UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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| Filed by a Party other than the Registrant | o |
Check the appropriate box:
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| o | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| o | Definitive Additional Materials |
| o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL
NEW YORK CITY REIT, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| x | No fee required. |
| o | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |
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![[GRAPHIC MISSING]](logo_arcnycreit.jpg){kind=logo}
405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10022
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on June 27, 2017
April [•], 2017
To the Stockholders of American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc.:
I am pleased to invite our stockholders to the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”) of American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”). The Annual Meeting will be held on June 27, 2017 at The Core Club, located at 66 E. 55th Street, New York, NY 10022, commencing at 1:00 p.m. (local time). At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon (1) the election of four members to the Board of Directors, (2) the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017, (3) the approval of certain amendments to the Company’s charter and (4) such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof.
Our Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 4, 2017 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. Record holders of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
For further information regarding the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, I urge you to carefully read the accompanying proxy statement. We make proxy materials available to our stockholders on the Internet. You can access proxy materials at www.proxyvote.com/NYCR. You also may authorize your proxy via the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on that website. In order to authorize your proxy via the Internet or by telephone, you must have the stockholder identification number that appears on the materials sent to you. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person if you wish, even if you previously have submitted your proxy.
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Regardless of whether you own a few or many shares and whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person or not, it is important that your shares be voted on matters that come before the Annual Meeting. Your vote is important.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL NEW YORK CITY REIT, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10022
PROXY STATEMENT
The accompanying proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the board of directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) of American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), for use at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) and at any postponement or adjournment thereof, and is provided together with this proxy statement (this “Proxy Statement”) and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (our “2016 10-K”). References in this Proxy Statement to “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” or like terms also refer to the Company, and references in this Proxy Statement to “you” refer to the stockholders of the Company. The mailing address of our principal executive offices is 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10022. This Proxy Statement, the proxy card, Notice of Annual Meeting and our 2016 10-K have either been mailed to you or been made available to you on the Internet. Mailing to our stockholders is expected to commence on or about April [•], 2017. Additional copies of this Proxy Statement and our 2016 10-K will be furnished to you, without charge, by writing us at American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Investor Relations or emailing us at investorrelations@ar-global.com.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Annual Meeting To Be Held on June 27, 2017
This Proxy Statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting and our 2016 10-K are available at:
www.proxyvote.com/NYCR
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING AND VOTING
What is the date of the Annual Meeting and where will it be held?
The Annual Meeting will be held on June 27, 2017, commencing at 1:00 p.m. (local time) at The Core Club, located at 66 E. 55th Street, New York, NY 10022.
What will I be voting on at the Annual Meeting?
At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to:
| 1. | elect four directors for a term of one year, until our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify; |
| 2. | ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017; |
| 3. | approve certain amendments to the Company’s charter (the “Charter”); and |
| 4. | consider and act on such matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
At our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders were asked to approve substantially the same Charter amendments proposed for this year’s Annual Meeting. As previously disclosed, while over 76% of the shares voted at the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders voted for each of the then proposed Charter amendments, the vote on such proposals was from 44% to 45% of the outstanding shares, which was less than the vote required to approve the proposals of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast. Based on the voting results, our Board believed that the Charter amendments were in the best interests of our stockholders and would consider proposing these Charter amendments for stockholder consideration again at a future meeting of stockholders. Accordingly, our Board has proposed the Charter amendments for stockholder consideration at this year’s Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors does not know of any matters that may be considered at the Annual Meeting other than the matters set forth above.
Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?
The record date for the determination of holders of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, or any postponement or adjournment of the Annual Meeting, is the close of business on April 4, 2017. As of the record date, 30,882,271 shares of our Common Stock were issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
How many votes do I have?
Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote on each matter considered at the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. The proxy card shows the number of shares of Common Stock you are entitled to vote.
How may I vote?
You may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy. Instructions for in person voting, including directions to the Annual Meeting, can be obtained by calling our proxy solicitor, Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) at (855) 976-3323. Stockholders may submit their votes by proxy by mail by completing, signing, dating and returning their proxy card. Stockholders also have the following two options for authorizing a proxy to vote their shares:
| • | via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com/NYCR at any time prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 26, 2017, and follow the instructions provided on the proxy card; or |
| • | by telephone, by calling (800) 690-6903 at any time prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 26, 2017, and follow the instructions provided on the proxy card. |
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For those stockholders with Internet access, we encourage you to authorize a proxy to vote your shares via the Internet, a convenient means of authorizing a proxy that also provides cost savings to us. In addition, when you authorize a proxy to vote your shares via the Internet or by telephone prior to the Annual Meeting date, your proxy authorization is recorded immediately and there is no risk that postal delays will cause your vote by proxy to arrive late and, therefore, not be counted. For further instructions on authorizing a proxy to vote your shares, see your proxy card. You may also vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person, and any proxies that you authorized by mail or by Internet or telephone will be superseded by the vote that you cast at the Annual Meeting.
How will proxies be voted?
Shares represented by valid proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the directions given. If the proxy card is signed and returned without any directions given, the shares will be voted “FOR” (1) the election of the four director nominees named in this Proxy Statement for a term of one year, until our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify, (2) the ratification of the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017; and (3) the approval of the proposed amendments to the Charter in Proposals No. 3 through 11.
The Board of Directors does not intend to present, and has no information indicating that others will present, any business at the Annual Meeting other than as set forth in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However, if other matters requiring the vote of our stockholders come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy card to vote the proxies held by them in their discretion.
How can I change my vote or revoke a proxy?
You have the unconditional right to revoke your proxy at any time prior to the voting thereof by (1) submitting a later-dated proxy either by telephone, via the Internet or in the mail to our proxy solicitor at the following address: Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717; or (2) by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. No written revocation of your proxy will be effective, however, unless and until it is received at or prior to the Annual Meeting.
What vote is required to approve each item?
There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors. Each director is elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. For purposes of the election of directors, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. The proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the votes cast on the proposal at a meeting at which a quorum is present. For purposes of ratification of the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, abstentions will count toward the presence of a quorum but will have no effect on the proposal. The proposals to approve amendments to the Charter require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the proposal. For purposes of approval of the amendments to the Charter, abstentions and broker non-votes will count toward the presence of a quorum but will have the same effect as votes cast against the proposals.
What is a “broker non-vote”?
A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker who holds shares for the beneficial owner does not vote on a proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting authority for that proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares.
Are stockholders entitled to appraisal rights in connection with any of the proposals?
None of the proposals, if approved, entitle stockholders to appraisal rights under Maryland law or the Charter.
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What constitutes a “quorum”?
The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or represented by proxy, of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for the purpose of establishing a quorum.
Will you incur expenses in soliciting proxies?
We are soliciting the proxy on behalf of the Board of Directors, and we will pay all costs of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy materials. Our directors and officers and employees of affiliates of our Advisor may solicit proxies on our behalf in person or by telephone, facsimile or other means, for which they will not receive any additional compensation. We have retained Broadridge to aid in the solicitation of proxies. Broadridge will receive a fee of approximately $16,000 for proxy solicitation services provided for us, plus the reimbursement of certain costs and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their services, all of which will be paid by us. We will request banks, brokers, custodians, nominees, fiduciaries and other record holders to forward copies of this Proxy Statement to people on whose behalf they hold shares of Common Stock and to request authority for the exercise of proxies by the record holders on behalf of those people. In compliance with the regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we will reimburse such persons for reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares of our Common Stock.
As the date of the Annual Meeting approaches, certain stockholders whose votes have not yet been received may receive a telephone call from a representative of Broadridge. Proxies that are obtained telephonically will be recorded in accordance with the procedures described below. The Board of Directors believes that these procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that both the identity of the stockholder casting the vote and the voting instructions of the stockholder are accurately determined.
In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited, the call is recorded and the Broadridge representative is required to confirm each stockholder’s full name, address and zip code, and to confirm that the stockholder has received the proxy materials. If the stockholder is a corporation or other entity, the Broadridge representative is required to confirm that the person is authorized to direct the voting of the shares. If the information solicited agrees with the information provided to Broadridge, then the Broadridge representative has the responsibility to explain the process, read the proposal listed on the proxy card and ask for the stockholder’s instructions on the proposal. Although the Broadridge representative is permitted to answer questions about the process, he or she is not permitted to recommend to the stockholder how to vote, other than to read any recommendation set forth in this Proxy Statement. Broadridge will record the stockholder’s instructions on the card. Within 72 hours, the stockholder will be sent a letter to confirm his or her vote and asking the stockholder to call Broadridge immediately if his or her instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation.
What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
Some of your shares may be registered differently or held in a different account. You should authorize a proxy to vote the shares in each of your accounts by mail, by telephone or via the Internet. If you mail proxy cards, please sign, date and return each proxy card to guarantee that all of your shares are voted. If you hold your shares in registered form and wish to combine your stockholder accounts in the future, you should call our Investor Relations department at (866) 902-0063. Combining accounts reduces excess printing and mailing costs, resulting in cost savings to us that benefit you as a stockholder.
What if I receive only one set of proxy materials although there are multiple stockholders at my address?
The SEC has adopted a rule concerning the delivery of documents filed by us with the SEC, including proxy statements and annual reports. The rule allows us to send a single set of any annual report, proxy statement, proxy statement combined with a prospectus or information statement to any household at which two or more stockholders reside if they share the same last name or we reasonably believe they are members of the same family. This procedure is referred to as “Householding.” This rule benefits both you and us by reducing the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps us reduce expenses. Each stockholder subject to Householding will continue to receive a separate proxy card or voting instruction card.
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We will promptly deliver, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of our 2016 10-K or Proxy Statement as applicable, to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy was previously delivered. If you received a single set of disclosure documents for this year, but you would prefer to receive your own copy, you may direct requests for separate copies by calling our Investor Relations department at (866) 902-0063 or by mailing a request to American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Investor Relations. Likewise, if your household currently receives multiple copies of disclosure documents and you would like to receive one set, please contact us.
Whom should I call for additional information about voting by proxy or authorizing a proxy by telephone or Internet to vote my shares?
Please call Broadridge, our proxy solicitor, at (855) 976-3323.
Whom should I call with other questions?
If you have additional questions about this Proxy Statement or the Annual Meeting or would like additional copies of this Proxy Statement, or our 2016 10-K or any documents relating to any of our future stockholder meetings, please contact: American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York, 10022, Attention: Investor Relations, Telephone: (866) 902-0063, E-mail: investorrelations@ar-global.com, website: www.newyorkcityreit.com.
How do I submit a stockholder proposal for next year’s annual meeting or proxy materials, and what is the deadline for submitting a proposal?
In order for a stockholder proposal to be properly submitted for presentation at our 2018 annual meeting and included in the proxy materials for next year’s annual meeting, we must receive written notice of the proposal at our executive offices during the period beginning on November [•], 2017 and ending at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December [•], 2017. Any proposal received after the applicable time in the previous sentence will be considered untimely. All proposals must contain the information specified in, and otherwise comply with, our bylaws. Proposals should be sent via registered, certified or express mail to: American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Nicholas Radesca, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. For additional information, see “Stockholder Proposals for the 2018 Annual Meeting.”
UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE, THE PROXIES WILL BE VOTED “FOR”: (I) ELECTION OF THE FOUR NOMINEES NAMED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT TO SERVE AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR, UNTIL THE COMPANY’S 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND UNTIL HIS OR HER SUCCESSOR IS DULY ELECTED AND QUALIFIES; (II) RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017; AND (III) APPROVAL OF EACH OF THE PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11 TO AMEND AND RESTATE THE CHARTER. IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS, THE PROXIES WILL ALSO BE VOTED “FOR” OR “AGAINST” SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING. MANAGEMENT IS NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED FOR ACTION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is responsible for monitoring and supervising the performance of our day-to-day operations and our advisor, New York City Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”). The Advisor is controlled by American Realty Capital IV, LLC (the “Sponsor”), which is controlled by AR Global Investments, LLC (“AR Global”). Directors are elected annually by our stockholders. Each director serves for a term of one year, until the next annual meeting of stockholders or (if longer) until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. The bylaws provide that the number of directors may be fixed by a resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the number of directors may never be less than three nor greater than ten. Pursuant to our Charter and our bylaws, a majority of our directors must be independent. The number of directors on our Board is currently fixed at four, of which three are independent directors.
The Board of Directors has proposed the following nominees for election as directors, each to serve for a term of one year, until our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies: Edward M. Weil, Jr., Elizabeth K. Tuppeny, Lee M. Elman and Abby M. Wenzel. Each nominee currently serves as a director of the Company.
The proxy holder named on the proxy card intends to vote “FOR” the election of each of the four nominees. If you do not wish your shares to be voted for any particular nominee, please identify the exception(s) in the designated space provided on the proxy card or, if you are authorizing a proxy to vote your shares by telephone or the Internet, follow the instructions provided when you authorize a proxy. Each director is elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, provided that a quorum is present.
We know of no reason why any nominee will be unable to serve if elected. If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, one or more of the nominees should become unable to serve, shares represented by proxies will be voted for the remaining nominees and for any substitute nominee or nominees designated by the Board of Directors. No proxy will be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees described in this Proxy Statement.
Nominees
The table set forth below lists the names and ages of each of the nominees as of the date of this Proxy Statement and the position and office that each nominee currently holds with the Company:
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| Name | Age | Position | ||
| Edward M. Weil, Jr. | 50 | Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary | ||
| Elizabeth K. Tuppeny | 56 | Lead Independent Director | ||
| Lee M. Elman | 80 | Independent Director; Audit Committee Chair; Conflicts Committee Chair | ||
| Abby M. Wenzel | 57 | Independent Director |
Business Experience of Nominees
Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Edward M. Weil, Jr. has served as executive chairman of the Company since November 2015 and as chief executive officer, president and secretary of the Company, the Advisor and the Property Manager since March 2017. Mr. Weil has served as executive chairman of American Realty Capital Healthcare Trust III, Inc. (“HT III”) since November 2015, and previously served as an executive officer of HT III, the HT III advisor and the HT III property manager from their respective formations in April 2014 until November 2014. Mr. Weil has served as chairman of the board of directors of American Finance Trust, Inc. (“AFIN”) and as chief executive officer and president of AFIN, the AFIN advisor and the AFIN property manager since November 2015. Mr. Weil also previously served as an executive officer of AFIN, the AFIN advisor and the AFIN property manager from their formation in January 2013 until November 2014, and served as a director of AFIN from January 2013 to September 2014. Mr. Weil has served as a director of Global Net Lease, Inc. (“GNL”) since January 2017, and previously served as an executive officer of GNL, the GNL advisor and the GNL property manager from their respective formations in July 2011, July 2011 and January 2012, until
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October 2014, and previously served as a director of GNL from May 2012 until September 2014. Mr. Weil has served as a director of Healthcare Trust, Inc. (“HTI”) since October 2016, and previously served as an executive officer of HTI, the HTI advisor and the HTI property manager from their formation in October 2012 until November 2014.
Mr. Weil previously served as executive chairman of American Realty Capital Global Trust II, Inc. (“Global II”) from November 2015 until the close of Global II’s merger with GNL in December 2016, and previously served as an executive officer of Global II, the Global II advisor and the Global II property manager from their respective formations in April 2014 until October 2014. Mr. Weil previously served as a director of Business Development Corporation of America (“BDCA”), an entity which was previously advised by an affiliate of AR Global, from December 2015 until November 2016, when BDCA’s external advisor was acquired by Benefit Street Partners, L.L.C. Mr. Weil previously served as chief executive officer, president and chairman of American Realty Capital — Retail Centers of America, Inc. (“RCA”) and the RCA advisor from December 2015 until the close of RCA’s merger with AFIN in February 2017, and previously served as an executive officer of RCA and the RCA advisor from their formation in July 2010 and May 2010, respectively, until November 2014. Mr. Weil previously served as a trustee of American Real Estate Income Fund from May 2012 until its liquidation in August 2016. Mr. Weil previously served as a trustee of Realty Capital Income Funds Trust, a family of mutual funds advised by an affiliate of AR Global, from April 2013 until its dissolution in January 2017.
Mr. Weil served as an executive officer of American Realty Capital Trust, Inc. (“ARCT”), the ARCT advisor and the ARCT property manager from their formation in August 2007 through March 2012. Mr. Weil served as an executive officer of New York REIT, Inc. (“NYRT”), the NYRT property manager and the NYRT advisor from their formation in October 2009 until November 2014. Mr. Weil served as an executive officer of American Realty Capital Healthcare Trust, Inc. (“HT”), the HT advisor and the HT property manager from their formation in August 2010 until January 2015 when HT closed its merger with Ventas, Inc. Mr. Weil served as a director of American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc. (“ARCT III”) beginning in February 2012 and as an executive officer of ARCT III, the ARCT III advisor and the ARCT III property manager from their formation in October 2010 until the close of ARCT III’s merger with VEREIT, Inc., formerly known as American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. (“VEREIT”) in February 2013. Mr. Weil served as a director of VEREIT from March 2012 until June 2014. Mr. Weil also served as an executive officer of VEREIT from its formation in December 2010 until February 2013. Mr. Weil served as an executive officer of American Realty Capital Daily Net Asset Value Trust, Inc. (“DNAV”), the DNAV advisor and the DNAV property manager from their formation in September 2010 until November 2014, as a director of DNAV from September 2010 until August 2014, and again as an executive officer of DNAV from November 2015 until its dissolution and liquidation in April 2016. Mr. Weil served as an executive officer of American Realty Capital Trust IV, Inc. (“ARCT IV”), the ARCT IV advisor and the ARCT IV property manager from their formation in February 2012 and as a director of ARCT IV from January 2014, in each case until the close of ARCT IV’s merger with VEREIT in January 2014. Mr. Weil served as an executive officer of Realty Finance Trust, Inc. (now known as Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust, Inc.) (“RFT”) and the RFT advisor from November 2012 until January 2013. Mr. Weil served as an executive officer of the Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT II, Inc. advisor from July 2013 until October 2014. Mr. Weil has served as a member of the board of directors of the sub-property manager of American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust, Inc. (“HOST”) from August 2013 until November 2014. Mr. Weil served as chief executive officer and president of the general partner of American Energy Capital Partners — Energy Recovery Program, LP from its formation in October 2013 until November 2014. Mr. Weil previously served as chairman of Realty Capital Securities, LLC (“RCS”) from September 2013 until November 2015, and was the interim chief executive officer of RCS from May 2014 until September 2014 and the chief executive officer of RCS from December 2010 until September 2013. Mr. Weil served as a director of RCS Capital Corporation (“RCAP”), the parent company of RCS, from February 2013 until December 2015 and served as an executive officer of RCAP from February 2013 until November 2015, including chief executive officer from September 2014 until November 2015. RCAP filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2016. Mr. Weil previously served as an executive officer of American Realty Capital — Retail Centers of America II, Inc. (“RCA II”) and the RCA II advisor from April 2014 until November 2014. Mr. Weil served on the board of trustees of United Development Funding Income Fund V (“UDF V”) until October 2014.
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Mr. Weil was formerly the senior vice president of sales and leasing for American Financial Realty Trust (“AFRT”) from April 2004 to October 2006, where he was responsible for the disposition and leasing activity for a 33 million square foot portfolio of properties. Under the direction of Mr. Weil, his department was the sole contributor in the increase of occupancy and portfolio revenue through the sales of over 200 properties and the leasing of over 2.2 million square feet, averaging 325,000 square feet of newly executed leases per quarter. After working at AFRT, from October 2006 to May 2007, Mr. Weil was managing director of Milestone Partners Limited and prior to joining AFRT, from 1987 to April 2004, Mr. Weil was president of Plymouth Pump & Systems Co. Mr. Weil attended George Washington University. Mr. Weil holds FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses.
We believe that Mr. Weil’s experience as a director or executive officer of the companies described above and his significant experience in real estate make him well qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors.
Elizabeth K. Tuppeny
Elizabeth K. Tuppeny has served as an independent director of the Company since March 2014, including as lead independent director since December 2014. Ms. Tuppeny has also served as an independent director of HTI since January 2013. Ms. Tuppeny has served as an independent director of Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust, Inc. since January 2013. Ms. Tuppeny also served as an independent director of ARCT IV from May 2012 until the close of ARCT IV’s merger with VEREIT in January 2014, after which point Ms. Tuppeny was no longer associated with ARCT IV as an independent director nor affiliated with ARCT IV in any manner.
Ms. Tuppeny has been the chief executive officer and founder of Domus, Inc. (“Domus”), a full-service marketing communications agency, since 1993. Domus’ largest client is Merck & Co., and Ms. Tuppeny advises Merck & Co. with respect to communications related to their healthcare-related real estate acquisitions. Ms. Tuppeny has 30 years of experience in the branding and advertising industries, with a focus on Fortune 50 companies. Ms. Tuppeny also founded EKT Development, LLC to pursue entertainment projects in publishing, feature film and education video games. Prior to founding Domus, Ms. Tuppeny was executive vice president, business development at Earle Palmer Brown from 1992 to 1993. From 1984 to 1993, Ms. Tuppeny worked at Weightman Advertising, where she became senior vice president. From 1982 to 1984, Ms. Tuppeny was an account executive at The Marketing Group. Ms. Tuppeny served on the board of directors and executive committee of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Council (“PIDC”) for three-plus years where she helped to plan and implement real estate transactions that helped to attract jobs to Philadelphia. As a board member of the PIDC, Ms. Tuppeny was responsible for evaluating and approving commercial and residential real estate business development applications for financing and tax abatement for for-profit and non-profit companies. During her tenure on the PIDC, Ms. Tuppeny approved over 500 real estate development applications including the funding for the Wistar Institute’s biotech and cancer research facility, the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, a 1.2 million square foot distribution center for Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd., the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia expansion and the Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry. Ms. Tuppeny has served on the boards of directors and advisory committees for the Arthur Ashe Foundation, Avenue of the Arts, Drexel Medical School, Philadelphia Hospitality Cabinet, Pennsylvania Commission for Women, Penn Relays and the Police Athletic League. Ms. Tuppeny was the recipient of the national Stevie Award as the nation’s top woman entrepreneur in 2004 and was named as a “Top Woman in Philadelphia Business” in 1996, one of the “Top 50 Women in Pennsylvania” in 2004 and as the “Businessperson of the Year” in 2003 by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Tuppeny has taught at New York University, University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School of Communications.
We believe that Ms. Tuppeny’s experience as a director of the companies described above as chief executive officer and founder of Domus, Inc. and in evaluating healthcare-related real estate business development applications, makes her well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.
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Lee M. Elman
Lee M. Elman has served as an independent director of the Company since February 2016. Mr. Elman has served as an independent director of GNL since December 2016 and as an independent director of HTI since December 2016. Mr. Elman previously served as an independent director of Global II from April 2015 until December 2016, when Global II closed its merger with GNL.
Since 1979, Mr. Elman has served as President of Elman Investors, Inc., an international real estate investment banking firm which he also founded. He is also a partner of Elman Ventures, an organization which is advisor to, and partner with, various foreign investors in United States real estate ventures. He has over 40 years of real estate experience, including as an investing principal, a real estate investment banker, and an investment advisor for both U.S. and foreign investors. As President of Elman Investors, Inc., Mr. Elman has negotiated the acquisition of properties in the United States, Europe and Latin America; and presently serves as a general partner in numerous real estate partnerships. Mr. Elman holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
We believe that Mr. Elman’s experience as an executive officer and director of the companies described above and his experience as a real estate investor for over 40 years make him well qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors.
Abby M. Wenzel
Abby M. Wenzel has served as an independent director of the Company since March 2014, as an independent director of GNL since March 2012 and as an independent director of HOST since September 2013. Ms. Wenzel previously served as independent director of ARCT IV from May 2012 until the close of ARCT IV’s merger with VEREIT in January 2014, after which point Ms. Wenzel was no longer associated with ARCT IV as an independent director nor affiliated with ARCT IV in any manner. Ms. Wenzel has been a member of the law firm of Cozen O’Connor, resident in the New York office, since April 2009, as the managing partner of its midtown New York office and a member in the Business Law Department. Since January 2014, Ms. Wenzel has served as co-chair of the Real Estate Group. Ms. Wenzel has extensive experience representing developers, funds and investors in connection with their acquisition, disposition, ownership, use, and financing of real estate. Ms. Wenzel also practices in the capital markets practice area, focusing on capital markets, finance and sale-leaseback transactions. She has represented commercial banks, investment banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions, as well as the owners, in connection with permanent, bridge, and construction loans, as well as senior preferred equity investments, interim financings and mezzanine financings. She has also represented lenders in connection with complex multiproperty/multistate corporate sales. Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, Ms. Wenzel was a partner with Wolf Block LLP, managing partner of its New York office and chair of its structured finance practice from October 1999 until April 2009. Ms. Wenzel currently serves as a trustee on the board of Community Service Society, a 160-year-old institution with a primary focus on identifying and supporting public policy innovations to support the working poor in New York City to realize social, economic, and political opportunities. Ms. Wenzel chairs the audit committee for Community Service Society. Ms. Wenzel also serves as a trustee on the board of The Citizen’s Budget Commission, a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization, founded in 1932, whose mission is to achieve constructive change in the finances and services of New York City and New York State government. Ms. Wenzel received her law degree from New York University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Emory University.
We believe that Ms. Wenzel’s experience as a director of the companies described above, her experience representing clients in connection with their acquisition, disposition, ownership, use, and financing of real estate, as well as her position as co-chair of the Real Estate Group at Cozen O’Connor make her well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF EDWARD M. WEIL, JR., ELIZABETH K. TUPPENY, LEE M. ELMAN AND ABBY M. WENZEL AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EACH TO SERVE FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR, UNTIL THE COMPANY’S 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND UNTIL HIS OR HER SUCCESSOR IS DULY ELECTED AND QUALIFIES.
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Information About the Board of Directors and its Committees
The Board of Directors is responsible for the management and control of our business and operations. Our current executive officers are employees of affiliates of the Advisor. We have no employees and have retained the Advisor to manage our day-to-day operations. The Advisor is under common control with AR Global. Mr. Weil, our current executive chairman, chief executive officer, president and secretary, is the chief executive officer of AR Global and has a non-controlling interest in the parent of AR Global.
The Board of Directors held a total of 10 meetings and took action by written consent on five occasions during the year ended December 31, 2016. All directors attended 100% of the total number of meetings while they were a member of the Board of Directors. All of our directors attended the 2016 annual stockholders’ meeting, as reconvened. It is our policy to encourage all directors and director nominees to attend our annual meetings of stockholders.
The Board of Directors has approved and organized an audit committee and a conflicts committee. The Company does not currently have a compensation committee or nominating and corporate governance committee. The Board of Directors carry out the responsibilities typically associated with compensation committees and nominating and corporate governance committees.
Leadership Structure of the Board of Directors
Edward M. Weil, Jr. serves as our executive chairman of the Board, chief executive officer, president and secretary. As chief executive officer of the Company and our Advisor, Mr. Weil is responsible for our operations and business strategy. The Board of Directors believes that because the chief executive officer is responsible for the operation of the Company and its business, which is also a focus of the Board’s deliberations, the chief executive officer is the most qualified director to act as chairman. The Board of Directors may modify this structure to best address our circumstances for the benefit of our stockholders when appropriate.
Elizabeth K. Tuppeny serves as the lead independent director of the Company. The Board of Directors believes that a lead independent director provides an additional measure of balance, ensures the Board’s independence, and enhances the Board’s ability to fulfill its management oversight responsibilities.
The lead independent director chairs meetings or executive sessions of the independent directors, reviews and comments on Board of Directors’ meeting agendas, represents the views of the independent directors to management, facilitates communication among the independent directors and between management and the independent directors, acts as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys and other directors generally between meetings, serves as a representative and speaks on behalf of the Company at external seminars, conferences, in the media and otherwise, and otherwise assumes such responsibilities as may be assigned to him or her by the Board. Consistent with current practices, the Company compensates Ms. Tuppeny for acting as lead independent director.
