of liquidation at least
annually and further postponement of such board action would only be permitted if the
board of directors and the Corporate
Governance Committee again determined by a majority vote that a liquidation would not then be in
the best interest of the Corporations stockholders.
ARTICLE VI
RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
Section 6.1. Definitions. As used in this Article VI, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit. 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding
shares of Capital Stock. The value of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock shall be determined
by the board of directors in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes
hereof.
10
Beneficial Ownership. Ownership of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in
the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall
include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the
Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms Beneficial Owner, Beneficially
Owns, Beneficially Owning and Beneficially Owned shall have the correlative meanings.
Charitable Beneficiary. One or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant
to Section 6.3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of
the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of
Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
Common Stock Ownership Limit. 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more
restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation. The
number and value of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be determined by
the board of directors in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes
hereof.
Constructive Ownership. Ownership of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest
in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall
include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the
Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms Constructive Owner, Constructively
Owns, Constructively Owning and Constructively Owned shall have the correlative meanings.
Excepted Holder. A stockholder of the Corporation for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is
created by this charter or by the board of directors pursuant to Section 6.2.7.
Excepted Holder Limit. The percentage limit established by the board of directors
pursuant to Section 6.2.7 provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the
requirements, if any, established by the board of directors pursuant to Section 6.2.7.
Initial Date. The earlier of the date upon which shares of Common Stock are first
issued in the Initial Public Offering or the first date for which the Corporation elects to qualify
as a REIT under the Code.
Market Price. With respect to any class or series of outstanding shares of Capital
Stock, the Closing Price for such Capital Stock on such date. The Closing Price on any date shall
mean the last sale price for such Capital Stock, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place
on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Capital Stock,
in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which
such Capital Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if such Capital Stock is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by FINRAs OTC Bulletin Board service or, if such system is no longer in use, the
principal other
automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Capital Stock is not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in such Capital Stock selected by the board of directors or, in the
event that no trading price is available for such Capital Stock, the fair market value of the
Capital Stock, as determined in good faith by the board of directors.
11
Prohibited Owner. With respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who but for the
provisions of Section 6.2.1 would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock
and, if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner
of the shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.
Restriction Termination Date. The first day on which the Corporation determines
pursuant to Section 7.7 of the charter that it is no longer in the best interests of the
Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the
restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of
shares of Capital Stock set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Corporation to
qualify as a REIT.
Transfer. Any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition
as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive
Ownership, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Capital Stock or
the right to vote or receive distributions on Capital Stock, including (a) the granting or exercise
of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights
convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock or any interest in Capital Stock or any exercise
of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that
result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock; in each case,
whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially
Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms Transferring and Transferred
shall have the correlative meanings.
Trust. Any trust provided for in Section 6.3.1.
Trustee. The Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and a Prohibited Owner that is
appointed by the Corporation to serve as trustee of the Trust.
Section 6.2. Capital Stock.
Section 6.2.1. Ownership Limitations. During the period commencing on the Initial
Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(a) Basic Restrictions.
(i) (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or
Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership
Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or
Constructively Own shares of Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit and
(3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock
in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.
12
(ii) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital
Stock to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital
Stock would result in the Corporation (1) being closely held within the meaning of
Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during
the last half of a taxable year), or (2) otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including,
but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the
Corporation owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described
in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Corporation from such
tenant would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements
of Section 856(c) of the Code); provided, however, that Section 6.2.1(a)(ii)(1) shall not
apply to any period prior to the second taxable year for which the Corporation has elected
to be taxable as a REIT.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, any Transfer of
shares of Capital Stock (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction
entered into through the facilities of any national securities exchange or automated
inter-dealer quotation system) that, if effective, would result in the Capital Stock being
Beneficially Owned by less than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section
856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire
no rights in such shares of Capital Stock; provided, however, that (1) this Section
6.2.1(a)(iii) shall not apply to a Transfer of shares of Capital Stock occurring in any
period prior to the second taxable year for which the Corporation has elected to be taxable
as a REIT and (2) the board of directors may waive this Section 6.2.1(a)(iii) if, in the
opinion of the board of directors, such Transfer would not adversely affect the
Corporations ability to qualify as a REIT.
(b) Transfer in Trust. If any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock
(whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the
facilities of any national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system)
occurs that, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively
Owning shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or Section 6.2.1(a)(ii),
(i) then that number of shares of Capital Stock the Beneficial Ownership or
Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section
6.2.1(a)(i) or Section 6.2.1(a)(ii) (rounded to the nearest whole share) shall be
automatically transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as
described in Section 6.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior
to the date of such Transfer and such Person shall acquire no rights in such shares;
provided, however, if such transfer to the Trust would not be effective for any reason to
prevent the violation of Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or Section 6.2.1(a)(ii), then the Transfer of
that number of shares of Capital Stock that otherwise would cause any Person to violate
Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or Section 6.2.1(a)(ii) shall be void ab initio and the intended
transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock.
13
Section 6.2.2. Remedies for Breach. If the board of directors shall at any time
determine in good faith that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation
of Section 6.2.1(a) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial
Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 6.2.1(a)
(whether or not such violation is intended), the board of directors or a committee thereof shall
take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or
other event, including, without limitation, causing the Corporation to redeem shares, refusing to
give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin
such Transfer or other event; provided, however, that any Transfers or attempted Transfers or other
events in violation of Section 6.2.1(a)(i) and Section 6.2.1(a)(ii) shall automatically result in
the transfer to the Trust described above and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event)
shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the board
of directors.
Section 6.2.3. Notice of Restricted Transfer. Any Person who acquires or attempts
or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock
that will or may violate Section 6.2.1(a) or any Person who would have owned shares of Capital
Stock that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.2.1(b) shall
immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event or, in the case of such a proposed
or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice and shall provide to the
Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect,
if any, of such Transfer on the Corporations status as a REIT.
Section 6.2.4. Owners Required to Provide Information. Prior to the Restriction
Termination Date:
(a) every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code
or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of Capital
Stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the
Corporation stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of Capital
Stock and other shares of the Capital Stock Beneficially Owned and a description of the
manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall provide to the Corporation such
additional information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if
any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporations status as a REIT and to ensure
compliance with the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit.
(b) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Capital Stock
and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Capital Stock for a
Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information as
the Corporation may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Corporations status
as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority
or to determine such compliance.
Section 6.2.5. Remedies Not Limited. Subject to Section 7.7, nothing contained in
this Section 6.2 shall limit the authority of the board of directors to take such other action as
it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its stockholders in
preserving the Corporations status as a REIT.
