NNN 8-K
Nnn REIT, Inc. (NNN)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
On August 6, 2026, NNN REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”) with each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BTIG, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC and Truist Securities, Inc., each in its capacity as sales agent (the “agents”) and, together with Nomura Securities International Inc. (acting through BTIG, LLC as agent) and except in the case of BTIG, LLC, a forward seller and as applicable, their respective affiliates or agents acting as forward purchasers. The Equity Distribution Agreement replaces the Company’s existing equity distribution agreement dated August 3, 2023, and no further issuances or sales may be made thereunder.
Under the Equity Distribution Agreement, from time to time the Company may issue and sell up to 25,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, through the agents acting as sales agents, or directly to the agents acting as principals for their own account, in each case at a price agreed upon at the time of sale.
In connection with the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company intends to enter into separate master forward confirmations (collectively, the “Master Confirmations”) with each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Markets Americas LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Truist Bank (each, together with their respective agents or affiliates as applicable, the “forward purchasers”). Under the Equity Distribution Agreement and the Master Confirmations, from time to time the Company may enter into a supplemental confirmation and other documentation with a forward purchaser (collectively, a “forward sale agreement”). In connection with each forward sale agreement, the applicable forward purchaser will use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow from third parties and, through an agent or another affiliate acting as forward seller, sell a number of shares equal to the number of shares underlying the forward sale agreement.
In one form of forward sale agreement that the Company may enter into with certain of the forward purchasers (a “contingent forward transaction”), the Company’s obligation to sell, and the applicable forward purchaser’s obligation to purchase, shares underlying such forward sale agreement at the applicable forward sale price is contingent on the applicable forward purchaser’s exercise (or deemed exercise) of a contingency, which may occur in whole or in part from time to time prior to specified contingency expiration dates.
In another form of forward sale agreement that the Company may enter into with any of the forward purchasers (a “non-contingent forward transaction”), the Company’s obligation to sell, and the applicable forward purchaser’s obligation to purchase, shares underlying such forward sale agreement at the applicable forward sale price is not subject to the contingency described above. In this Current Report, the term “fixed share forward transaction” refers to such a non-contingent forward transaction as well as the contingency exercised portion of a contingent forward transaction.
The Company will not initially receive any proceeds from sales of borrowed shares by the forward sellers or their agents or affiliates in connection with any forward sale agreements, but, for contingent forward transactions, the Company may receive contingency premiums from the applicable forward purchaser. The Company expects to fully physically settle each fixed share forward transaction on one or more dates chosen by the Company on or prior to the maturity date of that particular forward sale agreement, in which case the Company will expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at settlement equal to the number of shares underlying the particular forward sale agreement multiplied by the applicable forward sale price. However, subject to certain exceptions and conditions, the Company may also elect to cash settle or net share settle a fixed share forward transaction, in which case the Company may not receive any proceeds from the issuance of shares and will instead receive or pay cash (in the case of cash settlement) or receive or deliver shares (in the case of net share settlement).
Each agent will receive from the Company a commission that will not exceed, but may be lower than 2.0% of the gross sales price of all shares sold through it as agent under the Equity Distribution Agreement. In connection with each forward sale, the Company will pay the applicable forward purchaser, in the form of a reduced forward sale price under the related forward sale agreement with the related forward purchaser, commissions at a mutually agreed rate that shall not be more than 2.0% of the initial forward sale price for shares underlying a contingent forward transaction or 2.0% of the gross sales price of all borrowed shares sold by it as a forward seller in connection with a non-contingent forward transaction, as applicable.
In the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company makes customary representations to the agents, forward purchasers and forward sellers, and the Company agrees to indemnify the agents, forward purchasers and forward sellers against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
The foregoing description of the Equity Distribution Agreement and the Master Confirmations does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and conditions of the Equity Distribution Agreement filed herewith as Exhibit 1.1 and the forms of Master Confirmations filed herewith as Exhibits 1.2 and 1.3, which exhibits are incorporated herein by reference. This Current Report shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the shares in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| NNN REIT, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Vincent H. Chao | |
| Name: | Vincent H. Chao | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
Dated: August 7, 2026
Exhibit 1.1
NNN REIT, INC.
