0001193125-14-333805.txt : 20140905 0001193125-14-333805.hdr.sgml : 20140905 20140905164138 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-14-333805 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 11 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20140831 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20140905 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20140905 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SmartStop Self Storage, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001410567 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 320211624 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-53644 FILM NUMBER: 141086366 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 111 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 120 CITY: LADERA RANCH STATE: CA ZIP: 92694 BUSINESS PHONE: 887-872-1031 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 111 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 120 CITY: LADERA RANCH STATE: CA ZIP: 92694 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20070822 8-K 1 d783890d8k.htm FORM 8-K FORM 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 8-K

 

 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 31, 2014

 

 

SmartStop Self Storage, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Commission File Number: 000-53644

 

MD   32-0211624
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120, Ladera Ranch, California 92694

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(877) 327-3485

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.

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

 

 

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

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 4, 2014, SmartStop Self Storage, Inc. (formerly known as Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.) (the “Registrant”) and the Registrant’s operating partnership, SmartStop Self Storage Operating Partnership, L.P. (formerly known as Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P.) (the “Operating Partnership”), entered into a series of transactions, agreements, and amendments to the Registrant’s existing agreements and arrangements (such agreements and amendments hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction”), with Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC (“SSH”) and the Registrant’s advisor, Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC (the “Advisor”), pursuant to which, effective as of August 31, 2014, the Registrant acquired the self storage advisory, asset management, property management and investment management businesses of SSH. SSH is the sole member of the Advisor and Strategic Storage Property Management, LLC (the “Property Manager”). The Advisor had been responsible for, among other things, managing the Registrant’s affairs on a day-to-day basis and identifying and making acquisitions and investments on the Registrant’s behalf. As a result of the Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction, the Registrant is now self-managed, succeeds to the advisory, asset management and property management arrangements with two additional REITs, Strategic Storage Trust II, Inc. (“SST2”) and Strategic Storage Growth Trust, Inc. (“SSGT”), and has the internal capability to originate, structure and manage additional investment products which would be sponsored by the Registrant.

SSH Contribution Agreement

On September 4, 2014, the Registrant and the Operating Partnership, as Contributee, and SSH, as Contributor, entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “SSH Contribution Agreement”) whereby, effective August 31, 2014, the Operating Partnership acquired substantially all of SSH’s operating assets, including (a) SSH’s 100% membership interests in (i) the Property Manager, (ii) Strategic Storage Opportunities, LLC (“SSO”), (iii) Strategic Storage Realty Group, LLC, the parent company of the advisor and property manager for SST2 and SSGT, respectively, and (iv) Strategic Capital Markets Group, LLC, which owns a 15% non-voting equity interest in Select Capital Corporation, the Registrant’s former dealer manager and the current dealer manager for SST2 and SSGT, (b) all equipment, furnishings, fixtures, computer equipment and certain other personal property as set forth in the SSH Contribution Agreement, (c) all intellectual property, goodwill, licenses and sublicenses granted and obtained with respect thereto (including all rights to the “SmartStop®” brand and “Strategic Storage” related trademarks), (d) all of SSH’s Software as defined in the SSH Contribution Agreement, (e) all of SSH’s processes, practices, procedures and workforce (including a fully integrated operations team of approximately 300 self storage and other professionals), and (f) certain other assets as set forth in the SSH Contribution Agreement, in exchange for $18 million in cash and 773,395 units of limited partnership in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”).

The SSH Contribution Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Registrant, the Operating Partnership and SSH.

The foregoing summary of the material terms of the SSH Contribution Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the SSH Contribution Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.


Termination of Advisory Agreements

On September 4, 2014, the Registrant and the Operating Partnership entered into a Termination of Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement Termination”) with the Advisor. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement Termination, the advisory agreement between the Registrant, the Operating Partnership, and the Advisor was terminated, effective August 31, 2014, and is of no further force and effect.

In addition, Self Storage REIT, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership (“REIT I”) entered into a Termination of Advisory Agreement (the “REIT I Advisory Agreement Termination”) with USA Self Storage Advisor LLC, the advisor to REIT I (“REIT I Advisor”), and Self Storage REIT II, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership (“REIT II”) entered into a Termination of Advisory Agreement (the “REIT II Advisory Agreement Termination”) with USA SS REIT II Advisor, LLC, the advisor to REIT II (“REIT II Advisor”), resulting in the termination of the respective advisory agreements of REIT I and REIT II.

The foregoing summary of the Advisory Agreement Termination is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Advisory Agreement Termination, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated by reference herein.

Contribution of Special Limited Partner Interests

On September 4, 2014, pursuant to a limited partner interest contribution agreement (the “Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement”), by and among the Operating Partnership, USA Self Storage Operating Partnership, LP (“REIT I Operating Partnership”), USA SS REIT II Operating Partnership, L.P. (“REIT II Operating Partnership”), the Advisor, REIT I Advisor and REIT II Advisor, (1) the Advisor contributed its special limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 659,696 OP Units and 691,876 Class B Limited Partnership Units of the Operating Partnership (“Class B Units”), (2) REIT I Advisor contributed both its special limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership and its Class B limited partnership units in REIT I Operating Partnership to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 102,846 OP Units and 107,863 Class B Units, and (3) REIT II Advisor contributed both its special limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership and its Class B limited partnership units in REIT II Operating Partnership to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 30,188 OP Units and 31,660 Class B Units.

As a result of the Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, the Advisor, REIT I Advisor, and REIT II Advisor no longer have a special limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership, REIT I Operating Partnership or REIT II Operating Partnership; however, the Advisor, REIT I Advisor and REIT II Advisor will now hold OP Units and Class B Units in the Operating Partnership. See “Amendments to Operating Partnership Agreements” below. The Class B Units shall have the following rights, preferences and limitations:

 

    The Class B Units shall be converted on a per unit basis into OP Units at the later of (i) two years from the date of issuance, or (ii) the date on which the OP Units have a fully diluted estimated net asset value per unit (after giving effect to the conversion of the Class B Units) exceeding $10.81, calculated in accordance with the provisions of Practice Guideline 2013-01, Valuations of Publicly Registered Non-Listed REITs, issued by the Investment Program Association (IPA) in April 2013 (the “IPA Guidelines”); provided, however, that the estimated net asset value per unit shall take into account the value of the assets acquired by the Operating Partnership, pursuant to the SSH Contribution Agreement and the Churchill Contribution Agreement (as defined in Item 8.01 below);

 

    The Class B Units shall be automatically converted into OP Units in the event of a change in control or listing event (with market value in a listing measured by the average closing price during a 30-day period commencing at any time between 180 days and 540 days following listing) at a price in excess of $10.81 per share;


    The Class B Units shall only be converted to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion, the value of a share in the event of a change in control or listing event is greater than $10.81;

 

    The Class B Units shall have no distribution rights and, hence, will receive no distributions prior to their conversion to OP Units; and

 

    The Class B Units shall have no voting rights, except for approval rights for any amendments to the rights and obligations of the Class B Units.

The Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement contained various customary representations and warranties. The foregoing summary of the Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated by reference herein.

Amendments to Operating Partnership Agreements

On September 4, 2014, the Registrant entered into a Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership (the “Operating Partnership Agreement”), which amends and supersedes the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (the “Former OP Agreement”). In addition, REIT I entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement of Limited Partnership of REIT I Operating Partnership (the “REIT I OP Agreement Amendment”), and REIT II entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement of Limited Partnership of REIT II Operating Partnership (the “REIT II OP Agreement Amendment”).

As a result of the entry into the above-described Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement and the Operating Partnership Agreement, the REIT I OP Agreement Amendment, and the REIT II OP Agreement Amendment, (1) references to the special limited partner interests previously held by the Advisor, REIT I Advisor, and REIT II Advisor in each of the respective operating partnerships have been removed from the respective agreements, in connection with the exchange of such interests pursuant to the Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, and (2) provisions related to the subordinated incentive distributions payable to the special limited partners pursuant to the special limited partnership interests have been removed from the respective agreements. Accordingly, the Registrant and the Operating Partnership will no longer have any obligation to make the distributions of Net Sale Proceeds, Subordinated Incentive Listing Distribution, Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Extraordinary Transaction or Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Termination (each as defined in the Former OP Agreement).

The foregoing summary of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Operating Partnership Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated by reference herein.

Registration Rights Agreement

On September 4, 2014, in connection with the issuance of (i) OP Units to SSH, Churchill (as defined in Item 8.01 below), the Advisor, REIT I Advisor and REIT II Advisor pursuant to the terms of the SSH Contribution Agreement, the Churchill Contribution Agreement (as described in Item 8.01 below), and the Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) Class B Units, which are convertible into OP Units (as described in “Contribution of Special Limited Partner Interests” above), to the Advisor, REIT I Advisor, and REIT II Advisor, the Registrant entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with SSH, Churchill, the Advisor, REIT I Advisor and REIT II Advisor. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registrant has agreed to file, no later than six months following the


date upon which the Registrant’s common stock becomes available for trading pursuant to the initial listing of such common stock on a national securities exchange, as such term is defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective as soon as practicable thereafter, a registration statement for the offering on a continuous or delayed basis in the future covering resales of shares of the Registrant’s common stock that may be acquired by SSH, Churchill, the Advisor, REIT I Advisor or REIT II Advisor in connection with the exercise by them of the exchange rights associated with the OP Units.

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

Agreement Regarding Acquisition Fees

In connection with the Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction, the Registrant, the Operating Partnership and SSH agreed that for a period of six months following the closing of the Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction, subject to certain extensions, SSH, as the parent company of the Advisor and former ultimate parent company of Strategic Storage Advisor II, LLC, the advisor to SST2, and SS Growth Advisor, LLC, the advisor to SSGT, will retain any and all acquisition fees that would have been due under their respective advisory agreements with respect to any properties whose acquisition was pending, under contract, or was otherwise in process as of the closing of the Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction. The parties agreed that the first $2.0 million in such acquisition fees otherwise payable will be deferred until the payout ratio (as defined in the agreement and calculated to include the payment of any portion of the deferred fees that SSH is entitled to be paid) is 100% or less for any quarterly period.

Severance Agreements

On September 4, 2014, in connection with the Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction and the employment of our executive officers, the Operating Partnership entered into severance agreements (collectively, the “Severance Agreements”) with each of the following executive officers: H. Michael Schwartz, the Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Registrant’s Board of Directors, Paula Mathews, the Registrant’s Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Michael S. McClure, the Registrant’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Wayne Johnson, the Registrant’s Senior Vice President – Acquisitions, Ken Morrison, the Registrant’s Senior Vice President – Property Management, and James L. Berg, the Registrant’s Secretary. The Severance Agreements were approved by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors of the Registrant.

Each of the Severance Agreements for our executive officers (collectively, the “Executive Officer Severance Agreements”) provide for separation payments upon the termination of the executive officer’s employment under various conditions. The level of severance pay depends upon the circumstances of the executive officer’s termination of employment. For example, if the executive officer were terminated by the Operating Partnership without Cause (as defined in the Executive Officer Severance Agreements ) and not in connection with a Change in Control (as defined in the Executive Officer Severance Agreements), then the executive officer would be entitled to a separation payment equal to the base salary for the applicable year and target bonus for the first fiscal year and average bonus thereafter (1.25 times these amounts for Mr. McClure and 2.99 times these amounts for Mr. Schwartz). If, within two years of a Change in Control, the executive officer were terminated by the Operating Partnership without Cause or the executive officer terminates his or her employment for Good Reason (as defined in the Executive Officer Severance Agreements), then the executive officer would be entitled to a severance payment


equal to 2 times the base salary for the applicable year and target bonus for the first fiscal year and average bonus thereafter (2.5 times these amounts for Mr. McClure and 2.99 times these amounts for Mr. Schwartz). Upon death or disability of the executive officer, the executive officer (or his or her estate) will be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to the base salary through the end of the applicable year plus any accrued but unpaid target bonus. If the executive officer terminates his or her employment voluntarily or if the executive officer were terminated by the Operating Partnership for Cause (as defined in the Executive Officer Severance Agreements), then such executive officer will only be entitled to $10,000. In each of the foregoing circumstances, if the executive officer violates any of the restrictive covenants set forth in the Executive Officer Severance Agreements, that executive officer’s right to receive severance payments pursuant to the Executive Officer Severance Agreements will end immediately.

The foregoing description of the Executive Officer Severance Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Form of Executive Officer Severance Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

The description of the Advisory Agreement Termination in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.

Item 5.02.    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

The description of the Severance Agreements in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On September 5, 2014, the Registrant filed the Second Articles of Amendment to the Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Registrant (the “Charter”) to change the Registrant’s name from Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. to SmartStop Self Storage, Inc. No other changes were made to the Charter.

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Second Articles of Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

A letter to the stockholders of the Registrant regarding the Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction and the Registrant’s estimated value per share is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and the attached Exhibit 99.1 are furnished to the SEC, and shall not be deemed to be “filed” with the SEC for any purpose, including for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.


Item 8.01. Other Events.

On September 4, 2014, the Registrant and the Operating Partnership, as Contributee, and Churchill TRI, LLC (“Churchill”), an affiliate of the Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer and President, H. Michael Schwartz, as Contributor, entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Churchill Contribution Agreement”) whereby the Operating Partnership acquired Churchill’s ownership interest in SBOA TI Reinsurance Ltd. (the “Reinsurance Company”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, which reinsures a portion of the insurance required by the insurer of the Registrant’s tenant insurance program, whereby tenants of the Registrant’s self storage facilities and tenants of other operators participating in the program can purchase insurance to cover damage or destruction to their property while stored at such facilities. In addition to the tenant insurance revenues the Registrant already receives pursuant to the program, the Registrant will now be entitled to receive its share of distributions of any profits generated by the Reinsurance Company depending on actual losses incurred by the program. Churchill contributed its interest in the Reinsurance Company in exchange for $3.75 million in cash and 290,023 OP Units.

Pursuant to the terms of the SSH Contribution Agreement, Churchill Contribution Agreement and Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, none of SSH, Churchill, the Advisor, the REIT I Advisor or the REIT II Advisor may transfer for a period of two years any of (a) the OP Units or Class B Units it receives pursuant to the SSH Contribution Agreement, Churchill Contribution Agreement or the Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, as applicable, or (b) any shares of common stock of the Registrant held by any of them upon exchange of the OP Units or Class B Units pursuant to the provisions of the Operating Partnership Agreement, except for (i) certain permitted transfers and (ii) upon a change in control of the Registrant, such restrictions on transfer shall terminate.

The Churchill Contribution Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Registrant, the Operating Partnership and Churchill.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

3.1 Second Articles of Amendment to the Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement

4.1 Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 4, 2014, by and among Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC, Churchill TRI, LLC, Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, USA Self Storage Advisor LLC, and USA SS REIT II Advisor, LLC

10.1 Contribution Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2014, by and among Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. and Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., as Contributee, and Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC, as Contributor (Exhibits and Schedules Omitted)

10.2 Termination of Advisory Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2014, by and among Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., and Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC

10.3 Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2014, by and among Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., USA Self Storage Operating Partnership, LP, USA SS REIT II Operating Partnership, L.P., Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, USA Self Storage Advisor LLC, and USA SS REIT II Advisor, LLC (Exhibits and Schedules Omitted)

10.4 Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P.

10.5 Form of Executive Officer Severance Agreement

99.1 Letter to Stockholders dated September 5, 2014


Signature(s)

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

 

      SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE, INC.
Date: September 5, 2014     By:  

/s/ Michael S. McClure

      Michael S. McClure
      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
EX-3.1 2 d783890dex31.htm EX-3.1 EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

SECOND ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO THE

SECOND ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF

STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC.

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.

SECOND: Article I of the Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the corporation is hereby amended to read as follows:

The name of the corporation is SmartStop Self Storage, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

THIRD: All other provisions of the Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement shall remain in full force and effect.

FOURTH: In accordance with Section 2-607 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), these Second Articles of Amendment were duly approved by a majority of the entire board of directors of the corporation on September 4, 2014, and were not required to be submitted to the stockholders of the corporation, as the amendment is limited to a change expressly authorized by Section 2-605 of the MGCL.

[Signatures appear on next page]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., has caused the foregoing articles of amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on this 5th day of September, 2014.

 

ATTEST:    

Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.

By:  

/s/ Michael S. McClure

    By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  Michael S. McClure       H. Michael Schwartz
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer       Chief Executive Officer

[Signature page for Second Articles of Amendment to

Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement of SST]

EX-4.1 3 d783890dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 4, 2014 to be effective at 11:59 p.m. PDT on August 31, 2014, is made and entered into by and among Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SSH”), Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “SS Advisor”), USA Self Storage Advisor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “REIT I Advisor”), USA SS REIT II Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “REIT II Advisor”) and Churchill TRI, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“CS”). SSH, SS Advisor, REIT I Advisor, REIT II Advisor, CS and any other Person holding OP Units and becoming party to this Agreement is each referred to herein as a “Holder” and collectively as the “Holders.” Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 1.

WHEREAS, the Company, Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“SS OP”) and SSH have entered into a contribution agreement (the “SSH Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which SSH has contributed all of its right, title and interest to certain assets more specifically described in the Contribution Agreement to SS OP in exchange for cash and units of limited partnership interest of SS OP (“Partnership Units”) redeemable for cash or exchangeable, at the Company’s option, for shares of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”), in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Company, SS OP and CS have entered into a contribution agreement (the “CS Contribution Agreement”) pursuant to which CS has contributed all of its right, title and interest in the TI Interest (as defined in the CS Contribution Agreement) to SS OP in exchange for cash and OP Units; and

WHEREAS, SS OP, SS Advisor, REIT I Advisor, REIT II Advisor, USA Self Storage Operating Partnership, LP, a Maryland limited partnership (the “REIT I OP”) and USA SS REIT II Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “REIT II OP”) have entered into a Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement (the “LPI Contribution Agreement” and together with the SSH Contribution Agreement and the CS Contribution Agreement, the “Contribution Agreements”) pursuant to which: (i) SS Advisor has contributed its special limited partner interest in SS OP to SS OP; (ii) REIT I Advisor has contributed its special limited partner interest in SS OP and its Class B Limited Partnership Units in REIT I OP to SS OP; and (iii) REIT II Advisor has contributed its special limited partner interest in SS OP and its Class B Limited Partnership Units in REIT II OP to SS OP, each in exchange for Partnership Units and Class B Limited Partnership Units in SS OP (the “Class B Units” and collectively with the Partnership Units, the “OP Units”), which Class B Units are convertible into Partnership Units in accordance with their terms.

WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement with the Holders in order to grant the Holders the registration rights contained herein; and

WHEREAS, each of SSH, CS, SS Advisor, REIT I Advisor and REIT II Advisor contributed its portion of the various assets contributed pursuant to the Contribution Agreements in consideration of receiving, among other things, the registration rights set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Affiliate” shall mean, when used with reference to a specified Person, (i) any Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the specified Person; (ii) any Person who, from time to time, is a member of the immediate family of a specified Person; (iii) any Person who, from time to time, is an officer or director or manager of a specified Person; or (iv) any Person who, directly or indirectly, is the beneficial owner of 50% or more of any class of equity securities or other ownership interests of the specified Person, or of any Person of which the specified Person is directly or indirectly the owner of 50% or more of any class of equity securities or other ownership interests.


Agreement” shall mean this Registration Rights Agreement as originally executed and as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company and any successor governing body of the Company or any successor of the Company.

Business Day” shall mean each day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed.

Class B Units” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor thereto.

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof and includes the Company’s successors by merger, acquisition, reorganization or otherwise.

Continuous Offering Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

Contribution Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Control” (including the terms “Controlling,” “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”) shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person through the ownership of Voting Power, by contract or otherwise.

CS Contribution Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any corresponding provision of succeeding law), and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Holder” and “Holders” have the meanings set forth in the introductory paragraph above.

Listing Date” shall mean the date upon which the Company’s Common Stock becomes available for trading pursuant to the initial listing of such Common Stock on a “national securities exchange”, as such term is defined under the Exchange Act.

LPI Contribution Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

OP Units” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of SS OP, entered into on September 4, 2014 to be effective at 11:59 p.m. PDT on August 31, 2014, as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time.

Partnerships Units” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other governmental or legal entity.

Piggy-Back Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section (b)(i) hereof.

Registrable Securities” shall mean, at any time, a class of equity securities of the Company or of a successor to the entire business of the Company which (i) are the shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by each Holder in connection with the exercise by such Holder of the exchange rights associated with the OP Units and (ii) are of a class of securities that are listed for trading on a national securities exchange; provided, however, such


Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (A) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities shall have been declared effective by the Commission and all such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, (B) such Registrable Securities shall have been sold in accordance with Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act, (C) such Registrable Securities have ceased to be outstanding, or (D) such Registrable Securities have otherwise been transferred in a transaction that constitutes a sale thereof under the Securities Act, the Company has delivered to the Holder’s transferee a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such shares not bearing the Securities Act restricted stock legend and such shares may subsequently be resold or otherwise transferred by such transferee without registration under the Securities Act.

Registration Expenses” shall mean (i) the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Company incurred in connection with the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, and any premiums and other costs of policies of insurance obtained by the Company against liabilities arising out of the sale of any securities and (ii) all registration, filing and stock exchange fees, all fees and expenses of complying with securities or “blue sky” laws, all fees and expenses of custodians, transfer agents and registrars, all printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses; provided, however, Registration Expenses shall not include any out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders, transfer taxes, underwriting or brokerage commissions or discounts associated with effecting any sales of Registrable Securities that may be offered, or legal expenses of any Holder or group of Holders, which expenses shall be borne by each Holder of Registrable Securities on a pro rata basis with respect to the Registrable Securities so sold.

REIT I Advisor” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph above.

REIT I OPshall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

REIT II Advisor” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph above.

REIT II OP” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (or any successor corresponding provision of succeeding law), and the rules and regulations thereunder.

SS Advisor” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph above.

SSH Contribution Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

SS OP” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Voting Power” shall mean voting securities or other voting interests ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of board members or Persons performing substantially equivalent tasks and responsibilities with respect to a particular entity.

Section 2. Continuous Offering Registration; Piggy-Back Registration.

(a) Continuous Offering Registration.

(i) The Company agrees to prepare and file with the Commission, not earlier than the Listing Date and no later than six months following the Listing Date, a registration statement under Rule 415 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto for the offering on a continuous or delayed basis in the future covering resales of the Registrable Securities (the “Continuous Offering Registration Statement”), and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Continuous Offering Registration Statement to be


declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable thereafter. The Continuous Offering Registration Statement shall be on an appropriate form, as determined by the Company, and the Continuous Offering Registration Statement and any form of prospectus included therein (or prospectus supplement relating thereto) shall reflect the plan of distribution or method of sale as the Holders may from time to time specify in a notice to the Company. In addition to any other rights and remedies the Holders may have, in the event that the Company fails to file, or if filed fails to maintain the effectiveness of, a Continuous Offering Registration Statement, the Holders may participate in a Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, subject to the limitations set forth herein; provided that, if and so long as a Continuous Offering Registration Statement is on file and effective, then the Company shall have no obligation to allow participation in a Piggy-Back Registration.

(ii) Effectiveness. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Continuous Offering Registration Statement continuously effective for the period beginning on the date on which the Continuous Offering Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission and ending on the date that all of the Registrable Securities registered under the Continuous Offering Registration Statement cease to be Registrable Securities. During the period that the Continuous Offering Registration Statement is effective, the Company shall supplement or make amendments to the Continuous Offering Registration Statement, as required by the Securities Act or other law, including to reflect any specific plan of distribution or method of sale, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such supplements and amendments declared effective, if required, as soon as practicable after filing.

(b) Piggy-Back Registration.

(i) Subject to Section 2(a) hereof, if the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an underwritten equity offering by the Company for its own account or for the account of any of its security holders of any class of security (other than (1) a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or any substitute form that may be adopted by the Commission), (2) a registration statement filed in connection with an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing securities holders, or (3) any registration statement filed prior to the date which is six months following the Listing Date), then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Holders as soon as practicable (but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date), and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to register such number of shares of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request (a “Piggy-Back Registration”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to register in a Piggy-Back Registration any Registrable Securities registered pursuant to an effective Continuous Offering Registration Statement.

(ii) Reduction of Offering. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, if in the opinion of the managing underwriter or underwriters of an offering described in Section 2(b)(i) hereof, the (1) size of the offering that the Holders, the Company and such other Persons intend to make or (2) kind of securities that the Holders, the Company and/or any other Persons intend to include in such offering are such that the success of the offering would be adversely affected by inclusion of the Registrable Securities requested to be included, then (A) if the size of the offering is the basis of such underwriter’s opinion, the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be reduced pro rata (according to the Registrable Securities proposed for registration) to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount of Registrable Securities to be included in such offering to the amount recommended by such managing underwriter or underwriters; provided that, if the securities are being offered for the account of other Persons as well as the Company, then with respect to the Registrable Securities intended to be offered by Holders, the proportion by which the amount of such class of securities intended to be offered by Holders is reduced shall not exceed the proportion by which the amount of such class of the securities intended to be offered by such other Persons is reduced; and (B) if the combination of the securities to be offered is the basis of such underwriter’s opinion, (x) the Registrable Securities to be included in such offering shall be reduced as described in clause (A) above (subject to the proviso in clause (A)) or (y) if the actions described in clause (x) would, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or underwriters, be insufficient to substantially eliminate the adverse effect that inclusion of the Registrable Securities requested to be included would have on such offering, such Registrable Securities will be excluded from such offering.


Section 3. Black-Out Periods and Restrictions on Transfer.

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall have the right, exercisable from time to time by the Board, to require the Holders not to sell pursuant to a Continuous Offering Registration Statement or similar document under the Securities Act filed pursuant to Section 2 or to suspend the effectiveness thereof if at the time of the delivery of such notice the Board reasonably and in good faith has determined that such registration and offering, continued effectiveness or sale would interfere materially with any material transaction involving the Company; provided, however, that in no event shall any black-out period extend for an aggregate period of more than 60 days in any 12-month period. The Company, as soon as practicable, shall (i) give the Holders prompt written notice in the event that the Company has suspended sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 3, (ii) give the Holders prompt written notice of the completion of such material transaction and (iii) promptly file any amendment necessary to any Continuous Offering Registration Statement or prospectus for the Registrable Securities connection with the completion of such material transaction.

(b) Each Holder agrees in connection with the redemption of OP Units in exchange for Registrable Securities, that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in this Section 3, such Holder will forthwith discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Continuous Offering Registration Statement relating to such Registrable Securities until such Holder’s receipt of the notice of completion of such material transaction.

(c) The Holders further acknowledge and agree that their respective OP Units and the Registrable Securities for which they may be exchanged are subject to the restrictions on transfer contained in Section 6.7 of the SSH Contribution Agreement, Section 6.7 of the CS Contribution Agreement and Section 14 of the LPI Contribution Agreement as such provisions are applicable to the respective Holders in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreements.

Section 4. Registration Procedures.

(a) In connection with the filing of the Continuous Offering Registration Statement as provided by this Agreement, until the Registrable Securities cease to be Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to, as expeditiously as practicable:

(i) furnish to each Holder of the Registrable Securities being registered, without charge, such number of conformed copies of such Continuous Offering Registration Statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits) other than those which are being incorporated into such Continuous Offering Registration Statement by reference, such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such Continuous Offering Registration Statement (including each complete prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents, including documents incorporated by reference, as such Holder may request;

(ii) register or qualify all Registrable Securities under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders and the underwriters of the Registrable Securities being registered, if any, shall request, but only to the extent legally required to do so, to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such Continuous Offering Registration Statement remains in effect, to allow the Holders to consummate the disposition in such jurisdiction of the securities owned by the Holders;

(iii) notify the Holders at any time when the Company becomes aware during any period during which a prospectus for Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such Continuous Offering Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made, and promptly prepare and file a supplement or prepare, file and obtain effectiveness of a post-effective amendment to the Continuous Offering Registration Statement and, at the request of the Holders, furnish to the Holders a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to, or an amendment of, such prospectus as


may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made;

(iv) comply or continue to comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder so as to enable any Holder to sell its Registrable Securities pursuant to the Continuous Offering Registration Statement;

(v) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Continuous Offering Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Continuous Offering Registration Statement;

(vi) cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold (if the Registrable Securities are then certificated) and not bearing any Securities Act legend; and enable certificates for such Registrable Securities to be issued for such number of shares and registered in such names as the Holders may reasonably request in writing at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities;

(vii) list all Registrable Securities covered by such Continuous Offering Registration Statement on any securities exchange or national quotation system on which any such class of securities is then listed or quoted and cause to be satisfied all requirements and conditions of such securities exchange or national quotation system to the listing or quoting of such Registrable Securities that are reasonably within the control of the Company including, without limitation, registering the applicable class of Registrable Securities under the Exchange Act, if appropriate, and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration to become effective pursuant to the rules of the Commission;

(viii) in connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition by any Holder of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144, cooperate with such Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any Securities Act legend, and enable certificates for such Registrable Securities to be for such number of shares and registered in such name as the Holders may reasonably request in writing at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144;

(ix) notify the Holders, promptly after it shall receive notice thereof, of the time when such Continuous Offering Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendments to the Continuous Offering Registration Statement, shall have become effective, or a supplement to any prospectus forming part of such Continuous Offering Registration Statement has been filed or when any document is filed with the Commission which would be incorporated by reference into the prospectus;

(x) notify the Holders of any request by the Commission for the amendment or supplement of such Continuous Offering Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information; and

(xi) advise the Holders, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain actual knowledge thereof, of (A) the issuance of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Continuous Offering Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement or to obtain its withdrawal, if such stop order, injunction or other order or requirement should be issued, (B) the suspension of the registration of the subject shares of the Registrable Securities in any state or other jurisdiction and (C) the removal of any such stop order, injunction or other order or requirement or proceeding or the lifting of any such suspension.