The Company’s management believes that having a majority of independent, experienced directors, including a lead independent director, provides the right leadership structure for the Company and is best for the Company and its stockholders at this time.
Oversight of Risk Management
The Board of Directors has an active role in overseeing the management of risks applicable to the Company. The entire Board is actively involved in overseeing risk management for the Company through its approval of all property acquisitions and incurrence and assumption of debt and its oversight of the Company’s executive officers and the Advisor. The conflicts committee reviews and approves all transactions with parties affiliated with our Advisor or AR Global and resolves other conflicts of interest between the Company and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any director, the Advisor or AR Global or their respective affiliates, on the other hand. The audit committee oversees management of accounting, financial, legal and regulatory risks.
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Audit Committee
Our audit committee is comprised of Mr. Elman, Ms. Tuppeny and Ms. Wenzel, each of whom is “independent” within the meaning of the applicable (1) provisions set forth in the Charter and (2) requirements set forth in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the applicable SEC rules. Mr. Elman is the chair of our audit committee. Our audit committee held five meetings and took no actions by written consent during the year ended December 31, 2016. Our directors who are members of the audit committee attended 100% of the meetings of the audit committee while they were members of the audit committee. The charter of the audit committee is available to any stockholder who sends a request to American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022 and is also available on the Company’s website at www.newyorkcityreit.com by clicking on “Investors — Corporate Governance — Audit Committee Charter.” The Board has determined that Mr. Elman is qualified as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and the rules and regulations of the SEC and is an independent director.
The audit committee, in performing its duties, monitors:
| • | our financial reporting process; |
| • | the integrity of our financial statements; |
| • | compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; |
| • | the independence and qualifications of our independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors, as applicable; and |
| • | the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors, as applicable. |
The audit committee’s report on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 is discussed below under the heading “Audit Committee Report.”
Oversight of Compensation
The Company does not have any employees and compensation of directors is set by the Board, including our independent directors. In carrying out these responsibilities, our Board may delegate any or all of its responsibilities to a subcommittee to the extent consistent with the Charter, bylaws and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations. However, the Board does not believe that any marked efficiencies or enhancements would be achieved by the creation of a separate compensation committee at this time.
Oversight of Nominations and Corporate Governance
The Company does not have a standing nominating and corporate governance committee. The Board believes that because of the size and composition of the Board, it is more efficient and cost effective for the Board, including our independent directors, to perform the duties of a nominating and corporate governance committee. The entire Board, including our independent directors is responsible for:
| • | identifying qualified individuals to become directors of the Company; |
| • | recommending director candidates to fill vacancies on the Board and to stand for election by the stockholders at the annual meeting; |
| • | recommending committee assignments; |
| • | periodically assessing the performance of the Board; and |
| • | reviewing and recommending appropriate corporate governance policies and procedures for the Company, including reviewing the code of business conduct and ethics of the Company annually. |
The Board of Directors believes that diversity is an important attribute of the members who comprise our Board of Directors and that the members should represent an array of backgrounds and experiences. In making its determinations, the Board reviews the appropriate experience, skills and characteristics required of directors in the context of our business. This review includes, in the context of the perceived needs of the
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Board at that time, issues of knowledge, experience, judgment and skills relating to the understanding of the real estate industry, accounting or financial expertise. This review also includes the candidate’s ability to attend regular Board meetings and to devote a sufficient amount of time and effort in preparation for such meetings. The Board also gives consideration to the Board having a diverse and appropriate mix of backgrounds and skills and each nominee’s ability to exercise independence of thought, objective perspective and mature judgment and understand our business operations and objectives.
The Board of Directors will consider candidates nominated by stockholders provided that the stockholder submitting a nomination has complied with procedures set forth in the bylaws. See “Stockholder Proposals for the 2018 Annual Meeting” for additional information regarding stockholder nominations of director candidates.
Conflicts Committee
Our conflicts committee is comprised of Mr. Elman, Ms. Tuppeny and Ms. Wenzel, each of whom is an independent director. Mr. Elman is the chair of the conflicts committee. Our conflicts committee held one meeting and took no actions by written consent during the year ended December 31, 2016. Members of the conflicts committee attended 100% of the meetings of the conflicts committee while they were members of the conflicts committee. The charter of the conflicts committee is available to any stockholder who sends a request to American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022 and is also available on the Company’s website, www.newyorkcityreit.com by clicking on “Investors — Corporate Governance — Conflicts Committee Charter.”
For those actions and transactions brought to the attention of the conflicts committee in which we, on the one hand, and any of AR Global, the Advisor, a director, an officer or any affiliate thereof, on the other hand, are involved, the conflicts committee has the authority to:
| • | review and evaluate the terms and conditions, and to determine the advisability of the transaction and conflict of interest situations between us and any other party; |
| • | negotiate the terms and conditions of the transaction, and, if the conflicts committee deems appropriate, but subject to the limitations of applicable law, to approve the execution and delivery of documents in connection with the transaction on our behalf; |
| • | determine whether the transaction is fair to, and in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders; and |
| • | recommend to the Board of Directors what action, if any should be taken by the Board of Directors with respect to the transaction pursuant to the Charter. |
The conflicts committee has determined that all our transactions and relationships with our Advisor, AR Global and their respective affiliates during the year ended December 31, 2016 were fair and were approved in accordance with the applicable Company policies. In order to reduce or eliminate certain potential conflicts of interest, the Charter contains a number of restrictions related to transactions with AR Global, our Advisor, any of our directors, any of our officers, any of their respective affiliates or certain of our stockholders. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”
Director Independence
Under our Charter, a majority of the members of our Board of Directors must be “independent” except for a period of up to 60 days after the death, resignation or removal of an independent director. An “independent director” is defined under the Charter as one who is not associated and has not been associated within the last two years, directly or indirectly, with AR Global or our Advisor. A director is deemed to be associated with AR Global or our Advisor if he or she: (a) owns an interest in AR Global, our Advisor or any of their affiliates; (b) is employed by AR Global, our Advisor or any of their affiliates; (c) is an officer or director of AR Global, our Advisor or any of their affiliates; (d) performs services, other than as a director, for us; (e) is a director for more than three REITs organized by AR Global or advised by our Advisor; or (f) has any material business or professional relationship with AR Global, our Advisor or any of their affiliates. A business or professional relationship is considered material per se if the gross revenue derived by the director from AR Global and our Advisor and affiliates exceeds 5% of the director’s (i) annual gross revenue,
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derived from all sources, during either of the last two years, or (ii) net worth, on a fair market value basis. An indirect relationship includes circumstances in which a director’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers- or fathers-in-law, sons- or daughters-in-law, or brothers- or sisters-in-law, is or has been associated with AR Global, our Advisor, any of their affiliates or us.
The Board of Directors has considered the independence of each director and nominee for election as a director in accordance with the elements of independence set forth above and in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) even though our shares are not listed on the NYSE. Based upon information provided by each nominee, the Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that Mr. Elman, Ms. Tuppeny and Ms. Wenzel are independent and do not have any material relationships with the Company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company) other than as a director of the Company and are “independent” within the meaning of the NYSE’s director independence standards, as currently in effect. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of our independent directors satisfies the elements of independence in the listing standards of the NYSE and under our Charter. There are no familial relationships between any of our directors and executive officers.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Any interested parties (including the Company’s stockholders) may communicate with the Board of Directors by sending written communications addressed to such person or persons in care of American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Nicholas Radesca, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Radesca will deliver all appropriate communications to the Board of Directors no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors modifies this process, the revised process will be posted on the Company’s website, www.newyorkcityreit.com.
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COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING OFFICERS,
DIRECTORS AND CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS
Compensation of Executive Officers
We have no employees. Our Advisor performs our day-to-day management functions. Our current executive officers, Edward M. Weil, Jr. and Nicholas Radesca, are each employees of affiliates of the Advisor. We neither compensate our executive officers, nor do we reimburse either our Advisor or our property manager, New York City Properties, LLC (the “Property Manager”), for any compensation paid to individuals who also serve as our executive officers, or the executive officers of our Advisor, our Property Manager or their respective affiliates. As a result, we do not have, and our Board of Directors has not considered, a compensation policy or program for our executive officers and has not included in this Proxy Statement a “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” a report with respect to executive compensation, a non-binding stockholder advisory vote on compensation of executives or a non-binding stockholder advisory vote on the frequency of the stockholder vote on executive compensation. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” for a discussion of fees and expense reimbursements payable to the Advisor, the Property Manager and their affiliates.
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table presents certain information as of the date of this Proxy Statement concerning each of our directors and executive officers serving in such capacity:
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| Name | Age | Position(s) | ||
| Edward M. Weil, Jr. | 50 | Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary | ||
| Nicholas Radesca | 51 | Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
| Elizabeth K. Tuppeny | 56 | Lead Independent Director | ||
| Lee M. Elman | 80 | Independent Director; Audit Committee Chair; Conflicts Committee Chair | ||
| Abby M. Wenzel | 57 | Independent Director |
Nicholas Radesca
Mr. Radesca has served as the interim chief financial officer and treasurer of the Company, the Advisor and the Property Manager since June 2015. Mr. Radesca has served as chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary of AFIN, the AFIN advisor and the AFIN property manager since November 2015. He also previously served as an executive officer of AFIN, the AFIN advisor and the AFIN property manager from December 2014 until May 2015. Mr. Radesca has served as chief financial officer of GNL, the GNL advisor and the GNL property manager since January 2017.
Mr. Radesca previously served as the interim chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary of NYRT, the NYRT advisor, and the NYRT property manager from June 2015 until March 2017, and previously served in such capacities from February 2014 until March 2014. Mr. Radesca previously served as chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary of DNAV, the DNAV advisor and the DNAV property manager from January 2014, November 2014 and December 2014, respectively, in each case until the dissolution and liquidation of those entities in April 2016. Mr. Radesca previously served as chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary of RFT and the RFT advisor from November 2015 until September 2016. Mr. Radesca also previously served as an executive officer of RFT and the RFT advisor from January 2013 until November 2014. Mr. Radesca previously served as the chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary of Axar Acquisition Corp. (formerly AR Capital Acquisition Corp.) from August 2014 until October 2016. Mr. Radesca previously served as an executive officer of BDCA from February 2013 until December 2015. Beginning in June 2015, Mr. Radesca served as the interim chief financial officer and treasurer of American Realty Capital New York City REIT II, Inc. (“NYCR II”), the NYCR II advisor and the NYCR II property manager. In December 2015, NYCR II’s stockholders approved the fund’s dissolution and liquidation. Mr. Radesca also served as the interim chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary of HOST, the HOST advisor and the HOST property manager from May 2014 until December 2014. Mr. Radesca served as interim chief financial officer of RCA and the RCA advisor from May 2014 until December 2014. Beginning in
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June 2015, Mr. Radesca also served as interim chief financial officer of RCA II and the RCA II advisor. In January 2016, RCA II’s stockholders approved the liquidation and dissolution of the fund. Beginning in October 2013, Mr. Radesca served as the chief financial officer and treasurer of the general partner of American Energy Capital Partners — Energy Recovery Program, LP, whose unitholders approved the fund’s dissolution and liquidation in November 2015. Mr. Radesca also previously served as an executive officer of the advisor to UDF V from September 2013 until April 2016.
Prior to joining the predecessor to AR Global, the parent of the Company’s sponsor, in December 2012, Mr. Radesca was employed by Solar Capital Management, LLC, from March 2008 to May 2012, where he served as the chief financial officer and corporate secretary for Solar Capital Ltd. and its predecessor company, and Solar Senior Capital Ltd., both of which are publicly traded business development companies. From 2006 to February 2008, Mr. Radesca served as the chief accounting officer at iStar Financial Inc. (“iStar”), a publicly traded commercial REIT, where his responsibilities included overseeing accounting, tax and SEC reporting. Prior to iStar, Mr. Radesca served in various senior accounting and financial reporting roles at Fannie Mae, Del Monte Foods Company, Providian Financial Corporation and Bank of America. Mr. Radesca has more than 20 years of experience in financial reporting and accounting and is a licensed certified public accountant in New York and Virginia. Mr. Radesca holds a B.S. in accounting from the New York Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the California State University, East Bay.
Compensation of Directors
We pay to each of our independent directors the fees described below. All directors also receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of our Board of Directors. If a director also is our employee or an employee of our Advisor or any of its affiliates, we do not pay compensation for services rendered as a director.
We pay our independent directors a yearly retainer of $30,000 and an additional yearly retainer of $55,000 for the lead independent director; $2,000 for each meeting of the Board or any committee personally attended by the directors ($2,500 for attendance by the chairperson of the audit committee at each meeting of the audit committee) and $1,500 for each meeting attended via telephone; $750 per transaction reviewed and voted upon electronically up to a maximum of $2,250 for three or more transactions reviewed and voted upon per electronic vote. If there is a Board meeting and one or more committee meetings in one day, the director’s fees may not exceed $2,500 ($3,000 for the chairperson of the audit committee if there is a meeting of such committee). We may issue shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash to pay fees earned by our directors, at each director’s election. The shares issued are not subject to vesting provisions because these payments, in lieu of cash, are related to fees earned for services performed.
Pursuant to our employee and director incentive restricted share plan (the “RSP”), each independent director receives an automatic grant of $30,000 in restricted shares of Common Stock on the date of initial election to the Board of Directors and on the date of each annual stockholders’ meeting, in each case at the then-current estimated per-share net asset value (“Estimated Per-Share NAV”). The restricted shares vest over a five-year period following the first anniversary of the date of grant in increments of 20% per annum.
We also pay each independent director for each external seminar, conference, panel, forum or other industry-related event attended in person and in which the independent director actively participates, solely in his or her capacity as an independent director of the Company, in the following amounts:
| • | $2,500 for each day of an external seminar, conference, panel, forum or other industry-related event that does not exceed four hours, or |
| • | $5,000 for each day of an external seminar, conference, panel, forum or other industry-related event that exceeds four hours. |
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In either of the above cases, we will reimburse, to the extent not otherwise reimbursed, an independent director’s reasonable expenses associated with attendance at such external seminar, conference, panel, forum or other industry-related event. An independent director cannot be paid or reimbursed for attendance at a single external seminar, conference, panel, forum or other industry-related event by us and another company for which he or she is a director.
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation of our directors during the year ended December 31, 2016:
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| Name | Fees Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
Option Awards ($) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Changes in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) |
All Other Compensation ($)(2) |
Total Compensation ($) |
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| Edward M. Weil, Jr. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Elizabeth K. Tuppeny | $ | 113,750 | (3) | $ | 30,000 | (4) | — | — | — | $ | 4,531 | $ | 148,281 | |||||||||||||||
| Lee M. Elman | $ | 47,250 | (5) | $ | 60,000 | (6) | — | — | — | $ | 1,633 | $ | 108,883 | |||||||||||||||
| Abby M. Wenzel | $ | 62,250 | (7) | $ | 30,000 | (8) | — | — | — | $ | 4,524 | $ | 96,774 | |||||||||||||||
| (1) | Value of restricted shares granted during the year ended December 31, 2016 calculated based on $22.50 per share which was the price at which the restricted shares were granted, and equal to the proceeds, net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees and before expenses, to us of a share of Common Stock sold in our initial public offering. Subsequently, on October 26, 2016, the Company published an Estimated Per-Share NAV as of June 30, 2016 of $21.25 per share. Awards vest annually over a five-year period in equal installments. |
| (2) | The amount reported as “All Other Compensation” represents the value of distributions received during the year ended December 31, 2016 on any restricted shares. |
| (3) | Ms. Tuppeny earned fees in the amount of $112,500 for services as a director during the year ended December 31, 2016. The payment of $113,750 includes $100,667 and $13,083 for services rendered during the years ending December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. |
| (4) | Represents 1,333 restricted shares granted on July 28, 2016. |
| (5) | Mr. Elman earned fees in the amount of $55,000 for services as a director during the year ended December 31, 2016. The payment of $47,250 is for services rendered during the year ending December 31, 2016. |
| (6) | Represents 2,666 restricted shares, 1,333 granted on February 12, 2016 and 1,333 granted on July 28, 2016. |
| (7) | Ms. Wenzel earned fees in the amount of $61,000 for services as a director during the year ended December 31, 2016. The payment of $62,250 includes $53,750 and $8,500 for services rendered during the years ending December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. |
| (8) | Represents 1,333 restricted shares granted on July 28, 2016. |
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Share-Based Compensation
Restricted Share Plan
The RSP provides us with the ability to grant awards of restricted shares to our directors, officers and employees (if we ever have employees), employees of the Advisor and its affiliates, employees of entities that provide services to us, directors of the Advisor or of entities that provide services to us, certain of our consultants and certain consultants to the Advisor and its affiliates or to entities that provide services to us. The total number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the RSP may not exceed 5.0% of our outstanding shares, and in any event may not exceed 1,500,000 shares (as such number may be adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations of similar events). As of December 31, 2016, 1,489,336 shares of Common Stock were available for grants as awards under the RSP. The RSP provides for the automatic grant of restricted shares of Common Stock to each of the independent directors, without any further action by our Board of Directors or the stockholders, on the date of initial election to the Board of Directors and on the date of each annual stockholders meeting. Restricted shares issued to independent directors will vest over a five-year period following the first anniversary of the date of grant in increments of 20% per annum. Our RSP provides for the automatic grant of $30,000 in restricted shares of Common Stock at the then-current Estimated Per-Share NAV to each of the independent directors, without any further action by our Board of Directors or the stockholders, on the date of initial appointment to the Board and on each annual stockholders meeting.
Restricted share awards entitle the recipient to receive shares of our Common Stock under terms that provide for vesting over a specified period of time or upon attainment of pre-established performance objectives. For restricted share awards granted prior to July 1, 2015, such awards would typically be forfeited with respect to the unvested shares upon the termination of the recipient’s employment or other relationship with us. For restricted share awards granted on or after July 1, 2015, such awards provide for accelerated vesting of the portion of the unvested restricted shares scheduled to vest in the year of the recipient’s voluntary termination or the failure to be re-elected to the Board of Directors. Restricted shares may not, in general, be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions are removed and the shares have vested. Holders of restricted shares may receive cash distributions prior to the time that the restrictions on the restricted shares have lapsed. Any distributions payable in shares of our Common Stock are subject to the same restrictions as the underlying restricted shares.
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STOCK OWNERSHIP BY DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of March 31, 2017, in each case including shares of Common Stock which may be acquired by such persons within 60 days, by:
| • | each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of its outstanding shares of Common Stock based solely upon the amounts and percentages contained in the public filings of such persons; |
| • | each of the Company’s named officers and directors; and |
| • | all of the Company’s executive officers and directors as a group. |
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| Beneficial Owner(1) | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percent of Class |
||||||
| Edward M. Weil, Jr.(2) | — | — | ||||||
| Nicholas Radesca | — | — | ||||||
| Elizabeth K. Tuppeny(3) | 3,999 | * | ||||||
| Lee M. Elman(4) | 2,666 | * | ||||||
| Abby M. Wenzel(5) | 3,999 | * | ||||||
| All directors and executive officers as a group (five persons) | 10,664 | * | ||||||
| * | Less than 1% |
| (1) | The business address of each individual or entity listed in the table is 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10022. Unless otherwise indicated, the individual or entity listed has sole voting and investment power over the shares listed. |
| (2) | Mr. Weil, our executive chairman, chief executive officer, president and secretary, is also the chief executive officer of AR Global. While Mr. Weil has a non-controlling interest in the parent of AR Global, Mr. Weil does not have direct or indirect voting or investment power over any shares that AR Global may own and Mr. Weil disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. Accordingly, the shares included as beneficially owned by Mr. Weil do not include the 11,837 shares of our Common Stock or the 90 shares of Common Stock that may be issuable in exchange for certain operating partnership interests that are directly or indirectly beneficially owned by AR Global. |
| (3) | Includes 3,199 unvested restricted shares issued to Ms. Tuppeny, including (i) 800 granted on April 24, 2014; (ii) 1,066 granted on July 13, 2015; and (iii) 1,333 granted on July 28, 2016, all of which vest annually over a five-year period in equal installments. |
| (4) | Includes 2,399 unvested restricted shares issued to Mr. Elman, including (i) 1,066 granted on February 12, 2016; and (ii) 1,333 granted on July 28, 2016, all of which vest annually over a five-year period in equal installments. |
| (5) | Includes 3,199 unvested restricted shares issued to Ms. Wenzel including (i) 800 granted on April 24, 2014; (ii) 1,066 granted on July 13, 2015; and (iii)1,333 granted on July 28, 2016, all of which vest annually over a five-year period in equal installments. |
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Edward M. Weil, Jr., our executive chairman, chief executive officer, president and secretary, also is the chief executive officer, president and secretary of our Advisor and our Property Manager. Nicholas Radesca, our interim chief financial officer, chief operating officer and treasurer, also is the interim chief financial officer, chief operating officer and treasurer of our Advisor and our Property Manager.
Our Advisor and our Property Manager are owned and controlled directly or indirectly by our Sponsor. Our Sponsor is owned and controlled by AR Global. Mr. Weil, our executive chairman, chief executive officer, president and secretary, is the chief executive officer of AR Global and has a non-controlling interest in the parent of AR Global. Prior to his departure, Michael A. Happel, our former chief executive officer, president and secretary, owned 20% of the membership interests in our Sponsor.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company sold its $0.5 million investment in a mutual fund managed by an affiliate of AR Global. The Company recognized income from investment securities managed by an affiliate of AR Global of approximately $6,000 and $42,000, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Advisor
Asset Management Fees
We are party to an advisory agreement with the Advisor (the “Advisory Agreement”), pursuant to which the Advisor manages our day-to-day operations. We pay the Advisor an asset management fee as compensation for services rendered. The asset management fee is payable on the first business day of each month in the amount of 0.0625% multiplied by the lower of the cost of assets and the estimated fair market value of the Company’s assets as reported in the applicable periodic or current report filed with the SEC disclosing the fair market value. The asset management fee is payable in cash, shares of Common Stock, or a combination of both, at the Advisor’s election. The Company paid $4.7 million and $1.0 million in cash asset management fees during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Prior to October 1, 2015, we compensated the Advisor for asset management services by causing our operating partnership, American Realty Capital New York City Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “OP”), to issue (subject to periodic approval by our Board of Directors) to the Advisor performance-based, restricted, forfeitable partnership units in the OP designated as “Class B Units.” The Class B Units were issued quarterly in an amount equal to: (1) the product of (y) 0.1875% multiplied by (z) the cost of the Company’s assets, divided by (2) the value of one share of Common Stock as of the last day of such calendar quarter, which was equal initially to $22.50 (the primary offering price minus selling commissions and dealer manager fees). The Class B Units were intended to be profits interests and will vest, and no longer be subject to forfeiture, at such time as: (a) the value of the OP’s assets plus all distributions made by the Company to its stockholders equals or exceeds the total amount of capital contributed by investors plus a 6.0% cumulative, pretax, non-compounded annual return thereon, or the “economic hurdle”; (b) any one of the following events occurs concurrently with or subsequently to the achievement of the economic hurdle described above: (i) a listing of the Company’s Common Stock on a national securities exchange; (ii) a transaction to which the Company or the OP is a party, as a result of which OP units or the Company’s Common Stock are or will be exchanged for or converted into the right, or the holders of such securities will otherwise be entitled, to receive cash, securities or other property or any combination thereof; or (iii) the termination of the Advisory Agreement without cause by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s independent directors after the economic hurdle has been met; and (c) the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement is providing services to the Company immediately prior to the occurrence of an event of the type described in clause (b) above unless the failure to provide such services is attributable to the termination without cause of the Advisory Agreement by an affirmative vote of a majority of our independent directors after the economic hurdle has been met (the “performance condition”). Any outstanding Class B Units will be forfeited immediately if the Advisory Agreement is terminated for any reason other than a termination without cause. Any outstanding Class B Units will be forfeited immediately if the Advisory Agreement is terminated without cause by an affirmative vote of a majority of our Board of Directors before the economic hurdle has been met.
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The value of issued Class B Units will be determined and expensed when we deem the achievement of the performance condition to be probable. As of December 31, 2016, we could not determine the probability of achieving the performance condition. The Advisor receives distributions on the vested and unvested Class B Units it receives in connection with its asset management subordinated participation at the same rate as distributions received on our Common Stock. Such distributions on issued Class B Units are expensed in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss until the performance condition is considered probable to occur. No Class B Units have been issued since September 30, 2015, with a cumulative issuance of 159,159 Class B Units outstanding as of December 31, 2016 under this arrangement, of which 31,832 units have been transferred to Mr. Happel.
Acquisition Fees
The Advisor is paid an acquisition fee equal to 1.5% of (A) the contract purchase price of each acquired property and (B) the amount advanced for a loan or other investment. The Advisor is also reimbursed for expenses actually incurred related to selecting, evaluating and acquiring assets on the Company’s behalf, regardless of whether the Company actually acquires the related assets. Specifically, the Company reimburses the Advisor or its affiliates for any services provided for which they incur investment-related expenses, or insourced expenses. Insourced expenses are fixed initially at and may not exceed 0.50% of the contract purchase price of each property and 0.50% of the amount advanced for each loan or other investment, which is paid at the closing of each such investment. The Advisor is also reimbursed for legal expenses incurred in the process of acquiring properties, in an amount not to exceed 0.10% of the contract purchase price. In addition, the Company also pays third parties, or reimburses the Advisor for any investment-related expenses due to third parties. In no event will the total of all acquisition fees, acquisition expenses and any financing coordination fees (as described below) payable with respect to the Company’s portfolio of investments exceed 4.5% of (A) the contract purchase price or (B) the amount advanced for all loans or other investments. Once the proceeds from the primary offering have been fully invested, the aggregate amount of acquisition fees and any financing coordination fees may not exceed 1.5% of (A) the contract purchase price and (B) the amount advanced for a loan or other investment, as applicable, for all the assets acquired.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company incurred acquisition fees and acquisition expense reimbursements of $5.1 million. The Advisor did not waive any acquisition expense reimbursements in 2015. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company incurred acquisition fees and acquisition expense reimbursements of $3.6 million, which is net of $0.6 million in acquisition expense reimbursements which were waived by the Advisor.
Financing Coordination Fees
Under the Advisory Agreement, if the Advisor provides services in connection with the origination or refinancing of any debt that the Company obtains and uses to acquire properties or to make other permitted investments, or that is assumed, directly or indirectly, in connection with the acquisition of properties, the Company pays the Advisor a financing coordination fee equal to 0.75% of the amount made available or outstanding under such financing, subject to certain limitations. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016, we paid the Advisor $0.8 million and $0.7 million in financing coordination fees, respectively.
Other Fees and Reimbursements
Subject to certain limitations, we reimburse the Advisor’s costs of providing administrative services. We do not make operating expense reimbursements for personnel costs to our Advisor in connection with services for which the Advisor already receives acquisition fees, acquisition expenses or real estate commissions. We do not reimburse the Advisor for salaries, bonuses or benefits to be paid to our executive officers.
For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we reimbursed our Advisor $1.8 million and $1.1 million for administrative services, respectively.
We also reimburse the Advisor and its affiliates, including subsidiaries of RCAP, which were under common control with AR Global until transactions entered into in connection with RCAP’s filing for Chapter
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11 bankruptcy in January 2016, up to 2.0% of gross offering proceeds for organization and offering expenses, which may include reimbursements to our Advisor for other organization and offering expenses that it incurs for due diligence fees included in detailed and itemized invoices. Offering costs, excluding commissions and dealer manager fees, in excess of the 2.0% cap as of the end of the IPO are the Advisor’s responsibility.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, we incurred from our Advisor and its affiliates, including subsidiaries of RCAP, $5.2 million for offering costs and reimbursements. As of December 31, 2015, we had a receivable from the Advisor totaling $0.8 million related to excess offering and related costs. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Advisor paid us $0.8 million, representing the total amount owed to the Company related to excess offering and related costs.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to an annual subordinated performance fee calculated on the basis of the Company’s return to stockholders, payable annually in arrears, such that for any year in which investors receive payment of 6.0% per annum, the Advisor is entitled to 15.0% of the excess return, provided that the amount paid to the Advisor does not exceed 10.0% of the aggregate return for such year, and that the amount paid to the Advisor will not be paid unless investors receive a return of capital contributions. This fee will be paid only upon the sale of assets, distributions or other event which results in the return on stockholders’ capital exceeding 6.0% per annum. No subordinated performance fees were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2016 or 2015.