25,000,000 Shares
Common Stock
($0.01 par value per share)
Equity Distribution Agreement
August 6, 2026
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
500 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036
BTIG, LLC
65 East 55th Street
New York, NY 10022
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
Jefferies LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Nomura Securities International, Inc.
309 West 49th Street
New York, NY 10019
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Brookfield Place
200 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10281
TD Securities (USA) LLC
1 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Truist Securities, Inc.
50 Hudson Yards, 70th Floor
New York, NY 10001
As Managers and/or Forward Sellers
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
500 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
Bank of America, N.A.
c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036
Citibank, N.A.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
Jefferies LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Mizuho Markets Americas LLC
c/o Mizuho Securities USA LLC, as agent
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.
309 West 49th Street
New York, NY 10019
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Royal Bank of Canada
c/o RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Brookfield Place
200 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10281
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
c/o TD Securities (USA) LLC
1 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Truist Bank
50 Hudson Yards, 70th Floor
New York, NY 10001
As Forward Purchasers
Ladies and Gentlemen:
NNN REIT, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Maryland (the “Company”), and each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BTIG, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC and Truist Securities, Inc. (in its capacity as sales agent or principal in connection with the offering and sale of any Issuance Shares (as defined below), each a “Manager,” and together, the “Managers” and, together with Nomura Securities International, Inc. (acting through BTIG, LLC as agent) and except in the case of BTIG, LLC, in its capacity as agent for the Forward Purchaser (as defined below) in connection with the offering and sale of any Forward Hedge Shares (as defined below) hereunder, each a “Forward Seller” and together, the “Forward Sellers”), and each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Markets Americas LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Truist Bank (in its capacity as purchaser under any Forward Contract (as defined below), each a “Forward Purchaser,” and together, the “Forward Purchasers”), hereby agree to this Equity Distribution Agreement (this “Agreement”) as follows:
For purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that, if Forward Hedge Shares (as defined below) are offered or sold through a Manager acting as Forward Seller for the applicable Forward Purchaser, then such Manager, as Forward Seller, shall be acting as sales agent for the applicable Forward Purchaser with respect to the offer and sale of such Forward Hedge Shares, and, except in cases where this Agreement expressly refers to a Manager acting as sales agent for the Company or unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to a Manager acting as sales agent shall also be deemed to apply to such Manager when acting as Forward Seller, mutatis mutandis.
1. Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the following respective meanings:
“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any Shares, the time of sale of such Shares pursuant to this Agreement.
“Base Prospectus” means, at any given time, the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein as of such time.
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City, New York.
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“Capped Number” with respect to any Forward Contract has the meaning set forth in such Forward Contract.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b) ), (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b) or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Current Seller Commission Rate” means the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate and the Selling Commission Rate, as applicable.
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“Disclosure Package” means (a) the Base Prospectus, (b) the Prospectus Supplement, (c) the most recently filed Interim Prospectus Supplement (if any), (d) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule I hereto, (e) the public offering price of Shares sold at the relevant Applicable Time and (f) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.
“Effective Date” means each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective under the Securities Act.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Time” means the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.
“Forward” means the transaction, whether non-contingent or contingent, resulting from each occasion on which the Company elects to exercise its right to deliver a Forward Placement Notice to a Forward Seller and a Forward Purchaser requiring such Forward Seller to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Forward Hedge Shares as specified in such Forward Placement Notice, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Forward Contract” means, for each Forward, the contract evidencing such Forward between the Company and a Forward Purchaser, which shall be comprised of the Master Forward Confirmation and the related “Supplemental Confirmation” (as defined in the Master Forward Confirmation) for such Forward.