14
Section 6.2.6. Ambiguity. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any
of the provisions of this Section 6.2, Section 6.3 or any definition contained in Section 6.1, the
board of directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this
Section 6.2 or Section 6.3 with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the
event Section 6.2 or Section 6.3 requires an action by the board of directors and the charter fails
to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the board of directors shall have the
power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions
of Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3.
Section 6.2.7. Exceptions.
(a) Subject to Section 6.2.1(a)(ii), the board of directors, in its sole
discretion, may exempt a Person from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and the Common
Stock Ownership Limit, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder
Limit for such Person. The board of directors may only determine to establish or increase
an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if:
(i) the board of directors obtains such representations and undertakings from
such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no Persons Beneficial Ownership
or Constructive Ownership of such shares of Capital Stock will violate Section
6.2.1(a)(ii);
(ii) such Person does not and represents that it will not own, actually or
Constructively, an interest in a tenant of the Corporation (or a tenant of any entity owned
or controlled by the Corporation) that would cause the Corporation to own, actually or
Constructively, more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the
Code) in such tenant and the board of directors obtains such representations and
undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (for this
purpose, a tenant from whom the Corporation (or an entity owned or controlled by the
Corporation) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of
revenue such that, in the opinion of the board of directors, rent from such tenant would
not adversely affect the Corporations ability to qualify as a REIT shall not be treated as
a tenant of the Corporation); and
(iii) such Person agrees that any violation or attempted violation of such
representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions
contained in Sections 6.2.1 through 6.2.6) will result in such shares of Capital Stock
being automatically transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 6.2.1(b) and Section
6.3.
(b) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 6.2.7(a), the board of
directors may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel,
in either case, in form and substance satisfactory to the board of directors in its sole
discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the
Corporations status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the
board of directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in
connection with granting such exception.
15
(c) Subject to Section 6.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter which participates in a
public offering or a private placement of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for Capital Stock) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of
Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) in excess
of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, the Common Stock Ownership Limit or both such
limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private
placement.
(d) The board of directors may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an
Excepted Holder: (i) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time or (ii)
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with
such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for
that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is
less than the Common Stock Ownership Limit.
Section 6.2.8. Increase in Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and Common Stock Ownership
Limit. The board of directors may from time to time increase the Common Stock Ownership Limit
and the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit.
Section 6.2.9. Legend. Each certificate for shares of Capital Stock shall bear
substantially the following legend:
The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial
Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose of the Corporations
maintenance of its status as a real estate investment trust (a REIT) under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Subject to certain further restrictions and
except as expressly provided in the Corporations charter: (a) no Person may Beneficially
Own or Constructively Own shares of the Corporations Common Stock in excess of 9.8% (in
value or number of shares) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation
unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit for such
Excepted Holder shall be applicable); (b) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively
Own shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation in excess of 9.8% of the value of the total
outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation, unless such Person is an Excepted
Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder shall be
applicable); (c) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Capital Stock that
would result in the Corporation being closely held under Section 856(h) of the Code or
otherwise cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (d) other than as
provided in the Corporations charter, no Person may Transfer shares of Capital Stock if
such Transfer would result in the Capital Stock of the Corporation being owned by fewer
than 100 Persons. Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts to
Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock that causes or will cause a
Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess or in
violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation or, in the case
of a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice and
provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order
to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Corporations status as a REIT. If
any of the restrictions on Transfer or ownership are violated, the shares of Capital Stock
represented hereby will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the
benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries or, upon the occurrence of certain events,
attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio.
In addition, the Corporation may redeem shares of Capital Stock in accordance with the
Corporations charter if the board of directors determines that ownership or a Transfer or
any other event may violate the restrictions described above.
16
Until the Common Stock is Listed, to purchase Common Stock, the purchaser must represent to
the Corporation: (i) that such purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the
beneficiary, fiduciary account or grantor or donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to
purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) has a minimum annual gross income of
$70,000 and a net worth (excluding home, home furnishings and automobiles) of not less than
$70,000; (ii) that such purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the
beneficiary, fiduciary account or grantor or donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to
purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) has a net worth (excluding home, home
furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $250,000; and/ or (iii) that the purchaser (or, in
the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the beneficiary, fiduciary account or grantor or
donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the grantor or donor
is the fiduciary) meets the more stringent suitability standards of such persons jurisdiction as
set forth in any then effective registration statement of the Corporation as such registration
statement has been amended or supplemented as of the date of such purchase. Until the Common Stock
is Listed, unless a stockholder is transferring all of his shares of Common Stock, each issuance or
transfer of shares of Common Stock for value shall comply with the requirements regarding minimum
initial and subsequent cash investment amounts set forth in any then effective registration
statement of the Corporation as such registration statement has been amended or supplemented as of
the date of such issuance or transfer for value or any higher or lower applicable state
requirements with respect to minimum initial and subsequent cash investment amounts in effect as of
the date of the issuance or transfer.
All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the charter of the
Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the
restrictions on Transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Capital Stock of the
Corporation on request and without charge.
Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate may state that the Corporation will furnish a
full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a stockholder on request and
without charge. Such statement shall also be sent on request and without charge to stockholders who
are issued shares without a certificate.
Section 6.3. Transfer of Capital Stock in Trust.
Section 6.3.1. Ownership in Trust. Upon any purported Transfer or other event
described in Section 6.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer of shares of Capital Stock to a
Trust, such shares of Capital Stock shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as
trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer
to the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day
prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Trust pursuant
to Section 6.2.1(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Corporation and shall be a Person
unaffiliated with the Corporation and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be
designated by the Corporation as provided in Section 6.3.6.
17
Section 6.3.2. Status of Shares Held by the Trustee. Shares of Capital Stock held
by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation. The
Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall
not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee and shall have
no rights to dividends or other distributions attributable to the shares held in the Trust.
Section 6.3.3. Distributions and Voting Rights. The Trustee shall have all voting
rights and rights to distributions with respect to shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust, which
rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any distribution
paid prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been
transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such distribution to the Trustee upon
demand, and any distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any
distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The
Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to shares held in the Trust, and, subject
to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to
the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority with respect to the shares held in the Trust (at
the Trustees sole discretion) (a) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to
the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the
Trustee and (b) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the
benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Corporation has already taken
irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast
such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VI, until the Corporation has received
notification that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred into a Trust, the Corporation shall
be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing
lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of
proxies and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.