In addition, under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor or its affiliates are entitled to a brokerage commission on the sale of a property, not to exceed the lesser of (x) 2.0% of the contract sale price of the property and (y) 50.0% of the total brokerage commission paid if a third party broker is also involved; provided, however, that in no event could the real estate commissions paid to the Advisor, its affiliates and unaffiliated third parties exceed the lesser of (a) 6.0% of the contract sales price and (b) a reasonable, customary and competitive real estate commission. Any brokerage commission payable to the Advisor or its affiliates would be subject to approval by a majority of the independent directors upon a finding that the Advisor or its affiliates provided a substantial amount of services in connection with the sale. No such fees were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2016 or 2015.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, upon a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, New York City Special Limited Partnership, LLC (the “Special Limited Partner”), a subsidiary of AR Global, will receive a subordinated distribution from the OP equal to 15.0% of remaining net sale proceeds after return of capital contributions to investors plus payment to investors of an annual 6.0% cumulative, pre-tax non-compounded return on the capital contributed by investors. The Special Limited Partner would not be entitled to this subordinated participation in net sale proceeds unless the Company’s investors have received a return of their capital plus a 6.0% cumulative non-compounded annual return on their capital contributions. If the Company’s shares of common stock are listed on a national exchange, the Special Limited Partner will receive a subordinated incentive listing distribution from the OP equal to 15.0% of the amount by which the Company’s market value plus distributions exceeds the aggregate capital contributed by investors plus an amount equal to a 6.0% cumulative, pre-tax non-compounded annual return to investors. The Special Limited Partner would not be entitled to the subordinated incentive listing distribution unless investors have received a 6.0% cumulative, pre-tax non-compounded annual return on their capital contributions. Neither the Special Limited Partner nor any of its affiliates can earn both the subordinated participation in net sales proceeds and the subordinated incentive listing distribution. No such participation in net sales proceeds or incentive listing distribution became due and payable during the years ended December 31, 2016, or 2015.
Upon termination or non-renewal of the Advisory Agreement with or without cause, the Special Limited Partner will be entitled to receive distributions from the OP equal to 15.0% of the amount by which the sum of the Company’s market value plus distributions exceeds the sum of the aggregate capital contributed by investors plus an amount equal to an annual 6.0% cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return to investors. The Special Limited Partner may elect to defer its right to receive a subordinated distribution upon termination until either a listing on a national securities exchange or other liquidity event occurs.
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Property Manager
Pursuant to a property management agreement, we pay our Property Manager fees equal to, for non-hotel properties, 4.0% of gross revenues from the properties managed plus market-based leasing commissions. For the management and leasing of our hotel properties, if we ever own hotel properties, we will pay a fee based on a percentage of gross revenues at a market rate related to the size, type and location of the hotel property plus a customary incentive fee based on performance. We also reimburse the Property Manager for property-level expenses that it pays or incurs on our behalf, including reasonable salaries, bonuses and benefits of persons employed by the Property Manager except for the salaries, bonuses and benefits of persons who also serve as one of our executive officers or as an executive officer of the Property Manager or its affiliates. Our Property Manager may subcontract the performance of its property management and leasing services duties to third parties and pay all or a portion of its property management fee to the third parties with whom it contracts for these services.
We paid property management fees of $0.5 million and $0.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, the Property Manager did not waive any property management fees in 2016 but waived $0.2 million in 2015. These fee waivers are not deferrals and therefore will not be paid in any subsequent period.
Former Arrangements
Prior to the completion of our initial public offering (the “IPO”) in May 2015, RCS was paid fees and compensation in connection with the sale of the Company’s Common Stock in the IPO. RCS was paid a selling commission of up to 7.0% of the per share purchase price of offering proceeds before reallowance of commissions earned by participating broker-dealers. In addition, RCS was paid up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of shares as a dealer manager fee. RCS was able to reallow its dealer manager fee to participating broker-dealers. A participating broker-dealer had the option to elect to receive a fee equal to 7.5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of shares (not including selling commissions and dealer manager fees) by such participating broker-dealer, with 2.5% thereof paid at the time of such sale and 1.0% thereof paid on each anniversary of the closing of such sale up to and including the fifth anniversary of the closing of such sale. If this option was elected, the dealer manager fee would have been reduced to 2.5% of gross proceeds (not including selling commissions and dealer manager fees). For the year ended December 31, 2015, we incurred $22.3 million from RCS for commissions and dealer manager fees, of which approximately $15.5 million was paid directly to participating broker-dealers per RCS’s instruction and an additional $2.6 million was reallowed to participating broker-dealers. We did not pay any selling commissions or dealer manager fee for the year ended December 31, 2016.
RCS Advisory Services, LLC and American National Stock Transfer, LLC are subsidiaries of RCAP that provided professional services to the Company through November 2015 and February 2016, respectively. Mr. Weil served as chief executive officer of RCAP until November 2015 and a director of RCAP until December 2015. Prior to or in connection with the RCAP bankruptcy in January 2016, all arrangements between either us, including agreements entered into by AR Global and its affiliates on our behalf, on the one hand, and subsidiaries of RCAP, on the other hand, were terminated. The amounts received by subsidiaries of RCAP for services performed on behalf of the Company during 2015 described herein are included in the $5.2 million of offering costs and reimbursements incurred from our Advisor and its affiliates described above. We did not incur any amounts in connection with these services for the year ended December 31, 2016.
On March 8, 2017, the creditor trust established in connection with the RCAP bankruptcy filed suit against AR Global, the parent of our Advisor, our Advisor, advisors of other entities sponsored by the parent, and the parent’s principals (including Mr. Weil). The suit alleges, among other things, certain breaches of duties to RCAP. The Company is neither named in the suit, nor are there any allegations related to the services the Advisor provides to us. Our Advisor has informed us that it believes that the suit is without merit and intends to defend against it vigorously.
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123 William Street
On March 27, 2015, we, through a wholly owned subsidiary of the OP, acquired for investment the fee simple interest in an institutional-quality office building located at 123 William Street in Downtown Manhattan (“123 William Street”). The seller of 123 William Street was a wholly owned subsidiary of a joint venture in which NYRT, then an entity whose advisor was under common control with our Advisor, held a $35.1 million non-controlling preferred equity interest, which was repaid in full as a result of the sale of 123 William Street. The purchase price of 123 William Street was $253.0 million, exclusive of closing costs and net of purchase price adjustments.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and officers, and certain former directors and officers, providing for indemnification of such directors and officers consistent with the provisions of our Charter. No amounts have been paid by us to these individuals pursuant to the indemnification agreement through April [•], 2017.
Affiliated Transaction Best Practices Policy
Pursuant to AR Global’s affiliated transaction best practices policy, which was approved by our Board, we may not enter into any co-investments or any other business transaction with, or provide funding or make loans to, directly or indirectly, any investment program or other entity sponsored by the AR Global group of companies or otherwise controlled or sponsored, or in which ownership (other than certain minority interests) is held, directly or indirectly, by any of the individuals who share control of the AR Global group of companies, that is a non-traded REIT or private investment vehicle in which ownership interests are offered through securities broker-dealers in a public or private offering, except that we may enter into a joint investment with a Delaware statutory trust (a “DST”) or a group of unaffiliated tenant in common owners (“TICs”) in connection with a private retail securities offering by a DST or to TICs, provided that such investments are in the form of pari passu equity investments, are fully and promptly disclosed to our stockholders and will be fully documented among the parties with all the rights, duties and obligations assumed by the parties as are normally attendant to such an equity investment, and that we retain a controlling interest in the underlying investment, the transaction is approved by the independent directors of the Board after due and documented deliberation, including deliberation of any conflicts of interest, and such co-investment is deemed fair, both financially and otherwise. In the case of such co-investment, the Advisor will be permitted to charge fees at no more than the rate corresponding to our percentage co-investment and in line with the fees ordinarily attendant to such transaction. At any one time, our investment in such co-investments will not exceed 10% of the value of our portfolio.
Certain Conflict Resolution Procedures
Every transaction that we enter into with our Advisor or its affiliates is subject to an inherent conflict of interest. Our Board of Directors may encounter conflicts of interest in enforcing our rights against any affiliate in the event of a default by or disagreement with an affiliate or in invoking powers, rights or options pursuant to any agreement between us and our Advisor or any of its affiliates.
In August 2015, we established a conflicts committee. Prior to establishing the conflicts committee, the independent directors reviewed the material transactions between AR Global, our Advisor and their respective affiliates, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand. The conflicts committee has determined that all our transactions and relationships with AR Global, our Advisor and their respective affiliates during the year ended December 31, 2016 were fair and were approved in accordance with the applicable Company policies. See “Proposal No. 1 — Election Of Directors — Conflicts Committee.”
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In order to reduce or eliminate certain potential conflicts of interest, our Charter contains a number of restrictions or we have adopted policies relating to: (1) transactions we enter into with AR Global, our directors, our officers, our Advisor and its affiliates, and certain of our stockholders, (2) certain future offerings, and (3) allocation of investment opportunities among affiliated entities. Some of these restrictions are set forth below:
| • | We will not purchase or lease properties in which AR Global, our Advisor, any of our directors, any of our officers, any of their respective affiliates or certain of our stockholders has an interest without a determination by a majority of the directors, including a majority of the independent directors, not otherwise interested in such transaction that such transaction is fair and reasonable to us and at a price to us no greater than the cost of the property to the seller or lessor unless there is substantial justification for any amount that exceeds such cost and such excess amount is determined to be reasonable. In no event will we acquire any such property at an amount in excess of its appraised value. We will not sell or lease properties to AR Global, our Advisor, any of our directors, any of our officers, any of their respective affiliates or certain of our stockholders unless a majority of the directors, including a majority of the independent directors, not otherwise interested in the transaction determines that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us. |
| • | We will not make any loans to AR Global, our Advisor, any of our directors, any of our officers, any of their respective affiliates or certain of our stockholders, except that we may make or invest in mortgage, bridge or mezzanine loans involving AR Global, our Advisor, our directors, our officers, their respective affiliates or certain of our stockholders if an appraisal of the underlying property is obtained from an independent appraiser and the transaction is approved as fair and reasonable to us and on terms no less favorable to us than those available from third parties. In addition, our Advisor, any of our directors, any of our officers, any of their respective affiliates or certain of our stockholders will not make loans to us or to joint ventures in which we are a joint venture partner unless approved by a majority of the directors, including a majority of the independent directors, not otherwise interested in the transaction as fair, competitive and commercially reasonable, and no less favorable to us than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties. |
| • | Our Advisor and its affiliates will be entitled to reimbursement, at cost, for actual expenses incurred by them on behalf of us or joint ventures in which we are a joint venture partner; provided, however, that our Advisor must reimburse us for the amount, if any, by which our total operating expenses paid during the previous year exceeded the greater of: (i) 2% of our average invested assets for that year; and (ii) 25% of our net income, before any additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves and before any gain from the sale of our assets, for that year. |
| • | Before our Advisor may take advantage of an investment opportunity for its own account or recommend it to others our Advisor is obligated to present such opportunity to us if (a) such opportunity is compatible with our investment objectives and policies, (b) such opportunity is of a character which could be taken by us, and (c) we have the financial resources to take advantage of such opportunity. |
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| • | If an investment opportunity becomes available that is suitable, under all of the factors considered by our Advisor, for both us and one or more other programs sponsored directly or indirectly by AR Global and for which more than one of such entities has sufficient uninvested funds, then the entity that has had the longest period of time elapse since it was offered an investment opportunity will first be offered such investment opportunity. It will be the duty of our Board of Directors, including the independent directors, to ensure that this method is applied fairly to us. In determining whether or not an investment opportunity is suitable for more than one program, our Advisor, subject to approval by our Board of Directors, shall examine, among others, the following factors: |
| º | the anticipated cash flow of the property to be acquired and the cash requirements and anticipated cash flow of each program; |
| º | the effect of the acquisition both on diversification of each program’s investments by type of property, geographic area and tenant concentration; |
| º | the policy of each program relating to leverage of properties; |
| º | the income tax effects of the purchase to each program; |
| º | the size of the investment; and |
| º | the amount of funds available to each program and the length of time such funds have been available for investment. |
| • | If a subsequent development, such as a delay in the closing of such investment or a delay in the construction of a property, causes any such investment, in the opinion of our Board of Directors and our Advisor, to be more appropriate for a program other than the program that committed to make the investment, our Advisor may determine that another program sponsored directly or indirectly by AR Global will make the investment. Our Board of Directors has a duty to ensure that the method used by our Advisor for the allocation of the acquisition of investments by two or more programs sponsored directly or indirectly by AR Global seeking to acquire similar types of assets is applied fairly to us. |
| • | We will not accept goods or services from our Advisor or its affiliates or enter into any other transaction with our Advisor or its affiliates unless a majority of our directors, including a majority of the independent directors, not otherwise interested in the transaction approve such transaction as fair and reasonable to us and on terms and conditions not less favorable to us than those available from unaffiliated third parties. |
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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has furnished the following report on its activities during the year ended December 31, 2016. The report is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC or subject to the SEC’s proxy rules or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and the report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into any such filing.
To the Directors of American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc.:
We have reviewed and discussed with management American Realty Capital New York City REIT Inc.’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016.
We have discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
We have received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and have discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommend to the Board of Directors that the financial statements referred to above be included in American Realty Capital New York City REIT Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Audit Committee
Lee M. Elman (Chair)
Elizabeth K. Tuppeny
Abby M. Wenzel
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PROPOSAL NO. 2 — RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED ACCOUNTING FIRM
The audit committee of the Board of Directors has selected and appointed KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2017. KPMG has audited our consolidated financial statements since the year ended December 31, 2014. KPMG reports directly to our audit committee.
Although ratification by stockholders is not required by law or by our bylaws, the audit committee believes that submission of its selection to stockholders is a matter of good corporate governance. Even if the appointment is ratified, the audit committee, in its discretion, may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time if the audit committee believes that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. If our stockholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG, the audit committee will take that fact into consideration, together with such other factors it deems relevant, in determining its next selection of an independent registered public accounting firm.
A representative of KPMG will attend the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Fees
Fees for professional services billed by KPMG LLP for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows:
Audit Fees
Audit fees incurred from KPMG for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $657,420 and $661,341, respectively.
Audit Related Fees
There were no audit related fees billed by KPMG for the years ended December 31, 2016 or 2015.
Tax Fees
There were no tax fees billed by KPMG for the years ended December 31, 2016 or 2015.
All Other Fees
There were no other fees billed by KPMG for the years ended December 31, 2016 or 2015.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
In considering the nature of the services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company’s management to determine that they are permitted under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the SEC to implement the related requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. All services rendered by KPMG were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017.
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INTRODUCTORY NOTE — PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11
At our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders were asked to approve substantially the same Charter amendments proposed for this year’s Annual Meeting. As previously disclosed, while over 76% of the shares voted at the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders voted for each of the then proposed Charter amendments, the vote on such proposals was from 44% to 45% of the outstanding Common Stock, which was less than the vote required to approve the proposals of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast. Based on the voting results, our Board believed that the Charter amendments were in the best interests of our stockholders and would consider proposing these Charter amendments for stockholder consideration again at a future meeting of stockholders. Accordingly, our Board has proposed the Charter amendments for stockholder consideration at this year’s Annual Meeting.
Our Board has determined that amending and restating our Charter to be consistent with the charters of publicly-traded REITs will give us more flexibility in pursuing various ways to provide liquidity to our stockholders and in engaging in other transactions that may be beneficial to us and our stockholders, which may include listing shares of our Common Stock on a national securities exchange (provided we meet the then applicable listing requirements), or other similar transactions. However, none of the proposed amendments to our Charter are required for, or as a condition to, listing our Common Stock on a national securities exchange. We may choose to list or not to list our Common Stock regardless of whether the proposed charter amendments are approved or not approved, and these proposals should not be viewed as an indication that we will choose to list our Common Stock. There can be no assurance that, if we choose to list our Common Stock, that we would be able to do so or that our shares of Common Stock would trade at a favorable price, particularly in view of the current size of the Company and the limited number of properties we own.
Many state securities administrators require issuers whose shares are not listed and who are engaged primarily in investing in equity interests in real estate, or in loans secured by real estate, or both, to include provisions in their charters that derive from the North American Securities Administrators Association’s Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts, as revised (the “Guidelines”). Accordingly, our current Charter differs from the charters of REITs with shares of common stock listed on a national securities exchange primarily because we were required to register our IPO with the securities administrators in each state in which we offered securities in addition to registering our IPO under the Securities Act.
Many of the provisions from the Guidelines that we were required to include in our Charter are redundant, or may conflict, with provisions contained in the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”). Many publicly-traded REITs are also governed by the MGCL but do not have charters with these potentially conflicting or redundant provisions because they list their shares at the time of their initial public offering. We believe that, at a minimum, certain of these provisions may create interpretive questions and result in uncertainty, which could affect our ability to operate our business and advance our strategic objectives. Certain provisions may also create impediments to our ability to raise capital. Other provisions derived from the Guidelines impose conditions on our Board of Directors or limit the Board of Directors’ authority in ways not required by the MGCL. Although these provisions do provide our stockholders with certain rights and protections, we believe that, in the future, these provisions could have an adverse effect on us by unnecessarily limiting our strategic and operational flexibility and preventing us from being able to respond quickly to changing circumstances or take advantage of new opportunities.
In Proposals No. 3 through 11 (the “Amended and Restated Proposals”), as described in more detail below, we are proposing to amend our current Charter to remove or revise various provisions in our Charter. We believe the resulting Charter will be similar to those of publicly-traded REITs incorporated in Maryland.
If approved by our stockholders, effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Proposals is contingent upon the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of our Charter (the “Proposed Amended and Restated Charter”) being filed with, and accepted for record by, the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland.
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Although the Amended and Restated Proposals may remove certain stockholder rights and could discourage a potential takeover of the Company, as discussed in more detail below, we are of the view that the Amended and Restated Proposals will provide us with greater flexibility in implementing our overall business plan and exploring potential strategic opportunities, if and when these opportunities become available.
In addition to the proposed amendments to the Charter particularly described in the Amended and Restated Proposals, the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter also includes amendments to the Charter to integrate all of the amendments to the Charter proposed in the Amended and Restated Proposals, to update and delete (as appropriate) defined terms, to conform cross-references and section titles, to make other immaterial typographical and drafting changes throughout the Charter, and to restate the Charter to incorporate all the amendments approved in the Amended and Restated Proposals. We believe that none of these ministerial amendments would materially affect the rights or preferences of our stockholders (except to the extent they reflect the Amended and Restated Proposals). We believe that these amendments and the restatement are advisable in order to simplify references to the Charter for our stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors.
The full text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect changes from our current Charter. The following descriptions of the Amended and Restated Proposals collectively summarize the amendments our Board of Directors has approved in the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is wholly qualified by reference to Exhibit A-I, which you should read in its entirety. Our Board of Directors, including all of the independent directors, has determined that the proposed amendments set forth in the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter are advisable and, therefore, recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” each of Proposals No. 3 through 11.
Approval of each of Proposals No. 3 through 11 is conditioned on approval of every other of Proposals No. 3 through 11. This means for the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter to be approved and implemented, our stockholders must vote “FOR” each of Proposals No. 3 through 11.
In the following summaries of the proposed amendments to our Charter that we are asking stockholders to approve, article and section references are to the articles and sections of our current Charter unless otherwise noted.
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PROPOSAL NO. 3 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER TO REMOVE OR REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING OUR STOCK
As described above under “Introductory Note — Proposals No. 3 through 11,” our current Charter includes provisions that are redundant, or may conflict, with the MGCL and provisions that are inconsistent with the charters of most publicly-traded REITs. In this Proposal No. 3, we are proposing to remove or revise those provisions that relate to the terms and rights of our classes and series of stock, including our Common Stock, and to offerings of our stock, all as more particularly described below:
| • | Section 5.2. Stock — Common Shares — Description and Section 5.3. Stock — Preferred Shares. If adopted, this proposal would delete the second half of the last sentence (after the semi-colon) under Section 5.2(ii) and the second half of the sentence (after the semi-colon) under Section 5.3. These provisions limit the voting rights that may be accorded to shares sold in a private offering. We believe that the Board of Directors, in accordance with the standard of conduct imposed on each director by the MGCL, should have the flexibility to respond to trends in the equity capital markets by determining what terms and rights of a new class or series of stock, including voting rights, would be in the best interest of the Company at the time of issuance. Deleting these provisions may increase the possible dilutive effect of potential future issuance(s) of stock in private offerings. |
| • | Section 5.7. Stock — No Issuance of Share Certificates. If adopted, this proposal would delete this section entirely. This section provides that unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Company shall not issue stock certificates. |
| • | Section 5.2(iii). Stock — Common Shares — Distribution Rights. If adopted, this proposal would (i) recognize the Board of Directors’ power to authorize distributions to be paid in securities of the Company to holders of stock of the Company and (ii) delete the last sentence of this section, which prohibits distributions in kind. Although we have no present intent to pay any distributions in kind, there could be circumstances in the future where doing so may be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and we believe the Board of Directors, constrained by the standard of conduct imposed on each director by the MGCL, should have the authority to do so in the exercise of its business judgment. |
| • | Section 5.1. Stock — Authorized Shares and Section 12.1. Limitation of Stockholder Liability. If adopted, this proposal would delete the statement in Section 5.1 that all shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable when issued and in Section 12.1 that all shares issued to stockholders shall be nonassessable. We believe that our Board of Directors, consistent with the standard of conduct imposed on each director by the MGCL, should have the flexibility to respond to trends in the equity capital markets by, for example, determining that issuing a new class or series of assessable stock in a private offering is advisable. Under the MGCL, if we were to issue assessable stock in the future, which we currently have no plans to do, that assessable stock would be of a different class or series than our currently outstanding Common Stock and that issuance would not affect the rights of our current stockholders. |
| • | Section 5.2(ii). Stock — Common Shares — Description. If adopted, this proposal would revise Section 5.2(ii) to clarify that, except as otherwise specified in the Charter, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. |
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
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IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 3 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 3.
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PROPOSAL NO. 4 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER TO REMOVE OR REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING STOCKHOLDER VOTING RIGHTS
As described above under “Introductory Note — Proposals No. 3 through 11,” our current Charter includes provisions that are redundant, or may conflict, with the MGCL and provisions that are inconsistent with the charters of most publicly-traded REITs. In this Proposal No. 4, we are proposing to remove or revise those provisions that relate to stockholder voting rights, all as more particularly described below:
| • | Section 11.1. Stockholders — Meetings of Stockholders. If adopted, this proposal would delete this section entirely. This section (i) sets forth certain requirements regarding annual and special meetings of stockholders, including the location of meetings, the time for holding annual meetings and the notice for meetings; (ii) provides that our secretary must call a special meeting upon written request of stockholders holding at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the meeting and (iii) provides that the Board of Directors may not take certain actions without the approval of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock. The Company believes that these procedural matters are better addressed in (and duplicative of provisions already in) our bylaws. However, because the Board of Directors has the exclusive power to amend our bylaws, it may amend our bylaws to increase the threshold required for calling a special meeting of stockholders from 10% to a majority (the customary percentage for a publicly-traded Maryland corporation), or any other threshold permitted by the MGCL, without a stockholder vote, which would make it more difficult for stockholders to take action unless the Board of Directors calls a meeting, and may limit certain activist activities. This section also provides that the quorum for a meeting of stockholders is at least 50% of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter. If this proposal is adopted, then a quorum for the Annual Meeting will be determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of the MGCL and as set forth in our bylaws. Currently under the MGCL, at a meeting of stockholders the presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting would constitute a quorum. The Board of Directors may amend the bylaws to mirror this provision of the MGCL. With respect to item (iii), this section is redundant of the MGCL, which already sets forth the matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote. |
| • | Section 11.2. Stockholders — Voting Rights of Stockholders and Section 7.6. Powers of the Board of Directors — Stockholder Concurrence Required. If adopted, this proposal would delete these sections entirely. Section 11.2 sets forth the types of matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote and Sections 11.2 and 7.6 provide that the Board of Directors may not take certain actions without the approval of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock (similar to Section 11.1), including amending the Charter to affect the rights of stockholders or completing a strategic transaction such as a merger, reorganization, the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and liquidation or dissolution of the Company. Sections 11.2 and 7.6 are redundant of the MGCL, which already sets forth the matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote, and, to the extent Section 11.2 purports to give stockholders the power to amend the Charter or dissolve the Company without action by the Board of Directors, conflicts with the MGCL, which requires that charter amendments and dissolution be declared advisable by the Board of Directors before submission to the stockholders. These amendments clarify that the MGCL governs the instances in which the Board of Directors must get approval from stockholders and limit the right of stockholders to participate in certain decisions. |
| • | Section 11.3. Stockholders — Extraordinary Actions. If adopted, this proposal would provide that the existing provision requiring a majority vote for approval of all extraordinary actions under the MGCL does not apply to director removal and to charter amendments relating to director removal and the vote required to amend the director removal provision. As further discussed below in Proposal No. 6, director removal will be governed by Section 6.6 and will be subject to a two-thirds rather than a majority vote requirement under the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter. If adopted, this proposal may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders. |
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| • | Article XIII. Amendments. If adopted, this proposal would revise this article to clarify, consistent with the MGCL, that any amendment to the Charter will be valid only if it is declared advisable by the Board of Directors, in addition to being approved by the stockholders when required by the MGCL and that stockholders cannot amend the Charter unless the Board of Directors approves the amendment. This article would also be revised to specify that revisions to certain limited provisions of the Charter relating to director removal and the vote required to amend the director removal provision will require the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter (see also the revision of Section 11.3 above). If adopted, this proposal may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders. |
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 4 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 4.
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PROPOSAL NO. 5 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER
TO REMOVE OR REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING STOCKHOLDER
INFORMATION RIGHTS
As described above under “Introductory Note — Proposals No. 3 through 11,” our current Charter includes provisions that are redundant, or may conflict, with the MGCL and provisions that are inconsistent with the charters of most publicly-traded REITs. In this Proposal No. 5, we are proposing to remove or revise those provisions that relate to stockholder information rights, all as more particularly described below:
| • | Section 11.5. Stockholders — Right of Inspection and Section 11.6. Stockholders — Access to Stockholder List. If adopted, this proposal would delete these sections entirely. The MGCL contains provisions that govern the access that stockholders have to our books and records and the rights of a stockholder to inspect our list of stockholders. Importantly, the MGCL sets limits on who may inspect or review a corporation’s books and records or stockholder list. If Sections 11.5 and 11.6 are deleted, the rights of stockholders to inspect and copy certain corporate documents, including the ability to obtain a list of stockholders, will be limited to the rights provided for under the MGCL, which are more restrictive than those included in our current Charter. Although our Board of Directors believes that these deletions will, among other things, increase the Company’s ability to protect the privacy of its stockholders, they may make it more difficult for a third party such as a potential acquirer to contact stockholders, and therefore the removal of these provisions may make activist activities against the Company more difficult by increasing the threshold at which stockholders may access information related to our other stockholders. The proposed changes may also make it more difficult for our stockholders to gain access to corporate documents or to communicate with each other to influence management, which could result in different policies, actions or composition of the Board of Directors than what may have resulted under the current Charter. |
| • | Section 11.7. Stockholders — Reports. If adopted, this proposal would delete this section entirely. This section sets forth requirements regarding the type of information to be included in the Company’s annual report, including a report from the independent directors that the policies being followed by the Company are in the best interests of the stockholders and the basis for this determination. The Company believes that substantially all of the requirements set forth in this section are similarly required by various provisions of the federal securities laws and complied with by the Company in its various filings under the Exchange Act, except the requirement to distribute an annual report with the following information specified by the Guidelines: the ratio of the cost of raising capital during the period to the capital raised, the total operating expenses of the Company stated as a percentage of average invested assets and as a percentage of net income, and a report from the independent directors that the policies being followed by the Company are in the best interests of our stockholders and the basis for such determination. As a public reporting company, however, we will still continue to be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC related to annual reports, as well as the general provisions of the MGCL requiring us to prepare an annual statement of affairs. Thus, we expect to continue distributing an annual report to our stockholders with disclosure of the information required under the rules and regulations of the SEC. |
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
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IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 5 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 5.