“Forward Date” means any date of receipt by the Company of acceptance of the terms of a Forward Placement Notice, or receipt by the Current Forward Purchaser and Current Forward Seller of the Company’s Acceptance, if applicable, in each case in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof.
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“Forward Hedge Selling Commission” means, for any Forward Contract, the product of (x) the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate for such Forward Contract and (y) the aggregate Sales Price of the Forward Hedge Shares sold during the Trading Day of any Forward Hedge Selling Period.
“Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate” means, for any Forward Contract, a rate of any commission, discount or other compensation to be paid by the Company to a Forward Seller in connection with the sale of the Forward Hedge Shares, not to exceed 2.0%, as specified in the applicable Forward Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).
“Forward Hedge Selling Period” means, for each Forward, the period specified in the Forward Placement Notice for such Forward, as amended or supplemented by any applicable Acceptance; provided that if, prior to the scheduled end of any Forward Hedge Selling Period (i) in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, the Forward Hedge Shares for such Forward would equal or exceed the Maximum Forward Hedge Shares, (ii) in the case of a Contingent Forward, (A) the number of Shares sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets by the Forward Seller in connection with establishing the applicable Forward Purchaser’s Initial Hedge Position would equal or exceed the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares specified in the applicable Forward Placement Notice, Acceptance or Supplemental Confirmation or (B) such Contingent Forward is terminated pursuant to the terms of the applicable Master Forward Confirmation,, (iii) the applicable Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance is no longer effective in accordance with Section 3 hereof, (iv) in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, any event occurs that would permit the Forward Purchaser to designate a “Scheduled Trading Day” as an “Early Valuation Date” (as each such term is defined in the Master Forward Confirmation) under, and pursuant to the provisions opposite the caption “Early Valuation” in Section 2 of, the Master Forward Confirmation for Non-Contingent Forwards or (v) a “Bankruptcy Termination Event” (as such term is defined in the applicable Master Forward Confirmation) occurs, then the Forward Hedge Selling Period shall immediately terminate as of the first such occurrence. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Forward Hedge Selling Period is terminated pursuant to any of the foregoing, this shall have no effect as to any Forward Hedge Shares already sold , or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, any Shares already sold or introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the Initial Hedge Position prior to such termination.
“Forward Hedge Shares” means all Common Stock borrowed by a Forward Purchaser and offered and sold by a Forward Seller in connection with any Forward that has occurred or may occur in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Forward Placement Notice” means a written notice to a Forward Purchaser and a Forward Seller delivered in accordance with this Agreement that contains the information required by Section 3(a) and specifies that it relates to a Forward substantially in the applicable form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, or Exhibit A-2, in the case of a Contingent Forward, or such other form as the Company, the applicable Forward Purchaser and the applicable Forward Seller may agree.
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“Forward Purchaser” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement and shall include Contingent Forward Purchasers, unless the context indicates otherwise.
“Forward Seller” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Free Writing Prospectus” means a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“Initial Hedge Position” means, with respect to any Contingent Forward, the “Initial Hedge Position” as defined in the applicable Master Forward Confirmation for such Contingent Forward.
“Interim Prospectus Supplement” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares prepared and filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) from time to time as provided by Section 8(x) of this Agreement.
“Issuance” means each occasion the Company elects to exercise its right to deliver an Issuance Placement Notice requiring a Manager to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Issuance Shares as specified in such Issuance Placement Notice, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Issuance Amount” means the aggregate number of the Issuance Shares to be offered and sold by a Manager with respect to any Issuance as specified in the Issuance Placement Notice for such Issuance.
“Issuance Placement Notice” means a written notice to a Manager delivered in accordance with this Agreement that contains the information required by Section 3(a), a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A-3.
“Issuance Selling Period” means the period commencing on the Trading Day specified in the Issuance Placement Notice and terminating on the date specified in the Issuance Placement Notice.
“Issuance Shares” means all shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to an Issuance that has occurred or may occur in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.