(b) In connection with the filing of any Continuous Offering Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities, each Holder shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding such Holder (and any of his, her or its Affiliates), the intended method of distribution of such Registrable Securities and such other


information requested by the Company as is necessary or advisable for inclusion in the Continuous Offering Registration Statement relating to such offering pursuant to the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any information required by Item 507 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act as may be amended from time to time.

(c) Each Holder agrees by acquisition of the Registrable Securities that (i) upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(a)(iii) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Continuous Offering Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(a)(iii) hereof; (ii) upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clause (A) of Section 4(a)(xi) hereof, such Holder will discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Continuous Offering Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the notice described in clause (C) of Section 4(a)(xi) hereof; and (iii) upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clause (B) of Section 4(a)(xi) hereof, such Holder will discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Continuous Offering Registration Statement in the applicable state jurisdiction(s) until such Holder’s receipt of the notice described in clause (C) of Section 4(a)(xi) hereof.

Section 5. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its members, partners, officers, directors, managers, trustees, stockholders, employees, retained professionals, agents and investment advisers, each underwriter, broker or any other Person on behalf of such Holder, and each Person, if any, who Controls such Holder, together with the members, partners, officers, directors, managers, trustees, stockholders, employees, retained professionals, agents and investment advisers of such Controlling Person, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees), to which a Holder or any such indemnitees may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of, or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered and sold under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation of the Securities Act or state securities laws or rules thereunder by the Company that relate to any action or inaction by the Company in connection with such registration statement, and the Company will reimburse such Person for any reasonable legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, liability, action or proceedings; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to, or required to indemnify, any Holder under this Section 5(a) in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) or expense arises out of or is based upon, an untrue statement or omission made in such registration statement, any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any such Holder or on such Holder’s behalf. The indemnity contained in this Section 5(a) shall survive the transfer of such securities by a Holder made pursuant to Section 7(h) hereof.

(b) Indemnification by the Holder. Each Holder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each present or past member of the Board, each past or present officer, employee, retained professional, agent and investment adviser, each past or present external advisor or manager, of the Company, underwriter, broker or other Person acting on behalf of the Holder, and each other Person, if any, who Controls any of the foregoing, together with the members, partners, officers, directors, managers, trustees, stockholders, employees, retained professionals, agents and investment advisers of such Controlling Person, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees), to which the Company or any such indemnitees may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement of a material fact in or omission to state a material fact from such registration statement, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment


or supplement thereto, if such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon information provided by such Holder or on such Holder’s behalf, or (ii) any violation of the Securities Act or state securities laws or rules thereunder by such Holder. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any such Board member, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser or Controlling Person and shall survive the transfer of such securities by any Holder. The obligation of a Holder to indemnify will be several and not joint, among the Holders of Registrable Securities and shall be limited to the net proceeds (after underwriting fees, commissions or discounts) actually received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding involving a claim referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give prompt written notice to the latter of the commencement of such action; provided, however, that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against an indemnified party, unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such claim, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, for itself, if applicable, and any such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in connection with the defense thereof; provided, that if (i) any indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are additional to or conflict with those available to the indemnifying party, or that such claim or litigation involves or could have an effect upon matters beyond the scope of the indemnity provided hereunder, or (ii) such action seeks an injunction or equitable relief against any indemnified party or involves actual or alleged criminal activity, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party without such indemnified party’s prior written consent (but, without such consent, shall have the right to participate therein with counsel of its choice) and such indemnifying party shall reimburse such indemnified party and any Person controlling such indemnified party for that portion of the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the indemnified party which is reasonably related to the matters covered by the indemnity provided hereunder. The indemnifying party shall not, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to any judgment or settlement that (i) does not contain a full and unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability concerning any claim or litigation; (ii) includes a statement about or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party; or (iii) commits any indemnified party to take, or hold back from taking, any action.

(d) Indemnification Payments. To the extent that the indemnifying party does not assume the defense of an action brought against the indemnified party as provided in Section 5(c) hereof, or assumes such defense and thereafter does not diligently pursue the same to conclusion the indemnified party (or parties if there is more than one) shall be entitled to the reasonable legal expenses of common counsel for the indemnified party (or parties). In such event, however, the indemnifying party will not be liable for any settlement effected without the written consent of such indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The indemnification required by this Section 5 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of an investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred.

(e) Contribution. If, for any reason, the foregoing indemnity is unavailable, or is insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of the expense, loss, damage or liability, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other (determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission) or (ii) if the allocation provided by subclause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law or provides a lesser sum to the indemnified party than the amount hereinafter calculated, in the proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, but also the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other, as well as any other relevant equitable


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

Section 6. Covenants Relating To Rule 144. In compliance with either Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company covenants that it will file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and that it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time or (ii) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.

Section 7. Miscellaneous.

(a) Termination; Survival. The rights of each Holder under this Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the date on which such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities, and (ii) the date that all of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder may be sold during any three-month period in a single transaction or series of transactions without volume limitations under Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the parties under Section 5 hereof and paragraphs (d), (e) and (g) of this Section 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

(b) Expenses. All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any Continuous Offering Registration Statement under Section 2 hereof shall be borne by the Company, whether or not any Continuous Offering Registration Statement related thereto becomes effective.

(c) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to each of the other parties.

(d) Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland.

(e) Waiver Of Jury Trial; Forum. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN. EACH PARTY SHALL BRING ANY ACTION AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT IN A FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, AND WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO HAVE ANY PROCEEDING TRANSFERRED FROM SUCH COURTS ON THE GROUND OF IMPROPER VENUE OR INCONVENIENT FORUM.

(f) Prior Agreement; Construction; Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties, and all such prior agreements and understandings are merged herein and shall not survive the execution and delivery hereof.

(g) Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent, postage prepaid, by registered, certified or express mail or reputable overnight courier service or by telecopier and shall be deemed given when so delivered by hand or, if mailed, three days after mailing (one Business Day in the case of express mail or overnight courier service), addressed as follows:

 

If to the Holder:    To the address set forth beside the respective Holder’s signature
If to the Company:   

Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.

111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120

Ladera Ranch, California 92694

Attention: H. Michael Schwartz


  

Email: hms@strategiccapital.net

 

with a copy to:

 

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

3414 Peachtree Road, NE

Suite 1600

Atlanta, GA 30326

Attention: Michael K. Rafter

Email: mrafter@bakerdonelson.com

(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties thereto. The Company may assign its rights or obligations hereunder to any successor to the Company’s business or with the prior written consent of Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no assignee of the Company shall have any of the rights granted under this Agreement until such assignee shall acknowledge its rights and obligations hereunder by a signed written agreement pursuant to which such assignee accepts such rights and obligations. Each of SSH, CS, SS Advisor, REIT I Advisor and REIT II Advisor may assign its rights under this Agreement to its members in connection with any dissolution of any of them which results in the distribution of such Holder’s OP Units to its respective members; provided that each Person taking such assignment shall acknowledge in writing its rights and obligations hereunder. In the event that SSH, CS, SS Advisor, REIT I Advisor or REIT II Advisor distributes OP Units in-kind to one or more of their respective members, then the recipient of such OP Units shall be permitted to join this Agreement, and become a Holder, by executing an instrument of joinder, commercially reasonable in its terms, pursuant to which such Person accepts the rights and obligations of a Holder hereunder. Other than as permitted pursuant to the preceding two sentences, no Holder may assign its rights under this Agreement without the consent of the Company, which the Company may withhold in its sole discretion.

(i) Headings. Headings are included solely for convenience of reference and if there is any conflict between headings and the text of this Agreement, the text shall control.

(j) Amendments And Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived at any time only by the written agreement of the Company and the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the provisions of this Agreement may not be amended or waived without the consent of the Holders of all the Registrable Securities adversely affected by such amendment or waiver if such amendment or waiver adversely affects a portion of the Registrable Securities but does not so adversely affect all of the Registrable Securities; provided, further, that the provisions of the preceding provision may not be amended or waived except in accordance with this sentence. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any such Holders of any provision or condition of this Agreement must be made in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in writing. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each Holder of Registrable Securities and the Company.

(k) Interpretation; Absence Of Presumption. For the purposes hereof, (i) words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires, (ii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and section, paragraph or other references are to the sections, paragraphs, or other references to this Agreement unless otherwise specified, (iii) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified, (iv) the word “or” shall not be exclusive and (v) provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and transactions.

This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instruments to be drafted.

(l) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be or shall be held or deemed by a final, non-appealable order by a competent authority to be invalid, inoperative or unenforceable, such circumstance shall not


have the non-appealable effect of rendering any other provision or provisions herein contained invalid, inoperative or unenforceable, but this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, inoperative or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein so as to give full force and effect to the remaining such terms and provisions.

(m) Specific Performance; Other Rights. The parties recognize that various other rights rendered under this Agreement are unique and, accordingly, the parties shall, in addition to such other remedies as may be available to them at law or in equity, have the right to enforce the rights under this Agreement by actions for injunctive relief and specific performance.

(n) Attorneys’ Fees. Should any party hereto employ attorneys or arbitrators to bring an action or arbitration to enforce any of the provisions hereof, the non-prevailing party in such action or arbitration shall pay the prevailing party all reasonable costs, charges, and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and costs, expended or incurred in connection therewith.

(o) Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement, as well as all transactions and covenants contemplated by this Agreement, each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such additional documents and instruments and to perform or cause to be performed such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and all such transactions and covenants contemplated by this Agreement.

(p) No Waiver Of Breach. The waiver of any breach of any term or condition of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any other breach of such term or condition or of any other term or condition, nor shall any failure to enforce any provision hereof operate as a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC.,

a Maryland corporation

 

By:

 

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name: H. Michael Schwartz
Its: President and Chief Executive Officer

HOLDERS:

Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

 

By:

 

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:

  H. Michael Schwartz

Its:

  Manager

 

ADDRESS:

  Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC
  111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120
  Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

Churchill TRI, LLC

a Nevada limited liability company

 

By:

 

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:

  H. Michael Schwartz

Its:

  Manager

 

ADDRESS:

  Churchill TRI, LLC
  1645 Village Center Circle
  Las Vegas, NV 89134

STRATEGIC STORAGE ADVISOR, LLC

 

By:

 

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:

  H. Michael Schwartz

Title:

  President

 

ADDRESS:

  Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC
  c/o Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC
  111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120
  Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


USA SELF STORAGE ADVISOR LLC
By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:     H. Michael Schwartz
Title:     President

 

ADDRESS:   USA Self Storage Advisor LLC
  c/o Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC
  111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120
  Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

 

USA SS REIT II ADVISOR, LLC
By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:     H. Michael Schwartz
Title:     President

 

ADDRESS:   USA Self Storage Advisor LLC
 

c/o Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC

111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120

Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement – Continued]

EX-10.1 4 d783890dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC.

AND

STRATEGIC STORAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., AS CONTRIBUTEE,

AND

STRATEGIC STORAGE HOLDINGS, LLC,

AS CONTRIBUTOR

DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2014


CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

This CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of September 4, 2014, by and among Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“SST”), and Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) (SST and the Operating Partnership collectively referred to as “Contributee”), on the one hand, and Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SSH” or “Contributor”), on the other hand. Contributee and SSH are collectively referred to as the “Parties”, and each, a “Party”. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Article 9 to this Agreement.

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, SSH is the parent company of Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, the advisor to SST (the “Advisor”), and Strategic Storage Property Management, LLC, the property manager for SST (the “Property Manager”);

WHEREAS, SSH is engaged in the self storage advisory and management business (the “Business”) and owns certain operating assets including, but not limited to, (i) intellectual property, including without limitation the “SmartStop®” brand and all trademarks associated therewith, all “Strategic Storage” related trademarks and certain Domain Names, (ii) processes, practices, procedures and workforce, (iii) property, plant and equipment, and (iv) the membership interests in five (5) wholly-owned subsidiaries, the Advisor, the Property Manager, Strategic Storage Opportunities, LLC, Strategic Storage Realty Group, LLC (“SSRG”) and Strategic Capital Markets Group, LLC;

WHEREAS, SSRG owns a 100% membership interest in (i) Strategic Storage Property Management II, LLC, the property manager for Strategic Storage Trust II, Inc., (“SST II”) a public, non-traded, self storage real estate investment trust, focused on stabilized properties, and (ii) SS Growth Property Management, LLC, the property manager for Strategic Storage Growth Trust, Inc. (“SSGT”), a private REIT in registration to become a public, non-traded, self storage REIT focused on opportunistic properties;

WHEREAS, SSRG owns a 97.5% membership interest (with 100% voting rights) in (i) Strategic Storage Advisor II, LLC, the advisor for SST II, and (ii) SS Growth Advisor, LLC, the advisor for SSGT; and

WHEREAS, Contributee and SSH desire to enter into a self-administration transaction in which SSH contributes and the Operating Partnership receives and accepts the Contributed Assets.

 

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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals, the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

CONTRIBUTION OF ASSETS

1.1 Contribution of the Contributed Assets. On and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, SSH agrees to contribute, convey, transfer, irrevocably assign and deliver to the Operating Partnership the assets set forth on, or described in, Schedule 1.1 (collectively, the “Contributed Assets”), in exchange for the Contribution Value, except as provided herein, free and clear of all Encumbrances, and at the Closing, the Operating Partnership agrees to accept contribution of, the Contributed Assets and assume the Assumed Liabilities, if any, in exchange for the Contribution Value.

1.2 Excluded Assets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Contributed Assets shall not include any of the rights, properties or assets set forth on, or described in Schedule 1.2 (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”).

1.3 Assumed Liabilities. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, including without limitation Section 7.2, at the Closing, the Contributee shall assume from SSH the liabilities or obligations of SSH set forth on, or described in, Schedule 1.3 (each an “Assumed Liability” and, collectively, the “Assumed Liabilities”) and thereafter pay, perform and otherwise discharge the Assumed Liabilities in accordance with their terms. Except for the Assumed Liabilities, nothing contained in any Transaction Document shall be interpreted or construed to result in the assumption by the Contributee, or result in the Contributee becoming in any way liable for, any Liabilities of SSH, including without limitation Liabilities associated with SSH’s operation of its Business prior to the Effective Date (each an “Excluded Liability” and, collectively, the “Excluded Liabilities”).

1.4 Consideration.

(a) For the Contributed Assets, at the Closing, the Operating Partnership shall (i) deliver to SSH in immediately available funds $18,000,000 (the “Cash Portion”) and (ii) issue and deliver to SSH 773,395 units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (the “OP Units”) having the agreed value set forth on Schedule 1.4 (the “Unit Portion;” the Cash Portion and the Unit Portion referred to collectively as the “Contribution Value”).

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document, the Contributee reserves the right to postpone the delivery of any portion or all of the Contribution Value that is payable in immediately available funds (the “Deferred Portion”) to a date that is that Business Day, which is not later than ninety (90) days next following the Closing Date (the “Deferred Payment Date”) and which is specified in a notice in writing (which also shall specify the Deferred Portion) to SSH on the Closing Date. From and after the Closing Date, the balance of the Deferred Portion, outstanding from time to time, shall bear and accrue interest at that minimum rate of interest per annum that under applicable IRS regulations will avoid the imputation of interest to the Deferred Portion or any part thereof (the “Deferred Portion Interest”). The Deferred Portion, together with all accrued and unpaid Deferred Portion Interest, shall be due and payable in one lump sum in immediately available funds on the Deferred Payment Date; provided, however, that the Contributee reserves the right to prepay any

 

2


part or all of the Deferred Portion, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon in immediately available funds at any time and from time to time prior to the Deferred Payment Date.

1.5 Assignment of Certain Contracts. Subject to Section 1.6, at the Closing, effective as of the Effective Date, the Operating Partnership shall succeed to the rights and privileges of SSH, and shall, and SST will cause the Operating Partnership to, perform at and after the Effective Date as an Assumed Liability, all Contracts and Permits of SSH that are set forth on Schedule 1.5 (the “Assigned Contracts”).

1.6 Consent of Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document, to the extent that the assignment of all or any portion of any of the Assigned Contracts shall require the consent of the other party thereto or any third Person, or if any Permit is non-assignable or assignable only with the consent of the Governmental Entity issuing the same or any third Person, then in any and all such instances, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to assign any such Assigned Contracts or Permits, if such an assignment would constitute a breach or violation thereof. In order, however, to provide the Operating Partnership the full realization and value of such Assigned Contracts and Permits, SSH and the Contributee shall take all commercially reasonable actions and do or cause to be done all commercially reasonable things in cooperation with one another as shall be necessary or proper to assure that the rights of SSH under such Assigned Contracts or Permits shall be preserved for the benefit of, the Operating Partnership and transferred or issued to the Operating Partnership when such third Person consent, or in the case of Permits consent of, or the issuance of a replacement Permit in the name of the Operating Partnership, is received.

1.7 Tax Treatment. The acquisition of the Contributed Assets from SSH by the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units and immediately available funds is intended to qualify as a tax-deferred contribution of assets to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units under Code Section 721; provided, however, to the extent required by Code Section 707, the receipt of immediately available funds by SSH shall be treated as in consideration for the exchange for a pro-rata portion of the Contributed Assets. Contributee and SSH each hereby agree to report the transactions contemplated herein for all income tax purposes (including, without limitation, for purposes of reporting on any income tax returns filed by Contributee and SSH) in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of this Section 1.7 and none of the Parties shall take any position (whether in audits, or Tax Returns or otherwise) that is inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 1.7 unless required to do so by applicable Law.

1.8 Apportionment. All governmental charges and assessments and Taxes that are customarily apportioned as between contributees and contributors, including without limitation prepaid fees and other charges for Permits with respect to the operation of the SSH Business, shall be apportioned pro rata between SSH and the Operating Partnership on a per diem basis as of the Effective Date. If bills for such charges and assessments have not been issued as of the Closing Date, or if the amount of such charges and assessments for the then current year is not then known, the apportionment of such charges through and including the Effective Date shall be made at Closing on the basis of the prior year’s charges. After the Closing, upon receipt of the bills for the year in which the Closing occurs, the Parties shall apportion the actual amount of

 

3


such charges or assessments as of the Effective Date, and, if any Party has paid more than its proper share thereof at the Closing, the other Party shall promptly reimburse such Party for the amount so expended by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or accounts designated by the Operating Partnership or SSH, as the case may be.

ARTICLE 2

CLOSING DELIVERIES

2.1 Closing. The closing of the contribution and exchange of the Contributed Assets, as the case may be (the “Closing”), is taking place contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and all other Transaction Documents by the Parties who or which are parties thereto at the offices of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, 3414 Peachtree Road, Suite 1600, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, at 10:00 am, prevailing Atlanta, Georgia time on Thursday, September 4, 2014 (the “Closing Date”), effective as of the Effective Date.

2.2 Closing Deliveries by SSH. On the Closing Date, SSH shall deliver or cause to be delivered to SST or the Operating Partnership, as SST shall specify:

(a) A Bill of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A (a “Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement”), duly executed by SSH, assigning and transferring SSH’s Personal Property and effecting the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities;

(b) An Assignment of Trademarks Agreement, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit B (an “Assignment of Trademarks Agreement”), duly executed by SSH;

(c) An Assignment of Contracts, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit C (an “Assignment of Contracts Agreement”), duly executed by SSH, assigning and transferring SSH’s Assigned Contracts;

(d) An Assignment of Domain Names, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit D (an “Assignment of Domain Names”), duly executed by Contributee;

(e) An assignment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SST of SSH’s right, title and interest in all of the membership interests in the Property Manager;

(f) An assignment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SST of SSH’s right, title and interest in all of the membership interests in Strategic Storage Opportunities, LLC;

(g) An assignment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SST of SSH’s right, title and interest in all of the membership interests in SSRG;

(h) An assignment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SST of SSH’s right, title and interest in all of the membership interests in Strategic Capital Markets Group, LLC;

 

4


(i) Any SSH Required Third Party Consents received on or before the Closing Date;

(j) A certificate of the Secretary of SSH, certifying as to:

(i) Resolutions of SSH’s managers and members, if necessary, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents to which SSH is a party, and

(ii) The incumbency of any and all SSH officers or managers, executing the Transaction Documents on behalf of SSH;

(k) A good standing certificate, dated not earlier than ten (10) days next preceding the Closing Date, for SSH from its jurisdiction of formation or organization;

(l) A TriNet Novation and Assumption, duly executed by SSH; and

(m) Such other certificates, opinions, documents or instruments as may reasonably be requested of SSH by Contributee, consistent with the terms of and transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation copies of the (A) Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, (B) Acquisition Fee Tail Agreement, (C) Termination Agreement 1, (D) Termination Agreement 2, (E) Termination Agreement 3, and (F) Churchill Contribution Agreement, each duly executed by the Affiliates of SSH which are parties thereto.

2.3 Closing Deliveries by Contributee. On the Closing Date, SST shall, or shall cause the Operating Partnership to, deliver:

(a) The cash portion of the Contribution Value to SSH by wire transfer of immediately available funds, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of Section 1.4;

(b) Issuance of the OP Units to SSH, in accordance with Section 1.4(a);

(c) The Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement, duly executed by Contributee;

(d) The Assignment of Trademarks Agreements, referred to in Section 2.2(b) duly executed by Contributee;

(e) The Assignment of Domain Names, referred to in Section 2.2(d), duly executed by Contributee;

(f) The Assignment of Contracts Agreement, referred to in Sections 2.2(c), duly executed by Contributee;

(g) The assignment referred to in Section 2.2(e), duly executed by the Contributee;

 

5


(h) The assignment referred to in Section 2.2(f), duly executed by the Contributee;

(i) The assignment referred to in Section 2.2(g), duly executed by the Contributee;

(j) The assignment referred to in Section 2.2(h), duly executed by the Contributee;

(k) A certificate of the Secretary of SST, certifying as to:

(i) Resolutions of SST’s directors and stockholders, if necessary, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents to which SST is a party, and

(ii) The incumbency of any and all SST officers, executing the Transaction Documents on behalf of SST;

(l) A certificate of the Secretary of the general partner of the Operating Partnership, certifying as to:

(i) Resolutions of the general partner of the Operating Partnership and the limited partners, if necessary, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents to which the Operating Partnership is a party, and

(ii) The incumbency of any and all officers of the general partner of the Operating Partnership, executing the Transaction Documents on behalf of the Operating Partnership;

(m) Good standing certificates, dated not earlier than ten (10) days next preceding the Closing Date, for SST, the general partner of the Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnership, respectively, from their respective jurisdictions of formation or organization;

(n) A TriNet Novation and Assumption, duly executed by the Operating Partnership; and

(o) Such other certificates, opinions, documents or instruments as may reasonably be requested of SST and/or the Operating Partnership by SSH, consistent with the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, including without limitation a copy of the (A) Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, (B) Acquisition Fee Tail Agreement, (C) Termination Agreement 1, (D) Termination Agreement 2, (E) Termination Agreement 3, and (F) Churchill Contribution Agreement, each duly executed by the Affiliates of SST, which are parties thereto.

 

6


ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SSH

SSH represents and warrants to Contributee as follows:

3.1 Organization and Good Standing. SSH is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware as amended. SSH is duly authorized to conduct its business and is in good standing under the applicable Laws of each jurisdiction where such qualification is required. SSH has the requisite power and authority necessary to own or lease its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted and in which it currently proposes to engage. SSH has delivered complete and correct copies of its Organizational Documents, as amended to date. SSH is in compliance with its Organizational Documents. There is no pending or to SSH’s Knowledge threatened Action for the dissolution, liquidation or insolvency of SSH.

3.2 Power and Authority; Enforceability. SSH has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to enter into each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents by SSH and the consummation by SSH of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on its part. Each of the Transaction Documents has been, or upon execution and delivery will be, duly executed and delivered by SSH and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of such Transaction Documents by the other Parties thereto, will constitute, the valid and binding obligations of SSH, enforceable against SSH in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

3.3 No Conflict; Required Consents. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by SSH does not, and the performance by SSH of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, or result in any breach of any provision of its Organizational Documents, (b) violate, conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) under, or permit the termination of, or result in the acceleration of, or entitle any Person to accelerate any obligation of SSH, or result in the loss of any benefit, or give rise to the creation of any Encumbrance on any property or asset of SSH under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material instrument or obligation to which any property or asset of SSH may be bound or subject, or (c) materially violate any Law applicable to SSH or by which or to which any property or asset of SSH is bound or subject. Schedule 3.3 sets forth a complete and accurate list of each consent, approval, waiver and authorization that is required to be obtained by SSH from, and each notice that is required to be made by SSH to, any Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by SSH of this Agreement (the “SSH Required Third Party Consents”).

3.4 Capitalization. The equity capitalization of SSH is as forth on Schedule 3.4(a) hereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.4(a), there are no rights of any kind, written or oral,

 

7


granted by SSH to acquire any interest in SSH. The equity capitalization of each subsidiary of SSH is as set forth on Schedule 3.4(b) hereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.4(b), there are not rights of any kind, written or oral, granted by any subsidiary of SSH to acquire any interest in such subsidiary of SSH.

3.5 Financial Statements; Absence of Changes or Events.

(a) Schedule 3.5(a) contains: (i) the audited balance sheets of SSH as of December 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively, and the related statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended; and (ii) the unaudited balance sheet of SSH as of March 31, 2014, and the related statements of income for the three months then ended (collectively, the “Financial Statements”). Except as set forth therein or in Schedule 3.5(a), the Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with SSH’s prior practices, are consistent with SSH’s books and records, and in all material respects present accurately and fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of SSH as of their respective dates and for the respective periods covered thereby in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that such unaudited financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments, none of which are expected as of the date hereof to be material.

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5(b), to SSH’s Knowledge, there is no material Liability, whether accrued, absolute, fixed, contingent, or otherwise that is not reflected in the Financial Statements, other than (1) Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice since March 31, 2014, or (2) any such Liability which would not be required to be presented in financial statements or the notes thereto prepared in conformity with GAAP.

(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5(c), since March 31, 2014, SSH has conducted its Business only in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice. Without limiting the foregoing, since such date, with respect to its Business, neither has there been any material change in the business, nor in the assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of SSH’s Business (other than changes in the ordinary course of business, none of which changes, individually or in the aggregate, has had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect);

3.6 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.6, to SSH’s Knowledge, SSH does not have any material obligation or Liability (whether known or unknown, accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise, whether due or to become due and regardless of when asserted), other than (a) Liabilities set forth on the Liabilities side of the Financial Statements, and (b) Liabilities which have arisen after March 31, 2014 in the ordinary course of business (none of which is a material Liability resulting from breach of Contract or violation of Law, including any Environmental Law).

3.7 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.7, (a) SSH possesses, and to SSH’s Knowledge is in compliance in all material respects with, all Permits, approvals, franchises, Laws and registrations with Governmental Entities required to operate SSH’s Business and own, lease or otherwise hold the Contributed Assets under applicable Law; (b) SSH has conducted its Business and is now doing so in material compliance with all

 

8


applicable Laws; (c) all material Permits required for the conduct of SSH’s Business in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices, are in force and effect, and there are no Actions pending, or to SSH’s Knowledge threatened, that seek the revocation, cancellation, suspension or any material adverse modification of any such Permits; and (d) as of the Closing Date, SSH has not received any written notice of any investigation commenced or pending by any Governmental Entity with respect to SSH or the Contributed Assets. On the Closing Date, effective as of the Effective Date such Permits which will be transferred to the Operating Partnership, to the extent permissible to be so transferred under applicable Law, will constitute, to SSH’s Knowledge, all of the Permits required for the Operating Partnership to own and use the Contributed Assets and operate of the Business in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices commencing the Effective Date.

3.8 Legal Proceedings. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.8, (a) there are neither Actions pending, or to SSH’s Knowledge threatened, against SSH, its Business or any material property or asset of SSH by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Entity, nor is there any material investigation relating to SSH or any property or asset of SSH pending, or to SSH’s Knowledge threatened, by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Entity; (b) there is no Order outstanding against SSH or affecting any property or asset of SSH; and (c) there is no Action pending, or to SSH’s Knowledge threatened, against SSH relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

3.9 Real Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9, SSH does not own or lease any real property.

3.10 Availability, Title to and Condition of Contributed Assets. The Contributed Assets constitute all the assets, properties, rights and goodwill necessary for the conduct of the Business as presently conducted in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices. All of SSH’s material Personal Property, whether owned or leased, has been maintained in accordance with reasonable and customary business practice and is in good operating condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. SSH has good and defensible title to all Contributed Assets that it purports to own, free and clear of any Encumbrances. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10, SSH is not in material default under any lease agreement for Personal Property to which SSH is a party.

3.11 Taxes. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11, (a) SSH has timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by it; (b) all such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects; (c) SSH has paid all Taxes due and owing (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) or are being contested in good faith; (d) SSH is not currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return; (e) there are no liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith) upon any of the Contributed Assets; (f) no foreign, federal, state, or local tax audits or Actions on the part of any Taxing Authority are pending, or to SSH’s Knowledge are being conducted with respect to SSH; (g) SSH has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency; (h) the Contributed Assets are not subject to any joint venture, partnership or other arrangement or Contract that is treated as partnership for federal, state, local or foreign Tax purposes; and (i) no written claim against SSH has been received by SSH from a Taxing Authority that SSH is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction and in which SSH does not file Tax Returns.