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PROPOSAL NO. 6 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER
TO REMOVE OR REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING THE COMPOSITION
OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
As described above under “Introductory Note — Proposals No. 3 through 11,” our current Charter includes provisions that are redundant, or may conflict, with the MGCL and provisions that are inconsistent with the charters of most publicly-traded REITs. In this Proposal No. 6, we are proposing to remove or revise those provisions that relate to the qualifications, number, election, removal and service of our directors as more particularly described below:
| • | Section 6.1. Board of Directors — Number of Directors. Under Section 6.1, our Board of Directors must be comprised of not less than three nor more than ten directors and a majority of the Board of Directors must be comprised of “independent directors.” If adopted, this proposal would delete these requirements, which are more restrictive than the requirements of the MGCL. As amended and restated, Section 6.1 would also specify that, except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the remaining directors in office (even if they do not constitute a quorum), instead of a majority of the stockholders. The proposal would also delete the requirement that only independent directors may nominate replacements for vacancies among the independent director positions. Deleting these requirements may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders. |
| • | Section 6.2. Board of Directors — Experience. If adopted, this proposal would delete this section entirely. Under Section 6.2, all of our directors must have at least three years of “relevant experience,” at least one of our independent directors must have three years of “relevant real estate experience” and at least one of our independent directors must be a “financial expert with at least three years of relevant finance experience.” The Guidelines do not describe what constitutes “relevant experience,” and we believe these requirements may be potentially ambiguous and difficult to apply to a particular nominee or nominees. Further, a person not meeting these standards may nevertheless add an important element to our Board of Directors. If adopted, this proposal would delete these requirements. We believe the Board of Directors and our stockholders, in consideration of the many characteristics that may make a nominee a valuable addition to our Board of Directors, should have discretion in determining persons to be nominated to serve on our Board of Directors. In addition, the Board of Directors will remain subject to the SEC’s proxy rules that require the Board of Directors to disclose in the Company’s proxy statement the reason each director was nominated and, for independent directors, the applicable definition of “independence” used to make the determination of independence. |
| • | Section 6.3. Board of Directors — Committees. If adopted, this proposal would delete this section entirely. Section 6.3 requires that the majority of the members of each committee of our Board of Directors must be independent directors and that the audit committee must be composed solely of independent directors. We believe that this provision, which would require even ad hoc committees (such as a pricing committee) to be comprised of a majority of independent directors, is unduly restrictive and that the Board of Directors should have the discretion to determine committee membership on a case-by-case basis. |
| • | Section 6.4. Board of Directors — Term. If adopted, this proposal would delete this section entirely. This section provides that (i) each director shall hold office for one year, until the next annual meeting of stockholders, and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies; and (ii) that directors may be elected to an unlimited number of successive terms. We believe this provision is redundant with the MGCL given that we do not have a classified Board of Directors. Removing this section eliminates ambiguity if the annual meeting of stockholders is held more than one year after the prior year’s annual meeting. Under the MGCL, each director on an unclassified board also holds office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies. |
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| • | Section 6.6. Board of Directors — Resignation, Removal or Death. If adopted, this proposal would make certain revisions to this section, including: (i) technical changes to the resignation procedures, (ii) changes to removal procedures, including specifying that the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors (instead of the current majority) will be necessary to remove a director, and (iii) defining “cause” for the purposes of the removal procedures. These revisions may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders. |
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 6 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 6.
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PROPOSAL NO. 7 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER
TO REMOVE OR REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING THE CONDUCT
OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
As described above under “Introductory Note — Proposals No. 3 through 11,” our current Charter includes provisions that are redundant, or may conflict, with the MGCL and provisions that are inconsistent with the charters of most publicly-traded REITs. In this Proposal No. 7, we are proposing to remove or revise those provisions that relate to the qualifications, number, election, removal and service of our directors as more particularly described below:
| • | Section 6.5. Board of Directors — Fiduciary Obligations. If adopted, this proposal would delete this provision entirely. Section 6.5 states that the Company’s directors serve in a fiduciary capacity to the Company and that the directors also have a fiduciary duty to the stockholders, including a specific fiduciary duty to supervise the relationship of the Company with the Advisor. Our directors are held to the standard of conduct imposed under the MGCL, which requires a director to perform his or her duties in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in our best interests and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. We believe the vague language originally included in the Charter from the Guidelines that appears in Section 6.5 may create ambiguity as to the standard required of our directors. Deleting this section would clarify that our directors are held fully to the standard imposed by the MGCL and make the duties of our directors generally consistent with the duties of directors of publicly-traded REITs formed in Maryland, although it could, potentially, be interpreted as reducing our directors’ standard of conduct. |
| • | Section 7.2. Powers of the Board of Directors — Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance. If adopted, this proposal would delete the last clause of the sentence under this section, which requires a majority of the independent directors that have no interest in the transaction described in Section 7.2 to approve any offering of preferred stock and, at the Company’s expense, to have access to the Company’s counsel or to independent counsel. |
| • | Section 7.7. Powers of the Board of Directors — Vote of Majority of Independent Directors Required. If adopted, this proposal would delete the requirement (which is more restrictive than the MGCL requires) that a majority of the independent directors approve certain specified matters, including the Advisory Agreement, limits on acquisition fees and expenses, operating expenses and incentive fees, the Company’s investment policies, procedures relating to stockholder meetings, the vote required to elect directors and matters related to completing a strategic transaction as discussed in Proposal No. 4. If this proposal is adopted and this requirement is deleted, the MGCL would govern the vote required to approve these matters. |
Although this proposal would eliminate certain provisions that may be viewed as protective of our stockholders, we believe that the flexibility of allowing the Company to operate in the same manner as other publicly-traded Maryland corporations outweighs any benefit from those protections.
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
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IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 7 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 7.
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PROPOSAL NO. 8 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER
TO REMOVE OR REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING THE CONDUCT
OF COMPANY BUSINESS
As described above under “Introductory Note — Proposals No. 3 through 11,” our current Charter includes provisions that are redundant, or may conflict, with the MGCL and provisions that are inconsistent with the charters of most publicly-traded REITs. In this Proposal No. 8, we are proposing to remove or revise those provisions that limit or regulate how the Company operates and the process by which it engages in transactions, all as more particularly described below:
| • | Section 5.14. Stock — Repurchase of Shares. If adopted, this proposal would delete this provision entirely. Share repurchase programs are not typically the subject of charter provisions. Deleting this provision will not impact the Company’s existing Share Repurchase Program. |
| • | Section 5.15. Stock — Distribution Reinvestment Plans. If adopted, this proposal would delete this provision entirely. Distribution reinvestment plans are not typically the subject of charter provisions. Deleting this provision will not impact the Company’s existing distribution reinvestment plan. |
| • | Article IX. Investment Objectives and Limitations. If adopted, this proposal would delete this article entirely. Section 9.1 tasks the independent directors with reviewing the investment policies of the Company. Section 9.2 outlines permitted investments. Section 9.3 outlines a number of restrictions on the type of assets in which the Company may invest or establishes conditions on the investments. For example: Clause (i) states that not more than 10% of our assets may be unimproved real property or mortgage loans on unimproved real property. Clause (ii) states that we may not invest in commodities or commodity futures contracts except for hedging purposes. Clauses (iii) through (v) prohibit investments in mortgage loans without an appraisal or if the aggregate of all mortgage loans secured by the invested or unimproved property exceeds 85% of the appraised value or that are subordinate to any mortgage or equity interest of the Advisor, AR Global, any director of the Company or affiliate thereof. Clause (vi) prohibits the Company from issuing certain securities. Clause (vii) requires approval by a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the independent directors, for consideration paid for real property and an independent appraiser if such property is acquired from an affiliate. Clause (viii) requires the Company to review its investment activities to attempt to ensure that it is not classified as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Clause (ix) prohibits the Company from making investments that it believes will be inconsistent with its objectives of qualifying as a REIT. Clause (x) prohibits the Company from investing in real estate contracts of sale unless such contracts are in recordable form. Clause (xi) prohibits the Company from lending money to any of the directors or executive officers. Clause (xii) prohibits investments in private equity securities unless approved by a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the independent directors, as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable. Clause (xiii) prohibits the Company from engaging in any short sales. Clause (xiv) prohibits the Company from engaging in trading, as compared with investment activities. Clause (xv) prohibits the Company from engaging in underwriting activities. Clause (xvi) prohibits the Company from investing in foreign currency or bullion. Clause (xvii) prohibits the Company from engaging in borrowing that would result in asset coverage of less than 300%. Clause (xviii) prohibits the Company from acquiring interests or securities in any entity holding investments or engaging in activities prohibited by Section 9.3. |
In each case, we believe our Board of Directors should have the authority, constrained by the standard of conduct imposed on each director by the MGCL, to decide what type of assets we should invest in or the type of transactions in which we may engage. We believe that increased flexibility could be advantageous in implementing our business plan. Nevertheless, deleting this Section may increase the risk that we will pursue transactions such as those referenced above, which may involve greater or different risks and, if the investments perform poorly, could adversely affect our results of operations and the value of your investment in us.
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| • | Article XIV. Roll-Up Transactions. If adopted, this proposal would delete this article entirely. This article imposes substantive and procedural protections relating to transactions in which our stockholders must exchange their shares for securities of another entity (a “roll-up entity”) that have not been listed on a national securities exchange for at least 12 months (a “roll-up transaction”). In connection with any roll-up transaction involving the issuance of securities of a roll-up entity, the Charter requires the Company to obtain an appraisal of its assets from a competent independent appraiser, which appraisal must assume an orderly liquidation of assets over a 12-month period. If the appraisal will be included in a prospectus used to offer the securities of a roll-up entity, the appraisal must be filed with the SEC and the states as an exhibit to the registration statement for the offering, and a summary of the appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the appraisal, must be included in a report to stockholders in connection with any proposed roll-up transaction. In addition, in connection with a proposed roll-up transaction, the Charter requires the Company to offer to common stockholders who vote “no” on the proposal the choice of: (1) accepting the securities of the roll-up entity offered in the proposed roll-up transaction or one of the following: (a) remaining as holders of the Company’s stock and preserving their interests therein on the same terms and conditions as existed previously or (b) receiving cash in an amount equal to the stockholder’s pro rata share of the appraised value of the Company’s net assets. Under the Charter, the Company is prohibited from participating in any roll-up transaction: (1) that would result in the common stockholders having voting rights in a roll-up entity that are less than those provided in the Charter, (2) that includes provisions that would operate to materially impede or frustrate the accumulation of shares by any purchaser of the securities of the roll-up entity, except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of the roll-up entity, or which would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities of the roll-up entity on the basis of the number of shares held by that investor, (3) in which investor’s rights to access of records of the roll-up entity will be less than those provided in the Charter or (4) in which any of the costs of the roll-up transaction would be borne by the Company if the roll-up transaction is rejected by the common stockholders. |
This proposal will eliminate certain provisions that may be viewed as protective of stockholders. We believe deleting Article XIV of the Charter will, however, increase our flexibility and allow greater optionality for the Company, which may benefit stockholders, including but not limited to, the possibility of strategic transactions that could otherwise be difficult given the existing provisions, such as a transaction with another entity whose securities have not been listed on a national securities exchange for at least 12 months. These provisions are also potentially ambiguous and, due to language included in the Guidelines concerning the definition of a roll-up entity, which were not included in our Charter, could be interpreted as limiting the ability to engage in a transaction involving our securities if our securities have not been listed on a national securities exchange for at least 12 months among other substantive transactional requirements. The Board of Directors believes that deleting this provision will provide us with greater options to pursue a transaction that will provide our stockholders with liquidity.
| • | Article XV. Duration. If adopted, this proposal would delete this article entirely. This article requires, subject to stockholder approval and unless postponed, the liquidation of the Company if the Board of Directors has not pursued a Liquidity Event (as defined in the Charter) by the sixth anniversary of the termination of the Company’s IPO. We believe that the timing of any Liquidity Event we pursue should be based on when our Board of Directors has determined it to be in our best interest rather than an inflexible and arbitrary deadline. |
| • | Section 5.8. Stock — Suitability of Stockholders. If adopted, this proposal would delete this section entirely. Requirements governing the financial capacity of stockholders are not typically the subject of charter provisions. Moreover, this section by its terms does not apply if our shares are listed on a national securities exchange. |
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
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APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 8 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 8.
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PROPOSAL NO. 9 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER TO REVISE
OR ADD PROVISIONS RESTRICTING TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
In order to maintain the Company’s REIT qualification under the Code, (i) any five individuals, as defined under the Code, may not own 50% or more of the shares of the Company’s stock and (ii) the Company must have at least 100 stockholders, during specified periods of time. In addition, the Code imposes limitations on stock ownership by the Company, and its affiliates, of the Company’s tenants. To help assure that the Company meets these requirements and thereby preserves the value of the Company’s REIT qualification for all our stockholders (among other purposes), the Charter has included ownership and transfer restrictions for the Company’s stock since the time we were formed and first raised capital. Although we believe that no violation of the aforementioned stock ownership limitations for REITs under the Code has occurred under the current Charter, we also believe the proposed amendments to the ownership and transfer restrictions for our stock accord with practices that have evolved in the charters of REITs similar to the Company and will help to further mitigate any risk to the Company’s REIT qualification. Under the current Charter, the general ownership limit is set as 9.8% in value of the aggregate of our outstanding stock and 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of our stock, and we are not proposing to amend that general limit at this time. However, if adopted, this proposal would make certain clarifying edits to the definitions and provisions of Section 5.9 of the Charter.
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 9 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 9.
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PROPOSAL NO. 10 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER
TO REMOVE PROVISIONS STATING THAT THE GUIDELINES CONTROL INTERPRETATION
OF OUR CHARTER
As described above under “Introductory Note — Proposals No. 3 through 11,” our current Charter includes provisions that are redundant, or may conflict, with the MGCL and provisions that are inconsistent with the charters of most publicly-traded REITs. In this Proposal No. 10, we are proposing to delete the last clause of Section 7.5 (and amend other related provisions of Section 7.5), which provides that the Guidelines control interpretation of our Charter to the extent the Board of Directors determines that they conflict with any non-mandatory provisions of the MGCL. As described above, we are proposing to remove many of the provisions from our Charter originally included from the Guidelines. Accordingly, we believe that such provisions of Section 7.5 would no longer be applicable. Moreover, we believe that Guidelines frequently are vague or ambiguous, and there is no statement of policy or other basis in the Guidelines by which to clarify those ambiguities. Extensive case law exists interpreting provisions of corporate charters under the MGCL and courts have developed expertise in interpreting these provisions. We believe, therefore, that it is in the interest of the Company and our stockholders that applicable law control interpretation of our Charter, notwithstanding anything in the Guidelines.
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 10 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 10.
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PROPOSAL NO. 11 — APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER
TO REMOVE OR REVISE PROVISIONS RELATING TO AR GLOBAL, OUR ADVISOR
AND THEIR AFFILIATES
As described above under “Introductory Note — Proposals No. 3 through 11,” our current Charter includes provisions that are redundant, or may conflict, with the MGCL and provisions that are inconsistent with the charters of most publicly-traded REITs. In this Proposal No. 11, we are proposing to amend and restate our current Charter to remove or revise certain provisions, many of which were originally included in our current Charter to comply with the Guidelines. If stockholders approve these amendments, the possibility will exist for future amendments to the Advisory Agreement that would not have been permitted under the Charter currently in effect, including amendments to the term and termination provisions of the Advisory Agreement.
| • | Article VIII. Advisor. Since its formation, the Company’s day-to-day operations have been managed by our Advisor, under the supervision of our Board of Directors and pursuant to the terms and conditions of our Charter. Article VIII sets forth parameters governing the Company’s relationship with the Advisor, including appointment, supervision, fiduciary obligations, termination, fees, organization and offering expenses limitations and reimbursement for expenses. The Board of Directors is required to act in accordance with the standard of conduct imposed by the MGCL in overseeing the Company’s affairs, including its relationship with the Advisor. If adopted, this proposal would delete Article VIII entirely. Our relationship with the Advisor will continue to be governed by the agreement between the Company and the Advisor described under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions — Advisor,” which includes many provisions that correspond to the provisions of Article VIII, but the possibility will exist for future amendments to the Advisory Agreement that would not have been permitted under the Charter currently in effect. |
Section 8.1 of the existing Charter provides that the Company cannot retain any advisor for longer than one year. If adopted, this proposal would delete this provision entirely. The deletion of this provision would allow the Board to enter into an advisory agreement with a longer term than the current one-year term and with more limited termination provisions. If adopted, this proposal may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders.
Section 8.3 of the existing Charter imposes on the Advisor a fiduciary responsibility and duty to the Company and to the stockholders. If adopted, this proposal would delete this provision entirely. The Board of Directors is required to act in accordance with the standard of conduct imposed by the MGCL in overseeing the Company’s affairs, including its relationship with the Advisor. Deleting this provision could reduce the standard of conduct applied to the Advisor because a fiduciary standard is generally higher than the standard of conduct which applies in the absence of such standard.
Section 8.5 states that either a majority of the independent directors or the Advisor may terminate the Advisory Agreement on sixty (60) days’ written notice without cause or penalty. We believe that Section 8.5 places unnecessary restrictions on determining the terms of engagement of an external advisor, whether it is the Advisor continuing in such role or another advisor. Removing this provision would allow the Board to approve an amendment to the Advisory Agreement that changes the term and termination provisions of the Advisory Agreement. The deletion of this provision would allow the Board to enter into an advisory agreement with a longer term than the current one-year term and with more limited termination provisions. If adopted, this proposal may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders.
Under Article VIII of the existing Charter, the aggregate amount of acquisition fees and financing coordination fees may not exceed 1.5% of the contract purchase price for all of the assets acquired. Further, the total amount of acquisition fees, acquisition expense reimbursements, financing coordination fees, disposition fees and subordinated distributions by the operating partnership payable to the Advisor (or its assignees), together with the fair market value of any shares of restricted stock granted under our restricted share plan, may not exceed (a) 6% of all properties’ aggregate gross contract purchase price, (b) as determined annually, the greater, in the aggregate, of 2% of average invested assets and 25% of net income other than any additions to reserves for
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depreciation, bad debt or other similar non-cash reserves and excluding any gain from the sale of assets for that period, (c) disposition fees, if any, of up to 3% of the contract sales price of all properties that we sell and (d) 15% of remaining net sales proceeds after return of capital contributions plus payment to investors of a 6% cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded return on the capital contributed by investors. The limitations described in this paragraph would be removed if this proposal is approved.
Section 8.11 of the existing Charter generally provides for the reimbursement of expenses by the Company to the Advisor, except that the Company may not reimburse the Advisor for any amount by which the Company’s operating expenses at the end of the four preceding fiscal quarters exceeds the greater of (a) 2% of average invested assets and (b) 25% of net income. If adopted, this proposal would delete this provision entirely. Removing this provision creates a risk that our expenses may exceed the limits in the future, which could affect our financial condition and results of operations. Although the Company has the ability to waive an excess of operating expense reimbursements to the Advisor under the existing Charter, we believe it is appropriate to provide the Board of Directors with the flexibility to determine the amount of operating expense reimbursements based on the Company’s operation as a whole instead of prescribed limits.
| • | Article X. Conflicts of Interest. Article X (i) governs how certain transactions between the Company and AR Global, our Advisor, directors or officers or any of their affiliates are conducted due to the potential for conflicts of interest and (ii) sets forth certain conflict resolution procedures. If adopted, this proposal would delete this article entirely and reduce certain protections currently available. We believe our Board of Directors should have the flexibility, subject to the standard of conduct imposed on each director by the MGCL, to decide that a transaction negotiated for us by personnel employed directly by AR Global, our Advisor, directors or officers or any of their affiliates is in the best interest of the Company. Any such transaction would also generally be subject to the approval and recommendation of our conflicts committee. Moreover, the MGCL provides protections with respect to conflicts of interest. Under Maryland law, a transaction between a company and any of its directors or any other entity in which any of its directors is a director or has a material financial interest is voidable unless the transaction is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested directors or a majority of the votes cast by disinterested stockholders or is fair and reasonable to the company. In addition, the Advisory Agreement requires that the Advisor report to the Board of Directors regarding any conflicts of interest and its method for allocating investment opportunities among the Company and competing investment entities. While this deletion will eliminate certain provisions that may be viewed as protective of stockholders, we believe that it is more appropriate to provide the Board of Directors with the flexibility to establish procedures to address conflicts of interest. |
| • | Section 11.4. Stockholders — Voting Limitations on Shares Held by the Advisor, Directors and Affiliates. Section 11.4 provides that votes by the Advisor, our director(s) or any of their affiliates will not be counted in a vote of our stockholders regarding removal of the Advisor, such director(s) or any of their affiliates or any transaction between the Company and any of them. If adopted, this proposal would delete this provision entirely. This provision is not generally included in the charters of publicly-traded companies. We believe that the Board of Directors should have the flexibility to determine whether it is appropriate under the circumstances to provide for special rules, in individual cases, as to whether the vote should be different from the generally applicable requirement of a majority vote. |
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| • | Section 12.2. Liability of Stockholders, Directors, Advisors and Affiliates; Transactions between Affiliates and the Company — Limitation of Director and Officer Liability; Indemnification and Section 12.3. Liability of Stockholders, Directors, Advisors and Affiliates; Transactions between Affiliates and the Company — Payment of Expenses. We are proposing to amend these sections to require the Company to exculpate and to give the Company the power to obligate itself to indemnify our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by the MGCL. Sections 12.2 and 12.3 currently include limitations on exculpation and indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, our directors and officers that were originally included from the Guidelines. Under the MGCL, a corporation may include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its 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 established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action. In addition, the MGCL generally permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers for losses, liabilities and expenses, unless it is established that (i) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was either committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. We believe these are appropriate limits to exculpation and indemnification because they describe acts or omissions that are presumptively not in the interests of the Company and for which, therefore, it is not appropriate that the Company would bear the risk. |
We are proposing to delete the additional limitations imposed in Sections 12.2 and 12.3 of the current Charter. Section 12.2(c) states that the Company will not provide for indemnification of a director or officer unless (1) that person determined, in good faith, that his or her conduct causing the loss or liability was in the best interest of the Company; (2) that person was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company; (3) the loss or liability was not the result of negligence or misconduct on the part of a director, the Advisor or an affiliate of the Advisor or gross negligence on the part of an independent director; and (4) the funds used for the indemnification are taken out of the net assets of the Company and not the Company’s stockholders. Section 12.2(d) states that the Company will not indemnify a director or officer for loss, liability or expense arising from an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws unless (1) the alleged violation has been adjudicated on the merits successfully with respect to the director or officer; (2) the alleged violation was dismissed with prejudice with respect to the director or officer; or (3) a settlement of the claims against the director or officer is approved by the court. Section 12.3 states that the Company may pay or reimburse reasonable legal expenses and costs incurred by the director or officer being indemnified in advance only if (1) the claim relates to acts or omissions in the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company; (2) the director or officer provides the Company with a written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that he or she acted with the standard of conduct necessary to be indemnified; (3) the proceeding was not initiated by a stockholder, or if initiated by a stockholder, the court approves the advancement of funds to the director or officer; and (4) the director or officer provides the Company with a written undertaking to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Company if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not comply with the appropriate standard of conduct.
We believe exculpation and indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by the MGCL is appropriate because the Company can only act through its directors and officers. Hence, when they act in their capacity as directors and officers, our directors and officers are acting for and on behalf of the Company and not for their own account. Moreover, in the absence of exculpation and indemnification, we would be shifting certain risks from those actions onto our directors and officers while we receive the benefits from them, if the actions are successful. The market for talented and experienced nominees to stand for election as director and executives to serve as officers is competitive. Although we have not yet encountered difficulty in attracting qualified director nominees or officers, it is possible that in the future the best candidates will be attracted by other
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firms that do not have exculpation and indemnification limitations as onerous as those that were originally included in the current Charter from the Guidelines.
In connection with the aforementioned revisions to remove limitations on exculpation and indemnification of directors and officers originally included from the Guidelines, we are also proposing to remove the limitations on advancements to directors and officers for legal and other expenses and costs. We believe these changes are appropriate in connection with the proposed removal of limitations on exculpation and indemnification of directors as described above. To be most effective, and to make our Charter consistent with the charters of many publicly-traded REITs, we believe that the ability to advance expenses under the Charter should follow the MGCL as do the proposed exculpation and indemnification provisions discussed above. Otherwise, the limitations on advancement of expenses in the current Charter may diminish a director’s or officer’s financial ability to defend against claims and losses for which the Company may ultimately be financially responsible under the proposed amendments to the indemnification provisions of the Charter. Under the MGCL, a director or officer who seeks advancement of expenses must undertake to repay any amount advanced by the Company if it is ultimately determined that the director’s or officer’s action or omission did not meet the standards for indemnification.
The summary above is wholly qualified by the complete text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-I and incorporated herein by reference. The text of the Proposed Amended and Restated Charter has been marked in Exhibit A-II to reflect all the proposed amendments from the current Charter.
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST, WHICH MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE OR FAILURE TO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
IN ADDITION, APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11, INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL, IS CONDITIONED ON APPROVAL OF EACH OTHER OF PROPOSALS NO. 3 THROUGH 11. THIS MEANS THAT AN ABSTENTION, BROKER NON-VOTE, FAILURE TO VOTE OR VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR CHARTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, HAS FOUND THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 11 TO BE ADVISABLE, AND THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 11.
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INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE MATTERS ACTED UPON
The Company’s executive officers are also executive officers of affiliates of the Advisor. Our executive chairman, chief executive officer, president and secretary is the chief executive officer of AR Global, the parent of our Sponsor, which wholly owns our Advisor and has a non-controlling interest in AR Global. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.” If stockholders approve the Amended and Restated Proposals, the possibility will exist for future amendments to the Advisory Agreement that would not have been permitted under the Charter currently in effect, including amendments to the term and termination provisions of the Advisory Agreement. If stockholders approve the Amended and Restated Proposals, our directors and officers will no longer be subject to limitations on exculpation and indemnification, as well as limitations on advancements to directors and officers for legal and other expenses and costs, in excess of the MGCL.
Other than the director nominees’ elections to office and interests of the Advisor and our directors and executive officers in the approval of the Amended and Restated Proposals described in the preceding paragraph, there are no substantial interests, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, of each of the following persons in connection with any of the matters to be acted upon:
| • | Each director or executive officer of the Company at any time since the beginning of the last fiscal year. |
| • | Each nominee for election as a director of the Company. |
| • | Each associate of any of the foregoing persons. |
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SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s officers and directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Common Stock of the Company to file initial reports of ownership of such securities and reports of changes in ownership of such securities with the SEC. Such officers, directors and 10% stockholders of the Company are also required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required during the year ended December 31, 2016, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were timely satisfied, except for the following: Form 3 for Lee M. Elman, filed on August 1, 2016, relating to his appointment to the Board of Directors on February 12, 2016.
In making these statements, we have relied upon examination of the copies of Forms 3, 4, and 5, and amendments to these forms, provided to us and the written representations of our directors, executive officers, and ten percent stockholders.