“Manager” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Master Forward Confirmation” means the applicable Master Confirmation for Non-Contingent Forwards or Contingent Forwards, as the case may be, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Forward Purchaser party thereto, including all provisions incorporated by reference therein.
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“Maximum Forward Hedge Shares” means, with respect to any Non-Contingent Forward, the amount specified in a Forward Placement Notice as the maximum number of Forward Hedge Shares to be sold by a Forward Seller with respect to any Forward.
“Placement Notice” means an Issuance Placement Notice or a Forward Placement Notice.
“Prospectus” means the Base Prospectus included in the Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein as of such time, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement and the most recently filed Interim Prospectus Supplement (if any).
“Prospectus Supplement” means, at any given time, the most recent prospectus supplement relating to the Shares that was filed pursuant to Rule 424(b), including the documents incorporated by reference therein as of such time, in the form furnished by the Company to the Managers and the Forward Sellers in connection with the offering of Shares.
“Registration Statement” means the registration statement referred to in Sections 6(a)(i) and 6(a)(ii), such registration statement, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act, as such section applies to the Managers and the Forward Sellers, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference therein as of such time and (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus relating to the offering of the Shares filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Securities Act, to be part of the registration statement as of such time.
“Rule 153”, “Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B”, “Rule 433”, “Rule 456”, “Rule 462” and “Rule 462(e)” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.
“Sales Price” means for each Issuance or Forward hereunder, the actual execution price of each Issuance Share (in the case of an Issuance) or the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price of the Forward Hedge Shares (in the case of a Forward) sold by a Manager or a Forward Seller during any Selling Period or as otherwise agreed by the parties in other methods of sale.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Selling Commission” means, for any Issuance the product of (x) the Selling Commission Rate for such Issuance and (y) the aggregate Sales Price of the Issuance Shares sold during the Trading Day of any Issuance Selling Period.
“Selling Commission Rate” means a mutually agreed rate, not to exceed 2.0%, of the Sales Price of Issuance Shares sold during any Issuance Selling Period as specified in the Issuance Placement Notice for such Issuance (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).
“Selling Period” means any Forward Hedge Selling Period or Issuance Selling Period.
“Shares” means Issuance Shares and Forward Hedge Shares, as applicable.
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“Trading Day” means any day on which shares of Common Stock are purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Volume-Weighted Hedge Price” (i) means, with respect to any Non-Contingent Forward, the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price as defined in the applicable Master Forward Confirmation for Non-Contingent Forwards and (ii) with respect to any Contingent Forward, references in this Agreement to the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price shall be deemed to refer to the “Initial Share Price” as defined in the applicable Master Forward Confirmation for Contingent Forwards, except to the extent the context requires otherwise or the applicable Forward Placement Notice, Acceptance or Supplemental Confirmation provides otherwise.
“Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” means a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405.
2. Description of Shares. The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company may issue and sell, through Issuances and/or by way of Forwards, in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, collectively in aggregate up to 25,000,000 Shares (the “Maximum Amount”). Each Manager has been appointed by the Company as its agent to sell Issuance Shares upon each occasion that the Company elects to exercise its right to deliver an Issuance Placement Notice to such Manager, and each such Manager agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Issuance Shares offered by the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein and in such Issuance Placement Notice. The Company may also enter into one or more non-contingent Forwards (the “Non-Contingent Forwards”) with any of the Forward Purchasers or contingent Forwards (the “Contingent Forwards”) with Jefferies LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., Mizuho Markets Americas LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Truist Bank, each as a Forward Purchaser (in such capacity, each a “Contingent Forward Purchaser”, and collectively, the “Contingent Forward Purchasers”). The applicable Forward Sellers shall be acting solely as sales agents for the applicable Forward Purchasers and agree with the Company and the applicable Forward Purchasers to use commercially reasonable efforts upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein and in the applicable Master Forward Confirmation, (i) in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, to sell the applicable Forward Hedge Shares and (ii) in the case of a Contingent Forward, to sell the applicable Shares or otherwise introduce such Shares into the public markets in connection with the establishment of the applicable Forward Purchaser’s Initial Hedge Position under the applicable Master Forward Confirmation. Under no circumstances shall the number of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement, including any Terms Agreement (as defined below), separate underwriting or similar agreement covering principal transactions described in this Section 2, exceed the Maximum Amount.
