0001193125-15-008860.txt : 20150113 0001193125-15-008860.hdr.sgml : 20150113 20150113090609 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-15-008860 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3ASR PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 FILED AS OF DATE: 20150113 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20150113 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20150113 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Brixmor Property Group Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001581068 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 452433192 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3ASR SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-201464 FILM NUMBER: 15523695 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10170 BUSINESS PHONE: (212) 869-3000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10170 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Brixmor Operating Partnership LP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001630031 IRS NUMBER: 800831163 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3ASR SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-201464-01 FILM NUMBER: 15523696 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10170 BUSINESS PHONE: 212-869-3000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10170 S-3ASR 1 d846602ds3asr.htm FORM S-3 Form S-3
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 13, 2015

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

 

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

BRIXMOR PROPERTY GROUP INC.

BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland (Brixmor Property Group Inc.)

Delaware (Brixmor Operating Partnership LP)

 

45-2433192

80-0831163

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10170

Telephone: (212) 869-3000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Steven F. Siegel

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10170

Telephone: (212) 869-3000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Joshua Ford Bonnie

Edgar J. Lewandowski

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (212) 455-2000

Facsimile: (212) 455-2502

 

David W. Bonser

Eve N. Howard

Michael E. McTiernan

Hogan Lovells US LLP

Columbia Square

555 Thirteenth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

Telephone: (202) 637 5600

Facsimile: (202) 637 5910

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Brixmor Property Group Inc.:

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP:

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to Be Registered

 

Amount

to Be

  Registered (1)(2)  

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

  Per Security (1)(2)  

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

  Offering Price (1)(2)  

 

Amount of

  Registration Fee (3)  

Brixmor Property Group Inc.:

               

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

               

Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share

               

Depositary Shares

               

Purchase Contracts

               

Units

               

Warrants

               

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP:

               

Debt Securities

               

 

 

(1) Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.E. of Form S-3. An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices.
(2) This registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of each identified class of securities as may be issued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, or pursuant to, convertible or exchangeable securities that provide for exercise or conversion into or purchase of such securities of Brixmor Property Group Inc. or Brixmor Operating Partnership LP. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are represented by depositary shares.
(3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. Registration fees will be paid subsequently on a pay as you go basis.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

LOGO

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Purchase Contracts

Units

Warrants

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP

Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer, from time to time, one or more series or classes, separately or together, and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus, the following securities:

 

    Shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share;

 

    Shares of our preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share;

 

    Depositary shares representing our preferred stock;

 

    Purchase contracts;

 

    Units, comprised of two or more of any of the securities referred to herein, in any combination; and

 

    Warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares representing preferred stock.

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, or the Operating Partnership, may offer, from time to time, debt securities in one or more series.

We refer to our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, units and warrants, together with the debt securities of the Operating Partnership, collectively as the “securities.” We and the Operating Partnership may offer the securities separately or together, in separate series or classes and in amounts, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms and conditions that may apply to these securities. The specific terms and conditions of these securities will be provided in prospectus supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

We and the Operating Partnership may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BRX.” On January 12, 2015, the closing sales price of our common stock as reported on the NYSE was $26.49 per share.

 

 

Investing in the securities involves risks. See the risks described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Item 1A of each subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (which documents are incorporated by reference herein), as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement hereto before making a decision to invest in our common stock. See “Incorporation by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is January 13, 2015


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1   

Where You Can Find More Information

     2   

Incorporation by Reference

     2   

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     4   

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

     5   

Use of Proceeds

     6   

Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     7   

Description of Capital Stock

     8   

Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws

     14   

Description of Depository Shares

     22   

Description of Purchase Contracts

     25   

Description of Units

     26   

Description of Warrants

     27   

Description of Debt Securities

     28   

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

     39   

Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

     42   

Plan of Distribution

     65   

Legal Matters

     67   

Experts

     67   

 

 

We and the Operating Partnership have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any amendment or supplement to this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. We and the Operating Partnership do not take any responsibility for, or can provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any information other than the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any amendment or supplement to this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. We and the Operating Partnership are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, the securities only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted.

You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by us is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates which are specified in such documents, and that any information in documents that is incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of such document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

 

Except as otherwise indicated or where the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Brixmor,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Brixmor Property Group Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, and the term the “Operating Partnership” refers to Brixmor Operating Partnership LP. References to our “common stock” refer to the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of Brixmor Property Group Inc.

 

i


Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we and the Operating Partnership filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we and the Operating Partnership may, from time to time, sell in one or more offerings any combination of the securities described in this prospectus.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we and the Operating Partnership may offer. Each time we or the Operating Partnership sell securities, to the extent required, we or the Operating Partnership will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”


Table of Contents

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We and the Operating Partnership have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus, filed as part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about us, the Operating Partnership and the securities, we refer you to the registration statement and to its exhibits. Statements in this prospectus about the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract, agreement or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, which each such statement being qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. Anyone may inspect the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules without charge at the public reference facilities the SEC maintains at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain copies of all or any part of these materials from the SEC upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the SEC. You may obtain further information about the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also inspect these reports and other information without charge at a website maintained by the SEC. The address of this site is http://www.sec.gov.

We and the Operating Partnership are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and we and the Operating Partnership are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may inspect and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at the address noted above. You may also obtain copies of this material from the Public Reference Room of the SEC as described above, or inspect them without charge at the SEC’s website. We also make available to our common stockholders annual reports containing consolidated financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC’s rules allow us and the Operating Partnership to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013;

 

    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014;

 

    our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on April 10, 2014 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013);

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on March 14, 2014, March 18, 2014, April 3, 2014, May 27, 2014, June 16, 2014, August 22, 2014, September 18, 2014, October 17, 2014, November 4, 2014, November 17, 2014, December 15, 2014 and January 13, 2015; and

 

    the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on October 30, 2013, including all amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

We and the Operating Partnership also incorporate by reference into this prospectus all other documents filed by us or the Operating Partnership under sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offerings to which this prospectus relates (other than documents and information furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, unless expressly stated otherwise therein).

 

2


Table of Contents

Any statement made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference into this prospectus through us or from the SEC through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. We will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the reports and documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should direct requests for those documents to:

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10170

Attn: Investor Relations

(212) 869-3000

Our reports and documents and those of the Operating Partnership incorporated by reference herein may also be found in the “Investors” section of our website at http://www.brixmor.com. Our website and the information contained in it or connected to it shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this prospectus or any registration statement of which it forms a part.

 

3


Table of Contents

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook”, “believes”, “expects”, “potential”, “continues”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “seeks”, “approximately”, “predicts”, “intends”, “plans”, “estimates”, “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.

Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in Brixmor’s business. We believe these factors include, but are not limited to, those described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2014, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC (which documents are incorporated by reference herein), as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement hereto. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement hereto. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

4


Table of Contents

BRIXMOR PROPERTY GROUP INC.

Brixmor is an internally-managed REIT that owns and operates the largest wholly-owned portfolio of grocery-anchored community and neighborhood shopping centers in the United States. Our portfolio is comprised of 522 shopping centers totaling approximately 87 million sq. ft. of gross leasable area. 521 of these shopping centers are 100% owned. Our high quality national portfolio is well diversified by geography, tenancy and retail format, with 70% of our shopping centers anchored by market-leading grocers. Our four largest tenants by annualized base rent are The Kroger Co., The TJX Companies, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Publix Super Markets, Inc. Our community and neighborhood shopping centers provide a mix of necessity and value-oriented retailers and are primarily located in the top 50 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, surrounded by dense populations in established trade areas. Our company is led by a proven management team that is supported by a fully-integrated, scalable retail real estate operating platform.

Our principal executive offices are located at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10170, and our telephone number is (212) 869-3000.

BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP

Substantially all of our consolidated assets are held by, and we conduct substantially all of our activities through, the Operating Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries. We own 100% of the outstanding common stock of BPG Subsidiary Inc., which in turn, is the sole owner of Brixmor OP GP LLC, the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2014, the Company beneficially owned approximately 97% of the outstanding partnership units of the Operating Partnership.

The Operating Partnership’s principal executive offices are located at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10170, and its telephone number is (212) 869-3000.

 

5


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we and the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, intend to use the net proceeds from sales of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include, but is not limited to, funding for working capital, repayment of indebtedness, capital expenditures, repurchases of our capital stock and acquisitions.

 

6


Table of Contents

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our and the Operating Partnership’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated are as follows (unaudited):

 

     Predecessor          Successor  
     Year Ended
December 31,
     Period from
January 1,
2011 through
June 27,
         Period from
June 28, 2011
through
December 31,
     Year Ended
December 31,
     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
       2009          2010        2011          2011        2012          2013        2014  

Brixmor Property Group Inc.:

                       

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1)

                                1.8                         1.4   

Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends (2)

                                1.8                         1.4   

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP:

                       

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (3)

                                                        1.4   

 

(1) The ratio was less than 1:1 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, the period from January 1, 2011 through June 27, 2011 and the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013, as fixed charges exceeded earnings by $112,949, $274,792, $39,985, $151,628 and $86,383, respectively.
(2) The ratio was less than 1:1 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, the period from January 1, 2011 through June 27, 2011 and the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013, as combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends exceeded earnings by $112,949, $274,792, $40,122, $151,924 and $86,545, respectively.
(3) The ratio was less than 1:1 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, the period from January 1, 2011 through June 27, 2011, the period from June 28, 2011 through December 31, 2011 and the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013, as fixed charges exceeded earnings by $112,949, $274,792, $39,985, $128,518, $151,104 and $86,377, respectively.

For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings have been calculated by adding fixed charges (excluding preferred stock dividends and capitalized interest) to income (loss) before equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures plus distributions from equity investees. Fixed charges consist of interest costs, whether expensed or capitalized, the interest component of rental expense, if any, and amortization of debt discounts and issue costs, whether expensed or capitalized. Combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends consist of fixed charges and preferred stock dividends declared.

 

7


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary of the terms of our common stock is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our charter and bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and the Maryland General Corporation Law, or “MGCL.” See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Our charter authorizes us to issue up to 3,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and up to 300,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. Our charter authorizes our board of directors, without common stockholder approval, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock that we are authorized to issue or the number of authorized shares of any class or series. Under Maryland law, a stockholder generally is not liable for a corporation’s debts or obligations solely as a result of the stockholder’s status as a stockholder.

Common Stock

Subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed below under the caption “— Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” and the voting rights of holders of outstanding shares of any other class or series of our stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, including the election or removal of directors. The holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as and when authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of outstanding shares of any other class or series of our stock having a liquidation preference, if any, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution. Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. Holders of our common stock generally have no appraisal rights. All shares of our common stock outstanding as of the date of this prospectus are fully paid and nonassessable and have equal dividend and liquidation rights. The preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of our common stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock or any other class or series of stock we may authorize and issue in the future.

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot amend its charter, consolidate, merge, convert, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a statutory share exchange or dissolve unless the action is declared advisable by its board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. As permitted by Maryland law, our charter provides that any of these actions may be approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, although, for so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect, certain amendments to our charter inconsistent with the rights of certain investment funds affiliated with The Blackstone Group L.P. (together with such affiliates, “Blackstone” or our “Sponsor”) under the stockholders’ agreement or our charter or bylaws also require our Sponsor’s consent. See “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of our Charter and Bylaws.” In addition, because many of our operating assets are held by our subsidiaries, these subsidiaries may be able to merge or sell all or substantially all of their assets without the approval of our stockholders.

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue up to 300,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. We may issue shares of preferred stock from time-to-time, in one or more classes or series, as authorized by our board of

 

8


Table of Contents

directors. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of directors is required by the MGCL and our charter to fix for each class or series, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting power, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption.

The board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a change of control or other transaction that holders of shares of our outstanding common stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of some, or a majority, of shares of our outstanding common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then market price of our common stock.

A prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. They will include, where applicable:

 

    the title and par value of the preferred stock;

 

    the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of the preferred stock;

 

    the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to the preferred stock;

 

    whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock shall accumulate;

 

    the procedures for an auction and remarketing, if any, of the preferred stock;

 

    the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;

 

    any voting rights of the preferred stock;

 

    the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock;

 

    any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange;

 

    information with respect to book-entry registration procedures, if any;

 

    the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities including the conversion price or the manner of calculating the conversion price and conversion period;

 

    if appropriate, a discussion of federal income tax consequences applicable to the preferred stock;

 

    any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer, in each case as may be appropriate to assist us in qualifying as a REIT or otherwise;

 

    the priority of the preferred stock with all series of preferred stock ranking on a parity with each other unless otherwise specified in the charter and that the preferred stock will rank senior to common stock with respect to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation; and

 

    any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions on the preferred stock.

The terms, if any, on which the preferred stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities will be stated in the prospectus supplement relating to the preferred stock. The terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of preferred stock would be subject to adjustment.

 

9


Table of Contents

Power to Reclassify and Issue Stock

Our board of directors may, without approval of holders of our common stock, classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our stock into other classes or series of stock, including one or more classes or series of stock that have priority over our common stock with respect to dividends or upon liquidation, or have voting rights and other rights that differ from the rights of the common stock, and authorize us to issue the newly-classified shares. Before authorizing the issuance of shares of any new class or series, our board of directors must set, subject to the provisions in our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series of stock. These actions may be taken without the approval of holders of our common stock unless such approval is required by applicable law, the terms of any other class or series of our stock or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which any of our stock is listed or traded.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

In order for us to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of our stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) to include certain entities such as qualified pension plans) during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made).

Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock. Subject to the exceptions described below, no person or entity may beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% (in value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common stock or 9.8% in value of our outstanding stock. We refer to these restrictions, collectively, as the “ownership limit.” Our board of directors has granted an exemption from the ownership limit to our Sponsor and its affiliates.

The constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be owned constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% of our outstanding common stock or 9.8% of our outstanding stock, or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns our stock, could, nevertheless, cause the acquiror or another individual or entity to own our stock in excess of the ownership limit.

Our board of directors may, upon receipt of certain representations and agreements and in its sole discretion, prospectively or retroactively, waive the ownership limit and may establish or increase a different limit on ownership, or excepted holder limit, for a particular stockholder if the stockholder’s ownership in excess of the ownership limit would not result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT. As a condition of granting a waiver of the ownership limit or creating an excepted holder limit, our board of directors may, but is not required to, require an opinion of counsel or Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) ruling satisfactory to our board of directors as it may deem necessary or advisable to determine or ensure our status as a REIT and may impose such other conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate.

In connection with granting a waiver of the ownership limit or creating or modifying an excepted holder limit, or at any other time, our board of directors may increase or decrease the ownership limit unless, after giving effect to any increased or decreased ownership limit, five or fewer persons could beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than 49.9% in value of the shares of our stock then outstanding, or we would otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT. A decreased ownership limit will not apply to any person or entity whose percentage of

 

10


Table of Contents

ownership of our stock is in excess of the decreased ownership limit until the person or entity’s ownership of our stock equals or falls below the decreased ownership limit, but any further acquisition of our stock will be subject to the decreased ownership limit.

Our charter also prohibits:

 

    any person from beneficially or constructively owning shares of our stock that would result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT; and

 

    any person from transferring shares of our stock if the transfer would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons; and

 

    any person from beneficially owning shares of our stock to the extent such ownership would result in our failing to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h) of the Code.

Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our stock that will or may violate the ownership limit or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, and any person who is the intended transferee of shares of our stock that are transferred to a trust for the benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries described below, must give immediate written notice to us of such an event or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transfer, give at least 15 days’ prior written notice to us and must provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of the transfer on our status as a REIT. The provisions of our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT, or that compliance is no longer required in order for us to qualify as a REIT.

Any attempted transfer of our stock that, if effective, would result in our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void. Any attempted transfer of our stock that, if effective, would result in a violation of the ownership limit (or other limit established by our charter or our board of directors), our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or our otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT or as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h) of the Code will cause the number of shares causing the violation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) to be transferred automatically to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the proposed transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day before the date of the attempted transfer or other event that resulted in a transfer to the trust. If the transfer to the trust as described above is not automatically effective, for any reason, to prevent a violation of the applicable restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, then the attempted transfer that, if effective, would have resulted in a violation of the ownership limit (or other limit established by our charter or our board of directors), our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or our otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT or as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” will be null and void.

Shares of our stock held in the trust will be issued and outstanding shares. The proposed transferee will not benefit economically from ownership of any shares of our stock held in the trust and will have no rights to dividends and no rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares of our stock held in the trust. The trustee of the trust will exercise all voting rights and receive all dividends and other distributions with respect to shares held in the trust for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary of the trust. Any dividend or other distribution paid before we discover that the shares have been transferred to a trust as described above must be repaid by the recipient to the trustee upon demand. Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will have the authority to rescind as void any vote cast by a

 

11


Table of Contents

proposed transferee before our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and to recast the vote in the sole discretion of the trustee. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee may not rescind or recast the vote.

Within 20 days of receiving notice from us of a transfer of shares to the trust, the trustee must sell the shares to a person that would be permitted to own the shares without violating the ownership limit or the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock in our charter. After the sale of the shares, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares transferred to the trust will terminate and the trustee must distribute to the proposed transferee an amount equal to the lesser of:

 

    the price paid by the proposed transferee for the shares or, if the event that resulted in the transfer to the trust did not involve a purchase of such shares at market price, which will generally be the last sales price reported on the NYSE, the market price on the last trading day before the day of the event that resulted in the transfer of such shares to the trust; and

 

    the sales proceeds (net of commissions and other expenses of sale) received by the trust for the shares.

The trustee must distribute any remaining funds held by the trust with respect to the shares to the charitable beneficiary. If the shares are sold by the proposed transferee before we discover that they have been transferred to the trust, the shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and the proposed transferee must pay to the trustee, upon demand, the amount, if any, that the proposed transferee received in excess of the amount that the proposed transferee would have received had the shares been sold by the trustee.

Shares of our stock held in the trust will be deemed to be offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of:

 

    the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the trust or, if the event that resulted in the transfer to the trust did not involve a purchase of such shares at market price, the market price on the last trading day before the day of the event that resulted in the transfer of such shares to the trust; and

 

    the market price on the date we accept, or our designee accepts, such offer.

We may accept the offer until the trustee has otherwise sold the shares of our stock held in the trust. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed transferee and distribute any dividends or other distributions held by the trustee with respect to the shares to the charitable beneficiary.

Every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of our stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, must give us written notice stating the person’s name and address, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock that the person beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner also must provide us with any additional information that we request in order to determine the effect, if any, of the person’s beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limit. In addition, any person or entity that is a beneficial owner or constructive owner of shares of our stock and any person or entity (including the stockholder of record) who is holding shares of our stock for a beneficial owner or constructive owner must, on request, disclose to us in writing such information as we may request in order to determine our status as a REIT or to comply, or determine our compliance, with the requirements of any governmental or taxing authority.

If our board of directors authorizes any of our shares to be represented by certificates, the certificates will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

These restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of us that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

12


Table of Contents

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BRX.”

 

13


Table of Contents

MATERIAL PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

The following summary of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our charter and bylaws is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our charter and bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and by the MGCL. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” Under “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “our company” refer to Brixmor Property Group Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

Election and Removal of Directors

Our charter and bylaws provide that the number of our directors may be established only by our board of directors but may not be more than 15 or fewer than the minimum number permitted by Maryland law, which is one. As provided in the stockholders’ agreement and our bylaws, for so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect, any action by our board of directors to increase or decrease the size of our board of directors generally requires the consent of our Sponsor, and our Sponsor must consent to any amendment to our bylaws to modify this consent requirement. For so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect, our bylaws require that, in order for an individual to qualify to be nominated or to serve as a director of our company, the individual must have been nominated in accordance with the stockholders’ agreement, including the requirement that we must nominate a certain number of directors designated by our Sponsor from time to time described in the “Transactions with Related Persons—Stockholders’ Agreement” section of our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A that was filed with the SEC on April 10, 2014 and is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and our Sponsor must consent to any amendment to our bylaws to eliminate these director qualifications. There will be no cumulative voting in the election of directors, and a director will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors.

Our charter provides that any vacancy on our board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum of the board of directors.

Our charter provides that a director may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors, except that, for so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect, the removal of a director who was nominated at the direction of our Sponsor, or a “Sponsor Director,” requires the consent of our Sponsor, and our Sponsor must consent to any amendment to our charter to amend or modify this consent requirement.

Amendment to Charter and Bylaws

Except as described below and as provided in the MGCL, amendments to our charter must be advised by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of our stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, and our board of directors has the exclusive power to amend our bylaws. Amendments to certain provisions of our charter and bylaws requiring our Sponsor’s consent to certain actions or otherwise providing our Sponsor with certain rights under our charter or bylaws (such as our Sponsor’s right to call a special meeting of our stockholders and the requirement that, to be qualified to be nominated and to serve as a director, an individual must be nominated in accordance with the stockholders’ agreement), and amendments that modify the approvals required to amend such provisions, in any case, as described under “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of our Charter and Bylaws,” require the consent of our Sponsor. In addition, any amendment to the provision of our bylaws prohibiting our board of directors from revoking, altering or amending its resolution exempting any business combination from the “business combination” provisions of the MGCL without the approval of our stockholders and the provision exempting any acquisition of our stock from the “control share” provisions of the MGCL must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

14


Table of Contents

Business Combinations

Under the MGCL, certain “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, and, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:

 

    any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock; or

 

    an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period before the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s then outstanding voting stock.

A person is not an interested stockholder under the MGCL if the corporation’s board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. In approving the transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and the interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the corporation’s board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

    80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and

 

    two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under the MGCL, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.

The MGCL permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has adopted a resolution exempting any transactions between us and any other person. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations involving us. Our bylaws provide that this resolution or any other resolution of our board of directors exempting any business combination from the business combination provisions of the MGCL may only be revoked, altered or amended, and our board of directors may only adopt any resolution inconsistent with this resolution, with the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. In the event that our board of directors amends or revokes this resolution, business combinations between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder that are not exempted by our board of directors would be subject to the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements.

Control Share Acquisitions

The MGCL provides that a holder of control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition has no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror, by officers or by employees who are directors of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of

 

15


Table of Contents

which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

    one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

 

    one-third or more but less than a majority; or

 

    a majority or more of all voting power.

Control shares do not include shares the acquiror is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval or shares acquired directly from the corporation. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiror does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may, subject to certain limitations and conditions, redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of a majority of the voting power, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.

The control share acquisition statute does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting any acquisition of our stock by any person from the foregoing provisions on control shares, and this provision of our bylaws cannot be amended without the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. In the event that our bylaws are amended to modify or eliminate this provision, acquisitions of our common stock may constitute a control share acquisition.

Subtitle 8

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to be subject to any or all of five provisions, including:

 

    a classified board;

 

    a two-thirds vote of outstanding shares to remove a director;

 

    a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the board of directors;

 

    a requirement that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies; and

 

16


Table of Contents
    a provision that a special meeting of stockholders must be called upon stockholder request only on the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.

We have elected in our charter to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 that provides that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the remaining directors. We have not elected to be subject to any of the other provisions of Subtitle 8, including the provisions that would permit us to classify our board of directors or increase the vote required to remove a director without stockholder approval. Moreover, our charter provides that, without the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, we may not elect to be subject to any of these additional provisions of Subtitle 8. We do not currently have a classified board and, subject to the right of our Sponsor to consent to the removal of any Sponsor Director, a director may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.

Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we (1) vest in our board of directors the exclusive power to fix the number of directors, subject to our Sponsor’s right to consent to any change in the number of directors, and (2) require the request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting to call a special meeting (unless the special meeting is called either by our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors or our president, chief executive officer or secretary or at the request of our Sponsor as described below under the caption “—Special Meetings of Stockholders”).

Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors or our president, chief executive officer or secretary may call a special meeting of our stockholders. Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of our stockholders to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of our stockholders must also be called by our secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting and containing the information required by our bylaws, or, for so long as our Sponsor and its affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 40% of the total Outstanding Brixmor Interests, our Sponsor, and, for so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect, a special meeting to act on the removal of one or more Sponsor Directors must be called by our secretary upon written request by our Sponsor. For so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect, our Sponsor’s consent is required for any amendment to this provision of our bylaws.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

The MGCL generally provides that, unless the charter of the corporation authorizes stockholder action by less than unanimous consent, stockholder action may be taken by consent in lieu of a meeting only if it is given by all stockholders entitled to vote on the matter. Our charter permits stockholder action by consent in lieu of a meeting to the extent permitted by our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that, so long as our pre-IPO owners (as defined in the stockholders’ agreement) and their affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 40% of the total Outstanding Brixmor Interests, stockholder action may be taken without a meeting if a consent, setting forth the action so taken, is given by the stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. For so long as our pre-IPO owners and their affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 40% of the total Outstanding Brixmor Interests, our Sponsor’s consent is required for any amendment to these provisions of our charter and bylaws.

Competing Interests and Activities of Our Non-Employee Directors

Our charter, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Maryland law, renounces any interest or expectancy that we have in, or any right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunities

 

17


Table of Contents

that are from time to time presented to or developed by our directors or their affiliates, other than to those directors who are employed by us or our subsidiaries, unless the business opportunity is expressly offered or made known to such person in his or her capacity as a director.

Our charter provides that, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Maryland law, none of our Sponsor or any of its affiliates, or any director who is not employed by us or any of his or her affiliates, will have any duty to refrain from (1) engaging in similar lines of business in which we or our affiliates now engage or propose to engage or (2) otherwise competing with us or our affiliates, and our Sponsor, and each of our non- employee directors (including those designated by our Sponsor), and any of their respective affiliates, may (a) acquire, hold and dispose of shares of our stock, shares of common stock of BPG Subsidiary Inc. (“BPG Subsidiary”), our majority-owned subsidiary or OP Units for his, her or its own account or for the account of others, and exercise all of the rights of a stockholder of us or BPG Subsidiary, or a limited partner of our Operating Partnership, to the same extent and in the same manner as if he, she or it were not our director or stockholder, and (b) in his, her or its personal capacity, or in his or her capacity as a director, officer, trustee, stockholder, partner, member, equity owner, manager, advisor or employee of any other person, have business interests and engage, directly or indirectly, in business activities that are similar to ours or compete with us, that we could seize and develop or that include the acquisition, syndication, holding, management, development, operation or disposition of interests in mortgages, real property or persons engaged in the real estate business. In addition, our charter provides that, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Maryland law, in the event that our Sponsor, any non-employee director or any of its affiliates acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity, no such person will have any duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to us or any of our affiliates and such person may take any such opportunity for himself, herself or itself or offer it to another person or entity unless the business opportunity is expressly offered to such person in his or her capacity as our director. Furthermore, our charter contains a provision intended to eliminate the liability of our Sponsor, any director who is not employed by us or any of its affiliates to us or our stockholders for money damages in connection with any benefit received, directly or indirectly, from any transaction or business opportunity that we have renounced in our charter or otherwise and permit our directors and officers to be indemnified and advanced expenses, notwithstanding his, her or its receipt, directly or indirectly, of a personal benefit from any such transaction or opportunity. Our charter provides that, for so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect, this provision of our charter may not be amended without the consent of our Sponsor.

Advance Notice of Director Nomination and New Business

Our bylaws provide that nominations of individuals for election as directors and proposals of business to be considered by stockholders at any annual meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors or (3) by any stockholder who was a stockholder of record at the time of provision of notice and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of the individuals so nominated or on such other proposed business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws. Stockholders generally must provide notice to our secretary not earlier than the 150th day or later than the close of business on the 120th day before the first anniversary of the date our proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting is first sent or given to our stockholders.

Only the business specified in the notice of the meeting may be brought before a special meeting of our stockholders. Nominations of individuals for election as directors at a special meeting of stockholders may be made only (1) by or at the direction of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors or (2) if the special meeting has been called in accordance with our bylaws for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time of provision of notice and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws. Stockholders generally must provide notice

 

18


Table of Contents

to our secretary not earlier than the 120th day before such special meeting and or later than the later of the close of business on the 90th day before the special meeting or the tenth day after the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting and the nominees of our board of directors to be elected at the meeting.

A stockholder’s notice must contain certain information specified by our bylaws about the stockholder, its affiliates and any proposed business or nominee for election as a director, including information about the economic interest of the stockholder, its affiliates and any proposed nominee in us.

Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and our Charter and Bylaws

The restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed under the caption “Description of Stock— Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” prevent any person from acquiring more than 9.8% (in value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common stock or 9.8% in value of our outstanding stock without the approval of our board of directors. These provisions, as well as our Sponsor’s right to designate certain individuals who we must nominate for election as directors, may delay, defer or prevent a change in control of us. Further, our board of directors has the power to increase the aggregate number of authorized shares and classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our stock into other classes or series of stock, and to authorize us to issue the newly-classified shares, as discussed under the captions “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock” and “Description of Capital Stock—Power to Reclassify and Issue Stock,” and could authorize the issuance of shares of common stock or another class or series of stock, including a class or series of preferred stock, that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us. We believe that the power to increase the aggregate number of authorized shares and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of common or preferred stock, without approval of holders of our common stock, provides us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise.

Our charter and bylaws also provide that the number of directors may be established only by our board of directors (subject to our Sponsor’s right to consent to changes in the number of our directors for so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect), which prevents our stockholders from increasing the number of our directors and filling any vacancies created by such increase with their own nominees. The provisions of our bylaws discussed above under the captions “—Special Meetings of Stockholders” and “—Advance Notice of Director Nomination and New Business” require stockholders (other than our Sponsor, to the extent described above) seeking to call a special meeting, nominate an individual for election as a director or propose other business at an annual meeting to comply with certain notice and information requirements. We believe that these provisions will help to assure the continuity and stability of our business strategies and policies as determined by our board of directors and promote good corporate governance by providing us with clear procedures for calling special meetings, information about a stockholder proponent’s interest in us and adequate time to consider stockholder nominees and other business proposals. However, these provisions, alone or in combination, could make it more difficult for our stockholders to remove incumbent directors or fill vacancies on our board of directors with their own nominees and could delay, defer or prevent a change in control, including a proxy contest or tender offer that might involve a premium price for our common stockholders or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Exclusive Forum

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or to our stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL or our charter or bylaws or (d) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in

 

19


Table of Contents

shares of our stock will be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of our charter and bylaws, including the exclusive forum provisions in our bylaws. For so long as the stockholders’ agreement remains in effect, our Sponsor’s consent is required for any amendment to this provision of our bylaws.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Maryland law permits us to include a provision in our charter eliminating the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates our directors’ and officers’ liability to us and our stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The MGCL requires us (unless our charter were to provide otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits us to indemnify our present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or certain other capacities unless it is established that:

 

    the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

    the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

    in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

The MGCL prohibits us from indemnifying a director or officer who has been adjudged liable in a suit by us or on our behalf or in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received; however, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or on our behalf, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits us to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon our receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, our charter authorizes us to indemnify any person who serves or has served, and our bylaws obligate us to indemnify any individual who is made or threatened to be made a party to or witness in a proceeding by reason of his or her service:

 

    as our director or officer; or

 

   

while a director or officer and at our request, as a director, officer, partner, manager, member or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, from and against any claim or liability to which he or she may become subject or that he or she may incur by reason of his or her service in any of these capacities, and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance of final

 

20


Table of Contents
 

disposition of a proceeding. Our charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any individual who served any of our predecessors in any of the capacities described above and any employee or agent of us or any of our predecessors.

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors or executive officers, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

 

21


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITORY SHARES

The following description of shares represented by depositary shares sets forth certain general terms and provisions of depositary agreements, depositary shares and depositary receipts. This summary does not contain all of the information that you may find useful. The particular terms of the depositary shares and related agreements and receipts will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those depositary shares. For more information, you should review the relevant form of deposit agreement and relevant form of depositary receipts, which are or will be filed with the SEC.