 

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3.12 Contracts. Schedule 3.12 contains a list of Contracts exceeding $10,000 in value relating to SSH’s Business or by which SSH or any assets or properties of SSH (including any Contributed Assets) are bound or affected (irrespective of whether SSH or any Affiliate thereof is a party thereto) (collectively, the “SSH Contracts”). SSH has delivered to Contributee a correct and complete copy of each written agreement listed in Schedule 3.12 and a written summary setting forth the terms and conditions of each oral agreement referred to therein. With respect to each SSH Contract listed on Schedule 3.12, except as disclosed on Schedule 3.12, (i) the agreement is legal, valid, binding and in force and effect in accordance with its terms; (ii) SSH is not, and to SSH’s Knowledge, no other Person who or which is a party to a SSH Contract listed on Schedule 3.12, is in material breach or default, and no material event has occurred (or is reasonably likely to occur) which with notice or lapse of time (or both) would constitute a material breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration under, such SSH Contract; (iii) to SSH’s Knowledge, no other party to a SSH Contract listed on Schedule 3.12 has repudiated or threatened to repudiate any provision of any such SSH Contract; and (iv) the Operating Partnership’s acquisition of the Contributed Assets at the Closing, effective as of the Effective Date, will not give rise to a material breach, default or violation by SSH of any SSH Contract listed on Schedule 3.12 and will not require the consent or approval of any Third Party except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 3.12.

3.13 Employee Benefit Matters.

(a) Attached hereto as Schedule 3.13(a) are that certain (i) Service Agreement, bearing a start date of March 16, 2010, between TriNet HR Corporation (individually or collectively, with any affiliates, successors or assignees thereof, “TriNet”) and SSH, as amended (the “Service Agreement”); and (ii) Consent to Novation and Assumption of TriNet Contract, dated as of September 4, 2014, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “TriNet Novation and Assumption”). SSH is in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Service Agreement that are binding upon SSH; SSH has no Knowledge of the existence of facts that with the giving of notice, the passage of time or both would constitute a material default under the Service Agreement by SSH; and assuming the due authorization of, and execution by, TriNet and the Operating Partnership, the TriNet Novation and Assumption is binding upon SSH.

(b) SSH has provided Contributee a list, derived solely from TriNet, and not independently verified by SSH, as of the date of this Agreement, of each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is maintained or sponsored by TriNet that is available to Worksite Employees (or their eligible dependents) (each a “TriNet Plan” and collectively, the “TriNet Plans”).

(c) To its Knowledge, neither the SSH nor its ERISA Affiliates have ever maintained, established, sponsored, participated in, or contributed to, any employee benefit plan that: (i) is subject to Title IV of ERISA; (ii) is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA; or (iii) promises or provides retiree medical or other retiree welfare benefits to any Person other than as required under COBRA or other applicable legal

 

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requirements. For purposes of this Agreement, “ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any other corporation or trade or business controlled by, controlling, or under common control with, SSH (within the meaning of Code Section 414 or Section 4001(a)(14) or 4001(b) of ERISA).

(d) To SSH’s Knowledge, (i) no actions, suits, or claims (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course of business) are pending or threatened with respect to any TriNet Plan, (ii) no audit or investigation by the IRS, the DOL or other Governmental Entity is pending or threatened with respect to any TriNet Plan, and (iii) each TriNet Plan has been maintained by TriNet in all material respects in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable Laws.

(e) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13(e), all contributions and other payments required to be made by SSH to TriNet under the Service Agreement at or before the Effective Date with respect to, or on behalf of, any TriNet Plan in which Worksite Employees are participants, have been paid or accrued. SSH has paid or reimbursed, or accrued amounts sufficient to pay or reimburse, TriNet for insurance premiums for benefits provided on or before the Effective Date under the insured TriNet Plans for Worksite Employees, who are participants, and has paid or accrued all amounts due on or before the Effective Date as contributions under each TriNet Plan in which a Worksite Employee is participating that is a pension plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA. To SSH’s Knowledge, there are no outstanding liabilities under any TriNet Plan other than liabilities for benefits to be paid in the ordinary course to participants in each such TriNet Plan and their beneficiaries.

3.14 Labor. To SSH’s Knowledge, except as set forth on Schedule 3.14, (a) SSH is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement; (b) no application or petition for an election, or for certification, of a collective bargaining agent is pending; (c) there has not been, there is not presently pending or existing, and there is not threatened, any strike, slowdown, picketing or work stoppage or employee grievance process involving SSH; (d) no manager or officer of SSH has received written notice that there is pending or threatened against or affecting SSH any Action relating to the alleged violation of any Law pertaining to labor relations, including any charge or complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board, and there is no organizational activity or other labor dispute against or affecting SSH; and (e) there is no lockout of any employees by SSH.

3.15 Employees.

(a) All material payments that were required to be made, or accrued, by SSH on or before July 31, 2014 were made or accrued as of such date with respect to, or on behalf of, any Worksite Employee in accordance with the Service Agreement.

(b) Except as listed on Schedule 3.15(b), TriNet has not advised SSH that (i) any Worksite Employees are on a leave of absence for any reason, including without limitation a leave of absence for short or long term disability or a leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended, or the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, as amended, or (ii) that TriNet has received any notice that any Worksite Employees have planned a leave of absence that would commence after the Closing Date.

 

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(c) Schedule 3.15(c) sets forth in all material respects for Worksite Employees the aggregate vacation, leave or other paid time-off (together, “PTO”) as of July 31, 2014.

3.16 Insurance.

(a) Schedule 3.16 accurately sets forth, with respect to each insurance policy maintained by, or at the expense of, or for the direct benefit of, SSH in connection with its Business or the Contributed Assets: (i) the name of the insurance carrier that issued such policy and the policy number of such policy; (ii) whether such policy is a “claims made” or an “occurrences” policy; (iii) a description of the coverage provided by such policy and the material terms and provisions of such policy (including all applicable coverage limits, deductible amounts and co-insurance arrangements and any non-customary exclusions from coverage); (iv) the annual premium payable with respect to such policy, and the cash value (if any) of such policy; and (v) a description of any material claims pending, and any material claims that have been asserted since January 1, 2012, with respect to such policy or any predecessor insurance policy. Each of the policies identified in Schedule 3.16 is valid, enforceable and in force and effect and has been issued by an insurance carrier that is to SSH’s Knowledge solvent, financially sound and reputable. All of the information contained in the applications submitted in connection with said policies to the Knowledge of SSH was (at the times said applications were submitted) accurate and complete in all material respects, and to SSH’s Knowledge, all premiums and other amounts owing with respect to said policies were paid in full on a timely basis.

(b) Schedule 3.16 identifies each insurance claim made by SSH in connection with its Business or the Contributed Assets since January 1, 2012. To SSH’s Knowledge, except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, no event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that might (with or without notice or lapse of time) directly or indirectly give rise to or serve as a basis for any such insurance claim. SSH has not received: (i) any written notice or other communication (in writing or otherwise) regarding the actual or possible cancellation or invalidation of any of the policies identified in Schedule 3.16 or regarding any actual or possible adjustment in the amount of the premiums payable with respect to any of such policies; (ii) any written notice or communication regarding any actual or possible refusal of coverage under, or any actual or possible rejection of any claim under, any of the policies identified in Schedule 3.16; or (iii) any indication that the issuer of any of the policies identified in Schedule 3.16 may be unwilling or unable to perform any of its obligations thereunder.

3.17 Subsidiaries. Except for the subsidiaries listed in Schedule 3.4(b), SSH does not directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interest in, or any interest convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, any equity or similar interest in, any limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity.

3.18 Intellectual Property.

(a) Schedule 3.18(a) lists each Mark currently used by SSH in the operation of its Business in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices. To SSH’s actual knowledge, based solely upon the files and records of SSH’s intellectual property counsel, unless otherwise set forth on Schedule 3.18(a), all such Marks (i) have been registered with the

 

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United States Patent and Trademark Office or with a corresponding state office, (ii) are currently in compliance in all material respects with all formal legal requirements (including the timely post-registration filing of affidavits of use and incontestability and renewal applications), (iii) are valid and enforceable, and (iv) not subject to any Actions or maintenance fees or Taxes that are or will become due within 90 days after the Closing Date. To SSH’s actual knowledge, based solely upon the files and records of SSH’s intellectual property counsel, no Mark listed on Schedule 3.18(a) and except as otherwise described on such Schedule 3.18(a) has been, or is now involved in any pending Action that opposes or seeks invalidation or cancellation of any such Mark, and to SSH’s actual knowledge without independent investigation, no such Action is threatened. To SSH’s actual knowledge without independent investigation, all products and materials used by SSH in connection with the Business and containing one or more of such Marks bear any legal notice required by applicable Law, except where the failure to do so is unlikely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Schedule 3.18(b) lists each Domain Name used by SSH in the operation of its Business in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices. To SSH’s Knowledge, all Domain Names listed on Schedule 3.18(b) that have been registered are (i) currently in compliance in all material respects with all formal legal requirements, (ii) valid and enforceable, and (iii) not subject to any Actions or maintenance fees or Taxes that are or will become due within 90 days after the Closing Date.

(c) SSH owns or has the right to use pursuant to Contract all Intellectual Property necessary to operate its Business in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices immediately prior to the Closing. Each such item of Intellectual Property that is used by SSH in the operation of its Business will be owned or available for use by Contributee on or after the Effective Date on the same material terms and conditions. To SSH’s Knowledge, it has taken all reasonably necessary action to maintain and protect each item of Intellectual Property that it owns or uses, unless the failure to take any such action could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) SSH has delivered to Contributee copies of all written documentation in its possession that evidences its ownership (or other right to use), its right to maintain and prosecute (if applicable), and support, each item of Intellectual Property used by SSH in the operation of its Business. With respect to each item of Intellectual Property, to SSH’s Knowledge: (i) SSH possesses all right, title, and interest in and to the item, free and clear of any Encumbrance; (ii) each item is not subject to any outstanding Order; (iii) no Action is pending, or threatened (and there is no basis therefor), which challenges the enforceability, use, or ownership of the item; and (iv) except as set forth on Schedule 3.18(d)(iv), SSH has not agreed to indemnify any Person for, or against, any interference, infringement, misappropriation, or other conflict with respect to each such item.

3.19 Securities Law Matters; Transfer Restrictions.

(a) SSH acknowledges that the Operating Partnership intends the offer and issuance of the OP Units to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities Laws by virtue of (i) the status of SSH as an “accredited investor” within the meaning of the federal securities Laws, and (ii) Regulation D promulgated under Section 4(2) of

 

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the Securities Act (“Regulation D”), and that the Operating Partnership will rely in part upon the representations and warranties made by SSH in this Agreement in making the determination that the offer and issuance of the OP Units qualify for exemption under Rule 506 of Regulation D as an offer and sale only to “accredited investors.”

(b) SSH is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of the federal securities Law, particularly Regulation D.

(c) SSH will acquire the OP Units for its own account and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any “distribution” thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act. SSH does not intend or anticipate that SSH will rely on this investment as a principal source of income.

(d) SSH has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial, Tax, and business matters to enable it to evaluate the merits and risks of investment in the OP Units. SSH has the ability to bear the economic risk of acquiring the OP Units. SSH acknowledges that (i) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement involve complex Tax consequences for SSH, and SSH is relying solely on the advice of SSH’s own Tax advisors in evaluating such consequences; (ii) the Operating Partnership has not made (nor shall it be deemed to have made) any representations or warranties as to the Tax consequences of such transaction to SSH; and (iii) references in this Agreement to the intended Tax effect of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not be deemed to imply any representation by the Operating Partnership as to a particular Tax effect that may be obtained by SSH. SSH remains solely responsible for all Tax matters relating to SSH.

(e) SSH has been supplied with, or had access to, information to which a reasonable investor would attach significance in making an investment decision to acquire the OP Units and any other information SSH has requested. SSH has had an opportunity to ask questions of, and receive information and answers from, the Operating Partnership and SST concerning the Operating Partnership, SST, the OP Units, the contribution of the Contributed Assets and the SST common shares into which the OP Units may be converted, and to assess and evaluate any information supplied to SSH by the Operating Partnership or SST, and all such questions have been answered, and all such information has been provided to the satisfaction of SSH.

(f) SSH acknowledges that SSH is aware that there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the OP Units and that the OP Units will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities Laws, and SSH has no right to require that they be so registered. SSH agrees that any OP Units it acquires will not be sold in the absence of registration unless such sale is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities Laws. SSH acknowledges that SSH shall be responsible for compliance with all conditions on transfer imposed by any Governmental Entity or self-regulatory entity administering the securities Laws and for any expenses incurred by the Operating Partnership for legal or accounting services in connection with reviewing a proposed transfer or issuing opinions in connection therewith.

 

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(g) SSH understands that no Governmental Entity (including the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)) has made, or will make, any finding or determination as to the fairness of an investment in the OP Units (including, as to SSH, the Unit Portion determined pursuant to Section 1.4(a)).

(h) SSH understands that there is no established public, private or other market for the OP Units to be issued to SSH hereunder, and it is not anticipated that there will be any public, private or other market for such OP Units in the foreseeable future.

(i) SSH understands that Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act is not currently available with respect to the sale of OP Units.

ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP

AND SST

The Operating Partnership and SST, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to SSH, as follows:

4.1 Organization and Related Matters. Each of the Operating Partnership and SST is a limited partnership or corporation duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation. Each of the Operating Partnership and SST has all necessary limited partnership or corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted.

4.2 Authority. Each of the Operating Partnership and SST has all requisite limited partnership or corporate power and authority to enter into each of the Transaction Documents to which the Operating Partnership or SST is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents by the Operating Partnership and SST and the consummation by the Operating Partnership and SST of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership or corporate action on the part of the Operating Partnership and SST, respectively. Each of the Transaction Documents has been, or upon execution and delivery will be, duly executed and delivered and constitute, or upon execution and delivery will constitute, the valid and binding obligations of the Operating Partnership and SST, enforceable against the Operating Partnership and SST in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

4.3 No Conflicts. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Operating Partnership and SST does not, and the performance by the Operating Partnership and SST of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, or result in any breach of any provision of the Operating Partnership’s and SST’s respective Organizational Documents, (b) violate, conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) under, or permit the

 

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termination, or result in the acceleration, of, or entitle any party to accelerate, any obligation of the Operating Partnership or SST, or result in the loss of any benefit, or give rise to the creation of any Encumbrance on any property or asset of the Operating Partnership or SST under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any instrument or obligation to which any property or asset of the Operating Partnership or SST may be bound or subject, except in each case any such violation, which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on SST, the Operating Partnership or either of them, or (c) violate any Law applicable to the Operating Partnership or SST or by or to which any property or asset of the Operating Partnership or SST is bound or subject.

4.4 Issuance of Units. The OP Units, when issued and delivered in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and, except as provided in the Operating Partnership Agreement and except as affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, non-assessable. The OP Units will be free of any Encumbrances created by the Operating Partnership or SST; provided, however, that the OP Units are subject to restrictions on transfer under federal and state securities Laws and as otherwise set forth in the Operating Partnership’s Limited Partnership Agreement. The OP Units will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal granted by the Operating Partnership or SST.

4.5 Tax Status of the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership has at all times during its existence been properly treated as a partnership and not as an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Each subsidiary of the Operating Partnership has at all times during its existence been properly treated as either a “disregarded entity” or a partnership and not as an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, other than Strategic Storage TRS, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, which is taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes as a taxable REIT subsidiary.

4.6 REIT Status. SST elected to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ended December 31, 2008. Commencing with such taxable year, SST was organized and as of the Closing Date, has operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code.

4.7 Legal Proceedings. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.7, there are no Actions pending, or to the Knowledge of SST or the Operating Partnership threatened, against the Operating Partnership or SST, their respective businesses or any of their respective material properties or assets by, or before any arbitrator or Governmental Entity, neither is there any investigation relating to the Operating Partnership or SST or any property or asset of the Operating Partnership or SST pending, or to the Knowledge of SST or the Operating Partnership threatened, by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Entity, in each case which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SST or the Operating Partnership. There is no Order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against the Operating Partnership or SST or any property or asset of the Operating Partnership or SST which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on either of them. There is no Action pending, or to the Knowledge of SST or the Operating Partnership threatened, against the

 

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Operating Partnership or SST that in any way relates to the Contributed Assets or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation any such Action seeking to enjoin in any way the consummation thereof.

4.8 Disclosure. Each of the Operating Partnership and SST has fully provided SSH with all the information that SSH has requested for deciding whether to acquire the OP Units. Neither this Agreement (including all the exhibits and schedules hereto) nor any other statements or certificates made or delivered in connection with the offering or issuance of the OP Units pursuant hereto contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

ARTICLE 5

COVENANTS

5.1 Covenants Against Disclosure.

(a) Except as may be required by Law, SSH and its Affiliates agree not to (i) disclose to any Person in any manner, directly or indirectly, any confidential information or data, whether of a technical or commercial nature, the ownership of which is transferred to the Operating Partnership pursuant to this Agreement, or (ii) use, or permit or assist, by acquiescence or otherwise, any Person to use, in any manner, directly or indirectly, any such information or data, except to the extent that SSH has retained rights therein as provided herein and excepting disclosure of such data or information as is at the time generally known to the public or otherwise in the public domain and which did not become so generally known or a part of the public domain through any breach of any provision of this Section 5.1(a) hereof by SSH.

(b) The initial press release and public disclosures, including a Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC by SST, relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein shall be made solely by SST; provided, however, that the Parties shall be permitted to make any public disclosures regarding this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby that are necessary to fulfill public disclosure requirements of any Governmental Entity or required to be made by applicable Law or Order.

5.2 Reasonable Efforts. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the Parties agrees to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, or as appropriate to refrain from taking, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, or as appropriate to refrain from doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including, but not limited to, defending any Actions challenging this Agreement or otherwise seeking to enjoin or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

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ARTICLE 6

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

6.1 Cooperation. At all times following the Closing Date, each Party agrees (a) to furnish upon request to each other party such further information, (b) to execute and deliver to each other Party such other documents, and (c) to do such other acts and things, all as another Party may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

6.2 Tax Matters.

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, SSH shall be liable for, and shall pay any transfer Taxes or other similar Tax customarily imposed on a contributor in an asset contribution transaction, and the Contributee shall be liable for, and shall pay any transfer Taxes or other similar Tax customarily imposed on a contributee in an asset contribution transaction, that are imposed in connection with the transfer of the Contributed Assets pursuant to this Agreement and each shall timely file all Tax Returns required with respect thereto.

(b) SSH and Contributee shall cooperate, to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns and any audit, Action, or other proceeding involving Taxes. Cooperation shall include the retention and, upon the other Party’s request, the provision of records and other information reasonably relevant to the preparation of a Tax Return or the conduct of an audit, litigation, or other proceeding.

(c) SSH shall timely file or cause to be timely filed when due (taking into account all extensions properly obtained) all Tax Returns that are required to be filed by or with respect to the SSH Business and any entity constituting part of the Contributed Assets for periods ending on or before the Effective Date and shall timely remit, or cause to be timely remitted, any Taxes due in respect of such Tax Returns.

6.3 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

(a) Without limiting any rights that any manager, director, executive officer or employee of SSH or of its Affiliates may have under any indemnification agreement or the Organizational Documents of SSH or as otherwise afforded by applicable Law, all of which shall survive the Closing, anything to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document notwithstanding, or under SST’s Organizational Documents, in addition to, and not in limitation of any other indemnity rights contained in any Transaction Document, from and after the Effective Date, SST and the Operating Partnership shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless the current or former managers, directors, executive officers or employees of SSH and its subsidiaries and Affiliates acting in their capacity as such (collectively, the “D&O Indemnified Parties”) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted under applicable Law, as now or hereafter in effect, for acts or omissions by such D&O Indemnified Parties occurring prior to the Effective Date.

 

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(b) For a period of six years after the Effective Date, Contributee shall maintain in effect the current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by SSH with respect to claims arising from, or related to facts or events which occurred at or before, the Effective Date.

6.4 Employment Matters.

(a) Sections 2.2(l) and 2.3(n) contemplate that the executed TriNet Novation and Assumption will be delivered at the Closing. Consistent with the TriNet Novation and Assumption and pursuant to the Service Agreement, the Parties agree that SSH shall be solely responsible for all obligations and liabilities accrued prior to the Effective Date relating to the Worksite Employees, including (i) payroll and fringe benefits, (ii) earned bonuses and incentive compensation, (iii) workers’ compensation, (iv) claims incurred under employee benefit plans, and (v) all accrued PTO. Conversely, and consistent with the TriNet Novation and Assumption at or after the Effective Date, the Operating Partnership shall be solely responsible for all obligations and liabilities accrued at or after the Effective Date relating to the Worksite Employees, including (1) the Operating Partnership’s decision to retain or not retain the services of any one or more of the Worksite Employees, (2) payroll and fringe benefits, (3) earned bonuses and incentive compensation, (4) workers’ compensation, and (5) claims incurred under employee benefits plans.

(b) Neither the provisions of Section 3.13, nor Section 3.15, or the provisions of Section 6.4(a) shall create any third-party beneficiaries, and no current or former SSH employees, including Worksite Employees and Terminated SSH Employees, shall have any rights under Section 3.13, Section 3.15 or this Section 6.4 with respect to employment or continued employment, or benefits, if any, accorded to employees, including Worksite Employees by any of the Parties, whether before during or after the Closing.

6.5 True-Up.

(a) On or before the thirtieth (30th) day next following the Effective Date, SSH shall deliver to the Operating Partnership a statement (the “True-Up Statement”), which shall set forth all obligations and liabilities accrued on the books and records of SSH as of the Effective Date, in each instance to employees and Worksite Employees, including (i) bonuses that were earned or otherwise vested as of the Effective Date, (ii) bonuses that were not earned or otherwise vested as of the Effective Date, but which, nevertheless in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be expensed (whether or not the same have been so expensed) on the Financial Statements, and (iii) PTO (collectively, the “Accrued Worksite Employee Obligations”).

(b) There also shall be included in the True-Up Statement the sum of: (i) the account balances as of the Effective Date of each of the bank accounts set opposite the name of each Affiliate of SSH in whose name such account stands on Schedule 6.5(b), (ii) as of the Effective Date, the balance of each prepaid account of SSH or any Affiliate thereof to vendors, including without limitation Monster.Com, (iii) the Canadian Harmonized Sales Tax Liability of SSH’s Canadian Affiliate as of the Effective Date, (iv) $400,000, constituting the aggregate “seed capital” advances ($200,000 each) made by SSH’s Affiliates, as follows: (x) SS Growth

 

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Advisor, LLC in the operating partnership of SSGT, and (y) Strategic Storage Advisor II, LLC in the operating partnership of SST II, (v) the aggregate accrued distributions as of the Effective Date that are attributable to limited liability companies constituting a portion of the Contributed Assets, and (vi) any and all other amounts attributable to the conduct of the Business or the ownership and operation of the Contributed Assets, which in accordance with past practices, consistently applied, as of the Effective Date are credited to, or inure to the benefit of, SSH or any of its Affiliates (each an “Adjustment Amount” and collectively, the “Adjustment Amounts”). The Operating Partnership shall be permitted to review all work papers and procedures used by SSH to prepare the True-Up Statement and shall have the right to perform any other reasonable procedures to verify the accuracy thereof and of all information set forth thereon.

(c) Subject to Sections 6.5(d) and (e), (i) if there is a positive difference between (x) the Adjustment Amounts, and (y) the Accrued Worksite Employee Obligations (the “Positive True-Up Amount”), at the Operating Partnership’s election, made by notice to SSH, given within two (2) Business Days of the Operating Partnership’s receipt of the True-Up Statement, the Positive True-Up Amount either shall be (I) paid to SSH in immediately available funds by the Operating Partnership not later than the last Business Day of the calendar month next following the month in which the True-Up Statement is delivered to the Operating Partnership by SSH, or (II) if at the time there is a Deferred Portion outstanding, added to Deferred Portion outstanding, together with Deferred Portion Interest on the Positive True-Up Amount retroactive to the Effective Date, and thereafter paid when the Deferred Portion is paid in accordance with Section 1.4(b); but (ii) if the Accrued Worksite Employee Obligations are greater than the Adjustment Amounts, then the positive difference between (x) the Accrued Worksite Employee Obligations, and (y) the Adjustment Amounts (the “AWEO Amount”) shall be first netted against any Deferred Portion outstanding with any remaining balance of the AWEO Amount to be paid to the Operating Partnership in immediately available funds by SSH not later than the last Business Day of the calendar month in which the True-Up Statement is delivered to the Operating Partnership by SSH.

(d) Subject to this Sections 6.5(d) and (e), the True-Up Statement and either the Positive True-Up Amount or the AWEO Amount, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be, and shall be, final, binding and conclusive on the Parties. The Operating Partnership may dispute any amounts reflected on the True-Up Statement, including SSH’s calculation of either the Positive True-Up Amount or the AWEO Amount, as the case may be, or that the True-Up Statement contained mathematical errors on its face; provided, however, that the Operating Partnership shall notify SSH in writing of any such dispute, setting forth in reasonable detail any item on the True-Up Statement with which the Operating Partnership disagrees and the basis in reasonable detail for such disagreement, which notice must be provided within five (5) calendar days of the Operating Partnership’s receipt of the True-Up Statement. In the event of such a dispute, SSH and the Operating Partnership shall attempt to reconcile their differences, and any written resolution by them as to any disputed amounts and any revisions to the Positive True-Up Amount or the AWEO Amount shall be final, binding and conclusive. If, however, SSH and the Operating Partnership are unable to reach a resolution to such effect within five (5) calendar days of SSH’s receipt of the Operating Partnership’s written notice of dispute, then SSH and the Operating Partnership shall submit the amounts remaining in dispute for resolution to an independent accounting firm, mutually appointed by the Parties (such independent accounting

 

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firm being herein referred to as the “Arbiter”). The Arbiter shall determine and report to the Parties such remaining disputed amounts and any resulting revisions to the Positive True-Up Amount or the AWEO Amount, as the case may be, and such report shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties hereto, and the True-Up Statement shall be revised forthwith upon receipt of, and consistent with, the report of the Arbiter, and the revised Positive True-Up Amount or the revised AWEO Amount, as the case may be, thereafter shall be deemed to be, and shall be the Positive True-Up Amount or the AWEO Amount, as the case may be, for all purposes of this Section 6.5, including without limitation offset and payment, if any, pursuant to Section 6.5(c), anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document notwithstanding. Each of the Parties agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Arbiter and to cause the Arbiter to resolve any dispute no later than ten (10) calendar days after matters in dispute are submitted to the Arbiter for determination. In performing its duties hereunder, it is understood and agreed that the Arbiter will be functioning as an expert and not as a mediator or arbitrator. The fees and disbursements of the Arbiter shall be split evenly between SSH and the Operating Partnership.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document, including without limitation this Section 6.5, if at the end of SSH’s current fiscal year, which ends on December 31, 2014, any of the bonuses reflected on the True-Up Statement in accordance with Section 6.5(a)(ii) have not been fully-earned or otherwise vested in favor of employees, including any Worksite Employees, who were eligible to receive such bonuses on the Effective Date, then and in such event, as soon as practicable in the circumstances after the end of such fiscal year, SSH shall determine that portion of the aggregate bonuses that were included on the True-Up Statement in accordance with Section 6.5(a)(ii) but which were not so earned or otherwise vested at the end of such fiscal year (the “Recoverable Amount”) and shall notify the Operating Partnership of the Recoverable Amount, which notice shall be final and binding on the Parties, and the Operating Partnership shall reimburse or cause to be reimbursed to SSH the Recoverable Amount, together with Deferred Portion Interest thereon from the Effective Date through and including the date of reimbursement by first adding the Recoverable Amount, increased by such interest, to the Deferred Portion, if any, then outstanding with any remaining balance of the Recoverable Amount and such interest to be paid to SSH by the Operating Partnership in immediately available funds not later than the last Business Day of the next succeeding calendar month after the calendar month in which the notice of the Recoverable Amount was first delivered to the Operating Partnership by SSH; provided, however, that the Operating Partnership may dispute the Recoverable Amount in accordance with Section 6.5(d), in which event the Recoverable Amount shall be substituted for Positive True-Up Amount therein, and the True-up Statement as referred to therein shall be deemed to, and shall, refer to the True-Up Statement, as modified by the notice of the Recoverable Amount.

6.6 Maintenance of Books & Records, Etc.

(a) For a period of seven (7) years after the Closing Date, (i) the Operating Partnership agrees to retain all books and records of, or related to, the Business, the Contributed Assets and the Assumed Liabilities and to make the same available after the Closing Date for inspection and copying by SSH or its agents at SSH’s expense, upon reasonable request and upon reasonable notice, and (ii) no such books and records shall be destroyed by the Operating Partnership without first advising SSH in writing and giving SSH a reasonable opportunity to obtain possession thereof.

 

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(b) The Parties agree to furnish or cause to be furnished to each other, upon request, as promptly as practicable, such information and assistance relating to the Business, Contributed Assets and Assumed Liabilities (including access to books and records as contemplated by Section 6.6(a)) as is reasonably necessary for the filing of all Tax Returns, the making of any election relating to Taxes, the preparation for any audit by any Governmental Entity, and the prosecution or defense of any claims, suits or proceedings relating to any Tax, without charge or expense to the requesting Party.