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The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell Shares directly to a Manager as principal, other than in connection with any Forward (each such transaction, a “Principal Transaction”), the Company and the applicable Manager will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale. If the Company wishes to issue and sell Shares pursuant to this Agreement through a Principal Transaction, it shall notify the applicable Manager of the proposed terms of such Principal Transaction. If the applicable Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company wishes to accept amended terms, the applicable Manager and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Principal Transaction. The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or the applicable Manager unless and until the Company and the applicable Manager have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. A Terms Agreement may specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by the applicable Manager. The commitment of the applicable Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and in the Terms Agreement. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the applicable Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, the commission, discount, or other compensation payable to the applicable Manager, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the applicable Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement and any other information or documents required by the applicable Manager. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control.
The issuance and sale of the Shares through any of the Managers or Forward Sellers, as applicable, will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement that was filed by the Company and became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue the Shares. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers shall have no responsibility for monitoring the availability of Shares for sale under the Registration Statement or this Agreement.
3. Placement Notices.
(a) Each time that the Company wishes to execute an Issuance or a Forward hereunder, as the case may be (each, a “Placement”), it will, (i) in the case of an Issuance, either (x) instruct a Manager by telephone and promptly confirm the instructions by sending an Issuance Placement Notice to such Manager by email or (y) send an Issuance Placement Notice to a Manager by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the Company and the applicable Manager) or, (ii) in the case of a Forward, send a Forward Placement Notice to a Forward Purchaser and the applicable Forward Seller by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by either the applicable Forward Purchaser or the applicable Forward Seller) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires to effect the Issuance or Forward, as the case may be, which shall at a minimum include (A) in the case of an Issuance, the Issuance Amount; (B) in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, the Maximum Forward Hedge Shares; (C) in the case of a
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Contingent Forward, the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares specified in the applicable Forward Placement Notice; and (D) in any case, as applicable, the time period or periods during which offers are to be made, any limitation on the aggregate number of Issuance Shares, Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Shares to be sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, that may be sold in any one day, the Current Seller Commission Rate payable to the Current Seller, any minimum price per share below which sales may not be made or any formula pursuant to which such minimum price shall be determined and, as applicable, certain specified terms of the Forward, including the expected Forward Price Reduction Dates and Forward Price Reduction Amounts. A form of Forward Placement Notice for a Non-Contingent Forward is attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, and a form of Forward Placement Notice for a Contingent Forward is attached hereto as Exhibit A-2. The Manager then in receipt of an Issuance Placement Notice is herein referred to as the “Current Agent,” or the Forward Seller then in receipt of a Forward Placement Notice is herein referred to as the “Current Forward Seller.” The Forward Purchaser for whom the Current Forward Seller is acting at any time is herein referred to as the “Current Forward Purchaser.” There may be only one Current Agent per day and no Current Agent during any Forward Hedge Selling Period. In addition, there may only be one Current Forward Purchaser and one Current Forward Seller during any Forward Hedge Selling Period, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Master Forward Confirmation, and during any Unwind Period (as defined in the applicable Master Forward Confirmation). The Company further agrees that it will not sell, or instruct any other party hereto to sell, any Shares under any other sales agency financing agreements or other similar arrangements on such day. The Current Agent or the Current Forward Seller, as the case may be, at any given time is herein referred to as the “Current Seller.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may appoint another Manager or Forward Seller (each, an “Additional Agent/Forward Seller”) to execute additional sales of Shares on a day during which there is already a Current Seller (including during any Forward Hedge Selling Period or any Unwind Period), so long as (i) the Additional Agent/Forward Seller executes only one or more privately negotiated transactions, which may include block trades (each, an “Exempt Transaction”) and (ii) if such Exempt Transaction occurs prior to 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such day, the Company provides the Current Seller with a notice of suspension pursuant to Section 5 hereof. Each Placement Notice sent to a Manager or Forward Seller and Forward Purchaser, as applicable, shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to two or more of the individuals from such Manager (in the case of an Issuance Placement Notice) or such Forward Purchaser and such Forward Seller (in the case of a Forward Placement Notice) set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto, as such Exhibit B attached hereto may be amended from time to time. The Company may amend Exhibit B from time to time by providing written notice to the Managers and the Forward Purchasers in accordance with Section 14 hereof.