General

We may elect to have shares represented by depositary shares. The shares underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company we select. The prospectus supplement relating to a class or series of depositary shares will set forth the name and address of this share depositary. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the share represented by such depositary share (including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion, exchange and liquidation rights).

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement, each of which will represent the applicable interest in a number of shares, or fraction thereof, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

A holder of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the shares (but only in whole shares) underlying those depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the whole number of shares to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to that holder at the same time a new depositary receipt for the excess number of depositary shares.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depositary agreement, the depositary shares and the depositary receipts will be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The share depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions in respect of the shares to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders.

If there is a distribution other than in cash in respect of the shares, the share depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders, unless the share depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution. In that case, the share depositary may, with our approval, adopt any method that it deems equitable and practicable to effect the distribution, including a public or private sale of the property and distribution of the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

The amount distributed in any of the above cases will be reduced by any amount we or the share depositary are required to withhold on account of taxes.

Conversion and Exchange

If any share underlying the depositary shares is subject to provisions relating to its conversion or exchange as set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, each record holder of depositary shares will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange those depositary shares pursuant to those provisions.

 

22


Table of Contents

Redemption of Depositary Shares

Whenever we redeem a share held by the share depositary, the share depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date a proportionate number of depositary shares representing the shares that were redeemed. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the aggregate redemption price payable with respect to the number of shares underlying the depositary shares. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or proportionately as we may determine.

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.

Voting

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any shares underlying the depositary shares are entitled to vote, the share depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary receipts. Each record holder of the depositary receipts on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the shares) may then instruct the share depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares underlying that holder’s depositary shares. The share depositary will try to vote the number of shares underlying the depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which the share depositary deems necessary to enable the share depositary to do so. The share depositary will abstain from voting the shares to the extent that it does not receive specific written instructions from holders of depositary receipts representing the share.

Record Date

Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution becomes payable, any distribution other than cash is made, or any rights, preferences or privileges are offered with respect to the shares; or the share depositary receives notice of any meeting at which holders of shares are entitled to vote or of which holders of such shares are entitled to notice, or of the mandatory conversion of or any election by us to call for the redemption of any such share, the share depositary will in each instance fix a record date (which will be the same as the record date for the shares) for the determination of the holders of depositary receipts:

 

    who will be entitled to receive dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of any sale; or

 

    who will be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or to receive notice of the meeting or the redemption or conversion, subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

We and the share depositary may at any time agree to amend the form of depositary receipt and any provision of the deposit agreement. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or by the share depositary only if all outstanding shares have been redeemed or if a final distribution in respect of the underlying shares has been made to the holders of the depositary shares in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us.

Charges of Share Depositary

We will pay all charges of the share depositary including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the shares, the initial issuance of the depositary receipts, the distribution of information to the holders of

 

23


Table of Contents

depositary receipts with respect to matters on which the share is entitled to vote, withdrawals of the share by the holders of depositary receipts or redemption or conversion of the share, except for taxes (including transfer taxes, if any) and other governmental charges and any other charges expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be at the expense of holders of depositary receipts or persons depositing shares.

Miscellaneous

Neither we nor the share depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing any obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the share depositary under the deposit agreement are limited to performing its duties under the agreement without negligence or bad faith. Our obligations under the deposit agreement are limited to performing our duties in good faith. Neither we nor the share depositary is obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the share depositary may rely on advice of or information from counsel, accountants or other persons that they believe to be competent and on documents that they believe to be genuine. The share depositary may resign at any time or be removed by us, effective upon the acceptance by its successor of its appointment. If we have not appointed a successor share depositary and the successor depositary has not accepted its appointment within 60 days after the share depositary delivered a resignation notice to us, the share depositary may terminate the deposit agreement. See “—Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement” above.

 

24


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the purchase contracts that we may offer from time to time. This summary does not contain all of the information that you may find useful. The particular terms of any purchase contract that we may offer and the related agreements will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those purchase contracts. For more information, you should review the relevant form of purchase contract and the relevant form of pledge agreement for purchase contracts, if any, which are or will be filed with the SEC.

If we offer any purchase contracts, certain terms of that series of purchase contracts will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following:

 

    the price of the securities or other property subject to the purchase contracts (which may be determined by reference to a specific formula described in the purchase contracts);

 

    whether the purchase contracts are issued separately, or as a part of units each consisting of a purchase contract and one or more of our other securities or securities of an unaffiliated entity, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing the holder’s obligations under the purchase contract;

 

    any requirement for us to make periodic payments to holders or vice versa, and whether the payments are unsecured or pre-funded;

 

    any provisions relating to any security provided for the purchase contracts;

 

    whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts;

 

    whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;

 

    whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract;

 

    any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts;

 

    a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts;

 

    whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form; and

 

    any other terms of the purchase contracts and any securities subject to such purchase contracts.

 

25


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the units that we may offer from time to time. This summary does not contain all of the information that you may find useful. The particular terms of any of the units that we may offer and the related agreements will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those units. For more information, you should review the relevant form of unit agreement and the relevant form of unit certificate, if any, which are or will be filed with the SEC.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

 

    the title of the series of units;

 

    identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

 

    the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

 

    the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

 

    a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

 

    any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

 

26


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer from time to time. This summary does not contain all of the information that you may find useful. The particular terms of any of the warrants that we may offer and the related agreements will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those warrants. For more information, you should review the relevant form of warrant agreement and the relevant form of warrant certificate, if any, which are or will be filed with the SEC.

General

We may issue warrants to purchase our securities or rights (including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of specified commodities, currencies or indices) or securities of other issuers or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent we select.

You should review the applicable prospectus supplement for the specific terms of any warrants that may be offered, including:

 

    the title of the warrants;

 

    the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

    the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

 

    the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of the warrants may be payable;

 

    our securities or rights (including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies or indices) or securities of other issuers or any combination of the foregoing purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;

 

    the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

 

    the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which that right will expire;

 

    if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

    if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security;

 

    if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

    information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

    if applicable, a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations; and

 

    any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

 

27


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture to be entered into between the Operating Partnership and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. References herein to the “Indenture” refer to such indenture and references to the “Trustee” refer to such trustee or any other trustee for any particular series of debt securities issued under the Indenture. The terms of the debt securities of any series will be those specified in or pursuant to the Indenture and in the applicable debt securities of that series and those made part of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

The following description of selected provisions of the Indenture and the debt securities is not complete, and the description of selected terms of the debt securities of a particular series included in the applicable prospectus supplement also will not be complete. You should review the form of the Indenture and the form of the applicable debt securities, which forms have been or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as exhibits to documents which have been or will be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. To obtain a copy of the form of the Indenture or the form of the applicable debt securities, see “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus. The following description of debt securities and the description of the debt securities of the particular series in the applicable prospectus supplement are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Indenture and the applicable debt securities, which provisions, including defined terms, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this section shall have the meanings assigned to those terms in the Indenture.

The following description of debt securities describes general terms and provisions of the series of debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. When the debt securities of a particular series are offered for sale, the specific terms of such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any particular terms of such debt securities described in a prospectus supplement are inconsistent with any of the terms of the debt securities generally described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this prospectus.

General

The debt securities of each series will constitute the unsecured unsubordinated obligations of the Operating Partnership and will rank on a parity in right of payment with all of its other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Operating Partnership may issue an unlimited principal amount of debt securities under the Indenture. The Indenture provides that debt securities of any series may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized from time to time by the Operating Partnership. Please read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of the particular series being offered thereby for the specific terms of such debt securities, including, where applicable:

 

    the title of the series of debt securities;

 

    the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the series and any limit thereon;

 

    whether such debt securities are to be issuable in global form;

 

    the date or dates on which the Operating Partnership will pay the principal of and premium, if any, on debt securities of the series, or the method used to determine such date or dates;

 

    the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which debt securities of the series will bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such rate or rates;

 

    the basis used to calculate interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

    the date or dates, if any, from which interest on the debt securities of the series will accrue, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such date or dates;

 

28


Table of Contents
    the date or dates, if any, on which the interest on the debt securities of the series will be payable and the record dates for any such payment of interest;

 

    the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Operating Partnership is required to, or may, at its option, redeem debt securities of the series;

 

    the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Operating Partnership will be required to repurchase debt securities of the series at the option of the holders of debt securities of the series;

 

    the terms of any sinking fund or analogous provision;

 

    the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration if other than the full principal amount;

 

    the authorized denominations in which debt securities of the series will be issued, if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

    the place or places where (1) amounts due on the debt securities of the series will be payable, (2) the debt securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, (3) the debt securities of the series may be surrendered for conversion or exchange and (4) notices or demands to or upon the Operating Partnership in respect of the debt securities of the series or the Indenture may be served, if different than the corporate trust office of the Trustee;

 

    the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities will be convertible into and/or exchangeable into equity of the Operating Partnership;

 

    if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which purchases of, and payments on, the debt securities of the series must be made, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for any purpose, and the ability, if any, of the Operating Partnership or the holders of debt securities of the series to elect for payments to be made in any other currency or currencies;

 

    whether the amount of payments on the debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula, or other method or methods (any of those debt securities being referred to as “Indexed Securities”) and the manner used to determine those amounts;

 

    any addition to, modification of, or deletion of, any covenant or Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the series;

 

    the covenants subject to covenant defeasance;

 

    the terms and conditions, if any, upon which debt securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants;

 

    the identity of the depositary for the global debt securities;

 

    the circumstances under which the Operating Partnership will pay Additional Amounts on the debt securities of the series in respect of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge and whether the Operating Partnership will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than pay the Additional Amounts;

 

    if there is more than one trustee, the identity of the trustee that has any obligations, duties and remedies with respect to the debt securities and, if not the trustee, the identity of each security registrar, paying agent or authenticating agent with respect to the debt securities;

 

    the terms of any guarantee of the debt securities and the identity of any guarantor or guarantors of the debt securities;

 

    if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of the debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any date;

 

29


Table of Contents
    whether the debt securities will be issued in a transaction registered under the Securities Act and any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities of such series;

 

    the exchanges, if any, on which the debt securities of the series may be listed;

 

    the price or prices at which the debt securities of the series will be sold;

 

    any additional covenants subject to waiver by the act of the holders of debt securities pursuant to the Indenture; and

 

    any other terms of debt securities of the series.

As used in this prospectus, references to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of a series include Additional Amounts, if any, payable on the debt securities of such series in that context.

The Operating Partnership may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any original issue discount security, the amount payable to the holder upon acceleration will be determined in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Important federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The terms of the debt securities of any series may be inconsistent with the terms of the debt securities of any other series, and the terms of particular debt securities within any series may be inconsistent with each other. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Operating Partnership may, without the consent of, or notice to, the holders of the debt securities of any series, reopen an existing series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series.

Other than to the extent provided with respect to the debt securities of a particular series and described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Indenture will not contain any provisions that would limit the ability of the Operating Partnership to incur indebtedness or to substantially reduce or eliminate the Operating Partnership’s consolidated assets, which may have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Operating Partnership to service the Operating Partnership’s indebtedness (including the debt securities) or that would afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of:

 

  (1) a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving the Operating Partnership’s management, or any affiliate of any of those parties,

 

  (2) a change of control, or

 

  (3) a reorganization, restructuring, merger, or similar transaction involving the Operating Partnership or its affiliates.

Registration, Transfer, Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be payable and may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange at an office of the Operating Partnership or an agent of the Operating Partnership in The City of New York. However, the Operating Partnership, at its option, may make payments of interest on any interest payment date on any debt security by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to receive that payment or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States; provided, that the paying agent shall have received appropriate wire transfer instructions at least five business days prior to the interest payment date.

Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date with respect to the debt securities of any series will forthwith cease to be payable to the holders of those debt securities on the applicable

 

30


Table of Contents

regular record date and may either be paid to the persons in whose names those debt securities are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of the interest not punctually paid or duly provided for to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the holders of those debt securities not less than 10 days prior to the special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as completely described in the Indenture.

Subject to certain limitations imposed on debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of different authorized denominations upon surrender of those debt securities at the designated place or places. In addition, subject to certain limitations imposed upon debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange thereof at the designated place or places if duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, redemption or repayment of debt securities, but the Operating Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with certain of those transactions.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Operating Partnership will not be required to:

 

    issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities of that series of like tenor and terms to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of that selection;

 

    register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion of any debt security, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part; or

 

    issue, register the transfer of or exchange a debt security which has been surrendered for repurchase at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of the debt security not to be repurchased.

Outstanding Debt Securities

In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver under the Indenture:

 

    the principal amount of an original issue discount security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for these purposes shall be that portion of the principal amount of the original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the original issue discount security as of the date of the determination,

 

    the principal amount of any Indexed Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for these purposes shall be the principal amount of the Indexed Security determined on the date of its original issuance, unless otherwise provided in the Indenture,

 

    the principal amount of a debt security denominated in a foreign currency shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of its original issuance, of the principal amount of the debt security, and

 

    a debt security owned by the Operating Partnership or any obligor on the debt security or any affiliate of the Operating Partnership or such other obligor shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

Redemption and Repurchase

The debt securities of any series may be redeemable at the Operating Partnership’s option or may be subject to mandatory redemption by the Operating Partnership as required by a sinking fund or otherwise. In addition, the debt securities of any series may be subject to repurchase by the Operating Partnership at the option of the holders. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions regarding any optional or mandatory redemption or option to repurchase the debt securities of the related series.

 

31


Table of Contents

Covenants

Any material covenants applicable to the debt securities of the applicable series will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of any series is defined in the Indenture as being:

 

  (1) default for thirty (30) days in the payment of any installment of interest or Additional Amounts payable with respect to such interest under the debt securities of that series;

 

  (2) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on or, any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on the debt securities of that series, when the same becomes due and payable or default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment with respect to the debt securities of that series when due and such default continues for three business days;

 

  (3) the Operating Partnership fails to comply with any of the Operating Partnership’s other agreements contained in the debt securities or the Indenture (other than an agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere specifically dealt with in the Indenture or which has expressly been included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series) upon receipt by the Operating Partnership of notice of such default by the Trustee or receipt by the Operating Partnership and the Trustee of notice of such default by holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding and the Operating Partnership fails to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within sixty (60) days after the Operating Partnership receives such notice;

 

  (4) failure to pay any recourse indebtedness for monies borrowed by the Operating Partnership, any guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable grace period, which recourse indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within thirty (30) days after written notice of such failure to the Operating Partnership from the Trustee (or to the Operating Partnership and the Trustee from holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series);

 

  (5) specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to the Operating Partnership, any guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary.

No Event of Default with respect to any particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The Trustee is required to give notice to holders of the debt securities of the applicable series within 90 days after the Trustee has actual knowledge (as such knowledge is described in the Indenture) of a default relating to such debt securities.

If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) above occurs, then the principal of, and premium, if any, on all the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series and unpaid interest, if any, accrued thereon shall automatically become immediately due and payable. If any other Event of Default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may declare the principal of, and premium, if any, on, or if debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of that series of debt securities, and unpaid interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately. However, upon specified conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may rescind and annul any such declaration of acceleration and its consequences.

 

32


Table of Contents

The Indenture provides that no holders of debt securities of any series may institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or Trustee, or for any remedy thereunder, except in the case of failure of the Trustee, for 60 days, to act after it has received written notice of an Event of Default with respect to such series from a holder of a debt security of such series, a written request to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default from the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, as well as an offer of indemnity or security satisfactory to it, and no inconsistent direction has been given to the Trustee during such 60 day period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, each holder of a debt security will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, and any Additional Amounts on that debt security on the respective due dates for those payments, and in the case of any debt security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, to convert or exchange as the case may be, such debt security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of those payments and any such right to convert or exchange, and this right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.

Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act requiring the Trustee, during the continuance of an Event of Default under the Indenture, to act with the requisite standard of care, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities of any series unless those holders have offered the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, provided that the direction would not conflict with any rule or law or with the Indenture or with any series of debt securities, such direction would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of debt securities of that series (or the debt securities of any other series) not joining in such action or could not involve the Trustee in personal liability, and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

Within 120 calendar days after the close of each fiscal year, the Operating Partnership must deliver to the Trustee an officers’ certificate stating whether or not each certifying officer has knowledge of any default and, if so, specifying each such default and the nature and status thereof.

Modification, Waivers and Meetings

The Indenture permits the Operating Partnership and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series issued under the Indenture and affected by a modification or amendment (voting as separate classes), to modify or amend any of the provisions of the Indenture or of the debt securities of the applicable series or the rights of the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series under the Indenture. However, no modification or amendment shall, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

    change the stated maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, any debt securities, or

 

    reduce the principal of or any premium on any debt securities or reduce the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest on or the redemption or repurchase price of any debt securities, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any debt securities or related guarantee or change the Operating Partnership’s or any guarantor’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts, or

 

    reduce the amount of principal of any original issue discount securities that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity of any debt security, or

 

    adversely affect any right of repayment or repurchase at the option of any holder, or

 

    change any place where, or the currency in which, any debt securities are payable, or

 

33


Table of Contents
    impair the holder’s right to institute suit to enforce the payment of any debt securities on or after their stated maturity, or

 

    reduce the percentage of the outstanding debt securities of any series whose holders must consent to any modification or amendment or any waiver of compliance with specific provisions of such Indenture or specified defaults under the Indenture and their consequences, or

 

    reduce the requirements for a quorum or voting at a meeting of holders of the applicable debt securities; or

 

    modify the sections of the Indenture setting forth the provisions of the Indenture that may not be amended without the consent of holders, or providing for the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of holder of each outstanding debt security of such series; or

 

    release a guarantor from any of the obligations under a guarantee except as permitted under the Indenture; or

 

    make any change that adversely affects the right, if any, to convert or exchange any debt security for common equity or other securities or property.

The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Operating Partnership and any guarantor, as applicable, and the Trustee, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities, to modify or amend the Indenture, among other things:

 

    to evidence a successor to the Operating Partnership or any guarantor, if applicable, as under the Indenture;

 

    to add to the covenants of the Operating Partnership or any guarantor for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of a series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Operating Partnership or any guarantor in the Indenture;

 

    to add to the Events of Default or covenants in a manner that benefits the holders of all or any series of debt securities issued under the Indenture;

 

    to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series, and the form of the guarantee of debt securities of any series;

 

    to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

    to provide for any guarantee of the holders of debt securities of a series, to secure the debt securities or to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any guarantee of or lien securing the debt securities which such release, termination or discharge is permitted by the Indenture;

 

    to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the Indenture by more than one trustee;

 

    to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture;

 

    to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of debt securities or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any holder in any material respect;

 

    to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities; provided, that the action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities in any material respect;

 

    to amend or supplement any provision contained in the Indenture, provided that the amendment or supplement does not apply to any outstanding debt securities issued before the date of the amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefits of that provision; or

 

34


Table of Contents
    to conform the terms of the Indenture or the debt securities of a series, as applicable, to the description thereof contained in any prospectus, prospectus supplement or other offering document relating to the offer and sale of such debt securities.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive the Operating Partnership’s compliance with some of the restrictive provisions of the Indenture, which may include covenants, if any, which are specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series and its consequences, except a default which is continuing (i) in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the debt securities of that series, (ii) with respect to the conversion or exchange of a series of debt securities convertible or exchangeable into common equity of the Operating Partnership, or (iii) in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series.

The Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of a series of debt securities. A meeting may be called at any time by the Trustee, and also, upon the Operating Partnership’s or any guarantor’s request, or the request of holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series. Notice of a meeting must be given in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. Except for any consent which must be given by the holder of each outstanding debt security affected in the manner described above, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum, as described below, is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series. However, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action which may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, other than a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of that specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities of any series duly held in accordance with the Indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series, subject to exceptions; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at that meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of a supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding or representing that specified supermajority percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series will constitute a quorum.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Satisfaction and Discharge

Upon the Operating Partnership’s direction, the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of any series specified by the Operating Partnership, subject to the survival of specified provisions of the Indenture, including (unless the accompanying prospectus supplement provides otherwise) the Operating Partnership’s obligation to repurchase such debt securities at the option of the holders thereof, if applicable, and the Operating Partnership’s, or any guarantor’s, if applicable, obligation to pay Additional Amounts in respect of such debt securities to the extent described below, when:

 

    either

 

  (A) all outstanding debt securities of that series have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, subject to exceptions, or

 

35


Table of Contents
  (B) all debt securities of that series have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and the Operating Partnership has deposited with the Trustee, in trust, funds in the currency in which the debt securities of that series are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series, including the principal thereof and, premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon, and, to the extent that (x) the debt securities of that series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of any Additional Amounts which are or will be payable is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by the Operating Partnership, in the exercise of its sole discretion, those Additional Amounts, to the date of such deposit, if the debt securities of that series have become due and payable, or to the maturity or redemption date of the debt securities of that series, as the case may be;

and, in either case

 

    the Operating Partnership has paid all other sums payable under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series (including amounts payable to the Trustee); and

 

    the Trustee has received an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series have been satisfied.

If the debt securities of any series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Operating Partnership or any guarantor, as applicable, will remain obligated, following the deposit described above, to pay Additional Amounts on those debt securities to the extent that they exceed the amount deposited in respect of those Additional Amounts as described above.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Operating Partnership may elect with respect to the debt securities of the particular series either:

 

    to defease and discharge itself and any guarantor from any and all obligations with respect to those debt securities (“legal defeasance”), except for, among other things:

 

  (A) the obligation to pay Additional Amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of specified events of taxation, assessment, or governmental charge with respect to payments on those debt securities to the extent that those Additional Amounts exceed the amount deposited in respect of those amounts as provided below;

 

  (B) the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of those debt securities;

 

  (C) the obligation to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen debt securities;

 

  (D) the obligation to maintain an office or agent of the Operating Partnership in The City of New York, in respect of those debt securities;

 

  (E) the rights of holders of such outstanding debt securities to receive payments from moneys held in trust when such payments are due;

 

  (F) the obligation, if applicable, to repurchase those debt securities at the option of the holders thereof; and

 

  (G) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee; or

 

   

to be released from its obligations and the obligations of any guarantor with respect to those debt securities under (A) certain covenants in the Indenture related to the preservation of the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Operating Partnership and (B) if applicable, other covenants as may

 

36


Table of Contents
 

be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, and any omission to comply with those obligations shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default with respect to those debt securities (“covenant defeasance”),

in either case upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee, in trust for that purpose, of an amount in the currency in which those debt securities are payable at maturity or, if applicable, upon redemption, and/or government obligations (as defined in the Indenture) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and any premium and any interest on, and, to the extent that (x) those debt securities provide for the payment of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of the Additional Amounts which are or will be payable is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by the Operating Partnership, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, the Additional Amounts with respect to, those debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments on those debt securities, on the due dates for those payments. If the cash and government obligations deposited are sufficient to pay the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series on a particular redemption date, the Operating Partnership shall have given the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem those debt securities on that date.

The legal defeasance or covenant defeasance described above shall only be effective if, among other things:

 

    it shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Operating Partnership is a party or is bound;

 

    in the case of legal defeasance, the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

 

  (A) the Operating Partnership has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

  (B) since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based on this ruling or change the opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the legal defeasance had not occurred;

 

    in the case of covenant defeasance, the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the covenant defeasance had not occurred;

 

    no Event of Default or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the applicable series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit into trust;

 

    solely in the case of legal defeasance, no Event of Default arising from specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to the Operating Partnership or any guarantor or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become such an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of the deposit into trust; and

 

    the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and legal opinion to the effect that all conditions precedent to the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been satisfied.

 

37


Table of Contents

In the event the Operating Partnership effects covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series and those debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default other than an Event of Default with respect to the covenants as to which covenant defeasance has been effected, which covenants would no longer be applicable to the debt securities of that series after covenant defeasance, the amount of monies and/or government obligations deposited with the Trustee to effect covenant defeasance may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of any acceleration resulting from that Event of Default. However, the Operating Partnership would remain liable to make payment of those amounts due at the time of acceleration.

The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting or restricting legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities of a particular series.

Concerning the Trustee

The Indenture provides that there may be more than one Trustee under the Indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. If there are different Trustees for different series of debt securities, each Trustee will be a Trustee of a trust or trusts separate and apart from the trust or trusts administered by any other Trustee under the Indenture. Unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a Trustee may be taken by such Trustee only with respect to the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the Trustee under the Indenture. Any Trustee under the Indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery (including authentication and delivery on original issuance of the debt securities) of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the Trustee with respect to that series at an office designated by the Trustee.

The Bank of New York Mellon has been appointed to act as the trustee under the Indenture. We may maintain corporate trust relationships in the ordinary course of business with the Trustee. The Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities, unless offered satisfactory indemnity by the holder against the costs, expense and liabilities which might be incurred thereby.

Under the Trust Indenture Act, the Indenture is deemed to contain limitations on the right of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Operating Partnership, to obtain payment of claims in some cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee may engage in other transactions with the Operating Partnership. If it acquires any conflicting interest under the Trust Indenture Act relating to any of its duties with respect to the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as Trustee.

Governing Law

The Indenture, the debt securities and any related guarantees will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Notices

All notices to holders of debt securities shall be validly given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to them at their respective addresses in the register maintained by the trustee.

 

38


Table of Contents

BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM

The debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities (“Global Notes”) that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. The Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to DTC, to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for definitive debt securities in registered certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) except in the limited circumstances described below. See “—Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes.” Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in certificated form. Investors may elect to hold their interest in the Global Notes through either DTC, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”) or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) if they are participants in these systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in these systems. Clearstream and Euroclear in turn will hold interests in such Global Notes as Participants on the books of DTC.

Depository procedures

The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream is provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. The Operating Partnership takes no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urge investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.

DTC has advised the Operating Partnership that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between the Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.

DTC has also advised the Operating Partnership that, pursuant to procedures established by it:

 

    upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of the Participants designated by the underwriters with portions of the principal amount of the Global Notes; and

 

    ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of these interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interest in the Global Notes).

Investors in the Global Notes who are Participants may hold their interests therein directly through DTC. Investors in the Global Notes who are not Participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) which are Participants. All interests in a Global Note, including those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of the Participants,

 

39


Table of Contents

which in turn act on behalf of the Indirect Participants, the ability of a person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.

Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global Notes will not have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of debt securities in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or “holders” thereof under the indenture governing the debt securities for any purpose.

Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under the indenture governing the debt securities. Under the terms of the indenture, the Operating Partnership and the trustee will treat the persons in whose names the debt securities, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners of the debt securities for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither the Operating Partnership, the trustee nor any agent of them has or will have any responsibility or liability for:

 

    any aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or

 

    any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants.

DTC has advised the Operating Partnership that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the debt securities (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of debt securities will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or us. Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of the Participants or the Indirect Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the debt securities, and we and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.

DTC has advised the Operating Partnership that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of debt securities only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the debt securities and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the debt securities as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the debt securities, DTC reserves the right to exchange the debt securities for legended debt securities in certificated form, and to distribute such debt securities to its Participants.

Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes

A Global Note is exchangeable for Certificated Notes if:

 

    DTC (a) notifies the Operating Partnership that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, the Operating Partnership fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after it receives such notice or of its becoming aware of such cessation;

 

    the Operating Partnership, at its option and subject to DTC’s procedures, notifies the trustee in writing that the Operating Partnership elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated Notes; or

 

    upon request from DTC if there has occurred and is continuing a default or Event of Default with respect to the debt securities.

 

40


Table of Contents

In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given to the trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the indenture. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of DTC (in accordance with its customary procedures).

Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes

Certificated Notes, if any, may be exchanged for beneficial interests in Global Notes.

Same day settlement and payment

The underwriters will settle the debt securities in immediately available funds. the Operating Partnership will make payments in respect of the debt securities represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC or its nominee. The Operating Partnership will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, with respect to Certificated Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders of the Certificated Notes or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address. The debt securities represented by the Global Notes are expected to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such debt securities will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. The Operating Partnership expects that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.

Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has advised the Operating Partnership that cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

 

41


Table of Contents

MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following summary describes the material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership of our common stock as of the date hereof by United States holders and non-United States holders, each as defined below. We will summarize any special United States federal income tax considerations relevant to a particular issue of securities other than our common stock in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except where noted, this summary deals only with common stock held as a capital asset and does not deal with special situations, such as those of dealers in securities or currencies, financial institutions, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt entities (except as described in “—Taxation of Tax-Exempt Holders of Our Common Stock” below), insurance companies, persons holding common stock as a part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction or a straddle, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings, persons liable for alternative minimum tax, investors in pass-through entities or United States holders of common stock whose “functional currency” is not the United States dollar. Furthermore, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities may be repealed, revoked or modified, possibly with retroactive effect, so as to result in United States federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below. The summary is also based upon the assumption that we and our subsidiaries and affiliated entities will operate in accordance with our and their applicable organizational documents.

The United States federal income tax treatment of holders of our common stock depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of United States federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. In addition, the tax consequences to any particular stockholder of holding our common stock will depend on the stockholder’s particular tax circumstances. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors concerning the United States federal income tax consequences in light of your particular situation as well as consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

Our Taxation as a REIT

We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2011. We believe that we have been organized and have operated and will continue to operate in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the applicable provisions of the Code. Substantially all of our assets consist of the common stock of BPG Subsidiary, an entity that has elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2007. As described further below, our ability to qualify for taxation as a REIT depends on BPG Subsidiary qualifying for taxation as a REIT by satisfying the requirements under the applicable provisions of the Code.

In connection with the filing of this prospectus, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has rendered an opinion that, commencing with our initial taxable year ended December 31, 2011, we have been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and our actual and proposed method of operation has enabled and will enable us to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. Investors should be aware that the opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is based upon customary assumptions, is conditioned upon certain representations made by us as to factual matters, including representations regarding the nature of our assets, income, organizational documents, stockholder ownership, and the present and future conduct of our business and is not binding upon the IRS or any court. We have not received, and do not intend to seek, any rulings from the IRS regarding our status as a REIT or our satisfaction of the REIT requirements. The IRS may challenge our status a REIT, and a court could sustain any such challenge. In addition, the opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is based on existing federal income tax law governing qualification as a REIT, which is subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Moreover, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating results, certain qualification tests set forth in the United States federal tax laws. Those

 

42


Table of Contents

qualification tests involve the percentage of income that we earn from specified sources, the percentage of our assets that falls within specified categories, the diversity of the ownership of our shares, and the percentage of our taxable income that we distribute. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP will not review our compliance with those tests on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operations for any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements. For a discussion of the tax consequences of our failure to qualify as a REIT, see “—Failure to Qualify.”

The sections of the Code and the corresponding regulations that govern the United States federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders are highly technical and complex. The following discussion is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative interpretations thereof.

Taxation of REITs in General

As indicated above, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Code. The material qualification requirements are summarized below under “—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT.” While we intend to operate so that we qualify as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our qualification, or that we will be able to operate in accordance with the REIT requirements in the future. See “—Failure to Qualify.”

Provided that we qualify as a REIT, generally we will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay and therefore will not be subject to United States federal corporate income tax on our net taxable income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” at the corporate and stockholder levels that generally results from an investment in a C corporation. A “C corporation” is a corporation that generally is required to pay tax at the corporate level. Double taxation means taxation once at the corporate level when income is earned and once again at the stockholder level when the income is distributed. In general, the income that we generate is taxed only at the stockholder level upon a distribution of dividends to our stockholders.

If we qualify as a REIT, we will nonetheless be subject to United States federal tax in the following circumstances:

 

    We will pay United States federal income tax on our taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to stockholders during, or within a specified time after, the calendar year in which the income is earned.