Section 6.3.4. Sale of Shares by Trustee. Within 20 days of receiving notice from
the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee of the
Trust shall sell the shares held in the Trust to a Person, designated by the Trustee, whose
ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 6.2.1(a).
Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and
the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the
Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 6.3.4. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the
lesser of (a) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did
not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the
Trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the
shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust or (b) the price per
share received by the Trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Trust.
Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately
paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Corporation that shares of
Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner,
then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the
extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that
such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 6.3.4, such excess shall be
paid by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee upon demand.
18
Section 6.3.5. Purchase Right in Stock Transferred to the Trustee. Shares of
Capital Stock transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the
Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (a) the price per share
in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise or
gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) or (b) the Market Price on the date the
Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Corporation shall have the right to accept
such offer until the Trustee has sold the shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 6.3.4. Upon
such a sale to the Corporation, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall
terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.
Section 6.3.6. Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries. By written notice to the
Trustee, the Corporation shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable
Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that (a) the shares of Capital Stock held in the
Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 6.2.1(a) in the hands of such
Charitable Beneficiary and (b) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the
Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of
Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
Section 6.4. Settlement. Nothing in this Article VI shall preclude the settlement
of any transaction entered into through the facilities of any national securities exchange or
automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction is so
permitted shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VI and any transferee
in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this
Article VI.
Section 6.5. Enforcement. The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek
equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VI.
Section 6.6. Non-Waiver. No delay or failure on the part of the Corporation or
the board of directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of
the Corporation or the board of directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically
waived in writing.
ARTICLE VII
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 7.1. Number of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation
shall be five, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to the bylaws
but shall never be less than three. A majority of the seats on the board of directors will be for
Independent Directors. The Corporate Governance Committee shall nominate all individuals for the
Independent Director positions. No reduction in the number of directors shall cause the removal of
any director from office prior to the expiration of his term, except as may otherwise be provided
in the terms of any Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation. The names of the directors who shall
serve on the board until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified are:
19
Jeffrey E. Witherell
Pendleton White, Jr.
Philip S. Cottone
Richard J. DeAgazio
David G. Gaw
Section 7.2. Term of Directors. Each director shall hold office for one year,
until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and
qualified. Directors may be elected to an unlimited number of successive terms.
Section 7.3. Experience. Each director who is not an Independent Director shall
have at least three years of relevant experience demonstrating the knowledge and experience
required to successfully acquire and manage the type of assets being acquired by the Corporation.
At least one of the Independent Directors shall have three years of relevant real estate
experience.
Section 7.4. Committees. The board may establish such committees as it deems
appropriate, provided that the majority of the members of each committee are Independent Directors.
Section 7.5. Fiduciary Obligations. The directors are fiduciaries of the
Corporation and its stockholders. The directors have a fiduciary duty to the stockholders to
supervise the relationship between the Corporation and the Advisor.
Section 7.6. Ratification of Charter. At or before the first meeting of the board
of directors following the date of this amendment and restatement of the charter, the board of
directors and the Corporate Governance Committee shall each review and ratify the charter by
majority vote.
Section 7.7. REIT Qualification. If the Corporation elects to qualify for federal
income tax treatment as a REIT, the board of directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to
take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Corporation as a
REIT; however, if the board of directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of
the Corporation to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the board of directors may revoke or
otherwise terminate the Corporations REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The
board of directors also may determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on
ownership and transfers of Capital Stock set forth in Article VI is no longer required for REIT
qualification.
Section 7.8. Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance. The board of directors may
authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, whether
now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into shares of Capital Stock of
any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the board of
directors may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock
dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the charter
or the bylaws.
20
Section 7.9. Determinations by the Board. The determination as to any of the
following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the board of directors or
the Corporate Governance Committee consistent with the charter, shall be final and conclusive and
shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its Capital Stock: (a) the
amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time
legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of its Capital Stock or the payment of
other distributions on its Capital Stock; (b) the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other
surplus, annual or other net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess
of profits over losses on sales of assets; (c) the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or
decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether
or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall
have been paid or discharged); (d) the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in
determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation; (e) the application of
any provision of this charter in the case of any ambiguity, including, without limitation: (i) any
provision of the definitions of any of the following: Affiliate, Independent Director and Sponsor,
(ii) which amounts paid to the Advisor or its Affiliates are property-level expenses connected with
the ownership of real estate interests, loans or other property, which expenses are excluded from
the definition of Total Operating Expenses, and (iii) whether expenses qualify as Organization and
Offering Expenses; (f) whether substantial justification exists to invest in or make a mortgage
loan contemplated by Section 9.11(b) because of the presence of other underwriting criteria; and
(g) any matters relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the
Corporation.
Section 7.10. Compensation of Directors. The Corporate Governance Committee shall
determine the compensation of the Independent Directors.
Section 7.11. Tax on Disqualified Organizations. To the extent that the
Corporation incurs any tax pursuant to Section 860E(e)(6) of the Code as the result of any excess
inclusion income (within the meaning of Section 860E of the Code) of the Corporation that is
allocable to a stockholder that is a disqualified organization (as defined in Section 860E(e)(5)
of the Code), the board of directors may, in its sole discretion, cause the Corporation to allocate
such tax solely to the stock held by such disqualified organization in the manner described in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.860E-2(b)(4), by reducing from one or more distributions paid to such
stockholder the tax incurred by the Corporation pursuant to Section 860E(e)(6) as a result of such
stockholders stock ownership.
ARTICLE VIII
ADVISOR
Section 8.1.
Appointment of Advisor and Initial Investment of Sponsor. The board of
directors may appoint an Advisor to direct and/or perform the day-to-day business affairs of the
Corporation. The board of directors may exercise broad discretion in allowing the Advisor to
administer and regulate the operations of the Corporation, to act as agent for the Corporation, to
execute documents on behalf of the Corporation and to make executive decisions that conform to
general policies and principles established by the board of directors. The term of retention of any
Advisor shall not exceed one year, although there is no limit to the number of times that a
particular Advisor may be retained.
Plymouth Group Real Estate, LLC, the Sponsor
(Plymouth Group),
has made the Initial Investment. Plymouth Group
may not sell the equity interest acquired with its Initial Investment
while it remains the Sponsor but may transfer the interest in the Corporation acquired with its
Initial Investment to its Affiliates.