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If the Current Agent or, with respect to a Non-Contingent Forward, the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, wishes to accept such proposed terms included in the Placement Notice (which, in the case of an Issuance Placement Notice, the Current Agent may decline in the event the Current Agent and the Company are unable to mutually agree on the Selling Commission Rate payable to the Current Agent, and in the case of a Forward Placement Notice, the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller may decline for any reason in their sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day following the Business Day on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, issue to the Company a notice by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) addressed to two or more of the individuals from each of the Company and the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto) setting forth the terms that the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, are willing to accept. Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, until the Company delivers to the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, an acceptance by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”), which Acceptance shall be addressed to two or more of the individuals from the Company and the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto. With respect to a Forward Placement Notice delivered by the Company in connection with a Contingent Forward, the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, acting in their sole discretion, may quote, on the same Trading Day such Forward Placement Notice is received, non-binding, indicative terms of such Contingent Forward which shall become binding only if accepted by the Company and acknowledged by the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller in accordance with this paragraph, including a market reference price, Initial Forward Price, Contingency Premium, Initial Share Price or the method for determining the Initial Share Price, approximate initial “delta,” Maximum Transaction Number of Shares or maximum number of Shares underlying such Contingent Forward, Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate, Spread, Initial Stock Loan Rate, Maximum Stock Loan Rate, Sales Period Outside Date, Component-level Maximum Numbers of Shares and Contingency Expiration Dates, and any other terms required to complete the related Supplemental Confirmation (a “Contingent Forward Quote”), in which case the Company, acting in its sole discretion, may accept such terms proposed in such Contingent Forward Quote (as modified by agreement between the parties prior to such acceptance) by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) addressed to two or more of the individuals from each of the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto and the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, acting in their sole discretion, may acknowledge such acceptance by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) addressed to two or more of the individuals from the Company, set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto (a Forward Placement Notice, as modified by any Contingent Forward Quote accepted by the Company and acknowledged by the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller shall also be deemed to constitute an
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“Acceptance” for purposes of this Agreement, and the Contingent Forward resulting from such “Acceptance” shall also be deemed to constitute a “Forward” for purposes of this Agreement). The Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective (A) in the case of an Issuance or Non-Contingent Forward, upon receipt by the Company of the acceptance by the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, of the terms of the Placement Notice or upon receipt by the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, of the Company’s Acceptance, as the case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Issuance Amount, in the case of an Issuance, or the Maximum Forward Hedge Shares, in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, as applicable, has been sold, or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares, as specified in the applicable Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance has been sold or so introduced, (ii) the Selling Period specified in the relevant Placement Notice has expired, (iii) by notice delivered in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Company terminates the Placement Notice, (iv) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those contained in the earlier dated Placement Notice, (v) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 12 or (vi) either party shall have suspended the Issuance or the Forward, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 5 below. The Company may amend the terms of any Issuance Placement Notice following acceptance by the Current Agent without the consent of such Current Agent, provided that (x) such amendment does not amend the Selling Commission applicable to such Issuance and (y) the terms of the amendment are delivered by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) (each such amendment, an “Issuance Placement Notice Amendment”) receipt of which is promptly acknowledged by such Current Agent. The parties acknowledge and agree that an Issuance Placement Notice Amendment shall have no effect as to any Issuance Shares already sold.