 

    Under some circumstances, we may be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” due to our undistributed items of tax preference and alternative minimum tax adjustments.

 

    If we have net income from “prohibited transactions,” which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, other than foreclosure property, such income will be subject to a 100% tax.

 

    If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage loan or from certain leasehold terminations as “foreclosure property,” we may thereby avoid (a) the 100% tax on gain from a resale of that property (if the sale would otherwise constitute a prohibited transaction) and (b) the inclusion of any income from such property not qualifying for purposes of the REIT gross income tests discussed below, but the income from the sale or operation of the property may be subject to United States corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate (currently 35%).

 

    If due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect we fail to satisfy either the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT

 

    because other requirements are met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, multiplied in either case by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

 

43


Table of Contents
    If we fail to satisfy the asset tests (other than a de minimis failure of the 5% asset test or the 10% vote or value test, as described below under “—Asset Tests”), as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we dispose of the assets or otherwise comply with such asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify such failure and we file a schedule with the IRS describing the assets that caused such failure, we will pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the net income from the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy such asset tests multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%).

 

    If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, and the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

 

    We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet recordkeeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REIT’s stockholders, as described below in “—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT.”

 

    If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:

 

    85% of our ordinary income for such calendar year;

 

    95% of our capital gain net income for such calendar year; and

 

    any undistributed taxable income from prior taxable years,

we will pay a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amount we actually distributed, plus any retained amounts on which income tax has been paid at the corporate level.

 

    We may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net long-term capital gain. In that case, a United States stockholder would include its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain (to the extent we make a timely designation of such gain to the stockholder) in its income, and would receive a credit or a refund for its proportionate share of the tax we paid.

 

    We will be subject to a 100% excise tax on amounts received by us from a taxable REIT subsidiary (or on certain expenses deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary) if certain arrangements between us and a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours, as further described below, are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.

 

    If we acquire any assets from a non-REIT C corporation in a carry-over basis transaction, we could be liable for specified tax liabilities inherited from that non-REIT C corporation with respect to that corporation’s “built-in gain” in its assets. Built-in gain is the amount by which an asset’s fair market value exceeds its adjusted tax basis at the time we acquire the asset. Applicable Treasury regulations, however, allow us to avoid the recognition of gain and the imposition of corporate level tax with respect to a built-in gain asset acquired in a carry-over basis transaction from a non-REIT C corporation unless and until we dispose of that built-in gain asset during the 10-year period following its acquisition, at which time we would recognize, and would be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate on, the built-in gain.

 

    In addition, notwithstanding our status as a REIT, we may also have to pay certain state and local income taxes, because not all states and localities treat REITs in the same manner that they are treated for United States federal income tax purposes. Moreover, as further described below, any domestic taxable REIT subsidiary in which we own an interest will be subject to United States federal corporate income tax on its net income.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT. The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

(1) that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

44


Table of Contents

(2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;

(3) that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for its election to be subject to tax as a REIT;

(4) that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code;

(5) the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;

(6) of which not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares are owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) after applying certain attribution rules;

(7) that makes an election to be a REIT for the current taxable year or has made such an election for a previous taxable year, which has not been terminated or revoked; and

(8) that meets other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets.

Conditions (1) through (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year. Condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months other than the first taxable year for which an election to become a REIT is made. Condition (6) must be met during the last half of each taxable year, but neither conditions (5) nor (6) apply to the first taxable year for which an election to become a REIT is made. We believe that we have maintained and will maintain sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to continue to satisfy conditions (5) and (6) above. In addition, our charter contains restrictions regarding the transfer of our stock that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. The provisions of our charter restricting the ownership and transfer of our stock are described in “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will be able to satisfy these share ownership requirements. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, we will fail to qualify as a REIT.

If we comply with regulatory rules pursuant to which we are required to send annual letters to holders of our stock requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our stock (as discussed below), and we do not know, or exercising reasonable diligence would not have known, whether we failed to meet requirement (6) above, we will be treated as having met the requirement.

To monitor compliance with the share ownership requirements, we generally are required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our stock pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons required to include our dividends in their gross income). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record-keeping requirements. If you fail or refuse to comply with the demands, you will be required by United States Treasury regulations to submit a statement with your tax return disclosing your actual ownership of our shares and other information. In addition, we must satisfy all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS to elect and maintain REIT status, use a calendar year for federal income tax purposes, and comply with the record keeping requirements of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Ownership of Partnership Interests. In the case of a REIT that is a partner in an entity that is treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, Treasury regulations provide that the REIT is deemed to own its proportionate share of the partnership’s assets and to earn its proportionate share of the partnership’s gross income based on its pro rata share of capital interests in the partnership for purposes of the asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs, as described below. However, solely for purposes of the 10% value test, described below (see “—Asset Tests”), the determination of a REIT’s interest in partnership assets will be based on the REIT’s proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership, excluding for these purposes,

 

45


Table of Contents

certain excluded securities as described in the Code. In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership generally are deemed to retain the same character in the hands of the REIT. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income of partnerships in which we own an equity interest is treated as assets and items of income of our company for purposes of applying the REIT requirements described below. Consequently, to the extent that we directly or indirectly hold a preferred or other equity interest in a partnership, the partnership’s assets and operations may affect our ability to qualify as a REIT, even though we may have no control or only limited influence over the partnership.

Disregarded Subsidiaries. If a REIT owns a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” the separate existence of that subsidiary is disregarded for United States federal income tax purposes. Generally, a qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary, all of the stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by the REIT. Other entities that are wholly-owned by us, including single member limited liability companies that have not elected to be taxed as corporations for United States federal income tax purposes, are also generally disregarded as separate entities for United States federal income tax purposes, including for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests. All assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of qualified REIT subsidiaries and disregarded subsidiaries will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT itself. A qualified REIT subsidiary of ours is not subject to United States federal corporate income taxation, although it may be subject to state and local taxation in some states.

In the event that a qualified REIT subsidiary or a disregarded subsidiary ceases to be wholly-owned by us (for example, if any equity interest in the subsidiary is acquired by a person other than us or another disregarded subsidiary of us), the subsidiary’s separate existence would no longer be disregarded for United States federal income tax purposes. Instead, it would have multiple owners and would be treated as either a partnership or a taxable corporation. Such an event could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the value or voting power of the outstanding securities of another corporation. See “—Asset Tests” and “—Income Tests.”

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. A “taxable REIT subsidiary” is an entity that is taxable as a corporation in which we directly or indirectly own stock and that elects with us to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. The separate existence of a taxable REIT subsidiary is not ignored for United States federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a taxable REIT subsidiary generally is subject to corporate income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash flow that we and our subsidiaries generate in the aggregate, and may reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. In addition, if a taxable REIT subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, securities representing 35% or more of the vote or value of a subsidiary corporation, that subsidiary will also be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. However, an entity will not qualify as a taxable REIT subsidiary if it directly or indirectly operates or manages a lodging or health care facility or, generally, provides to another person, under a franchise, license or otherwise, rights to any brand name under which any lodging facility or health care facility is operated. We generally may not own more than 10%, as measured by voting power or value, of the securities of a corporation that is not a qualified REIT subsidiary, unless we and such corporation elect to treat such corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Overall, no more than 25% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries.

Income earned by a taxable REIT subsidiary is not attributable to the REIT. Rather, the stock issued by a taxable REIT subsidiary to us is an asset in our hands, and we treat dividends paid to us from such taxable REIT subsidiary, if any, as income. This income can affect our income and asset tests calculations, as described below. As a result, income that might not be qualifying income for purposes of the income tests applicable to REITs could be earned by a taxable REIT subsidiary without affecting our status as a REIT. For example, we may use taxable REIT subsidiaries to perform services or conduct activities that give rise to certain categories of income such as management fees, or to conduct activities that, if conducted by us directly, would be treated in our hands as prohibited transactions.

 

46


Table of Contents

Several provisions of the Code regarding the arrangements between a REIT and its taxable REIT subsidiaries ensure that a taxable REIT subsidiary will be subject to an appropriate level of United States federal income taxation. For example, a taxable REIT subsidiary is limited in its ability to deduct interest payments made to affiliated REITs. In addition, we would be obligated to pay a 100% penalty tax on some payments that we receive from, or on certain expenses deducted by, a taxable REIT subsidiary if the IRS were to assert successfully that the economic arrangements between us and a taxable REIT subsidiary are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.

Income Tests

To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements, each of which is applied on an annual basis. First, at least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging and foreign currency transactions, for each taxable year generally must be derived directly or indirectly from:

 

    Rents from real property;

 

    Interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property;

 

    Dividends or other distributions on, and gain from the sale of, stock in other REITs;

 

    Gain from the sale of real property or mortgage loans;

 

    Abatements and refunds of taxes on real property;

 

    Income and gain derived from foreclosure property (as described below);

 

    Amounts (other than amounts the determination of which depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person) received or accrued as consideration for entering into agreements (i) to make loans secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property or (ii) to purchase or lease real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property); and

 

    Interest or dividend income from investments in stock or debt instruments attributable to the temporary investment of new capital during the one-year period following our receipt of new capital that we raise through equity offerings or public offerings of debt obligations with at least a five-year term.

Second, at least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging transactions, for each taxable year must be derived from sources that qualify for purposes of the 75% test, and from (i) dividends, (ii) interest and (iii) gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, which need not have any relation to real property.

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% and 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for that year if we are entitled to relief under the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet the tests is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, and we attach a schedule of the sources of our income to our United States federal income tax return. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests because nonqualifying income that we intentionally recognize exceeds the limits on nonqualifying income, the IRS could conclude that the failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances, we will fail to qualify as a REIT. Even if these relief provisions apply, a penalty tax would be imposed based on the amount of nonqualifying income. See “—Our Taxation as a REIT.”

Gross income from our sale of property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business is excluded from both the numerator and the denominator in both gross income tests. In addition, income and gain from hedging transactions that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets and that are clearly and timely identified as such will be excluded from both the

 

47


Table of Contents

numerator and the denominator for purposes of both gross income tests. In addition, certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests. We will monitor the amount of our non-qualifying income, and we will manage our portfolio to comply at all times with the gross income tests. The following paragraphs discuss some of the specific applications of the gross income tests to us.

Dividends. We may directly or indirectly receive distributions from taxable REIT subsidiaries or other corporations that are not REITs or qualified REIT subsidiaries. These distributions generally are treated as dividend income to the extent of earnings and profits of the distributing corporation. Our dividend income from stock in any corporation (other than any REIT) and from any taxable REIT subsidiary will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not the 75% gross income test. Dividends that we receive from any REITs in which we own stock and our gain on the sale of the stock in those REITs will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests. However, if a REIT in which we own stock fails to qualify as a REIT in any year, our income from such REIT would be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not the 75% gross income test.

Interest. The term “interest,” as defined for purposes of both gross income tests, generally excludes any amount that is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person, however, it generally includes the following: (i) an amount that is received or accrued based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales, and (ii) an amount that is based on the income or profits of a debtor, as long as the debtor derives substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt by leasing substantially all of its interest in the property, and only to the extent that the amounts received by the debtor would be qualifying “rents from real property” if received directly by a REIT.

Interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, including, for this purpose, prepayment penalties, loan assumption fees and late payment charges that are not compensation for services, generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. However, if the highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan as of the date we agreed to originate or acquire the loan, a portion of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. The portion of the interest income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test will be equal to the portion of the principal amount of the loan that is not secured by real property—that is, the amount by which the loan exceeds the value of the real estate that is security for the loan.

Hedging Transactions. We and our subsidiaries may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, options, futures contracts, forward rate agreements or similar financial instruments. Except to the extent provided by Treasury regulations, any income from a hedging transaction we enter into (1) in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets, which is clearly identified as a hedge along with the risk that it hedges within prescribed time periods specified in Treasury Regulations, or (2) primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% income tests which is clearly identified as a hedge along with the risk that it hedges within prescribed time periods, will be excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% or 95% gross income tests. To the extent that we enter into other types of hedging transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Moreover, to the extent that a position in a hedging transaction has positive value at any particular point in time, it may be treated as an asset that does not qualify for purposes of the asset tests described below. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT. No assurance can be given, however, that our hedging activities will not give rise to income or assets that do not qualify for purposes of the REIT tests, or that our hedging will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.

 

48


Table of Contents

We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities through a taxable REIT subsidiary or other corporate entity, the income of which may be subject to United States federal income tax, rather than by participating in the arrangements directly or through pass-through subsidiaries.

Fee Income. Any fee income that we earn will generally not be qualifying income for purposes of either gross income test. Any fees earned by a taxable REIT subsidiary will not be included for purposes of the gross income tests.

Rents from Real Property. Rents we receive will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions described below are met. These conditions relate to the identity of the tenant, the computation of the rent payable, and the nature of the property leased. First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from rents from real property solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, rents we receive from a “related party tenant” will not qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income tests unless the tenant is a taxable REIT subsidiary, at least 90% of the property is leased to unrelated tenants, the rent paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary is substantially comparable to the rent paid by the unrelated tenants for comparable space and the rent is not attributable to an increase in rent due to a modification of a lease with a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” (i.e., a taxable REIT subsidiary in which we own directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting power or value of the stock). A tenant is a related party tenant if the REIT, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the REIT, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the tenant. Whether rents paid by a taxable REIT subsidiary are substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants is determined at the time the lease with the taxable REIT subsidiary is entered into, extended, or modified, if such modification increases the rents due under such lease. Third, if rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to the personal property will not qualify as rents from real property. Finally, for rents to qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of the gross income tests, we are only allowed to provide services that are both usually or “customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of real property and not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant” of the property. Examples of these permitted services include the provision of light, heat, or other utilities, trash removal and general maintenance of common areas. We may, however, render services to our tenants through an “independent contractor” who is adequately compensated and from whom we do not derive revenue. We may also own a taxable REIT subsidiary which provides non-customary services to tenants without tainting our rental income from the related properties.

Even if a REIT furnishes or renders services that are non-customary with respect to a property, if the greater of (i) the amounts received or accrued, directly or indirectly, or deemed received by the REIT with respect to such services, or (ii) 150% of our direct cost in furnishing or rendering the services during a taxable year is not more than 1% of all amounts received or accrued, directly or indirectly by the REIT with respect to the property during the same taxable year, then only the amounts with respect to such non-customary services are not treated as rent for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.

We intend to cause any services that are not “usually or customarily rendered,” or that are for the benefit of a particular tenant in connection with the rental of real property, to be provided through a taxable REIT subsidiary or through an “independent contractor” who is adequately compensated and from which we do not derive revenue. However, no assurance can be given that the IRS will concur with our determination as to whether a particular service is usual or customary, or otherwise in this regard.

Prohibited Transactions Tax. A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds as primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Whether a REIT holds an asset as primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business depends, however, on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including those related to a particular asset. Nevertheless, we intend to conduct our

 

49


Table of Contents

operations so that no asset that we own (or are treated as owning) will be treated as, or as having been, held for sale to customers, and that a sale of any such asset will not be treated as having been in the ordinary course of our business. We cannot assure you that we will comply with certain safe harbor provisions or that we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. The 100% tax will not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a taxable REIT subsidiary or other taxable corporation, although such income will be subject to tax in the hands of such corporation at regular corporate income tax rates. We intend to structure our activities to avoid prohibited transaction characterization.

Foreclosure Property. Foreclosure property is any real property, including interests in real property, and any personal property incident to such real property:

 

    That is acquired by a REIT as the result of the REIT having bid in such property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced such property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a default or default was imminent on a lease of such property or on indebtedness that such property secured;

 

    For which the related loan was acquired by the REIT at a time when the default was not imminent or anticipated; and

 

    For which the REIT makes a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property.

However, a REIT will not be considered to have foreclosed on a property where the REIT takes control of the property as a mortgagee-in-possession and cannot receive any profit or sustain any loss except as a creditor of the mortgagor.

Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of the third taxable year following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, or longer if an extension is granted by the Secretary of the Treasury. This grace period terminates and foreclosure property ceases to be foreclosure property on the first day:

 

    On which a lease is entered into for the property that, by its terms, will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, or any amount is received or accrued, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a lease entered into on or after such day that will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test;

 

    On which any construction takes place on the property, other than completion of a building or any other improvement, if more than 10% of the construction was completed before default became imminent; or

 

    Which is more than 90 days after the day on which the REIT acquired the property and the property is used in a trade or business that is conducted by the REIT, other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT itself does not derive or receive any income.

We will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any income from foreclosure property, including gain from the disposition of the foreclosure property, other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, less expenses directly connected with the production of that income. However, income from foreclosure property, including gain from the sale of foreclosure property held for sale in the ordinary course of a trade or business, will qualify for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Any gain from the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election has been made will not be subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described above, even if the property would otherwise constitute inventory or dealer property.

 

50


Table of Contents

Asset Tests

At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must satisfy the following tests relating to the nature of our assets.

 

    At least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by the following:

 

    interests in real property, including leaseholds and options to acquire real property and leaseholds;

 

    interests in mortgages on real property;

 

    stock in other REITs;

 

    cash and cash items;

 

    government securities; and

 

    investments in stock or debt instruments attributable to the temporary investment of new capital during the one-year period following our receipt of new capital that we raise through equity offerings or public offerings of debt obligations with at least a five-year term.

 

    Not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities, other than those in the 75% asset class.

 

    Except for securities in taxable REIT subsidiaries and the securities in the 75% asset class described in the first bullet point above, the value of any one issuer’s securities owned by us may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets.

 

    Except for securities in taxable REIT subsidiaries and the securities in the 75% asset class described in the first bullet point above, we may not own more than 10% of any one issuer’s outstanding voting securities.

 

    Except for securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries and the securities in the 75% asset class described in the first bullet point above, we may not own more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer, other than securities that qualify for the “straight debt” exception discussed below.

 

    Not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by the securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the general rule, as noted above, that for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests we are treated as owning our proportionate share of the underlying assets of a subsidiary partnership, if we hold indebtedness issued by a partnership, the indebtedness will be subject to, and may cause a violation of, the asset tests unless the indebtedness is a qualifying mortgage asset or other conditions are met. Similarly, although stock of another REIT is a qualifying asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests, any non-mortgage debt that is issued by another REIT may not so qualify (although such debt will not be treated as “securities” for purposes of the 10% asset test, as explained below).

Securities, for the purposes of the asset tests, may include debt we hold from other issuers. However, debt we hold in an issuer that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test will not be taken into account for purposes of the 10% value test if the debt securities meet the straight debt safe harbor. Debt will meet the “straight debt” safe harbor if the debt is a written unconditional promise to pay on demand or on a specified date a sum certain in money, the debt is not convertible, directly or indirectly, into stock, and the interest rate and the interest payment dates of the debt are not contingent on the profits, the borrower’s discretion or similar factors. In the case of an issuer that is a corporation or a partnership, securities that otherwise would be considered straight debt will not be so considered if we, and any of our “controlled taxable REIT subsidiaries” as defined in the Code, hold any securities of the corporate or partnership issuer that (a) are not straight debt or other excluded securities (prior to the application of this rule), and (b) have an aggregate value greater than 1% of the issuer’s outstanding securities (including, for the purposes of a partnership issuer, our interest as a partner in the partnership).

 

51


Table of Contents

In addition to straight debt, the Code provides that certain other securities will not violate the 10% asset test. Such securities include (i) any loan made to an individual or an estate, (ii) certain rental agreements pursuant to which one or more payments are to be made in subsequent years (other than agreements between a REIT and certain persons related to the REIT under attribution rules), (iii) any obligation to pay rents from real property, (iv) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of (or payments made by) a non-governmental entity, (v) any security (including debt securities) issued by another REIT and (vi) any debt instrument issued by a partnership if the partnership’s income is of a nature that it would satisfy the 75% gross income test described above under “—Income Tests.” In applying the 10% asset test, a debt security issued by a partnership (other than straight debt or any other excluded security) is not taken into account to the extent, if any, of the REIT’s proportionate interest as a partner in that partnership.

Any stock that we hold in other REITs will be a qualifying asset for purposes of the 75% asset test. However, if a REIT in which we own stock fails to qualify as a REIT in any year, the stock in such REIT will not be a qualifying asset for purposes of the 75% asset test. Instead, we would be subject to the second, third, fourth, and fifth asset tests described above with respect to our investment in such a disqualified REIT. We will also be subject to those assets tests with respect to our investments in any non-REIT C corporations for which we do not make a taxable REIT subsidiary election. So long as we hold our interests in the Operating Partnership through BPG Subsidiary, we would not be able to satisfy the above asset tests and would fail to qualify as a REIT if BPG Subsidiary failed to qualify as a REIT and were instead treated as a non-REIT C corporation.

We will monitor the status of our assets for purposes of the various asset tests and will seek to manage our portfolio to comply at all times with such tests. There can be no assurances, however, that we will be successful in this effort. No independent appraisals have been obtained to support our conclusions as to the value of our total assets or the value of any particular security or securities. Moreover, the values of some assets may not be susceptible to a precise determination, and values are subject to change in the future. Furthermore, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for United States federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances, which could affect the application of the REIT asset requirements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our interests in our subsidiaries or in the securities of other issuers will not cause a violation of the REIT asset tests.

However, certain relief provisions are available to allow REITs to satisfy the asset requirements or to maintain REIT qualification notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements. For example, if we should fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, such a failure would not cause us to lose our REIT qualification if we (i) satisfied the asset tests at the close of the preceding calendar quarter and (ii) the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset requirements was not wholly or partly caused by an acquisition of non-qualifying assets, but instead arose from changes in the relative market values of our assets. If the condition described in (ii) were not satisfied, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose or by making use of the relief provisions described above.

In the case of de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests, a REIT may maintain its qualification despite a violation of such requirements if (i) the value of the assets causing the violation does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT’s total assets and $10,000,000 and (ii) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.

Even if we did not qualify for the foregoing relief provisions, one additional provision allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements for a particular tax quarter to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (i) the REIT provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (ii) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (iii) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 per failure and (b) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 35%) and (iv) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the

 

52


Table of Contents

failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.

Annual Distribution Requirements Applicable to REITs

To qualify as a REIT, we generally must distribute dividends (other than capital gain dividends) to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to:

 

    the sum of (i) 90% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain and (ii) 90% of our net income after tax, if any, from foreclosure property; minus

 

    the excess of the sum of specified items of non-cash income (including original issue discount on our mortgage loans) over 5% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain.

Distributions generally must be made during the taxable year to which they relate. Distributions may be made in the following year in two circumstances. First, if we declare a dividend in October, November or December of any year with a record date in one of these months and pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the following year, we will be treated as having paid the dividend on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared. Second, distributions may be made in the following year if the dividends are declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and if made before the first regular dividend payment made after such declaration. These distributions are taxable to our stockholders in the year in which paid, even though the distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or we distribute at least 90%, but less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we will be subject to tax on the undistributed amount at regular corporate tax rates.

To the extent that in the future we may have available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, will generally not affect the tax treatment to our stockholders of any distributions that are actually made.

In order for distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirements for REITs, and to provide us with a REIT-level tax deduction, the distributions must not be “preferential dividends.” A dividend is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (1) pro-rata among all outstanding shares of stock within a particular class, and (2) in accordance with the preferences among different classes of stock as set forth in our organizational documents.

If we fail to distribute during a calendar year (or, in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, by the end of January following such calendar year) at least the sum of (i) 85% of our ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our capital gain net income for such year and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior years, we will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (x) the amounts actually distributed (taking into account excess distributions from prior years) and (y) the amounts of income retained on which we have paid corporate income tax.

We may elect to retain rather than distribute all or a portion of our net capital gains and pay the tax on the gains. In that case, we may elect to have our stockholders include their proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gains in income as long-term capital gains and receive a credit for their share of the tax paid by us. Our stockholders would then increase the adjusted basis of their stock by the difference between (i) the amounts of capital gain dividends that we designated and that they include in their taxable income, minus (ii) the tax that we paid on their behalf with respect to that income. For purposes of the 4% excise tax described above, any retained amounts for which we elect this treatment would be treated as having been distributed.

We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the distribution requirements, and we expect that our REIT taxable income will be less than our cash flow because of depreciation and other non-cash charges

 

53


Table of Contents

included in computing REIT taxable income. Accordingly, we anticipate that we generally will have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the distribution requirements described above. However, it is possible that, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the distribution requirements due to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses, and the inclusion of items of income and deduction of expenses by us for United States federal income tax purposes. In addition, we may decide to retain our cash, rather than distribute it, in order to repay debt, acquire assets or for other reasons. In the event that such timing differences occur, and in other circumstances, it may be necessary in order to satisfy the distribution requirements to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings, or to pay the dividends in the form of other property (including, for example, shares of our own stock).

Although several types of non-cash income are excluded in determining the annual distribution requirement, we will incur corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax with respect to those non-cash income items if we do not distribute those items on a current basis. As a result of the foregoing, we may not have sufficient cash to distribute all of our taxable income and thereby avoid corporate income tax and the excise tax imposed on certain undistributed income. In such a situation, we may need to borrow funds or issue additional common stock or preferred stock.

If our taxable income for a particular year is subsequently determined to have been understated, under some circumstances we may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying deficiency dividends to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. However, we will be required to pay interest based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

Like-Kind Exchanges

We may dispose of properties in transactions intended to qualify as like-kind exchanges under the Code. Such like-kind exchanges are intended to result in the deferral of gain for United States federal income tax purposes. The failure of any such transaction to qualify as a like-kind exchange could require us to pay federal income tax, possibly including the 100% prohibited transaction tax, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction.

Penalty Tax

Any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions or excess interest we generate will be subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of any services furnished to any of our tenants by a taxable REIT subsidiary, and redetermined deductions and excess interest represent any amounts that are deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations. Rents that we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for certain safe harbor provisions contained in the Code.

From time to time, a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours may provide services to our tenants. We intend to set any fees paid to our taxable REIT subsidiary for such services at arm’s length rates, although the fees paid may not satisfy the safe-harbor provisions described above. These determinations are inherently factual, and the IRS has broad discretion to assert that amounts paid between related parties should be reallocated to clearly reflect their respective incomes. If the IRS successfully made such an assertion, we would be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on the excess of an arm’s length fee for tenant services over the amount actually paid.

Record Keeping Requirements

We are required to comply with applicable record keeping requirements. Failure to comply could result in monetary fines. For example, we must request on an annual basis information from our stockholders designed to disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding common stock.

 

54


Table of Contents

Failure to Qualify

If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements of REIT qualification, other than the income tests or asset requirements, then we may still retain REIT qualification if the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each failure.

If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. This would significantly reduce both our cash available for distribution to our stockholders and our earnings. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, we will not be required to make any distributions to stockholders and any distributions that are made will not be deductible by us. Moreover, all distributions to stockholders would be taxable as dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, whether or not attributable to capital gains of ours. Subject to certain limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction with respect to those distributions, and individual, trust and estate distributees may be eligible for reduced income tax rates on such dividends. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also will be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost.

Tax Aspects of BPG Subsidiary’s Operating Partnership and any Subsidiary Partnerships

General. All of the investments of BPG Subsidiary are held through its Operating Partnership. In addition, the Operating Partnership holds certain investments indirectly through subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies which are treated as partnerships or disregarded entities for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, entities that are treated as partnerships or disregarded entities for United States federal income tax purposes are “pass-through” entities which are not required to pay federal income tax. Rather, partners or members of such entities are allocated their shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the partnership or limited liability company, and are potentially required to pay tax on this income, without regard to whether they receive a distribution from the partnership or limited liability company. A partner in such entities that is a REIT will include in its income its share of these partnership and limited liability company items for purposes of the various gross income tests, the computation of its REIT taxable income, and the REIT distribution requirements. Moreover, for purposes of the asset tests, it will include its pro rata share of assets held by its Operating Partnership, including its share of its subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies, based on its capital interest in each such entity.

Entity Classification. BPG Subsidiary’s interests in its Operating Partnership and the subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies involve special tax considerations, including the possibility that the IRS might challenge the status of these entities as partnerships (or disregarded entities), as opposed to associations taxable as corporations for United States federal income tax purposes. For example, an entity that would otherwise be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes may nonetheless be taxable as a corporation if it is a “publicly traded partnership” and certain other requirements are met. A partnership or limited liability company would be treated as a publicly traded partnership if its interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or a substantial equivalent thereof, within the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations. If BPG Subsidiary’s Operating Partnership or a subsidiary partnership or limited liability company were treated as an association rather than as a partnership, it would be taxable as a corporation and would be required to pay an entity-level tax on its income. In this situation, the character of BPG Subsidiary’s assets and items of gross income would change and could prevent it from satisfying the REIT asset tests and possibly the REIT income tests. See “—Asset Tests” and “—Income Tests.” This, in turn, could prevent us from qualifying as a REIT. See “—Failure to Qualify” for a discussion of the effect of our failure to meet these tests. In addition, a change in the tax status of BPG Subsidiary’s Operating Partnership, a subsidiary partnership or limited liability company might be treated as a taxable event. If so, BPG Subsidiary, and in turn we, might incur a tax liability without any related cash distributions. We do not anticipate that the Operating Partnership or any subsidiary partnership or limited liability company will be treated as a publicly traded partnership which is taxable as a corporation.

 

55


Table of Contents

Allocations of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction. A partnership agreement (or, in the case of a limited liability company treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, the limited liability company agreement) will generally determine the allocation of partnership income and loss among partners. Generally, Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder require that partnership allocations respect the economic arrangement of the partners. If an allocation of partnership income or loss does not comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership. This reallocation will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. BPG Subsidiary’s Operating Partnership’s allocations of taxable income and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder.

Tax Allocations with Respect to the Properties. Under Section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership (including a limited liability company treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) in exchange for an interest in the partnership, must be allocated in a manner so that the contributing partner is charged with the unrealized gain, or benefits from the unrealized loss, associated with the property at the time of the contribution, as adjusted from time to time. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss generally is equal to the difference between the fair market value or book value and the adjusted tax basis of the contributed property at the time of contribution (this difference is referred to as a book-tax difference), as adjusted from time to time. These allocations are solely for United States federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements among the partners.

Appreciated property was contributed to BPG Subsidiary’s Operating Partnership in exchange for interests in the Operating Partnership in connection with the IPO Property Transfers. The partnership agreement requires that allocations be made in a manner consistent with Section 704(c) of the Code. Treasury Regulations issued under Section 704(c) of the Code provide partnerships with a choice of several methods of accounting for book-tax differences. BPG Subsidiary and its Operating Partnership have agreed to use the “traditional method” for accounting for book-tax differences for the properties initially contributed to the Operating Partnership.

Under the traditional method, the carryover basis of contributed interests in the properties in the hands of the Operating Partnership (i) will or could cause BPG Subsidiary to be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes than would be allocated to it if all contributed properties were to have a tax basis equal to their fair market value at the time of the contribution and (ii) could cause BPG Subsidiary to be allocated taxable gain in the event of a sale of such contributed interests or properties in excess of the economic or book income allocated to it as a result of such sale, with a corresponding benefit to the other partners in the Operating Partnership. An allocation described in (ii) above might cause BPG Subsidiary or the other partners to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds in the event of a sale or other disposition of property, which might adversely affect BPG Subsidiary’s ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See “—Taxation of REITs in General—Requirements for Qualification as a Real Estate Investment Trust” and “—Annual Distribution Requirements Applicable to REITs.” With respect to properties contributed to the Operating Partnership subsequent to the contribution of the initial properties, it is expected that any book-tax differences shall be accounted for using any method approved under Section 704(c) of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations as chosen by the general partner under the partnership agreement. Any property acquired by the Operating Partnership in a taxable transaction will initially have a tax basis equal to its fair market value, and Section 704(c) of the Code will not apply.