6.7 Holding Period. (a) In addition to any restrictions on transfer contained in the Operating Partnership Agreement, for a period of two years following the Effective Date, SSH shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, announce the intention to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option right or warrant for the sale of, make any short sale or otherwise transfer, dispose or encumber (collectively, “Transfer”) any of (a) the OP Units it receives pursuant to Section 1.4 of this Agreement or (b) any REIT Shares held by SSH upon exchange of the OP Units pursuant to the provisions of the Operating Partnership Agreement, except for permitted Transfers as set forth in Section 9.2(b) of the Operating Partnership Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Operating Partnership Agreement to the contrary, (i) SSH shall not be required to obtain the consent of SST, as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, for any Transfer of OP Units received by SSH pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) a transferee pursuant to a permitted Transfer of the OP Units issued pursuant to this Agreement is entitled to Transfer any or all OP Units it receives to a transferee or transferees described in Section 9.2(c)(i), (ii) and (iii) of the Operating Partnership Agreement or to organizations described in Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c) of the Code (including without limitation foundations, schools, colleges, universities, charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts) (iii) the restrictions on Transfer set forth in this Section 6.7(a) shall not apply in the event of a Change in Control; and (iv) the provisions of this Section 6.7(b) shall survive indefinitely, such that they shall apply to OP Units received by SSH pursuant to this Agreement after the expiration of the two (2) year period referred to in Section 6.7(a).

ARTICLE 7

INDEMNIFICATION

7.1 SSH Indemnification. From and after the Closing, subject to the other provisions of this Article 7, SSH agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold Contributee, their respective officers, directors, stockholders, partners and members and their respective heirs, legatees, devisees, executors, administrators, trustees, personal representatives, successors and assigns (the “Indemnified Contributee Parties”), harmless from and against any and all Losses incurred by any Indemnified Contributee Party arising from, as a result of, in connection with, or relating to:

(a) the breach of any representation or warranty made by SSH and contained in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents;

 

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(b) the breach or failure to perform any covenant or agreement made or undertaken by SSH in this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents;

(c) the Excluded Assets; and

(d) the Excluded Liabilities.

7.2 Contributee Indemnification. From and after the Closing, subject to the other provisions of this Article 7, Contributee jointly and severally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold SSH, its respective officers, directors, stockholders, partners and members and their respective heirs, legatees, devisees, executors, administrators, trustees, personal representatives, successors and assigns (each, a “Contributor Indemnified Party”), harmless from and against any and all Losses incurred by any Contributor Indemnified Party arising from, as a result of, in connection with, or relating to:

(a) the breach by Contributee or either of them of any representation or warranty made by Contributee or either of them and contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents;

(b) the breach or failure to perform any covenant or agreement made or undertaken by Contributee or either of them in this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents;

(c) the ownership or operation of the Contributed Assets after the Closing; and

(d) the Assumed Liabilities.

7.3 Indemnifying Procedures.

(a) Upon receipt by a Contributor Indemnified Party or an Indemnified Contributee Party, as the case may be (the “Indemnified Party”), of notice from a Third Party of any action, suit, proceeding, claim, demand or assessment against such Indemnified Party that might give rise to a claim for Losses under this Article 7, the Indemnified Party shall promptly give written notice thereof to Contributee, on the one hand, or SSH, on the other hand, as the case may be (the “Indemnifying Party”), indicating the nature of such claim and the basis therefor; provided, however, that failure to give such notice shall not affect the indemnification provided hereunder except to the extent the Indemnifying Party shall have been prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Indemnifying Party will have ten (10) days after such notice is given (the “Notice Period”) to notify the Indemnified Party (i) whether or not it disputes the liability of the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party hereunder with respect to such claim or demand, and (ii) whether or not it desires, at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party, to defend the Indemnified Party with respect to the Third Party claim; provided, however, that any Indemnified Party is hereby authorized, but is not obligated, prior to and during the Notice Period, to file any motion, answer or other pleading that it reasonably shall deem necessary or appropriate to protect its interests or those of the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party within the Notice Period that it desires to defend the Indemnified Party against the Third Party claim, the Indemnifying Party will have the right to control the defense of such matter by all appropriate proceedings and with counsel of its own choosing and at its sole cost and expense. If the Indemnified

 

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Party desires to participate in any such defense, it may do so at its sole cost and expense, and in a manner so as not to unreasonably interfere with the defense of such matter by the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party fails to respond to the Indemnified Party within the Notice Period, elects not to defend the Indemnified Party, or after electing to defend fails to commence or reasonably pursue such defense, then the Indemnified Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to undertake or continue the defense of, and to compromise or settle (exercising reasonable business judgment), the matter all on behalf, for the account, and at the risk, of the Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that any such compromise or settlement consists solely of money damages to be borne by the Indemnifying Party and otherwise shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnifying Party and shall contain as an unconditional term thereof a full and complete release of the Indemnifying Party by the Third Party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnifying Party. Payments to the Indemnified Party for Losses for Third Party claims which are otherwise covered by the indemnification obligations herein shall not be required except to the extent that the Indemnified Party has expended or simultaneously with such payment will expend, out-of-pocket sums. If the Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense of a Third Party claim, it shall reasonably proceed with such defense and promptly notify the Indemnified Party if it proposes to compromise or settle such Third Party claim for the account, and at the risk, of the Indemnifying Party in accordance with this Section 7.3. In any event in which the Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense of a Third Party claim, the Indemnified Party and its counsel shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the Indemnified Party from taking the position that it is entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(b) In the event any Indemnified Party should have an indemnification claim against any Indemnifying Party under a Transaction Document that does not involve a claim by a Third Party, the Indemnified Party, as quickly as is practicable (but in any event within thirty (30) days after becoming aware of an indemnification claim) and by the most expeditious means available (promptly confirmed in writing), shall deliver notice of such claim to the Indemnifying Party in reasonable detail. The failure by any Indemnified Party to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability that it may have to such Indemnified Party to the extent that the Indemnifying Party has been prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnifying Party disputes its liability with respect to such claim in a timely manner, the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall proceed in good faith to negotiate a resolution of such dispute and, if not resolved through negotiations, such dispute may be resolved by litigation before an appropriate Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction.

(c) SST shall, and shall instruct the Operating Partnership’s general partner(s), as well as its directors, officers and employees and the Contributee’s attorneys, accountants and agents to, at the request of SSH, cooperate with SSH as may be reasonably required in connection with the investigation and defense of any Third Party claim, Action or investigation relating to SSH’s Business, the Excluded Assets or the Excluded Liabilities that is brought against SSH or any of its Affiliates at any time on or after the Closing. Likewise, SSH shall, and shall instruct its directors, managers, officers, employees, attorneys, accountants and

 

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agents to, at Contributee’s request, cooperate with Contributee as may be reasonably required in connection with the investigation and defense of any Third Party claim, Action, or investigation relating to the Contributed Assets or the Assumed Liabilities that is brought against Contributee or either of them or any of their respective Affiliates at any time on or after the Closing.

7.4 Survival.

(a) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties of any party under this Agreement, subject to the limitations specified in Section 7.4(b), (c) and (d), shall survive the Closing, and any indemnification claim asserted in accordance with Section 7.3 prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period shall continue in effect with respect to such claim until such claim shall have been finally resolved or settled.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4(d) or (e), the obligations of SSH under Section 7.1(a) shall survive the Closing until the expiration of eighteen (18) consecutive months after the Closing Date, with respect to claims made by Indemnified Contributee Parties by notice in writing to SSH, received on or before such last day.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4(d) or (e), the obligations of Contributee under Section 7.2(a) shall survive the Closing until the expiration of eighteen (18) consecutive months after the Closing Date, with respect to claims made by Contributor Indemnified Parties by notice in writing to Contributee, received on or before such last day.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.4(b) and (c), the obligations of:

(i) SSH in accordance with Section 7.1(a) with respect to the warranties and representations contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.10 and 3.18 (insofar as such subsection represents SSH’s title to Marks and Domain Names owned by SSH), shall survive the Closing indefinitely;

(ii) Contributee in accordance with Section 7.2(a) with respect to the warranties and representations contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 shall survive the Closing indefinitely;

(iii) SSH in accordance with Section 7.1(b), (c) and (d) with respect to any covenants and agreements to be performed and complied with following the Closing and with respect to the Excluded Assets and the Excluded Liabilities, in each case, shall survive the Closing indefinitely; and

(iv) Contributee or either of them in accordance with Section 7.2(b) and (c) with respect to any covenants and agreements to be performed and complied with following the Closing and with respect to the Contributed Assets and the Assumed Liabilities, in each case, shall survive the Closing indefinitely.

(e) The limitations under Sections 7.4(b) and (c) shall not apply in respect of claims for fraud.

 

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7.5 Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document:

(a) SSH shall not be required to provide any indemnification under this Article 7 with respect to any claim under Section 7.1(a) until the aggregate Losses exceed one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the Contribution Value, which amount is equal to $140,000 (the “Basket”), and then only to the extent of the excess of the aggregate amount of Losses over such amount; provided, however, that the maximum amount of Losses that may be recovered under this Article 7 by Contributee or either of them for all claims under Section 7.1(a) in the aggregate shall not exceed seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of the Contribution Value, which amount is equal to $2,100,000 (the “Cap”).

(b) If SSH breaches any representation or warranty for which indemnification may be provided under Section 7.1(a), then, solely for purposes of calculating the dollar amount of Losses for which any Indemnified Contributee Party is entitled to indemnification for such breach (including the amounts needed to reach the Basket), each of such representations and warranties that contain any qualification as to materiality will be deemed and interpreted to be a representation or warranty made without such qualification.

(c) If Contributee breaches any representation or warranty for which indemnification may be provided under Section 7.2(a), then, solely for purposes of calculating the dollar amount of Losses for which any Contributor Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification for such breach, each of such representations and warranties that contain any qualification as to materiality will be deemed and interpreted to be a representation or warranty made without such qualification.

(d) The amount of any Loss for which indemnification is provided under this Article 7 shall be net of (i) any amounts recovered by the Indemnified Party pursuant to any indemnification by, or indemnification agreement with, any Third Party, (ii) third party insurance proceeds (for the avoidance of doubt, not including self-insurance or insurance with a captive insurance Affiliate) or other sources of reimbursement received, which shall be an offset against such Loss, or (iii) an amount equal to the present value of the net Tax benefit or loss, if any, available to, or taken by, the Indemnified Party attributable to such Loss. The Indemnified Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to seek recovery from all such sources to minimize any Loss for which indemnification is provided under this Article 7. If the amount to be netted hereunder from any payment required under this Article 7 is determined after payment by the Indemnifying Party of any amount otherwise required to be paid to an Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article 7, the Indemnified Party shall repay to the Indemnifying Party, promptly after such determination, any amount that the Indemnifying Party would not have had to pay pursuant to this Article 7 had such determination been made at the time of such payment.

7.6 Exclusive Remedy. The Parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the remedies provided for in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be the Parties’ sole and exclusive remedies with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and of the other Transaction Documents, other than for a claim of fraud or willful misconduct and further that nothing in this Agreement shall operate to limit the rights of the parties to seek equitable remedies (including injunctive relief or specific performance). No amount shall be recoverable

 

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under this Agreement by any Indemnified Party to the extent such party has asserted a claim and received indemnification for such Loss under any Transaction Document other than this Agreement or under applicable Law. It is the Parties’ intention that the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall control and determine the Parties’ respective rights and obligations concerning any claims with respect to the Contributed Assets, the Excluded Assets, the Assumed Liabilities or the Excluded Liabilities. Indemnification obligations under this Article 7 shall be determined without regard to any right to indemnification that the managers, officers, employees or agents of SSH (the “SSH Agents”) may have in their capacities as officers, directors, employees or agents of any stockholder of SST or its subsidiaries prior to the Closing, and the SSH Agents will not be entitled to any indemnification from SST or any of its subsidiaries for amounts paid for indemnification under this Article 7. Without limiting the foregoing, with respect to any claim brought by an Indemnified Party against the SSH Agents under this Agreement or otherwise relating to this Agreement, SSH, on behalf of the SSH Agents, expressly waives any right of subrogation, contribution, advancement, indemnification or other claim against SST or any Subsidiary of SST with respect to any amounts owed by SSH or the SSH Agents pursuant to this Agreement.

7.7 Nature of Damages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, in no event shall any Indemnifying Party be liable to any Indemnified Party for any consequential, punitive, indirect, incidental or other similar damages, including lost profits, for any breach or default under, or any act or omission arising out of, or in any way relating to, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, under any form of action whatsoever, whether in contract or otherwise.

ARTICLE 8

GENERAL

8.1 Schedules; Exhibits; Integration. Each schedule and exhibit delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall constitute a part of this Agreement. This Agreement, together with such schedules and exhibits, constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the Parties in connection therewith.

8.2 Interpretation. For all purposes of the Transaction Documents, except as otherwise specifically stated therein:

(a) the terms defined in Article 9 have the meanings assigned to them in Article 9 and include the plural as well as the singular;

(b) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under GAAP;

(c) pronouns of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms;

 

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(d) the words “include” and “including” shall be without limitation and shall be construed to mean “include, but not be limited to” or “including, without limitation;”

(e) references to exhibits, schedules, Articles, Sections and paragraphs shall be references to the exhibits, schedules, Articles, Sections and paragraphs of this Agreement; and

(f) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

8.3 Submission to Jurisdiction; Governing Law. The Parties (a) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Wilmington, Delaware for the purpose of any Action arising out of or based upon any of the Transaction Documents (“Covered Matters”), (b) agree not to commence any Action arising out of, or based upon, any Covered Matters except in the state courts or federal courts located in Wilmington, Delaware, and (c) hereby waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such Action, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the Action is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the Action is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter of any Covered Matter may not be enforced in or by such court. All Covered Matters shall be governed by, interpreted and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any Law other than the law of the State of Delaware.

8.4 Amendment. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, the provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented without the prior written consent of SSH and Contributee.

8.5 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in any federal or state court located in Wilmington, Delaware in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived.

8.6 Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence with regard to all obligations under this Agreement.

8.7 Assignment. No Transaction Document or any rights or obligations under any of them are assignable without the prior written consent of all of the Parties.

8.8 Headings. The descriptive headings of the articles, sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

8.9 Recitals. The recitals are fully incorporated into this Agreement by reference.

 

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8.10 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each Party, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to relieve or discharge the obligation of any third Person to any Party to this Agreement.

8.11 Notices. Any notice or other communication hereunder must be given in writing and either (a) delivered in Person, (b) transmitted by electronic mail or facsimile, (c) transmitted by telefax or telecommunications mechanism provided, that receipt is confirmed and any notice so given is also mailed as provided in the following clause (d), or (d) mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested as follows:

If to SSH, addressed to:

Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC

111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120

Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

Attention: H. Michael Schwartz, Manager

Email: hms@strategiccapital.net

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kaplan Voeckler Cunningham & Frank

1401 East Cary Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Attention: Robert R. Kaplan, Jr., Esq.

Email: rkaplan@kv-legal.com

If to Contributee, addressed to:

Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.

111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120

Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

Attention: Timothy Morris, Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate

Governance Committee

Email: timothymorris@btinternet.com

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

3414 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1600

Atlanta, GA 30326 Attention: Michael K. Rafter, Esq.

Email: mrafter@bakerdonelson.com

or to such other address or to such other Person as each Party shall have last designated by such notice to the other Parties. Each such notice or other communication shall be effective (i) when

 

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delivered in Person, (ii) if given by telecommunication, when transmitted to the applicable number so specified in (or pursuant to) this Section 8.11 and an appropriate confirmation is received, and (iii) if given by mail, three (3) Business Days after delivery or the first attempted delivery.

8.12 Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, SSH and Contributee shall pay its own expenses incident to the negotiation, preparation and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, but not limited to, the fees, expenses and disbursements of its accountants and counsel and of securing third party consents and approvals required to be obtained by it.

8.13 Representation By Counsel; Interpretation. SSH and Contributee acknowledges that each Party to this Agreement has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Accordingly, any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the Party that drafted it has no application and is expressly waived. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a reasonable manner to effect the intent of Contributee and SSH.

8.14 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by any Governmental Entity, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect; provided that the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for all Parties remain valid, binding and enforceable. In the event of any such determination, the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement to fulfill as closely as possible the original intents and purposes hereof. To the extent permitted by Law, the Parties hereby to the same extent waive any provision of Law that renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.

8.15 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, any of which may be executed and transmitted by facsimile, and each of which shall be deemed an original of this Agreement, and all of which, when taken together, shall be deemed to constitute one and the same Agreement.

ARTICLE 9

DEFINITIONS

For all purpose of the Transaction Documents, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context in which a term is used clearly requires otherwise:

“Accrued Worksite Employee Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).

“Acquisition Fee Tail Agreement” means that certain agreement of even date herewith among SST, the Operating Partnership and SSH, as amended, providing in certain circumstances for the payment of acquisition fees to SSH or one or more of its Affiliates.

 

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“Action” means any action, complaint, petition, suit or other legal proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in law or in equity, or before any arbitrator or Governmental Entity.

“Adjustment Amount” or “Adjustment Amounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(b).

“Advisor” has the meaning as set forth in the first preamble of this Agreement.

“Affiliate” means with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with”) as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through ownership of voting securities or equity interests, by Contract or otherwise.

“Agreement” has the meaning as set forth in the introductory paragraph.

“Applicable Person” means the people listed on Schedule 9.1.

“Arbiter” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(d).

“Assigned Contracts” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.5.

“Assignment of Contracts Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).

“Assignment of Domain Names” means an assignment in substantially the form attached to the Agreement as Exhibit D assigning and transferring the Domain Names identified therein to the assignee named therein, as amended from time to time.

“Assignment of Trademarks Agreement” means an assignment in substantially the form attached to the Agreement as Exhibit B assigning and transferring any or all Marks, Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, and Intellectual Property identified therein to the assignee named therein, as amended from time to time.

“Assumed Liabilities” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.3.

“AWEO Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(c).

“Basket” has the meaning as set forth in Section 7.5(a).

Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement” has the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2(a).

“Business” has the meaning as set forth in the second preamble of this Agreement.

“Business Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking and other deposit gathering institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York are authorized or required by applicable Law to be closed.

 

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“Cap” has the meaning as set forth in Section 7.5(a).

“Cash Portion” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.4(a).

“Change in Control” means the first to occur of any of the following events:

a. The consummation of the acquisition by any person (as such term is defined in Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of SST;

b. The consummation of: a merger or consolidation if SST stockholders immediately before such merger or consolidation do not, as a result of such merger or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the combined voting power of the voting securities of SST outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation;

c. The date a majority of members of SST’s Board of Directors is replaced during any 12-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors before the date of the appointment or election; or

d. A dissolution or liquidation of SST, or the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from SST that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of SST immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of SST, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. There is no change in control event under this paragraph when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the transferring corporation immediately after the transfer.

“Churchill Contribution Agreement” means that certain agreement of even date herewith among SST, the Operating Partnership and Churchill TRI, LLC, as amended.

“Closing” has the meaning as set forth in Section 2.1.

“Closing Date” has the meaning as set forth in Section 2.1.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Contract” means any binding agreement or contract, including any understanding, arrangement, instrument, note, guaranty, indemnity, representation, warranty, deed, lease, assignment, power of attorney, certificate, purchase order, work order, insurance policy, benefit plan, commitment, covenant, assurance or obligation of any kind or nature.

 

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“Contributed Assets” means the assets of SSH described or listed on Schedule 1.1.

“Contributee” has the meaning as set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

“Contribution Value” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.4(a).

“Contributor” has the meaning as set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

“Contributor Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

“Copyrights” means copyrights, whether registered or unregistered, in published works and unpublished works, and pending applications to register the same.

“Covered Matters” has the meaning as set forth in Section 8.3.

“D&O Indemnified Parties” has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.3(a).

“Deferred Payment Date” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.4(b).

“Deferred Portion” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.4(b).

“Deferred Portion Interest” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.4(b).

“Domain Names” means websites or domain names.

Effective Date” means 11:59PM, Pacific Daylight Time on August 31, 2014.

“Encumbrance” means any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, option, pledge or restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise) on transfer of title.

“Environmental Law” means any Law relating to the protection of human health or the environment (including air, surface water, ground water, soil and natural resources), or the generation, treatment, manufacturing, use, storage, handling, recycling, presence, release, disposal, transportation or shipment of any Hazardous Substance.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

“ERISA Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(c).

“Excluded Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

“Excluded Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.

“FICA” means the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, as amended.

 

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“Financial Statements” has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.5(a).

“FUTA” means the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, as amended.

“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

“Governmental Entity” means any government or any agency, bureau, board, commission, court, department, official, political subdivision, tribunal or other instrumentality in each case of any government, whether federal, state or local, domestic or foreign.

“Hazardous Substance” means any material, substance, waste, compound, pollutant or contaminant listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, flammable, explosive, reactive, corrosive, infectious, carcinogenic, mutagenic or radioactive or otherwise regulated by any Governmental Entity or under any Environmental Law, including petroleum or petroleum products (including crude oil) and any derivative or by-products thereof, natural gas, synthetic gas and any mixtures thereof, or any substance that is or contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), radon gas, urea formaldehyde, asbestos-containing materials (ACM) or lead.

“Indemnified Contributee Parties” has the meaning as set forth in Section 7.1.

Indemnified Party” has the meaning as set forth in Section 7.3(a).

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning as set forth in Section 7.3(a).

“Intellectual Property” means any rights in, including but not limited to the right to all past and future income, royalties, damages and payments due, licenses or Encumbrances of, equities in, and other claims that any Person may have to claim ownership, authorship or invention or the use of, or to object to, or prevent the modification of, or to withdraw from circulation, or control the publication or distribution, of any Marks, Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, Software or Domain Names.

“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service or any successor entity.

“Knowledge” means actual knowledge of an Applicable Person and the knowledge that such Applicable Person without independent inquiry would reasonably be expected to obtain in the course of diligently performing his or her duties.

“Law” means any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, or interpretation of any Governmental Entity, and any Order.

“Liability” means all indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities of a Person (whether absolute, accrued, contingent, fixed or otherwise, or whether due or to become due), including those arising under any Law, Action, investigation, inquiry or Order and those arising under any Contract.

Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement” means that certain Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement, dated of even date herewith by and among Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, USA SS REIT II Advisor, LLC, the Operating Partnership, USA Self Storage

 

34


Operating Partnership, L.P. and USA SS REIT II Operating Partnership, L.P., as the same may be amended.

“Loss or “Losses” means any and all costs, expenses, direct losses or damages, fines, penalties or liabilities (including interest which may be imposed or incurred in connection therewith, court costs, litigation expenses, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs)

“Mark” means any brand name, logos, service mark, trademark, trade name, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations or application for registration of, any of the foregoing.

Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, condition or occurrence that has or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact or effect on a Party, the Contributed Assets, Assumed Liabilities or the prospects or results of operations of the Party’s business, taken as a whole; provided thatMaterial Adverse Effect” shall neither be deemed to include the impact or effect of, nor shall there be taken into account in determining whether there has been a “Material Adverse Effect”: (a) changes in Laws or interpretations thereof or binding directives of Governmental Entities, (b) the announcement of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or the taking of any action contemplated by the Transaction Documents or any of them, (c) changes in GAAP or the interpretations thereof, (d) compliance with, and performance of, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (e) changes affecting general economic conditions or the industry in which SSH operates, (f) the failure of SSH to meet projections of earnings, revenues or other financial measures (whether such projections were made by SSH or any independent Third Parties), (g) national or international political or social conditions, including the engagement by the United States in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack within or upon the United States, or any of its territories, possessions, or diplomatic or consular offices or upon any military installation, equipment or personnel of the United States, (h) changes in financial, banking, or securities markets (including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index).

Notice Period” has the meaning as set forth in Section 7.3(a).

“OP Units” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.4(a).

“Operating Partnership” has the meaning as set forth in the introductory paragraph.

“Operating Partnership Agreement” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P. entered into on September 4, 2014 to be effective at 11:59 p.m. PDT on August 31, 2014.

“Order” means any decree, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, assessment or writ of a Governmental Entity or arbitration award.

 

35


“Organizational Documents” means the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, charter, bylaws, articles of formation or organization, certificate of formation or organization, regulations, operating agreement, limited liability company agreement, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, and all other similar documents, instruments, or certificates executed, adopted, or filed in connection with the creation, formation, or organization of a Person, including any amendments thereto.

“Parties” has the meaning as set forth in the introductory paragraph.

“Party” has the meaning as set forth in the introductory paragraph.

“Patents” means all (a) patents and patent applications, and (b) business methods, inventions, and discoveries that may be patentable.

“Permit” means any license, permit, franchise, certificate of authority, or any waiver of the foregoing, required to be issued by any Governmental Entity.

“Person” means an association, a corporation, an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership (whether general or limited), a trust (whether inter vivos or testamentary) or any other entity or organization, whether organized for profit or not for profit, and including a Governmental Entity.

Permits” means all permits, certificates of authority, licenses, approvals, registrations and authorizations that are issued by a Governmental Entity, pursuant to applicable Law.

“Personal Property” means machinery, equipment, computer programs, computer software, tools, motor vehicles, furniture, furnishings, leasehold improvements, office equipment, inventories, supplies, plant, spare parts, and other tangible or intangible personal property, excluding, however, Contracts, Permits, Marks, Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, Domain Names and Intellectual Property.

“Positive True-Up Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(c).

“Property Manager” has the meaning as set forth in the first preamble to this Agreement.

PTO” has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.15(c).

Recoverable Amount” has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.5(e).

“Regulation D” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

“REIT” means a real estate investment trust.

“REIT Shares” means shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, in SST (or successor entity, as the case may be), the terms and conditions of which are set forth in the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of SST filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, as amended or restated from time to time.

 

36


“SEC” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(g).

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Service Agreement” has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.13(a).

“Software” means computer software or middleware.

“SSGT” has the meaning as set forth in the third preamble of this Agreement.

“SSH” has the meaning as set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

“SSH Agents” has the meaning as set forth in Section 7.6.

“SSH Contracts” has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.12.

“SSH Required Third Party Consents” has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.3.

“SSRG” has the meaning as set forth in the second preamble to this Agreement.

“SST” has the meaning as set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

“SST II” has the meaning as set forth in the third preamble to this Agreement.

“Tax” means any gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Code §59A), customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, escheatment or unclaimed property or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not, and including any obligations to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the Tax liability of any other Person, including pursuant to any tax sharing agreement or any other contract relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax, pursuant to operation of Law or otherwise.

“Tax Return” means any return (including any information return), report, statement, schedule, notice, form, or other document or information filed with or submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Taxing Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, or payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration, implementation, or enforcement of or compliance with any Law relating to any Tax, including any amendment thereof.

“Taxing Authority” means the IRS or any other Governmental Entity responsible for the administration of any Tax.

“Terminated SSH Employees” shall mean any and all SSH employees who do not accept an offer of employment with the Operating Partnership as of the Effective Date.

 

37


“Termination Agreement 1” means that certain Termination of Advisory Agreement, dated of even date herewith, among, SST, the Operating Partnership and Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, as amended.

“Termination Agreement 2” means that certain Termination of Advisory Agreement, dated of even date herewith, between Self Storage REIT, LLC and USA Self Storage Advisor, LLC, as amended.

“Termination Agreement 3” means that certain Termination of Advisory Agreement, dated of even date herewith, between Self Storage REIT II, LLC and USA SS REIT II Advisor, LLC, as amended.

“Third Party” means any Person other than any Party.

“Trade Secrets” means all know-how, trade secrets, confidential information, customer lists, Software (source code and object code), technical information, data, process technology, plans, drawings, and blue prints.

“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreements, the Assignment of Trademarks Agreement, the Assignment of Domain Names, the Assignment of Contracts Agreements, the Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement and the Churchill Contribution Agreement, and any amendments to any of them.

“Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.7.

TriNet” has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.13(a).

TriNet Novation and Assumption” has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.13(a).

TriNet Plan” has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.13(b).

“True-Up Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).

“Unit Portion” has the meaning as set forth in Section 1.4(a).

“Worksite Employee” means an “EMPLOYEE” and “Worksite Employees” means “EMPLOYEES”, both as defined in the Service Agreement.

[Remainder of page left intentionally blank]

 

38


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

CONTRIBUTOR:
SSH:
STRATEGIC STORAGE HOLDINGS, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
By:      

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  H. Michael Schwartz
  Manager
CONTRIBUTEE:
SST:
STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC.
a Maryland corporation
By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  H. Michael Schwartz
  President
THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP:
STRATEGIC STORAGE OPERATING
PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

a Delaware limited partnership

By:  

STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC.

Its General Partner

  By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

     

H. Michael Schwartz

President

[Signature page to SSH Contribution Agreement]

 

39


EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES*

 

* The Registrant will furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule to the SEC upon request; provided, however, that the Registrant may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any schedule or exhibit so furnished.

 

A-1

EX-10.2 5 d783890dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

TERMINATION OF ADVISORY AGREEMENT

THIS TERMINATION OF ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this “Termination”) is made as of September 4, 2014, effective at 11:59PM Pacific Daylight Time on August 31, 2014 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Advisor”).

WHEREAS, on March 17, 2008, the Company and the Advisor entered into an advisory agreement (as subsequently amended and restated, the “Advisory Agreement”);

WHEREAS, on March 28, 2014, the Advisor and the Company amended and restated the Advisory Agreement, pursuant to which the Operating Partnership became a party to the Advisory Agreement;

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution of this Termination, the Company is entering into a series of transactions pursuant to which the Company will become self-administered and the Advisor’s special limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership will be contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership, as outlined further in the agreement governing such contribution of the special limited partner interest; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to terminate the Advisory Agreement with this Termination, effective as of the Effective Date.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1. Termination of Advisory Agreement. The parties agree that the Advisory Agreement is hereby terminated at and as of the close of business on the Effective Date, and, except as herein provided, neither party shall have any further obligations under the Advisory Agreement from and after the Effective Date; provided, however, that all fees and expenses paid or incurred by, or for the account of, the Advisor under, and in accordance with, the Advisory Agreement to and including the Effective Date shall be determined by the Advisor on or before September 29, 2014, and shall be due and payable to the Advisor in immediately available funds on or before September 30, 2014. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Advisory Agreement or this Termination, the provisions of this Section 1 shall survive the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

2. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Termination constitutes the entire agreement among the parties related to the subject matter hereof. This Termination may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a writing executed by all of the parties hereto.