(b) It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Current Agent or the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, as applicable, will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to an Issuance or a Forward, as the case may be, unless and until, in the case of an Issuance, the Company delivers an Issuance Placement Notice to the Current Agent and either (A) the Current Agent accepts the terms of such Issuance Placement Notice or (B) where the terms of such Issuance Placement Notice are amended, the Company accepts such amended terms by means of an Acceptance pursuant to the terms set forth above, (ii) in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, the Company delivers a Forward Placement Notice to the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller and either (A) the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller accept the terms of such Forward Placement Notice or (B) where the terms of such Forward Placement Notice are amended, the Company accepts such amended terms by means of an Acceptance pursuant to the terms set forth above, and (iii) in the case of a Contingent Forward, the Company delivers a Forward Placement Notice to the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller, the Current Forward Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller provide a Contingent Forward Quote, the Company accepts the terms proposed in such Contingent Forward Quote, as modified by agreement between the parties prior to such acceptance, and the Current Forward
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Purchaser and the Current Forward Seller acknowledge such acceptance, in each case pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the applicable Master Forward Confirmation and related Supplemental Confirmation (in the case of a Forward) and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) will control. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement or any Placement Notice or Acceptance, on the one hand, and the applicable Master Forward Confirmation or related Supplemental Confirmation, on the other hand, with respect to any Forward, the applicable Master Forward Confirmation or related Supplemental Confirmation shall control.
(c) No Forward Placement Notice may be delivered if such Forward Placement Notice, together with all prior Forward Placement Notices delivered by the Company hereunder would result in the aggregate Capped Number under all Forward Contracts entered into or to be entered into between the Company and the Forward Purchasers exceeding 19.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.
4. Execution of Placements by the Managers and the Forward Sellers.
(a) Execution of Issuances by the Managers. In the case of an Issuance Placement Notice, subject to the provisions of Section 3(a), the Current Agent, for the Issuance Selling Period specified in such Issuance Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Issuance Shares up to the amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). The Current Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Issuance Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Issuance Shares sold on such day, the Selling Commission payable by the Company to the Current Agent on Issuance Shares sold during the preceding Trading Day, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by the Current Agent (as set forth in Section 7(a)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the terms of the Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Current Agent may sell Issuance Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. Subject to the terms of the Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Current Agent may also sell Issuance Shares by any other method permitted by law, including but not limited to privately negotiated transactions, which may include block trades. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Current Agent will be successful in selling Issuance Shares, (ii) the Current Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not
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sell Issuance Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Current Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Issuance Shares as required under this Section 4(a) and (iii) the Current Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by the Current Agent in a Terms Agreement. In the case of clause (i) and (ii), the Current Agent will be acting as agent for the Company and not as principal.