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CODE OF ETHICS
The Board of Directors adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics effective as of April 21, 2014 (the “Code of Ethics”), which is applicable to the directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Code of Ethics covers topics including, but not limited to, conflicts of interest, confidentiality of information, full and fair disclosure, reporting of violations and compliance with laws and regulations.
The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.newyorkcityreit.com by clicking on “Investors — Corporate Governance — Code of Ethics.” You may also obtain a copy of the Code of Ethics by writing to our secretary at: American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Secretary. A waiver of the Code of Ethics for our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or controller may be made only by the Board of Directors or the appropriate committee of the Board of Directors and will be promptly disclosed to the extent required by law. If we make any substantive amendments to the Code of Ethics or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions, we will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our website or in a report on Form 8-K. A waiver of the Code of Ethics for all other employees may be made only by our chief executive officer, chief operating officer or general counsel and shall be discussed with the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors as appropriate.
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OTHER MATTERS PRESENTED FOR ACTION AT THE 2017 ANNUAL MEETING
Our Board of Directors does not intend to present for consideration at the Annual Meeting any matter other than those specifically set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If any other matter is properly presented for consideration at the meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote thereon pursuant to the discretionary authority conferred by the proxy.
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2018 ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholder Proposals in the Proxy Statement
Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act addresses when a company must include a stockholder’s proposal in its proxy statement and identify the proposal in its form of proxy when the Company holds an annual or special meeting of stockholders. Under Rule 14a-8, in order for a stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and proxy card relating to our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, the proposal must be received at our principal executive offices during the period beginning on November [•], 2017 and ending at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on December [•], 2017. Any proposal received after the applicable time in the previous sentence will be considered untimely.
Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for Directors to Be Presented at Meetings
For any proposal that is not submitted for inclusion in our proxy material for the Annual Meeting but is instead sought to be presented directly at that meeting, Rule 14a-4(c) under the Exchange Act permits our management to exercise discretionary voting authority under proxies it solicits unless we receive timely notice of the proposal in accordance with the procedures set forth in our bylaws. Under our bylaws, for a stockholder proposal to be properly submitted for presentation at our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, our secretary must receive written notice of the proposal at our principal executive offices during the period beginning on November [•], 2017 and ending at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on December [•], 2017. Any proposal received after the applicable time in the previous sentence will be considered untimely. Additionally, a stockholder proposal must contain information specified in our bylaws.
All nominations must also comply with our bylaws. All proposals should be sent via registered, certified or express mail to our secretary at our principal executive offices at: American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Secretary (telephone: (212) 415-6500).
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary
53
EXHIBIT A-I
ARTICLES OF
AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
FOR
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL NEW YORK CITY REIT, INC.
a Maryland corporation
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AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL NEW YORK CITY REIT, INC.
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
FIRST: American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.
SECOND: The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:
The name of the Company is American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc.
ARTICLE II.
PURPOSES AND POWERS
The purpose for which the Company is formed is to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, qualifying and engaging in business as a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860, or any successor sections, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute (the “Code”)), for which corporations may be organized under the MGCL and the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.
ARTICLE III.
RESIDENT AGENT AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The name and address of the resident agent for service of process of the Company in the State of Maryland is CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 820, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The address of the Company’s principal office in the State of Maryland is c/o CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 820, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The Company may have such other offices and places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board may from time to time determine.
As used in the Charter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
“BOARD” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“BYLAWS” means the Bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time.
“CHARTER” means the charter of the Company.
“CODE” shall have the meaning as provided in Article II herein.
“COMMON SHARES” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.
“COMPANY” shall have the meaning as provided in Article I herein.
“DIRECTOR” means a director of the Company.
“DISTRIBUTIONS” means any distributions, as such term is defined in Section 2-301 of the MGCL.
“MGCL” means the Maryland General Corporation Law, as in effect from time to time.
“PERSON” means an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other legal entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in Section 5.7(i) hereof) applies.
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“PREFERRED SHARES” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.
“REIT” means a corporation, trust, association or other legal entity (other than a real estate syndication) that is engaged primarily in investing in equity interests in real estate (including fee ownership and leasehold interests) or in loans secured by real estate or both, as defined pursuant to the REIT Provisions of the Code.
“REIT PROVISIONS OF THE CODE” means Sections 856 through 860 of the Code and any successor or other provisions of the Code relating to real estate investment trusts (including provisions as to the attribution of ownership of beneficial interests therein) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“SECURITIES” means any of the following issued by the Company, as the text requires: Shares, any other stock, shares or other evidences of equity or beneficial or other interests, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in, temporary or interim certificates for, receipts for, guarantees of, or warrants, options or rights to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.
“SHARES” means shares of stock of the Company of any class or series, including Common Shares and Preferred Shares.
“STOCKHOLDERS” means the holders of record of the Shares as maintained in the books and records of the Company or its transfer agent.
SECTION 5.1 AUTHORIZED SHARES. The total number of Shares that the Company shall have authority to issue is 350,000,000 Shares, of which (i) 300,000,000 shall be designated as common stock, $0.01 par value per Share (the “Common Shares”);and (ii) 50,000,000 shall be designated as preferred stock, $0.01 par value per Share (the “Preferred Shares”). The aggregate par value of all authorized Shares having par value is $3,500,000. If Shares of one class are classified or reclassified into Shares of another class pursuant to Section 5.2(ii) or Section 5.3 of this Article V, the number of authorized Shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of Shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of Shares so classified or reclassified, as the case may be, so that the aggregate number of Shares of all classes that the Company has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of Shares set forth in the first sentence of this Section 5.1. The Board, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without any action by the Stockholders, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of Shares or the number of Shares of any class or series that the Company has authority to issue.
(i) COMMON SHARES SUBJECT TO TERMS OF PREFERRED SHARES. The Common Shares shall be subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Shares.
(ii) DESCRIPTION. Subject to Section 5.7 hereof and except as may otherwise be specified in the Charter, each Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. The Board may classify or reclassify any unissued Common Shares from time to time into one or more classes or series of stock.
(iii) DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS. The Board from time to time may authorize the Company to declare and pay to Stockholders such dividends or other Distributions in cash or other assets of the Company, or in securities of the Company, including Shares of one class payable to holders of Shares of another class, or from any other source as the Board in its discretion shall determine. The Board shall endeavor to authorize the Company to declare and pay such dividends and other Distributions as shall be necessary for the Company to qualify as a REIT under the REIT Provisions of the Code unless the Board has determined, in its sole discretion, that qualification as a REIT is not in the best interests of the Company; provided, however, Stockholders shall have no right to any dividend or other Distribution unless and until authorized by the Board and declared by the Company. The exercise of the powers and rights of the Board pursuant to this section shall be subject to the provisions of any class or series of
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Shares at the time outstanding. The receipt by any Person in whose name any Shares are registered on the records of the Company or by his or her duly authorized agent shall be a sufficient discharge for all dividends or other Distributions payable or deliverable in respect of such Shares and from all liability to see to the application thereof.
(iv) RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or any distribution of the assets of the Company, the aggregate assets available for distribution to holders of the Common Shares shall be determined in accordance with applicable law. Each holder of Common Shares of a particular class shall be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of Common Shares of such class, that portion of such aggregate assets available for distribution as the number of outstanding Common Shares of such class held by such holder bears to the total number of outstanding Common Shares of such class then outstanding.
(v) VOTING RIGHTS. Except as may be provided otherwise in the Charter, and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares, the holders of the Common Shares shall have the exclusive right to vote on all matters (as to which a common stockholder shall be entitled to vote pursuant to applicable law) at all meetings of the Stockholders.
SECTION 5.3 PREFERRED SHARES. The Board may classify any unissued Preferred Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Preferred Shares of any series from time to time, into one or more classes or series of Shares.
SECTION 5.4 CLASSIFIED OR RECLASSIFIED SHARES. Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified Shares of any class or series, the Board by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of Shares; (b) specify the number of Shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Section 5.7 and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Shares outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other Distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Company to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland. Any of the terms of any class or series of Shares set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 5.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Charter (including determinations by the Board or other facts or events within the control of the Company) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of Shares is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary or other Charter document.
SECTION 5.5 STOCKHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Stockholders may be taken without a meeting by consent, in writing or by electronic transmission, in any manner and by the vote permitted by the MGCL and set forth in the Bylaws.
SECTION 5.6 CHARTER AND BYLAWS. The rights of all Stockholders and the terms of all Shares are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws. The Board shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provisions of the Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.
SECTION 5.7 RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER.
(i) DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Section 5.7, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“AGGREGATE SHARE OWNERSHIP LIMIT” means 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding Shares and 9.8% (in value or in number of Shares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of Shares or such other percentage determined by the Board in accordance with Section 5.7(ii)(h) hereof.
“BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP” means ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in the Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by
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Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.
“BUSINESS DAY” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“CHARITABLE BENEFICIARY” means one or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 5.7(iii)(f), provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
“CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP” means ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in the Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns,” “Constructively Owning” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.
“EXCEPTED HOLDER” means a Stockholder for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by the Board pursuant to Section 5.7(ii)(g).
“EXCEPTED HOLDER LIMIT” means, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board pursuant to Section 5.7(ii)(g), and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.7(ii)(h), the percentage limit established by the Board pursuant to Section 5.7(ii)(g).
“MARKET PRICE” on any date means, with respect to any class or series of outstanding Shares, the Closing Price for such Shares on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Shares, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Shares, in either case as reported on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the principal automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Shares are not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Shares selected by the Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Shares, the fair market value of the Shares, as determined by the Board.
“PROHIBITED OWNER” means, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 5.7(ii)(a), would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in violation of Section 5.7(ii)(a), and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the Shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.
“RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE” means the first day on which the Board determines pursuant to Section 7.4 that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of Shares set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Company to qualify as a REIT.
“TRANSFER” means any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares or the right to vote or receive dividends on Shares, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or any interest in Shares or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary,
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whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.
“TRUST” means any trust provided for in Section 5.7(iii)(a).
“TRUSTEE” means the Person unaffiliated with the Company and a Prohibited Owner, that is appointed by the Company to serve as trustee of the Trust.
(ii) SHARES.
(a) OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS. Prior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 5.8:
(I) BASIC RESTRICTIONS.
(A) (1) Except as set forth in any articles supplementary creating any class or series of Shares, no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and (2) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.
(B) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares would result in the Company being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Company actually owning or Constructively Owning an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Company from such tenant would cause the Company to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).
(C) Any Transfer of Shares that, if effective, would result in the Shares being Beneficially Owned by fewer than 100 Persons (as determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.
(II) TRANSFER IN TRUST. If any Transfer of Shares occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning Shares in violation of Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B),
(A) then that number of Shares the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 5.7(iii), effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such Shares; or
(B) if the transfer to the Trust described in clause (A) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) then the transfer of that number of Shares that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.
To the extent that, upon a transfer of Shares pursuant to this Section 5.7(ii)(a)(II), a violation of any provision of this Section 5.7 would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of Shares by a single Trust would violate the 100 stockholder requirement applicable to REITs), then Shares shall be transferred to the number of Trusts, each having a distinct Trustee and one or more Charitable Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of this Section 5.7.
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(b) REMEDIES FOR BREACH. If the Board shall at any time determine that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 5.7(ii)(a) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Shares in violation of Section 5.7(ii)(a) (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Company to redeem Shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Company or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided, however, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 5.7(ii)(a) shall automatically result in the transfer to the Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board.
(c) NOTICE OF RESTRICTED TRANSFER. Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares that will or may violate Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) or any Person who would have owned Shares that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.7(ii)(a)(II), shall immediately give written notice to the Company of such event, or in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice to the Company, and shall provide to the Company such other information as the Company may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Company’s status as a REIT.
(d) OWNERS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. Prior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(I) every owner of more than five percent (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding Shares, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Company stating the name and address of such owner, the number of Shares Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such Shares are held. Each such owner shall provide to the Company such additional information as the Company may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Company’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit; and
(II) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Shares and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Shares for a Beneficial Owner or a Constructive Owner shall provide to the Company such information as the Company may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Company’s status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
(e) REMEDIES NOT LIMITED. Subject to Section 7.4 hereof, nothing contained in this Section 5.7(ii)(e) shall limit the authority of the Board to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Company and the interests of its Stockholders in preserving the Company’s status as a REIT.
(f) AMBIGUITY. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 5.7(ii), Section 5.7(iii), or any definition contained in Section 5.7(i), the Board shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 5.7(ii) or Section 5.7(iii) or any such definition with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 5.7(ii) or (iii) requires an action by the Board and the Charter fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Section 5.7. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board (which the Board may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 5.7(ii)(b)) acquired Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares in violation of Section 5.7(ii)(a), such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the Shares which, but for such remedies, would have been
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Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such Shares based upon the relative number of the Shares held by each such Person.
(g) EXCEPTIONS.
(I) Subject to Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(B), the Board, in its sole discretion, may (prospectively or retroactively) exempt a Person from the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if:
(A) the Board obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individual’s Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of such Shares will violate Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(B);
(B) such Person does not, and represents that it will not, actually own or Constructively Own an interest in a tenant of the Company (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Company) that would cause the Company to actually own or Constructively Own more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant and the Board obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (for this purpose, a tenant from whom the Company (or an entity owned or controlled by the Company) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue such that, in the opinion of the Board, rent from such tenant would not adversely affect the Company’s ability to qualify as a REIT, shall not be treated as a tenant of the Company); and
(C) such Person agrees that any violation or attempted violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Section 5.7(ii)(a) through Section 5.7(ii)(f)) will result in such Shares being automatically transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 5.7(ii)(a)(II) and Section 5.7(iii).
(II) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 5.7(ii)(g)(I), the Board may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Company’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.
(III) Subject to Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(B), an underwriter which participates in an offering or a private placement of Shares (or Securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares (or Securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such offering or private placement.
(IV) The Board may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit.
(h) INCREASE OR DECREASE IN AGGREGATE SHARE OWNERSHIP LIMIT. Subject to Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I)(B), the Board may from time to time increase the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for one or more Persons and decrease the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for all other Persons; provided, however, that the decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership of Shares is in excess of such decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit until such time as such Person’s percentage of Shares equals or falls below the decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, but any further acquisition of Shares in
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excess of such percentage ownership of Shares will be in violation of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and, provided further, that the new Aggregate Share Ownership Limit would not allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding Shares.
(i) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS UPON ISSUANCE OR TRANSFER. Upon issuance or Transfer of Shares prior to the Restriction Termination Date, the Company shall provide the recipient with a notice containing information about the Shares purchased or otherwise Transferred, in lieu of issuance of a share certificate, in a form substantially similar to the following:
The securities of American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the Company’s maintenance of its status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Company’s charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of 9.8% of the value of the total outstanding Shares or 9.8% (in value or in number of Shares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of Shares unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares that would result in the Company being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iii) any Transfer of Shares that, if effective, would result in the Shares being Beneficially Owned by fewer than 100 Persons (as determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares. Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately give written notice (or, in the case of an attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice) to the Company. If any of the restrictions on Transfer or ownership as set forth in (i) and (ii) above are violated, the Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the Company may redeem Shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board in its sole discretion if the Board determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio. All capitalized terms in this notice have the meanings defined in the Company’s charter, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on Transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Shares on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Company at its principal office.
(j) NON-COMPLIANT TENDER OFFERS. No Stockholder may Transfer any shares of stock held by such Stockholder to a Person making a Non-Compliant Tender Offer unless such Stockholder shall have first offered such shares of stock to the Company, at a price equal to the greater of: (i) the Non-Compliant Tender Offer price and (ii) the following price, as applicable: (A) if the Company has an effective program by which the Company voluntarily repurchases Shares from its Stockholders (a “Share Repurchase Program”) at the time of such Non-Compliant Tender Offer, at the price at which such shares would be able to be repurchased pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program, or (C) if the Company does not have an effective Share Repurchase Program at the time of such Non-Compliant Tender Offer, at a price equal to net asset value per share at such time as determined by the Board.
(iii) TRANSFER OF SHARES IN TRUST.
(a) OWNERSHIP IN TRUST. Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 5.7(ii)(a)(II) that would result in a transfer of Shares to a Trust, such Shares shall be transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable
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Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 5.7(ii)(a)(II). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Company and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Company and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Company as provided in Section 5.7(iii)(f).
(b) STATUS OF SHARES HELD BY THE TRUSTEE. Shares held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding Shares. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the Shares held in trust by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any Shares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other Distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the Shares held in the Trust.
(c) DIVIDEND AND VOTING RIGHTS. The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other Distributions with respect to Shares held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other Distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Company that the Shares have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or other Distribution to the Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other Distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or other Distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares held in the Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the Shares have been transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Company that the Shares have been transferred to the Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Company has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.7, until the Company has received notification that Shares have been transferred into a Trust, the Company shall be entitled to rely on its stock transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of Stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of Stockholders.
(d) SALE OF SHARES BY TRUSTEE. Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Company that Shares have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee shall sell the Shares held in the Trust to a Person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the Shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I) or (II). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the Shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 5.7(iii)(d). The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the Shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the Shares in connection with the event causing the Shares to be held in the Trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the Shares on the day of the event causing the Shares to be held in the Trust and (2) the price per Share received by the Trustee from the sale or other disposition of the Shares held in the Trust. The Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other Distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.7(iii)(c). Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Company that Shares have been Transferred to the Trustee, such Shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such Shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such Shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 5.7, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.
(e) PURCHASE RIGHT IN STOCK TRANSFERRED TO THE TRUSTEE. Shares transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Company, or its
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designee, at a price per Share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per Share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Company, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Company may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other Distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.7(iii)(c). The Company may pay the amount of such reduction to the Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Company shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the Shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 5.7(iii)(d). Upon such a sale to the Company, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the Shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.
(f) DESIGNATION OF CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES. By written notice to the Trustee, the Company shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that (i) the Shares held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 5.7(ii)(a)(I) or (II) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary and (ii) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1) (A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
SECTION 5.8 SETTLEMENTS. Nothing in Section 5.7 shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of any national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any provision of Sections 5.7, and any transfer in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in Section 5.7.
SECTION 5.9 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of Section 5.7 or any application of any such provision is determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the issue, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of Section 5.7 shall not be affected and other applications of such provision shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.
SECTION 5.10 ENFORCEMENT. The Company is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of Section 5.7.
SECTION 5.11 NON-WAIVER. No delay or failure on the part of the Company or the Board in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Company or the Board, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.
SECTION 5.12 PREEMPTIVE AND APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Except as may be provided by the Board in setting the terms of classified or reclassified Shares pursuant to Section 5.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract approved by the Board, no holder of Shares shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares or any other Security which it may issue or sell. Holders of Shares shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of Shares, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such Shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.
SECTION 5.13 TENDER OFFERS. If any Person makes a tender offer, including, without limitation, a “mini-tender” offer, such Person must comply with all of the provisions of Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, disclosure and notice requirements, that would be applicable if the tender offer was for more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that unless otherwise required by the Exchange Act, such documents are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any Person who initiates a tender offer without complying with the provisions of Regulation 14D (such tender offer, a “Non-Compliant Tender Offer”) shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of
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this Section 5.13, including, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with the review of all documents related to such tender offer. In addition, the Company may seek injunctive relief, including, without limitation, a temporary or permanent restraining order, in connection with any Non-Compliant Tender Offer. This Section 5.13 and Section 5.7(ii)(j) shall be of no force or effect with respect to any Shares that are then listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange.
ARTICLE VI.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 6.1 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of Directors of the Company shall be four, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to the Bylaws; but shall never be less than the minimum required by the MGCL. The Company elects, under Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, that, except as may be provided by the Board in setting the terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares, any and all vacancies on the Board, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors, even if the remaining Directors constitute less than a quorum, and any Director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the Directorship in which such vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies. No reduction in the number of Directors shall cause the removal of any Director from office prior to the expiration of his term. For the purposes of voting for Directors, each Share may be voted for as many individuals as there are Directors to be elected and for whose election the Share is entitled to be voted. Cumulative voting for Directors is prohibited.
The names of the Directors who shall serve on the Board until the next annual meeting of the Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify, are:
Lee M. Elman
Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Elizabeth K. Tuppeny
Abby M. Wenzel
SECTION 6.2 RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL. Any Director may resign by delivering notice to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Any notice of resignation shall take effect upon receipt by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of such notice or upon any future date specified in the notice. Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares, any Director or the entire Board may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of Directors. For the purpose of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean, with respect to any particular Director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such Director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Company through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.
ARTICLE VII.
POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 7.1 GENERAL. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board. The Board may take any action that, in its sole judgment and discretion, is necessary or desirable to conduct the business of the Company. The Charter shall be construed with a presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Board. Any construction of the Charter or determination made by the Board concerning its powers and authority hereunder shall be conclusive. The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board included in this Article VII shall in no way be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of this or any other provision of the Charter or construed or deemed by inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit the powers conferred upon the Board under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.
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SECTION 7.2 AUTHORIZATION BY BOARD OF STOCK ISSUANCE. The Board may authorize the issuance from time to time of Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Charter or the Bylaws.
SECTION 7.3 FINANCINGS. The Board shall have the power and authority to cause the Company to borrow or, in any other manner, raise money for the purposes and on the terms it determines, which terms may (i) include evidencing the same by issuance of Securities and (ii) have such provisions as the Board may determine (a) to reacquire such Securities; (b) to enter into other contracts or obligations on behalf of the Company; (c) to guarantee, indemnify or act as surety with respect to payment or performance of obligations of any Person; and (d) to mortgage, pledge, assign, grant security interests in or otherwise encumber the Company’s assets to secure any such Securities, contracts or obligations (including guarantees, indemnifications and suretyships); and to renew, modify, release, compromise, extend, consolidate or cancel, in whole or in part, any obligation to or of the Company or participate in any reorganization of obligors to the Company.
SECTION 7.4 REIT QUALIFICATION. The Board shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Company as a REIT; provided, however, if the Board determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the Board may revoke or otherwise terminate the Company’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board also may determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Section 5.7 hereof is no longer required for REIT qualification.
SECTION 7.5 DETERMINATIONS BY BOARD. The determination as to any of the following matters, made by or pursuant to the direction of the Board, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Company and every Stockholder: the amount of the net income of the Company for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of Shares or the payment of other Distributions on Shares; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other cash flow, funds from operations, adjusted or modified funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation or resolution of any ambiguity with respect to any provision of the Charter (including the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other Distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of Shares) or the Bylaws; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Company or any Shares; the number of Shares of any class of the Company; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Company; any interpretation of the terms and conditions of one or more agreements with any Person; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Company or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board; provided, however, that any determination by the Board as to any of the preceding matters shall not render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination and no Director shall be liable for making or failing to make such a determination.
ARTICLE VIII.
EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS
Except as specifically provided in Section 6.2 hereof (relating to removal of Directors) and in the last sentence of Article X, notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
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ARTICLE IX.
LIABILITY OF STOCKHOLDERS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
SECTION 9.1 LIMITATION OF STOCKHOLDER LIABILITY. No Stockholder shall be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Company by reason of being a Stockholder, nor shall any Stockholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any Person in connection with the Company’s assets or the affairs of the Company by reason of being a Stockholder.
SECTION 9.2 LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no present or former Director or officer of the Company shall be liable to the Company or the Stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 9.2(a), nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or Bylaws inconsistent with this Section 9.2(a), shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
(b) The Company shall have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (i) any individual who is a present or former Director or officer of the Company or, (ii) any individual who, while a Director or officer of the Company and at the request of the Company, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such Person may become subject or which such Person may incur by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The Company shall have the power, with the approval of the Board, to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a Person who served a predecessor of the Company in any of the capacities described in (i) or (ii) above and to any employee or agent of the Company or a predecessor of the Company.
SECTION 9.3 EXPRESS EXCULPATORY CLAUSES IN INSTRUMENTS. Neither the Stockholders nor the Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company shall be liable under any written instrument creating an obligation of the Company by reason of their being Stockholders, Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company, and all Persons shall look solely to the Company’s assets for the payment of any claim under or for the performance of that instrument. The omission of the foregoing exculpatory language from any instrument shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such instrument and shall not render any Stockholder, Director, officer, employee or agent of the Company liable thereunder to any third party, nor shall the Directors or any officer, employee or agent of the Company be liable to anyone as a result of such omission.
The Company reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any outstanding Shares. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on Stockholders, Directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation. Except as otherwise provided in the next sentence and except for those amendments permitted to be made without Stockholder approval under Maryland law or by specific provision in the Charter, any amendment to the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board and approved by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, any amendment to the third sentence of Section 6.2 hereof or to this sentence of the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board and approved by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
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THIRD: The amendment and restatement of the charter as herein set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Directors of the Company and approved by the stockholders of the Company as required by law.
FOURTH: The current address of the principal office of the Company is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
FIFTH: The name and address of the Company’s current resident agent are as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
SIXTH: The number of directors of the Company and the names of the directors currently in office are as set forth in Section 6.1 of Article VI of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
SEVENTH: The undersigned acknowledges these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the Company and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc. has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its [ ], and attested by its [ ], on this day of , 2017.
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EXHIBIT A-II
Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLES OF
AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
FOR
AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL NEW YORK CITY REIT, INC.
a Maryland Corporationcorporation
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SECTION 8.5 TERMINATION | 29 | |||
SECTION 8.6 DISPOSITION FEE ON SALE OF PROPERTIES | 30 | |||
SECTION 8.7 INCENTIVE FEES | 30 | |||
SECTION 8.8 ORGANIZATION AND OFFERING EXPENSES LIMITATION | 30 | |||
SECTION 8.9 ACQUISITION FEES | 30 | |||
SECTION 8.10 ANNUAL SUBORDINATED PERFORMANCE FEE | 30 | |||
SECTION 8.11 REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES | 31 | |||
SECTION 8.12 REIMBURSEMENT LIMITATION | 31 | |||
SECTION 8.13 NO FEES UPON INTERNALIZATION | 31 | |||
ARTICLE IX. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND LIMITATIONS | 31 | |||
SECTION 9.1 REVIEW OF OBJECTIVES | 31 | |||
SECTION 9.2 CERTAIN PERMITTED INVESTMENTS | 31 | |||
SECTION 9.3 INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS | 32 | |||
ARTICLE X. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST | 34 | |||
SECTION 10.1 SALES AND LEASES TO THE COMPANY | 34 | |||
SECTION 10.2 SALES AND LEASES TO THE SPONSOR, ADVISOR, DIRECTORS OR AFFILIATES | 35 | |||
SECTION 10.3 OTHER TRANSACTIONS. | 35 | |||
ARTICLE XI. STOCKHOLDERS | 35 | |||
SECTION 11.1 MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 35 | |||
SECTION 11.2 VOTING RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 36 | |||
SECTION 11.3 EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS | 37 | |||
SECTION 11.4 VOTING LIMITATIONS ON SHARES HELD BY THE ADVISOR, DIRECTORS AND AFFILIATES | 37 | |||
SECTION 11.5 RIGHT OF INSPECTION | 37 | |||
SECTION 11.6 ACCESS TO STOCKHOLDER LIST | 37 | |||
SECTION 11.7 REPORTS | 38 | |||
SECTION 11.8 TENDER OFFERS | 38 | |||
ARTICLE XIIIX. LIABILITY |
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SECTION 12.19.1 LIMITATION OF STOCKHOLDER LIABILITY |
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SECTION 12.29.2 LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION. |
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SECTION 12.3 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES | 40 | |||
SECTION 12.49.3 EXPRESS EXCULPATORY CLAUSES IN INSTRUMENTS |
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ARTICLE XIIIX. AMENDM |
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ARTICLE XIV. ROLL-UP TRANSACTIONS | 41 | |||
ARTICLE XV. DURATION | 42 | |||
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AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL NEW YORK CITY REIT, INC.
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
FIRST: American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.
SECOND: The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:
The name of the Company is American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc. So far as may be practicable, the business of the Company shall be conducted and transacted under that name. Under circumstances in which the Board determines that the use of the name “American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc.” is not practicable, it may use any other designation or name for the Company.