Taxation of United States Holders of Our Common Stock

United States Holder. As used in the remainder of this discussion, the term “United States holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

    A citizen or resident of the United States;

 

56


Table of Contents
    A corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;

 

    An estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

    A trust if it (a) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

If a partnership (or an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding common stock, you should consult your advisors. A “non-United States holder” is a beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a United States holder nor a partnership (or an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes).

Distributions Generally. As long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions made by us to our taxable United States holders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits that are not designated as capital gain dividends or “qualified dividend income” will be taken into account by them as ordinary income taxable at ordinary income tax rates and will not qualify for the reduced capital gains rates that currently generally apply to distributions by non-REIT C corporations to certain non-corporate United States holders. In determining the extent to which a distribution constitutes a dividend for tax purposes, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to distributions with respect to our preferred stock, if any, and then to our common stock. Corporate stockholders will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction with respect to these distributions.

Distributions in excess of both current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a United States holder to the extent that the distributions do not exceed the adjusted basis of the holder’s stock. Rather, such distributions will reduce the adjusted basis of the stock. To the extent that distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a United States holder’s stock, the United States holder generally must include such distributions in income as long-term capital gain if the shares have been held for more than one year, or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held for one year or less.

Distributions will generally be taxable, if at all, in the year of the distribution. However, if we declare a dividend in October, November or December of any year with a record date in one of these months and pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the following year, we will be treated as having paid the dividend, and the stockholder will be treated as having received the dividend, on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.

We will be treated as having sufficient earnings and profits to treat as a dividend any distribution we pay up to the amount required to be distributed in order to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax discussed above. Moreover, any “deficiency dividend” will be treated as an ordinary or capital gain dividend, as the case may be, regardless of our earnings and profits. As a result, United States holders may be required to treat certain distributions that would otherwise result in a tax-free return of capital as taxable dividends.

Capital Gain Dividends. We may elect to designate distributions of our net capital gain as “capital gain dividends” to the extent that such distributions do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year. Capital gain dividends are taxed to United States holders of our stock as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than one year. This tax treatment applies regardless of the period during which the stockholders have held their stock. If we designate any portion of a dividend as a capital gain dividend, the amount that will be taxable to the stockholder as capital gain will be indicated to United States holders on IRS Form 1099-DIV. Corporate stockholders, however, may be required to treat up to 20% of capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Capital gain dividends are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations.

 

57


Table of Contents

Instead of paying capital gain dividends, we may elect to require stockholders to include our undistributed net capital gains in their income. If we make such an election, United States holders (i) will include in their income as long-term capital gains their proportionate share of such undistributed capital gains and (ii) will be deemed to have paid their proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such undistributed capital gains and thereby receive a credit or refund to the extent that the tax paid by us exceeds the United States holder’s tax liability on the undistributed capital gain. A United States holder of our stock will increase the basis in its stock by the difference between the amount of capital gain included in its income and the amount of tax it is deemed to have paid. A United States holder that is a corporation will appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gain in accordance with Treasury regulations to be prescribed by the IRS. Our earnings and profits will be adjusted appropriately.

We must classify portions of our designated capital gain dividend into the following categories:

 

    A 20% gain distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate United States holders of our stock at a rate of up to 20%; or

 

    An unrecaptured Section 1250 gain distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate United States holders of our stock at a maximum rate of 25%.

We must determine the maximum amounts that we may designate as 20% and 25% capital gain dividends by performing the computation required by the Code as if the REIT were an individual whose ordinary income were subject to a marginal tax rate of at least 28%. The IRS currently requires that distributions made to different classes of stock be comprised proportionately of dividends of a particular type.

Passive Activity Loss and Investment Interest Limitation. Distributions that we make and gains arising from the disposition of our common stock by a United States holder will not be treated as passive activity income, and therefore United States holders will not be able to apply any “passive activity losses” against such income. Dividends paid by us, to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital, will generally be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment income limitation on the deduction of the investment interest.

Qualified Dividend Income. Distributions that are treated as dividends may be taxed at capital gains rates, rather than ordinary income rates, if they are distributed to an individual, trust or estate, are properly designated by us as qualified dividend income and certain other requirements are satisfied. Dividends are eligible to be designated by us as qualified dividend income up to an amount equal to the sum of the qualified dividend income received by us during the year of the distribution from other C corporations such as taxable REIT subsidiaries, our “undistributed” REIT taxable income from the immediately preceding year, and any income attributable to the sale of a built-in gain asset from the immediately preceding year (reduced by any federal income taxes that we paid with respect to such REIT taxable income and built-in gain).

Dividends that we receive will be treated as qualified dividend income to us if certain criteria are met. The dividends must be received from a domestic corporation (other than a REIT or a regulated investment company) or a qualifying foreign corporation. A foreign corporation generally will be a qualifying foreign corporation if it is incorporated in a possession of the United States, the corporation is eligible for benefits of an income tax treaty with the United States which the Secretary of Treasury determines is satisfactory, or the stock on which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. However, if a foreign corporation is a foreign personal holding company, a foreign investment company or a passive foreign investment company, then it will not be treated as a qualifying foreign corporation, and the dividends we receive from such an entity would not constitute qualified dividend income.

Furthermore, certain exceptions and special rules apply to determine whether dividends may be treated as qualified dividend income to us. These rules include certain holding requirements that we would have to satisfy with respect to the stock on which the dividend is paid, and special rules with regard to dividends received from regulated investment companies and other REITs.

 

58


Table of Contents

In addition, even if we designate certain dividends as qualified dividend income to our stockholders, the stockholder will have to meet certain other requirements for the dividend to qualify for taxation at capital gains rates. For example, the stockholder will only be eligible to treat the dividend as qualifying dividend income if the stockholder is taxed at individual rates and meets certain holding requirements. In general, in order to treat a particular dividend as qualified dividend income, a stockholder will be required to hold our stock for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend.

Other Tax Considerations. To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, are not passed through to stockholders and do not offset income of stockholders from other sources, nor would such losses affect the character of any distributions that we make, which are generally subject to tax in the hands of stockholders to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits.

Sales of Our Common Stock. Upon any taxable sale or other disposition of our common stock, a United States holder of our common stock will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the disposition of our common stock in an amount equal to the difference between:

 

    The amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on such disposition; and

 

    The United States holder’s adjusted basis in such common stock for tax purposes.

Gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the common stock has been held by the United States holder as a capital asset. The applicable tax rate will depend on the holder’s holding period in the asset (generally, if an asset has been held for more than one year, it will produce long-term capital gain) and the holder’s tax bracket.

In general, any loss upon a sale or exchange of our common stock by a United States holder who has held such stock for six months or less (after applying certain holding period rules) will be treated as a long-term capital loss, but only to the extent of distributions from us received by such United States holder that are required to be treated by such United States holder as long-term capital gains.

Medicare Tax. Certain United States holders, including individuals and estates and trusts, are subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which includes net gain from a sale or exchange of common stock and income from dividends paid on common stock. United States holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the Medicare tax.

Taxation of Non-United States Holders of Our Common Stock

The rules governing United States federal income taxation of non-United States holders are complex. This section is only a summary of such rules. We urge non-United States holders to consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state and local income tax laws on ownership of the common stock, including any reporting requirements.

Distributions. Distributions by us to a non-United States holder of our common stock that are neither attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of “United States real property interests” nor designated by us as capital gains dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. These distributions ordinarily will be subject to United States federal income tax on a gross basis at a rate of 30%, or a lower rate as permitted under an applicable income tax treaty, unless the dividends are treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the non-United States holder of a United States trade or business. Under some treaties, however, lower rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from REITs. Further, reduced treaty rates are not available to the extent the income allocated to the non-United States stockholder is excess inclusion income. Dividends that are effectively

 

59


Table of Contents

connected with a trade or business will be subject to tax on a net basis, that is, after allowance for deductions, at graduated rates, in the same manner as United States holders are taxed with respect to these dividends, and are generally not subject to withholding. Applicable certification and disclosure requirements must be satisfied to be exempt from withholding under the effectively connected income exception. Any dividends received by a corporate non-United States holder that is engaged in a United States trade or business also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate, or lower applicable treaty rate. We expect to withhold United States income tax at the rate of 30% on any dividend distributions, not designated as (or deemed to be) capital gain dividends, made to a non-United States holder unless:

 

    A lower treaty rate applies and the non-United States holder files an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E with us evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate; or

 

    The non-United States holder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with the non-United States holder’s trade or business.

Distributions in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that do not exceed the adjusted basis of the non-United States holder in its common stock will reduce the non-United States holder’s adjusted basis in its common stock and will not be subject to United States federal income tax. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits that do exceed the adjusted basis of the non-United States holder in its common stock will be treated as gain from the sale of its stock, the tax treatment of which is described below. See “—Taxation of Non-United States Holders of Our Common Stock—Sales of Our Common Stock.” Because we generally cannot determine at the time we make a distribution whether or not the distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we normally will withhold tax on the entire amount of any distribution at the same rate as we would withhold on a dividend.

We would be required to withhold at least 10% of any distribution to a non-United States holder in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if our common stock constitutes a United States real property interest with respect to such non-United States holder, as described below under “—Taxation of Non-United States Holders of Our Common Stock—Sales of Our Common Stock.” This withholding would apply even if a lower treaty rate applies or the non-United States holder is not liable for tax on the receipt of that distribution. However, a non-United States holder may seek a refund of these amounts from the IRS if the non-United States holder’s United States tax liability with respect to the distribution is less than the amount withheld.

Distributions to a non-United States holder that are designated by us at the time of the distribution as capital gain dividends, other than those arising from the disposition of a United States real property interest, generally should not be subject to United States federal income taxation unless:

 

    The investment in the common stock is effectively connected with the non-United States holder’s trade or business, in which case the non-United States holder will be subject to the same treatment as United States holders with respect to any gain, except that a holder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, as discussed above; or

 

    The non-United States holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains.

Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”), distributions to a non-United States holder that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of United States real property interests, whether or not designated as a capital gain dividend, will cause the non-United States holder to be treated as recognizing gain that is income effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Non-United States holders will be taxed on this gain at the same rates applicable to United States holders, subject to a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. Also, this gain may be subject to a 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) branch profits tax in the hands of a non-United States holder that is a corporation. A distribution is not attributable to a United States real property interest if we held an interest in the underlying asset solely as a creditor.

 

60


Table of Contents

We will be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 35% of any distributions to non-United States holders that are designated as capital gain dividends, or, if greater, 35% of a distribution that could have been designated as a capital gain dividend, whether or not attributable to sales of United States real property interests. Distributions can be designated as capital gains to the extent of our net capital gain for the taxable year of the distribution. The amount withheld, which for individual non-United States holders may exceed the actual tax liability, is creditable against the non-United States holder’s United States federal income tax liability.

However, the 35% withholding tax will not apply to any capital gain dividend with respect to any class of our stock which is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States if the non-United States stockholder did not own more than 5% of such class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of such dividend. Instead, any capital gain dividend will be treated as a distribution subject to the rules discussed above under “—Taxation of Non-United States Stockholders of Our Common Stock—Distributions.” Also, the branch profits tax will not apply to such a distribution. We expect that our common stock will be “regularly traded” on an established securities exchange.

Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts we designate as undistributed capital gains in respect of the stock held by United States holders generally should be treated with respect to non-United States holders in the same manner as actual distributions by us of capital gain dividends. Under that approach, the non-United States holders would be able to offset as a credit against their United States federal income tax liability resulting therefrom their proportionate share of the tax paid by us on the undistributed capital gains, and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent that their proportionate share of this tax paid by us were to exceed their actual United States federal income tax liability. If we were to designate a portion of our net capital gain as undistributed capital gain, a non-United States stockholder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the taxation of such undistributed capital gain.

Sales of Our Common Stock. Gain recognized by a non-United States holder upon the sale or exchange of our stock generally would not be subject to United States taxation unless:

 

    The investment in our common stock is effectively connected with the non-United States holder’s United States trade or business, in which case the non-United States holder will be subject to the same treatment as domestic holders with respect to any gain;

 

    The non-United States holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a tax home in the United States, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s net capital gains for the taxable year; or

 

    Our common stock constitutes a United States real property interest within the meaning of FIRPTA, as described below.

Our common stock will constitute a United States real property interest unless we are a domestically-controlled REIT. We will be a domestically-controlled REIT if, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of our stock is held directly or indirectly by non-United States holders.

As described above, our charter contains restrictions designed to protect our status as a domestically-controlled REIT, and we believe that we will be and will remain a domestically-controlled REIT, and that a sale of our common stock should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. However, because our stock is publicly traded, no assurance can be given that we are or will be a domestically-controlled REIT. Even if we were not a domestically-controlled REIT, a sale of common stock by a non-United States holder would nevertheless not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA as a sale of a United States real property interest if:

 

    Our common stock were “regularly traded” on an established securities market within the meaning of applicable Treasury regulations; and

 

61


Table of Contents
    The non-United States holder did not actually, or constructively under specified attribution rules under the Code, own more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or the holder’s holding period.

We expect that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market. If gain on the sale or exchange of our common stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-United States holder would be subject to regular United States income tax with respect to any gain in the same manner as a taxable United States holder, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. In such case, under FIRPTA the purchaser of common stock may be required to withhold 10% of the purchase price and remit this amount to the IRS. In addition, distributions that are treated as gain from the disposition of common stock and are subject to tax under FIRPTA also may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax when made to a corporate non-United States holder that is not entitled to a treaty exemption.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Returns. If a non-United States holder is subject to taxation under FIRPTA on proceeds from the sale of our common stock or on capital gain distributions, the non-United States holder will be required to file a United States federal income tax return. Prospective non-United States holders are urged to consult their tax advisors to determine the impact of United States federal, state, local and foreign income tax laws on their ownership of our common stock, including any reporting requirements.

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Holders of Our Common Stock

Provided that a tax-exempt holder has not held its common stock as “debt-financed property” within the meaning of the Code and our shares of stock are not being used in an unrelated trade or business, the dividend income from us generally will not be unrelated business taxable income, referred to as UBTI, to a tax-exempt holder. Similarly, income from the sale of our common stock will not constitute UBTI unless the tax-exempt holder has held its common stock as debt-financed property within the meaning of the Code or has used the common stock in a trade or business.

Further, for a tax-exempt holder that is a social club, voluntary employee benefit association, supplemental unemployment benefit trust or qualified group legal services plan exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Code, respectively, or a single parent title-holding corporation exempt under Section 501(c)(2) the income of which is payable to any of the aforementioned tax-exempt organizations, income from an investment in our common stock will constitute UBTI unless the organization properly sets aside or reserves such amounts for purposes specified in the Code. These tax-exempt holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning these “set aside” and reserve requirements.

Notwithstanding the above, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension-held REIT” are treated as UBTI as to any trust which is described in Section 401(a) of the Code, is tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code, and holds more than 10%, by value, of the interests in the REIT. Tax-exempt pension funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the Code are referred to below as “pension trusts.”

A REIT is a “pension-held REIT” if it meets the following two tests:

 

    It would not have qualified as a REIT but for Section 856(h)(3) of the Code, which provides that stock owned by pension trusts will be treated, for purposes of determining whether the REIT is closely held, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust rather than by the trust itself; and

 

    Either (i) at least one pension trust holds more than 25% of the value of the interests in the REIT, or (ii) a group of pension trusts each individually holding more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s stock, collectively owns more than 50% of the value of the REIT’s stock.

The percentage of any REIT dividend from a “pension-held REIT” that is treated as UBTI is equal to the ratio of the UBTI earned by the REIT, treating the REIT as if it were a pension trust and therefore subject to tax

 

62


Table of Contents

on UBTI, to the total gross income of the REIT. An exception applies where the percentage is less than 5% for any year, in which case none of the dividends would be treated as UBTI. The provisions requiring pension trusts to treat a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI will not apply if the REIT is not a “pension-held REIT” (for example, if the REIT is able to satisfy the “not closely held requirement” without relying on the “look through” exception with respect to pension trusts).

Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting

United States Holders of Common Stock. In general, information-reporting requirements will apply to payments of dividends and interest on and payments of the proceeds of the sale of our common stock held by United States holders, unless an exception applies. The payor is required to withhold tax on such payments if (i) the payee fails to furnish a taxpayer identification number, or TIN, to the payor or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, or (ii) the IRS notifies the payor that the TIN furnished by the payee is incorrect. In addition, a payor of the dividends or interest on our common stock is required to withhold tax if (i) there has been a notified payee under-reporting with respect to interest, dividends or original issue discount described in Section 3406(c) of the Code, or (ii) there has been a failure of the payee to certify under the penalty of perjury that the payee is not subject to backup withholding under the Code. A United States holder that does not provide us with a correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any United States holders who fail to certify their United States status to us. Some United States holders of our common stock, including corporations, may be exempt from backup withholding. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a stockholder will be allowed as a credit against the stockholder’s United States federal income tax and may entitle the stockholder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS. The payor will be required to furnish annually to the IRS and to holders of our common stock information relating to the amount of dividends and interest paid on our common stock, and that information reporting may also apply to payments of proceeds from the sale of our common stock. Some holders, including corporations, financial institutions and certain tax-exempt organizations, are generally not subject to information reporting.

Non-United States Holders of Our Common Stock. Generally, information reporting will apply to payments of interest and dividends on our common stock, and backup withholding described above for a United States holder will apply, unless the payee certifies that it is not a United States person or otherwise establishes an exemption.

The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of our common stock to or through the United States office of a United States or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding as described above for United States holders unless the non-United States holder satisfies the requirements necessary to be an exempt non-United States holder or otherwise qualifies for an exemption. The proceeds of a disposition by a non-United States holder of our common stock to or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, if the broker is a United States person, a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes, a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for specified periods is from activities that are effectively connected with a United States trade or business, a foreign partnership if partners who hold more than 50% of the interest in the partnership are United States persons, or a foreign partnership that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, then information reporting generally will apply as though the payment was made through a United States office of a United States or foreign broker.

Applicable Treasury regulations provide presumptions regarding the status of a holder of our common stock when payments to such holder cannot be reliably associated with appropriate documentation provided to the payer. Because the application of these Treasury regulations varies depending on the stockholder’s particular circumstances, you are advised to consult your tax advisor regarding the information reporting requirements applicable to you.

 

63


Table of Contents

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

The present United States federal income tax treatment of REITs may be modified, possibly with retroactive effect, by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time. The REIT rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the Treasury, which may result in statutory changes as well as revisions to regulations and interpretations. Changes to the United States federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our common stock.

State and Local Taxes

We and our stockholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which we or they transact business or reside. Our state and local tax treatment and that of our stockholders may not conform to the federal income tax treatment discussed above. Consequently, prospective stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our common stock.

Tax Shelter Reporting

If a stockholder recognizes a loss with respect to stock of $2 million or more for an individual stockholder or $10 million or more for a corporate stockholder, the stockholder must file a disclosure statement with the IRS on Form 8886. Direct stockholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempt from this reporting requirement, but stockholders of a REIT currently are not excepted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Stockholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Additional Withholding Requirements

Under certain provisions of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, which was enacted in March 2010, and administrative guidance thereto, the relevant withholding agent may be required to withhold 30% of any dividends and the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our common stock occurring after December 31, 2016, in either case paid to (i) a foreign financial institution unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its United States accountholders and meets certain other specified requirements, or otherwise complies with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity that is the beneficial owner of the payment unless such entity certifies that it does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial United States owner and such entity meets certain other specified requirements. Non-United States holders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of this legislation in light of their individual circumstances.

 

64


Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to market prices, at a fixed price or prices subject to change or at negotiated prices, by a variety of methods including the following:

 

    on the New York Stock Exchange (including through at the market offerings);

 

    in the over-the-counter market;

 

    in privately negotiated transactions;

 

    through broker/dealers, who may act as agents or principals;

 

    through one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or best-efforts basis;

 

    in a block trade in which a broker/dealer will attempt to sell a block of shares of common stock as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

    through put or call option transactions relating to the shares of common stock;

 

    directly to one or more purchasers;

 

    through agents; or

 

    in any combination of the above.

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, a prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any sale of securities we are offering hereunder. Direct sales may be arranged by a securities broker-dealer or other financial intermediary.

To the extent required, the applicable prospectus supplement will name any underwriter involved in a sale of securities. Underwriters may offer and sell securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to time at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to market prices, or at negotiated prices. Underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us from sales of securities in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may be involved in any at-the-market offering of securities by or on our behalf.

Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions (which may be changed from time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities if any are purchased.

To the extent required, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth whether or not underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including, for example, by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids.

To the extent required, we will name any agent involved in a sale of securities, as well as any commissions payable by us to such agent, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

65


Table of Contents

If we utilize a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in a sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimburse them for certain expenses.

Underwriters or agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

Some or all of the securities may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters that purchase the securities for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the trading markets for any securities.

 

66


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal and tax matters will be passed upon for us by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York. Hogan Lovells US LLP, Washington, District of Columbia will issue an opinion to us regarding certain matters of Maryland law, including the validity of the shares of common stock. An investment vehicle comprised of selected partners of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, members of their families, related persons and others owns an interest representing less than 1% of the capital commitments of funds affiliated with The Blackstone Group L.P.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Brixmor Property Group Inc. as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013, that have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus by reference to Brixmor Property Group Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 27, 2014, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013, that have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus by reference to Brixmor Property Group Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 13, 2015, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

67


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following is a statement of the expenses (all of which are estimated) to be incurred by the Registrants in connection with a distribution of securities registered under this registration statement:

 

SEC Registration Fee

   $  *   

Printing Expenses

   $  **   

Accounting Fees and Expenses

   $  **   

Legal Fees and Expenses

   $  **   

Miscellaneous

   $  **   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $  *   

 

* The Registrants are registering an indeterminate amount of securities under this Registration Statement and in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrants are deferring payment of all of the registration fee.
** The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated aggregate amount of expenses payable in respect of any offering of securities.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Maryland law permits us to include a provision in our charter eliminating the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates our directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Maryland law requires us (unless our charter were to provide otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits us to indemnify our present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or certain other capacities unless it is established that:

 

    the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

    the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

    in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

Maryland law prohibits us from indemnifying a director or officer who has been adjudged liable in a suit by us or on our behalf or in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received; however, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or on our behalf, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, Maryland law permits us to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon our receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.


Table of Contents

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, our charter authorizes us to indemnify any person who serves or has served, and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify any individual who is made or threatened to be made a party to or witness in a proceeding by reason of his or her service:

 

    as our director or officer; or

 

    while a director or officer and at our request, as a director, officer, partner, manager, member or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,

from and against any claim or liability to which he or she may become subject or that he or she may incur by reason of his or her service in any of these capacities, and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. Our charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any individual who served any of our predecessors in any of the capacities described above and any employee or agent of us or any of our predecessors.

We are party to indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Maryland law and our charter against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors or executive officers, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

The partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership provides that our Operating Partnership is required to indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law (i) us, BPG Subsidiary and Brixmor OP GP LLC, and any member, manager or managing member of Brixmor OP GP LLC or a director or officer of us or BPG Subsidiary or an employee or agent of us, BPG Subsidiary, Brixmor OP GP LLC or the Operating Partnership, and (ii) such other persons (including affiliates or employees of us, BPG Subsidiary, Brixmor OP GP LLC or the Operating Partnership) as Brixmor OP GP LLC may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.

In addition, our directors and officers are indemnified for specified liabilities and expenses pursuant to the organizational documents of certain of our subsidiaries.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

See Index to Exhibits.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”);

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission

 

II-2


Table of Contents

pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrants under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrants undertake that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrants pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrants will be sellers to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants or used or referred to by the undersigned registrants;

 

II-3


Table of Contents

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrants or their securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrants to the purchaser.

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrants’ annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-4


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 13th day of January, 2015.

 

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

By:    

 

/s/ Michael A. Carroll

  Name: Michael A. Carroll
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael A. Carroll, Michael V. Pappagallo and Steven F. Siegel, and each of them, any of whom may act without joinder of the other, the individual’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any or all amendments, including post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, including a prospectus or an amended prospectus therein and any Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, and all other documents in connection therewith to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact as agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Michael A. Carroll

Michael A. Carroll

   Director and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)   January 13, 2015

/s/ Michael V. Pappagallo

Michael V. Pappagallo

  

President and Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

  January 13, 2015

/s/ Steven A. Splain

Steven A. Splain

   Executive Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
(principal accounting officer)
  January 13, 2015

/s/ A.J. Agarwal

A.J. Agarwal

   Director   January 13, 2015

/s/ Michael Berman

Michael Berman

   Director   January 13, 2015

 

II-5


Table of Contents

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Anthony W. Deering

Anthony W. Deering

   Director   January 13, 2015

/s/ Jonathan D. Gray

Jonathan D. Gray

   Director   January 13, 2015

/s/ Nadeem Meghji

Nadeem Meghji

   Director   January 13, 2015

/s/ William D. Rahm

William D. Rahm

   Director   January 13, 2015

/s/ John G. Schreiber

John G. Schreiber

   Director   January 13, 2015

/s/ William J. Stein

William J. Stein

   Director   January 13, 2015

 

II-6


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 13th day of January, 2015.

 

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP

By:    

  Brixmor OP GP LLC, its general Partner

By:

  BPG Subsidiary Inc., its sole member

By:

 

/s/ Steven F. Siegel

  Name: Steven F. Siegel
  Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael A. Carroll, Michael V. Pappagallo and Steven F. Siegel, and each of them, any of whom may act without joinder of the other, the individual’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any or all amendments, including post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, including a prospectus or an amended prospectus therein and any Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, and all other documents in connection therewith to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact as agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities with BPG Subsidiary Inc., as the sole member of Brixmor OP GP LLC, as the general partner of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Michael A. Carroll

Michael A. Carroll

   Sole Director and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
  January 13, 2015

/s/ Michael V. Pappagallo

Michael V. Pappagallo

  

President and Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

  January 13, 2015

/s/ Steven A. Splain

Steven A. Splain

   Executive Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
(principal accounting officer)
  January 13, 2015

 

II-7


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description of Exhibit

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for common stock
  1.2*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for preferred stock
  1.3*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for depositary shares
  1.4*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for purchase contracts
  1.5*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for units
  1.6*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for warrants
  1.7*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt securities
  4.1    Articles of Incorporation of the Brixmor Property Group Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on November 4, 2013)
  4.2    Bylaws of the Brixmor Property Group Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on November 4, 2013)
  4.3    Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, dated as of October 29, 2013, by and between Brixmor OP GP LLC, as General Partner, BPG Subsidiary Inc., as Special Limited Partner, and the other limited partners from time to time party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on November 4, 2013)
  4.4    Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, dated as of October 29, 2013, by and between Brixmor OP GP LLC, as General Partner, and the limited partners from time to time party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on November 4, 2013)
  4.5    Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, dated as of October 29, 2013, by and between Brixmor OP GP LLC, as General Partner, and the limited partners from time to time party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on March 14, 2014)
  4.6    Amendment No. 3 to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, dated as of October 29, 2013, by and between Brixmor OP GP LLC, as General Partner, and the limited partners from time to time party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on March 28, 2014)
  4.7    Separate Series Agreement by and among BRE Non-Core Assets Inc., as a limited partner associated with Series A, Non-Core Series GP, LLC, as the general partner associated with Series A, and Brixmor OP GP LLC, as the general partner of the Partnership on behalf of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on November 4, 2013)
  4.8*    Form of Specimen Certificate of Preferred Stock and Form of Certificate of Designations for Preferred Stock
  4.9*    Form of Deposit Agreement for Depositary Shares

 

II-8


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

  4.10*   Form of Purchase Contract Agreement
  4.11*   Form of Pledge Agreement for Purchase Contracts
  4.12*   Form of Unit Agreement
  4.13*   Form of Unit Certificate
  4.14*   Form of Warrant Agreement
  4.15*   Form of Warrant Certificate
  4.16**   Form of Indenture by and between Brixmor Operating Partnership LP and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee.
  4.17*   Form of Debt Security
  5.1**   Opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP regarding validity of the shares registered
  5.2**   Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP regarding validity of certain securities being issued
  8.1**   Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP regarding certain tax matters
10.1   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2013, by and among the Company and the equity holders named therein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on November 4, 2013)
10.2   Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2013, by and between the Company and BRE Retail Holdco LP (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on November 4, 2013)
10.3   Exchange Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2013, by and among the Company and the other holders of BPG Subsidiary Inc. common stock from time to time party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on November 4, 2013)
10.4   Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (File No. 001-36160) filed on March 12, 2014)
12.1**   Statement of Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred dividends of Brixmor Property Group Inc. and Brixmor Operating Partnership LP.
23.1**   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2**   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.3**   Consent of Hogan Lovells US LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)
23.4**   Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.2)
23.5**   Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 8.1)
24.1**   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to the Registration Statement)
25.1**   Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1

 

* To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of securities.
** Filed herewith.

 

II-9

EX-4.16 2 d846602dex416.htm EX-4.16 EX-4.16

Exhibit 4.16

 

 

 

BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP,

as Issuer

— and —

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

as Trustee

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

 

Dated as of [    ], 2015

Debt Securities

 

 

 

 

1


Certain Sections of this Indenture

relating to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

§310(a)(1)

   607

(a)(2)

   607

(b)

   608

§312(a)

   701, 702(1)

(b)

   702

(c)

   702

§313(a)

   703

(b)(2)

   703

(c)

   703

(d)

   703

§314(a)

   704

(c)(1)

   102

(c)(2)

   102

(e)

   102

§315(a)

   601

(b)

   601, 602

(c)

   601

(d)

   601

(e)

   515

§316(a) (last sentence)

   101

(a)(1)(A)

   502, 512

(a)(1)(B)

   513

(b)

   508

§317(a)(1)

   503

(a)(2)

   504

(b)

   1003

§318(a)

   108

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.