3. Counterparts. This Termination may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts which, when considered together, will constitute one and the same instrument. The transmission of copies and signature pages of, and signatures to, this Termination by facsimile or other Electronic Transmission will constitute effective execution and delivery of this Termination and may be used in lieu of the original Termination for all intents and purposes. As used in this Termination, the term “Electronic Transmission”, means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient of the communication and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.


4. Governing Law. This Termination shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to conflict of law principles.

[Signature page follows.]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Termination has been executed by the parties as of the Effective Date.

 

THE COMPANY:
STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC.

 

By:      

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  H. Michael Schwartz
  President and Chief Executive Officer

 

THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP:
STRATEGIC STORAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

 

By:       STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC.
  By:      

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

    H. Michael Schwartz
    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

THE ADVISOR:
STRATEGIC STORAGE ADVISOR, LLC

 

By:      

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  H. Michael Schwartz
  President

[Signature page to Termination of SST Advisory Agreement]

EX-10.3 6 d783890dex103.htm EX-10.3 EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

LIMITED PARTNER INTEREST CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

THIS LIMITED PARTNER INTEREST CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 4th day of September, 2014, effective as of 11:59 PM (PDT) on August 31, 2014 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “SST Special Limited Partner”), USA Self Storage Advisor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “REIT I Special Limited Partner”), and USA SS REIT II Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “REIT II Special Limited Partner”) (the SST Special Limited Partner, REIT I Special Limited Partner, and REIT II Special Limited Partner being collectively referred to herein as the “Special Limited Partners”), on the one hand, and Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), USA Self Storage Operating Partnership, LP, a Maryland limited partnership (the “REIT I Operating Partnership”), and USA SS REIT II Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “REIT II Operating Partnership”), on the other hand. All terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as provided in the Operating Partnership’s Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, entered into on September 4, 2014 to be effective at 11:59 p.m. PDT on August 31, 2014 (the “Limited Partnership Agreement”).

RECITALS:

A. Each of the Special Limited Partners is the owner of a Special Limited Partner Interest in the Operating Partnership.

B. The REIT I Special Limited Partner is the owner of Class B Limited Partnership Units in the REIT I Operating Partnership (the “REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units”).

C. The REIT II Special Limited Partner is the owner of Class B Limited Partnership Units in the REIT II Operating Partnership (the “REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units”).

D. The Operating Partnership is entering into a series of transactions pursuant to which (1) Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., the general partner of the Operating Partnership (“SST”), will become self-administered, (2) the Advisory Agreement between the Operating Partnership, SST, and the SST Special Limited Partner will be terminated, (3) the Advisory Agreement between Self Storage REIT, LLC and the REIT I Special Limited Partner will be terminated, and (4) the Advisory Agreement between Self Storage REIT II, LLC and the REIT II Special Limited Partner will be terminated (such transactions being referred to collectively as the “Self-Administration Transaction”).

E. In connection with the Self-Administration Transaction, the Special Limited Partners desire to contribute their respective Special Limited Partner Interest in the Operating Partnership to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership desires to receive and accept each such Special Limited Partner Interest from the Special Limited Partners in exchange for units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) and Class B Limited Partnership Units in the Operating Partnership (“Class B Units”), which Class B Units shall have the terms, rights, and restrictions set forth in Exhibit C to the Limited Partnership Agreement.

F. In connection with the Self-Administration Transaction, the REIT I Special Limited Partner desires to contribute its REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership desires to receive and accept each such REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units from the REIT I Special Limited Partner in exchange for OP Units and Class B Units.

G. In connection with the Self-Administration Transaction, the REIT II Special Limited Partner desires to contribute its REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership desires to receive and accept each such REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units from the REIT II Special Limited Partner in exchange for OP Units and Class B Units.


H. Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in Schedule 1.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Contribution of the Special Limited Partner Interests.

1.1. Contribution of the SST Special Limited Partner Interest. For and in consideration of the OP Units and Class B Units to be issued by the Operating Partnership to the SST Special Limited Partner and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the SST Special Limited Partner hereby contributes, conveys, transfers and irrevocably assigns to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership accepts such contribution from the SST Special Limited Partner, the Special Limited Partner Interest in the Operating Partnership held by the SST Special Limited Partner, free and clear of all Liens and Claims.

1.2. Contribution of the REIT I Special Limited Partner Interest. For and in consideration of the OP Units and Class B Units to be issued by the Operating Partnership, the REIT I Special Limited Partner hereby contributes, conveys, transfers and irrevocably assigns to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership accepts such contribution from the REIT I Special Limited Partner, the Special Limited Partner Interest in the Operating Partnership held by the REIT I Special Limited Partner, free and clear of all Liens and Claims.

1.3. Contribution of the REIT II Special Limited Partner Interest. For and in consideration of the OP Units and Class B Units to be issued by the Operating Partnership, the REIT II Special Limited Partner hereby contributes, conveys, transfers and irrevocably assigns to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership accepts such contribution from the REIT II Special Limited Partner, the Special Limited Partner Interest in the Operating Partnership held by the REIT II Special Limited Partner, free and clear of all Liens and Claims.

2. Contribution of the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units. For and in consideration of the OP Units and Class B Units to be issued by the Operating Partnership to the REIT I Special Limited Partner, the REIT I Special Limited Partner hereby contributes, conveys, transfers and irrevocably assigns to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership accepts such contribution from the REIT I Special Limited Partner, the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units held by the REIT I Special Limited Partner, free and clear of all Liens and Claims.

3. Contribution of the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units. For and in consideration of the OP Units and Class B Units to be issued by the Operating Partnership to the REIT II Special Limited Partner, the REIT II Special Limited Partner hereby contributes, conveys, transfers and irrevocably assigns to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership accepts such contribution from the REIT II Special Limited Partner, the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units held by the REIT II Special Limited Partner, free and clear of all Liens and Claims.

4. Consideration.

4.1. SST Special Limited Partner Consideration. In exchange for the contribution, conveyance, transfer and assignment of the Special Limited Partner Interest held by the SST Special Limited Partner, the Operating Partnership shall issue and deliver to the SST Special Limited Partner

 

2


659,696 OP Units having an agreed value as set forth on Schedule 2, and 691,876 Class B Units having an agreed value as set forth on Schedule 2. The SST Special Limited Partner understands and acknowledges that (i) the Operating Partnership makes no representations regarding the actual value of the Special Limited Partner Interest and (ii) the value of the Special Limited Partner Interest may be greater than or less than the value of the OP Units and Class B Units issued to the Special Limited Partner hereunder.

4.2. REIT I Special Limited Partner Consideration. In exchange for (i) the contribution, conveyance, transfer and assignment of the Special Limited Partner Interest held by the REIT I Special Limited Partner to the Operating Partnership and (ii) the contribution, conveyance, transfer and assignment of the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units held by the REIT I Special Limited Partner to the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership shall issue and deliver to the REIT I Special Limited Partner 102,846 OP Units having an agreed value as set forth on Schedule 2, and 107,863 Class B Units having an agreed value as set forth on Schedule 2. The REIT I Special Limited Partner understands and acknowledges that (i) the Operating Partnership makes no representations regarding the actual value of the Special Limited Partner Interest or the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units and (ii) the value of the Special Limited Partner Interest and the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units may be greater than or less than the value of the OP Units and Class B Units issued to the REIT I Special Limited Partner hereunder.

4.3. REIT II Special Limited Partner Consideration. In exchange for (i) the contribution, conveyance, transfer and assignment of the Special Limited Partner Interest held by the REIT II Special Limited Partner to the Operating Partnership and (ii) the contribution, conveyance, transfer and assignment of the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units held by the REIT II Special Limited Partner to the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership shall issue and deliver to the REIT II Special Limited Partner 30,188 OP Units having an agreed value as set forth on Schedule 2, and 31,660 Class B Units having an agreed value as set forth on Schedule 2. The REIT II Special Limited Partner understands and acknowledges that (i) the Operating Partnership makes no representations regarding the actual value of the Special Limited Partner Interest or the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units and (ii) the value of the Special Limited Partner Interest and the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units may be greater than or less than the value of the OP Units and Class B Units issued to the REIT II Special Limited Partner hereunder.

5. Representations and Warranties of the Special Limited Partners. Each of the Special Limited Partners represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to the Operating Partnership, the REIT I Operating Partnership, and the REIT II Operating Partnership that the following statements are true, complete and correct as of the Effective Date, and for the avoidance of doubt, each of the Special Limited Partners makes each of its representations and warranties only with respect to itself and the Special Limited Partner Interest, REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units, and REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units that it owns, as applicable.

5.1. Organization; Validity; Authority; No Conflict.

5.1.1. Each Special Limited Partner is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has full legal right, power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder, and to contribute, convey, transfer and irrevocably assign to the Operating Partnership the Special Limited Partner Interests, the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units and the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units, as applicable, as herein provided.

5.1.2. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Special Limited Partner, the performance by each Special Limited Partner of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or the transfer of Special Limited Partner Interests, the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units and the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units, as applicable, provided for herein will not (i)

 

3


violate or conflict with any provision of Law or any Order applicable to each Special Limited Partner; (ii) require any consent or approval by or filing or notice with any Governmental Entity; or (iii) violate or conflict with any agreement or understanding by which each Special Limited Partner or the Special Limited Partner Interests, the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units or the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units, are bound.

5.1.3. This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary limitd liability company action on the part of each of the Special Limited Partners. This Agreement has been, or upon execution and delivery will be, duly executed and delivered by the Special Limited Partners and constitutes, or upon execution and delivery will constitute, the valid and binding obligations of each of the Special Limited Partners enforceable against the Special Limited Partners in accordance with its terms.

5.2. Title.

5.2.1. Title to the Special Limited Partner Interests. Each Special Limited Partner has good and valid title to its respective Special Limited Partner Interests, free and clear of any Lien.

5.2.2. Title to the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units. The REIT I Special Limited Partner has good and valid title to the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units, free and clear of any Lien.

5.2.3. Title to the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units. The REIT II Special Limited Partner has good and valid title to the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units, free and clear of any Lien.

5.3. Litigation. There are no outstanding Orders by which each Special Limited Partner is bound, or any pending or to the Knowledge of each Special Limited Partner, threatened, which relate to or affect the Special Limited Partner Interests, the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units or the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units, as applicable, nor to the Knowledge of each Special Limited Partner are there any facts or circumstances which are likely to give rise to any such Action or Proceeding.

6. Representations and Warranties of the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership represents and warrants to each of the Special Limited Partners that the following statements are true, complete and correct as of the Effective Date:

6.1. Organization; Validity; Authority. The Operating Partnership is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Operating Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to enter into the Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action on then part of the Operating Partnership. The Agreement has been, or upon execution and delivery will be, duly executed and delivered and constitutes, or upon execution and delivery will constitute, the valid and binding obligation of the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

6.2. Issuance of Units. The OP Units and Class B Units, when issued and delivered in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and,

 

4


except as provided in the Limited Partnership Agreement and except as affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, non-assessable. The OP Units and Class B Units will be free of any Liens; provided, however, that the OP Units and Class B Units are subject to restrictions on transfer under federal and state securities Laws and as otherwise set forth in the Limited Partnership Agreement and Section 14 of this Agreement. The OP Units and Class B Units will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal afforded to any Person or granted by the Operating Partnership or SST to any Person.

7. Representations and Warranties of the REIT I Operating Partnership. The REIT I Operating Partnership is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Maryland. The REIT I Operating Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to enter into the Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action on then part of the REIT I Operating Partnership. The Agreement has been, or upon execution and delivery will be, duly executed and delivered and constitutes, or upon execution and delivery will constitute, the valid and binding obligation of the REIT I Operating Partnership, enforceable against the REIT I Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

8. Representations and Warranties of the REIT II Operating Partnership. The REIT II Operating Partnership is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Maryland. The REIT II Operating Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to enter into the Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action on then part of the REIT II Operating Partnership. The Agreement has been, or upon execution and delivery will be, duly executed and delivered and constitutes, or upon execution and delivery will constitute, the valid and binding obligation of the REIT II Operating Partnership, enforceable against the REIT II Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

9. Tax Treatment. The contributions of (i) the Special Limited Partner Interests by the Special Limited Partners to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units and Class B Units, (ii) the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units by the REIT I Special Limited Partner to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units and Class B Units, and (iii) the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units by the REIT II Special Limited Partner to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units and Class B Units are each intended to qualify as a tax-deferred contribution of assets to the Operating Partnership, in exchange for OP Units and Class B Units under Code Section 721.

10. Effect of Contribution of Special Limited Partner Interests. From and after the Effective Date, each Special Limited Partner shall not be entitled to any portion of income, gain, Loss, deduction or credit allocable to the Special Limited Partner Interests on or after such date. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the allocation to each Special Limited Partner of profits, Losses and other items of income, gain, Loss, deduction or credit allocable to the Special Limited Partner Interests and attributable to any period before the Effective Date or any distribution payments made to each Special Limited Partner with respect to the Special Limited Partner Interests before such date, and the Special Limited Partners shall be entitled to receive any and all distributions that have accrued but remain unpaid as of the Effective Date with respect to the Special Limited Partner Interests.

 

5


11. Effect of Contribution of REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units. From and after the Effective Date, the REIT I Special Limited Partner shall not be entitled to any portion of income, gain, Loss, deduction or credit allocable to the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units on or after such date. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the allocation to the REIT I Special Limited Partner of profits, Losses and other items of income, gain, Loss, deduction or credit allocable to the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units and attributable to any period before the Effective Date or any distribution payments made to the REIT I Special Limited Partner with respect to the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units before such date, and the REIT I Special Limited Partner shall be entitled to receive any and all distributions that have accrued but remain unpaid as of the Effective Date with respect to the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units.

12. Effect of Contribution of REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units. From and after the Effective Date, the REIT II Special Limited Partner shall not be entitled to any portion of income, gain, Loss, deduction or credit allocable to the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units on or after such date. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the allocation to the REIT II Special Limited Partner of profits, Losses and other items of income, gain, Loss, deduction or credit allocable to the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units and attributable to any period before the Effective Date or any distribution payments made to the REIT II Special Limited Partner with respect to the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units before such date, and the REIT II Special Limited Partner shall be entitled to receive any and all distributions that have accrued but remain unpaid as of the Effective Date with respect to the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units.

13. Cancellation of Special Limited Partner Interests. Subject to the provisions of Sections 10, 11 and 12, immediately upon the contribution of the SST Special Limited Partner Interest, the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units and the REIT II Class B Limited Partner Units, the Operating Partnership agrees to the cancellation of those interests and the amendment of the respective limited partnership agreements to delete all references to those interests.

14. Holding Period.

14.1. (a) In addition to any restrictions on transfer contained in the Limited Partnership Agreement, for a period of two years following the Effective Date, the SST Special Limited Partner shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, announce the intention to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option right or warrant for the sale of, make any short sale or otherwise transfer, dispose or encumber (collectively, “Transfer”) any of (a) the OP Units it receives pursuant to Section 4.1 of this Agreement, (b) the Class B Units it receives pursuant to Section 4.1 of this Agreement, or (c) any REIT Shares held by the SST Special Limited Partner upon exchange of the OP Units or Class B Units pursuant to the provisions of the Limited Partnership Agreement, except for permitted Transfers as set forth in Section 9.2(b) of the Limited Partnership Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Limited Partnership Agreement to the contrary: (i) the SST Special Limited Partner shall not be required to obtain the consent of SST, as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, for any Transfer of OP Units or Class B Units received by the SST Special Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) a transferee pursuant to a permitted Transfer of the OP Units or the Class B Units issued pursuant to this Agreement is entitled to Transfer any or all OP Units or Class B Units it receives to a transferee or transferees described in Section 9.2(c)(i), (ii) and (iii) of the Limited Partnership Agreement or to organizations described in Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c) of the Code (including without limitation foundations, schools, colleges, universities, charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts); (iii) the restrictions on Transfer set forth in Section 14.1(a) shall not apply in the event of a Change in Control; and (iv) the provisions of this Section 14.1(b) shall survive indefinitely, such that they shall apply to OP Units or Class B Units, as the case may be, received by the SST Special Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement after the expiration of the two (2) year period referred to in Section 14.1(a).

14.2. (a) In addition to any restrictions on transfer contained in the Limited Partnership Agreement, for a period of two years following the Effective Date, the REIT I Special Limited Partner shall not Transfer any of (a) the OP Units it receives pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Agreement, (b) the Class B Units it receives pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Agreement, or (c) any REIT Shares held by the REIT I Special Limited Partner upon exchange of the OP Units or Class B Units pursuant to the provisions of the Limited Partnership Agreement, except for permitted Transfers as set forth in Section 9.2(b) of the Limited Partnership Agreement.

 

6


(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Limited Partnership Agreement to the contrary, (i) the REIT I Special Limited Partner shall not be required to obtain the consent of SST, as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, for any Transfer of OP Units or Class B Units received by the REIT I Special Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) a transferee pursuant to a permitted Transfer of the OP Units or Class B Units issued pursuant to this Agreement is entitled to Transfer any or all OP Units or Class B Units it receives to a transferee or transferees described in Section 9.2(c)(i), (ii) and (iii) of the Limited Partnership Agreement or to organizations described in Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c) of the Code (including without limitation foundations, schools, colleges, universities, charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts); (iii) the restrictions on Transfer set forth in Section 14.2(a) shall not apply in the event of a Change in Control; and (iv) the provisions of this Section 14.2(b) shall survive indefinitely, such that they shall apply to OP Units or Class B Units, as the case may be, received by the REIT I Special Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement after the expiration of the two (2) year period referred to in Section 14.2(a).

14.3. (a) In addition to any restrictions on transfer contained in the Limited Partnership Agreement, for a period of two years following the Effective Date, the REIT II Special Limited Partner shall not Transfer any of (a) the OP Units it receives pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Agreement, (b) the Class B Units it receives pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Agreement, or (c) any REIT Shares held by the REIT II Special Limited Partner upon exchange of the OP Units or Class B Units pursuant to the provisions of the Limited Partnership Agreement, except for permitted Transfers as set forth in Section 9.2(b) of the Limited Partnership Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Limited Partnership Agreement to the contrary, (i) the REIT II Special Limited Partner shall not be required to obtain the consent of SST, as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, for any Transfer of OP Units or Class B Units received by the REIT II Special Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) a transferee pursuant to a permitted Transfer of the OP Units or Class B Units issued pursuant to this Agreement is entitled to Transfer any or all OP Units or Class B Units it receives to a transferee or transferees described in Section 9.2(c)(i), (ii) and (iii) of the Limited Partnership Agreement or to organizations described in Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c) of the Code (including without limitation foundations, schools, colleges, universities, charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts); (iii) the restrictions on Transfer set forth in Section 14.3(a) shall not apply in the event of a Change in Control; and (iv) the provisions of this Section 14.3(b) shall survive indefinitely, such that they shall apply to OP Units or Class B Units, as the case may be, received by the REIT II Special Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement after the expiration of the two (2) year period referred to in Section 14.3(a).

15. Indemnification. The indemnification provisions set forth in Article 7 of that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2014, by and among SST, the Operating Partnership and Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC (the “SSH Contribution Agreement”) are deemed to be incorporated by reference herein; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Agreement, (i) the terms Indemnified Parties and Indemnifying Parties (as defined in the SSH Contribution Agreement) shall include each Special Limited Partner, the REIT I Operating Partnership and the REIT II Operating Partnership, (ii) the term Contributor Indemnified Parties (as defined in the SSH Contribution Agreement) shall include each Special Limited Partner, (iii) the term Indemnified Contributee Parties (as defined in the SSH Contribution Agreement) shall include the REIT I Operating Partnership and the REIT II Operating Partnership, and (iv) for the avoidance of doubt, references to the Operating Partnership in Article 7 of the SSH Contribution Agreement are intended to remain unchanged and apply to the obligations of the Operating Partnership, including without limitation its obligation to indemnify each Special Limited Partner, pursuant to this Agreement, and references in such Article 7 to SSH for purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to refer to each Special Limited Partner. In addition to, and without affecting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Section 15 and for the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that (i) the provisions of Section 7.1(c) and (d) of the SSH Contribution Agreement shall have no application to this Agreement or the obligations of the parties to this Agreement; (ii) the provisions of Section 7.2(d) of the SSH Contribution Agreement shall have no application to this Agreement or the obligations of the parties to this Agreement; (iii) the provisions of Section 7.2(c) of the SSH Contribution Agreement shall be deemed to refer solely to the Special Limited Partner Interests, the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units and the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units; (iv) for purposes of applying Section 7.5 of the SSH Contribution Agreement to this Agreement, the reference to “Transaction Document” in the beginning of such section shall not be deemed include this Agreement;

 

7


and (v) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document, including without limitation the SSH Contribution Agreement and this Agreement, (x) it is the intention of the parties, that the provisions of Section 7.5(a) of the SSH Contribution Agreement be applied as if the representations and warranties of each Special Limited Partner in Article 5 of this Agreement were included in Article 3 of the SSH Contribution Agreement, so that for purposes of either one or both of this Agreement and the SSH Contribution Agreement there is, and will be, but one (1) unified Basket (as defined in the SSH Contribution Agreement) and one (1) unified Cap (as defined in the SSH Contribution Agreement) applicable to indemnification with respect to breaches of representations and warranties by SSH under Article 3 of the SSH Contribution Agreement and/or breaches of representations and warranties by the Special Limited Partners under Article 5 of this Agreement, (y) nothing contained in this Section 15 shall be interpreted or construed to result in liability on the part of the Special Limited Partners for the acts or omissions, including without limitation breaches of representations and warranties of SSH under the SSH Contribution Agreement or liability on the part of SSH for the acts or omissions, including without limitation breaches of representations and warranties of each Special Limited Partner under this Agreement and (z) nothing contained in this Section 15 shall be interpreted or construed to create a joint or joint and several obligation of the Special Limited Partners relative to the indemnification obligation of any one Special Limited Partner.

16. Miscellaneous.

16.1. Entire Agreement. This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties relating to the contribution of the Special Limited Partner Interests, the REIT I Class B Limited Partnership Units and the REIT II Class B Limited Partnership Units, and supersedes and cancels all previous negotiations, understandings and agreements between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof. No conditions, use of trade, course of dealing, understanding or agreement purporting to vary, explain or supplement the terms of this Agreement shall be binding unless hereafter made in writing and signed by each of the parties to this Agreement.

16.2. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

16.3. Waiver. No waiver of any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall be effective or binding unless such waiver is in writing and is signed by all of the parties, nor shall this Agreement be changed, modified, discharged or terminated other than in accordance with its terms, in whole or in part, except by a writing signed by all of the parties. Waiver by any party of any term, provision or condition of this Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of any other term, provision or condition nor shall such waiver be deemed a subsequent waiver of the same term, provision or condition.

16.4. Severability. In the event any provision in this Agreement shall be deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

16.5. Assignment. No party shall in any way sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of this Agreement or any of the rights, privileges, duties and obligations granted or imposed under this Agreement. Any attempted or actual sale, transfer, assignment, or disposal, in whole or in part, of this Agreement will be void and have no effect.

16.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile and electronic executions and deliveries shall have the full force and effect of original signatures.

 

8


16.7. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

16.8. Dispute Resolution. Any controversy arising out of or related to this Agreement or the breach thereof shall be resolved by arbitration in Orange County, California, in accordance with the Rules of Mediation and Arbitration as then in effect and administered by the American Mediation Association, and judgment entered upon the award rendered may be enforced by appropriate judicial action. The arbitration panel shall consist of three members. The arbitration panel shall allocate between the parties, as the panel deems just and equitable, all fees and expenses of the arbitration, including forum and tribunal fees and expenses, reasonable attorneys’ fees of both parties, any costs of producing witnesses and any other reasonable costs or expenses incurred by either party. The arbitration panel shall render a decision within 30 days following the close of presentation by the parties of their cases and any rebuttal.

[Signature pages follow]

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date set forth above.

 

OPERATING PARTNERSHIP:

STRATEGIC STORAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

 

  By:   Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.
  Its:   General Partner

 

  By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  Name:   H. Michael Schwartz
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

REIT I OPERATING PARTNERSHIP:
USA SELF STORAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP

 

  By:   Self Storage REIT, LLC
  Its:   General Partner

 

  By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  Name:   H. Michael Schwartz
  Title:   President

 

REIT II OPERATING PARTNERSHIP:

USA SS REIT II OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

 

  By:   Self Storage REIT II, LLC
  Its:   General Partner

 

  By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  Name:   H. Michael Schwartz
  Title:   President

[Signature page 1 of 2 to Special Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement]

 

10


SPECIAL LIMITED PARTNERS:

STRATEGIC STORAGE ADVISOR, LLC

 

By:

 

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:

  H. Michael Schwartz

Title:

  President

 

USA SELF STORAGE ADVISOR, LLC

 

By:

 

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:

  H. Michael Schwartz

Title:

  President

 

USA SS REIT II ADVISOR, LLC

 

By:

 

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:

  H. Michael Schwartz

Title:

  President

[Signature page 2 of 2 to Special Limited Partner Interest Contribution Agreement]

 

11

EX-10.4 7 d783890dex104.htm EX-10.4 EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

STRATEGIC STORAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

STRATEGIC STORAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE 1    DEFINED TERMS

     1   

ARTICLE 2    PARTNERSHIP FORMATION AND IDENTIFICATION

     8   

2.1        Formation

     8   

2.2        Name, Office and Registered Agent

     8   

2.3        Partners

     8   

2.4        Term and Dissolution

     9   

2.5        Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership

     9   

2.6        Certificates Describing Partnership Units

     10   

ARTICLE 3    BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

     10   

ARTICLE 4    CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

     10   

4.1        Capital Contributions

     10   

4.2        Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests

     10   

4.3        Additional Funding

     12   

4.4        Capital Accounts

     12   

4.5        Percentage Interests

     12   

4.6        No Interest on Contributions

     13   

4.7        Return of Capital Contributions

     13   

4.8        No Third Party Beneficiary

     13   

ARTICLE 5    PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS

     14   

5.1        Allocation of Profit and Loss

     14   

5.2        Distributions

     15   

5.3        REIT Distribution Requirements

     17   

5.4        No Right to Distributions In Kind

     17   

5.5        Limitations of Return of Capital Contributions

     17   

5.6        Distributions Upon Liquidation

     17   

5.7        Substantial Economic Effect

     17   

ARTICLE 6    RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER

     18   

6.1        Management of the Partnership

     18   

6.2        Delegation of Authority

     20   

6.3        Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees

     20   

6.4        Liability of the General Partner

     21   

6.5        Reimbursement of General Partner

     22   

6.6        Outside Activities

     22   

6.7        Employment or Retention of Affiliates

     22   

 

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6.8        General Partner Participation

     22   

6.9        Title to Partnership Assets

     23   

6.10      Miscellaneous

     23   

ARTICLE 7    CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER

     23   

7.1        Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest

     23   

7.2        Admission of a Substitute or Additional General Partner

     25   

7.3        Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of a General Partner

     25   

7.4        Removal of a General Partner

     26   

ARTICLE 8    RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS

     27   

8.1        Management of the Partnership

     27   

8.2        Power of Attorney

     27   

8.3        Limitation on Liability of Limited Partners

     27   

8.4        Exchange Right

     27   

ARTICLE 9    TRANSFERS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

     29   

9.1        Purchase for Investment

     29   

9.2        Restrictions on Transfer of Limited Partnership Interests

     29   

9.3        Admission of Substitute Limited Partner

     30   

9.4        Rights of Assignees of Partnership Interests

     31   

9.5        Effect of Bankruptcy, Death, Incompetence or Termination of a Limited Partner

     31   

9.6        Joint Ownership of Interests

     31   

9.7        Redemption of Partnership Units

     32   

ARTICLE 10    BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS

     32   

10.1      Books and Records

     32   

10.2      Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts

     32   

10.3      Fiscal and Taxable Year

     32   

10.4      Annual Tax Information and Report

     32   

10.5      Tax Matters Partner; Tax Elections; Special Basis Adjustments

     32   

10.6      Reports Made Available to Limited Partners

     33   

ARTICLE 11    AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT; MERGER

     34   

ARTICLE 12    GENERAL PROVISIONS

     34   

12.1      Notices

     34   

12.2      Survival of Rights

     34   

12.3      Additional Documents

     34   

12.4      Severability

     34   

12.5      Entire Agreement

     34   

12.6      Pronouns and Plurals

     34   

12.7      Headings

     34   

12.8      Counterparts

     34   

12.9      Governing Law

     35   

 

ii


EXHIBIT A

   GENERAL PARTNER AND LIMITED PARTNER CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND PERCENTAGE INTERESTS      37   

EXHIBIT B

   NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF EXCHANGE RIGHT      38   

EXHIBIT C

   DESCRIPTION OF CLASS B LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS      39   

 

iii


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

STRATEGIC STORAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Partnership”) was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to a Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 14, 2007. The First Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement was entered into effective as of March 17, 2008. The Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement was entered into effective as of March 28, 2014. This Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into on September 4, 2014 to be effective at 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time on August 31, 2014 among Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “General Partner”), the Limited Partners set forth on Exhibit A hereto, and such additional Limited Partners party hereto from time to time. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given them in Article 1.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of mutual covenants between the parties hereto, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINED TERMS

The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified below:

Act means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as it may be amended from time to time.