21
Section 8.2. Supervision of Advisor. The board of directors shall evaluate the
performance of the Advisor before entering into or renewing an Advisory Agreement, and the criteria
used in such evaluation shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the board of
directors. The Corporate Governance Committee shall determine at least annually whether the total
fees and expenses incurred by the Corporation are reasonable in light of the investment performance
of the Corporation, its Net Assets, its Net Income and the fees and expenses of other comparable
unaffiliated REITs. The Corporate Governance Committee shall determine from time to time and at
least annually that the compensation to be paid to the Advisor and its Affiliates is reasonable in
relation to the nature and quality of services performed and that such compensation is within the
limits prescribed by the charter. Each such determination shall be reflected in the minutes of the
meetings of the board. The Corporate Governance Committee shall also supervise the performance of
the Advisor and its Affiliates and the compensation paid to them by the Corporation to determine
that the provisions of the Advisory Agreement are being met. Each such determination shall be based
on factors such as (a) the amount of the fees and any other compensation, including stock based
compensation, paid to the Advisor and its Affiliates in relation to the size, composition and
performance of the Corporations portfolio; (b) the success of the Advisor in generating
opportunities that meet the investment objectives of the Corporation; (c) rates charged to other
REITs and to investors other than REITs by advisors performing the same or similar services; (d)
additional revenues realized by the Advisor and its Affiliates through their relationship with the
Corporation, including loan administration, underwriting or broker commissions, servicing,
engineering, inspection and other fees, whether paid by the Corporation or by others with whom the
Corporation does business; (e) the quality and extent of service and advice furnished by the
Advisor and its Affiliates; (f) the performance of the Corporations portfolio, including income,
conservation or appreciation of capital, frequency of problem investments and competence in dealing
with distress situations; and (g) the quality of the Corporations portfolio relative to the
investments generated by the Advisor and its Affiliates for their own account. The Corporate
Governance Committee may also consider all other factors that it deems relevant, and its findings
on each of the factors considered shall be recorded in the minutes of the board of directors. The
Corporation may not enter into, renew or amend the Advisory Agreement without the approval (by
majority vote) of the Corporate Governance Committee. The board shall determine whether any
successor Advisor possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the advisory function for the
Corporation and whether the compensation provided for in its contract with the Corporation is
justified.
Section 8.3. Fiduciary Obligations. The Advisor is a fiduciary of the Corporation
and its stockholders.
Section 8.4. Termination. Either the Corporate Governance Committee (by majority
vote) or the Advisor may terminate the Advisory Agreement on 60 days written notice without cause
or penalty, and, in such event, the Advisor will cooperate with the Corporation and the board of
directors in making an orderly transition of the advisory function.
22
Section 8.5. Acquisition Fees. The Corporation shall not purchase a property or
invest in or make a mortgage loan if the combined Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses
incurred in connection therewith are not reasonable or exceed 6% of the Contract Purchase Price or,
in the case of a mortgage loan, 6% of the funds advanced unless a majority of the board of
directors (including a majority of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee) not otherwise
interested in the transaction approves the Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses and determines
the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to the Corporation.
Section 8.6. Reimbursement for Total Operating Expenses. Commencing upon the
earlier to occur of four fiscal quarters after (i) the Corporations acquisition of its first asset
or (ii) six months after commencement of the Initial Public Offering, the Corporate Governance
Committee shall have the fiduciary responsibility of limiting Total Operating Expenses to amounts
that do not exceed the greater of 2% of Average Invested Assets or 25% of Net Income (the 2%/25%
Guidelines) for the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended unless it has made a finding that,
based on unusual and non-recurring factors that it deems sufficient, a higher level of expenses (an
Excess Amount) is justified. Any such finding and the reasons in support thereof shall be
reflected in the minutes of the meetings. After the end of any fiscal quarter of the Corporation
for which there is an Excess Amount for the 12 months then ended, such fact shall be disclosed in
writing and sent to the Common Stockholders within 60 days of such quarter-end (or shall be
disclosed to the Common Stockholders in the next quarterly report of the Corporation or by filing a
Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days of such
quarter end), together with an explanation of the factors the Corporate Governance Committee
considered in determining that such Excess Amount was justified. In the event that the Corporate
Governance Committee does not determine that excess expenses are justified, the Advisor shall
reimburse the Corporation at the end of the 12-month period the amount by which the aggregate
annual expenses paid or incurred by the Corporation exceeded the 2%/25% Guidelines.
ARTICLE IX
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND LIMITATIONS
Section 9.1. Investment Objectives. The board of directors shall establish
written policies on investments and borrowing and shall monitor the administrative procedures,
investment operations and performance of the Corporation and the Advisor to assure that such
policies are carried out. The Corporate Governance Committee shall review the investment policies
of the Corporation with sufficient frequency (not less often than annually) to determine that the
policies being followed by the Corporation are in the best interests of the Common Stockholders.
Each such determination and the basis therefor shall be set forth in the minutes of the meetings of
the board of directors.
23
Section 9.2. Limitations on Acquisitions. The consideration paid for any real
property acquired by the Corporation will ordinarily be based on the fair market value of such
property as determined by a majority of the members of the board of directors, or the approval of a
majority of a committee of the board, provided that the members of the committee approving the
transaction would also constitute a majority of the board. In all cases in which a majority of the
members of the Corporate Governance Committee (by majority vote) so determine, and in all cases in
which real property is acquired from the Advisor, a Sponsor, a director or an Affiliate thereof,
such fair market value shall be as determined by an Independent Expert.
The Corporation may not purchase or lease properties in which the Advisor, a Sponsor, a
director or an Affiliate thereof has an interest without a determination by a majority of the board
of directors (including a majority of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee) not
otherwise interested in the transaction that such transaction is fair and reasonable to the
Corporation and at a price to the Corporation no greater than the cost of the property to the
Affiliated seller or lessor unless there is substantial justification for the excess amount.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in no event may the Corporation acquire any such property
at an amount in excess of its current appraised value. An appraisal is current for purposes of
the preceding sentence if obtained within the 12-month period preceding the transaction. If a
property with a current appraisal is acquired indirectly from an Affiliated seller through the
acquisition of securities in an entity that directly or indirectly owns the property, a second
appraisal on the value of the securities of the entity shall not be required if (i) a majority of
the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee)
not otherwise interested in the transaction determines that such transaction is fair and reasonable
to the Corporation, (ii) the transaction is at a price to the Corporation no greater than the cost
of the securities to the Affiliated seller, (iii) the entity has conducted no business other than
the financing, acquisition and ownership of the property and (iv) the price paid by the entity to
acquire the property did not exceed the current appraised value as determined by an Independent
Expert.