 

2


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION    6  

        Section 101

   Definitions.      6   

Section 102

   Compliance Certificates and Opinions.      12   

Section 103

   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.      13   

Section 104

   Acts of Holders; Record Dates.      13   

Section 105

   Notices, etc. to Trustee and Operating Partnership.      14   

Section 106

   Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.      15   

Section 107

   Language of Notices.      15   

Section 108

   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.      15   

Section 109

   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.      15   

Section 110

   Successors and Assigns.      15   

Section 111

   Separability Clause.      15   

Section 112

   Benefits of Indenture.      16   

Section 113

   Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.      16   

Section 114

   Legal Holidays.      16   

Section 115

   Counterparts.      16   

Section 116

   Judgment Currency.      16   

Section 117

   Extension of Payment Dates.      17   

Section 118

   Immunity of Limited Partners, Stockholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Operating Partnership, the Company and Guarantors.      17   

Section 119

   USA Patriot Act.      17   

Section 120

   Force Majeure.      17   

Section 121

   FATCA.      17   

ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS

     18   

Section 201

   Forms Generally.      18   

Section 202

   Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.      18   

Section 203

   Securities in Global Form.      18   

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

     19   

Section 301

   Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.      19   

Section 302

   Currency; Denominations.      22   

Section 303

   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.      22   

Section 304

   Temporary Securities.      24   

Section 305

   Registration, Transfer and Exchange.      24   

Section 306

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.      26   

Section 307

   Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved.      26   

Section 308

   Persons Deemed Owners.      27   

Section 309

   Cancellation.      28   

Section 310

   Computation of Interest.      28   

Section 311

   CUSIP Numbers.      28   

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

     28   

Section 401

   Satisfaction and Discharge.      28   

Section 402

   Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.      29   

Section 403

   Application of Trust Money.      32   

 

3


Section 404

   Reinstatement.      32   

Section 405

   Qualifying Trustee.      33   

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

     33   

        Section 501

   Events of Default.      33   

Section 502

   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.      34   

Section 503

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.      35   

Section 504

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.      36   

Section 505

   Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities.      36   

Section 506

   Application of Money Collected.      36   

Section 507

   Limitations on Suits.      37   

Section 508

   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.      37   

Section 509

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies.      37   

Section 510

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative.      37   

Section 511

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver.      38   

Section 512

   Control by Holders of Securities.      38   

Section 513

   Waiver of Past Defaults.      38   

Section 514

   Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.      38   

Section 515

   Undertaking for Costs.      39   

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

     39   

Section 601

   Certain Rights of Trustee.      39   

Section 602

   Notice of Defaults.      41   

Section 603

   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.      41   

Section 604

   May Hold Securities; Transactions with the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor.      41   

Section 605

   Money Held in Trust.      41   

Section 606

   Compensation and Reimbursement.      41   

Section 607

   Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.      42   

Section 608

   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.      42   

Section 609

   Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.      43   

Section 610

   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.      44   

Section 611

   Appointment of Authenticating Agent.      44   

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AND GUARANTORS

     46   

Section 701

   Operating Partnership to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.      46   

Section 702

   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.      46   

Section 703

   Reports by Trustee.      46   

Section 704

   Reports by the Operating Partnership.      46   

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALES AND SUBSTITUTION

     47   

Section 801

   Operating Partnership May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.      47   

Section 802

   Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.      48   

Section 803

   Successor Person Substituted for Operating Partnership or Guarantor.      48   

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     48   

Section 901

   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.      48   

Section 902

   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.      50   

Section 903

   Execution of Supplemental Indentures.      51   

Section 904

   Effect of Supplemental Indentures.      51   

Section 905

   Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.      51   

 

4


Section 906

   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.      51   
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS    51  

        Section 1001

   Payment of Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.      51   

Section 1002

   Maintenance of Office or Agency.      52   

Section 1003

   Provisions as to Paying Agent.      52   

Section 1004

   Additional Amounts.      53   

Section 1005

   Corporate Existence.      53   

Section 1006

   Waiver of Certain Covenants.      53   

Section 1007

   Operating Partnership and Guarantor Statement as to Compliance.      53   

Section 1008

   Calculation of Original Issue Discount.      54   

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     54   

Section 1101

   Applicability of Article.      54   

Section 1102

   Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.      54   

Section 1103

   Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.      54   

Section 1104

   Notice of Redemption.      55   

Section 1105

   Deposit of Redemption Price.      56   

Section 1106

   Securities Payable on Redemption Date.      56   

Section 1107

   Securities Redeemed in Part.      56   

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

     57   

Section 1201

   Applicability of Article.      57   

Section 1202

   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.      57   

Section 1203

   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.      57   

ARTICLE THIRTEEN REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

     58   

Section 1301

   Applicability of Article.      58   

ARTICLE FOURTEEN SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

     58   

Section 1401

   Applicability of Article.      58   

Section 1402

   Monies of Different Currencies to be Segregated.      58   

ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     58   

Section 1501

   Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.      58   

Section 1502

   Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.      59   

Section 1503

   Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.      59   

Section 1504

   Quorum; Action.      59   

Section 1505

   Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.      60   

Section 1506

   Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.      60   

ARTICLE SIXTEEN GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

     61   

Section 1601

   Guarantee.      61   

Section 1602

   Future Guarantors.      62   

Section 1603

   Delivery of Guarantee.      62   

 

5


INDENTURE, dated as of [                    ], 2015 (the “Indenture”), between: BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), having its principal executive office located at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10170, as issuer, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as trustee, registrar, paying agent and transfer agent (the “Trustee,” “Registrar,” “Paying Agent,” and “Transfer Agent,” respectively).

RECITALS

The Operating Partnership has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter called the “Securities”), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such fixed or floating rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as herein defined) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 101 Definitions.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

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

(5) the word “or” is always used inclusively (for example, the phrase “A or B” means “A or B or both,” not “either A or B but not both”);

(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(7) the term “merger” includes a statutory share exchange and the terms “merge” and “merged” have correlative meanings;

(8) the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter; and

 

6


(9) references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments and supplements thereto.

Certain terms used principally in certain Articles hereof are defined in those Articles.

Act,” when used with respect to any Holders, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required by this Indenture, by the terms of any Security established pursuant to Section 301 or by the terms of any Guarantee, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, as applicable, in respect of certain taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified herein or therein.

Additional Amounts Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 1004.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Agency” with respect to any Securities, means an agent of the Operating Partnership or the office of an agent of the Operating Partnership, as the context requires, in each case maintained or designated in a Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or any other agent of the Operating Partnership or office of an agent of the Operating Partnership, as the context requires, in each case maintained or designated for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or, to the extent designated or required by Section 1002 in lieu of such agent or agent’s office, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal, state, or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or of the Special Limited Partner, in either case on behalf of the Operating Partnership, or any committee of such board duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Operating Partnership hereunder.

Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions or unanimous written consents, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or of the Special Limited Partner, on behalf of the Operating Partnership, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Operating Partnership, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, delivered to the Trustee.

Business Day” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close; provided that such term shall mean, when used with respect to any payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of any series to be made at any Place of Payment for such Securities, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Securities, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in such Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

Common Equity” includes any equity security of any class of the Operating Partnership or the Company, as the context requires, which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Operating Partnership or the Company, as applicable, and which is not subject to redemption by the Operating Partnership or the Company, as applicable.

 

7


Company” means Brixmor Property Group Inc., a Maryland corporation, or any successor thereto.

Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country or the confederation which issued such Foreign Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community or (ii) any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was established.

Corporate Trust Office” means either the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of this Indenture is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention: Corporate Finance, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Operating Partnership.

Corporation” includes corporations, partnerships, associations, limited liability companies and other companies, and business trusts. The term “corporation” means a corporation and does not include partnerships, associations, limited liability companies or other companies or business trusts.

Currency,” with respect to any payment, deposit or other transfer in respect of the principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security, means Dollars or the Foreign Currency, as the case may be, in which such payment, deposit or other transfer is required to be made by or pursuant to the terms hereof or such Security and, with respect to any other payment, deposit or transfer pursuant to or contemplated by the terms hereof or such Security, means Dollars.

CUSIP number” means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a Security by Standard & Poor’s, CUSIP Service Bureau.

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

Depository” means, with respect to any Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person designated as depository by the Operating Partnership in or pursuant to this Indenture, and, unless otherwise provided with respect to any Security, any successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Securities, the depository which has been appointed with respect to such Securities.

Dollars” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit of legal tender for payment of public or private debts in the United States of America.

Equivalent Terms” has the meaning specified in Section 1102.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such government.

GAAP” and “generally accepted accounting principles” means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the date of any calculation or determination.

Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the other government or governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any premium or interest on the relevant Security or any Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable, in each case where the payment or payments thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of such government or governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such other government or governments, in each case where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government or governments, and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust

 

8


company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

Guarantee” has the meaning set forth in Article Sixteen hereof.

Guarantors” means any Person that is liable under a Guarantee under Article Sixteen hereof.

Holder,” in the case of any Registered Security, means the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of any bearer security, means the bearer thereof and, in the case of any coupon, means the bearer thereof.

Indebtedness,” when used with respect to any Person, and without duplication, unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, means any indebtedness (whether being principal, premium or interest) for or in respect of (i) any notes, bonds, debenture stock, loan stock or other securities or (ii) any borrowed money.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, with respect to any Security, by the terms and provisions of such Security established pursuant to Section 301 (as such terms and provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof), provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established pursuant to Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted.

Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

Interest,” with respect to any Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

Interest Payment Date,” with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

Maturity,” with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security, whether at the Stated Maturity, upon acceleration, upon redemption at the option of the Operating Partnership, upon repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holder or otherwise, and includes a Redemption Date for such Security and a date fixed for the repurchase or repayment of such Security at the option of the Holder.

New York Banking Day” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

Office,” with respect to any Securities, means an office of the Operating Partnership maintained or designated in a Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or any other office of the Operating Partnership maintained or designated for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or, to the extent designated or required by Section 1002 in lieu of such office, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Operating Partnership, or of the Special Limited Partner or of the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership or a Guarantor, as applicable, that, if applicable, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

 

9


Operating Partnership” means the Person named as the “Operating Partnership” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Operating Partnership” shall mean such successor Person.

Operating Partnership Request” and “Operating Partnership Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Special Limited Partner or of the Company, in either case on behalf of the Operating Partnership, by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Special Limited Partner or the Company, on behalf of the Operating Partnership, and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Operating Partnership or the Company, as the case may be, or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Original Issue Discount Security” means a Security, other than an Indexed Security, issued pursuant to this Indenture which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration pursuant to Section 502.

Outstanding,” when used with respect to any Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(a) any such Security theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(b) any such Security for whose payment at the Maturity thereof money in the necessary amount (or, to the extent that such Security is payable at such Maturity in shares of Common Equity or other securities or property, Common Equity or such other securities or property in the necessary amount, together with, if applicable, cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities) has been theretofore deposited pursuant hereto (other than pursuant to Section 402) with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Operating Partnership, the Company or any Affiliate of the Operating Partnership or the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Operating Partnership, the Company or any Affiliate of the Operating Partnership or the Company (if it shall act as Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities, provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(c) any such Security with respect to which the Operating Partnership has effected defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, except to the extent provided in Section 402;

(d) any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, unless there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Security is held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Security is a valid obligation of the Operating Partnership; and

(e) any such Security converted or exchanged as contemplated by this Indenture into Common Equity or other securities or property, if the terms of such Security provide for such conversion or exchange pursuant to Section 301;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security would be due and payable upon acceleration thereof pursuant to Section 502 at the time of such determination, and (ii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and (iii) the principal amount of a Security

 

10


denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purposes shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in (i) above) of such Security, and (iv) Securities owned by the Operating Partnership, the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Operating Partnership, the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, but only to the extent the Responsible Officer of the Trustee making such determination does not have actual knowledge that such Securities are not so owned. Securities so owned which shall have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes in writing to the satisfaction of the Trustee (A) the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and (B) that the pledgee is not the

Operating Partnership, the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or an Affiliate of the Operating Partnership, the Company or such other obligor.

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Operating Partnership to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security on behalf of the Operating Partnership.

Person” and “person” mean any individual, Corporation, joint venture, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Place of Payment,” with respect to any Security, means the place or places where the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security are payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security.

Redemption Date,” with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

Redemption Price,” with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed as determined by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

Registered Security” means any Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is registered in the Security Register.

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date therefor means the date, if any, specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the regular record date for the payment of such interest.

Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its corporate trust department who is responsible for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer or employee of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Security” or “Securities” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities,” with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

Security Interest” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, hypothecation, security interest or other charge.

 

11


Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary or group of Subsidiaries that meets either of the following conditions: (1) the Operating Partnership and its other Subsidiaries’ investments in and advances to the Subsidiary exceed 10% of the Operating Partnership’s and its Subsidiaries’ total assets consolidated (determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which in annual or quarterly report has been furnished to holders of the notes or filed with the Commission; or (2) the Operating Partnership’s and its other Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of the Subsidiary exceeds 10% of the Operating Partnership’s and its Subsidiaries’ total assets consolidated (determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which an annual or quarterly report has been furnished to Holders or filed with the Commission.

Special Limited Partner” means BPG Subsidiary Inc., a Delaware corporation and the limited partner of the Operating Partnership, or any successor thereto.

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Registered Security means a date fixed therefor by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

Stated Maturity,” with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, means the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is, or such Additional Amounts are, due and payable.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Operating Partnership or the Company, any Person (excluding an individual), a majority of the outstanding voting stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interest, as the case may be, of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Operating Partnership or the Company, as the case may be, or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership or the Company, as the case may be. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, trustees or managers, as the case may be, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person and as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

United States,” means the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction; and the term “United States of America” means the United States of America.

Vice President,” when used with respect to the Operating Partnership, the Company or the Trustee, as applicable, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President.”

Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any class or series of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of, or to appoint or to approve the appointment of, the directors, trustees or managing members of, or other persons holding similar positions with, such Person.

Section 102 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon any application or request by the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, as applicable, to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Operating

 

12


Partnership or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents or any of them is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in the Indenture (other than certificates delivered pursuant to Section 1007) must include:

(1) a statement that each person signing the certificate or opinion has read the covenant or condition and the related definitions;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement or opinion contained in the certificate or opinion is based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such person, that person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable the person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 103 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the Opinion of Counsel with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based is erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, a governmental official or officers or any other Person or Persons, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, as applicable, unless counsel rendering the Opinion of Counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate, opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture or any Security, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 104 Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(1) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing or the record of any action taken by Holders at a meeting pursuant to Article Fifteen. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, as applicable. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, as applicable, and any agent of the Trustee, the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, as applicable, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

 

13


Without limiting the generality of this Section 104, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security through such Depository’s standing instructions and customary practices.

(2) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

(3) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

(4) If the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Operating Partnership may at its option (but is not obligated to), by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of Registered Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized, agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders of Registered Securities shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

(5) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such Act is made upon such Security.

Section 105 Notices, etc. to Trustee and Operating Partnership.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office at the location specified in Section 101; or

(2) the Operating Partnership by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Operating Partnership addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company at the address of the Operating Partnership’s principal office specified in writing to the Trustee by the Operating Partnership and, until further notice, at Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10170, fax number: (212) 869-9585, Attention: General Counsel.

In addition to the foregoing, the Trustee agrees to accept and act upon notices, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile notices, instructions or directions (or notices, instructions or directions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such notices, instructions or directions, the Trustee’s understanding of such notices, instructions or directions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly

 

14


or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such notices, instructions or directions notwithstanding such notices, instructions or directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written notice, instruction or direction. The party providing electronic notices, instructions or directions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit notices, instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized notices, instructions or directions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 106 Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or if delivered electronically pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depository, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders given as provided herein. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given or provided. In the case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee in its sole discretion shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Section 107 Language of Notices.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language.

Section 108 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

Section 109 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 110 Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 111 Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Indenture or any Security shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

15


Section 112 Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or any Security, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 113 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.

This Indenture, the Securities and any Guarantees shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401. EACH OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, ANY GUARANTOR AND THE TRUSTEE AND EACH HOLDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, ANY GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 114 Legal Holidays.

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of, or any other day on which a payment is due with respect to, any Security shall be a day which is not a Business Day, then payment need not be made on such day, but such payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a relevant Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on any such other payment date, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue or be payable on the payment so deferred on such succeeding Business Day for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be, to such succeeding Business Day.

Section 115 Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 116 Judgment Currency.

Each of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, or Additional Amounts on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the date on which a final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with clause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to be closed. The provisions of this Section 116 shall not be applicable with respect to any payment due on a Security which is payable in Dollars.

 

16


Section 117 Extension of Payment Dates.

In the event that (i) the terms of any Security established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Operating Partnership or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Security is due and payable and (ii) the due date for any such payment shall have been so extended, then all references herein to the Stated Maturity of such payment (and all references of like import) shall be deemed to refer to the date as so extended.

Section 118 Immunity of Limited Partners, Stockholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Operating Partnership, the Company and Guarantors.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any past, present or future general partner, limited partner, member, employee, incorporator, controlling person, stockholder, officer, director or agent, as such, of the Operating Partnership, the Company, any Guarantor or of any of the Operating Partnership’s, the Company’s or any Guarantor’s predecessors or successors, either directly or through the Operating Partnership, the Company, any Guarantor or any predecessor or successor of the Operating Partnership, the Company or any Guarantor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

Section 119 USA Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that, in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. Each of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor agrees that it will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, including documentation to verify its formation and existence as a legal entity, financial statements, licenses, and identification and authorization documents from individuals claiming authority to represent the entity or other relevant documentation.

Section 120 Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services.

Section 121 FATCA.

In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”) that a foreign financial institution, or issuer, trustee, paying agent, holder or other institution is or has agreed to be subject to related to this Indenture, the Operating Partnership agrees (i) to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to the Trustee sufficient information about Holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) that is reasonably requested by the Trustee so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability, and (iii) to hold harmless the Trustee for any losses it may suffer due to the actions it takes to comply with such Applicable Law, in case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), other than any liability or losses as may be attributable to the Trustee’s willful misconduct or negligence. The terms of this paragraph shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

17


ARTICLE TWO

SECURITIES FORMS

Section 201 Forms Generally.

Each Registered Security and temporary or permanent global Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Operating Partnership, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officer of the Company executing such Security as evidenced by the execution of such Security.

Definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods or in any other manner, all as determined by the officer of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by the execution of such Securities.

Section 202 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

Subject to Section 611, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signatory

Section 203 Securities in Global Form.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall not be issuable in global form. If Securities of a series shall be issuable in temporary or permanent global form, any such Security may provide that it or any principal amount of such Securities shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such lesser principal amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon or reflected on the books and records of the Trustee and may also provide that the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of any Security in global form to reflect the principal amount, or any increase or decrease in the principal amount, or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Security or in the Operating Partnership Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 303 or 304 with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in global form in the manner and upon written instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Security or in the applicable Operating Partnership Order. If an Operating Partnership Order pursuant to Section 303 (with respect to Outstanding Securities) or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Operating Partnership with respect to a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officers’ Certificate of the Operating Partnership and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, in the event a global Security is exchangeable for definitive Securities as provided in Section 305, then, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver such global Security to the extent necessary to effect such exchanges, shall endorse such global Security to reflect any decrease in the principal amount thereto resulting from such exchanges and shall take such other actions, all as contemplated by Section 305.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of any Security in temporary or permanent global form shall be made to the Person in whose name such Security is registered.

 

18


Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of the principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security (i) in the case of a global Security in registered form, the Holder of such global Security in registered form, or (ii) in the case of a global Security in bearer form, the Person or Persons specified pursuant to Section 301.

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

Section 301 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series.

With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and delivered hereunder, there shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Operating Partnership, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of any Securities of a series,

(1) the title of the Securities of such series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 905 or 1107, upon repayment in part of any Security of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen or upon surrender in part of any Security for conversion or exchange into Common Equity or other securities or property pursuant to its terms); provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may from time to time be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect;

(3) if such Securities are to be issuable as Registered Securities, as bearer securities or alternatively as bearer securities and Registered Securities, and whether the bearer securities are to be issuable with coupons, without coupons or both, and any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of the bearer securities and the terms, if any, upon which bearer securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities and vice versa and, with respect to bearer securities, any other provisions related to bearer securities not otherwise provided for herein;

(4) if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form, when any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and (i) whether such Securities are to be issued in temporary or permanent global form or both, (ii) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in Section 305, (iii) the name of the Depository with respect to any such global Security and (iv) if applicable and in addition to the Persons specified in Section 305, the Person or Persons who shall be entitled to make any endorsements on any such global Security and to give the instructions and take the other actions with respect to such global Security contemplated by the first paragraph of Section 203;

(5) if any of such Securities are to be issuable as bearer securities, the date as of which any such bearer security shall be dated (if other than the date of original issuance of the first of such Securities to be issued);

(6) if any of such Securities are to be issuable as bearer securities, whether interest in respect of any portion of a temporary bearer security in global form payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date therefor prior to the exchange, if any, of such temporary bearer security for definitive Securities shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such temporary bearer security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date;

 

19


(7) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of any Securities of the series is payable or the method used to determine or extend those dates;

(8) the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates are to be determined, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall accrue or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates are to be determined, the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date, the notice, if any, to Holders regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate Security and the manner of giving such notice, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

(9) if in addition to or other than the Corporate Trust Office, the place or places where the principal of, any premium and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, any of such Securities that are Registered Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, any of such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange and notices or demands to or upon the Operating Partnership in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be made and the manner in which any payment may be made;

(10) whether any of such Securities are to be redeemable at the option of the Operating Partnership and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currency units in which, and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Operating Partnership, and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Operating Partnership to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

(11) if the Operating Partnership is obligated to redeem or purchase any of such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of any Holder thereof and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currency units in which, and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of such Securities so redeemed or purchased;

(12) the denominations in which any of such Securities that are Registered Securities shall be issuable if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

(13) whether such Securities will be convertible into and/or exchangeable for Common Equity or other securities or property of the Operating Partnership or of any other Person, and if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any deletions from or modifications or additions or changes to this Indenture to permit or to facilitate the issuance of such convertible or exchangeable Securities or the administration thereof;

(14) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any of such Securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the method by which such portion is to be determined;

(15) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which purchases of such Securities must be made and the Foreign Currency in which payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

(16) if the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities are to be payable, at the election of the Operating Partnership or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Currency other than that in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such Securities are stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities or any of them are to be paid pursuant to such election, and any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Operating Partnership or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;

 

20


(17) if the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method or methods (which index, formula or method or methods may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined and paid or payable;

(18) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor with respect to any of such Securities or any Guarantee (whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein), any additional covenants subject to waiver by the Act of Holders pursuant to Section 1006, and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

(19) if any one or more of the provisions of Section 401 relating to satisfaction and discharge, Section 402(2) relating to defeasance or Section 402(3) relating to covenant defeasance shall not be applicable to such Securities, and any covenants in addition to or other than those specified in Section 402(3) relating to such Securities which shall be subject to covenant defeasance, and, if such Securities are subject to repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holders thereof pursuant to Article Thirteen, if the Operating Partnership’s obligation to repurchase or repay such Securities will be subject to satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 401 or to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, and, if the Holders of such Securities have the right to convert or exchange such Securities into Common Equity or other securities or property, if the right to effect such conversion or exchange will be subject to satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 401 or to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article Four (including any modification which would permit satisfaction and discharge, defeasance or covenant defeasance to be effected with respect to less than all of the outstanding Securities of such series) in respect of such Securities;

(20) if any of such Securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

(21) if any of such Securities are issuable in global form and are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(22) the circumstances under which the Operating Partnership or any guarantor will pay Additional Amounts on such Securities in respect of any tax, assessment or other government charge and whether the Operating Partnership will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts;

(23) if there is more than one Trustee, the identity of the Trustee that has any obligations, duties and remedies with respect to such Securities and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent with respect to such Securities;

(24) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of such series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture;

(25) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed by a Guarantor and, if so, the identity of such Guarantor, the extent to which, and the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such Guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective Guarantors;

(26) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

21


(27) whether the Securities will not be issued in a transaction registered under the Securities Act and any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series;

(28) the exchanges, if any, on which such Securities may be listed;

(29) the price or prices at which the Securities will be sold; and

(30) any other terms of such Securities and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to Currency of payments due thereunder, denomination and the rate of interest, or method of determining the rate of interest, if any, Maturity, and the date from which interest, if any, shall accrue and except as may otherwise be provided by the Operating Partnership in or pursuant to the Board Resolution of the Operating Partnership and set forth in the Officers’ Certificate of the Operating Partnership or in any indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pertaining to such series of Securities. The terms of the Securities of any series may provide, without limitation, that the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee on original issue from time to time upon written order of persons designated in the Board Resolutions of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor (with respect to its Guarantee), Officers’ Certificate of the Operating Partnership or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, pertaining to such series of Securities and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Board Resolutions, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, such terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are specified in such Board Resolutions, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture.

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided by the Operating Partnership as contemplated by this Section 301, a series may be reopened from time to time without notice to or the consent of any Holders for issuances of additional Securities of such series or to establish additional terms of such series of Securities.

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series shall be established by action taken by or pursuant to Board Resolutions of the Operating Partnership, such Board Resolution(s) shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate of the Operating Partnership setting forth the terms of such series.

Section 302 Currency; Denominations.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities shall be payable in Dollars. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, Registered Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Securities not denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are established with respect to such Securities in or pursuant to this Indenture.

Section 303 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

Securities and any Guarantee to be endorsed thereon shall be executed on behalf of the Operating Partnership or the related Guarantor, as applicable, by the Chairman, President or one of the Vice Presidents and by the Treasurer, one of the Assistant Treasurers, the Controller, the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company, on behalf of the Operating Partnership, or such Guarantor, and may (but need not) have the Company’s or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, corporate seal or a facsimile thereof reproduced thereon. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

Securities and any related Guarantees bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership, as applicable, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, bind the Operating Partnership or such Guarantor, as applicable, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or the Securities upon which any such Guarantee is endorsed or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities or any such related Guarantee.

 

22


At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Operating Partnership may deliver Securities executed by the Operating Partnership to the Trustee for authentication and, provided that the Board Resolutions and Officers’ Certificate of the Operating Partnership or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred to in Section 301 and an Operating Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance with the Operating Partnership Order and subject to the provisions hereof and of such Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel to the following effect, which Opinion of Counsel may contain such assumptions, qualifications and limitations as such counsel and Trustee shall deem appropriate:

(a) the form or forms and terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with Sections 201 and 301 of this Indenture;

(b) all conditions precedent set forth in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been complied with and that such Securities, when completed by appropriate insertions (if applicable), executed by duly authorized officers of the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership, delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to this Indenture, and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Operating Partnership in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with their terms, and that any Guarantee, when executed by duly authorized signatories of the Guarantor and issued by such Guarantor in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel and when the Securities upon which such Guarantees have been endorsed have been completed, executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor, except, in each case, as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and subject to such other exceptions as shall be acceptable to the Trustee; provided, that such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United States; and

(c) that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Operating Partnership of such Securities, and by any Guarantor of its Guarantee, as applicable, have been complied with.

If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each Security, but such opinion, with such modifications as counsel shall deem appropriate, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series. After any such first delivery, any separate request by the Operating Partnership that the Trustee authenticate Securities of such series for original issue will be accompanied by (i) a certification by the Operating Partnership that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to authentication and delivery of such Securities continue to have been complied with and (ii) an Operating Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate or to cause an Authenticating Agent to authenticate any Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or will otherwise be in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in Section 202 or 611 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories. Such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

23


Section 304 Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Operating Partnership may execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Operating Partnership Order, the Trustee or Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 303, temporary Securities in lieu thereof which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form or, if authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers of the Operating Partnership executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in global form.

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture or the provisions established pursuant to Section 301, if temporary Securities are issued, the Operating Partnership shall cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, after the preparation of definitive Securities of the same series and containing terms and provisions that are identical to those of any temporary Securities, such temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for such definitive Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at an Office or Agency for such Securities, without charge to any Holder thereof. Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Operating Partnership shall execute and, upon Operating Partnership Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series and containing identical terms and provisions. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to a temporary global Security, until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

Section 305 Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

(1) With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the Operating Partnership shall cause to be kept a register (each such register being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) at an Office or Agency for such series in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Operating Partnership shall provide for the registration of the Registered Securities of such series and of transfers and exchanges of the Registered Securities of such series. Such Office or Agency shall be the “Security Registrar” for that series of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, the initial Security Registrar for each series of Securities shall be as specified in the second to last paragraph of Section 1002. The Operating Partnership shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided that no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been appointed by the Operating Partnership and shall have accepted such appointment. In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Security Register for each series of Securities.

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any Office or Agency for such series, the Operating Partnership shall execute, and, upon Operating Partnership Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Operating Partnership shall execute, and, upon Operating Partnership Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the global Securities of any series shall be exchangeable for definitive certificated Securities of such series only if (i) the Depository for such global Securities notifies the Operating Partnership that it is unwilling or unable or no longer qualified to continue as a Depository for such global

 

24


Securities or at any time the Depository for such global Securities ceases to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Exchange Act, if so required by applicable law or regulation, and no successor Depository for such Securities shall have been appointed by the Operating Partnership within 90 days of such notification or of the Operating Partnership becoming aware of the Depository’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be, (ii) the Operating Partnership, in its sole discretion and subject to the Depository’s procedures, determines that the Securities of such series shall no longer be represented by one or more global Securities and executes and delivers to the Trustee an Operating Partnership Order to the effect that such global Securities shall be so exchangeable or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Securities and the Depository or the Operating Partnership specifically requests such exchange.

If the beneficial owners of interests in a global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for definitive Securities as the result of an event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding paragraph, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Operating Partnership shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in such form and denominations as are required by or pursuant to this Indenture, and of the same series, containing identical terms and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security, executed by the Operating Partnership. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the Depository (or its custodian) as shall be specified in the Operating Partnership Order with respect thereto (which the Operating Partnership agrees to deliver), and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depository as shall be specified in the Operating Partnership Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Operating Partnership’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities as described above without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global Security to be exchanged, which shall be in such denominations and, in the case of Registered Securities, registered in such names, as shall be specified by the Depository, but subject to the satisfaction of any certification or other requirements to the issuance of securities; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of the same series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such Depository (or its custodian) or such other Depository (or its custodian) referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Operating Partnership referred to above, and the Trustee shall endorse such global Security to reflect the decrease in the principal amount thereof resulting from such exchange. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a global Security after the close of business at the Office or Agency for such Security where such exchange occurs on or after (i) any Regular Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such global Security shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Operating Partnership evidencing the same debt and entitling the Holders thereof to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Operating Partnership or the Security Registrar for such Security) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Operating Partnership and the Security Registrar for such Security duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, or any redemption or repayment of Securities, or any conversion or exchange of Securities for other types of securities or property, but the Operating Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 905 or 1107, upon repayment or repurchase in part of any Registered Security pursuant to Article Thirteen, or upon surrender in part of any Registered Security for conversion or exchange into Common Equity or other securities or property pursuant to its terms, in each case not involving any transfer.

 

25


Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Operating Partnership shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of like tenor and terms and of the same series under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security, or portion thereof, so selected for redemption, except in the case of any Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which, in accordance with its terms, has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder pursuant to Article Thirteen and not withdrawn, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

Section 306 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 306, the Operating Partnership shall execute and, upon Operating Partnership Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there be delivered to the Operating Partnership and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Operating Partnership or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Operating Partnership shall execute and, upon the Operating Partnership’s written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Operating Partnership in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Operating Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its legal counsel) connected therewith.

Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute a separate obligation of the Operating Partnership, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, shall (to the extent lawful) be exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 307 Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, and are punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

26


Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for such Registered Security (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Operating Partnership, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Operating Partnership may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Operating Partnership shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on such Registered Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Operating Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Person entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon, the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Operating Partnership of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Operating Partnership shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2); or

(2) The Operating Partnership may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Operating Partnership to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular series, at the option of the Operating Partnership, interest on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States of America; provided, that the Paying Agent shall have received appropriate wire transfer instructions at least five Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

Section 308 Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Registered Security shall be overdue, and none of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No owner of any beneficial interest in any global Security held on its behalf by a Depository shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such global Security, and such Depository may be treated by the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the applicable Depository, as a Holder, with respect to a global Security or impair, as between such Depository and the owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depository (or its nominee) as the Holder of such global Security.

 

27


Section 309 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be promptly delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities, as well as Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose, shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. The Operating Partnership may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Operating Partnership may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures, unless by an Operating Partnership Order the Operating Partnership directs their return to it.

Section 310 Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or in the Securities of any series, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 311 CUSIP Numbers.

The Operating Partnership in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Operating Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

Section 401 Satisfaction and Discharge.

Unless, pursuant to Section 301, the provisions of this Section 401 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of any series, upon the direction of the Operating Partnership by an Operating Partnership Order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Operating Partnership Order and any Guarantee of such Securities, and the Trustee, on receipt of an Operating Partnership Order, at the expense of the Operating Partnership, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when,

(1) either

(a) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Operating Partnership or any Affiliate of the Operating Partnership and thereafter repaid to the Operating Partnership or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

(i) have become due and payable, or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

28


(iii) if redeemable at the option of the Operating Partnership, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest on, and, to the extent that the Securities of such series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts which are or will be payable with respect to the Securities of such series is at the time of deposit determinable by the Operating Partnership (in the exercise by the Operating Partnership of its reasonable discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Maturity thereof, as the case may be;

(2) the Operating Partnership has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Operating Partnership with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series (including amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 606); and

(3) the Operating Partnership has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to the Securities of such series have been complied with.