Additional Funds has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

Additional Securities means any additional REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares issued in connection with an exchange pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof) or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, as set forth in Section 4.2(a)(ii).

Administrative Expenses means (i) all administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership, (ii) those administrative costs and expenses of the General Partner, including any salaries or other payments to directors, officers or employees of the General Partner, and any accounting and legal expenses of the General Partner, which expenses, the Partners have agreed, are expenses of the Partnership and not the General Partner, and (iii) to the extent not included in clause (ii) above, REIT Expenses; provided, however, that Administrative Expenses shall not include any administrative costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner that are attributable to Properties or partnership interests in a Subsidiary Partnership (other than this Partnership) that are owned by the General Partner directly.

Affiliate or Affiliated means, as to any other Person, 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;

 

1


(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.

Agreed Value means the fair market value of a Partner’s non-cash Capital Contribution as of the date of contribution as agreed to by such Partner and the General Partner.

Agreement means this Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, as amended, modified supplemented or restated from time to time, as the context requires.

Annual Distribution Cap means the maximum amount of annual cash distributions that may be made to Limited Partners with respect to their Limited Partnership Units of a designated class, including Class D Limited Partnership Units, prorated for any period in which the applicable Unit is outstanding for less than a full calendar year. The initial Annual Distribution Cap for each class of Limited Partnership Units shall be stated in the definition of that specific class herein. With respect to Class D Limited Partnership Units, commencing twenty-four (24) months after the applicable contribution of a Property or Properties to the Partnership in exchange for Class D Limited Partnership Units, the General Partner shall determine the Annual Distribution Cap for the Class D Limited Partnership Units in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Master Contribution Agreement relating to such Property or Properties contributed. Limited Partnership Units issued but not designated as a specific class of Limited Partnership Unit shall not be subject to any Annual Distribution Cap.

Articles of Incorporation means the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the General Partner filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, as amended or restated from time to time.

Assets means the aggregate carrying value of GAAP assets including but not limited to current, fixed, tangible and intangible assets, owned or held by, or for the account of, the General Partner, whether directly or indirectly through the Partnership or any Subsidiary, excluding Properties and net deferred financing costs.

Book Value means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except that Book Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted in the event of a revaluation of Partnership property under Section 4.4 of this Agreement, in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and (g) of the Regulations.

Capital Account has the meaning provided in Section 4.4 hereof.

Capital Contribution means the total amount of cash, cash equivalents, and the Agreed Value of any Property or other asset (other than cash) contributed or agreed to be contributed, as the context requires, to the Partnership by each Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Any reference to the Capital Contribution of a Partner shall include the Capital Contribution made by a predecessor holder of the Partnership Interest of such Partner.

 

2


Cash Amount means an amount of cash equal to the product of the Value of one REIT Share and the REIT Shares Amount on the date of receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Exchange.

Certificate means any instrument or document that is required under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business, to be signed and sworn to by the Partners of the Partnership (either by themselves or pursuant to the power-of-attorney granted to the General Partner in Section 8.2 hereof) and filed for recording in the appropriate public offices within the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction to perfect or maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership, to effect the admission, withdrawal, or substitution of any Partner of the Partnership, or to protect the limited liability of the Limited Partners as limited partners under the laws of the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction.

Class B Limited Partnership Unit means a Partnership Unit representing a Limited Partnership Interest issued to Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC, USA Self Storage Advisor LLC, USA SS REIT II Advisor, LLC, Churchill TRI, LLC and Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC pursuant to Contribution Agreements between the Partnership and each of them dated September 4, 2014 (the “Contribution Agreements”) and, having the rights, privileges, limitations and restrictions described on Exhibit C. The Class B Limited Partnership Units shall have an Annual Distribution Cap of zero and which is not subject to any adjustment at any time under the terms of the Contribution Agreements.

Class D Limited Partnership Unit means a Partnership Unit representing a Limited Partnership Interest and having an initial Annual Distribution Cap of zero percent (0%) multiplied by the combined Capital Contributions of Partners contributed in exchange for the issuance of the Class D Limited Partnership Units.

Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and as hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Code shall mean that provision in the Code at the date hereof and any successor provision of the Code.

Conversion Factor means 1.0, provided that in the event that the General Partner (i) declares or pays a dividend on its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares or makes a distribution to all holders of its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares, (ii) subdivides its outstanding REIT Shares, or (iii) combines its outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Shares issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination (assuming for such purposes that such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination has occurred as of such time), and the denominator of which shall be the actual number of REIT Shares (determined without the above assumption) issued and outstanding on such date and, provided further, that in the event that an entity other than an Affiliate of the General Partner shall become General Partner pursuant to any merger, consolidation or combination of the General Partner with or into another entity (the “Successor Entity”), the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by the number of shares of the Successor Entity into which one REIT Share is converted pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination, determined as of the date of such merger, consolidation or combination. Any adjustment to the Conversion Factor shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event; provided, however, that if the General Partner receives a Notice of Exchange after the record date, but prior to the effective date of such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination, the Conversion Factor shall be determined as if the General Partner had received the Notice of Exchange immediately prior to the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination.

 

3


Event of Bankruptcy as to any Person means the filing of a petition for relief as to such Person as debtor or bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Code of 1978 or similar provision of law of any jurisdiction (except if such petition is contested by such Person and has been dismissed within 90 days); insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person as finally determined by a court proceeding; filing by such Person of a petition or application to accomplish the same or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee for such Person or a substantial part of his assets; commencement of any proceedings relating to such Person as a debtor under any other reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, adjustment of debt or liquidation law of any jurisdiction, whether now in existence or hereinafter in effect, either by such Person or by another, provided that if such proceeding is commenced by another, such Person indicates his approval of such proceeding, consents thereto or acquiesces therein, or such proceeding is contested by such Person and has not been finally dismissed within 90 days.

Exchange Amount means either the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares Amount, as selected by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion pursuant to Section 8.4(b) hereof.

Exchange Right has the meaning provided in Section 8.4(a) hereof.

Exchanging Partner has the meaning provided in Section 8.4(a) hereof.

GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied as used in the United States.

General Partner means Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and any Person who becomes a substitute or additional General Partner as provided herein, and any of their successors as General Partner.

General Partnership Interest means a Partnership Interest held by the General Partner that is a general partnership interest.

Indemnitee means (i) the General Partner or a director, officer or employee of the General Partner or Partnership, and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion.

Independent Director means a director of the General Partner who is not an officer or employee of the General Partner and meets the requirements for independence as defined by the General Partner’s Articles of Incorporation.

Joint Venture or Joint Ventures means those joint venture or general partnership arrangements in which the General Partner or the Partnership is a co-venturer or general partner which are established to acquire Properties.

Liabilities means the aggregate carrying value of GAAP liabilities owned or incurred by, or for the account of, the General Partner, whether directly or indirectly through the Partnership or any Subsidiary, including mortgage indebtedness.

Limited Partner means any Person named as a Limited Partner on Exhibit A attached hereto, and any Person who becomes a Substitute Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

Limited Partnership Interest means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership at any particular time, including the right of such Limited Partner to any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner may be entitled as provided in this Agreement and in the Act, together with the obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with all the provisions of this Agreement and of such Act.

 

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Listing means the approval of the REIT Shares for listing on a National Securities Exchange. Upon Listing, the shares shall be deemed Listed.

Loss has the meaning provided in Section 5.1(f) hereof.

Market Value means the aggregate market value of all of the outstanding REIT Shares, measured by taking the average closing price or average of bid and asked price, as the case may be, during the consecutive 30-day period commencing one hundred eighty (180) days following Listing.

National Securities Exchange means any securities exchange registered with the SEC pursuant to Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Net Sale Proceeds means in the case of a transaction described in clause (a) of the definition of Sale, the net proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of all real estate commissions and closing costs paid by the Partnership. In the case of a transaction described in clause (b) of such definition, Net Sale Proceeds means the net proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of any legal and other selling expenses incurred by the Partnership in connection with such transaction. In the case of a transaction described in clause (c) of such definition, Net Sale Proceeds means the net proceeds of any such transaction actually distributed to the Partnership from the Joint Venture less any expenses incurred by the Partnership in connection with such transaction. In the case of a transaction or series of transactions described in clause (d) of the definition of Sale, Net Sale Proceeds means the net proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of all commissions and closing costs paid by the Partnership. In the case of a transaction described in clause (e) of such definition, Net Sale Proceeds means the net proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of all selling costs and other expenses incurred by the Partnership in connection with such transaction. Net Sale Proceeds shall also include, in the case of any lease of a Property consisting of a building only, any amounts from tenants, borrowers or lessees that the General Partner, as general partner of the Partnership determines, in its discretion, to be economically equivalent to the proceeds of a Sale. Net Sale Proceeds shall not include any amounts used to repay outstanding indebtedness secured by the asset disposed of in the sale.

Notice of Exchange means the Notice of Exercise of Exchange Right substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.

Offer has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b)(ii) hereof.

Offering means an offering of Stock that is either (a) registered with the SEC, or (b) exempt from such registration, excluding Stock offered under any employee benefit plan.

Partner means any General Partner or Limited Partner.

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). A Partner’s share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5).

Partnership means Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Partnership Interest means an ownership interest in the Partnership held by a Limited Partner or the General Partner and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

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Partnership Minimum Gain has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(d). In accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(d), the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain is determined by first computing, for each Partnership nonrecourse liability, any gain the Partnership would realize if it disposed of the property subject to that liability for no consideration other than full satisfaction of the liability, and then aggregating the separately computed gains. A Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1).

Partnership Record Date means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of cash pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution to its stockholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

Partnership Unit means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder. The allocation of Partnership Units among the Partners shall be as set forth on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

Percentage Interest means the percentage ownership interest in the Partnership of each Partner, as determined by dividing the Partnership Units owned by a Partner by the total number of Partnership Units then outstanding.

Person means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, trust or other entity.

Profit has the meaning provided in Section 5.1(f) hereof.

Property or Properties means the real properties or real estate investments which are acquired by the General Partner either directly or through the Partnership, Joint Ventures, partnerships or other entities.

Regulations means the Federal income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as amended and as hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Regulations shall mean that provision of the Regulations on the date hereof and any successor provision of the Regulations.

Regulatory Allocations has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(i) hereof.

REIT means a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

REIT Expenses means (i) costs and expenses relating to the formation and continuity of existence and operation of the General Partner and any Subsidiaries thereof (which Subsidiaries shall, for purposes hereof, be included within the definition of General Partner), including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any director, officer, or employee of the General Partner, (ii) costs and expenses relating to any Offering and registration of securities by the General Partner and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, including, without limitation, underwriting discounts and sales commissions applicable to any such Offering of securities, and any costs and expenses associated with any claims made by any holders of such securities or any underwriters or placement agents thereof, (iii) costs and expenses associated with any repurchase of any securities by the General Partner, (iv) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any

 

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periodic or other reports and communications by the General Partner under federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with the SEC, (v) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the SEC and any National Securities Exchange, (vi) costs and expenses associated with any 401(k) plan, incentive plan, bonus plan or other plan providing for compensation for the employees of the General Partner, (vii) costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner relating to any issuing or redemption of Partnership Interests, and (viii) all other operating or administrative costs of the General Partner incurred in the ordinary course of its business on behalf of or in connection with the Partnership.

REIT Share means a share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, in the General Partner (or successor entity, as the case may be), the terms and conditions of which are set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

REIT Shares Amount means a number of REIT Shares equal to the product of the number of Partnership Units offered for exchange by an Exchanging Partner, multiplied by the Conversion Factor as adjusted to and including the Specified Exchange Date; provided that in the event the General Partner issues to all holders of REIT Shares rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the stockholders to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively, the “rights”), and the rights have not expired at the Specified Exchange Date, then the REIT Shares Amount shall also include the rights issuable to a holder of the REIT Shares Amount of REIT Shares on the record date fixed for purposes of determining the holders of REIT Shares entitled to rights.

Sale or Sales means any transaction or series of transactions whereby: (a) the Partnership sells, grants, transfers, conveys or relinquishes its ownership of any Property or portion thereof, including the lease of any Property consisting of the building only, and including any event with respect to any Property which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards; (b) the Partnership sells, grants, transfers, conveys or relinquishes its ownership of all or substantially all of the interest of the Partnership in any Joint Venture in which it is a co-venturer or partner; (c) any Joint Venture in which the Partnership is a co-venturer or partner sells, grants, transfers, conveys or relinquishes its ownership of any Property or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any Property which gives rise to insurance claims or condemnation awards; (d) the Partnership sells, grants, conveys, or relinquishes its interest in any asset, or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any asset which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or similar awards; or (e) the Partnership sells or otherwise disposes of or distributes all of its assets in liquidation of the Partnership.

SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Service means the Internal Revenue Service.

Specified Exchange Date means the first business day of the month that is at least 60 business days after the receipt by the General Partner of the Notice of Exchange.

Stock means shares of stock of the General Partner of any class or series, including REIT Shares, preferred stock or shares-in-trust.

Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (ii) the outstanding equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

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Subsidiary Partnership means any partnership of which the partnership interests therein are owned by the General Partner or a direct or indirect subsidiary of the General Partner.

Substitute Limited Partner means any Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof.

Successor Entity has the meaning provided in the definition of “Conversion Factor” contained herein.

Surviving General Partner has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c) hereof.

Transaction has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b) hereof.

Transfer has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a) hereof.

Value means, with respect to REIT Shares, the average of the daily market price of such REIT Share for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of such valuation. The market price for each such trading day shall be: (i) if the REIT Shares are Listed, the sale price, regular way, on such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, on such day; (ii) if the REIT Shares are not Listed, the last reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner; or (iii) if the REIT Shares are not Listed and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than ten (10) days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten (10) days prior to the date in question, the value of the REIT Shares shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate. In the event the REIT Shares Amount includes rights that a holder of REIT Shares would be entitled to receive, then the value of such rights shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

ARTICLE 2

PARTNERSHIP FORMATION AND IDENTIFICATION

2.1 Formation. The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the Act for the purposes and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2.2 Name, Office and Registered Agent. The name of the Partnership is Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P. The specified office and place of business of the Partnership shall be 111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120, Ladera Ranch, California 92694. The General Partner may at any time change the location of such office, provided the General Partner gives notice to the Partners of any such change. The name and address of the Partnership’s registered agent is The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The sole duty of the registered agent as such is to forward to the Partnership any notice that is served on him as registered agent.

 

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2.3 Partners.

(a) The General Partner of the Partnership is Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation. Its principal place of business is the same as that of the Partnership.

(b) The Limited Partners are those Persons identified as Limited Partners on Exhibit A hereto, as amended from time to time.

2.4 Term and Dissolution.

(a) The Partnership shall have perpetual duration, except that the Partnership shall be dissolved upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

(i) The occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner or the dissolution, death, removal or withdrawal of a General Partner unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b) hereof; provided that if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the dissolution of such General Partner as a result of the dissolution, death, withdrawal, removal or Event of Bankruptcy of a partner in such partnership shall not be an event of dissolution of the Partnership if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners, either alone or with additional partners, and such General Partner and such partners comply with any other applicable requirements of this Agreement;

(ii) The passage of 90 days after the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (provided that if the Partnership receives an installment obligation as consideration for such sale or other disposition, the Partnership shall continue, unless sooner dissolved under the provisions of this Agreement, until such time as such note or notes are paid in full);

(iii) The exchange of all Limited Partnership Interests (other than any of such interests held by the General Partner or Affiliates of the General Partner) for REIT Shares or the securities of any other entity; or

(iv) The election by the General Partner that the Partnership should be dissolved.

(b) Upon dissolution of the Partnership (unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b) hereof), the General Partner (or its trustee, receiver, successor or legal representative) shall amend or cancel the Certificate and liquidate the Partnership’s assets and apply and distribute the proceeds thereof in accordance with Section 5.6 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liquidating General Partner may either (i) defer liquidation of, or withhold from distribution for a reasonable time, any assets of the Partnership (including those necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and obligations), or (ii) distribute the assets to the Partners in kind.

2.5 Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership. The General Partner shall execute, acknowledge, record and file at the expense of the Partnership, the Certificate any and all amendments thereto and all requisite fictitious name statements and notices in such places and jurisdictions as may be necessary to cause the Partnership to be treated as a limited partnership under, and otherwise to comply with, the laws of each state or other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business.

 

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2.6 Certificates Describing Partnership Units. At the request of a Limited Partner, the General Partner, at its option, may issue a certificate summarizing the terms of such Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership, including the number of Partnership Units owned and the Percentage Interest represented by such Partnership Units as of the date of such certificate. Any such certificate (i) shall be in form and substance as approved by the General Partner, (ii) shall not be negotiable and (iii) shall bear a legend to the following effect:

This certificate is not negotiable. The Partnership Units represented by this certificate are governed by and transferable only in accordance with the provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P., as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE 3

BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, provided, however, that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT, unless the General Partner otherwise ceases to qualify as a REIT, (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or the ownership of interests in any entity engaged in any of the foregoing and (iii) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing. In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the General Partner’s right in its sole and absolute discretion to cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the General Partner’s current status as a REIT and the avoidance of income and excise taxes on the General Partner inures to the benefit of all the Partners and not solely to the General Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Limited Partners agree that the General Partner may terminate its status as a REIT under the Code at any time to the full extent permitted under the Articles of Incorporation. The General Partner shall also be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code.

ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

4.1 Capital Contributions. The General Partner and the Limited Partners have made Capital Contributions to the Partnership in exchange for the Partnership Interests set forth opposite their names on Exhibit A, as amended from time to time.

4.2 Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests. Except as provided in this Section 4.2 or in Section 4.3, the Partners shall have no right or obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership. The General Partner may contribute additional capital to the Partnership, from time to time, and receive additional Partnership Interests in respect thereof, in the manner contemplated in this Section 4.2.

(a) Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.

(i) General. The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership to issue such additional Partnership Interests in the form of Partnership Units for any Partnership purpose at any time or from time to time, to the Partners (including the General Partner) or to other Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as shall be established by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partner. Any additional Partnership Interests issued thereby may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to Limited Partnership Interests, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion and without

 

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the approval of any Limited Partner, subject to Delaware law, including, without limitation: (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Interests; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share in Partnership distributions; and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided, however, that no additional Partnership Interests shall be issued to the General Partner unless:

(1) (A) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Shares of or other interests in the General Partner, which shares or interests have designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Interests issued to the General Partner by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.2 and (B) the General Partner shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the proceeds raised in connection with the issuance of such shares of stock of or other interests in the General Partner;

(2) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in exchange for property owned by the General Partner with a fair market value, as determined by the General Partner, in good faith, equal to the value of the Partnership Interests; or

(3) additional Partnership Interests are issued to all Partners holding Partnership Units in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.

In addition, the General Partner may acquire Partnership Interests from other Partners pursuant to this Agreement. In the event that the Partnership issues Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 4.2(a), the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Agreement (without any requirement of receiving approval of the Limited Partners) as it deems necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests and any special rights, powers, and duties associated therewith.

Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Units for less than fair market value, so long as the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership.

(ii) Upon Issuance of Additional Securities. The General Partner shall not issue any Additional Securities other than to all holders of REIT Shares, unless (A) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner, as the General Partner may designate, Partnership Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the Additional Securities, and (B) the General Partner contributes the net proceeds from the issuance of such Additional Securities and from any exercise of rights contained in such Additional Securities, directly and through the General Partner, to the Partnership; provided, however, that the General Partner is allowed to issue Additional Securities in connection with an acquisition of a property to be held directly by the General Partner, but if and only if, such direct acquisition and issuance of Additional Securities have been approved and determined to be in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership by a majority of the Independent Directors (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation). Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to issue Additional Securities for less than fair market value, and to cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner corresponding Partnership Interests, so long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership, including without limitation, the issuance of REIT Shares and corresponding Partnership Units pursuant to an employee share purchase plan providing for employee purchases of REIT Shares at a

 

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discount from fair market value or employee stock options that have an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the REIT Shares, either at the time of issuance or at the time of exercise, and (y) the General Partner contributes all proceeds from such issuance to the Partnership. For example, in the event the General Partner issues REIT Shares for a cash purchase price and contributes all of the proceeds of such issuance to the Partnership as required hereunder, the General Partner shall be issued a number of additional Partnership Units equal to the product of (A) the number of such REIT Shares issued by the General Partner, the proceeds of which were so contributed, multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is 100%, and the denominator of which is the Conversion Factor in effect on the date of such contribution.

(b) Certain Deemed Contributions of Proceeds of Issuance of REIT Shares. In connection with any and all issuances of REIT Shares, the General Partner shall make Capital Contributions to the Partnership of the proceeds therefrom, provided that if the proceeds actually received and contributed by the General Partner are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any underwriter’s discount or other expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the General Partner shall be deemed to have made Capital Contributions to the Partnership in the aggregate amount of the gross proceeds of such issuance and the Partnership shall be deemed simultaneously to have paid such offering expenses in accordance with Section 6.5 hereof and in connection with the required issuance of additional Partnership Units to the General Partner for such Capital Contributions pursuant to Section 4.2(a) hereof.

4.3 Additional Funding. If the General Partner determines that it is in the best interests of the Partnership to provide for additional Partnership funds (“Additional Funds”) for any Partnership purpose, the General Partner may (i) cause the Partnership to obtain such funds from outside borrowings, or (ii) elect to have the General Partner or any of its Affiliates provide such Additional Funds to the Partnership through loans or otherwise.

4.4 Capital Accounts. A separate capital account (a “Capital Account”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). If (i) a new or existing Partner acquires an additional Partnership Interest in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution, (ii) the Partnership distributes to a Partner more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property as consideration for a Partnership Interest, (iii) the Partnership is liquidated within the meaning of Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) or (iv) a Partnership Interest (other than a de minimis interest) is granted as consideration for the provisions of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership by an existing Partner acting in a partner capacity, or by a new Partner acting in a partner capacity in anticipation of being a Partner, the General Partner shall revalue the property of the Partnership to its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f). When the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner, the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and (g), which generally require such Capital Accounts to be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized gain or loss inherent in such property (that has not been reflected in the Capital Accounts previously) would be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 5.1 if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) on the date of the revaluation.

4.5 Percentage Interests. If the number of outstanding Partnership Units increases or decreases during a taxable year, each Partner’s Percentage Interest shall be adjusted by the General Partner effective as of the effective date of each such increase or decrease to a percentage equal to the number of Partnership Units held by such Partner divided by the aggregate number of Partnership Units outstanding after giving effect to such increase or decrease. If the Partners’ Percentage Interests are

 

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adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.5, the Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs shall be allocated between the part of the year ending on the day when the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner and the part of the year beginning on the following day either (i) as if the taxable year had ended on the date of the adjustment or (ii) based on the number of days in each part. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs. The allocation of Profits and Losses for the earlier part of the year shall be based on the Percentage Interests before adjustment, and the allocation of Profits and Losses for the later part shall be based on the adjusted Percentage Interests.

4.6 No Interest on Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution.

4.7 Return of Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of its Capital Contribution or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as specifically provided in this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no obligation to return to any Partner or withdrawn Partner any part of such Partner’s Capital Contribution for so long as the Partnership continues in existence.

4.8 No Third Party Beneficiary. No creditor or other third party having dealings with the Partnership shall have the right to enforce the right or obligation of any Partner to make Capital Contributions or loans or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity, it being understood and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and may be enforced solely by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. None of the rights or obligations of the Partners herein set forth to make Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership shall be deemed an asset of the Partnership for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor may such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by the Partnership or pledged or encumbered by the Partnership to secure any debt or other obligation of the Partnership or of any of the Partners. In addition, it is the intent of the parties hereto that no distribution to any Limited Partner shall be deemed a return of money or other property in violation of the Act. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Limited Partner is obligated to return such money or property, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Limited Partner and not of the General Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a deficit Capital Account of a Partner shall not be deemed to be a liability of such Partner nor an asset or property of the Partnership and upon a liquidation within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), if any Partner has a deficit Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, allocations and other Capital Account adjustments for all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), such Partner shall have no obligation to make any Capital Contribution to reduce or eliminate the negative balance of such Partner’s Capital Account.

 

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ARTICLE 5

PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS

5.1 Allocation of Profit and Loss.

(a) General. Except as provided in the following sentence with respect to Sales, Profit and Loss of the Partnership for each fiscal year or other applicable period of the Partnership shall be allocated among the General Partner and the Limited Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. Items of income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to Sales shall first be allocated among the Partners for each fiscal year in a manner that will as nearly as possible cause the Capital Account balance of each Partner at the end of such fiscal year or other applicable period to equal the amount of distributions that would be made to such Partner if the Partnership were (i) dissolved and terminated, (ii) its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Book Value, (iii) all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Book Value of the assets securing such liability); and (iv) the net assets of the Partnership were distributed in accordance with Sections 5.2 (a) and (b) hereof to the Partners immediately after giving effect to such allocation. The General Partner may, in its reasonable discretion, make such other assumptions (whether or not consistent with the above assumptions) as it deems necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the intended economic arrangement of the Partners.

(b) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, (i) any expense of the Partnership that is a “nonrecourse deduction” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1) shall be allocated in accordance with the Partners’ respective Percentage Interests, (ii) any expense of the Partnership that is a “partner nonrecourse deduction” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2) shall be allocated to the Partner that bears the “economic risk of loss” with respect to the “partner nonrecourse debt” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4) to which such partner nonrecourse deduction is attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1), (iii) if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(1) for any Partnership taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(2),(3), (4) and (5), items of gain and income shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and the ordering rules contained in Regulations Section 1.704-2(j), and (iv) if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) for any Partnership taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-(2)(g), items of gain and income shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and the ordering rules contained in Regulations Section 1.704-2(j). A Partner’s “interest in partnership profits” for purposes of determining its share of the nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3) shall be such Partner’s Percentage Interest.

(c) Qualified Income Offset. If a Partner unexpectedly receives in any taxable year an adjustment, allocation, or distribution described in subparagraphs (4), (5), or (6) of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) that causes or increases a deficit balance in such Partner’s Capital Account that exceeds the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, as determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i), such Partner shall be allocated specially for such taxable year (and, if necessary, later taxable years) items of income and gain in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such deficit Capital Account balance as quickly as possible as provided in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d); provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.1(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit Capital Account balance after all other allocations provided for in Article 5 have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.1(c) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.1(c) is intended to constitute a “qualified income offset” under Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

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(d) Capital Account Deficits. Loss shall not be allocated to a Limited Partner to the extent that such allocation would cause or increase a deficit in such Partner’s Capital Account at the end of any fiscal year (after reduction to reflect the items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6)) in excess of the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, as determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i).

(e) Allocations Between Transferor and Transferee. If a Partner transfers any part or all of its Partnership Interest, the distributive shares of the various items of Profit and Loss allocable among the Partners during such fiscal year of the Partnership shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee Partner either (i) as if the Partnership’s fiscal year had ended on the date of the transfer, or (ii) based on the number of days of such fiscal year that each was a Partner without regard to the results of Partnership activities in the respective portions of such fiscal year in which the transferor and the transferee were Partners. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate the distributive shares of the various items of Profit and Loss between the transferor and the transferee Partner.

(f) Definition of Profit and Loss. “Profit” and “Loss” and any items of income, gain, expense, or loss referred to in this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, as modified by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), except that Profit and Loss shall not include items of income, gain and expense that are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 5.1(b), 5.1(c) or 5.1(d). All allocations of income, Profit, gain, Loss and expense (and all items contained therein) for federal income tax purposes shall be identical to all allocations of such items set forth in this Section 5.1, except as otherwise required by Section 704(c) of the Code and Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4). The General Partner shall have the authority to elect the method to be used by the Partnership for allocating items of income, gain, and expense as required by Section 704(c) of the Code including a method that may result in a Partner receiving a disproportionately larger share of the Partnership tax depreciation deductions, and such election shall be binding on all Partners.

(g) Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Section 5.1(b), (c) and (d) of this Agreement (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. The General Partner is authorized to offset all Regulatory Allocations either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 5.1(g). Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.1 (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the General Partner shall make such offsetting special allocations of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it deems appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Partner’s Capital Account is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Partner would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of this Agreement and all Partnership items were allocated pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and (e).

 

5.2 Distributions.

(a) Cash Available for Distribution. The Partnership shall distribute cash (other than Net Sale Proceeds) on a quarterly (or, at the election of the General Partner, more frequent) basis, in an amount determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, to the Partners who are Partners on the Partnership Record Date with respect to such quarter (or other distribution period) in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests on the Partnership Record Date; provided, however, that if a new or existing Partner acquires an additional Partnership Interest in exchange for a Capital

 

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Contribution on any date other than the next day after a Partnership Record Date, the cash distribution attributable to such additional Partnership Interest relating to the Partnership Record Date next following the issuance of such additional Partnership Interest (or relating to the Partnership Record Date if such Partnership Interest was acquired on a Partnership Record Date) shall be reduced in the proportion to (i) the number of days that such additional Partnership Interest is held by such Partner bears to (ii) the number of days between such Partnership Record Date (including such Partnership Record Date) and the immediately preceding Partnership Record Date. The foregoing provisions of this Section 5.2(a) notwithstanding, cash distributions to Partners with respect to Partnership Units of a designated class during any given calendar year shall not exceed the Annual Distribution Cap for such class of Partnership Interest.