Section 9.3. Limitations on Sales to, and Joint Ventures with, Affiliates. The
Corporation shall not transfer or lease assets to a Sponsor, the Advisor, a director or an
Affiliate thereof unless approved by a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of
the members of the Corporate Governance Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction as
being fair and reasonable to the Corporation. The Corporation may invest in a joint venture with a
Sponsor, the Advisor, a director or an Affiliate thereof; provided, however, that the Corporation
may only so invest if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of
the Corporate Governance Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves such
investment as being fair and reasonable to the Corporation and on substantially the same terms and
conditions as those received by the other joint venturers.
In all cases in which a majority of the
members of the Corporate Governance Committee (by majority vote) so determine, and in all cases in
which real property is acquired from the Advisor, a Sponsor, a director or an Affiliate thereof,
such fair market value shall be as determined by an Independent Expert.
Section 9.4. Limitations on Other Transactions Involving Affiliates. A majority
of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Corporate Governance
Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction must conclude that all other transactions
between the Corporation and a Sponsor, the Advisor, a director or an Affiliate thereof are fair and
reasonable to the Corporation and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Corporation
than those available from unaffiliated third parties.
24
Section 9.5. Limitations on the Issuance of Options and Warrants. Until the
Common Stock of the Corporation is Listed, the Corporation shall not issue options or warrants to
purchase Common Stock to the Advisor, a director, the Sponsors or any Affiliate thereof, except on
the same terms as such options or warrants are sold to the general public. The Corporation may
issue options or warrants to persons other than the Advisor, a director, the Sponsors or any
Affiliate thereof prior to Listing the Common Stock, but not at exercise prices less than the fair
market value of the underlying securities on the date of grant and not for consideration (which may
include services) that in the judgment of the Corporate Governance Committee has a market value
less than the value of such option or warrant on the date of grant. Options or warrants issuable to
the Advisor, a director, the Sponsors or any Affiliate thereof shall not exceed an amount equal to
10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date of grant.
Section 9.6. Limitations on the Repurchase of Common Stock. The Corporation may
voluntarily repurchase shares of Common Stock from its stockholders; provided, however, that such
repurchase does not impair the capital or operations of the Corporation. The Corporation may not
pay a fee to the Advisor, a Sponsor, a director or an Affiliate thereof in connection with the
Corporations repurchase of shares of Common Stock.
Section 9.7. Limitations on Loans. The Corporation will not make any loans to a
Sponsor, the Advisor, a director or an Affiliate thereof except as provided in Section 9.11 or to
wholly owned subsidiaries (directly or indirectly) of the Corporation. The Corporation will not
borrow from such parties unless a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the
members of the Corporate Governance Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves
the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to the
Corporation than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties. These restrictions on loans apply
to advances of cash that are commonly viewed as loans, as determined by the board of directors. By
way of example only, the prohibition on loans would not restrict advances of cash for legal
expenses or other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being
sought nor would the prohibition limit the Corporations ability to advance reimbursable expenses
incurred by directors or officers or the Advisor or its Affiliates.
Section 9.8. Limitations on Leverage. The aggregate borrowings of the
Corporation, secured and unsecured, shall be reviewed by the board of directors at least quarterly.
The maximum amount of such borrowings in relation to the Net Assets shall not exceed 300% in the
absence of a satisfactory showing that a higher level of borrowings is appropriate. Any excess in
borrowings over such 300% level shall be approved by the Corporate Governance Committee (by
majority vote) and disclosed to the Common Stockholders in the next quarterly report of the
Corporation, along with justification for such excess.
Section 9.9. Limitations on Investments in Equity Securities. The Corporation may
not invest in equity securities unless a majority of the board of directors (including a majority
of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction
approves such investment as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable; provided, that an
investment in equity securities of a publicly traded entity that is otherwise approved by a
majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Corporate Governance
Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction shall be deemed fair, competitive and
commercially reasonable if such investment is made through a trade effected on a recognized
securities market. This provision is not intended to limit (i) acquisitions effected through the
purchase of all of the equity securities of an existing entity, (ii) the investment in wholly owned
subsidiaries of the Corporation or (iii) investments in asset-backed securities. For the purpose of
this section, a publicly traded entity shall mean any entity having securities listed on a
national securities exchange or included for quotation on an inter-dealer quotation system.
25
Section 9.10. Limitations on Investments in Commodities Contracts. The
Corporation may not invest in commodities or commodity futures contracts, except for futures
contracts used solely for the purpose of hedging in connection with the ordinary business of
investing in real estate assets and mortgages.
Section 9.11. Limitations Regarding Mortgage Loans. The Corporation may not make
or invest in mortgage loans unless an appraisal is obtained concerning the underlying property,
except for those mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency. In
cases in which the Corporate Governance Committee (by majority vote) so determines, and in all
cases in which the transaction is with the Advisor, a director, a Sponsor or an Affiliate thereof,
such an appraisal must be obtained from an Independent Expert concerning the underlying property.
The Corporation shall keep the appraisal for at least five years and make it available for
inspection and duplication by any Common Stockholder. In addition, a mortgagees or owners title
insurance policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or the condition of the title
must be obtained. Further, the Advisor and the board of directors shall observe the following
policies in connection with investing in or making mortgage loans:
(a) The Corporation shall not invest in real estate contracts of sale, otherwise
known as land sale contracts, unless such contracts of sale are in recordable form and
appropriately recorded in the chain of title.
(b) The Corporation shall not make or invest in mortgage loans, including
construction loans, on any one property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans
outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Corporation, would exceed an amount
equal to 85% of the appraised value of the property as determined by appraisal unless the
board determines that a substantial justification exists because of the presence of other
underwriting criteria. For purposes of this subsection, the aggregate amount of all
mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Corporation, shall
include all interest (excluding contingent participation in income and/or appreciation in
value of the mortgaged property), the current payment of which may be deferred pursuant to
the terms of such loans, to the extent that deferred interest on each loan exceeds 5% per
annum of the principal balance of the loan.
(c) The Corporation may not make or invest in any mortgage loans that are
subordinate to any mortgage or equity interest of the Advisor, a Sponsor, a director or an
Affiliate of the Corporation.
Section 9.12. Limitations on Investments in Unimproved Real Property. The
Corporation may not make investments in Unimproved Real Property or mortgage loans on Unimproved
Real Property in excess of 10% of the Corporations total assets.