In the event there are Securities of two or more series Outstanding hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee, if in form and content reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Operating Partnership to the Trustee under Section 606 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Operating Partnership and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 305, 306, 403, 404, 1002, 1003 and, if applicable to the Securities of such series, 1004 (including, without limitation, with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 401(1)(b)), the obligations of any Guarantor under any Guarantee in respect of Additional Amounts, any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to require the Operating Partnership to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Operating Partnership to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, and any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Operating Partnership to convert or exchange, such Securities into Common Equity or other securities or property, shall survive.

Section 402 Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

(1) Unless, pursuant to Section 301, either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (2) of this Section 402 or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (3) of this Section 402 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 402 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities, and the Operating Partnership may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of or within such series, elect to have Section 402(2) or Section 402(3) be applied to such Outstanding Securities and any Guarantees of such Outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 402. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, defeasance under clause (2) of this Section 402 and covenant defeasance under clause (3) of this Section 402 may be effected only with respect to all, and not less than all, of the Outstanding Securities of any series. To the extent that the terms of any Security established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Operating Partnership or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Security is due and payable, then unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301, the right to extend such date shall terminate upon defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be.

 

29


(2) Upon the Operating Partnership’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 402(2) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor, as applicable, shall be deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Operating Partnership shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of clause (5) of this Section 402 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (2), and that each of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor shall be deemed to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Operating Partnership, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely (except as provided in subclause (ii) below) from the trust fund described in clause (4)(a) of this Section 402 and as more fully set forth in this Section 402 and 403, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities when such payments are due, (ii) the obligations of the Operating Partnership and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002, 1003 and, if applicable to the Securities of such series, 1004 (including, without limitation, with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to clause (4)(a) of this Section 402)), the obligations of any Guarantor under a Guarantee in respect of Additional Amounts, as applicable, any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to require the Operating Partnership to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Operating Partnership to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, and any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Operating Partnership to convert or exchange, such Securities into Common Equity or other securities or property, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 402 and Sections 403 and 404. The Operating Partnership may exercise its option under this Section 402(2) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 402(3) with respect to such Securities.

(3) Upon the Operating Partnership’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 402(3) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor, as applicable, shall be released from their respective obligations under clause (ii) of Section 1005 and Section 704 and, to the extent specified pursuant to Section 301, any other covenant applicable to such Securities with respect to such Securities shall cease to be applicable to such Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor, as applicable, may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or any such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 501(3) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

(4) The following shall be the conditions to application of clause (2) or (3) of this Section 402 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:

(a) The Operating Partnership shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 607 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 402 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with subsection (f) below, on

 

30


the relevant Redemption Date, as the case may be, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with subsection (f) below, on the relevant Redemption Date, as the case may be) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in any case, in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and, to the extent that such Securities provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts which are or will be payable with respect to the Securities of such series is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by the Operating Partnership (in the exercise by the Operating Partnership of its reasonable discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Outstanding Securities on the Maturity or Stated Maturity of such principal or interest, and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.

(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor is bound.

(c) No Event of Default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, and, solely in the case of defeasance under Section 402(2), no Event of Default with respect to such Securities under clause (5), (6) or (7) of Section 501 or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities under clause (5), (6) or (7) of Section 501 shall have occurred and be continuing at any time during the period ending on and including the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition to defeasance under Section 402(2) shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(d) In the case of defeasance pursuant to Section 402(2), the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel acceptable to the Trustee stating that (x) the Operating Partnership has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of independent counsel shall confirm that, the Holders and beneficial owners of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred; or, in the case of covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402(3), the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Holders and beneficial owners of such Outstanding Securities and will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(e) The Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, under this Indenture have been complied with.

(f) If the monies or Government Obligations or combination thereof, as the case may be, deposited under subclause (a) above are sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and, to the extent provided in such subclause (a), Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities on a particular Redemption Date, the Operating Partnership shall have given the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem such Securities on such date and to provide notice of such redemption to Holders as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

31


(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 402(4), such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Operating Partnership in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

(5) Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee (collectively for purposes of this Section 402(5) and Section 403, the “Trustee)) pursuant to clause (4)(a) of Section 402 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (other than the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Operating Partnership acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 402(4)(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the Foreign Currency in which the deposit pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on (x) in the case of payments made pursuant to subclause (a) above, the applicable market exchange rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, or (y) with respect to a Conversion Event, the applicable market exchange rate for such Foreign Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

The Operating Partnership shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 402 or the principal or interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Section 402 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Operating Partnership from time to time upon Operating Partnership Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4)(a) of this Section 402 which, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 402.

Section 403 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 or 402 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Operating Partnership acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, interest and Additional Amounts for whose payment such money has or Government Obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee; but such money and Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 404 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee appointed pursuant to Section 402(4)(a)) or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any moneys or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401(1) or 402(4)(a) to pay any principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to the Securities of any series by reason of any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Operating Partnership’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series and the Guarantee shall be revived and reinstated as though no such deposit had occurred, until such time as the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent is

 

32


permitted to apply all such moneys and Government Obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of the Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 401 or 402 as the case may be, and Section 403; provided, however, that if the Operating Partnership makes any payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of the Securities of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations as aforesaid, the Operating Partnership shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the funds held by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent.

Section 405 Qualifying Trustee.

Any trustee appointed pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) for the purpose of holding trust funds deposited pursuant to that Section shall be appointed under an agreement in form acceptable to the Trustee and shall provide to the Trustee a certificate of such trustee, upon which certificate the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely, that all conditions precedent provided for herein to the related defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with. In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any acts or omissions of said trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

Section 501 Events of Default.

An “Event of Default” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body) means any of the following events:

(1) default for thirty (30) days in the payment of any installment of interest, sinking fund payment or Additional Amounts payable with respect to such interest under the Securities of that series;

(2) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, the Securities of that series, when the same becomes due and payable or default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of that series when due and such default continues for three Business Days;

(3) the Operating Partnership fails to comply with any of the Operating Partnership’s other agreements contained in the Securities of that series or this Indenture (other than an agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series) upon receipt by the Operating Partnership of notice of such default by the Trustee or receipt by the Operating Partnership and the Trustee of notice of such default by Holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding and the Operating Partnership fails to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within sixty (60) days after the Operating Partnership receives such notice;

(4) failure to pay any recourse indebtedness for monies borrowed by the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable notice and grace period, which recourse indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within thirty (30) days after written notice to the Operating Partnership from the Trustee (or to the Operating Partnership and the Trustee from Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series);

(5) the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or under or within meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: (a) commences a voluntary case or proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or its debts or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of the property of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any

 

33


Significant Subsidiary; (b) consents to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary; (c) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or (d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

(6) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of the property of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) calendar days; or

(7) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (a) is for relief against the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding; (b) appoints a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of the property of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary; or (c) orders the liquidation of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary; and, in each case in this clause (7), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for thirty (30) calendar days.

Section 502 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (5), (6) or (7) of Section 501) with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal of, and premium, if any, on all the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Operating Partnership (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount, as the case may be, and such accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (5), (6) or (7) of Section 501 with respect to the Securities of any series occurs, then the principal of, and premium, if any, on all of the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities of such series.

At any time after Securities of any series have been accelerated by declaration of the Trustee or the Holders and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

(1) the Operating Partnership or the Company has paid or deposited, or cause to be paid or deposited, with the Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay (or, to the extent that the terms of the Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 301 expressly provide for payment to be made in shares of Common Equity or other securities or property, shares of Common Equity or other securities or property, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities, sufficient to pay)

(a) all overdue installments of any interest on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto,

(b) the principal of and any premium on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest thereon at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities,

 

34


(c) to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest upon installments of any interest, if any, which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities, and

(d) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606; and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series other than the non-payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been waived as provided in Section 513 or cured.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 503 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Operating Partnership covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any interest on, any Security when such interest or Additional Amounts, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any Security at its Maturity, and such default continues for three Business Days, or

(3) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, if applicable, when due, and such default continues for three Business Days,

the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities, with interest upon the overdue principal, any premium and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for or with respect to such Securities or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount of money as shall be sufficient to cover the reasonable costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 606.

If the Operating Partnership (and any applicable Guarantor) fails to pay the money it is required to pay the Trustee pursuant to the preceding paragraph forthwith upon the demand of the Trustee, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the money so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or such Securities or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein or therein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

35


Section 504 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Operating Partnership, such Guarantor or such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Operating Partnership for the payment of any overdue principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(1) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, of the principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents or counsel) and of the Holders of Securities allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(2) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent in writing in its sole discretion to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of Securities, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder), its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security in any such proceeding.

Section 505 Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery or judgment, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of each and every Holder of a Security in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 506 Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article Five with respect to the Securities of any series shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal, or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts, upon presentation of such Securities, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) and any predecessor Trustee under the Indenture;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts;

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

36


Section 507 Limitations on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series;

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against the losses, damages, costs, expenses and liabilities, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses and court costs, to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holders or Holders of Securities of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

Section 508 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security, on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities therefor specified in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof at the option of such Holder if provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, on the date such repayment is due) and, in the case of any Security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, to convert or exchange, as the case may be, such Security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and any such right to convert or exchange, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 509 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor (if applicable), the Trustee and each such Holder shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and each such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 510 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

To the extent permitted by applicable law and except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to each and every Holder of a Security is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy, to the extent permitted by law, shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

37


Section 511 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to any Holder of a Security may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by such Holder, as the case may be.

Section 512 Control by Holders of Securities.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or with the Securities of any series and could not involve the Trustee in personal liability,

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

(3) such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders of Securities of such series (or any other series) not joining in such action.

Section 513 Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series may waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except

(1) a continuing default in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series, or

(2) in the case of any Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Equity or other securities or property, a continuing default in any such conversion or exchange, or

(3) a continuing default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 514 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

The Operating Partnership covenants that (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or any other law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which would prohibit or forgive the Operating Partnership or any applicable Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any on or Additional Amounts, if any, as contemplated in this Indenture, any Guarantee and the Securities or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and each of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee or the Holders, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

38


Section 515 Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of any undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 515 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, and, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, on or after the date for repayment) or for the enforcement of the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security into Common Equity or other securities or property in accordance with its terms.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

Section 601 Certain Rights of Trustee.

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, that (i) notwithstanding Section 315(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated in the certificates or opinions referred to therein, and (ii) except during the continuance of an Event of Default, no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

In connection with this Indenture and any Securities issued hereunder, subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:

(1) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(2) any request or direction of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Operating Partnership Request or an Operating Partnership Order (in each case, other than delivery of any Security, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence shall be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the losses, damages, costs, expenses and liabilities, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses and court costs, which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

39


(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its sole discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, upon reasonable prior written notice and during normal business hours, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Operating Partnership, personally or by agent or attorney and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(8) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers. The Trustee is not required to give any bond or surety with respect to the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers under this Indenture. The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or duty to do so;

(9) the Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail (PDF only), facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor, as applicable, shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing designated persons with the authority to provide such instructions, which incumbency certificate shall be amended whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile transmission instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its sole and absolute discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, damages, costs, fees or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or inconsistency with a subsequent written instruction. The Operating Partnership and any Guarantor, as applicable, agree to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including, without limitation, the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception by third parties;

(10) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

(11) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

(12) in no event shall the Trustee be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder; and

(13) the Trustee may request that the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

40


Section 602 Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the Trustee has actual knowledge of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, notice of such default hereunder actually known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series; provided that any default that results solely from the taking of an action that would have been permitted but for the continuation of a previous default will be deemed to be cured if such previous default is cured prior to becoming an Event of Default. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default under this Indenture or related documents unless (i) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (ii) the Trustee shall have received notice in writing of such default or Event of Default by the Operating Partnership or by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding of the affected series, and such notice is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

Section 603 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Operating Partnership, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Operating Partnership are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Operating Partnership of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section 604 May Hold Securities; Transactions with the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other Person that may be an agent of the Trustee or the Operating Partnership, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other Person; provided, however, that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest under the Trust Indenture Act relating to any of its duties with respect to the Securities, it must either eliminate such conflict or resign as Trustee, subject to its right under the Trust Indenture Act to seek a stay of its duty to resign.

Section 605 Money Held in Trust.

Except as provided in Section 403 and Section 1003, money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law and shall be held uninvested. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Operating Partnership.

Section 606 Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Operating Partnership agrees:

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as agreed in writing for all services rendered by the Trustee (in any capacity) hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel, such as attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

41


(3) to indemnify the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder), its directors, officers, employees and its agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, claim, cause of action, damage, liability or reasonable cost or expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee’s agents, legal counsel, accountants and experts), arising out of or in connection with this Indenture or the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim (whether asserted by the Operating Partnership, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent that any such loss, claim, cause of action, damage, liability or expense was due to the Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct.

The foregoing payment obligations and indemnities shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Operating Partnership under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, or premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to particular Securities.

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, any compensation or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default specified by Section 501(5), (6) or (7) is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. “Trustee” for purposes of this Section 606 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 606. The provisions of this Section 606 shall, to the extent permitted by law, survive any termination or expiration of this Indenture (including, without limitation, termination pursuant to any bankruptcy or insolvency laws) and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Section 607 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Corporation, organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, eligible under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000 subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 608 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(1) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee pursuant to Section 609.

(2) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Operating Partnership. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 609 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Operating Partnership, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

(3) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and the Operating Partnership. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 609 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Operating Partnership, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

(4) If at any time:

(a) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Operating Partnership or any Holder of a Security of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or

 

42


(b) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Operating Partnership or any such Holder, or

(c) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (i) the Operating Partnership, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(5) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Operating Partnership, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 609. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Operating Partnership and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 609, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Operating Partnership. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Operating Partnership or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 609, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(6) The Operating Partnership shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 609 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(1) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Operating Partnership and the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties hereunder of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Operating Partnership or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and, subject to Section 1003, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 606.

(2) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, such successor Trustee all

 

43


the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts separate and apart from trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, and, upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on written request of the Operating Partnership or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor relates and subject to Section 1003 shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 606.

(3) Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a successor Trustee, the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

(4) No Person shall accept its appointment hereunder as a successor Trustee unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Person shall be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under this Article.

Section 610 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any Corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder (provided that such Corporation shall otherwise be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under this Article), without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any such successor to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee.

Section 611 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint one or more Authenticating Agents acceptable to the Operating Partnership with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of that or those series issued upon original issue, exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption, partial repayment, partial conversion or exchange for Common Equity or other securities or property, or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.

Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Operating Partnership and, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall at all times be a Corporation that would be permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, is authorized under applicable law and by its charter to act as an Authenticating Agent and has

 

44


a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any Corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such Corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and the Operating Partnership. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and the Operating Partnership. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Operating Partnership and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Operating Partnership agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section. If the Trustee makes such payments, it shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 606.

The provisions of Sections 308, 603 and 604 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

If an Authenticating Agent is appointed with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[NAME OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT],
as Authenticating Agent
By:    

 

  Authorized Signatory
Dated:  

If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Operating Partnership wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officers’ Certificate of the Operating Partnership), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Operating Partnership with respect to such series of Securities.

 

45


ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AND GUARANTORS

Section 701 Operating Partnership to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Operating Partnership shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

(1) semi-annually with respect to Securities of each series not later than June 1 and December 1 of each year or upon such other dates as are set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, a list, in each case in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders as of the applicable date, and

(2) at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Operating Partnership of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, provided, however, that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such list shall be required to be furnished.

Section 702 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(1) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

(2) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor and the Trustee that none of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Trustee or any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived.

Section 703 Reports by Trustee.

(1) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 301, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Section 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.

(2) The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by the Trust Indenture Act, including Sections 313(a), 313(b), 313(c) and 313(d), at the times, in the manner and to the Persons specified therein.

(3) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 704 Reports by the Operating Partnership.

For so long as any Securities are outstanding, if the Operating Partnership is subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, the Operating Partnership will deliver to the Trustee the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provision, within 15 days after the date that the Operating Partnership files the same with the Commission. If the Operating Partnership is not subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, and for so long as any Securities are outstanding, the Operating Partnership will deliver to the Trustee the quarterly and annual financial statements and accompanying Item 303 of Regulation S-K (“management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations”) disclosure that would be

 

46


required to be contained in annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q required to be filed with the Commission if the Operating Partnership was subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, within 15 days of the filing date that would be applicable to the Operating Partnership at that time pursuant to applicable Commission rules and regulations.

Reports and other documents filed with the Commission via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time of such filing via EDGAR for purposes of this covenant; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed via EDGAR. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including its compliance with any of its covenants relating to the Securities (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALES AND SUBSTITUTION

Section 801 Operating Partnership May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Operating Partnership with or into any other Person or Persons (whether or not affiliated with the Operating Partnership), or successive consolidations or mergers in which either the Operating Partnership will be the continuing entity or the Operating Partnership or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Operating Partnership, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Operating Partnership); provided, however, that the following conditions are met:

(1) the Operating Partnership shall be the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than the Operating Partnership) formed by or resulting from any consolidation or merger or which shall have received the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of property and assets shall be domiciled in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume payment of the principal of and interest on all of the Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions in this Indenture;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) either the Operating Partnership or the successor Person, in either case, shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

No such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer, assignment or lease shall be permitted by this Section 801 unless prior thereto the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the Operating Partnership’s obligations hereunder (as assumed by the successor Person) shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.

 

47


Section 802 Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of any Guarantor with or into any other Person or Persons (whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor), or successive consolidations or mergers in which such Guarantor will be the continuing entity or such Guarantor or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the property and assets of such Guarantor, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor); provided, however, that the following conditions are met:

(1) such Guarantor shall be the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than such Guarantor) formed by or resulting from any consolidation or merger or which shall have received the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of property and assets shall be domiciled in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume the obligations of such Guarantor under the applicable Guarantee and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions in this Indenture;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) either such Guarantor or the successor Person, in either case, shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of such Guarantor and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, sale, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

No such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer, assignment or lease shall be permitted by this Section 802 unless prior thereto such Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder (as assumed by the successor Person) shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.

Section 803 Successor Person Substituted for Operating Partnership or Guarantor.

If the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor shall, in any transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge into any Person or sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise convey all or substantially all its property and assets to any Person, in each case in accordance with Section 801 or Section 802, as applicable, the successor Person formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Operating Partnership or such Guarantor, as applicable, is made, shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Operating Partnership or the Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of the applicable series, with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Operating Partnership or Guarantor, as applicable, herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the applicable Securities.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 901 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities, the Operating Partnership (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution), any Guarantor, if affected thereby, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto for any of the following purposes:

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, if applicable, or successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, if applicable, contained herein and in the Securities; or

(2) to add to the covenants of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor with respect to all or any series of Securities issued under this Indenture (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures); or

(3) to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities or any Guarantee, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series; or

(4) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including, without limitation, any conversion or exchange provisions applicable to Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable

 

48


for other securities or property, and any deletions from or additions or changes to this Indenture in connection therewith (provided that any such deletions, additions and changes shall not be applicable to any other series of Securities then Outstanding); or

(5) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 609; or

(6) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture; or

(7) to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the Commission in connection with the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

(8) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders with respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture) (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all of the Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

(9) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance, covenant defeasance and/or satisfaction and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Article Four, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of a Security of such series or any other Security; or

(10) to add one or more Guarantees for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, to secure the Securities or to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Guarantee or lien securing the Securities which such release, termination or discharge is permitted by this Indenture; or

(11) to amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or in any Securities (which amendment or supplement may apply to one or more series of Securities or to one or more Securities within any series as specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures), provided that such amendment or supplement (A) does not (i) apply to any Outstanding Security issued prior to the date of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefits of such provision or (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no Security described in clause (A)(i) Outstanding; or

(12) in the case of any series of Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Equity or other securities or property, to safeguard or provide for the conversion or exchange rights, as the case may be, of such Securities in the event of any reclassification or change of outstanding shares of Common Equity or any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or combination of the Operating Partnership with or into another Person or any sale, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Operating Partnership to any other Person or other similar transactions, if expressly required by the terms of such series of Securities established pursuant to Section 301; or

(13) to conform the terms of the Indenture or the Securities of a series, as applicable, to the description thereof contained in any prospectus, prospectus supplement or other offering document relating to the offer and sale of such Securities; or

(14) subject to any limitations established pursuant to Section 301, to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series; or

(15) to comply with the rules of any applicable Depository; or

(16) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any Holder in any material respect;

 

49


(17) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

(18) to comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may be listed or traded.

Section 902 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as separate classes) by Act of said Holders delivered to the Operating Partnership and the Trustee, the Operating Partnership (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution), any Guarantor, if affected thereby, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of such series or of any Guarantee or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, that no such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the premium, if any, thereon or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest thereon, or reduce the amount payable upon redemption thereof at the option of the Operating Partnership or repayment or repurchase thereof at the option of the Holder, or reduce any Additional Amounts payable with respect to any Security or any Guarantee, or change the obligation of the Operating Partnership to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)) or the obligation of any Guarantor to pay Additional Amounts under any Guarantee, or reduce the amount of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect the right of repayment or repurchase at the option of any Holder as contemplated by Article Thirteen, or change the Place of Payment where or the Currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security or any Guarantee is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment or repurchase pursuant to Article Thirteen at the option of the Holder, on or after the date for repayment or repurchase) in each case as such Stated Maturity, Redemption Date or date for repayment or repurchase may, if applicable, be extended in accordance with the terms of such Security, or in the case of any Security which is convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Equity or other securities or property, impair the right to institute suit to enforce the right to convert or exchange such Security in accordance with its terms, or release a Guarantor from any of its obligations under a Guarantee except as permitted under this Indenture, or

(2) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in Section 513 or 1006 of this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, or

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1006 except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, or

(4) make any change that adversely affects the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security for shares of Common Equity or other securities or property in accordance with its terms.

Other than as set forth above, a supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which shall have been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, if more than one series of Securities is Outstanding, the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor shall be entitled to enter into a supplemental indenture under this Section 902 with respect to any one or more series of Outstanding Securities without entering into a supplemental indenture with respect to any other series of Outstanding Securities.

 

50


Upon an Operating Partnership Request, accompanied by the Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel provided for in Sections 102 and 903, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the other parties thereto in the execution of such supplemental indenture, subject to the protection afforded to the Trustee by the last sentence of Section 903.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

Section 903 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of each of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor to the effect that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of, each of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor, respectively, subject to customary exceptions. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 904 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of a Security theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 905 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Operating Partnership shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Operating Partnership, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Operating Partnership and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, upon Operating Partnership Order, in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

Section 906 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Unless the Operating Partnership shall determine, based on an Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee, that the same shall not be required, every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

Section 1001 Payment of Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.

The Operating Partnership covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid when due the principal of (including the Redemption Price upon redemption pursuant to Article Eleven hereof), and premium, if any, and interest on each of the Securities at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Securities; provided, that the Operating Partnership or Paying Agent may withhold from payments of interest and upon redemption pursuant to Article Three hereof, maturity or otherwise, any amounts the Operating Partnership or Paying Agent is required to withhold by law.

 

51


Section 1002 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Operating Partnership will maintain an office or agency, where the Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment or redemption and where notices and demands to or upon the Operating Partnership in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. As of the date of this Indenture, such office shall be the Corporate Trust Office and, at any other time, at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency not designated or appointed by the Trustee. If at any time the Operating Partnership shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

The Operating Partnership may also from time to time designate co-registrars and one or more offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Operating Partnership will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

The Operating Partnership hereby initially designates the Trustee as Paying Agent, Security Registrar and Transfer Agent, and the Corporate Trust Office shall be considered as one such office or agency of the Operating Partnership for each of the aforesaid purposes.

So long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, the Trustee agrees to mail (or send by electronic transmission), or cause to be mailed, the notices set forth in Section 608(6) hereof. If co-registrars have been appointed in accordance with this Section 1002, the Trustee shall mail such notices only to the Operating Partnership and the Holders of Securities it can identify from its records.

Section 1003 Provisions as to Paying Agent.

(1) If the Operating Partnership shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, or if the Trustee shall appoint such a Paying Agent, the Operating Partnership will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003: (a) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Operating Partnership or by any other obligor on the Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities; (b) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Operating Partnership (or by any other obligor on the Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities when the same shall be due and payable; and (c) that at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon request of the Trustee, it will forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust.

The Operating Partnership shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum (in funds which are immediately available on the due date for such payment) sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Operating Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action; provided, that if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit shall be received by the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on such date.

(2) If the Operating Partnership shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, and interest so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Operating Partnership (or any other obligor under the Securities) to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities when the same shall become due and payable.

(3) Anything in this Section 1003 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Operating Partnership may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Operating Partnership or any Paying Agent hereunder as required by this Section 1003, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment by the Operating Partnership or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Operating Partnership or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

 

52


The Trustee shall not be responsible for the actions of any other Paying Agents (including the Operating Partnership if acting as its own Paying Agent) and shall have no control of any funds held by such other Paying Agents.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Operating Partnership, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Operating Partnership on Operating Partnership Request, or (if then held by the Operating Partnership) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Operating Partnership for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Operating Partnership as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Operating Partnership cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Operating Partnership.

Section 1004 Additional Amounts.

In the event that the Operating Partnership is required to make the payment of Additional Amounts to Holders of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Operating Partnership will provide written notice (“Additional Amounts Notice”) to the Trustee of its obligation to pay Additional Amounts no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the proposed payment date for Additional Amounts, and the Additional Amount Notice shall set forth the amount of Additional Amounts to be paid by the Operating Partnership on such payment date. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities to determine the Additional Amounts, or with respect to the nature, extent or calculation of the amount of Additional Amounts when made, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of the Additional Amounts.

Section 1005 Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, each of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its (i) existence, and (ii) rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, that neither the Operating Partnership nor any Guarantor shall be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee of that Board of Directors), as applicable, shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor, as applicable.

Section 1006 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

The Operating Partnership and any Guarantor may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1005(ii) with respect to the Securities of any series and, if expressly provided pursuant to Section 301(18), any additional covenants applicable to the Securities of such series if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either shall waive such compliance in such instance or generally shall have waived compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor, as applicable and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 1007 Operating Partnership and Guarantor Statement as to Compliance.

Within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the end of each fiscal year of the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership and, if applicable, any Guarantor, shall deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by any of the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Operating Partnership and such Guarantor, stating whether or not the signer has knowledge of any default under this Indenture, and, if so, specifying each default and the nature and the status thereof.

The Operating Partnership will deliver to the Trustee, within thirty (30) calendar days of becoming aware of (i) any default in the performance or observance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, or (ii) any Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying with particularity such default or Event of Default and further stating what action the Operating Partnership has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

53


Any notice required to be given under this Section 1007 shall be delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 1008 Calculation of Original Issue Discount.

So long as there is any Outstanding Original Issue Discount Security, the Operating Partnership shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 1101 Applicability of Article.

Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Operating Partnership as permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto) this Article.

Section 1102 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Operating Partnership to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Operating Partnership of all of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the Operating Partnership shall, not less than 22 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Operating Partnership (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, in the event that the Operating Partnership shall determine that the Securities of any series to be redeemed shall be selected from Securities of such series having the same issue date, interest rate or interest rate formula, Stated Maturity and other terms (the “Equivalent Terms”), the Operating Partnership shall notify the Trustee of such Equivalent Terms.

If less than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed or if less than all of the Securities of any series with Equivalent Terms are to be redeemed, the Operating Partnership shall, at least seven days prior to giving notice of redemption to the Holders (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and agreed upon in writing by the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, the Equivalent Terms.

In the case of any redemption of Securities (A) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (B) pursuant to an election of the Operating Partnership which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Operating Partnership shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

Section 1103 Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.

If less than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed or if less than all of the Securities of any series with Equivalent Terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not less than 15 days and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series or from the Outstanding Securities of such series with Equivalent Terms, as the case may be, not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Registered Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of such series established herein or pursuant hereto; provided that if the Securities of such series are represented by one or more global Securities, interests in such global Securities shall be selected for redemption by the Depository in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

 

54


The Trustee shall promptly notify the Operating Partnership and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any series, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted or exchanged for Common Equity or other securities or property in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted or exchanged portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

Section 1104 Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portions thereof.

Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof,

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Security or Securities to be redeemed,

(4) that, in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

(5) that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price shall become due and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, together (if applicable) with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon (subject, if applicable, to the provisos to the first paragraph of Section 1106), and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

(6) the place or places where such Securities, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts pertaining thereto,

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

(8) in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Equity or other securities or property, the then current conversion or exchange price or rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or exchange the principal of the Securities of such series to be redeemed will commence or terminate, as applicable, and the place or places where and the Persons to whom such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange,

 

55


(9) the CUSIP number, Common Code or ISIN number of such Securities, if any (or any other numbers used by a Depository to identify such Securities), and

(10) if the Redemption Price or any portion thereof shall be payable, at the option of the Operating Partnership or any Holders, in shares of Common Equity, cash or in other securities or property (or a combination thereof), a statement as to whether the Operating Partnership has elected to pay the Redemption Price in shares of Common Equity, cash or in other securities or property (or a combination thereof) and, if applicable, the portion of the Redemption Price that is to be paid in shares of Common Equity, cash or in other securities or property.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Operating Partnership shall be given by the Operating Partnership or, at the Operating Partnership’s request with 15 days prior written notice (or such shorter notice as shall be acceptable to the Trustee), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Operating Partnership, which request shall set forth the information to be contained in such notice of redemption.

Section 1105 Deposit of Redemption Price.

At or prior to 11:00 am (local time in New York City) on any Redemption Date, the Operating Partnership shall deposit, with respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption pursuant to Section 1104, with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the applicable Currency sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for or in the Securities of such series) any accrued interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to, all such Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

Section 1106 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, together with (unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 301) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon and from and after such date (unless the Operating Partnership shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Operating Partnership at the Redemption Price, together with, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Additional Amounts with respect thereto to but excluding the Redemption Date; provided, however, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Registered Securities of such series, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates therefor according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid, or funds set aside for payment, on the Redemption Date, the principal and any premium, until paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security or, if no rate is prescribed therefor in the Security, at the rate of interest, if any, borne by such Security.

Section 1107 Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at any Office or Agency for such Security (with, if the Operating Partnership or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Operating Partnership and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Operating Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon Operating Partnership Order, to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Security in global form is so surrendered, the Operating Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon Operating Partnership Order, to the Depository for such Security in global form as shall be specified in the Operating Partnership Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global form so surrendered.

 

56


ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

Section 1201 Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or required in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security of such series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series and this Indenture.

Section 1202 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Operating Partnership may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to the Operating Partnership), and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Operating Partnership pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 1202, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Operating Partnership Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the written request of the Operating Partnership from time to time pay over and deliver to the Operating Partnership any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Operating Partnership to the Trustee of Securities of that series purchased by the Operating Partnership having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Operating Partnership.

Section 1203 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 75 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Operating Partnership shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, the basis for such credit and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Operating Partnership shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Operating Partnership in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

57


ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section 1301 Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 309, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Operating Partnership, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a direction that such Securities be cancelled. If specified with respect to the Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 301, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Operating Partnership may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the applicable repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the Operating Partnership on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Operating Partnership to pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

Unless otherwise expressly stated in this Indenture or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Indenture to the repayment of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof (and all references of like import) shall be deemed to include a reference to the repurchase of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Section 1401 Applicability of Article.

Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same Currency or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same Currency, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of such series and in accordance with the Depository’s procedures, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a Currency other than Dollars shall be treated for any such action, determination or distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for such action, determination or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such distribution) as the Operating Partnership may specify in a written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the Trustee may determine.