(b) Net Sale Proceeds. Net Sale Proceeds shall be distributed 100% to the Partners who are Partners on the Partnership Record Date in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests on the Partnership Record Date.

(c) Withholding; Partnership Loans. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or assignee (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), either (i) if the actual amount to be distributed to the Partner equals or exceeds the amount required to be withheld by the Partnership, the amount withheld shall be treated as a distribution of cash in the amount of such withholding to such Partner, or (ii) if the actual amount to be distributed to the Partner is less than the amount required to be withheld by the Partnership, the excess of the amount required to be withheld over the actual amount to be distributed shall be treated as a loan (a “Partnership Loan”) from the Partnership to the Partner on the day the Partnership pays over such amount to a taxing authority. A Partnership Loan shall be repaid through withholding by the Partnership with respect to subsequent distributions to the applicable Partner or assignee. In the event that a Limited Partner (a “Defaulting Limited Partner”) fails to pay any amount owed to the Partnership with respect to the Partnership Loan within 15 days after demand for payment thereof is made by the Partnership on the Limited Partner, the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to make the payment to the Partnership on behalf of such Defaulting Limited Partner. In such event, on the date of payment, the General Partner shall be deemed to have extended a loan (a “General Partner Loan”) to the Defaulting Limited Partner in the amount of the payment made by the General Partner and shall succeed to all rights and remedies of the Partnership against the Defaulting Limited Partner as to that amount. Without limitation, the General Partner shall have the right to receive any distributions that otherwise would be made by the Partnership to the Defaulting Limited Partner until such time as the General Partner Loan has been paid in full, and any such distributions so received by the General Partner shall be treated as having been received by the Defaulting Limited Partner and immediately paid to the General Partner.

Any amounts treated as a Partnership Loan or a General Partner Loan pursuant to this Section 5.2(c) shall bear interest at the lesser of (i) the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal, or (ii) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date the Partnership or the General Partner, as applicable, is deemed to extend the loan until such loan is repaid in full.

(d) Limitation on Distributions. In no event may a Partner receive a distribution of cash with respect to a Partnership Unit if such Partner is entitled to receive a cash distribution as the holder of record of a REIT Share for which all or part of such Partnership Unit has been or will be exchanged.

 

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5.3 REIT Distribution Requirements. The General Partner shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Partnership to distribute amounts sufficient to enable the General Partner to pay stockholder dividends that will allow the General Partner to (i) meet its distribution requirement for qualification as a REIT as set forth in Section 857 of the Code and (ii) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability imposed by the Code.

5.4 No Right to Distributions In Kind. No Partner shall be entitled to demand property other than cash in connection with any distributions by the Partnership.

5.5 Limitations of Return of Capital Contributions. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Article 5, no Partner shall have the right to receive and the General Partner shall not have the right to make, a distribution that includes a return of all or part of a Partner’s Capital Contributions, unless after giving effect to the return of a Capital Contribution, the sum of all Partnership liabilities, other than the liabilities to a Partner for the return of his Capital Contribution, does not exceed the fair market value of the Partnership’s assets.

5.6 Distributions Upon Liquidation. Upon liquidation of the Partnership, after payment of, or adequate provision for, debts and obligations of the Partnership, including any Partner loans, any remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed to all Partners with positive Capital Accounts in accordance with their respective positive Capital Account balances. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the Capital Account of each Partner shall be determined after all adjustments have been made in accordance with Sections 4.4, 5.1 and 5.2 resulting from Partnership operations and from all sales and dispositions of all or any part of the Partnership’s assets. To the extent deemed advisable by the General Partner, appropriate arrangements (including the use of a liquidating trust) may be made to assure that adequate funds are available to pay any contingent debts or obligations.

5.7 Substantial Economic Effect. It is the intent of the Partners that the allocations of Profit and Loss under this Agreement have substantial economic effect (or be consistent with the Partners’ interests in the Partnership in the case of the allocation of losses attributable to nonrecourse debt) within the meaning of Section 704(b) of the Code as interpreted by the Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Article 5 and other relevant provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

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ARTICLE 6

RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND

POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER

6.1 Management of the Partnership.

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the General Partner shall have full, complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control the business of the Partnership for the purposes herein stated, and shall make all decisions affecting the business and assets of the Partnership. Subject to the restrictions specifically contained in this Agreement, the powers of the General Partner shall include, without limitation, the authority to take the following actions on behalf of the Partnership:

(i) to acquire, purchase, own, operate, lease and dispose of any real property and any other property or assets including, but not limited to notes and mortgages, that the General Partner determines are necessary or appropriate or in the best interests of the business of the Partnership;

(ii) to construct buildings and make other improvements on the properties owned or leased by the Partnership;

(iii) to authorize, issue, sell, redeem or otherwise purchase any Partnership Interests or any securities (including secured and unsecured debt obligations of the Partnership, debt obligations of the Partnership convertible into any class or series of Partnership Interests, or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to any Partnership Interests) of the Partnership;

(iv) to borrow or lend money for the Partnership, issue or receive evidences of indebtedness in connection therewith, refinance, increase the amount of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for the payment of, any such indebtedness, and secure such indebtedness by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s assets;

(v) to pay, either directly or by reimbursement, for all Administrative Expenses to third parties or to the General Partner or its Affiliates as set forth in this Agreement;

(vi) to guarantee or become a co-maker of indebtedness of the General Partner or any Subsidiary thereof, refinance, increase the amount of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for the payment of, any such guarantee or indebtedness, and secure such guarantee or indebtedness by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s assets;

(vii) to use assets of the Partnership (including, without limitation, cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with this Agreement, including, without limitation, payment, either directly or by reimbursement, of all Administrative Expenses of the General Partner, the Partnership or any Subsidiary of either, to third parties or to the General Partner as set forth in this Agreement;

(viii) to lease all or any portion of any of the Partnership’s assets, whether or not the terms of such leases extend beyond the termination date of the Partnership and whether or not any portion of the Partnership’s assets so leased are to be occupied by the lessee, or, in turn, subleased in whole or in part to others, for such consideration and on such terms as the General Partner may determine;

(ix) to prosecute, defend, arbitrate, or compromise any and all claims or liabilities in favor of or against the Partnership, on such terms and in such manner as the General Partner may reasonably determine, and similarly to prosecute, settle or defend litigation with respect to the Partners, the Partnership, or the Partnership’s assets;

(x) to file applications, communicate, and otherwise deal with any and all governmental agencies having jurisdiction over, or in any way affecting, the Partnership’s assets or any other aspect of the Partnership business;

(xi) to make or revoke any election permitted or required of the Partnership by any taxing authority;

(xii) to maintain such insurance coverage for public liability, fire and casualty, and any and all other insurance for the protection of the Partnership, for the conservation of Partnership assets, or for any other purpose convenient or beneficial to the Partnership, in such amounts and such types, as it shall determine from time to time;

 

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(xiii) to determine whether or not to apply any insurance proceeds for any property to the restoration of such property or to distribute the same;

(xiv) to establish one or more divisions of the Partnership, to hire and dismiss employees of the Partnership or any division of the Partnership, and to retain legal counsel, accountants, consultants, real estate brokers, and such other persons, as the General Partner may deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the Partnership business and to pay therefor such reasonable remuneration as the General Partner may deem reasonable and proper;

(xv) to retain other services of any kind or nature in connection with the Partnership business, and to pay therefor such remuneration as the General Partner may deem reasonable and proper;

(xvi) to negotiate and conclude agreements on behalf of the Partnership with respect to any of the rights, powers and authority conferred upon the General Partner;

(xvii) to maintain accurate accounting records and to file promptly all federal, state and local income tax returns on behalf of the Partnership;

(xviii) to distribute Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;

(xix) to form or acquire an interest in, and contribute property to, any further limited or general partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures or other relationships that it deems desirable (including, without limitation, the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity interest from time to time);

(xx) to establish Partnership reserves for working capital, capital expenditures, contingent liabilities, or any other valid Partnership purpose;

(xxi) to merge, consolidate or combine the Partnership with or into another Person;

(xxii) to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code; and

(xxiii) to take such other action, execute, acknowledge, swear to or deliver such other documents and instruments, and perform any and all other acts that the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation and conduct of the business and affairs of the Partnership (including, without limitation, all actions consistent with allowing the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT unless the General Partner voluntarily terminates its REIT status) and to possess and enjoy all of the rights and powers of a general partner as provided by the Act.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, to the extent the duties of the General Partner require expenditures of funds to be paid to third parties, the General Partner shall not have any obligations hereunder except to the extent that partnership funds are reasonably available to it for the performance of such duties, and nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or require the General Partner, in its capacity as such, to expend its individual funds for payment to third parties or to undertake any individual liability or obligation on behalf of the Partnership.

 

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6.2 Delegation of Authority. The General Partner may delegate any or all of its powers, rights and obligations hereunder, and may appoint, employ, contract or otherwise deal with any Person for the transaction of the business of the Partnership, which Person may, under supervision of the General Partner, perform any acts or services for the Partnership as the General Partner may approve.

6.3 Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees.

(a) The Partnership shall indemnify an Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership as set forth in this Agreement in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise.

(b) The indemnification provided by this Section 6.3 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.

(c) The Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance, on behalf of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

(d) For purposes of this Section 6.3, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 6.3; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

(e) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

(f) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 6.3 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

(g) The provisions of this Section 6.3 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

(h) Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 6.3, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Agreement inconsistent with Section 6.3, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

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6.4 Liability of the General Partner.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership or any Partners for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of errors in judgment or of any act or omission if the General Partner acted in good faith. The General Partner shall not be in breach of any duty that the General Partner may owe to the Limited Partners or the Partnership or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity provided the General Partner, acting in good faith, abides by the terms of this Agreement.

(b) The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting on behalf of the Partnership, itself and its stockholders collectively, that the General Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited Partners or the tax consequences of some, but not all, of the Limited Partners) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions. In the event of a conflict between the interests of its stockholders on one hand and the Limited Partners on the other, the General Partner shall endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either its stockholders or the Limited Partners; provided, however, that for so long as the General Partner directly owns a controlling interest in the Partnership, any such conflict that the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either its stockholders or the Limited Partner shall be resolved in favor of the stockholders. The General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions, provided that the General Partner has acted in good faith.

(c) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 6.1 hereof, the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it under this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents. The General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by it in good faith.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act, any action of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or any decision of the General Partner to refrain from acting on behalf of the Partnership, undertaken in the good faith belief that such action or omission is necessary or advisable in order (i) to protect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT or (ii) to prevent the General Partner from incurring any taxes under Section 857, Section 4981, or any other provision of the Code, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.

(e) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.4 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the General Partner’s liability to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section 6.4 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when claims relating to such matters may arise or be asserted.

 

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6.5 Reimbursement of General Partner.

(a) Except as provided in this Section 6.5 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles 5 and 6 regarding distributions, payments, and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.

(b) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, for all Administrative Expenses.

6.6 Outside Activities. Subject to the Articles of Incorporation and any agreements entered into by the General Partner or its Affiliates with the Partnership or a Subsidiary, any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or stockholder of the General Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities substantially similar or identical to those of the Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor any of the Limited Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business ventures, interest or activities. None of the Limited Partners nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any such business ventures, interests or activities, and the General Partner shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures, interests and activities to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, could be taken by such Person.

6.7 Employment or Retention of Affiliates.

(a) Any Affiliate of the General Partner may be employed or retained by the Partnership and may otherwise deal with the Partnership (whether as a buyer, lessor, lessee, manager, furnisher of goods or services, broker, agent, lender or otherwise) and may receive from the Partnership any compensation, price, or other payment therefor which the General Partner determines to be fair and reasonable.

(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to its Subsidiaries or other Persons in which it has an equity investment, and such Persons may borrow funds from the Partnership, on terms and conditions established in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. The foregoing authority shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person.

(c) The Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the General Partner deems are consistent with this Agreement and applicable law.

(d) Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership.

6.8 General Partner Participation. The General Partner agrees that all business activities of the General Partner, including activities pertaining to the acquisition, development or ownership of self-storage properties or other properties, shall be conducted through the Partnership or one or more Subsidiary Partnerships; provided, however, that the General Partner is allowed to make a direct acquisition, but if and only if, such acquisition is made in connection with the issuance of Additional Securities, which direct acquisition and issuance have been approved and determined to be in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership by a majority of the Independent Directors.

 

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6.9 Title to Partnership Assets . Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine, including Affiliates of the General Partner. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which legal title is held in the name of the General Partner or any nominee or Affiliate of the General Partner shall be held by the General Partner for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use its best efforts to cause beneficial and record title to such assets to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Partnership assets is held.

6.10 Miscellaneous . In the event the General Partner redeems any REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares redeemed in accordance with the share redemption program of the General Partner through proceeds received from the General Partner’s distribution reinvestment plan), then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to purchase from the General Partner a number of Partnership Units as determined based on the application of the Conversion Factor on the same terms that the General Partner exchanged such REIT Shares. Moreover, if the General Partner makes a cash tender offer or other offer to acquire REIT Shares, then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to make a corresponding offer to the General Partner to acquire an equal number of Partnership Units held by the General Partner. In the event any REIT Shares are exchanged by the General Partner pursuant to such offer, the Partnership shall redeem an equivalent number of the General Partner’s Partnership Units for an equivalent purchase price based on the application of the Conversion Factor.

ARTICLE 7

CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER

7.1 Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest.

(a) The General Partner shall not transfer all or any portion of its General Partnership Interest or withdraw as General Partner except as provided in or in connection with a transaction contemplated by Section 7.1(b), (c) or (d).

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1(c) or (d) hereof, the General Partner shall not engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination with or into another Person or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, (other than in connection with a change in the General Partner’s state of incorporation or organizational form) in each case which results in a change of control of the General Partner (a “Transaction”), unless:

(i) the approval of the holders of a majority of the Partnership Units (including the Partnership Units held by the General Partner or an Affiliate thereof) is obtained;

(ii) as a result of such Transaction all Limited Partners will receive for each Partnership Unit an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal to the product of the Conversion Factor and the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid in the Transaction to a holder of one REIT Share in consideration of one REIT Share, provided that if, in connection with the Transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer (“Offer”) shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of

 

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more than 50% of the outstanding REIT Shares, each holder of Partnership Units shall be given the option to exchange its Partnership Units for the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which a Limited Partner would have received had it (A) exercised its Exchange Right and (B) sold, tendered or exchanged pursuant to the Offer the REIT Shares received upon exercise of the Exchange Right immediately prior to the expiration of the Offer; or

(iii) the General Partner is the surviving entity in the Transaction and either (A) the holders of REIT Shares do not receive cash, securities, or other property in the Transaction or (B) all Limited Partners (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary) receive an amount of cash, securities, or other property (expressed as an amount per REIT Share) that is no less than the product of the Conversion Factor and the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property (expressed as an amount per REIT Share) received in the Transaction by any holder of REIT Shares.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 7.1(b), the General Partner may merge with or into or consolidate with another entity if immediately after such merger or consolidation (i) substantially all of the assets of the successor or surviving entity (the “Surviving General Partner”), other than Partnership Units held by the General Partner, are contributed, directly or indirectly, to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution in exchange for Partnership Units with a fair market value equal to the value of the assets so contributed as determined by the Surviving General Partner in good faith and (ii) the Surviving General Partner expressly agrees to assume all obligations of the General Partner, as appropriate, hereunder. Upon such contribution and assumption, the Surviving General Partner shall have the right and duty to amend this Agreement as set forth in this Section 7.1(c). The Surviving General Partner shall in good faith arrive at a new method for the calculation of the Cash Amount, the REIT Shares Amount and Conversion Factor for a Partnership Unit after any such merger or consolidation so as to approximate the existing method for such calculation as closely as reasonably possible. Such calculation shall take into account, among other things, the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property that was receivable upon such merger or consolidation by a holder of REIT Shares or options, warrants or other rights relating thereto, and to which a holder of Partnership Units could have acquired had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately prior to such merger or consolidation. Such amendment to this Agreement shall provide for adjustment to such method of calculation, which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for with respect to the Conversion Factor. The Surviving General Partner also shall in good faith modify the definition of REIT Shares and make such amendments to Section 8.4 hereof so as to approximate the existing rights and obligations set forth in Section 8.4 as closely as reasonably possible. The above provisions of this Section 7.1(c) shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations permitted hereunder.

In respect of any transaction described in the preceding paragraph, the General Partner is required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to structure such transaction to avoid causing the Limited Partners to recognize a gain for federal income tax purposes by virtue of the occurrence of or their participation in such transaction, provided such efforts are consistent with the exercise of the General Partner’s board of directors’ fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the General Partner under applicable law.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding Section 7.1(b),

(i) a General Partner may transfer all or any portion of its General Partnership Interest to (A) a wholly-owned Subsidiary of such General Partner or (B) the owner of all of the ownership interests of such General Partner, and following a transfer of all of its General Partnership Interest, may withdraw as General Partner; and

(ii) the General Partner may engage in Transactions not required by law or by the rules of any National Securities Exchange on which the REIT Shares are listed to be submitted to the vote of the holders of the REIT Shares.

7.2 Admission of a Substitute or Additional General Partner. A Person shall be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner of the Partnership only if the following terms and conditions are satisfied:

(a) the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart thereof and such other documents or instruments as may be required or appropriate in order to effect the admission of such Person as a General Partner, and a certificate evidencing the admission of such Person as a General Partner shall have been filed for recordation and all other actions required by Section 2.5 hereof in connection with such admission shall have been performed;

(b) if the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner is a corporation or a partnership it shall have provided the Partnership with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership of such Person’s authority to become a General Partner and to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and

(c) counsel for the Partnership shall have rendered an opinion (relying on such opinions from other counsel and the state or any other jurisdiction as may be necessary) that the admission of the person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner is in conformity with the Act, that none of the actions taken in connection with the admission of such Person as a substitute or additional General Partner will cause (i) the Partnership to be classified other than as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, or (ii) the loss of any Limited Partner’s limited liability.

7.3 Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of a General Partner.

(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.4(a) hereof) or the death, withdrawal, removal or dissolution of a General Partner (except that, if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of such General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners), the Partnership shall be dissolved and terminated unless the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b) hereof. The merger of the General Partner with or into any entity that is admitted as a substitute or successor General Partner pursuant to Section 7.2 hereof shall not be deemed to be the withdrawal, dissolution or removal of the General Partner.

(b) Following the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.4(a) hereof) or the death, withdrawal, removal or dissolution of a General Partner (except that, if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of such General Partner if the business of such General Partner is

 

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continued by the remaining partner or partners), the Limited Partners, within 90 days after such occurrence, may elect to continue the business of the Partnership for the balance of the term specified in Section 2.4 hereof by selecting, subject to Section 7.2 hereof and any other provisions of this Agreement, a substitute General Partner by consent of a majority in interest of the Limited Partners. If the Limited Partners elect to continue the business of the Partnership and admit a substitute General Partner, the relationship with the Partners and of any Person who has acquired an interest of a Partner in the Partnership shall be governed by this Agreement.

7.4 Removal of a General Partner.

(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to, or the dissolution of, a General Partner, such General Partner shall be deemed to be removed automatically; provided, however, that if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to or removal of a partner in such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of the General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners. The Limited Partners may not remove the General Partner, with or without cause.

(b) If a General Partner has been removed pursuant to this Section 7.4 and the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof, such General Partner shall promptly transfer and assign its General Partnership Interest in the Partnership to the substitute General Partner approved by a majority in interest of the Limited Partners in accordance with Section 7.3(b) hereof and otherwise admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof. At the time of assignment, the removed General Partner shall be entitled to receive from the substitute General Partner the fair market value of the General Partnership Interest of such removed General Partner as reduced by any damages caused to the Partnership by such General Partner. Such fair market value shall be determined by an appraiser mutually agreed upon by the General Partner and a majority in interest of the Limited Partners within 10 days following the removal of the General Partner. In the event that the parties are unable to agree upon an appraiser, the removed General Partner and a majority in interest of the Limited Partners each shall select an appraiser. Each such appraiser shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest within 30 days of the General Partner’s removal, and the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals; provided, however, that if the higher appraisal exceeds the lower appraisal by more than 20% of the amount of the lower appraisal, the two appraisers, no later than 40 days after the removal of the General Partner, shall select a third appraiser who shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest no later than 60 days after the removal of the General Partner. In such case, the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals closest in value.

(c) The General Partnership Interest of a removed General Partner, during the time after default until transfer under Section 7.4(b), shall be converted to that of a special Limited Partner; provided, however, such removed General Partner shall not have any rights to participate in the management and affairs of the Partnership, and shall not be entitled to any portion of the income, expense, profit, gain or loss allocations or cash distributions allocable or payable, as the case may be, to the Limited Partners. Instead, such removed General Partner shall receive and be entitled only to retain distributions or allocations of such items that it would have been entitled to receive in its capacity as General Partner, until the transfer is effective pursuant to Section 7.4(b).

(d) All Partners shall have given and hereby do give such consents, shall take such actions and shall execute such documents as shall be legally necessary and sufficient to effect all the foregoing provisions of this Section.

 

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ARTICLE 8

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS

8.1 Management of the Partnership. The Limited Partners shall not participate in the management or control of Partnership business nor shall they transact any business for the Partnership, nor shall they have the power to sign for or bind the Partnership, such powers being vested solely and exclusively in the General Partner.

8.2 Power of Attorney. Each Limited Partner hereby irrevocably appoints the General Partner its true and lawful attorney-in-fact, who may act for each Limited Partner and in its name, place and stead, and for its use and benefit, to sign, acknowledge, swear to, deliver, file or record, at the appropriate public offices, any and all documents, certificates, and instruments as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the General Partner to carry out fully the provisions of this Agreement and the Act in accordance with their terms, which power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall survive the death, dissolution or legal incapacity of the Limited Partner, or the transfer by the Limited Partner of any part or all of its Partnership Interest.

8.3 Limitation on Liability of Limited Partners. No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debts, liabilities, contracts or obligations of the Partnership. A Limited Partner shall be liable to the Partnership only to make payments of its Capital Contribution, if any, as and when due hereunder. After its Capital Contribution is fully paid, no Limited Partner shall, except as otherwise required by the Act, be required to make any further Capital Contributions or other payments or lend any funds to the Partnership.

8.4 Exchange Right.

(a) Subject to Sections 8.4(b), 8.4(c), 8.4(d), 8.4(e) and 8.4(f) and the provisions of any agreements between the Partnership and one or more Limited Partners with respect to Partnership Units held by them, each Limited Partner shall have the right (the “Exchange Right”) to require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Exchange Date all or a portion of the Partnership Units held by such Limited Partner at an exchange price equal to and in the form of the Cash Amount to be paid by the Partnership, provided that such Partnership Units shall have been outstanding for at least one year. The Exchange Right shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Exchange delivered to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) by the Limited Partner who is exercising the Exchange Right (the “Exchanging Partner”); provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be obligated to satisfy such Exchange Right if the General Partner elects to purchase the Partnership Units subject to the Notice of Exchange pursuant to Section 8.4(b); and provided, further, that no Limited Partner may deliver more than two Notices of Exchange during each calendar year. A Limited Partner may not exercise the Exchange Right for less than 1,000 Partnership Units or, if such Limited Partner holds less than 1,000 Partnership Units, all of the Partnership Units held by such Partner. The Exchanging Partner shall have no right, with respect to any Partnership Units so exchanged, to receive any distribution paid with respect to Partnership Units if the record date for such distribution is on or after the Specified Exchange Date.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.4(a), a Limited Partner that exercises the Exchange Right shall be deemed to have offered to sell the Partnership Units described in the Notice of Exchange to the General Partner, and the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to purchase directly and acquire such Partnership Units by paying to the Exchanging Partner either the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares Amount, as elected by the General Partner (in its sole and absolute discretion), on the Specified Exchange Date, whereupon the General Partner shall acquire the Partnership Units offered for exchange by the Exchanging Partner and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Partnership Units. If the General Partner shall elect to exercise its right

 

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to purchase Partnership Units under this Section 8.4(b) with respect to a Notice of Exchange, it shall so notify the Exchanging Partner within five Business Days after the receipt by the General Partner of such Notice of Exchange. Unless the General Partner (in its sole and absolute discretion) shall exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units from the Exchanging Partner pursuant to this Section 8.4(b), the General Partner shall have no obligation to the Exchanging Partner or the Partnership with respect to the Exchanging Partner’s exercise of the Exchange Right. In the event the General Partner shall exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units with respect to the exercise of an Exchange Right in the manner described in the first sentence of this Section 8.4(b), the Partnership shall have no obligation to pay any amount to the Exchanging Partner with respect to such Exchanging Partner’s exercise of such Exchange Right, and each of the Exchanging Partner, the Partnership, and the General Partner, as the case may be, shall treat the transaction between the General Partner, as the case may be, and the Exchanging Partner for federal income tax purposes as a sale of the Exchanging Partner’s Partnership Units to the General Partner, as the case may be. Each Exchanging Partner agrees to execute such documents as the General Partner may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of REIT Shares upon exercise of the Exchange Right.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.4(a) and 8.4(b), a Limited Partner shall not be entitled to exercise the Exchange Right if the delivery of REIT Shares to such Partner on the Specified Exchange Date by the General Partner pursuant to Section 8.4(b) (regardless of whether or not the General Partner would in fact exercise its rights under Section 8.4(b)) would (i) result in such Partner or any other person owning, directly or indirectly, REIT Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation and calculated in accordance therewith), except as provided in the Articles of Incorporation, (ii) result in REIT Shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), except as provided in the Articles of Incorporation, (iii) result in the General Partner being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, or (iv) cause the General Partner to own, directly or constructively, 9.9% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may waive the restriction on exchange set forth in this Section 8.4(c).

(d) Any Cash Amount to be paid to an Exchanging Partner pursuant to this Section 8.4 shall be paid on the Specified Exchange Date; provided, however, that the General Partner may elect to cause the Specified Exchange Date to be delayed for up to an additional 180 days to the extent required for the General Partner to cause additional REIT Shares to be issued to provide financing to be used to make such payment of the Cash Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner agrees to use its best efforts to cause the closing of the acquisition of exchanged Partnership Units hereunder to occur as quickly as reasonably possible.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall place appropriate restrictions on the ability of the Limited Partners to exercise their Exchange Rights as and if deemed necessary to ensure that the Partnership does not constitute a “publicly traded partnership” under section 7704 of the Code. If and when the General Partner determines that imposing such restrictions is necessary, the General Partner shall give prompt written notice thereof (a “Restriction Notice”) to each of the Limited Partners, which notice shall be accompanied by a copy of an opinion of counsel to the Partnership which states that, in the opinion of such counsel, restrictions are necessary in order to avoid the Partnership being treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under section 7704 of the Code.

 

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ARTICLE 9

TRANSFERS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

9.1 Purchase for Investment.

(a) Each Limited Partner hereby represents and warrants to the General Partner and to the Partnership that the acquisition of its Partnership Interests is made as a principal for its account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution of such Partnership Interest.

(b) Each Limited Partner agrees that it will not sell, assign or otherwise transfer its Partnership Interest or any fraction thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise, to any Person who does not make the representations and warranties to the General Partner set forth in Section 9.1(a) above and similarly agree not to sell, assign or transfer such Partnership Interest or fraction thereof to any Person who does not similarly represent, warrant and agree.

9.2 Restrictions on Transfer of Limited Partnership Interests.

(a) Subject to the provisions of 9.2(b), (c) and (d), no Limited Partner may offer, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its Limited Partnership Interest, or any of such Limited Partner’s economic rights as a Limited Partner, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise (collectively, a “Transfer”) without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion. Any such purported transfer undertaken without such consent shall be considered to be null and void ab initio and shall not be given effect. The General Partner may require, as a condition of any Transfer to which it consents, that the transferor assume all costs incurred by the Partnership in connection therewith.

(b) No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted Transfer (i.e., a Transfer consented to as contemplated by clause (a) above or clause (c) below or a Transfer pursuant to Section 9.5 below) of all of its Partnership Units pursuant to this Article 9 or pursuant to an exchange of all of its Partnership Units pursuant to Section 8.4. Upon the permitted Transfer or redemption of all of a Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest, such Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner.

(c) Subject to 9.2(d), (e) and (f) below, a Limited Partner may Transfer, with the consent of the General Partner, all or a portion of its Partnership Units to (i) a parent or parent’s spouse, natural or adopted descendant or descendants, spouse of such descendant, or brother or sister, or a trust created by such Limited Partner for the benefit of such Limited Partner and/or any such Person(s), of which trust such Limited Partner or any such Person(s) is a trustee, (ii) a corporation controlled by a Person or Persons named in (i) above, or (iii) if the Limited Partner is an entity, its beneficial owners.

(d) No Limited Partner may effect a Transfer of its Limited Partnership Interest, in whole or in part, if, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, such proposed Transfer would otherwise violate any applicable federal or state securities or blue sky law (including investment suitability standards).

(e) No Transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Units, in whole or in part, may be made to any Person if (i) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, the transfer would result in the Partnership’s being treated as an association taxable as a corporation (other than a qualified REIT subsidiary within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the Code), (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, it would adversely affect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT or subject the General Partner to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code, or (iii) such transfer is effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code.

 

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(f) No transfer of any Partnership Units may be made to a lender to the Partnership or any Person who is related (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-4(b)) to any lender to the Partnership whose loan constitutes a nonrecourse liability (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)), without the consent of the General Partner, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, provided that as a condition to such consent the lender will be required to enter into an arrangement with the Partnership and the General Partner to exchange or redeem for the Cash Amount any Partnership Units in which a security interest is held simultaneously with the time at which such lender would be deemed to be a partner in the Partnership for purposes of allocating liabilities to such lender under Section 752 of the Code.