26
Section 9.13. Limitations on Issuances of Securities. The Corporation may not (a)
issue equity securities on a deferred payment basis or other similar arrangement; (b) issue debt
securities in the absence of adequate cash flow to cover debt service unless the historical debt
service coverage (in the most recently completed fiscal year) as adjusted for known changes is
sufficient to service that higher level of debt as determined by the board of directors or a duly
authorized executive officer of the Corporation; (c) issue equity securities that are assessable
after receipt by the Corporation of the consideration for which the board of directors authorized
their issuance; or (d) issue equity securities redeemable solely at the option of the holder, which
restriction has no affect on the Corporations ability to implement a share repurchase program. The
Corporation may issue shares of Preferred Stock with voting rights; provided that, when a privately
issued share of Preferred Stock is entitled to vote on a matter with the holders of shares of
Common Stock, the relationship between the number of votes per such share of Preferred Stock and
the consideration paid to the Corporation for such share shall not exceed the relationship between
the number of votes per any publicly offered share of Common Stock and the book value per
outstanding share of Common Stock. Nothing in this Section 9.13 is intended to prevent the
Corporation from issuing equity securities pursuant to a plan whereby the commissions on the sales
of such securities are in whole or in part deferred and paid by the purchaser thereof out of future
distributions on such securities or otherwise.
Section 9.14. Limitations on Roll-Up Transactions. In connection with any
proposed Roll-Up Transaction, an appraisal of all of the Corporations assets shall be obtained
from a competent Independent Expert. If the appraisal will be included in a Prospectus used to
offer the securities of a Roll-Up Entity, the appraisal shall be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the states in which registration of such securities is
sought, as an exhibit to the registration statement for the offering. The Corporations assets
shall be appraised on a consistent basis. The appraisal shall be based on the evaluation of all
relevant information and shall indicate the value of the assets as of a date immediately prior to
the announcement of the proposed Roll-Up Transaction. The appraisal shall assume an orderly
liquidation of the assets over a 12-month period. The terms of the engagement of the Independent
Expert shall clearly state that the engagement is for the benefit of the Corporation and its
stockholders. A summary of the appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the
appraisal, shall be included in a report to stockholders in connection with a proposed Roll-Up
Transaction. In connection with a proposed Roll-Up Transaction, the Person sponsoring the Roll-Up
Transaction shall offer to each Common Stockholder who votes against the proposed Roll-Up
Transaction the choice of:
(a) accepting the securities of the Roll-Up Entity offered in the proposed
Roll-Up Transaction; or
(b) one of the following:
(i) remaining as a Common Stockholder of the Corporation and preserving its
interests therein on the same terms and conditions as existed previously; or
(ii) receiving cash in an amount equal to the stockholders pro rata share of the
appraised value of the Net Assets of the Corporation.
27
The Corporation is prohibited from participating in any proposed Roll-Up Transaction:
(c) that would result in the Common Stockholders having democracy rights in a
Roll-Up Entity that are less than the rights set forth in Sections 11.1, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6
and 11.7 hereof;
(d) that includes provisions that would operate as a material impediment to, or
frustration of, the accumulation of shares by any purchaser of the securities of the
Roll-Up Entity (except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of the
Roll-Up Entity), or that would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting
rights of its securities of the Roll-Up Entity on the basis of the number of shares of
Common Stock held by that investor;
(e) in which investors rights of access to the records of the Roll-Up Entity
will be less than those described in Section 11.7 hereof; or
(f) in which any of the costs of the Roll-Up Transaction would be borne by the
Corporation if the Roll-Up Transaction is not approved by the Common Stockholders.
Section 9.15. Limitations on Underwriting. The Corporation may not engage in
underwriting or the agency distribution of securities issued by others.
ARTICLE X
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Section 10.1. Corporate Governance Committee.
(a) During any time that the Corporation is advised by the Advisor, there shall be a committee
(the Corporate Governance Committee) of the board of directors composed of all of the Independent
Directors. The Corporate Governance Committee is authorized to select and retain its own legal and
financial advisors. In addition to those other powers delegated to the Corporate Governance
Committee by this charter or by the board of directors, the Corporate Governance Committee may act
on any matter that may be delegated to a committee under the MGCL. If a matter cannot be delegated
to a committee under the MGCL but the Corporate Governance Committee has determined that the matter
at issue is such that the exercise of independent judgment by the directors who are not Independent
Directors could reasonably be compromised, both the board of directors and the Corporate Governance
Committee must approve the matter. Any board action regarding
Organization and Offering Expenses, provided that all Organization
and Offering Expenses shall be
reasonable and shall not, in the aggregate, exceed 15% of the
proceeds of an offering, or the selection of an Independent Expert or the matters covered in
any of Sections 5.9, 7.6, 8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 9.1, 9.8, 10.1, 11.1, 12.2 or 12.3 shall require the approval of a
majority of the Corporate Governance Committee.
(b) The Corporate Governance Committee may create a subcommittee of the Corporate
Governance Committee and delegate to the subcommittee any of the powers of the Corporate
Governance Committee. The members of any such subcommittee shall serve at the pleasure of
the Corporate Governance Committee.
28
Section 10.2. Voting by Corporate Governance Committee. For an action to be taken
by the Corporate Governance Committee or a subcommittee thereof, the matter must be approved by a
majority of the Independent Directors present for the purposes of determining a quorum at a meeting
at which a quorum is present or such higher threshold as required by the charter. If any such
Independent Director has an interest in the matter at issue other than in his or her role as a
director, the matter must also be approved by a majority of those Independent Directors present at
the meeting who have no other interest in the matter.
ARTICLE XI
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 11.1. Meetings of Stockholders. There shall be an annual meeting of the
stockholders, to be held at such time and place as shall be determined by or in the manner
prescribed in the bylaws, at which the directors shall be elected and any other proper business may
be conducted. The annual meeting will be held on a date that is a reasonable period of time
following the distribution of the Corporations annual report to Common Stockholders but not less
than 30 days after delivery of such report; the board of directors and the Corporate Governance
Committee shall take reasonable efforts to ensure that this requirement is met. The holders of a
majority of the shares of Capital Stock entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at
an annual meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present may, without the necessity for
concurrence by the board, vote to elect the directors. The presence in person or by proxy of
stockholders entitled to cast 50% of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting on any matter
constitutes a quorum. Special meetings of stockholders may be called in the manner provided in the
bylaws, including by the president or by a majority of the directors or a majority of the
Independent Directors, and shall be called by the secretary of the Corporation upon written request
of Common Stockholders holding in the aggregate not less than 10% of the votes entitled to be cast
on any issue proposed to be considered at any such special meeting. Upon receipt of a written
request stating the purpose of such special meeting, our Secretary shall provide all stockholders
within 10 days of receipt of said request notice, whether in person or by mail, of a special
meeting and the purpose of such special meeting to be held on a date not less than 15 days nor more
than 60 days after the delivery of such notice. If the meeting is called by written request of
stockholders as described in this Section 11.1, the special meeting shall be held at the time and
place specified in the stockholder request; provided, however, that if none is so specified, at
such time and place convenient to the stockholders.