ARTICLE II.
PURPOSES AND POWERS
The purpose for which the Company is formed areis to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, qualifying and engaging in business as a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860, or any successor sections, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute (the “Code”)), for which corporations may be organized under the MGCL and the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.
ARTICLE III.
RESIDENT AGENT AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The name and address of the resident agent for service of process of the Company in the State of Maryland is CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1660,820, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The address of the Company’s principal office in the State of Maryland is c/o CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1660,820, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The Company may have such other offices and places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board may from time to time determine.
As used in the Charter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
“ACQUISITION EXPENSES” means any and all expenses incurred by the Company, the Advisor, or any Affiliate of either in connection with the selection, acquisition or development of any Asset, whether or not acquired, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, costs of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on property not acquired, accounting fees and expenses and title insurance premiums.
“ACQUISITION FEE” means any and all fees and commissions, exclusive of Acquisition Expenses, paid by any Person to any other Person (including any fees or commissions paid by or to any Affiliate of the Company or the Advisor) in connection with making or investing in Mortgages or the purchase, development or construction of a Property, including real estate commissions, selection fees, Development Fees, Construction Fees, nonrecurring management fees, loan fees, points or any other fees of a similar nature. Excluded shall be Development Fees and Construction Fees paid to any Person not affiliated with the Sponsor in connection with the actual development and construction of a project.
“ADVISOR” or “ADVISORS” means the Person or Persons, if any, appointed, employed or contracted with by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof and responsible for directing or performing the day-to-day business affairs of the Company, including any Person to whom the Advisor subcontracts all or substantially all of such functions.
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“ADVISORY AGREEMENT” means the agreement between the Company and the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor will direct or perform the day-to-day business affairs of the Company.
“AFFILIATE” or “AFFILIATED” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with the power to vote, ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person; (ii) any Person, ten percent (10%) or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, with the power to vote, by such other Person; (iii) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person; (iv) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such other Person; and (v) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.
“ANNUAL SUBORDINATED PERFORMANCE FEE” shall have the meaning given in Section 8.10.
“ASSET” means any Property, Mortgage or other investments owned by the Company, directly or indirectly through one (1) or more of its Affiliates, and any other investment made by the Company, directly or indirectly through one (1) or more of its Affiliates.
“AVERAGE INVESTED ASSETS” means, for a specified period, the average of the aggregate book value of the Assets invested, directly or indirectly in equity interests in and loans secured by real estate, before deducting depreciation, bad debts or other non-cash reserves, computed by taking the average of such values at the end of each month during such period.
“BOARD” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“BYLAWS” means the Bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time.
“CHARTER” means the charter of the Company.
“CODE” shall have the meaning as provided in Article II herein.
“COMMENCEMENT OF THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING” shall mean the date that the Securities and Exchange Commission declares effective the registration statement filed under the Securities Act for the Initial Public Offering.
“COMMON SHARES” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.
“COMPANY” shall have the meaning as provided in Article I herein.
“COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION” means a real estate or brokerage commission paid for the purchase or sale of a Property that is reasonable, customary and competitive in light of the size, type and location of the Property.DIRECTOR” means a director of the Company.
“CONSTRUCTION FEE” means a fee or other remuneration for acting as general contractor and/or construction manager to construct improvements, supervise and coordinate projects or provide major repairs or rehabilitations on a Property.
“CONTRACT PURCHASE PRICE” means the amount actually paid or allocated, pursuant to approval by the Board, in respect of the purchase, development, construction or improvement of a Property or the amount of funds advanced with respect to a Mortgage, or the amount actually paid or allocated in respect of the purchase of other Assets, in each case exclusive of Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses, but in each case including any indebtedness assumed or incurred in respect of such Property.
“DEALER MANAGER” means Realty Capital Securities, LLC, an Affiliate of the Company, or such other Person selected by the Board to act as the dealer manager for an Offering.
“DEVELOPMENT FEE” means a fee for the packaging of a Property or Mortgage, including the negotiation and approval of plans and any assistance in obtaining zoning and necessary variances and financing for a specific Property, either initially or at a later date.
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“DIRECTOR” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 6.1 herein.
“DISTRIBUTIONS” means any distributions, as such term is defined in Section 2-301 of the MGCL.
“EXCESS AMOUNT” has the meaning provided in Section 8.10 herein.
“EXCHANGE ACT” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto.
“EXTENSION AMENDMENT” has the meaning provided in Article XV.
“FINANCING COORDINATION FEE” means a fee paid in connection with the financing of an Asset, assumption of any loan in connection with the acquisition of an Asset or refinancing of any loan on an Asset.
“GROSS PROCEEDS” means the aggregate purchase price of all Shares sold for the account of the Company through an Offering, without deduction for Selling Commissions, volume discounts, any marketing support and due diligence expense reimbursement or Organization and Offering Expenses. For the purpose of computing Gross Proceeds, the purchase price of any Share for which reduced Selling Commissions are paid to the Dealer Manager or a Soliciting Dealer (where net proceeds to the Company are not reduced) shall be deemed to be the full amount of the offering price per Share pursuant to the Prospectus for such Offering without reduction.
“INDEMNITEE” has the meaning provided in Section 12.2 herein.
“INDEPENDENT APPRAISER” means a Person with no material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor or the Directors and who is engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of Real Property or of other Assets of the type held by the Company. Membership in a nationally recognized appraisal society such as the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers or the Society of Real Estate Appraisers shall be conclusive evidence of being engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions as to the value of Real Property.
“INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR” means a Director who is not and who has not been within the last two years, directly or indirectly associated with the Sponsor or the Advisor by virtue of (i) ownership of an interest in the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their Affiliates, (ii) employment by the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their Affiliates, (iii) service as an officer or director of the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their Affiliates, (iv) performance of services, other than as a Director, for the Company, (v) service as a director or trustee of more than three REITs organized by the Sponsor or advised by the Advisor or (vi) maintenance of a material business or professional relationship with the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their Affiliates. A business or professional relationship is considered “material” per se if the aggregate gross revenue derived by the Director from the Sponsor, the Advisor and their Affiliates exceeds five percent (5%) of either the Director’s annual gross revenue, derived from all sources, during either of the last two years or the Director’s net worth on a fair market value basis. An indirect association with the Sponsor or the Advisor shall include circumstances in which a Director’s spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother- or father-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law or brother- or sister-in-law is or has been associated with the Sponsor, the Advisor, any of their Affiliates or the Company.
“INITIAL INVESTMENT” means that portion of the initial capitalization of the Company contributed by the Sponsor or its Affiliates pursuant to Section II.A. of the NASAA REIT Guidelines.
“INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING” means the first Offering.
“INVESTED CAPITAL” means the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of Shares purchased by Stockholders by the issue price at the time of such purchase, reduced by the portion of any Distribution that is attributable to Net Sales Proceeds and by any amounts paid by the Company to repurchase Shares pursuant to the Company’s plan for the repurchase of Shares.
“IRA” means an “individual retirement account” (as defined in Section 408 of the Code).
“JOINT VENTURES” means those joint venture or partnership arrangements in which the Company or the Operating Partnership is a co-venturer, limited liability company member, limited partner or general partner established to acquire or hold Assets.
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“LEVERAGE” means the aggregate amount of indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed (including purchase money mortgage loans) outstanding at any time, both secured and unsecured.
“LIQUIDITY DEADLINE” has the meaning in Article XV.
“LIQUIDITY EVENT” includes a sale of all or substantially all the Assets, a sale or merger of the Company, a Listing, or other similar transaction.
“LISTING” means the listing of the Common Shares on a national securities exchange. Upon such Listing, the Common Shares shall be deemed Listed.
“MGCL” means the Maryland General Corporation Law, as in effect from time to time.
“MORTGAGES” means, in connection with mortgage financing provided by the Company, all of the notes, deeds of trust, security interests or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, which are secured or collateralized by Real Property owned by the borrowers under such notes, deeds of trust, security interests or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations.
“NASAA REIT GUIDELINES” means the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts as revised and adopted by the North American Securities Administrators Association on May 7, 2007.
“NET ASSETS” means the total Assets (other than intangibles) at cost, before deducting depreciation, reserves for bad debts, impairments or other non-cash reserves, less total liabilities, calculated at least quarterly by the Company on a basis consistently applied.
“NET INCOME” means, for any period, the Company’s total revenues applicable to such period, less the total expenses applicable to such period other than additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts, impairments or other similar non-cash reserves and excluding any gain from the sale of the Assets.
“NET SALES PROCEEDS” means, in the case of a transaction described in clause (i)(A) of the definition of Sale, the proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of selling expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company, including all real estate commissions, closing costs and legal fees and expenses. In the case of a transaction described in clause (i)(B) of the definition of Sale, Net Sales Proceeds means the proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of selling expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company, including any legal fees and expenses and other selling expenses incurred in connection with such transaction. In the case of a transaction described in clause (i)(C) of the definition of Sale, Net Sales Proceeds means the proceeds of any such transaction actually distributed to the Company or the Operating Partnership from the Joint Venture less the amount of any selling expenses, including legal fees and expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company (other than those paid by the Joint Venture). In the case of a transaction or series of transactions described in clause (i)(D) of the definition of Sale, Net Sales Proceeds means the proceeds of any such transaction (including the aggregate of all payments under a Mortgage on or in satisfaction thereof other than regularly scheduled interest payments) less the amount of selling expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company, including all commissions, closing costs and legal fees and expenses. In the case of a transaction described in clause (i)(E) of the definition of Sale, Net Sales Proceeds means the proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of selling expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company, including any legal fees and expenses and other selling expenses incurred in connection with such transaction. In the case of a transaction described in clause (ii) of the definition of Sale, Net Sales Proceeds means the proceeds of such transaction or series of transactions less all amounts generated thereby which are reinvested in one (1) or more Assets within one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter and less the amount of any real estate commissions, closing costs, and legal fees and expenses and other selling expenses incurred by or allocated to the Company or the Operating Partnership in connection with such transaction or series of transactions. Net Sales Proceeds shall also include Refinancing Proceeds and any other amounts that the Company determines, in its discretion, to be economically equivalent to proceeds of a Sale. Net Sales Proceeds shall not include any reserves established by the Company, which shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
“NON-COMPLIANT TENDER OFFER” has the meaning provided in Section 11.8 herein.
“OFFERING” means any public offering for the sale of shares of stock of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act.
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“OPERATING PARTNERSHIP” means New York City Operating Partnership, L.P., an Affiliate of the Company through which the Company may own Assets.
“ORGANIZATION AND OFFERING EXPENSES” means any and all costs and expenses incurred by the Company and to be paid from the assets of the Company in connection with the formation of the Company and the qualification and registration of an Offering, and the marketing and distribution of Shares, including, without limitation, total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters’ attorneys), expenses for printing, engraving and amending registration statements or supplementing prospectuses, mailing and distributing costs, salaries of employees while engaged in sales activity, telephone and other telecommunications costs, all advertising and marketing expenses (including the costs related to investor and broker-dealer sales meetings), charges of transfer agents, registrars, trustees, escrow holders, depositories and experts, and fees, expenses and taxes related to the filing, registration and qualification of the sale of the Shares under federal and state laws, including taxes and fees and accountants’ and attorneys’ fees.
“PERSON” means an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other legal entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in Section 5.95.7(i) hereof) applies.
“PLAN OF LIQUIDATION” has the meaning provided in Article XV herein.
“PREFERRED SHARES” hasshall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.
“PROPERTY” or “PROPERTIES” means, as the context requires, any, or all, respectively, of the Real Property acquired by the Company, directly or indirectly through joint venture arrangements or other partnership or investment interests.
“PROSPECTUS” means the same as that term is defined in Section 2(10) of the Securities Act, including a preliminary prospectus and an offering circular as described in Rule 256 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act.
“REAL PROPERTY” or “REAL ESTATE” means land, rights in land (including leasehold interests), and any buildings, structures, improvements, furnishings, fixtures and equipment located on or used in connection with land and rights or interests in land.
“REFINANCING PROCEEDS” means the proceeds of the refinancing of any indebtedness of the Company, less the amount of expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company in connection with such refinancing.
“REINVESTMENT PLAN” has the meaning provided in Section 5.15 herein.
“REIT” means a corporation, trust, association or other legal entity (other than a real estate syndication) that is engaged primarily in investing in equity interests in Real Estatereal estate (including fee ownership and leasehold interests) or in loans secured by Real Estatereal estate or both, as defined pursuant to the REIT Provisions of the Code.
“REIT PROVISIONS OF THE CODE” means Sections 856 through 860 of the Code and any successor or other provisions of the Code relating to real estate investment trusts (including provisions as to the attribution of ownership of beneficial interests therein) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ROLL-UP ENTITY” means a partnership, real estate investment trust, corporation, trust or similar entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of a proposed Roll-Up Transaction.
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“ROLL-UP TRANSACTION” means a transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion or consolidation either directly or indirectly of the Company and the issuance of securities of a Roll-Up Entity to the holders of Common Shares. Such term does not include:
(a) a transaction involving securities of a company that have been for at least twelve (12) months listed on a national securities exchange; or
(b) a transaction involving the conversion to corporate, trust or association form of only the Company, if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no significant adverse change in any of the following:
(i) the voting rights of the holders of the Shares;
(ii) the term of existence of the Company;
(iii) Sponsor or Advisor compensation; or
(iv) the Company’s investment objectives.
“SALE” or “SALES” means (i) any transaction or series of transactions whereby: (A) the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property or portion thereof, including the lease of any Property consisting of a building only, and including any event with respect to any Property which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards; (B) the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of all or substantially all of the interest of the Company or the Operating Partnership in any Joint Venture in which it is a co-venturer or partner; (C) any Joint Venture in which the Company or the Operating Partnership is a co-venturer or partner directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any Property which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards; (D) the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, conveys or relinquishes its interest in any Mortgage or portion thereof, including any payments thereunder or in satisfaction thereof (other than regularly scheduled interest payments) or any amounts owed pursuant to such Mortgage, and including any event with respect to any Mortgage which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or similar awards; or (E) the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any other Asset not previously described in this definition or any portion thereof, but (ii) not including any transaction or series of transactions specified in clause (i) (A) through (E) above in which the proceeds of such transaction or series of transactions are reinvested by the Company in one (1) or more Assets within one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter.
“SECURITIES” means any of the following issued by the Company, as the contexttext requires: Shares, any other stock, shares or other evidences of equity or beneficial or other interests, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in, temporary or interim certificates for, receipts for, guarantees of, or warrants, options or rights to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.
“SECURITIES ACT” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto. Reference to any provision of the Securities Act shall mean such provision as in effect from time to time, as the same may be amended, and any successor provision thereto, as interpreted by any applicable regulations as in effect from time to time.
“SELLING COMMISSIONS” means any and all commissions and other fees payable to underwriters, dealer managers or other broker-dealers in connection with the sale of Shares, including, without limitation, commissions and fees payable to the Dealer Manager.
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“SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.14 herein.
“SHARES” means shares of stock of the Company of any class or series, including Common Shares orand Preferred Shares, that have the right to elect the Directors of the Company.
“SOLICITING DEALERS” means those broker-dealers that are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or that are exempt from broker-dealer registration, and that, in either case, enter into participating broker or other agreements with the Dealer Manager to sell Shares.
“SPONSOR” means any Person which (i) is directly or indirectly instrumental in organizing, wholly or in part, the Company, (ii) will control, manage or participate in the management of the Company, and any Affiliate of any such Person, (iii) takes the initiative, directly or indirectly, in founding or organizing the Company, either alone or in conjunction with one (1) or more other Persons, (iv) receives a material participation in the Company in connection with the founding or organizing of the business of the Company, in consideration of services or property, or both services and property, (v) has a substantial number of relationships and contacts with the Company, (vi) possesses significant rights to control Properties, (vii) receives fees for providing services to the Company which are paid on a basis that is not customary in the industry or (viii) provides goods or services to the Company on a basis which was not negotiated at arm’s-length with the Company. The term “Sponsor” shall not include a Person whose only relationship with the Company is that of an independent property manager and whose only compensation is as such or wholly independent third parties such as attorneys, accountants and underwriters whose only compensation is for professional services.
“STOCKHOLDER LIST” has the meaning provided in Section 11.6 herein.
“STOCKHOLDERS” means the holders of record of the shares of stockShares as maintained in the books and records of the Company or its transfer agent.
“TERMINATION DATE” means the date of termination of the Advisory Agreement.
“TERMINATION OF THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING” shall mean the earlier of (i) the date on which the Initial Public Offering expires or is terminated by the Company or (ii) the date on which all shares of stock offered in the Initial Public Offering are sold, excluding warrants, if any, offered thereunder and shares that may be acquired upon exercise of such warrants and shares offered thereunder that may be acquired pursuant to the Reinvestment Plan.
“TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES” means all costs and expenses paid or incurred by the Company, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles, that are in any way related to the operation of the Company or to Company business, including advisory fees, but excluding (i) the expenses of raising capital such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration, and other fees, printing and other such expenses and tax incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and Listing of the Shares, (ii) interest payments, (iii) taxes, (iv) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad debt reserves, (v) incentive fees paid in compliance with the NASAA REIT Guidelines, (vi) Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses, (vii) real estate commissions on the Sale of Properties, (viii) Financing Coordination Fees and (ix) other fees and expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, management and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (including the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property).
“TOTAL RETURN TO STOCKHOLDERS” means receipt by Stockholders of an annual cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded return on the capital contributed by Stockholders in excess of a return of capital contributions to Stockholders.
“UNIMPROVED REAL PROPERTY” means Property in which the Company has an equity interest that was not acquired for the purpose of producing rental or other operating income, that has no development or construction in process and for which no development or construction is planned, in good faith, to commence within one (1) year.
“2%/25% GUIDELINES” has the meaning provided in Section 8.11 herein.
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SECTION 5.1 AUTHORIZED SHARES. The total number of shares of stockShares that the Company shall have authority to issue is 350,000,000 sharesShares, of which (i) 300,000,000 shall be designated as common stock, $0.01 par value per share Share (the “Common Shares”);and (ii) 50,000,000 shall be designated as preferred stock, $0.01 par value per shareShare (the “Preferred Shares”). All shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable when issued. The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stockShares having par value is $3,500,000. If sharesShares of one (1) class of stock are classified or reclassified into sharesShares of another class of stock pursuant to Section 5.2(ii) or Section 5.3 of this Article V, the number of authorized sharesShares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of sharesShares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of sharesShares so classified or reclassified, as the case may be, so that the aggregate number of sharesShares of all classes that the Company has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of sharesShares set forth in the first sentence of this Section 5.1. The Board, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without any action by the Stockholders, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stockShares or the number of shares of stockShares of any class or series that the Company has authority to issue.
(i) COMMON SHARES SUBJECT TO TERMS OF PREFERRED SHARES. The Common Shares shall be subject to the express terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares.
(ii) DESCRIPTION. Subject to Section 5.9 of this Article V5.7 hereof and except as may otherwise be specified in the charterCharter, each Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters upon which Stockholders are entitled to vote pursuant to Section 11.2 hereofvote. The Board may classify or reclassify any unissued Common Shares from time to time into one (1) or more classes or series of stock; provided, however, that the voting rights per Share (other than any publicly held Share) sold in a private offering shall not exceed the voting rights which bear the same relationship to the voting rights of a publicly held Share as the consideration paid to the Company for each privately offered Share bears to the book value of each outstanding publicly held Share.
(iii) DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS. The Board from time to time may authorize the Company to declare and pay to Stockholders such dividends or other Distributions in cash or other assets of the Company, or in securities of the Company, or in securities of the Company, including in shares of stockShares of one class payable to holders of shares of stockShares of another class, or from any other source as the Board in its discretion shall determine. The Board shall endeavor to authorize the Company to declare and pay such dividends and other Distributions as shall be necessary for the Company to qualify as a REIT under the REIT Provisions of the Code unless the Board has determined, in its sole discretion, that qualification as a REIT is not in the best interests of the Company; provided, however, Stockholders shall have no right to any dividend or other Distribution unless and until authorized by the Board and declared by the Company. The exercise of the powers and rights of the Board pursuant to this section shall be subject to the provisions of any class or series of stockShares at the time outstanding. The receipt by any Person in whose name any stock isShares are registered on the records of the Company or by his or her duly authorized agent shall be a sufficient discharge for all dividends or other Distributions payable or deliverable in respect of such stockShares and from all liability to see to the application thereof. Distributions in kind shall not be permitted, except for distributions of readily marketable securities, distributions of beneficial interests in a liquidating trust established for the dissolution of the Company and the liquidation of its assets in accordance with the terms of the Charter or distributions in which (i) the Board advises each Stockholder of the risks associated with direct ownership of the property, (ii) the Board offers each Stockholder the election of receiving such in-kind distributions and (iii) in-kind distributions are made only to those Stockholders that accept such offer.
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(iv) RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or any distribution of the assets of the Company, the aggregate assets available for distribution to holders of the Common Shares shall be determined in accordance with applicable law. Each holder of Common Shares of a particular class shall be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of Common Shares of such class, that portion of such aggregate assets available for distribution as the number of outstanding Common Shares of such class held by such holder bears to the total number of outstanding Common Shares of such class then outstanding.
(v) VOTING RIGHTS. Except as may be provided otherwise in the Charter, and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares, the holders of the Common Shares shall have the exclusive right to vote on all matters (as to which a common stockholder shall be entitled to vote pursuant to applicable law) at all meetings of the Stockholders.
SECTION 5.3 PREFERRED SHARES. The Board may classify any unissued Preferred Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Preferred Shares of any class or series from time to time, into one (1) or more classes or series of shares of stock; provided, however, that the voting rights per Share (other than a publicly held Share) sold in a private offering shall not exceed the voting rights that bear the same relationship to the voting rights of a publicly held Share as the consideration paid to the Company for each privately offered Share bears to the book value of each outstanding publicly held ShareShares.
SECTION 5.4 CLASSIFIED OR RECLASSIFIED SHARES. Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified shares of stockShares of any class or series, the Board by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of sharesShares; (b) specify the number of sharesShares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Section 5.95.7 and subject to the express terms of any class or series of sharesShares outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other Distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series of shares; and (d) cause the Company to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland. Any of the terms of any class or series of sharesShares set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 5.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Charter (including determinations by the Board or other facts or events within the control of the Company) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of sharesShares is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary or other charterCharter document.
SECTION 5.5 STOCKHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Stockholders may be taken without a meeting by consent, in writing or by electronic transmission, in any manner and by the vote permitted by the MGCL and set forth in the Bylaws.
SECTION 5.6 CHARTER AND BYLAWS. The rights of all Stockholders and the terms of all shares of stockShares are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws. The Board shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provisions of the Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.
SECTION 5.7 NO ISSUANCE OF SHARE CERTIFICATES. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the Company shall not issue stock certificates. A Stockholder’s investment shall be recorded on the books of the Company. To transfer his or her shares of stock, a Stockholder shall submit an executed form to the Company, which form shall be provided by the Company upon request. Such transfer will also be recorded on the books of the Company. Upon issuance or transfer of shares, the Company will provide the Stockholder with information concerning his or her rights with regard to such shares, as required by the Bylaws and the MGCL or other applicable law.
SECTION 5.8 SUITABILITY OF STOCKHOLDERS.
Until Listing, the following provisions shall apply:
(i) INVESTOR SUITABILITY STANDARDS. Subject to suitability standards established by individual states, to become a Stockholder in the Company, if such prospective Stockholder is an
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individual (including an individual beneficiary of a purchasing IRA), or if the prospective Stockholder is a fiduciary (such as a trustee of a trust or corporate pension or profit sharing plan, or other tax-exempt organization, or a custodian under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act), such individual or fiduciary, as the case may be, must represent to the Company, among other requirements as the Company may require from time to time:
(a) that such individual (or, in the case of a fiduciary, that the fiduciary account or the donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the Shares) has a minimum annual gross income of $70,000 and a net worth (excluding home, home furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $70,000; or
(b) that such individual (or, in the case of a fiduciary, that the fiduciary account or the donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the Shares) has a net worth (excluding home, home furnishings, and automobiles) of not less than $250,000.
(ii) DETERMINATION OF SUITABILITY OF SALE. The Sponsor and each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Company shall make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of Common Shares is a suitable and appropriate investment for each Stockholder. In making this determination, each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Company shall ascertain that the prospective Stockholder: (a) meets the minimum income and net worth standards established for the Company; (b) can reasonably benefit from the Company based on the prospective Stockholder’s overall investment objectives and portfolio structure; (c) is able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on the prospective Stockholder’s overall financial situation; and (d) has apparent understanding of (1) the fundamental risks of the investment; (2) the risk that the Stockholder may lose the entire investment; (3) the lack of liquidity of the Common Shares; (4) the restrictions on transferability of the Common Shares; and (5) the tax consequences of the investment.
The Sponsor or each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Company shall make this determination on the basis of information it has obtained from a prospective Stockholder. Relevant information for this purpose will include at least the age, investment objectives, investment experiences, income, net worth, financial situation, and other investments of the prospective Stockholder, as well as any other pertinent factors.
The Sponsor or each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Company shall maintain records of the information used to determine that an investment in Common Shares is suitable and appropriate for a Stockholder. The Sponsor or each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Company shall maintain these records for at least six years.
(iii) MINIMUM INVESTMENT AND TRANSFER. Subject to certain individual state requirements and except for Shares issued pursuant to the Reinvestment Plan, the Company will sell its Common Shares only to investors who initially purchase Common Shares for an aggregate price of at least $2,500. In order to satisfy the purchase requirements for retirement plans, a husband and wife may jointly contribute funds from their separate IRAs, provided that each such contribution is made in increments of $100.00. An investment in Shares shall not, in itself, create a retirement plan, and in order to create a retirement plan a Stockholder must comply with all applicable provisions of the Code. Following the initial minimum investment, no subsequent sale or transfer of Common Shares, other than pursuant to the Reinvestment Plan, will be permitted with an initial purchase price of less than $2,500, and a Stockholder shall not transfer, fractionalize or subdivide such shares so as to retain less than the minimum number of Common Shares required pursuant to this Section 5.8(iii).
SECTION 5.7 SECTION 5.9 RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER.
(i) DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Section 5.9,5.7, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“AGGREGATE SHARE OWNERSHIP LIMIT” means not more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of capital stockShares and not more than 9.8% (in value or in
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number of sharesShares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of shares of capital stockShares or such other percentage determined by the Board in accordance with Section 5.95.7(ii)(h) hereof.
“BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP” means ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in the Capital StockShares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.
“BUSINESS DAY” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“CAPITAL STOCK” means all classes or series of stock of the Company, including, without limitation, Common Shares and Preferred Shares.
“CHARITABLE BENEFICIARY” means one (1) or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 5.95.7(iii)(f), provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
“CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP” means ownership of Capital StockShares by a Person, whether the interest in the Capital StockShares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns,” “Constructively Owning” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.
“EXCEPTED HOLDER” means a Stockholder for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by the Charter or by the Board pursuant to Section 5.95.7(ii)(g).
“EXCEPTED HOLDER LIMIT” means, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board pursuant to Section 5.95.7(ii)(g), and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.95.7(ii)(h), the percentage limit established by the Board pursuant to Section 5.95.7(ii)(g).
“MARKET PRICE” on any date means, with respect to any class or series of outstanding shares of Capital StockShares, the Closing Price for such Capital StockShares on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Capital StockShares, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Capital StockShares, in either case as reported on the principal national securities exchange on which such Capital Stock is ListedShares are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Capital Stock isShares are not Listedlisted or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the principal automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Capital Stock isShares are not quoted by any such organizationsystem, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Capital StockShares selected by the Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Capital StockShares, the fair market value of the Capital StockShares, as determined by the Board.
“PROHIBITED OWNER” means, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 5.95.7(ii)(a), would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares in violation of Section 5.7(ii)(a), and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the sharesShares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.