(g) Any Transfer in contravention of any of the provisions of this Article 9 shall be void and ineffectual and shall not be binding upon, or recognized by, the Partnership.

(h) Prior to the consummation of any Transfer under this Article 9, the transferor and/or the transferee shall deliver to the General Partner such opinions, certificates and other documents as the General Partner shall request in connection with such Transfer.

9.3 Admission of Substitute Limited Partner.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Article 9, an assignee of the Limited Partnership Interest of a Limited Partner (which shall be understood to include any purchaser, transferee, donee, or other recipient of any disposition of such Limited Partnership Interest) shall be deemed admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership only with the consent of the General Partner and upon the satisfactory completion of the following:

(i) The assignee shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart or an amendment thereof, including a revised Exhibit A, and such other documents or instruments as the General Partner may require in order to effect the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner.

(ii) To the extent required, an amended Certificate evidencing the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner shall have been signed, acknowledged and filed for record in accordance with the Act.

(iii) The assignee shall have delivered a letter containing the representation set forth in Section 9.1(a) hereof and the agreement set forth in Section 9.1(b) hereof.

(iv) If the assignee is a corporation, partnership or trust, the assignee shall have provided the General Partner with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership of the assignee’s authority to become a Limited Partner under the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

(v) The assignee shall have executed a power of attorney containing the terms and provisions set forth in Section 8.2 hereof.

(vi) The assignee shall have paid all legal fees and other expenses of the Partnership and the General Partner and filing and publication costs in connection with its substitution as a Limited Partner.

 

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(vii) The assignee has obtained the prior written consent of the General Partner to its admission as a Substitute Limited Partner, which consent may be given or denied in the exercise of the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion.

(b) For the purpose of allocating Profits and Losses and distributing cash received by the Partnership, a Substitute Limited Partner shall be treated as having become, and appearing in the records of the Partnership as, a Partner upon the filing of the Certificate described in Section 9.3(a)(ii) hereof or, if no such filing is required, the later of the date specified in the transfer documents or the date on which the General Partner has received all necessary instruments of transfer and substitution.

(c) The General Partner shall cooperate with the Person seeking to become a Substitute Limited Partner by preparing the documentation required by this Section and making all official filings and publications. The Partnership shall take all such action as promptly as practicable after the satisfaction of the conditions in this Article 9 to the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner of the Partnership.

9.4 Rights of Assignees of Partnership Interests.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof, except as required by operation of law, the Partnership shall not be obligated for any purposes whatsoever to recognize the assignment by any Limited Partner of its Partnership Interest until the Partnership has received notice thereof.

(b) Any Person who is the assignee of all or any portion of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partnership Interest, but does not become a Substitute Limited Partner and desires to make a further assignment of such Limited Partnership Interest, shall be subject to all the provisions of this Article 9 to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of its Limited Partnership Interest.

9.5 Effect of Bankruptcy, Death, Incompetence or Termination of a Limited Partner. The occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a Limited Partner, the death of a Limited Partner or a final adjudication that a Limited Partner is incompetent (which term shall include, but not be limited to, insanity) shall not cause the termination or dissolution of the Partnership, and the business of the Partnership shall continue if an order for relief in a bankruptcy proceeding is entered against a Limited Partner, the trustee or receiver of his estate or, if he dies, his executor, administrator or trustee, or, if he is finally adjudicated incompetent, his committee, guardian or conservator, shall have the rights of such Limited Partner for the purpose of settling or managing his estate property and such power as the bankrupt, deceased or incompetent Limited Partner possessed to assign all or any part of his Partnership Interest and to join with the assignee in satisfying conditions precedent to the admission of the assignee as a Substitute Limited Partner.

9.6 Joint Ownership of Interests. A Partnership Interest may be acquired by two individuals as joint tenants with right of survivorship, provided that such individuals either are married or are related and share the same home as tenants in common. The written consent or vote of both owners of any such jointly held Partnership Interest shall be required to constitute the action of the owners of such Partnership Interest; provided, however, that the written consent of only one joint owner will be required if the Partnership has been provided with evidence satisfactory to the counsel for the Partnership that the actions of a single joint owner can bind both owners under the applicable laws of the state of residence of such joint owners. Upon the death of one owner of a Partnership Interest held in a joint tenancy with a right of survivorship, the Partnership Interest shall become owned solely by the survivor as a Limited Partner and not as an assignee. The Partnership need not recognize the death of one of the owners of a

 

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jointly-held Partnership Interest until it shall have received notice of such death. Upon notice to the General Partner from either owner, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership Interest to be divided into two equal Partnership Interests, which shall thereafter be owned separately by each of the former owners.

9.7 Redemption of Partnership Units. The General Partner will cause the Partnership to redeem Partnership Units, to the extent it shall have legally available funds therefor, at any time the General Partner redeems shares of capital stock in itself. The number and class or series of Partnership Units redeemed and the redemption price shall equal the number (multiplied by the Conversion Factor) of shares of capital stock the General Partner redeems and the redemption price at which the General Partner redeems such shares, respectively.

ARTICLE 10

BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS

10.1 Books and Records. At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the Partners shall keep or cause to be kept at the Partnership’s specified office true and complete books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including: (a) a current list of the full name and last known business address of each Partner, (b) a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all certificates of amendment thereto, (c) copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, (d) copies of this Agreement and amendments thereto and any financial statements of the Partnership for the three most recent years and (e) all documents and information required under the Act. Any Partner or its duly authorized representative, upon paying the costs of collection, duplication and mailing, shall be entitled to inspect or copy such records during ordinary business hours.

10.2 Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts.

(a) All funds of the Partnership not otherwise invested shall be deposited in one or more accounts maintained in such banking or brokerage institutions as the General Partner shall determine, and withdrawals shall be made only on such signature or signatures as the General Partner may, from time to time, determine.

(b) All deposits and other funds not needed in the operation of the business of the Partnership may be invested by the General Partner in investment grade instruments (or investment companies whose portfolio consists primarily thereof), government obligations, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and municipal notes and bonds. The funds of the Partnership shall not be commingled with the funds of any other Person except for such commingling as may necessarily result from an investment in those investment companies permitted by this Section 10.2(b).

10.3 Fiscal and Taxable Year. The fiscal and taxable year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year.

10.4 Annual Tax Information and Report. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall furnish to each person who was a Limited Partner at any time during such year the tax information necessary to file such Limited Partner’s individual tax returns as shall be reasonably required by law.

10.5 Tax Matters Partner; Tax Elections; Special Basis Adjustments.

(a) The General Partner shall be the Tax Matters Partner of the Partnership within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code. As Tax Matters Partner, the General Partner shall have

 

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the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, respectively, by the Code for the Tax Matters Partner. The General Partner shall have the right to retain professional assistance in respect of any audit of the Partnership by the Service and all out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership as Tax Matters Partner shall constitute Partnership expenses. In the event the General Partner receives notice of a final Partnership adjustment under Section 6223(a)(2) of the Code, the General Partner shall either (i) file a court petition for judicial review of such final adjustment within the period provided under Section 6226(a) of the Code, a copy of which petition shall be mailed to all Limited Partners on the date such petition is filed, or (ii) mail a written notice to all Limited Partners, within such period, that describes the General Partner’s reasons for determining not to file such a petition.

(b) All elections required or permitted to be made by the Partnership under the Code or any applicable state or local tax law shall be made by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion.

(c) In the event of a transfer of all or any part of the Partnership Interest of any Partner, the Partnership, at the option of the General Partner, may elect pursuant to Section 754 of the Code to adjust the basis of the Partnership’s assets. Notwithstanding anything contained in Article 5 of this Agreement, any adjustments made pursuant to Section 754 of the Code shall affect only the successor in interest to the transferring Partner and in no event shall be taken into account in establishing, maintaining or computing Capital Accounts for the other Partners for any purpose under this Agreement. Each Partner will furnish the Partnership with all information necessary to give effect to such election.

10.6 Reports Made Available to Limited Partners.

(a) As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal quarter (other than the last quarter of the fiscal year), upon written request by a Limited Partner to the General Partner, the General Partner will make available, without cost, to each Limited Partner a quarterly report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the General Partner, for such fiscal quarter, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year, upon written request by a Limited Partner to the General Partner, the General Partner will make available, without cost, to each Limited Partner an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the General Partner, for such fiscal year, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

(b) Any Partner shall further have the right to a private audit of the books and records of the Partnership at the expense of such Partner, provided such audit is made for Partnership purposes and is made during normal business hours.

 

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ARTICLE 11

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT; MERGER

The General Partner’s consent shall be required for any amendment to this Agreement. The General Partner, without the consent of the Limited Partners, may amend this Agreement in any respect or merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into any other partnership or business entity (as defined in Section 17-211 of the Act) in a transaction pursuant to Section 7.1(b), (c) or (d) hereof; provided, however, that the following amendments and any other merger or consolidation of the Partnership shall require the consent of the holders of a majority of the Partnership Units (excluding the Partnership Units held by the General Partner or an Affiliate thereof):

(a) any amendment affecting the operation of the Conversion Factor or the Exchange Right (except as provided in Section 8.4(d) or 7.1(c) hereof) in a manner adverse to the Limited Partners;

(b) any amendment that would adversely affect the rights of the Limited Partners to receive the distributions payable to them hereunder, other than with respect to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof;

(c) any amendment that would alter the Partnership’s allocations of Profit and Loss to the Limited Partners, other than with respect to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof; or

(d) any amendment that would impose on the Limited Partners any obligation to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.

ARTICLE 12

GENERAL PROVISIONS

12.1 Notices. All communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally or upon deposit in the United States mail, registered, postage prepaid return receipt requested, to the Partners at the addresses set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto; provided, however, that any Partner may specify a different address by notifying the General Partner in writing of such different address. Notices to the Partnership shall be delivered at or mailed to its specified office.

12.2 Survival of Rights. Subject to the provisions hereof limiting transfers, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partners and the Partnership and their respective legal representatives, successors, transferees and assigns.

12.3 Additional Documents. Each Partner agrees to perform all further acts and execute, swear to, acknowledge and deliver all further documents which may be reasonable, necessary, appropriate or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement or the Act.

12.4 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder hereof.

12.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and exhibits attached hereto constitute the entire Agreement of the Partners and supersede all prior written agreements and prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof.

12.6 Pronouns and Plurals. When the context in which words are used in the Agreement indicates that such is the intent, words in the singular number shall include the plural and the masculine gender shall include the neuter or female gender as the context may require.

12.7 Headings. The Article headings or sections in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing the scope of this Agreement or any particular Article.

12.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that all parties shall not have signed the same counterpart.

 

34


12.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that causes of action for violations of federal or state securities laws shall not be governed by this Section 12.9.

[Signatures appear on next page.]

 

35


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunder affixed their signatures to this Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

 

H. Michael Schwartz, President and

Chief Executive Officer

 

LIMITED PARTNERS:

 

By: STRATEGIC STORAGE TRUST, INC., as Attorney-in-Fact for the Limited Partners holding Partnership Units

 

By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  H. Michael Schwartz, President

 

[Signature page to Third Amended and Restated SST OP Agreement]

 

36

EX-10.5 8 d783890dex105.htm EX-10.5 EX-10.5

Exhibit 10.5

Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P.

September 4, 2014

[                                     ]

111 Corporate Drive, Suite 120

Ladera Ranch, California 92694

 

  RE: Executive Severance

Dear [                    ]:

Strategic Storage Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Company” with its parent Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. “REIT,” and collectively with SSOP, “Company”) is pleased to offer you, as [                            ], the severance benefits described below in exchange for your agreement to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company following your separation from employment. Capitalized terms in this letter are defined on Attachment A.

SECTION 1: BENEFITS

Upon your Separation from Service and your compliance with the obligations set forth below, you will be entitled to receive certain separation benefits. No payments will be due under this agreement unless and until you have a Separation from Service. Your benefits are, as follows:

Benefits Upon Voluntary Separation from Service

If you voluntarily terminate your employment with the Company, you will be entitled to a separation payment totaling Ten Thousand Dollars and no/100 cents ($10,000.00). This payment will be made to you in one installment within thirty (30) days of the date of your Separation from Service. The Company will withhold from any amounts payable to you all legally required federal, state, city and local taxes.

Benefits Upon Separation From Service For Cause

If the Company terminates your employment for Cause, you will be entitled to a separation payment totaling Ten Thousand Dollars and no/100 cents ($10,000.00). Before terminating your employment for Cause, the Company must provide to you written notice of the grounds warranting termination for Cause and give you at least thirty (30) days after such notice to cure and remedy your conduct to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, in which event, any termination after such cure shall be termination Not for Cause. This payment will be made to you in one installment within thirty (30) days of the date of your Separation from Service. The Company will withhold from any amounts payable to you all legally required federal, state, city and local taxes.

Benefits Upon Involuntary Termination, Not for Cause or Due to Change in Control

If the Company terminates your employment for any reason other than for Cause, and there has been no Change in Control, you will be entitled to receive separation payments totaling an amount equal to one (1) times the sum of (i) your Base Salary for the applicable fiscal year and (ii) your Target Bonus for the first fiscal year of operation and thereafter as the average bonus received over the most recently completed fiscal years until such time as three full years has occurred at which point the averaging used will be three.


These payments will be made to you in equal monthly installments over twelve (12) months beginning on the first day of the month following your Separation from Service, provided that all installments are completed no later than December 31 of the second year following the year in which your Separation from Service occurs. (If the total amount of these severance payments exceeds the 409A Separation Pay Limit, then the amount in excess of that limit will be paid to you in a lump sum on March 15 of the year following your Separation from Service.) The Company will withhold from any amounts payable to you all legally required federal, state, city and local taxes.

Benefits Upon Death or Disability

If you die or terminate employment due to a Disability, you (or your estate) will be entitled to receive separation payments totaling an amount equal to your Base Salary through the end of the applicable fiscal year, plus any accrued but unpaid Target Bonus (in addition to any proceeds of any disability/death benefits and accelerated vesting of any equity awards if provided for in any equity incentive plans or other equity plans of the Company then in force).

These payments will be made to you or your estate, as applicable, in equal monthly installments over twelve (12) months beginning on the first day of the month following your death or Separation from Service, provided that all installments are completed no later than December 31 of the second year following the year in which your death or Separation from Service occurs. (If the total amount of these severance payments exceeds the 409A Separation Pay Limit, then the amount in excess of that limit will be paid to you or your estate in a lump sum on March 15 of the year following your death Separation from Service.) The Company will withhold from any amounts payable to you or your estate all legally required federal, state, city and local taxes.

Benefits Upon Involuntary Termination Due to Change in Control

If, within two (2) years of a Change in Control, either the Company terminates your employment without Cause or you terminate your employment for Good Reason, you will be entitled to receive separation payments totaling an amount equal to two (2) times the sum of (i) your Base Salary for the applicable fiscal year and (ii) your Target Bonus for the first fiscal year of operation and thereafter as the average bonus received over the most recently completed fiscal years until such time as three full years has occurred at which point the averaging used will be three.

These payments will be made to you in equal monthly installments over twelve (12) months beginning on the first day of the month following your Separation from Service, provided that all installments are completed no later than December 31 of the second year following the year in which your Separation from Service occurs. (If the total amount of these severance payments exceeds the 409A Separation Pay Limit, then the amount in excess of that limit will be paid to you in a lump sum on March 15 of the year following your Separation from Service.) The Company will withhold from any amounts payable to you all legally required federal, state, city and local taxes.

SECTION 2: CONDITIONS TO RECEIVE SEVERANCE BENEFITS

In order to receive the severance benefit payments described above, (except in the event of death) you must live up to certain conditions. If you fail to do so, your right to receive severance benefit payments will end immediately. These conditions are:


  A. For a period of one (1) year following your Separation from Employment, you may not use or disclose to anyone any Confidential Information belonging to the Company to which you may have had access while employed by the Company.

 

  B. Promptly upon your separation from employment by the Company, you and the Company agree to execute a General Release of All Claims and Covenant Not to Sue in the form then in general use by the Company.

 

  C. For a period of one (1) year following your separation from employment by the Company, you may not, directly or indirectly, without obtaining prior approval from the Company, encourage or solicit any then-current employee of the Company to separate from employment by the Company.

 

  D. Within ten (10) days of your date of separation from employment by the Company, you must return to the Company all Trade Secrets and Confidential Information or other tangible things, including all computers, computer disks or other media, files, reports, financial data, handbooks, training materials, marketing or strategic reports, policy statements, programs, and other documents or tangible things provided to you by the Company or acquired by you as a result of your employment by the Company. You may not retain any copies or remove or participate in removing any such materials or things from the premises of Company.

SECTION 3: OTHER PROVISIONS

 

  A. Anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, in the event of a separation from employment due to death or in the event that you die before you have received all of your separation payments, your designee in writing or, if none, your estate will receive the balance of the separation payments otherwise due to you, in accordance with the payment schedule on which such payments would have been made to you.

 

  B. If you violate or fail to comply with any of the conditions as set forth in Section 2 above, no further severance benefits will become due or be paid to you (or your surviving spouse, designee or estate).

 

  C. For a period of one (1) year following your separation of employment by the Company, if you become, without obtaining advance written consent by the Company, an owner of more than 5% of any enterprise that derives more than twenty percent (20%) of its consolidated gross revenue from a business which engages in the ownership and operation of self-storage facilities or competes with the Company, no further severance benefits will become due or be paid to you (or your surviving spouse, designee or estate).

 

  D. All payments hereunder are intended to satisfy the “separation pay” exemption under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(n) and / or the “short-term deferral” exemption under Treas. Reg. §1.409-1(b)(4) such that no payment hereunder shall be deemed “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.

 

  E. You understand and agree that the non-solicitation and non-disclosure obligations described above are acceptable to you and are reasonable in light of the nature of the business of Company, your access to information while an employee of the Company, the opportunities, contacts, and professional development you have received during your employment by the Company and the Company’s legitimate need to protect its good will and guard against the disclosure or misuse of its proprietary information.


  F. Once accepted by you, the terms set forth in this letter may not be amended or terminated by either you or the Company except in a written document executed by both parties. This offer, whether or not accepted by you, will not change your status as an at-will employee of Company. Any action required of or permitted by the Company under this letter shall be by resolution of the Board of Directors, by a committee of the Board of Directors, or by a person or persons authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors.

 

  G. The terms of, and any dispute arising under, this letter will be governed by the laws of Delaware. You agree that any litigation arising out of or under this letter will be commenced and maintained only in the state or federal courts within the state of Delaware.

[Signature page to follow]


If the foregoing is acceptable to you, please so indicate by signing a copy of this letter where indicated below and returning it to the Company.

Very truly yours,

STRATEGIC STORAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

 

By:    
Title:    
  [                ] of the General Partner

Agreed and accepted this 4th day of September, 2014

 

 

[                        ]


ATTACHMENT A

The following definitions apply to the attached Executive Severance letter:

“Base Salary” means a base salary as approved by the General Partner, and as may be adjusted from time to time.

“Cause” means any of the following, as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors, after providing you specific charges and the opportunity to respond thereto: (i) your willful and continued failure to substantially perform your substantially duties as an officer or employee of the Company, which failure, if curable, is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice is given to you thereof, (ii) any material action by you which involves willful misfeasance or gross negligence, (iii) the requirement of, or direction by, a federal or state regulatory agency which has jurisdiction over the Company to terminate your employment, (iv) any conduct, action or inaction by you which causes substantially diminished good will or otherwise is deemed substantially harmful or contrary to the interests of the Company, (v) your conviction of any criminal offense which involves dishonesty or breach of trust, or (vi) any intentional and material breach or violation by you of a material term, condition, or covenant of any agreement between you and the Company or condition of your employment, including the Company’s Code of Conduct.

“Change in Control” means the first to occur of any of the following events:

a.     The consummation of the acquisition by any person (as such term is defined in Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of twenty-five (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of REIT;

b.     The consummation of: a merger or consolidation if REIT stockholders immediately before such merger or consolidation do not, as a result of such merger or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the combined voting power of the voting securities of REIT outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation;

c.     the date a majority of members of REIT’s Board of Directors is replaced during any 12-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors before the date of the appointment or election; or

d.     a dissolution or liquidation of Company, or the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40 percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. There is no change in control event under this paragraph when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the transferring corporation immediately after the transfer.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.


“Confidential Information” means any data or information that is important to the Company, is competitively sensitive, and is not generally known by the public, and includes, without limitation: (1) the sales records, profit and performance records, pricing manuals, models and related materials, sales manuals, training manuals, selling and pricing procedures, and financing methods of the Company; (2) customer and tenant lists, the special demands of particular customers and tenants, and the current and anticipated requirements of customers and tenants for the properties, products and services of the Company; (3) the specifications of any new properties, products or services under development by the Company; and (4) the business plans, marketing strategies, and internal financial statements and projections of the Company. “Confidential Information” does not include information that is or becomes generally known to the public; or was already known by you prior to employment by the Company; or that you obtain from an independent source having, to your knowledge, a bona fide right to use and disclose such information; or that the Company approves for unrestricted release by express authorization.

“409A Separation Pay Limit” means the lesser of 2 times your annual compensation or two times the Code Section 401(a)(17) limit, as indexed ($510,000 total for 2014), as determined in compliance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(n).

“Good Reason” means that you terminate your employment with the Company because, within the twelve (12) month period preceding your Separation from Service, one or more of the following conditions arose and you notified the Company of such condition within 90 days of its occurrence and the Company did not remedy such condition within 30 days of such notice:

a.     a material diminution in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

b.     a material diminution in your authority, duties, or responsibilities; or

c.     a forced move to a location more than sixty (60) miles from your place of business.

“Separation from Service” means the termination of your employment with the Company for reasons other than death or Disability. Whether a Separation from Service takes place is determined based on the facts and circumstances surrounding the termination of your employment and whether the Company and you intended for you to provide significant services for the Company following such termination. A change in your employment status will not be considered a Separation from Service if:

a.     you continue to provide services as an employee of the Company at an annual rate that is twenty percent (20%) or more of the services rendered, on average, during the immediately preceding three full calendar years of employment (or, if employed less than three years, such lesser period) and the annual remuneration for such services is twenty percent (20%) or more of the average annual remuneration earned during the final three full calendar years of employment (or, if less, such lesser period), or

b.     you continue to provide services to the Company in a capacity other than as an employee of the Company at an annual rate that is fifty percent (50%) or more of the services rendered, on average, during the immediately preceding three full calendar years of employment (or if employed less than three years, such lesser period) and the annual remuneration for such services is fifty percent (50%) or more of the average annual remuneration earned during the final three full calendar years of employment (or if less, such lesser period).

“Target Bonus” means your target annual cash performance bonus as determined as a percentage of your Base Salary by the General Partner.

EX-99.1 9 d783890dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

September 5, 2014

Dear Stockholder:

Thank you for your investment in Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. and for your trust in our vision to be the most dynamic self storage company in America. On Thursday, we took a giant step in implementing this vision and I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on some very exciting recent developments.

First, we have changed our name to SmartStop Self Storage, Inc. (“SmartStop”) and entered into a self administration and investment management transaction (the “Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction”) with Strategic Storage Holdings, LLC (“SSH”) and our Advisor, Strategic Storage Advisor, LLC (the “Advisor”) pursuant to which we acquired certain assets of SSH. As a result, SmartStop is now the seventh largest fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed self storage REIT, owning 126 self storage properties in 17 states and Toronto, Canada.

Second, on September 4, 2014 our board of directors approved an estimated value per share of $10.81, based on our net asset value (the estimated value of our assets less the estimated value of our liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding on an adjusted fully diluted basis) and calculated as of June 30, 2014.

Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction

The Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction was effective on August 31, 2014. While there are many reasons the special committee and our board of directors approved the Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction, below are some of the more important factors considered in connection with the transaction:

 

    Accretive Transaction - The transaction is expected to be accretive to our modified funds from operations and cash flow from operations as a result of the elimination of the annual advisory fees and expenses associated with being externally advised. The transaction also positions SmartStop to potentially grow earnings at a more rapid pace due to the transformation of the company from solely an asset-based entity to an integrated investment management platform.

 

    Investment Management Platform - We will now serve as the sponsor, advisor and property manager for two recently launched self storage REITs: Strategic Storage Trust II, Inc. (“SST2”) and Strategic Storage Growth Trust, Inc. (“SSGT”), which will generate new advisory and property management revenue streams. SST2 will focus on acquiring stabilized occupied properties (Income) whereas SSGT will focus on development and lease-up properties (Growth). These REITs currently have approximately $172 million in new acquisitions under contract that are projected to generate approximately $2 million in new annual fees to SmartStop with substantial potential to increase fees as new properties are acquired.

 

    Proven Management - We now have a fully integrated operations team of approximately 300 self storage, investment and management professionals focused on increasing revenue, occupancy, net operating income and customer satisfaction. This management team has been responsible for 10 quarters of consecutive same-store revenue and net operating income growth.

111 Corporate Drive, Ste 120, Ladera Ranch, CA 92688 | (949) 429-6600 | SmartStopSelfStorage.com

Alabama | Arizona | California | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Kentucky | Mississippi | Nevada | New Jersey

New York | North Carolina | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | Ontario, Canada


 

LOGO

 

    The Power of the Brand - We now own the intellectual property rights to the “SmartStop®” brand, related trademarks and over 200 web domains including www.SmartStop.com. By changing our name to SmartStop Self Storage, Inc., we are now synonymous with the brand of our facilities. In addition, we are now positioned to provide institutional third party property management solutions to other self storage owners.

 

    Technology and Website - We now own the rights to certain software and related technology associated with the SmartStop website as well as the logic-based proprietary revenue management/optimization and expense control systems, all of which are vital in today’s rapidly changing self storage environment. The integration of our technology, website and the SmartStop® brand has significantly contributed to our consistent revenue growth.

 

    Alignment of Interests - The transaction eliminates any potential conflicts of interest which exist for an externally advised REIT, aligns the interests of our management team directly with our stockholders, and enhances the focus of management exclusively on activities which will enhance investment performance for our shareholders.

 

    Positioning for Liquidity - As a result of this transaction, we are now positioned for a future listing on a national securities exchange or other strategic event designed to provide investor liquidity while maximizing stockholder value. SmartStop will seek stockholder approval to amend its charter to eliminate provisions applicable to non-listed companies and to more closely reflect the charters of its publicly traded peers at its annual meeting to be held in November 2014.

 

    Unique Story - SmartStop offers a unique opportunity for future growth with access to institutional capital markets as well as retail investors with the SST2 and SSGT stock offerings. No other self storage company offers this broad level access to capital for continued growth and expansion of the SmartStop® brand. The combination of SmartStop Self Storage with SST2 and SSGT creates the most dynamic self storage platform in America.

Please see the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2014 for a detailed description of the Self Administration and Investment Management Transaction, as well as the consideration paid to SSH, our Advisor and their affiliates. If you would like us to send you a copy, please contact us. You may also obtain a copy on our website at www.strategicstoragetrust.com.

Recent Valuation and NAV Calculation

As discussed above, our board of directors approved an estimated value per share of $10.81. We are providing this estimated value per share to assist broker-dealers in connection with their obligations under applicable Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules with respect to customer account statements and to assist fiduciaries in discharging their obligations under Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) reporting requirements. This valuation was performed in accordance with the provisions of Practice Guideline 2013-01, Valuations of Publicly Registered Non-Listed REITs, issued by the Investment Program Association (IPA) in April 2013(1).

Please see the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2014 for a detailed description of the methodology and key assumptions used to determine the estimated value per share and the limitations of the estimated value per share. If you would like us to send you a copy, please contact us. You may also obtain a copy via our website at www.strategicstoragetrust.com.

111 Corporate Drive, Ste 120, Ladera Ranch, CA 92688 | (949) 429-6600 | SmartStopSelfStorage.com

Alabama | Arizona | California | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Kentucky | Mississippi | Nevada | New Jersey

New York | North Carolina | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | Ontario, Canada


 

LOGO

SmartStop was founded in 2008. There were no assets, no liabilities and no stockholders. What we did have was a tremendous commitment to our income and growth strategy. As a result, SmartStop is now the seventh largest self storage company in the United States. Our commitment to you, our stockholders, is to continually look for new ways to move the company forward. These are exciting times for the company and we are grateful to be able to share them with you.

 

Sincerely,
SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE, INC.

LOGO

By:    
  H. Michael Schwartz
  President and Chief Executive Officer

(1)             With respect to the estimated value per share, we can give no assurance that: you would be able to resell your shares at this estimated value; you would ultimately realize distributions per share equal to our estimated value per share upon liquidation of our assets and settlement of our liabilities or a sale of our company; our shares of common stock would trade at the estimated value per share on a national securities exchange; an independent third-party appraiser or other third-party valuation firm would agree with our estimated value per share; or the methodology used to estimate our value per share will be in compliance with any future FINRA rules or ERISA reporting requirements.

This letter may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” or other similar words. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, but are not limited to: uncertainties relating to changes in general economic and real estate conditions; uncertainties relating to the implementation of our real estate investment strategy; uncertainties relating to financing availability and our ability to access additional capital; uncertainties relating to the closing of property acquisitions; uncertainties related to the timing and availability of distributions; and other risk factors as outlined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. This is neither an offer nor a solicitation to purchase securities.

111 Corporate Drive, Ste 120, Ladera Ranch, CA 92688 | (949) 429-6600 | SmartStopSelfStorage.com

Alabama | Arizona | California | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Kentucky | Mississippi | Nevada | New Jersey

New York | North Carolina | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | Ontario, Canada

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