Section 11.2. Extraordinary Actions. Notwithstanding any provision of law
permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders
of shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid
if taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of
all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Section 11.3. Unsolicited Takeover Statute. Until the Common Stock of the
Corporation is Listed, the Corporation may not take advantage of any of the permissive provisions
of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL, as amended from time to time or any successor statute thereto.
Section 11.4. Voting Rights of Stockholders. The concurrence of the board shall
not be required in order for the Common Stockholders to remove directors or to amend the charter or
dissolve the corporation. Without the approval of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled
to vote on the matter, the board of directors may not (a) amend the charter to adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the Common Stockholders; (b) amend charter provisions
relating to director qualifications, fiduciary duties, liability and indemnification, conflicts of
interest, investment policies or investment restrictions; (c) liquidate or dissolve the Corporation
other than before the initial investment in property; (d) sell all or substantially all of the
Corporations assets other than in the ordinary course of the Corporations business; or (e) cause
the merger or other reorganization of the Corporation.
29
Section 11.5. Voting Limitations on Shares Held by the Advisor, Directors and
Affiliates. No shares of Common Stock may be transferred or issued to the Advisor, a director,
or any Affiliate thereof unless such prospective stockholder agrees that it will not vote or
consent on matters submitted to the Common Stockholders regarding (a) the removal of such Advisor,
director or any of its Affiliates or (b) any transaction between the Corporation and any such
Advisor, director or any of its Affiliates. To the extent permitted by the MGCL, in determining the
requisite percentage in interest of shares of Common Stock necessary to approve a matter on which
the Advisor, a director and any of their Affiliates may not vote or consent, any shares owned by
any of them shall not be included.
Section 11.6. Right of Inspection. Any Common Stockholder and any designated
representative thereof shall be permitted access to the records of the Corporation to which it is
entitled under applicable law at all reasonable times and may inspect and copy any such records for
a reasonable charge. Inspection of the Corporations books and records by the office or agency
administering the securities laws of a jurisdiction shall be permitted upon reasonable notice and
during normal business hours.
Section 11.7. Access to Stockholder List. An alphabetical list of the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of the Common Stockholders of the Corporation, along with the
number of shares of Common Stock held by each of them (the Stockholder List), shall be maintained
as part of the books and records of the Corporation and shall be available for inspection by any
Common Stockholder or the stockholders designated agent at the home office of the Corporation upon
the request of the Common Stockholder. The Stockholder List shall be updated at least quarterly to
reflect changes in the information contained therein. A copy of such list shall be mailed to any
Common Stockholder so requesting within 10 days of receipt by the Corporation of the request. The
copy of the Stockholder List shall be printed in alphabetical order, on white paper and in a
readily readable type size (in no event smaller than 10-point type). The Corporation may impose a
reasonable charge for expenses incurred in reproduction pursuant to the stockholder request. A
Common Stockholder may request a copy of the Stockholder List in connection with matters relating
to stockholders voting rights and the exercise of stockholder rights under federal proxy laws.
If the Advisor or the board neglects or refuses to exhibit, produce or mail a copy of the
Stockholder List as requested, the Advisor and/ or the board, as the case may be, shall be liable
to any Common Stockholder requesting the list for the costs, including reasonable attorneys fees,
incurred by that stockholder for compelling the production of the Stockholder List and for actual
damages suffered by any Common Stockholder by reason of such refusal or neglect. It shall be a
defense that the actual purpose and reason for the requests for inspection or for a copy of the
Stockholder List is not for a proper purpose but is instead for the purpose of securing such list
of stockholders or other information for the purpose of selling such list or copies thereof, or
using the same for a commercial purpose other than in the interest of the applicant as a
stockholder relative to the affairs of the Corporation. The Corporation may require the stockholder
requesting the Stockholder List to represent that the list is not requested for a commercial
purpose unrelated to the stockholders interest in the Corporation. The remedies provided hereunder
to stockholders requesting copies of the Stockholder List are in addition to, and shall not in any
way limit, other remedies available to stockholders under federal law or the laws of any state.
30
Section 11.8. Reports. The Corporation shall cause to be prepared and mailed or
delivered to each Common Stockholder as of a record date after the end of the fiscal year and each
holder of other publicly held securities of the Corporation within 120 days after the end of the
fiscal year to which it relates an annual report for each fiscal year ending after the Initial
Public Offering of its securities that shall include: (a) financial statements prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that are audited and reported on by
independent certified public accountants; (b) the ratio of the costs of raising capital during the
period to the capital raised; (c) the aggregate amount of advisory fees and the aggregate amount of
other fees paid to the Advisor and any Affiliate of the Advisor by the Corporation, including fees
or charges paid to the Advisor and any Affiliate of the Advisor by third parties doing business
with the Corporation; (d) the Total Operating Expenses of the Corporation, stated as a percentage
of Average Invested Assets and as a percentage of its Net Income; (e) a report from the Corporate
Governance Committee that the policies being followed by the Corporation are in the best interests
of its Common Stockholders and the basis for such determination; and (f) separately stated, full
disclosure of all material terms, factors and circumstances surrounding any and all transactions
involving the Corporation and the Advisor, Sponsor, a director or any Affiliate thereof occurring
in the year for which the annual report is made, and the Corporate Governance Committee shall be
specifically charged with a duty to examine and comment in the report on the fairness of such
transactions. Alternatively, such information may be provided in a proxy statement delivered with
the annual report. The board of directors, including the Independent Directors, shall take
reasonable steps to ensure that the requirements of this Section 11.8 are met. The annual report
may be delivered by any reasonable means, including through an electronic medium. Electronic
delivery of the annual report or proxy statement shall comply with any then-applicable rules of the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 11.9. Rights of Objecting Stockholders. Holders of shares of Capital
Stock shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under
Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL unless the board, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the
entire board, shall determine that such rights shall apply, with respect to all or any classes or
series of Capital Stock, to a particular transaction or all transactions occurring after the date
of such approval in connection with which holders of such shares of Capital Stock would otherwise
be entitled to exercise such rights.
Section 11.10. Liability of Stockholders. The shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation shall be non-assessable by the Corporation upon receipt by the Corporation of the
consideration for which the board of directors authorized their issuance.