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“RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE” means the first day after the Commencement of the Initial Public Offering on which the CompanyBoard determines pursuant to Section 7.4 that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of Shares set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Company to qualify as a REIT.
“TRANSFER” means any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital StockShares or the right to vote or receive dividends on Capital StockShares, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Capital StockShares or any interest in Capital StockShares or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital StockShares; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.
“TRUST” means any trust provided for in Section 5.95.7(iii)(a).
“TRUSTEE” means the Person unaffiliated with the Company and a Prohibited Owner, that is appointed by the Company to serve as trustee of the Trust.
(ii) SHARES.
(a) OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS. During the period commencing on the date that the Company elects to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT and priorPrior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 5.105.8:
(I) BASIC RESTRICTIONS.
(A) (1) Except as set forth in any articles supplementary creating any class or series of shares of Capital StockShares, no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and (2) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.
(B) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares would result in the Company being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Company actually owning or Constructively Owning an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Company from such tenant would cause the Company to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).
(C) Any Transfer of shares of Capital StockShares that, if effective, would result in the Capital StockShares being Beneficially Owned by fewer than 100 Persons (as determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital StockShares.
(II) TRANSFER IN TRUST. If any Transfer of shares of Capital StockShares occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning shares of Capital StockShares in violation of Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B),
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(A) then that number of shares of Capital StockShares the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically Transferredtransferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 5.95.7(iii), effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such sharesShares; or
(B) if the Transfertransfer to the Trust described in clause (A) of this Section 5.9(ii)(a)(II)sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) then the Transfertransfer of that number of shares of Capital StockShares that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such sharesShares.
To the extent that, upon a transfer of Shares pursuant to this Section 5.95.7(iii)(a)(II), a violation of any provision of this Section 5.95.7 would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of Shares by a single Trust would violate the 100 stockholder requirement applicable to REITs), then Shares shall be transferred to thatthe number of Trusts, each having a distinct Trustee and aone or more Charitable Beneficiary or Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of this Section 5.9.5.7.
(b) REMEDIES FOR BREACH. If the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof shall at any time determine that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 5.95.7(ii)(a) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any shares of Capital StockShares in violation of Section 5.95.7(ii)(a) (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Company to redeem sharesShares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Company or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided, however, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 5.95.7(ii)(a) shall automatically result in the Transfertransfer to the Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board or a committee thereof.
(c) NOTICE OF RESTRICTED TRANSFER. Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital StockShares that will or may violate Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(A) or (B) or any Person who would have owned shares of Capital StockShares that resulted in a Transfertransfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(II), in either case, shall immediately give written notice to the Company of such event, or in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice to the Company, and shall provide to the Company such other information as the Company may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Company’s status as a REIT.
(d) OWNERS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. From the Commencement of the Initial Public Offering and priorPrior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(I) every owner of more than five percent (5%) (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of Capital StockShares, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Company stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of Capital StockShares Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such sharesShares are held. Each such owner shall provide to the Company such additional information as the Company may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Company’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit; and
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(II) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or a Constructive Owner of Capital StockShares and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Capital StockShares for a Beneficial Owner or a Constructive Owner shall provide to the Company such information as the Company may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Company’s status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
(e) REMEDIES NOT LIMITED. Subject to Section 7.4,7.4 hereof, nothing contained in this Section 5.95.7(ii)(e) shall limit the authority of the Board to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Company and the interests of its stockholdersStockholders in preserving the Company’s status as a REIT.
(f) AMBIGUITY. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 5.95.7(ii), Section 5.95.7(iii), or any definition contained in Section 5.95.7(i), the Board shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 5.95.7(ii) or Section 5.95.7(iii) or any such definition with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 5.95.7(ii) or (iii) requires an action by the Board and the Charter fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Section 5.9.5.7. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board (which the Board may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 5.95.7(ii)(b)) acquired Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital StockShares in violation of Section 5.95.7(ii)(a), such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the shares of Capital StockShares which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such shares of Capital StockShares based upon the relative number of the sharesShares held by each such Person.
(g) EXCEPTIONS.
(I) Subject to Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(B), the Board, in its sole discretion, may (prospectively or retroactively) exempt a Person from the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if:
(A) the Board obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individual’s Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of such shares of Capital StockShares will violate Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(B);
(B) such Person does not, and represents that it does not, and undertakes that it will not, actually own or Constructively Own an interest in a tenant of the Company (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Company) that would cause the Company to actually own or Constructively Own more than a 9.89.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant and the Board obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (for this purpose, a tenant from whom the Company (or an entity owned or controlled by the Company) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue such that, in the opinion of the Board, rent from such tenant would not adversely affect the Company’s ability to qualify as a REIT, shall not be treated as a tenant of the Company); and
(C) such Person agrees that any violation or attempted violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Section 5.95.7(ii)(a) through Section 5.95.7(ii)(f)) will result in such shares of Capital Stock Shares being automatically Transferredtransferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 5.95.7(ii)(Aa)(II) and Section 5.95.7(iii).
(II) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 5.95.7(ii)(g)(I), the Board may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in
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form and substance satisfactory to the Board in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Company’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.
(III) Subject to Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(B), an underwriter which participates in an Offeringoffering or a private placement of shares of Capital StockShares (or Securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Capital StockShares) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares (or Securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Capital StockShares) in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such Offeringoffering or private placement.
(IV) The Board may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit.
(h) INCREASE OR DECREASE IN AGGREGATE SHARE OWNERSHIP LIMIT. Subject to Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I)(B), the Board may from time to time increase the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for one (1) or more Persons and decrease the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for all other Persons; provided, however, that the decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership of Capital StockShares is in excess of such decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit until such time as such Person’s percentage of Capital StockShares equals or falls below the decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, but any further acquisition of Capital StockShares in excess of such percentage ownership of Capital StockShares will be in violation of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and, provided further, that the new Aggregate Share Ownership Limit would not allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding shares of Capital StockShares.
(i) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS UPON ISSUANCE OR TRANSFER. Upon issuance or Transfer of shares of Capital StockShares prior to the Restriction Termination Date, the Company shall provide the recipient with a notice containing information about the shares of Capital StockShares purchased or otherwise Transferred, in lieu of issuance of a share certificate, in a form substantially similar to the following:
The securities of American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the Company’s maintenance of its status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Company’s charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares in excess of 9.8% of the value of the total outstanding shares of Capital StockShares or 9.8% (in value or in number of sharesShares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of shares of Capital StockShares unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares that would result in the Company being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iii) any Transfer of shares of Capital StockShares that, if effective, would result in the Capital StockShares being beneficially ownedBeneficially Owned by fewer than 100 Persons (as determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares. Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital StockShares in excess or in violation of
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the above limitations must immediately give written notice (or, in the case of an attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice) to the Company. If any of the restrictions on transferTransfer or ownership as set forth in (i) and (ii) above are violated, the shares of Capital StockShares in excess or in violation of suchthe above limitations will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one (1) or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the Company may redeem sharesShares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board in its sole discretion if the Board determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described in (i) and (ii) above. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio. All capitalized terms in this notice have the meanings defined in the Company’s charter, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transferTransfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Capital StockShares on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Company at its principal office.
(j) NON-COMPLIANT TENDER OFFERS. No Stockholder may Transfer any shares of stock held by such Stockholder to a Person making a Non-Compliant Tender Offer unless such Stockholder shall have first offered such shares of stock to the Company, at a price equal to the greater of: (i) the Non-Compliant Tender Offer price and (ii) the following price, as applicable: (A) if the Company has an effective program by which the Company voluntarily repurchases Shares from its Stockholders (a “Share Repurchase Program”) at the time of such Non-Compliant Tender Offer, at the price at which such shares would be able to be repurchased pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program, (B) if the Company does not have an effective Share Repurchase Program at the time of such Non-Compliant Tender Offer and it has not yet determined a net asset value per share, at the price at which such shares would have been able to be repurchased pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program immediately prior to the suspension or termination of the Share Repurchase Program, or (C) if the Company does not have an effective Share Repurchase Program at the time of such Non-Compliant Tender Offer and it has determined a net asset value per share, at a price equal to net asset value per share at such time as determined by the Board.
(iii) TRANSFER OF SHARES IN TRUST.
(a) OWNERSHIP IN TRUST. Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(II) that would result in a Transfer of shares of Capital Stocktransfer of Shares to a Trust, such sharesShares shall be Transferredtransferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one (1) or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such Transfertransfer to the Trustee shall be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the Transfertransfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(II). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Company and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Company and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Company as provided in Section 5.95.7(iii)(f).
(b) STATUS OF SHARES HELD BY THE TRUSTEE. Shares of Capital Stock held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding shares of Capital StockShares. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the sharesShares held in trust by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any sharesShares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other Distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the sharesShares held in the Trust.
(c) DIVIDEND AND VOTING RIGHTS. The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other Distributions with respect to shares of Capital StockShares held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other Distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Company that the sharesShares have been Transferredtransferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or other Distribution to the Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other Distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or other Distribution so paid to the
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Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to sharesShares held in the Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the sharesShares have been Transferred transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Company that the sharesShares have been Transferredtransferred to the Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Company has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.9, 5.7, until the Company has received notification that sharesShares have been Transferredtransferred into a Trust, the Company shall be entitled to rely on its stock Transfertransfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of Stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of Stockholders.
(d) SALE OF SHARES BY TRUSTEE. Within twenty (20) days of receiving notice from the Company that shares of Capital StockShares have been Transferredtransferred to the Trust, the Trustee shall sell the sharesShares held in the Trust to a Person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the sharesShares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I) or (II). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the sharesShares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 5.95.7(iii)(d). The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the sharesShares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the sharesShares in connection with the event causing the sharesShares to be held in the Trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the sharesShares on the day of the event causing the sharesShares to be held in the Trust and (2) the price per shareShare received by the Trustee from the sale or other disposition of the sharesShares held in the Trust. The Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other Distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.95.7(iii)(c). Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Company that shares of Capital StockShares have been Transferred to the Trustee, such sharesShares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such sharesShares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such sharesShares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 5.9, 5.7, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.
(e) PURCHASE RIGHT IN STOCK TRANSFERRED TO THE TRUSTEE. Shares of Capital Stock Transferredtransferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Company, or its designee, at a price per shareShare equal to the lesser of (i) the price per shareShare in the transaction that resulted in such Transfertransfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Company, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Company may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other Distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.95.7(iii)(c). The Company may pay the amount of such reduction to the Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Company shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the sharesShares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 5.95.7(iii)(d). Upon such a sale to the Company, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the sharesShares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.
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(f) DESIGNATION OF CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES. By written notice to the Trustee, the Company shall designate one (1) or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that (i) the shares of Capital StockShares held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 5.95.7(ii)(a)(I) or (II) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary and (ii) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1) (A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
SECTION 5.8 SECTION 5.10 SETTLEMENTS. Nothing in Section 5.95.7 shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of any national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any provision of Sections 5.9,5.7, and any transfer in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in Section 5.9.5.7.
SECTION 5.9 SECTION 5.11 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of Section 5.95.7 or any application of any such provision is determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the issue, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of Section 5.9 5.7 shall not be affected and other applications of such provision shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.
SECTION 5.10 SECTION 5.12 ENFORCEMENT. The Company is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of Section 5.9.5.7.
SECTION 5.11 SECTION 5.13 NON-WAIVER. No delay or failure on the part of the Company or the Board in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Company or the Board, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.
SECTION 5.14 REPURCHASE OF SHARES. The Board may establish, from time to time, a program or programs by which the Company voluntarily repurchases shares of Capital Stock from its Stockholders (a “Share Repurchase Program”); provided, however, that such repurchase does not impair the capital or operations of the Company. The Sponsor, the Advisor, the Directors or any Affiliates thereof may not receive any fees arising out of the repurchase of stock by the Company.
SECTION 5.15 DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLANS. The Board may establish, from time to time, a Distribution reinvestment plan or plans (each, a “Reinvestment Plan”). Under any such Reinvestment Plan, (i) all material information regarding Distributions to the Stockholders and the effect of reinvesting such Distributions, including the tax consequences thereof, shall be provided to the Stockholders not less often than annually and (ii) each Stockholder participating in such Reinvestment Plan shall have a reasonable opportunity to withdraw from the Reinvestment Plan not less often than annually after receipt of the information required in clause (i) above.
SECTION 5.12SECTION 5.16 PREEMPTIVE AND APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Except as may be provided by the Board in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of Capital StockShares pursuant to Section 5.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract approved by the Board, no holder of Capital StockShares shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of Capital StockShares or any other Security which it may issue or sell. Holders of Capital StockShares shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stockShares, to one (1) or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such sharesShares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.
SECTION 5.13 TENDER OFFERS. If any Person makes a tender offer, including, without limitation, a “mini-tender” offer, such Person must comply with all of the provisions of Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, disclosure and notice requirements, that would be applicable if the tender offer was for more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that unless otherwise required by the Exchange Act, such documents are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any Person who initiates a tender offer without complying
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with the provisions of Regulation 14D (such tender offer, a “Non-Compliant Tender Offer”) shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Section 5.13, including, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with the review of all documents related to such tender offer. In addition, the Company may seek injunctive relief, including, without limitation, a temporary or permanent restraining order, in connection with any Non-Compliant Tender Offer. This Section 5.13 and Section 5.7(ii)(j) shall be of no force or effect with respect to any Shares that are then listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange.
ARTICLE VI.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 6.1 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of Directors of the Company (the “Directors”) shall be fivefour, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to the Bylaws; provided, however, that the number of Directors shall not be fewer than three nor greater than ten. From and after the Commencement of the Initial Public Offering, a majority of the Board will be Independent Directors except for a period of up to sixty (60) days after the death, removal or resignation of an Independent Director pending the election of such Independent Director’s successor. The Company elects, at such time as it becomes eligible to make the election provided forbut shall never be less than the minimum required by the MGCL. The Company elects, under Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, that, except as may be provided by the Board in setting the terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares, that any and all vacancies on the Board, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Stockholdersremaining Directors, even if the remaining Directors constitute less than a quorum, and any Director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorshipDirectorship in which such vacancy occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, Independent Directors shall nominate replacements for vacancies among the Independent Directors’ positions and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies. No reduction in the number of Directors shall cause the removal of any Director from office prior to the expiration of his term. For the purposes of voting for Directors, each Share may be voted for as many individuals as there are Directors to be elected and for whose election the Share is entitled to be voted. Cumulative voting for Directors is prohibited.
The names of the Directors who shall serve on the Board until the firstnext annual meeting of the Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify, subject to an increase in the number of Directors prior to the first annual meeting of the Stockholders, are:
Nicholas S. Schorsch
William M. KahaneLee M. Elman
Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Elizabeth K. Tuppeny
Robert T. Cassato
Abby M. Wenzel
or such other Directors as elected or appointed in accordance with this Charter and the Bylaws.
SECTION 6.2 EXPERIENCE. Each Director shall have at least three years of relevant experience demonstrating the knowledge and experience required to successfully acquire and manage the type of assets being acquired by the Company. At least one (1) of the Independent Directors shall have three years of relevant real estate experience, and at least one (1) of the Independent Directors shall be a financial expert with at least three years of relevant finance experience.
SECTION 6.3 COMMITTEES. Subject to the MGCL, the Board may establish such committees as it deems appropriate, in its discretion, provided that the majority of the members of each committee are Independent Directors. Any Audit Committee established by the Board shall be composed solely of Independent Directors.
SECTION 6.4 TERM. Each Director shall hold office for one (1) year, until the next annual meeting of Stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and qualifies. Directors may be elected to an unlimited number of successive terms.
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SECTION 6.5 FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS. The Directors serve in a fiduciary capacity to the Company and have a fiduciary duty to the Stockholders, including a specific fiduciary duty to supervise the relationship of the Company with the Advisor.
SECTION 6.2 SECTION 6.6 RESIGNATION, OR REMOVAL OR DEATH. Any Director may resign by delivering his resignationnotice to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the chief executive officerChief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Any notice of resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later timereceipt by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of such notice or upon any future date specified in the resignation. Anynotice. Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares, any Director or the entire Board may be removed from office with or withoutat any time, but only for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Shares then outstanding and entitled to voteStockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors, subject to the rights of any Preferred Shares to elect or remove such Directors.Directors. For the purpose of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean, with respect to any particular Director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such Director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Company through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.
ARTICLE VII.
POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 7.1 GENERAL. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board. In accordance with the policies on investments and borrowing set forth in this Article VII and Article IX hereof, the Board shall monitor the administrative procedures, investment operations and performance of the Company and the Advisor to assure that such policies are carried out. The Board may take any action that, in its sole judgment and discretion, is necessary or desirable to conduct the business of the Company. The Charter shall be construed with a presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Board. Any construction of the Charter or determination made by the Board concerning its powers and authority hereunder shall be conclusive. The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board included in this Article VII shall in no way be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of this or any other provision of the Charter or construed or deemed by inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit the powers conferred upon the Board under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.
SECTION 7.2 AUTHORIZATION BY BOARD OF STOCK ISSUANCE. The Board may authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of stockShares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into shares of stockShares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board may deem advisable (including as compensation for the Independent Directors or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Charter or the Bylaws; provided that the issuance of Preferred Shares shall be approved by a majority of the Independent Directors not otherwise interested in the transaction, who shall have access, at the Company’s expense, to the Company’s legal counsel or to independent legal counsel.
SECTION 7.3 FINANCINGS. The Board shall have the power and authority to cause the Company to borrow or, in any other manner, raise money for the purposes and on the terms it determines, which terms may (i) include evidencing the same by issuance of Securities of the Company and (ii) have such provisions as the Board may determine (a) to reacquire such Securities; (b) to enter into other contracts or obligations on behalf of the Company; (c) to guarantee, indemnify or act as surety with respect to payment or performance of obligations of any Person; and (d) to mortgage, pledge, assign, grant security interests in or otherwise encumber the Company’s assets to secure any such Securities of the Company, contracts or obligations (including guarantees, indemnifications and suretyships); and to renew, modify, release, compromise, extend, consolidate or cancel, in whole or in part, any obligation to or of the Company or participate in any reorganization of obligors to the Company.
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SECTION 7.4 REIT QUALIFICATION. If the Company elects to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT, theThe Board shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Company as a REIT; provided, however, if the Board determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the Board may revoke or otherwise terminate the Company’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board also may determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Section 5.9 of Article V5.7 hereof is no longer required for REIT qualification.
SECTION 7.5 DETERMINATIONS BY BOARD. The determination as to any of the following matters, made by or pursuant to the direction of the Board, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Company and every Stockholder: the amount of the net income of the Company for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of sharesShares or the payment of other Distributions on sharesShares; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other cash flow, funds from operations, adjusted or modified funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation ofor resolution of any ambiguity with respect to any provision of the Charter (including the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other Distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of stockShares) or the Bylaws; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Company or any shares of stockShares; the number of shares of stockShares of any class of the Company; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Company; the application of any provision of the Charter in the case of any ambiguity, including, without limitation: (i) any provision of the definitions of any of the following: Affiliate, Independent Director and Sponsor, (ii) which amounts paid to the Advisor or its Affiliates are property-level expenses connected with the ownership of real estate interests, loans or other property, (iii) which expenses are excluded from the definition of Total Operating Expenses and (iv) whether expenses qualify as Organization and Offering Expenses; any conflict between the MGCL and the provisions set forth in the NASAA REIT Guidelinesany interpretation of the terms and conditions of one or more agreements with any Person; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Company or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board; provided, however, that any determination by the Board as to any of the preceding matters shall not render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination and no Director shall be liable for making or failing to make such a determination; and provided, further, that to the extent the Board determines that the MGCL conflicts with the provisions set forth in the NASAA REIT Guidelines, the NASAA REIT Guidelines control to the extent any provisions of the MGCL are not mandatory.
SECTION 7.6 STOCKHOLDER CONCURRENCE REQUIRED. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without concurrence of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, the Board may not (i) amend the Charter, except for amendments that do not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of Stockholders (including amendments to provisions relating to Director qualifications, fiduciary duty, liability and indemnification, conflicts of interest, investment policies or investment restrictions), (ii) sell all or substantially all of the Assets other than in the ordinary course of the Company’s business or in connection with liquidation and dissolution of the Company or as otherwise permitted by law, (iii) cause the merger or similar reorganization of the Company except as permitted by law or (iv) dissolve or liquidate the Company, other than before the Company’s initial investment in an Asset.
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SECTION 7.7 VOTE OF MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS REQUIRED. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a majority of the Independent Directors must approve matters relating to: (i) the requirement that a majority of Directors and of Independent Directors review and ratify the Charter at or before the first meeting of the Board; (ii) the duty of the Board to establish written policies on investments and borrowing and to monitor the administrative procedures, investment operations and performance of the Company and the Advisor to assure that such policies are carried out; (iii) the Company’s minimum capitalization; (iv) the Advisory Agreement; (v) liability and indemnification; (vi) reasonableness of the Company’s fees and expenses; (vii) limitations on Organization and Offering Expenses; (viii) limitations on Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses; (viii) limitations on Total Operating Expenses; (ix) limitations on Real Estate commissions on resale of Property; (x) limitations on incentive fees; (xi) Advisor compensation; (xii) the Independent Directors’ periodic duty to review the Company’s investment policies; (xiii) the authority of a majority of the Independent Directors to select an Independent Appraiser to determine the fair market value that the Company pays for Real Estate that it acquires both (a) when a majority of the Independent Directors determines to appoint an Independent Appraiser to determine fair market value in connection with any acquisition by the Company and (b) whenever the Company acquires Property from the Advisor, the Directors, the Sponsor or their respective Affiliates; (xiv) the restrictions and procedures contained herein relating to meetings of Stockholders; (xv) the authority of a majority of Stockholders present in person or by proxy at an annual meeting at which a quorum is present, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board, to vote to elect the Directors; (xvi) those requirements of any Reinvestment Plan that the Board establishes, relating to periodic distribution of certain material information to Stockholders and opportunity for participating Stockholders to withdraw; (xvii) the adoption of a Plan of Liquidation or a postponement thereof; and (xviii) the requirement that a majority of Independent Directors must approve matters relating to the duties and restrictions enumerated in this Section 7.7.
ARTICLE VIII.
ADVISOR
EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS
SECTION 8.1 APPOINTMENT AND INITIAL INVESTMENT OF ADVISOR. The Board is responsible for setting the general policies of the Company and for the general supervision of its business conducted by officers, agents, employees, advisors or independent contractors of the Company. However, the Board is not required personally to conduct the business of the Company, and it may (but need not) appoint, employ or contract with any Person (including a Person Affiliated with any Director) as an Advisor and may grant or delegate such authority to the Advisor as the Board may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or desirable. The term of retention of any Advisor shall not exceed one (1) year, although there is no limit to the number of times that a particular Advisor may be retained. The Sponsor or its Affiliates have made an initial investment of $200,000 in the Company. The Sponsor or any such Affiliate may not sell the Initial Investment while American Realty Capital III, LLC remains a Sponsor but may transfer the Initial Investment among American Realty Capital III, LLC, the Advisor, or any of their respective Affiliates.
SECTION 8.2 SUPERVISION OF ADVISOR. The Board shall evaluate the performance of the Advisor before entering into or renewing an Advisory Agreement, and the criteria used in such evaluation shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board. The Board may exercise broad discretion in allowing the Advisor to administer and regulate the operations of the Company, to act as agent for the Company, to execute documents on behalf of the Company and to make executive decisions that conform to general policies and principles established by the Board. The Board shall monitor the Advisor to assure that the administrative procedures, operations and programs of the Company are in the best interests of the Stockholders and are fulfilled. The Independent Directors are responsible for reviewing the total fees and expenses of the Company at least annually or with sufficient frequency to determine that the expenses incurred are reasonable in light of the investment performance of the Company, its Net Assets, its Net Income and the fees and expenses of other comparable unaffiliated REITs. Each such determination shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board. The Independent Directors also will be responsible for reviewing, from time to time and at least annually, the performance of the Advisor and determining that compensation to be paid to the Advisor is reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and that such compensation is within the limits prescribed by the Charter. The Independent Directors shall also supervise the
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performance of the Advisor and the compensation paid to the Advisor by the Company in order to determine that the provisions of the Advisory Agreement are being carried out. Specifically, the Independent Directors will consider factors such as (i) the amount of the fee paid to the Advisor in relation to the size, composition and performance of the Assets, (ii) the success of the Advisor in generating opportunities that meet the investment objectives of the Company, (iii) rates charged to other REITs and to investors other than REITs by advisors performing the same or similar services, (iv) additional revenues realized by the Advisor and its Affiliates through their relationship with the Company, including loan administration, underwriting or broker commissions, servicing, engineering, inspection and other fees, whether paid by the Company or by others with whom the Company does business, (v) the quality and extent of service and advice furnished by the Advisor, (vi) the performance of the Assets, including income, conservation or appreciation of capital, frequency of problem investments and competence in dealing with distress situations, and (vii) the quality of the Assets relative to the investments generated by the Advisor for its own account. The Independent Directors may also consider all other factors that they deem relevant, and the findings of the Independent Directors on each of the factors considered shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board. The Board shall determine whether any successor Advisor possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the advisory function for the Company and whether the compensation provided for in its contract with the Company is justified.
SECTION 8.3 FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS. The Advisor shall have a fiduciary responsibility and duty to the Company and to the Stockholders.
SECTION 8.4 AFFILIATION AND FUNCTIONS. The Board, by resolution or in the Bylaws, may provide guidelines, provisions or requirements concerning the affiliation and functions of the Advisor.
SECTION 8.5 TERMINATION. Either a majority of the Independent Directors or the Advisor may terminate the Advisory Agreement on sixty (60) days’ written notice without cause or penalty, and, in such event, the Advisor will cooperate with the Company and the Board in making an orderly transition of the advisory function.
SECTION 8.6 DISPOSITION FEE ON SALE OF PROPERTIES. The Company may pay the Advisor a real estate commission upon Sale of one (1) or more Properties, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) one-half (1/2) of the Competitive Real Estate Commission if a third party broker is also involved, or (ii) two percent (2%) of the sales price of such Property or Properties. Payment of such fee may be made only if the Advisor provides a substantial amount of services in connection with the Sale of a Property or Properties, as determined by a majority of the Independent Directors. In addition, the amount paid when added to all other real estate commissions paid to unaffiliated parties in connection with such Sale shall not exceed the lesser of the Competitive Real Estate Commission or an amount equal to six percent (6%) of the sales price of such Property or Properties.
SECTION 8.7 INCENTIVE FEES. The Company may pay (including through the issuance of an interest by the Operating Partnership) the Advisor or its Affiliates an interest in the gain from the Sale of Assets, for which full consideration is not paid in cash or property of equivalent value, provided the amount or percentage of such interest is reasonable. Such an interest in gain from the Sale of Assets shall be considered presumptively reasonable if it does not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the balance of such net proceeds remaining after payment to Stockholders, in the aggregate, of an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Invested Capital, plus an amount equal to six percent (6%) of the Invested Capital per annum cumulative. In the case of multiple Advisors, such Advisor and any of their Affiliates shall be allowed such fees provided such fees are distributed by a proportional method reasonably designed to reflect the value added to the Assets by each respective Advisor or any Affiliate thereof.
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SECTION 8.8 ORGANIZATION AND OFFERING EXPENSES LIMITATION. The Company shall reimburse the Advisor and its Affiliates for Organization and Offering Expenses incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates; provided, however, that the total amount of all Organization and Offering Expenses shall be reasonable and shall in no event exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Gross Proceeds of each Offering.
SECTION 8.9 ACQUISITION FEES. The Company may pay the Advisor and its Affiliates fees for the review and evaluation of potential investments in Assets; provided, however, (i) that the total of all Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses shall be reasonable, and shall not exceed an amount equal to four and one-half percent (4.5%) of the Contract Purchase Price, or, in the case of a Mortgage, four and one-half percent (4.5%) of the funds advanced and (ii) that once all the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering have been fully invested, the total of all Acquisition Fees shall not exceed an amount equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the Contract Purchase Price for all the Assets acquired; provided, however, that a majority of the Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction may approve fees and expenses in excess of these limits if they determine the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to the Company.