Section 1402 Monies of Different Currencies to be Segregated.

The Trustee shall segregate monies, funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder in one currency from any monies, funds or accounts in any other currencies, notwithstanding any provision herein which would otherwise permit the Trustee to commingle such accounts.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Section 1501 Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

58


Section 1502 Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(1) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in The City of New York. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(2) In case at any time the Operating Partnership or any Guarantor (by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of or made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request (whichever shall be required pursuant to Section 106) or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in The City of New York and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (1) of this Section.

Section 1503 Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor and their respective counsel.

Section 1504 Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting or duly reconvened meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of a supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote the specified supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(1), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of the specified supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; and provided, further, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such lesser specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

59


Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series, whether or not such Holders were present or represented at the meeting.

Section 1505 Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

(2) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(2), in which case the Operating Partnership, any Guarantor or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(3) At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. If the Securities of such series are issuable in minimum denominations of less than $1,000, then a Holder of such a Security in a principal amount of less than $1,000 shall be entitled to a fraction of one vote which is equal to the fraction that the principal amount of such Security bears to $1,000. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

(4) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 1506 Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to each of the Operating Partnership and any Guarantor, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

60


ARTICLE SIXTEEN

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

Section 1601 Guarantee.

(a) Each Person who may become a “Guarantor” with respect to any series of Securities to which this Article Sixteen is made applicable, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to each Holder of a Security of such series authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Securities of such series or the obligations of the Operating Partnership under this Indenture or the Securities of such series, that: (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series will be paid in full when due, whether at the Stated Maturity or Interest Payment Date, by acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise; (ii) all other obligations of the Operating Partnership to the Holders of such series or the Trustee under this Indenture or the Securities of such series will be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series; and (iii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Securities of such series or any of such other obligations thereunder, they will be paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at the Stated Maturity or Interest Payment Date, by acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, each Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the same before failure so to pay becomes an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series. If the Operating Partnership defaults in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a series so guaranteed when and as the same shall become due, whether at the Stated Maturity or Interest Payment Date, by acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise, without the necessity of action by the Trustee or any Holder, each Guarantor with respect to such series shall be required to promptly make such payment in full. The obligations of all Guarantors under this Article Sixteen shall be joint and several.

(b) Each Guarantor agrees with respect to Securities of any series that its obligations with regard to this Guarantee shall be as principal and not merely as surety and shall be full, irrevocable and unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities of such series or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any delays in obtaining or realizing upon or failures to obtain or realize upon collateral, the recovery of any judgment against the Operating Partnership, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or a guarantor. Each Guarantor with respect to Securities of any series hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Operating Partnership, any right to require a proceeding first against the Operating Partnership or right to require the prior disposition of the assets of the Operating Partnership to meet its obligations, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of all obligations contained in the Securities of such series and this Indenture as it relates to such series of Securities. Each Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection.

(c) If any Holder of Securities of a series or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to any of the Operating Partnership or a Guarantor with respect to Securities of that series, or any custodian, trustee, or similar official acting in relation to any of the Operating Partnership or a Guarantor, any amount paid by any of the Operating Partnership or a Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder with respect to Securities of that series, the Guarantee with respect to Securities of that series, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders of Securities of a series in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations of Securities of such series. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Section 502 for the purposes of a Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration as to the Operating Partnership of the obligations so guaranteed, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of those obligations as provided in Section 502, those obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors with respect to Securities of a series for purposes of the Guarantee.

(d) Each Guarantor and by its acceptance of a Security issued hereunder each Holder hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee by each Guarantor set forth in Section 1601(a) not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purpose of any Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform

 

61


Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and all Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each of the Guarantors under the Guarantee set forth in Section 1601(a) shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor, and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to the next succeeding sentence, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under such Guarantee not constituting such a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. Each Guarantor that makes any payment or distribution under Section 1601(a) shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor equal to its Pro Rata Portion of such payment or distribution. For purposes of the foregoing, the “Pro Rata Portion” of any Guarantor means the percentage of net assets of all Guarantors held by such Guarantor, determined in accordance with GAAP.

(e) It is the intention of the parties that the obligations of the Guarantors shall be in, but not in excess of, the maximum amount permitted by applicable law. Accordingly, if the obligations in respect of the Guarantee would be annulled, avoided or subordinated to the creditors of any Guarantor by a court of competent jurisdiction in a proceeding actually pending before such court as a result of a determination both that such Guarantee was made without fair consideration and, immediately after giving effect thereto, such Guarantor was insolvent or unable to pay its debts as they mature or left with an unreasonably small capital, then the obligations of such Guarantor under such Guarantee shall be reduced by such court if and to the extent such reduction would result in the avoidance of such annulment, avoidance or subordination; provided, however, that any reduction pursuant to this paragraph shall be made in the smallest amount as is strictly necessary to reach such result. For purposes of this paragraph, “fair consideration,” “insolvency,” “unable to pay its debts as they mature,” “unreasonably small capital” and the effective times of reductions, if any, required by this paragraph shall be determined in accordance with applicable law.

(f) If the obligations of any Guarantor are reduced pursuant to Section 1601(d) or 1601(e) above, such reduction shall be applied proportionately with respect to all Securities (of whatever series) guaranteed under Section 1601, in accordance with the respective outstanding principal amount of such Securities so guaranteed (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, the accreted value of such Securities) and being then due upon the acceleration of the payment of such Securities.

Section 1602 Future Guarantors.

Each Person providing a guarantee of any Security of a series pursuant to this Indenture shall execute and deliver a supplemental indenture making such Person a party to this Indenture for the purpose of becoming a Guarantor.

Section 1603 Delivery of Guarantee.

The delivery of any Security of a series by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in Section 1601 on behalf of each Guarantor for that series.

 

62


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP,

as Issuer

By:           Brixmor OP GP LLC, its general partner
By:   BPG Subsidiary Inc., its sole member
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

63


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

as Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

64

EX-5.1 3 d846602dex51.htm EX-5.1 EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

[LETTERHEAD OF HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP]

January 13, 2015

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10170

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Brixmor Property Group Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the registration of one or more series of the following securities (collectively, the “Securities”): (i) shares of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) Preferred Stock represented by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Shares”), (iv) purchase contracts (the “Purchase Contracts”) relating to one or more of the Securities, which Purchase Contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a Purchase Contract and one or more other Securities or a security of an unaffiliated entity, (v) units (the “Units”) comprised of two or more of any of the Securities, (vi) warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Common Stock Warrant”), Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Warrant”) or Depository Shares (collectively, the “Warrants”), and (vii) debt securities of the Operating Partnership (the “Debt Securities”), all of which may be sold from time to time and on a delayed or continuous basis, as set forth in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the prospectus. The Securities may be issued in an unspecified number (with respect to Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depository Shares, Purchase Contracts, Units and Warrants) or in an unspecified principal amount (with respect to Debt Securities). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including telecopies). As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that (i) the issuance, sale, amount and terms of any Securities of the Company or the Operating Partnership to be offered from time to time will have been duly authorized and established by proper action of the board of directors of the


Company or a duly authorized committee of such board (“Board Action”) consistent with the procedures and terms described in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Company’s charter and bylaws and applicable Maryland General Corporation Law, in a manner that does not violate any law, government or court-imposed order or restriction or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company or otherwise impair the legal or binding nature of the obligations represented by the applicable Securities; (ii) at the time of offer, issuance and sale of any Securities, the Registration Statement will have been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and no stop order suspending its effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect; (iii) if being sold by the issuer thereof, the Securities will be delivered against payment of valid consideration therefor and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Board Action authorizing such sale and any applicable underwriting agreement or purchase agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; (iv) the Company will remain a Maryland corporation; and (v) the Securities will not be issued in violation of the ownership limit contained in the Company’s charter.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the applicable provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law following, as currently in effect. We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, or regulations (and in particular, we express no opinion as to any effect that such other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, or regulations may have on the opinions expressed herein).

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

(a) The Preferred Stock (including any Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares or that are duly issued upon the exercise of Preferred Stock Warrants and receipt by the Company of any additional consideration payable upon such exercise), upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(b) The Common Stock (including any Common Stock duly issued upon the exchange or conversion of Debt Securities or Preferred Stock that are exchangeable for or convertible into Common Stock or upon the exercise of Common Stock Warrants and receipt by the Company of any additional consideration payable upon such conversion, exchange or exercise), upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.01 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Hogan Lovells US LLP

HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

 

2

EX-5.2 4 d846602dex52.htm EX-5.2 EX-5.2

Exhibit 5.2

[LETTERHEAD OF SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP]

January 13, 2015

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10170

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10170

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Brixmor Property Group Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and to Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company and a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company and the Operating Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to (i) shares of common stock of the Company par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), which represent interests in a number of shares of the Company, or a fraction thereof, and may be represented by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Receipts”); (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock or other securities (the “Warrants”); (v) purchase contracts for the purchase and sale of Common Stock or other securities (the “Purchase Contracts”); (vi) units consisting of one or more of the securities described in clauses (i) through (v) above (the “Units”); and (vii) debt securities of the Operating Partnership (the “Debt Securities”). The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Depositary


January 13, 2015

 

Shares, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts and the Units are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Equity Securities” and the Equity Securities together with the Debt Securities are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.” The Securities may be issued and sold or delivered from time to time as set forth in the Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”) and supplements to the Prospectus and pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act for an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price.

The Depositary Shares will be issued pursuant to one or more deposit agreements (each, a “Deposit Agreement” and, collectively, the “Deposit Agreements”) between the Company and such depositary as shall be named therein (the “Depositary”).

The Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement” and, collectively, the “Warrant Agreements”) between the Company and such warrant agent as shall be named therein (the “Warrant Agent”).

The Purchase Contracts will be issued pursuant to one or more purchase contract agreements (each, a “Purchase Contract Agreement” and, collectively, the “Purchase Contract Agreements”) between the Company and such purchase contract agent as shall be named therein (the “Purchase Contract Agent”).

The Units will be issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement” and, collectively, the “Unit Agreements”) between the Company and such unit agent as shall be named therein.

The Debt Securities will be issued under an Indenture between the Operating Partnership, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by one or more supplemental indentures (each a “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”).

 

2


January 13, 2015

 

The Deposit Agreements, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contract Agreements and the Unit Agreements are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Equity Securities Agreements.”

We have examined the Registration Statement and the form of the Indenture, which has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and the Operating Partnership.

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

We have also assumed that, at the time of execution, authentication or countersignature, issuance and delivery, as applicable, of any Equity Securities, (1) the Company is validly existing and in good standing under the law of the State of Maryland and has duly authorized, issued, executed and delivered, as applicable, the Equity Securities and the applicable Equity Securities Agreements in accordance with its charter and bylaws and the law of the State of Maryland, (2) the execution, issuance, delivery and performance, as applicable, by the Company

 

3


January 13, 2015

 

of the Equity Securities and the applicable Equity Securities Agreements do not violate the law of the State of Maryland or any other jurisdiction, except that no such assumption is made with respect to the federal law of the United States or the law of the State of New York, and (3) the execution, issuance, delivery and performance, as applicable, by the Company of the Equity Securities and the applicable Equity Securities Agreements do not constitute a breach or violation of any agreement or instrument that is binding upon the Company or its charter or bylaws. We have assumed further that, at the time of execution, authentication or countersignature, issuance and delivery, as applicable, of any Equity Securities, each of the applicable Equity Securities Agreements will be the valid and legally binding obligation of all parties thereto other than the Company.

We have assumed further that at the time of the execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities, (1) the Indenture will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Operating Partnership and (2) the Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligation of all parties thereto other than the Operating Partnership.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to the Depositary Shares, assuming (a) the due issuance and delivery to the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement of the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares and (b) the due execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of the Depositary Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares against deposit of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, a duly constituted and acting committee of such Board (such Board of Directors or committee being referred to herein as the “Board”) and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Deposit Agreement and such agreement (and, in the case of Depositary Shares issuable upon conversion or exercise of other Securities, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise), the Depositary Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares will be validly issued.

 

4


January 13, 2015

 

2. With respect to the Warrants, assuming the due countersignature thereof by the Warrant Agent and upon payment of the consideration for such Warrants provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement and such agreement, such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

3. With respect to the Purchase Contracts, assuming the due countersignature thereof by the Purchase Contract Agent and upon payment of the consideration for such Purchase Contracts provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement and such agreement, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

4. With respect to the Units, assuming (a) the due issuance and delivery to the Unit Agent under the applicable Unit Agreement of the Securities that are components of the Units and (b) the due execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of the Units against deposit of the Securities that are components of the Units in accordance with the Unit Agreement, in each case upon the payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and in accordance with the provisions of the Unit Agreement and the applicable Securities Agreements, such Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

5. With respect to the Debt Securities, assuming the due execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of such Debt Securities, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the general partner of the Operating Partnership and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and such agreement, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Operating Partnership enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with their terms.

Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 1 through 5 above are subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

5


January 13, 2015

 

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York, the federal law of the United States and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

 

6

EX-8.1 5 d846602dex81.htm EX-8.1 EX-8.1

Exhibit 8.1

January 13, 2015

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10170

Brixmor Operating Partnership LP

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10170

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Brixmor Property Group Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to (i) shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) depositary shares, which represent fractional interests in the Preferred Stock and which may be represented by depositary receipts; (iv) purchase contracts; (v) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company or other issuers or any combination thereof; (vi) debt securities of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”); and (vii) units consisting of two or more of the securities described in clauses (i) through (vi) above.

We have examined the Registration Statement. In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such


records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and the Operating Partnership and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

In rendering the opinion set forth in paragraph 1 below, we have assumed the accuracy of the representations contained in the officer’s certificate, dated as of the date hereof, provided to us by the Company (the “Certificate”). These representations generally relate to the operation and classification of the Company as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”), as defined in Section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). For purposes of rendering such opinion, we have also assumed that the Company has been organized and operated and will continue to be organized and operated in the manner described in the Certificate, the Registration Statement and the applicable organizational documents of the Company and that all terms and provisions of such documents have been and will continue to be complied with. We have not made an independent investigation of the facts set forth in the Certificate.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein and in the Registration Statement, we are of the opinion that:

1. Commencing with the Company’s taxable year ended December 31, 2011, the Company was organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and its actual and its proposed method of operation has enabled and will enable it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code.

 

2


2. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement under the caption “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of matters of United States federal income tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects.

The opinion set forth in paragraph 1 above is based upon the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and other relevant authorities and law, all as in effect on the date hereof. Consequently, future changes in the law may cause the tax treatment referred to herein to be materially different from that described above. Future changes in the Company’s method of operation could likewise cause the tax treatment referred to herein to be materially different from that described above. Our opinion is not binding upon either the Internal Revenue Service or any court. Thus, no assurances can be given that a position taken in reliance on our opinion will not be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service or rejected by a court. Qualification of the Company as a REIT will depend upon the Company’s satisfaction, through actual annual operating results and other annual requirements, of the various qualification tests contained in the Code and related Treasury regulations. We do not undertake to monitor whether the Company will, in fact, through actual annual operating results and other annual requirements, satisfy the various qualification tests for the taxable year ending December 31, 2015, or any subsequent taxable years. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations for any particular taxable year will satisfy the tests necessary to qualify as or be taxed as a REIT under the Code.

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the federal law of the United States.

 

3


We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

 

4

EX-12.1 6 d846602dex121.htm EX-12.1 EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

 

BRIXMOR PROPERTY GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO

COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

(dollars in thousands)

 

     Predecessor     Successor  
     Year Ended
December 31,
    Period from
January 1, 2011
through

June 27,
    Period from
June 28, 2011
through
December 31,
     Year Ended
December 31,
    Nine Months
Ended

September 30,
 
     2009     2010     2011     2011      2012     2013     2014  

Earnings:

                 

Income (loss) before equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures

   $ (107,446   $ (274,680   $ (40,121   $ 159,058       $ (150,418   $ (81,824   $ 85,621   

Interest expense, net of amortization of premium/discount

     363,265        358,725        187,205        200,625         377,070        339,044        193,015   

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     19,045        19,345        5,166        4,812         10,272        10,831        6,708   

Distributed income of equity investees

     581        548        390        152         451        409        187   

Portion of rent expense representative of interest

     448        465        206        226         445        443        318   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Earnings

   $ 275,893      $ 104,403      $ 152,846      $ 364,873       $ 237,820      $ 268,903      $ 285,849   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed Charges:

                 

Interest expense, net of amortization of premium/discount

   $ 363,265      $ 358,725      $ 187,205      $ 200,625       $ 377,070      $ 339,044      $ 193,015   

Capitalized interest

     6,084        660        254        293         1,661        4,968        2,776   

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     19,045        19,345        5,166        4,812         10,272        10,831        6,708   

Portion of rent expense representative of interest

     448        465        206        226         445        443        318   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed charges (1)

   $ 388,842      $ 379,195      $ 192,831      $ 205,956       $ 389,448      $ 355,286      $ 202,817   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Preferred stock dividends

     —          —          137        137         296        162        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends(2)

   $ 388,842      $ 379,195      $ 192,968      $ 206,093       $ 389,744      $ 355,448      $ 202,817   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     —          —          —          1.8         —          —          1.4   

Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

     —          —          —          1.8         —          —          1.4   

 

(1) For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, the period from January 1, 2011 through June 27, 2011 and the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013 fixed charges exceeded earnings by $112,949, $274,792, $39,985, $151,628 and $86,383, respectively.

 

(2) For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, the period from January 1, 2011 through June 27, 2011 and the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013 combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends exceeded earnings by $112,949, $274,792, $40,122, $151,924 and $86,545, respectively.


BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(dollars in thousands)

 

     Predecessor     Successor  
     Year Ended
December 31,
    Period from
January 1, 2011
through June 27,
    Period from
June 28, 2011
through
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    Nine Months
Ended

September 30,
 
     2009     2010     2011     2011     2012     2013     2014  

Earnings:

                

Income (loss) before equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures

   $ (107,446   $ (274,680   $ (40,121   $ (128,377   $ (149,894   $ (81,818   $ 85,616   

Interest expense, net of amortization of premium/discount

     363,265        358,725        187,205        200,625        377,070        339,044        193,015   

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     19,045        19,345        5,166        4,812        10,272        10,831        6,708   

Distributed income of equity investees

     581        548        390        152        451        409        187   

Portion of rent expense representative of interest

     448        465        206        226        445        443        318   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Earnings

   $ 275,893      $ 104,403      $ 152,846      $ 77,438      $ 238,344      $ 268,909      $ 285,844   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed Charges:

                

Interest expense, net of amortization of premium/discount

   $ 363,265      $ 358,725      $ 187,205      $ 200,625      $ 377,070      $ 339,044      $ 193,015   

Capitalized interest

     6,084        660        254        293        1,661        4,968        2,776   

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     19,045        19,345        5,166        4,812        10,272        10,831        6,708   

Portion of rent expense representative of interest

     448        465        206        226        445        443        318   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed charges (1)

   $ 388,842      $ 379,195      $ 192,831      $ 205,956      $ 389,448      $ 355,286      $ 202,817   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 112,949      $ 274,792      $ 39,985      $ 128,518      $ 151,104      $ 86,377      $ (83,027

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     —          —          —          —          —          —          1.4   

 

(1) For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, the period from January 1, 2011 through June 27, 2011, the period from June 28, 2011 through December 31, 2011 and the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013 fixed charges exceeded earnings by $112,949, $274,792, $39,985, $128,518, $151,104 and $86,377, respectively.
EX-23.1 7 d846602dex231.htm EX-23.1 EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Brixmor Property Group Inc. and Brixmor Operating Partnership LP for the registration of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, units and warrants of Brixmor Property Group Inc. and debt securities of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 12, 2014 (except Note 3 as to which the date is May 27, 2014), with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Brixmor Property Group Inc. included in its Current Report (Form 8-K) filed on May 27, 2014 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York

January 13, 2015

EX-23.2 8 d846602dex232.htm EX23.2 EX23.2

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Brixmor Property Group Inc. and Brixmor Operating Partnership LP for the registration of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, units and warrants of Brixmor Property Group Inc. and debt securities of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated September 15, 2014, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Brixmor Operating Partnership LP included in its Current Report (Form 8-K) filed on January 13, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York

January 13, 2015

EX-25.1 9 d846602dex251.htm EX-25.1 EX-25.1

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

¨ CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-5160382

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

One Wall Street, New York, N.Y.   10286
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   80-0831163

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

420 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York

  10170
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


1. General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name

  

Address

Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services of the State of New York    One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417, and Albany, N.Y. 12223
Federal Reserve Bank of New York    33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10045
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    Washington, D.C. 20429
New York Clearing House Association    New York, N.Y. 10005

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

  1. A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735).

 

- 2 -


  4. A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-188382).

 

  6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-188382).

 

  7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

- 3 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Woodland Park, and State of New Jersey, on the 7th day of January, 2015.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:  

/s/ Laurence J. O’Brien

Name:   Laurence J. O’Brien
Title:   Vice President

 

- 4 -


EXHIBIT 7

 

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business September 30, 2014, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

     Dollar amounts in thousands  

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     5,811,000   

Interest-bearing balances

     114,306,000   

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     19,391,000   

Available-for-sale securities

     92,289,000   

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     17,000   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     8,055,000   

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

     34,349,000   

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     176,000   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance

     34,173,000   

Trading assets

     7,806,000   

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     998,000   

Other real estate owned

     4,000   

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     575,000   

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0   

Intangible assets:

  

Goodwill

     6,447,000   

Other intangible assets

     1,187,000   

Other assets

     13,808,000   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     304,867,000   
  

 

 

 


LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     140,468,000   

Noninterest-bearing

     93,405,000   

Interest-bearing

     47,063,000   

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     117,531,000   

Noninterest-bearing

     7,533,000   

Interest-bearing

     109,998,000   

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     1,165,000   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     1,166,000   

Trading liabilities

     6,732,000   

Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     7,867,000   

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     1,065,000   

Other liabilities

     7,327,000   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     283,321,000   
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0   

Common stock

     1,135,000   

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     10,035,000   

Retained earnings

     10,642,000   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     -616,000   

Other equity capital components

     0   

Total bank equity capital

     21,196,000   

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     350,000   

Total equity capital

     21,546,000   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     304,867,000   
  

 

 

 


I, Thomas P. Gibbons, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Thomas P. Gibbons,            

Chief Financial Officer            

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

 

Gerald L. Hassell

Catherine A. Rein

Michael J. Kowalski

       Directors   

 

 