31
Section 11.11. Tender Offers. If any stockholder of the Corporation makes a
tender offer, including, without limitation, a mini-tender offer, such stockholder must comply
with all of the provisions set forth in Regulation 14D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, including, without limitation, disclosure and notice requirements, which would be
applicable if the tender offer was for more than 5% of the outstanding securities of the
Corporation, provided, however, that such documents are not required to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any such stockholder must provide notice to the
Corporation at least 10 Business Days prior to initiating any such tender offer. If any stockholder
initiates a tender offer without complying with the provisions set forth above (a Non-Compliant
Tender Offer), the Corporation, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to redeem such
non-compliant stockholders shares of Capital Stock and any shares of Capital Stock acquired in
such tender offer (collectively, the Tendered Shares) at the lesser of (i) with respect to Common
Stock, the price then being paid per share of Common Stock purchased in the Corporations latest
offering of Common Stock at full purchase price (not discounted for commission reductions nor for
reductions in sale price permitted pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan), (ii) the fair
market value of the shares as determined by an independent valuation obtained by the Corporation or
(iii) the lowest tender offer price offered in such Non-Compliant Tender Offer. The Corporation may
purchase such Tendered Shares upon delivery of the purchase price to the stockholder initiating
such Non-Compliant Tender Offer, and, upon such delivery, the Corporation may instruct any transfer
agent to transfer such purchased shares to the Corporation. In addition, any stockholder who makes
a Non-Compliant Tender Offer shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Corporation in
connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Section 11.11, including, without
limitation, expenses incurred in connection with the review of all documents related to such tender
offer and expenses incurred in connection with any purchase of Tendered Shares by the Corporation.
The Corporation maintains the right to offset any such expenses against the dollar amount to be
paid by the Corporation for the purchase of Tendered Shares pursuant to this Section 11.11. In
addition to the remedies provided herein, the Corporation may seek injunctive relief, including,
without limitation, a temporary or permanent restraining order, in connection with any
Non-Compliant Tender Offer.
ARTICLE XII
LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS, ADVISORS AND OTHER AGENTS
Section 12.1. Limitation of Director and Officer Liability. Except as prohibited
by Maryland law or the restrictions provided in Section 12.3, no director or officer of the
Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. Neither the
amendment nor repeal of this Section 12.1, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of
the charter or bylaws inconsistent with this Section 12.1, shall apply to or affect in any respect
the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act that occurred
prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
Section 12.2. Indemnification.
32
Except as prohibited by Maryland law or the restrictions provided in Section 12.2(a), Section
12.3 and Section 12.4, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary
determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses
in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding to: (i) any individual who is a present or
former director or officer of the Corporation; (ii) any individual who, while a director of the
Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer,
partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise; or (iii) the Advisor or any of
its Affiliates acting as an agent of the Corporation, from and against any claim or liability to
which such indemnitee may become subject or which such indemnitee may incur by reason of the
indemnitees service in such capacity. Except as provided in Section 12.2(a), Section 12.3 and
Section 12.4, the Corporation shall have the power with the approval of the board of directors to
provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to any Person who served a predecessor of
the Corporation in any of the capacities described above or to any employee or agent of the
Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation or any employee of the Advisor or any of the
Advisors Affiliates acting as an agent of the Corporation.
(a) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not indemnify the
directors or the Advisors or its Affiliates or any Person acting as a broker-dealer for any
loss, liability or expense arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state
securities laws by such party unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (i)
there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged
securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee; (ii) such claims have
been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the
particular indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of
the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement
and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for
indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which
securities of the Corporation were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of
securities laws.
(b) The rights of a director or officer to indemnification and advance of
expenses provided hereby shall vest immediately upon election of such director or officer.
No amendment of the charter or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the
right of indemnification or advancement of expenses provided hereunder with respect to acts
or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 12.3. Limitation on Exculpation and Indemnification. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Corporation shall not provide for indemnification of the directors or the Advisor or
its Affiliates for any liability or loss suffered by any of them, nor shall any of them be held
harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Corporation, unless all of the following
conditions are met:
(1) The directors or the Advisor or its Affiliates have determined, in good faith, that
the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the
Corporation.
(2) The directors or the Advisor or its Affiliates were acting on behalf of or
performing services for the Corporation.
33
(3) Such liability or loss was not the result of:
(i) negligence or misconduct by the directors (excluding the Independent
Directors) or the Advisor or its Affiliates; or
(b) gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Independent Directors.
(4) Such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the
Corporations Net Assets and not from its Common Stockholders.
Section 12.4. Limitation on Payment of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay or
reimburse reasonable legal expenses and other costs incurred by the directors or the Advisors or
its Affiliates in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding only if (in addition to the
procedures required by the MGCL) all of the following are satisfied: (a) the proceeding relates to
acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the
Corporation, (b) the legal proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not a Common
Stockholder or, if by a Common Stockholder acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of
competent jurisdiction approves such advancement and (c) the directors or the Advisor or its
Affiliates undertake to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Corporation, together with the
applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it is ultimately determined that the particular
indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT
Subject to Section 11.4, the Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any
amendment to the charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the
terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the charter, of any shares of outstanding
Capital Stock.
ARTICLE XIV
GOVERNING LAW
The rights of all parties and the validity, construction and effect of every provision hereof
shall be subject to and construed according to the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to
conflicts of laws provisions thereof; provided that the foregoing choice of law shall not restrict
the application of any states securities laws to the sale of securities to its residents or within
such state.
THIRD: The amendment and restatement of the charter of the Corporation as hereinabove
set forth have been duly advised by the board of directors and approved by the stockholder of the
Corporation as required by law.
FOURTH: The current address of the principal office of the Corporation is as set forth
in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
FIFTH: The name and address of the Corporations current resident agent are as set
forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
34
SIXTH: The number of directors of the Corporation and the names of those currently in
office are as set forth in Section 7.1 of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
SEVENTH: The undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges the foregoing amendment
and restatement of the charter to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters and
facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges that
to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all
material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
35
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Plymouth Opportunity REIT, Inc., has caused the foregoing amendment and
restatement of the charter to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive
Officer and attested to by its Secretary on this 29th day
of August, 2011.
|
|
|
|
|
|
PLYMOUTH OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC.
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Jeffrey
Witherell |
|
|
|
Jeffrey Witherell |
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
ATTEST
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Pendleton
White, Jr. |
|
|
|
Pendleton
White, Jr. |
|
|
|
Secretary |
|
|
36