SECTION 8.10 ANNUAL SUBORDINATED PERFORMANCE FEE. Subject to Section 8.7, the Company may pay the Advisor an Annual Subordinated Performance Fee (“Annual Subordinated Performance Fee”) calculated on the basis of the Company’s Total Return to Stockholders, payable in arrears, for any year in which the Company’s Total Return to Stockholders exceeds six percent (6%) per annum, in an amount equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the excess Total Return to Stockholders, provided, that, the Annual Subordinated Performance Fee shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the aggregate Total Return to Stockholders for such year.
SECTION 8.11 REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES. The Company may reimburse the Advisor, at the end of each fiscal quarter, for Total Operating Expenses incurred by the Advisor; provided, however, that the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor at the end of any fiscal quarter for Total Operating Expenses that, in the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, exceed the greater of two percent (2%) of Average Invested Assets or twenty five percent (25%) of Net Income (the “2%/25% Guidelines”) for such year. The Independent Directors shall have the fiduciary responsibility of limiting Total Operating Expenses to amounts that do not exceed the 2%/25% Guidelines unless they have made a finding that, based on such unusual and non-recurring factors that they deem sufficient, a higher level of expenses (an “Excess Amount”) is justified. Any such finding and the reasons in support thereof shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board. Within sixty (60) days after the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company for which there is an Excess Amount which the Independent Directors conclude was justifiable and reimbursable to the Advisor, there shall be sent to the Stockholders a written disclosure of such fact, together with an explanation of the factors the Independent Directors considered in determining that such Excess Amount was justified. If the Independent Directors do not determine that excess expenses are justified, the Advisor shall reimburse the Company at the end of the twelve month period the amount by which the annual expenses paid or incurred by the Company exceeded the 2%/25% Guidelines.
SECTION 8.12 REIMBURSEMENT LIMITATION. The Company shall not reimburse the Advisor or its Affiliates for services for which the Advisor or its Affiliates are entitled to compensation in the form of a separate fee.
SECTION 8.13 NO FEES UPON INTERNALIZATION. If the Board elects to internalize any management services provided by the Advisor, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership shall pay any compensation or other remuneration to the Advisor or its Affiliates in connection with such internalization of management services.
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ARTICLE IX.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND LIMITATIONS
SECTION 9.1 REVIEW OF OBJECTIVES. The Independent Directors shall review the investment policies of the Company with sufficient frequency (not less often than annually) to determine that the policies being followed by the Company are in the best interests of its Stockholders. Each such determination and the basis therefor shall be set forth in the minutes of the meetings of the Board.
SECTION 9.2 CERTAIN PERMITTED INVESTMENTS. The following shall apply:
(i) The Company may invest in Assets.
(ii) The Company may invest in Joint Ventures with the Sponsor, the Advisor, one (1) or more Directors or any of their Affiliates only if a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction, approve such investment as being fair and reasonable to the Company and on substantially the same terms and conditions as those received by the other joint venturers.
(iii) Subject to any limitations in Section 9.3, the Company may invest in equity securities, provided that such investment shall be permitted only if a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction approve such investment as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable.
SECTION 9.3 INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS. In addition to other investment restrictions imposed by the Board from time to time, consistent with the Company’s objective of qualifying as a REIT, the following shall apply to the Company’s investments:
(i) Not more than ten percent (10%) of the Company’s total assets shall be invested in Unimproved Real Property or mortgage loans on Unimproved Real Property.
(ii) The Company shall not invest in commodities or commodity future contracts. This limitation is not intended to apply to futures contracts, when used solely for hedging purposes in connection with the Company’s ordinary business of investing in Real Estate assets and Mortgages.
(iii) Except for those Mortgages insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency, the Company shall not invest in or make any Mortgage, unless an appraisal is obtained concerning the underlying property. In a transaction in which a majority of the Independent Directors so determine, and in any transaction with the Advisor, the Sponsor, any Director or any Affiliate thereof, such appraisal will be obtained from an Independent Appraiser concerning the underlying property. Such appraisals shall be maintained in the Company’s records for at least five (5) years and shall be available for inspection and duplication by any holder of Common Shares for a reasonable charge. In addition to the appraisal, a mortgagee’s or owner’s title insurance policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or condition of the title must be obtained.
(iv) The Company shall not make or invest in any Mortgage, including a construction loan, on any one (1) property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Company, would exceed an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the appraised value of the property as determined by appraisal, unless substantial justification exists because of the presence of other underwriting criteria. For purposes of this subsection, the “aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Company” shall include all interest (excluding contingent participation in income and/or appreciation in value of the mortgaged property), the current payment of which may be deferred pursuant to the terms of such loans, to the extent that deferred interest on each loan exceeds five percent (5%) per annum of the principal balance of the loan.
(v) The Company shall not invest in indebtedness secured by a mortgage on real property which is subordinate to liens or other indebtedness or equity interests of the Advisor, the Sponsor, any Director or any Affiliate of the Company.
(vi) The Company shall not issue (A) equity Securities redeemable solely at the option of the holder (except that Stockholders may offer their Common Shares to the Company pursuant to any repurchase
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plan adopted by the Board on terms outlined in the Prospectus relating to any Offering, as such plan is thereafter amended in accordance with its terms); (B) debt Securities unless the historical debt service coverage (in the most recently completed fiscal year) as adjusted for known changes is sufficient to properly service that higher level of debt; (C) equity Securities on a deferred payment basis or under similar arrangements; (D) options or warrants to purchase shares of Capital Stock to the Advisor, the Directors, the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof except on the same terms as such options or warrants, if any, are sold to the general public or (E) equity securities that are assessable after the receipt of the consideration for which the Board authorized their issuance. The foregoing restrictions shall not prevent the Company from issuing options or warrants to the Advisor, the Directors, the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof at exercise prices not less than the fair market value of the underlying Securities on the date of grant and for consideration (which may include services) that in the judgment of the Independent Directors has a market value not less than the value of such option or warrant on the date of grant. Options or warrants issuable to the Advisor, the Directors, the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares on the date of grant. The voting rights per Share (other than any publicly held Share) sold in a private offering shall not exceed the voting rights which bear the same relationship to the voting rights of a publicly held Share as the consideration paid to the Company for each privately offered share bears to the book value of each outstanding publicly held share.
(vii) A majority of the Directors or a majority of the members of a duly authorized committee of the Board shall authorize the consideration to be paid for Real Property, ordinarily based on the fair market value of the Real Property. If a majority of the Independent Directors on the Board or such duly authorized committee determine, or if the Real Property is acquired from the Advisor, a Director, the Sponsor or their Affiliates, such fair market value shall be determined by a qualified Independent Appraiser selected by such Independent Directors.
(viii) The Company will continually review its investment activity to attempt to ensure that it is not classified as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(ix) The Company will not make any investment that the Company believes will be inconsistent with its objectives of qualifying and remaining qualified as a REIT unless and until the Board determines, in its sole discretion, that REIT qualification is not in the best interests of the Company.
(x) The Company shall not invest in real estate contracts of sale unless such contracts are in recordable form and appropriately recorded in the chain of title.
(xi) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, including through any subsidiary, extend or maintain credit, arrange for the extension of credit, or renew an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any of the Directors or any of the Company’s executive officers.
(xii) The Company will not invest in any equity securities (including any preferred equity securities) of another entity that are not traded on a national securities exchange or included for quotation on an inter-dealer quotation system unless a majority of disinterested Directors, including a majority of disinterested Independent Directors, approves the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable, other than equity securities of a REIT or other real estate operating company. Investments in entities affiliated with the Advisor, the Sponsor, any Director, or any of their Affiliates shall be subject to the restrictions on joint venture investments set forth in Section 9.2(ii).
(xiii) The Company shall not engage in any short sale.
(xiv) The Company shall not engage in trading, as opposed to investment activities.
(xv) The Company shall not engage in underwriting activities or distribute, as agent, securities issued by others.
(xvi) The Company shall not invest in foreign currency or bullion.
(xvii) The aggregate amount of borrowing shall not exceed three hundred percent (300%) of the Company’s Net Assets as of the date of the borrowing, which is generally expected to be approximately
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seventy-five percent (75%) of the cost of the Company’s investments, unless the excess is approved by a majority of the Independent Directors and disclosed to the Stockholders in the Company’s next quarterly report to Stockholders following such borrowing along with justification for such excess. This limitation, however, shall not apply to individual Real Estate assets or investments.
(xviii) The Company shall not acquire securities in any entity holding investments or engaging in activities prohibited by the restrictions on investments set forth in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xvii) of this Section 9.3.
ARTICLE X.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
SECTION 10.1 SALES AND LEASES TO THE COMPANY. The Company may purchase or lease an Asset or Assets from the Sponsor, the Advisor, a Director, an officer or any Affiliate thereof upon a finding by a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction (i) that such transaction is fair and reasonable to the Company and (ii) that such transaction is at a price to the Company no greater than the cost of the Asset to such Sponsor, Advisor, Director, officer, Affiliate or, if the price to the Company is in excess of such cost, substantial justification exists for the excess and the excess is reasonable. In no event shall the purchase price paid by the Company for any such Asset exceed the Asset’s current appraised value.
SECTION 10.2 SALES AND LEASES TO THE SPONSOR, ADVISOR, DIRECTORS OR AFFILIATES. An Advisor, the Sponsor, a Director, an officer or any Affiliate thereof may only purchase or lease Assets from the Company if a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction determine that the transaction is fair and reasonable to the Company.
SECTION 10.3 OTHER TRANSACTIONS.
(i) The Company shall not engage in any other transaction with the Sponsor, a Director, the Advisor or any Affiliates thereof unless a majority of the Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in such transaction approve such transaction as fair and reasonable to the Company and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company than those available from unaffiliated third parties.
(ii) The Company shall not make loans to the Sponsor, the Advisor, a Director, an officer or any Affiliates thereof except Mortgages pursuant to Section 9.3(iii) hereof or loans to wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Sponsor, the Advisor, the Directors, the officers and any Affiliates thereof shall not make loans to the Company, or to joint ventures in which the Company is a co-venturer, unless approved by a majority of the Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in such transaction as fair, competitive, and commercially reasonable, and no less favorable to the Company than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties.
(iii) The Company may enter into joint ventures with the Sponsor, the Advisor, a Director and any Affiliates thereof, provided that (a) a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the transaction as being fair and reasonable to the Company and (b) the investment by the Company is on substantially the same terms as those received by other joint venturers.
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ARTICLE XI.
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 11.1 MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS. There shall be an annual meeting of the Stockholders, to be held on such date and at such time and place as shall be determined by or in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws, at which the Directors shall be elected and any other proper business may be conducted. The annual meeting will be held upon reasonable notice on a date that is within a reasonable period of time following the distribution of the Company’s annual report to Stockholders, but not less than thirty (30) days after delivery of such report. The Directors, including the Independent Directors, shall take reasonable steps to ensure that such notice is provided. The holders of a majority of Shares entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, at an annual meeting at which a quorum is present may, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board, vote to elect the Directors. A quorum shall be the presence in person or by proxy of Stockholders entitled to cast at least fifty percent (50%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter. Special meetings of Stockholders may be called in the manner provided in the Bylaws, including by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, a majority of the Directors or a majority of the Independent Directors, and shall be called by the Secretary of the Company to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of Stockholders upon written request of Stockholders entitled to cast not less than ten percent (10%) of all votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting. The written request must be delivered in person or by mail and must state the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted upon at the meeting. Within ten (10) days after receipt of such written request, either in person or by mail, the secretary of the Company shall provide all Stockholders with written notice, either in person or by mail, of such meeting and the purpose of such meeting. Simultaneously with the receipt of the request, the Corporation shall inform the stockholders requesting the special meeting of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing a notice of the proposed meeting and request payment accordingly. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, such meeting shall be held not less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the Secretary’s delivery of such notice. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the meeting is called by written request of Stockholders as described in this Section 11.1, such meeting shall be held at the time and place specified in the Stockholders’ request; provided, however, that if none is so specified, such meeting shall be held at a time and place convenient to the Stockholders. If there are no Directors, the Secretary of the Company shall promptly call a special meeting of the Stockholders entitled to vote for the election of successor Directors. Any meeting may be adjourned and reconvened as the Board may determine or as otherwise provided in the Bylaws. Without the approval of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter, the Board may not (i) amend the Charter to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Stockholders; (ii) amend provisions of the Charter relating to director qualifications, fiduciary duties, liability and indemnification, conflicts of interest, investment policies or investment restrictions; (iii) liquidate or dissolve the Company other than before the initial investment in an Asset; (iv) sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted by law; or (v) cause the merger or similar reorganization of the Company except as permitted by law.
SECTION 11.2 VOTING RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDERS. Subject to the provisions of any class or series of shares of stock then outstanding and the mandatory provisions of any applicable laws or regulations, the Stockholders shall be entitled to vote only on the following matters: (a) election or removal of Directors, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board, as provided in Sections 6.1, 6.4, 6.6 and 11.1 hereof; (b) amendment of the Charter, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board, as provided in Article XIII hereof; (c) dissolution of the Company, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board; (d) to the extent required under Maryland law, merger or consolidation of the Company or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and (e) such other matters with respect to which the Board has adopted a resolution declaring that a proposed action is advisable and directing that the matter be submitted to the Stockholders for approval or ratification. Except with respect to the foregoing matters, no action taken by the Stockholders at any meeting shall in any way bind the Board. Without the approval of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter, the Board may not (i) amend the Charter to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Stockholders; (ii) amend provisions of the Charter relating to director qualifications, fiduciary duties, liability and indemnification, conflicts of interest, investment policies or investment restrictions; (iii) liquidate or dissolve the Company other than before the
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initial investment in an Asset; (iv) sell all or substantially all of the Assets other than in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted by law; or (v) cause the merger or similar reorganization of the Company except as permitted by law.
SECTION 11.3 EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS. NotwithstandingExcept as specifically provided in Section 6.2 hereof (relating to removal of Directors) and in the last sentence of Article X, notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of stockStockholders entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of sharesStockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
SECTION 11.4 VOTING LIMITATIONS ON SHARES HELD BY THE ADVISOR, DIRECTORS AND AFFILIATES. With respect to shares of stock owned by the Advisor, any Director or any of their Affiliates, neither the Advisor, nor such Director(s), nor any of their Affiliates may vote or consent on matters submitted to the Stockholders regarding the removal of the Advisor, such Director(s) or any of their Affiliates or any transaction between the Company and any of them. In determining the requisite percentage in interest of shares necessary to approve a matter on which the Advisor, such Director(s) and any of their Affiliates may not vote or consent, any shares owned by any of them shall not be included.
SECTION 11.5 RIGHT OF INSPECTION. Any Stockholder and any designated representative thereof shall be permitted access to the records of the Company and may inspect them at all reasonable times. Any Stockholder may copy any of those records for a reasonable charge. Access for the purpose of inspecting the Company’s books and records by the office or agency administering the securities laws of a jurisdiction shall be provided upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours.
SECTION 11.6 ACCESS TO STOCKHOLDER LIST. An alphabetical list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the Stockholders of the Company, along with the number of shares of stock held by each of them (the “Stockholder List”), shall be maintained as part of the books and records of the Company and shall be available for inspection by any Stockholder or the Stockholder’s designated agent at the home office of the Company upon the request of the Stockholder. The Stockholder List shall be updated at least quarterly to reflect changes in the information contained therein. A copy of the Stockholder List shall be mailed to any Stockholder so requesting within ten days of receipt by the Company of the request. The copy of the Stockholder List shall be printed in alphabetical order, on white paper, and in a readily readable type size (in no event smaller than 10-point type). The Company may impose a reasonable charge for expenses incurred in reproduction pursuant to the Stockholder request. The purposes for which a Stockholder may request a copy of the Stockholder List include, without limitation, matters relating to Stockholders’ voting rights, and the exercise of Stockholder rights under federal proxy laws.
If the Advisor or the Board neglects or refuses to exhibit, produce or mail a copy of the Stockholder List as requested, the Advisor and/or the Board, as the case may be, shall be liable to any Stockholder requesting the Stockholder List for the costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by that Stockholder for compelling the production of the Stockholder List, and for actual damages suffered by any Stockholder by reason of such refusal or neglect. It shall be a defense that the actual purpose and reason for the requests for inspection or for a copy of the Stockholder List is to secure the Stockholder List or other information for the purpose of selling the Stockholder List or copies thereof, or of using the same for a commercial purpose, other than in the interest of the applicant as a Stockholder relative to the affairs of the Company. The Company may require the Stockholder requesting the Stockholder List to represent that the Stockholder List is not requested for a commercial purpose unrelated to the Stockholder’s interest in the Company. The remedies provided hereunder to Stockholders requesting copies of the Stockholder List are in addition to, and shall not in any way limit, other remedies available to Stockholders under federal law, or the laws of any state.
SECTION 11.7 REPORTS. The Directors, including the Independent Directors, shall take reasonable steps to insure that the Company shall cause to be prepared and mailed or delivered to each Stockholder as of a record date after the end of the fiscal year and each holder of other publicly held Securities within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of the fiscal year to which it relates an annual report for each fiscal year ending after the Commencement of the Initial Public Offering that shall include: (i) financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which are audited and reported on by
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independent certified public accountants; (ii) the ratio of the costs of raising capital during the period to the capital raised; (iii) the aggregate amount of advisory fees and the aggregate amount of other fees paid to the Advisor and any Affiliate of the Advisor by the Company and including fees or charges paid to the Advisor and any Affiliate of the Advisor by third parties doing business with the Company; (iv) the Total Operating Expenses of the Company, stated as a percentage of Average Invested Assets and as a percentage of Net Income; (v) a report from the Independent Directors that the policies being followed by the Company are in the best interests of its Stockholders and the basis for such determination; and (vi) separately stated, full disclosure of all material terms, factors and circumstances surrounding any and all transactions involving the Company, the Directors, the Advisors, the Sponsors and any Affiliate thereof occurring in the year for which the annual report is made, and the Independent Directors shall be specifically charged with a duty to examine and comment in the report on the fairness of such transactions.
SECTION 11.8 TENDER OFFERS. If any Person makes a tender offer, including, without limitation, a “mini-tender” offer, such Person must comply with all of the provisions of Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, disclosure and notice requirements, that would be applicable if the tender offer was for more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that unless otherwise required by the Exchange Act, such documents are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any Person who initiates a tender offer without complying with the provisions of Regulation 14D (such tender offer, a “Non-Compliant Tender Offer”) shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Section 11.8, including, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with the review of all documents related to such tender offer. In addition, the Company may seek injunctive relief, including, without limitation, a temporary or permanent restraining order, in connection with any Non-Compliant Tender Offer. This Section 11.8 shall be of no force or effect with respect to any Shares that are then Listed.
ARTICLE IX.ARTICLE XII.
LIABILITY OF STOCKHOLDERS, DIRECTORS, ADVISORS AND AFFILIATES;
TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN AFFILIATES AND THE COMPANY AND OFFICERS
SECTION 9.1 SECTION 12.1 LIMITATION OF STOCKHOLDER LIABILITY. No Stockholder shall be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Company by reason of being a Stockholder, nor shall any Stockholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any Person in connection with the Company’s assets or the affairs of the Company by reason of being a Stockholder. All Shares issued to Stockholders shall be non-assessable.
SECTION 9.2 SECTION 12.2 LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Subject to the limitations set forth underTo the maximum extent that Maryland law or in paragraph (c) or (d) below, noin effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no present or former Director or officer of the Company shall be liable to the Company or itsthe Stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 12.29.2(a), nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or Bylaws inconsistent with this Section 12.29.2(a), shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
(b) Subject to the limitations set forth underThe Company shall have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law or in paragraph (c) or (d) below, the Company shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification,in effect from time to time, to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (i) any individual who is a present or former Director or officer of the Company and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or, (ii) any individual who, while a Director or officer of the Company and at the request of the Company, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the
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proceedingfrom and against any claim or liability to which such Person may become subject or which such Person may incur by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (iii) the Advisor of any of its Affiliates acting as an agent of the Company. The rights of a Director or officer to indemnification and advance of expenses provided hereby shall vest immediately upon election of such Director or officer. The Company may. The Company shall have the power, with the approval of the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof, to provide such indemnification and advance foradvancement of expenses to a personPerson who served a predecessor of the Company in any of the capacities described in (i) or (ii) above and to any employee or agent of the Company or a predecessor of the Company. The Board may take such action as is necessary to carry out this Section 12.2(b). No amendment of the Charter or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the right of indemnification provided hereunder with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) or (b) above, the Company shall not provide for indemnification of a Director, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Advisor (the “Indemnitee”) for any liability or loss suffered by any of them and the Company shall not provide that an Indemnitee be held harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Company, unless all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The Indemnitee has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company.
(ii) The Indemnitee was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company.
(iii) Such liability or loss was not the result of (A) negligence or misconduct, in the case that the Indemnitee is a Director (other than an Independent Director), the Advisor or an Affiliate of the Advisor or (B) gross negligence or willful misconduct, in the case that the Indemnitee is an Independent Director.
(iv) Such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of Net Assets and not from the Stockholders.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) or (b) above, the Company shall not provide indemnification for any loss, liability or expense arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by an Indemnitee, unless one (1) or more of the following conditions are met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the Indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the Indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the Indemnitee, and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which Securities were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.
SECTION 12.3 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company may pay or reimburse reasonable legal expenses and other costs incurred by an Indemnitee in advance of final disposition of a proceeding only if: (i) the proceeding relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company, (ii) the Indemnitee provides the Company with a written affirmation of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by Section 12.2, (iii) the proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not a Stockholder or, if by a Stockholder acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction approves such advancement and (iv) the Indemnitee provides the Company with a written undertaking to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of interest, if it is ultimately determined that the Indemnitee did not comply with the requisite standard of conduct.
SECTION 9.3 SECTION 12.4 EXPRESS EXCULPATORY CLAUSES IN INSTRUMENTS. Neither the Stockholders nor the Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company shall be liable under any written instrument creating an obligation of the Company by reason of their being Stockholders, Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company, and all Persons shall look solely to the Company’s assets for
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the payment of any claim under or for the performance of that instrument. The omission of the foregoing exculpatory language from any instrument shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such instrument and shall not render any Stockholder, Director, officer, employee or agent of the Company liable thereunder to any third party, nor shall the Directors or any officer, employee or agent of the Company be liable to anyone as a result of such omission.
ARTICLE X.ARTICLE XIII.
AMENDMENTS
The Company reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to itsthe Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any outstanding shares of stockShares. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on Stockholders, Directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation. Except foras otherwise provided in the next sentence and except for those amendments permitted to be made without Stockholder approval under Maryland law or by specific provision in thisthe Charter, any amendment to the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board and approved by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, including, without limitation, (i) any amendment which would adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Stockholders and (ii) any amendment to Sections 6.2, 6.5 and 6.6 of Article VI, Article IX, Article X, Article XII, Article XIV, Article XV and this Article XIII (or any other amendment of the Charter that would have the effect of amending such sections). However, any amendment to the third sentence of Section 6.2 hereof or to this sentence of the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board and approved by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
ARTICLE XIV.
ROLL-UP TRANSACTIONS
(i) In connection with any proposed Roll-Up Transaction, an appraisal of all of the Company’s assets shall be obtained from a competent Independent Appraiser. The Company’s assets shall be appraised on a consistent basis, and the appraisal shall be based on the evaluation of all relevant information and shall indicate the value of the assets as of a date immediately prior to the announcement of the proposed Roll-Up Transaction. The appraisal shall assume an orderly liquidation of the assets over a 12-month period. If the appraisal will be included in a prospectus used to offer the securities of a Roll-Up Entity, the appraisal shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the states as an exhibit to the registration statement for the offering. Accordingly, an issuer using the appraisal shall be subject to liability for violation of Section 11 of the Securities Act, and comparable provisions under state laws for any material misrepresentations or omissions in the appraisal. The terms of the engagement of the Independent Appraiser shall clearly state that the engagement is for the benefit of the Company and the Stockholders. A summary of the appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the appraisal, shall be included in a report to Stockholders in connection with a proposed Roll-Up Transaction. In connection with a proposed Roll-Up Transaction, the person sponsoring the Roll-Up Transaction shall offer to holders of Common Shares who vote against the proposed Roll-Up Transaction the choice of:
(a) accepting the securities of a Roll-Up Entity offered in the proposed Roll-Up Transaction; or
(b) one (1) of the following:
(I) remaining as Stockholders of the Company and preserving their interests therein on the same terms and conditions as existed previously; or
(II) receiving cash in an amount equal to the Stockholder’s pro rata share of the appraised value of the net assets of the Company.
(ii) The Company is prohibited from participating in any proposed Roll-Up Transaction:
(a) that would result in the holders of Common Shares having voting rights in a Roll-Up Entity that are less than the rights provided for in Article XI hereof;
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(b) that includes provisions that would operate as a material impediment to, or frustration of, the accumulation of shares of stock by any purchaser of the securities of the Roll-Up Entity (except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of the Roll-Up Entity), or which would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities of the Roll-Up Entity on the basis of the number of shares held by that investor;
(c) in which investor’s rights to access of records of the Roll-Up Entity will be less than those described in Sections 11.5 and 11.6 hereof; or
(d) in which any of the costs of the Roll-Up Transaction would be borne by the Company if the Roll-Up Transaction is rejected by the holders of Common Shares.
ARTICLE XV.
DURATION
If the Board has not determined to pursue a Liquidity Event by the sixth anniversary of the Termination of the Initial Public Offering, the Board shall adopt a resolution declaring that a proposed liquidation of the Company is advisable on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in, or referred to, in the resolution (the “Plan of Liquidation”) and directing that the proposed Plan of Liquidation be submitted for consideration at either an annual or special meeting of the Stockholders provided, however, that the adoption of a Plan of Liquidation by the Board and the submission thereof to the Stockholders may be postponed if a majority of Directors, including a majority of Independent Directors, determines that a liquidation is not then in the best interest of the Stockholders. If the adoption of a Plan of Liquidation and the submission thereof to the Stockholders is so postponed, the Board shall reconsider whether the liquidation is in the best interest of the Stockholders at least annually and further postponement of the adoption of a Plan of Liquidation and the submission thereof to the Stockholders shall only be permitted if a majority of Directors, including a majority of Independent Directors, again determines that a liquidation would not then be in the best interest of the Stockholders. If the Board adopts a Plan of Liquidation and the Stockholders do not approve the Plan of Liquidation, (i) the Company shall continue operating and (ii) upon the written request of Stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the then outstanding Common Shares, the Board shall resubmit the Plan of Liquidation for consideration by proxy statement to the Stockholders up to once every two (2) years. If the Board adopts a Plan of Liquidation and the Stockholders approve the Plan of Liquidation, the Board shall commence an orderly liquidation of the Assets pursuant to such Plan of Liquidation. If Listing occurs on or before the sixth anniversary of the Termination of the Initial Public Offering, the Company shall continue perpetually unless dissolved pursuant to any applicable provision of the MGCL.
THIRD: The amendment and restatement of the charter as hereinaboveherein set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Directors of the Company and approved by the stockholders of the Company as required by law.
FOURTH: The current address of the principal office of the Company is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
FIFTH: The name and address of the Company’s current resident agent are as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
SIXTH: The number of directors of the Company and the names of the directors currently in office are as set forth in Section 6.1 of Article VI of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
SEVENTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Company had authority to issue immediately prior to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter was 350,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value per share, all of one (1) class. The aggregate par value of all shares of stock having par value was $3,500,000. The total number of shares of stock which the Company has authority to issue pursuant to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter is 350,000,000, consisting of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $3,500,000.EIGHTH: The undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the
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Company and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, American Realty Capital New York City REIT, Inc. has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer[ ], and attested by its Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary[ ], on this 21st day of April, 2014. , 2017.
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