GRAPHIC 10 g846602g87h85.jpg GRAPHIC begin 644 g846602g87h85.jpg M_]C_X``02D9)1@`!`@$`8`!@``#_[0G.4&AO=&]S:&]P(#,N,``X0DE-`^T` M`````!``8`````$``0!@`````0`!.$))300-```````$````'CA"24T$&0`` M````!````!XX0DE-`_,```````D```````````$`.$))300*```````!```X M0DE-)Q````````H``0`````````".$))30/U``````!(`"]F9@`!`&QF9@`& M```````!`"]F9@`!`*&9F@`&```````!`#(````!`%H````&```````!`#4` M```!`"T````&```````!.$))30/X``````!P``#_____________________ M________`^@`````_____________________________P/H`````/______ M______________________\#Z`````#_____________________________ M`^@``#A"24T$"```````$`````$```)````"0``````X0DE-!!X```````0` M````.$))300:``````!M````!@``````````````)0```/0````&`&<`.``W M`&@`.``U`````0`````````````````````````!``````````````#T```` M)0`````````````````````````````````````````````X0DE-!!$````` M``$!`#A"24T$%```````!`````(X0DE-!`P`````!S$````!````<````!$` M``%0```64```!Q4`&``!_]C_X``02D9)1@`!`@$`2`!(``#_[@`.061O8F4` M9(`````!_]L`A``,"`@("0@,"0D,$0L*"Q$5#PP,#Q48$Q,5$Q,8$0P,#`P, M#!$,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,`0T+"PT.#1`.#A`4#@X. M%!0.#@X.%!$,#`P,#!$1#`P,#`P,$0P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P, M#`P,#`S_P``1"``1`'`#`2(``A$!`Q$!_]T`!``'_\0!/P```04!`0$!`0$` M`````````P`!`@0%!@<("0H+`0`!!0$!`0$!`0`````````!``(#!`4&!P@) M"@L0``$$`0,"!`(%!P8(!0,,,P$``A$#!"$2,05!46$3(G&!,@84D:&Q0B,D M%5+!8C,T)E\K.$P]-U MX_-&)Y2DA;25Q-3D]*6UQ=7E]59F=H:6IK;&UN;V-T=79W>'EZ>WQ]?G]Q$` M`@(!`@0$`P0%!@<'!@4U`0`"$0,A,1($05%A<2(3!3*!D12AL4(CP5+1\#,D M8N%R@I)#4Q5C+RLX3#TW7C\T:4 MI(6TE<34Y/2EM<75Y?569G:&EJ:VQM;F]B7I[?'_]H`#`,!``(1 M`Q$`/P"=%E]M>0^SJ-E#J*_4K:^VR;73'H5_I/I_YZW\;-ZC=]2CZ!AP?.O#F-^C_I?T M:M],MR7?5SK+2XNPV-JVR9:VS?\`I&U_F_S?I>JL_'*KUWC/8_\`2>IYK&)5 MZ:]O-@D#*($:E.,>'%+]+^NM]GSV=&9UEO4K6$V&L8YML#]'>E-3_5/J._PC MJ_3_`)I7^K]4SLOZL],RK+7,O?<]EEE9->_8+J]_Z(M^GZ>]8[^G>GTO&ZRU M@NI?8^K)8XPT%KRRH>I5%C:KVMV.?_@[?^,6S]9,_`S?J_TV[!#:Z&W>GZ(@ M>FYM;PZAP'YS/_4B,?EEKP^@>F_F_KK<@!RX=/<_7Y(^YPQC[/#&#:TC])4[:[W6?GU?R_9_A%E=+^L.9UIE'1ZK'/ MR<:2+0X@VM^@VQ]C?=^K-.R[_3?SJT,GZP-Z7]5>GX]#P,S)QF[3,&NO;#\C M3\[\VC_A/^*L6;TWH.1T%E'6VCTK\G05.T%33[VU/_._6FMW7?Z+^;2SF/`= M95PQ]W@[7%JQCDX#QB&N?)]VX_F_RG%_U/B_E_-O99#/V;T2UHL<]U53AZKB M2XO=^?).[^<XNAU8W?GGV_H]_\`F*UUGJ=65T*N MZOVC)L:QS2=6EA-EC?[+JEG]1P?0Z7@YK21-09<1I],.M8?^G94Y1Y\A&6,\ M6L,&.,_\&9K_`*#6P8P<4X9=)Y\DH?XTAFXAHK MD5M'ISM_F_I*]U;J&9F]0_9F$XM:#L=M.TO MVY[;'6]H>?3L:W_K?T$?--O3NJU]38S=3>?6KDZ$V-VVU;X]K_ M+)$3A,D`SQRS$?,(91Q39^''(PG``D0R0P@_*9XCPP5D]%ZGTZK[75=.P38: MBYKFC][7^=9^]_U"-F]2MR^A57%Y9>R\5VEA+)(:XS[3^>PL>GZG]9:[\1U% M%;JS:TML?9`AI$.V;7.W.<@9.(_%^KU1M!99?D"PM=H6@MS-P][+:_P`U^YJZ&NFW,IJRQ8:'W55N<&3R6NW#Z7[MW^?Z5G^#7-68M>$< M/+MJ&1BY+&V.:[271NLJ]L;MOTZM_P#.+L:+ZG\[_A,/.R(CCE'U69#W>&(Z_P`U_@O_T-==%=_XEW?U?_1B^<4E M5Q[3_NEVN;WP?[6#]#5?^).W^L[_`,^K+;_R=9_X;;_YY*\-22E^C_<3A_RW M^WE_W+[GE?SV)_X6Q?RN75]7_P"3[?BS_JVKYA22'\WF_NG\I,'-?/RW][]L M'Z#=_P`G#_PP[_SV%K9W_)+/^L_]4Q?,R2AQ?+E_V?[&/-\V+_:?M?I3K_\` M-T_UG?\`4HV9_P`BG_BF?]]7S*DI9?/S']S_`+EBC\G+_P!__NGWGHG_`"A7 M_6'Y5T'7/Z(S_C!^1R^9DE7Y7_K?1?^3V? MUG_]6Y?,:2L8OY\?[,?]RP9?]SG_`&I_[I__V0`X0DE-!"$``````%4````! M`0````\`00!D`&\`8@!E`"``4`!H`&\`=`!O`',`:`!O`'`````3`$$`9`!O M`&(`90`@`%``:`!O`'0`;P!S`&@`;P!P`"``-@`N`#`````!`#A"24T$!@`` M````!P`(``$``0$`_^X`#D%D;V)E`&1``````?_;`(0``0$!`0$!`0$!`0$! M`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0("`@("`@("`@("`P,# M`P,#`P,#`P$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`@(!`@(#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,# M`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#_\``$0@`)0#T`P$1``(1`0,1 M`?_=``0`'__$`-````(#``(#`0````````````D*!@<(``4!`@L#`0`#`0`" M`P$!```````````'"`D&``H!!`4"`Q````8!`@0#`P8*"04``````0(#!`4& M!Q$(`"$2$Q05"3$B%D$R(R07&%%2);4V=K97ESAB0S1UU=98F-AA0C-W&1$` M`@$#`@0#!`0%#@@.`P```0(#$00%$@8`(1,',10(05%A(G$R(Q5"=!875X%2 M8K(S<[/3-)2T-94WL7+20R15U=:1\9)38Y-DU'4V5I8X"29V&/_:``P#`0`" M$0,1`#\`E?WP=VW^J/<7_&W)?^9N$2_*_=G_`*HR/\YF_P`OCLS?F%[&?H8V MG_9&/_[OQ[I;Q=VZ2B:I=T>X@3)'(H4%&[001NC(U'_`&F;_+X_+]@^Q;HR-V8VI0@CEB;`'G[B+<$'W$$$ M>(/!.M@'JHYLCLN4C$NX*VNZ6:CRUEB=P79N2Z>WA+>6NX85+S1B%F9891 M&K-"8`BNR]-T)<.AVM^%DL5/V?Y^LU2GYJKV2&H3MY#V"NRCZ$FXIV5\Q(5U M&RT8NV?L7)2'$`.DH4P`(AKSX.>^[FXL]H9^YM+AXKE("5=&*LIJ.892"#\0 M>)J>F?$8K/=^>U^'SF,M[W$7&35)8)XTFAD70YTR12*R.M0.3*1R\.$Z/O@[ MMO\`5'N+_C;DO_,W"?\`Y7[L_P#5&1_G,W^7Q?/\PO8S]#&T_P"R,?\`]WX_ M=MO)W[F6AO[7';FG$^/E<+UB`LD1/(,Q``=`?K:AJ`^8,::2FGJ M,]"&Q\CMC,[M[.8V3&[JLX7F\BCO);7BH"SQQI(SO!<%0>B(VZ+N!&T2E^JA MK_44M5HI&R_.UIIEDGJC9XB`@%HFQUB8D(">BUEKK66JRL=+Q3AI(,E%6KA1 M,QDE"B9,YBCR$0X-/<.ZNK+9F=NK*YDAN4C32Z,49:R(.3*01R)'(^!XG=Z4 M<)AMQ>H/MKA=P8BUO\-/=3"6"XB2>&0"TN&`DBD5D6+LWM595M92",38`@A&(((M MZ@@\P1X<-Z[UL-9/S-A"=C,)Y+O^,GCN!LWM]W&QMYW$VAB\SL:[I;W:7EE!>&!'8:;J!9HY M"LD#49P@K+#U$TES&53XDMU^\:&D7\1+;EMRT9*Q3UU&R<:_S+E!H^CY!BNH MU>L7K5>R$7;.VCE(R:B9R@1!\.+U6G9'L%D+2UO['M!M":RGC62.1,5CF1TV5ZHB+:L66&:"*1!-?7" M/:%,`(FA)E7(`%1!,QF#Q/=W#6NP473'(%IVHH'( M"2HY*`>(X^H/TI9[8?>C&[5V?:/)M+<,SRX^0ABEN@.JXMY6YG_0E.K426>W M,;5:0N`,^[[K,]W*VS]H2RGD*K(34BL\;5RKWBT0T!"-!T3:1L9'L)-JV20: M-DR$$_0!UC@*B@F4.8PS?W%WJ[F9_.9/,IO/*6<=Q*66"WN[B*&%?!8XT215 M`50!6E7-7:K,27%VYV1[8;?P6+PK[*Q5[);PA&GN;.WEGF;Q:21WC9B68DTK M1!1%HJ@`K>P.G9AE:ZXS%EK(V2[`TL+<[.AUFSWBT2L:,2)]'=J>Q$E*.&JR MC]1/M,!5)[J)3KE`051.#K>F3`[\O<5+OS?&Z\O=072%;.WN+NXDCZ5?FN7B MDD927(TPZAR0-(`0\;!(O5#G]@V65BV!L7:6'M9[1P][<6]G;12=6GRVR2QQ MJP"`ZI])YN5C)!213N?)MF^"\<7ZW@H5(U7IEGGTSF'31:(A7KY$"^T3'.L@ M4"@`")C"```B/#'[OR_Y/[3W-G=5#9X^XF!^,43N/U20`!XD\APM>SL/^4.[ M=KX'1J%[D+>`CX2S(A_4`))/@!S/"RGWAL_?OQS!_$RZ?XWQ(#\Z?<[](V>_ MM"[_`(WBQGYJ>UWZ-L!_9]I_$\'/V'YD?Y*/>FO?USOGMS`F5OI+C/XZ9 MK>=Y&9Y)%/VD,CLQ+,6C;068DLT;$^/$UO4UV_M=B=R)WQ-A';[?R4*W$$<: MJD<;#[.:)%4!5"R+U`J@*JRJ!X<3O=WEP<,X)N%D8O3,K),(%J50516,@Z)8 M)Y-9$CUFJ00.1U#1J3E^00_[FNGR\:7OIOD[`[;9[+6UP8\O.OEK4@T83S`@ M.A',-%&))A\8^,UV'V(.X/)[/*2#J6E'=3:,9.3?.E7S^0D8%9Q`/GC]ZN8[AV^.-%"(D;NN$U10$D)&G,":Q.7[M7LM]"&L+D'4 MM#N$R"()AU+-0U]Y`^@:';M[ZB^XNQKF".ZRDF5P0(#V]T[.=/\`T4[:I8F` M^J*O&/;$U!0"=Q/3?VXWW:SR6N+CQ.>(.BXM45!J_P"E@73%*I/UC1)#[)5J M:GOQ%ERF9LI$;>Z0_%U&O!%L]9K@1.2@Y9%-)1["R[8IS^&D&G>*(Z"8BB9R M*)F.FTAE*NA9&5C,/ M?FQ-P=NMQW>V=QVVB\C^9'%3'-$20DT3$#4C4/L!5@R.%=64!HWTY@RW4=R% MN@JIE'(M8A&T54E&T/7KM9H6*;J.:U&KN%$(^-DVS1([A=0QSB4@"65L\FK M8.Q<[VCP.2SFR\3>9%Y[H-+/9V\TC!;B15!>2-F(4``5/(``&S]^_' M,'\3+I_C?`*_.GW._2-GO[0N_P"-X/7YJ>UWZ-L!_9]I_$\3JE;QMR-'?MWK M/*MFGT452G6C+J^6N#!ZF!Q,=LX&=.\?))*@(@)FZZ"I0^:74:M4QW;FZ1Q6I5NL6<`^%4=&`^JPY<9K<78'M%N2UEM[C9-G:R M,M!):(+5T-*!EZ(5"1XT='4GZRGGP=/;/G^'W+8S6GP9C!S[!=6OWOW:1 MHY^HW`Z3R+?HG;2"+&3:*=ULJ4Y545"G3`XG2$XT@[0]SK#N[M"3)B#RV3B8 MP74*.P,;E:AXW!5PDBG5&P(9&#*&+)J,U.\/:Z_[/[QCQ9G\SBY5$]K,Z*1( M@:A21"&0O&PTR*05=2K%0KZ1G-M:+E2F4<\JTUU@O(YY#;015#3VL@?5\L<$LRQZ$)7CK/MJR MY\7>*ZG>OQ!]YOX8U6\7]W+X4^#OAOP/7IXWRG\H]KMZ^?\`+H[GTG'I_G!W MS]^=:KU\U^4'E^>K[B\MY7H:*_7Z7V^G3_+>6G5\_'N?F[V)]Q="B?R7\GO, M'':^X8KNVXG9%_\`,>JXOMDU M0;AF(VWR!@ZY5X**;3%RK^3@@D6\1(NY5HP5+6G%?G$".'YEW3=11JB='105 M2I*,/>[AV3^;.UQ=W-!-F/N]51%4-(DVFBDL!\A1@"]6!*@CG4`RAV[VI]1? M_P#8N;WE@\=E+#8(W3--/<32-%:SX_K%I8UC9QYA9X6,<(2-U61EDJH1G4(^ MV2D6/(VX7"]-JD>M)34ODJH=I%%)14K9DQFV_G"/X<#N M'_Y)W'^+G_".('>E+_Y%=I/_`!9/VC\)-5`H&ME7*8`,4UBA"F*8`$#`,DV` M0$!Y"`APE=ISN[4'PZB_X1QV),\2,'F2#0BTF_@VX<%]3W&NWU7:+E2R7^M4 M>)L<)!:XUL/EL3%V=*\"X(>`AZ_((I(2;D)1UU%=,TS'34:=U10G2F)R-[W- MQNWSM+*7.0MH$N4C^Q>BJ_5K\BH11CJ/UE'(K4D4%1!CT;[N[I)WVV5B=KYC M)3XFYN?]/@ZDLEN;/21/+.A+1KTUH8Y6`99="JU6"LFQPG7%_>'--^Z$LU]- M')K:>(X2G6^*\;(32;O072VN36X! M$XM80U?'5KBK7XUKQU^?3'+8S>K_`&=-C&4XU\W?M$5^J8C!>&,K^Q*TI\.$ M[J=^EU6_6.#_`#FUX4"S_E=K^^+^V'%\,_\`U%FOQ2;^#;CZ&O%!N.JOPMCZ MR>R/R216W<8RA@+$3#IHRS9$QZ0@G'S;HZ3*(R$1NF3M)-9M8R;.4,7I^O&0 M7$ISN7"A5O[Q;)Z$AW;C(?LG(%RH]C'DLM/%_6^MT9\1*YYO"H+RV)8FI:$:I;<&OV(DB!588D*L!MTT_C[+T-,T]TL MYJM;=&86&*0!;=]O;3<6T M[_&9+Y+RY4-&U.<+KSC:GTGYQR)0E>1Y\%_N_P!W&R^\+2RPL@?;^,D921X3 MR'Y97!\-*CY(CS%0SU(<`,][$,/1F[NRUZSQ:YW^(&3*.M%DFD.XD5ZR75,+ M&K$.715K+2SALJBN34JK9-!P(B50A2B!.SW93*;U[@7.$SUH\6%Q,@:^/,5H M?D@1AXFXH2&!_<0\BFNFH>[X=Y+'MUL91*FGSW#*?P8*CD M0:RE$(H6HS2R9M(YFTCX]L@R8,&R#-DS:I$0:M&C5(J#9LV02*5-%!!$A2$( M4`*4H``!IQ5>WMX+2""UM85CMHD"(B@*JJH`55`Y!5```'(`4'$D[BXGN[B> MZNIFDN979W=B69F8DLS,>99B223S)-3QDW?79AK.U_))TCB1U.(PE9;::`!P MFIZ-;R!##U`(`:'*Y]FNHZ!IH(B`2]2.8.'[.;M9&(FN5AMU^/5FC5Q_U74_ MXN#CZ:<.,SWFV@KK6&V::X;X=&"1D/\`UO3_`./A;;B2O%=N-]^G5E3X#SJ2 MHOW((P>4HX:ZJ"AQ(B2QQ_>D:PX,``/6JLJ+ABD&GSWX#J`!PS?I4WI^37W8^\DZX5'OFX5_U8[)_*?MHV=MH=62PLW7%!4F!Z1W M"CW`#1,Q]T/$S]3#+06G*$'BZ,]'NQCA=F9+>EY#2]R\VF*HYBVMRR@BO,=28R$CP98XVJ>5!H\*)PX/! M_/3JN#5;;`X(^<%3;4&V7!BZ$QQ,+=@*+.WJ+"0P%Z$ORXJ(::E$2FYZZ@%. MO2IGH9.SLJW,M(<9?72-S^JE%NB:>P?;-\"0>=:@2[]6.`FC[S1-;1$S92QM M77E]9ZM:@5]I^Q7X@$9=2!43G$X,&'5V8N+ M1$1'1O%QJ23=/^BF&NHZCQ.W>FZ;_>NZ*-[)VK8;(VI@MJXU`+:SMU0D"FMZ5DD/[*20L[?%C[."2;)-DU5OE58Y M?R\R6EXJ6<+FIU.,LX9L';)BY.V/.SQFYD';I)R\;G*V:@GCT\X7SE+"J2J?B'!)YGGPH./[S=U\;?+D;?N'EVN`:TEN99 MXS[?FAF9XF'P*$`.:R]?]!W\BZU:E-2,>*2]@N\R]VMOWGWE!'!NFP95N$2H217!Z<\:DDJ&TL MKI5M#K6NEU'%B^G%E"1J&=$J&=RJ->R;%OX]RS'4R"4]!,'LW#20%#F18&[5 MRTU#D8'0=0>Z42ZKTG[QNL%W(3;32G[KS$+HR_@B:%'FBD^!TK)'[CU.?@", MIZMMF6F>[:ON98A]ZX:9'5OPC#,Z0RQ_$:FCD]XZ?+Q(,2]0K^:6Z_W/3/V5 MBN/B>J3^^;O1U86%]M;>J7ME#,AO8A1T5Q0Q&HH MP/(^T>'"_P#K,R%_8;JV0]C?30N+&4UC=D-1,*&JD.Z[N(NT M7C-&*:0:)8LTC'079"&B[(HP1/.,(Y)L4&K0B+H=54$A$C=P91(`)T=LBT>H M+';5Q7=3<-EM"."/'+T]<<-.E'.4!F1`ORJ`WUD7DDA=`%TZ%9WT\9+=>5[4 M;=O=X23R9)C((Y)J]62W#D0O(6^9B5Y*[?,\81R6U:VV7Z4R;[S#-BI06"-\ M'0TU#:B#G4&I]]%2W'FNX;@-Y3IV8/ZW76YI M])"ZOH!Y^(X7WUN/;>5[=(2OF^I>D?KM%+6OT`MI^DCEX'@PP,VA1$2M6Y1, M#D#"""0"8'BA578"(%Y@Z5(4RGXY@`3:B'#XB"`5(A2IU>P?AFK?\H@%O>14 M\(,9YS0&9Z#3[3^`*+_R02%]P-!3CQX)GW.]X1MW?#>"[O82[G@^KJ\)U]'5 MX;JY]O7IU^3CQY>#7KZ":]&BM!73^MK3ZOP\/AQY\Q<:='7?1KUTU&FO]=2O MUOV7C\>/_]&G^)X<=K[@AE2]+G>'?L953*]&I%=M%:NE;86J";,;Q6F,VM$R M3,CYH95A./HE--THBW34@VG;#>%_C+3*V-C'+;31AU`E0,585' M)BO.GLKPJV<]9W83;&\,WLCSN'A$L;%&H\*2DJ"/K:0*< M^,ZXAS9G#:%E"5FZ$]7H=_@W+VJVF*G:[&O5P"/D.W,U>W7)[7N42YMI(9Y$7YTK%<0R0NJM\CZHV;6A#M`.8RA6C MI(J@BH!^&5R>Y(]U]J\OF%C"3-;LLB#F%D5@&`^!Y,OMTL*\Z\1]V?VBNNR' MK:V'L*:\:YL8LM#-:SL`K36TT3O$S`<@Z'5#+0!3)&Y4:"O"D#8CE1RW39D7 M4=J+I$:D;%4,Y.Y,H4J!&Y4@%4RYE1`"`7WA-IISX4Q0Q90@.NO*GC7V4^/% MT)FB2*5[AE$`4EBU`H4#F6KRI3QKRIX\=Y9+);;$[)\83]CG'\;WF9/B24DY M-VPZ51\0U)YHNNLUT6*/60.GW@YAKQ_:YN;NX<>;GD>1>7SLS$>\?,33Z./F MXC$8+%0-]PXRTMK::CGR\<<:OR^5CTU`;EX'GR\#3@VOIE^F#47QG7ZPO6!/LM-T=F]F M82^MMW21=&XO9T$4<4$ZT_A8^$$]''_P`ENU7XW/\`T*YX2]IWZ75;]8X/\YM>$TL_ MY7:_OB_MAQV#\_\`U%FOQ2;^#;CZ&O%!N.JOP&7UA=X$5B;#TAMSK"\?(Y#S M=7Y"*M+94J+L:IBV236CIAVY;J%4(G)V\.['LM2]2:!73@IDU4D#&#W=O>:X M3%_<5DZG*7:_-R!Z<)Y$D&HU2?YRMQV\J;*P

:OP`R1JZE6Z=L"LTQ5A5S#&=2O(`AU8,-69#)49C^ML'$LYM<@BA4M` M_M:+I7IZ7*VG;1&+#472ANDJ21!6-TIB`\"J'=..CP%UG,C.L4%K&6F^&D>P M>)U_@`\#@8(VEL;EM5HY_#C)^JQ\-<1^63PY`/0*PX< MO]'^Z06U6$A=K\N^04K-O?#(MK,Y#LG#*$F1!)WW3'$10B+,9(C5LD(F!NLD M@`PWAU-')K[ZK:L0CELH73Y4BN;*B8W]("\)SZR\OY?9 MNU,&K`-=9%I2/:5MXF4CZ-5PI/Q`X+S+F%>GS215(P]!ORZZAR%4!DL]KSFNQTH0AS%ZG$5*SJ#E M$0`PE62(;3EJ"I=A-DV>_M^28'((#9G&7I8D`Z"\#01R`'\*.29)$\:.JGV5 M#9]_]\7O;_8,>?Q[D7@REDJ@$C6$G6>2,D#ZLL<+QOX51F%>=#0#IM9,:7A= MJKW8BW4*TG3,8NH*QM@K,KH"B8F*41,UD&0&*.@:Z`/`PFBR^T=QR0O6#.8R M](Y>,<]O)XC_`!72H/PX*,,V(WAMN.9*3X+)V0/PD@N(_`_XR/0CX\0H!X<Q*D8!Q#6G4L\1U%-_9PE M[$A9'8"<>Z)7#]+N$ZN14CD('(N@%?OQV^@[;YS:.!M@I'W%;M(X\'N.K.L[ M<^?S.-0KX*54>%`).P7<.X[E8+>&?N68'[^N%B0^*6_2@:W7ER^5#I-/%@S' MQJ=6>G*_.6ZC@';R$:/XE%NL=-8SF?@++!.E&QB@/8<$49-``X<]3 M%_%X-?I1N9LGM'NWM2)VZ\ENKQ!20=4T-Q"Q7W,"D7/QJ1[N`CZM;6'&;P[0 M[ME1>A'%`??P)D0$HB`@("`B`@(:"`AR$!`>8"` M\)$002".?#R@@@$'EPS/LWMD1;MMF*G$2NDH,'6FE3E$"'(95E+UHOE;M!TF M41,BJN1`CDA3:"9%=,_L,`C7SL)F['.]I-E2V,BDVUHMM(H(JDMO]FP8>PL` M)`#S*.K>##B.WJ`P=_@>[V]HKZ-@+F\:YC8@T>*X^T4J?:%),9(Y!T9?%2.- M.<&#@-\"4]4^W1!8+%U"(HW5GE9:4MRZ(!JZ8Q#=F>&:**#_`%;>5>.5P)^. M9F;\7FC_`*S\[8C&[-VTKJV3:>2Z8?A)$JF)2?8C[N'H]%.!OSD]Z M;G9'7&+!':J?P7E9Q*P'O:)%2ON$H]_&#=E$0YFMT.)&[8#:M)J0EUSE)UE3 M;0T!+RBPJ#U$*F50K7M@81^<<``!$0**T^GJQFR'>/8\4(/R7#RDTK18H99# M7PI73IK[R/$T!9OU$W\..[,;ZEF(^TMXX@*TJTL\48IXUIJU4]P-:"I$S]0K M^:6Z_P!STS]E8KC0>J3^^;7,-C,Q5M#ND;L`-0.DA6(5EJ#4@,*\B.#QUV7KL-+2J3E=NYLL@HP:*D9$ M!=T@T!!L[^F5F5KARB MD(*L%TJS.^FK!%4DA6/(`GC.=P=\X[MSMB\W5EK"[N+&!E5EMT#L"YHI;4RJ MB:J*79@`64Q\QGNG@J MQH`$5%%\<$K@9<(PNWL9BS MB;F2[M[=$\45&90!]:K,`??H)^'$J>Y?_P!?^_.X?=7>6\QOK$6F"RV6GN0- M%Q+/%'-(7`,>B.-W`/->LJD_A\`OS3E*8S;EC(.6Y]BPC)?(-IE;,\C8LABQ M\<,BX,HBP:B?Z55-FW`B?=4U45$HG.(F,(\`[,Y2;-Y7(9:X15FN)6\&O@>)I]U-S M8K<7_P!AO:VUQL1LR'%.1@W(X_AQ2QWE25. M6]-&*(BVJ^378K.G4BH4@?5XV]E*=T!AU*63(X`3%!=NGP8>[^S?NK(_E'CX M:8^Z?[4#P28\R?@LO-O\?5X:E'"!>@CU`C>VT_S1[HO]6Z\)"/)LY^:YQZT5 M8Q7ZTEG41T\3;F(@'IRMQGOTUM\[_:3D[X`E M4?#P<#ZR>PE5X*GJ[]-MMWSV=][8&W1.Y6)B9K1^2^9B%7>QD8T%')+V[-RB MF/BD^;[.,?*M>; MN?JHOQ8_\`JQY`\=:#M'VOW#WAW]@MA[5?F)UE:,D1`J$=#QJ1S',WB86. M12:-4Q,82((E`1,.IA1_,9:\SF3O,K?R:KJ9RQ]P'@%'N5115'L`''9%V!L; M;_;;9V`V1M>UZ6%Q]N(T!IJ<\VDED(`U2S2%I)&H`79B`!0`Z.Q7TM6=HVXR M^80XKS+#!9)(Z0TBM`0'#!^_1$`.1;))``%]2G,VB3(*$`%5%4P) M$?8X[T[;9>*^G>WS=XJR6E20J&.K1=51]99CR:H;0A5U&L4XF?ZF?6#!C>\N M#VCMF.&[V=@9WCR,BA6>>XD'3G2!S4J+,(^D&G#`X[(X_-8ZSRF-N4N,9-Q56 M'P(/@?H(KPP?L@W*)YRQX6O61\53)=$:-64_WC%*O8(C^SQEH2*)M5U5BD!% M\)?F.P`X@4JZ0<5&].O=M>X^UAB\MH[M"_;;=9RN(MJ;/R;L\%/""7ZTEL?<=MEB?.U[HM:T@8W(`Z3%YCST7'UEY26'XE;>%6!^C5<.!\0? MU>S]*Z`!S?@3?2?"FO(P![O,!Y"'N>B_&= M7,YZMMD?<&^K3==I!IQ^8AJY'@+F$*DGP&N,Q./`LW4-.1/&C]( M>^3N#8=YM*\GU9'#340'Q-K.6>/XG1()4/B%3I"O,#B/^G;B(<@YN3N4BT[U M>Q8U3L*AE$Q.@K:'AE6U6;";3I*LV637?D'74#LB\N?'S/2ML;\J.XBY^[@U M8K"H)S45!N&JMNOTJ0\P]QA'OX^KZK]]_DMVY;;]I/IRN;8< M$GUJ8[3>;`RRCZ\5W"Q]VAH'7V^WJ/[/9S/AP,O1)D=5EW"Q+'ZDMI,H]^M9 MT?V>SII[?;R'CQ4WID6+RO/,]!**=*-GQ[+H))=1P[DC$RL+)H&`H:IF%./2 M=_.`!`!'00Y@;$^C_*^3[EY+&N]([S%R@#GS>.2*1?AR02>/OY'V'<^L?$^= M[8XS)HE9++*Q$GERCEBFC;XBKF+P]W,>T5OORM67,4O;;.(YPHHCM;>=O\`>M]D M[6V)VME)GF@<#Y(W[V[.U5]//@98Y<=.1U MK:6IBD(Y!AI(9)`.0=2*B@<.H`XV/='L]M'NQ86\&?BDBR4`/1N82!-&#S*' M4"LD9/,HPY&I0HQ)XW'->JM/N(A5"O8:B8J<.D!4I*6NCN-)I[!ZO:+&9#UIY.6Q>/%[!@@R)7E)+=M-&#[^DMO"Q]X'5%/`U M\>%NQWHEQ<5\DF5[@SSXT-SCBM%AD(]@ZK7$RCW$](U\13@8]^OULR=:Y:ZW M:8<3=AF5^\[=KB!2)IE#I;LF3<@%091[-(`(BBF4J:9```#A/]S;FS>\,U?; MAW#?O<92X:K,?`#\%$4;NQ+,34G@NOIM[>I2MLY7.5NC5V#NQ1@0E"9O$S(KC7W*B3J4L8H M*>\1*7.@BDS.(%,9N14X=22Q#"\WI+[6WF)M[WN/G+1HI[N'I62L*-T&(:2> MA\!*0BQ'D2@=A5)%)1'U=]U;/+W%EVVP5VLL%I-UKUT(*]=05CMZCQ,09VE' M,!RBFCQL!C/U"OYI;K_<],_96*X`/JD_OFW#^+VG]&CX8/TJ_P!RNW?QB[_I M,O%M[0L&Q6?]MV;:4Z%NUG$+A#3%/F%B"/E-D9P"X,SJ'*!E"L'Z:AVSH``P M]E43`43D)IN.Q7;FR[G]I>XFWIBJ9%;^*6UE(_UW=WMSN*$,^-:PEBNH@?W6W>==0`\-:$"2.M/G4`D*S<#O61M&/ M;8H@J$E5[C3ITR9P*<[25@YZ%>Z")%$S=2+ID];Z@8HB&I=0$0X5>1,SM;-O M&XFL\]87-#S*R0S1/["/!D=>1!\14<-=')A=U8-)$,-[@,A;5'(-'-#,GM!\ M5=&Y@CP-".&+=H^Y:.W#T`JS\[9GD2KI-F5UB4@(D1=4Y3$:V*-0`=0BY@$C M")0#ZNX`Z7S03.>K'8WNY:=U-L"2Z9(]U685+N(4`)/)9XQ_S8;'N*LFKI/L.LDTNH4K$I7O=2\(%E88\OU_N) MVXN-.9W)8X"=7B]4=>-=M=.UJ9"W&8N,C)SY&:..."OLUB*662E?V6CQU\N` M/WGN/6K<;6RC;"Q.T[3Y#5;"[NKO)Z*'5Y=[ZRLK4-IKX1F>M.A22G#(>])" M@N=D>96ZTHI"8V5Q:B5K+8_@(6T`QJ_5%C%KU2OFLE/@95D#($@;)%DV3<4! M`2*`4``6-WFM@VR))>GJ7<\/J+[ M?RQV0N=W+FB6BOII;?7KJ,;>5]==25)(4=JE:VGEM%;,W MS5N'57"?AQ036VPXV0146"1;BF15<-EQ+V\VJL7E9:D;AOV(&AJD`[84$ M@>`++7PJ/'AR+=Q]C7W;`$`Q+\'/OBD4P;FDP'K1\D&ME=&*B:WA8?"> M3@(AK)]CGPXF[?N;\F\Q]_\`]4]$Z_#5^QT5Y=37IZ?[/3Q`3L7^<#\[FPOS M7#_\Y\^GEJZNGX'K>8T\_*]#J>:_[/U.$OS5G:1J/3FS<8!=1Z0-M=QF80#7 MD`F#=^4#"`?+H&OX.$T\MM+_`%UD?YE#_M#CL&C,=]*"O;O:=?\`]BR'^Z_! MU*+"D1](O+36]Y+R_)83=,HO[.9RUX/JT+DV#IB=WK8_D6JI;A)^*M5/=S>A M8GQDS#+-VW>,EWF?@B\'*QA"]I,LM_DKQL*57HL]LBS+'U4^JGFW5XRW[GJD MC(%2-2:!Q-C3IA^G/YAN`DU2M;3RVBMF;YJW#JKA/PXH)K;8<;((J+!(MQ3(JN3= MVX.BF<^@&.":@E#F!3>P0I:VVU/-6VG-9`MU%I_H4(]H]OGS_@/%%5EJ1N&_8@:&J0#MA02!X`LM?"H\>#5^L_"Q[^P8G7RUDG,55Q' MX!^2JQ6.,(U2_54+T4Z_G#BS3\[N"QJZ&TK0PI>"1/&]E-B5;PZISB\Z33WE MACDN,4V6R5Y%B=)T+#;)*G5YZB[M=PG7III!2@6NDDZ^)X__`%\Y"ZML7O>+ M8VT[ZZJ&YDO\`+W-E<^3H.DMO##A+]?+"75UG%QK:8Q]5%46]1-[>(+8B MSS?C%SDC*6;['3$[=%><0]IP)1*75'8F6Z&'Q99(GUBC0^[J.MY*0@-"]$8E:CE6H>'N MKDO4M<=N=XQ;2V7MRTW`;&3I2VV:O+NY6@J_EK>7`V4SV4O#]OL=LG8[/3V>STAV^UT>YV^C3ITY:>SATQ2@TTTTY<==R3J=1 M^K7JU-:^-?;6O.M?&O`2_4"9;=GF9T/,+-;8FZ\X^7#G6 MKXFV2`VW^?%PRYERL)7D6".P?08U:41@[7OOD,VW;#<:[]VE@DPY0=-DRUT\ MXN?\P;=6PJ!I@_,*712G4$C+$9")9OMB\9N=QUH6N]YR/#R9X6I^$C:_BJLV M2*;1I8!D1/PTU(YDJCQZ99X5=0_4P;]M0PIAU@4%#_;]25GM"7NQF9-Q;CRT M%X;>VTQP8VWGC6/HH!IEDRMLSU;636%-))4:@`[?#]-%[O&+M)A8]N;;Q%Q9 MBXN=4D^2N+>5I.NY.J&/%7*I1="BD[ZE`8Z2Q1=7^FLTQTTJN4B42P6FPN#V M"NFF7%JI\33G2"/ETB$4BV9Q-XO2+MN)_%&%0RZ!@,(EZ!`.H39Z1X-J08;> M:[;RE[=2FZ@ZK7-K':LHZ7@9:]0ZBZ&O+3[>`?ZOI]V3YO93;FQ=E M:Q"UGZ2VUU+=*QZD?4+-+9V95J=,:0CBG/5[!97J#H8S$6ZGZ!4Q,0_OG*1,VN]44>T)>V\4 M>[+RXMRJ'K,@4E6^9@JMD/2O)O"'N7+)M*SM M[BF/F\S'/,]O"T-4TUEC@N65Q/TBE(7+`,ORJ69>M].Y#%S;#*2BA(5`Q7RI5%@7-H0PF*'J>E>+9L. MPU9I3)4N#"I5>F*L`K&-^I(TH+O'F/"7F? ML]?`MS>&C'-6J,=<'BP^1N@>H.&,K=J,S:MN:1N[XA97J`"E3Z1.8OR/5I!M MF?:VU5W'D[RU`R#&-K>V2Z8_8MK#))=V:*OU3JULU0`$H6(^OZ1)]T0;KW6V MV\7975<>HD6YNI+5!]LNAE>.SO'9OK#3TU6A)+U"@XFV316+F^Y7'BU*O>2Y M6;(2U"$?.XFK-?AG+$:?/`^+(S$=FFS.V)"H")DC%8N.IP"91``$3%7GT\V6 MS8N[FUI-O;ER\^1`N?DFQMO!$R>5FUZY8\M<,@IS4B%ZR!`0`:AB_47>[TE[ M/[KCW%MG#P8XFV^>')W$\JOYJ#1TXI,3;JY)Y,#,E(RY!)&DFBS5]D_V;V/[ M;/(?L\\,'G'Q!_X.YS\)Y?VOK_G?>T\'X/ZYWM.S[^G%`^X/Y$_DGE?SA>6_ M);1]KU_JU_!T4^?K5_D/:HWMS+L3)9L6VLZ8KJV@*4KXI.MV)-/ZT26 M^L"FIB:\5OV3/W8%E:Q;]QF$-SH&J6UN;@/6G@\#6ACU_KFCN2A-=*@4XI1` M$#+)E![&(S(HF=EBKS(`8@?` M$J#]&H?3P193((W,**TM.08E03\2%8CZ=)^CC<^UUMLQ;W.&^U.:O$Q+*+%- M'_'-8@:WBYJ_ZB^'1F?*K=:I!_\`2\RJ/?#1NFH."=//AC^S0 MR,]\6^3SEO#!CE?EI$O3N;EWY^#2].#QZJTX6OO/-ZA)=O9#\BL=C;>Q"G7Y M.XFN,BR<]1BZMK;(G+Q6+J3^'2:O#"2/9[*7A^UX?M)]CL]/9[/2':[71[G: MZ-.G3EI[.*CQ]/IITJ=*@I3PI[*4Y4IX4XE9)U.H_5KU:G56M:UYUKSK7QKS MKP!_?3&8D<[D+7CTTEDREJS$B MA(,*Z34`L!4TS]-5YOJ'M'@8\'MS$W&.$]UI>?(W%O(3YB356*/%72J`:@$3 M-J%"0I.D:^]-EG2&=(R46D6&U6%J>U1)GRUJIL13G#=P$08$TFC:(O=Z3>(F M3YF4.J@8IN0$$/>X.WI)@V[!MW=PV[E+VZA-[%K-S:Q6K*W2Y!5BO+P.".9) M9"#RTGQX`WJ\GW'/N/:!W'BK*TG%E+H%M=RW:LO5%2S2V=F4(/(*%<$<]0\. M,Q;^V.WAYG$XO;14&D59/(]$<,+"E#`D"Y0( MY(HV,W'4ARG`P>]3=MVLG[C,;C,Y"UW$+:/S@M+."ZC9Z?9=0R7]FR3B+3K` M$@:,QE^Y[KV_;=1;X7'W>W#=2>3-W>W%I(J5^UZ8CL+U7@,NK028R ML@EY,I6E>;0(:NESK4C8:R/EM>QE.J:61D\*U9K65JL'0,TE;'+//KQ5O"*) M=(=PJ2JI'(HBB0RX)%'+=B;#%#N3@SL#=F<;+`GJB3$VRVYMN75%RRYIBL)% M!4*S"3IF-3+H'&J[]9#+'MIG1W!VE@EQ)`Z1CR]RUP+GGT3;*V$4-,#4Z2RJ 48^H)&$6L\,#\5`XEIQSCG'./_]D_ ` end