(b) Execution of Forwards by the Forward Sellers. In the case of a Forward Placement Notice, subject to the provisions of Section 3 hereof and of the applicable Master Forward Confirmation in order to enable the buyer of the relevant Forward to establish a commercially reasonable hedge position, (i) the Current Forward Purchaser, during the Forward Hedge Selling Period, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow or cause its affiliates to borrow a number of Forward Hedge Shares, in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, as close as reasonably practicable to the Maximum Forward Hedge Shares specified in the Forward Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, as are to be sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, subject to the maximum number of Shares underlying such Contingent Forward or Maximum Transaction Number of Shares specified in the applicable Acceptance, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Forward Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), and (ii) the Current Forward Seller (or its agent or affiliate), during the Forward Hedge Selling Period, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Forward Hedge Shares up to, in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, the Maximum Forward Hedge Shares specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Forward Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, such number of Shares as are to be sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, subject to the maximum number of Shares underlying such Contingent Forward or Maximum Transaction Number of Shares specified in the applicable Acceptance and the applicable Master Forward Confirmation, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Forward Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). Subject to the provisions of the applicable Master Forward Confirmation, the Current Forward Seller will provide written confirmation to the Company and the Current Forward Purchaser no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Shares sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position hereunder setting forth the number of Forward Hedge Shares or such Shares, as applicable, sold on such day, the aggregate Forward Hedge Selling Commission in respect of such Forward Hedge Shares or such Shares, as applicable, and the volume-weighted average of the price per Forward Hedge Share or per Share, as applicable, sold on such day. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Master Forward Confirmation, either of the Current Forward Seller or Current Forward Purchaser will also deliver a “Supplemental Confirmation” (as defined in the applicable Master Forward Confirmation) no later than the opening of the Trading Day next following the end of the Forward Hedge
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Selling Period under the relevant Forward setting forth (x) in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward Transaction, the “Trade Date,” “Effective Date,” “Number of Shares,” “Maturity Date,” “Initial Forward Price,” “Spread,” “Volume-Weighted Hedge Price,” “Initial Stock Loan Rate,” “Maximum Stock Loan Rate,” “Forward Price Reduction Dates,” “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” and “Regular Dividend Amounts” for such Forward and (y) in the case of a Contingent Forward Transaction, shall set forth the terms required by the applicable Master Forward Confirmation for such Contingent Forward Transaction, as specified in, derived from or determined pursuant to the related Acceptance and the applicable Master Forward Confirmation. Subject to the terms of the Forward Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Current Forward Seller may sell Forward Hedge Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act (provided that such method shall be commercially reasonable), including, without limitation, sales made directly on the NYSE, on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. Subject to the terms of the Forward Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Current Forward Seller may also sell Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position by any other commercially reasonable method permitted by law, including, without limitation, privately negotiated transactions, which may include block trades. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Current Forward Purchaser’s obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow all or any portion of the Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Shares to be sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position (and the Current Forward Seller’s obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell such portion of the Forward Hedge Shares or such Shares, as applicable) for any Forward hereunder shall be subject in all respects to, in the case of a Non-Contingent Forward, the last paragraph of Section 3 of the applicable Master Forward Confirmation or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Section 8(b)(iii) of the applicable Master Forward Confirmation. Each of the Company and the Current Forward Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Current Forward Purchaser will be successful in borrowing or causing its affiliates to borrow, or that the Current Forward Seller will be successful in selling, Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Shares to be sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, (ii) the Current Forward Seller will incur no liability or obligation to the Company, the Current Forward Purchaser or any other person or entity if it does not sell Forward Hedge Shares borrowed or such Shares, as applicable, by the Current Forward Purchaser or its affiliates for any reason other than a failure by the Current Forward Seller to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Forward Hedge Shares or such Shares, as applicable, as required under this Section 4(b), and (iii) the Current Forward Purchaser will incur no liability or obligation to the Company, the Current Forward Seller or any other person or entity if it does not borrow or cause its affiliates to borrow Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Shares to be sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position for any reason other than a failure by the Current Forward Purchaser to use its commercially reasonable efforts to borrow or cause its affiliates to borrow such Forward Hedge Shares or such Shares, as applicable, as required under this Section 4(b). In acting hereunder, the Current Forward Seller will be acting as agent for the Current Forward Purchaser and not as principal.
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5. Suspension of Offerings. The Company or the Current Seller may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto), suspend any Issuance or, with respect to any Non-Contingent Forward, any further sale of Forward Hedge Shares, or, with respect to any Contingent Forward, any further sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, as the case may be, under this Agreement; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to Issuance Shares sold in connection with any Issuance, Forward Hedge Shares sold in connection with any Non-Contingent Forward or Shares sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position in connection with any Contingent Forward, in each case, prior to the receipt of such notice. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 5 shall be effective against the other unless it is made to one of the individuals of the other party named on Exhibit B attached hereto, as such Exhibit B attached hereto may be amended from time to time.
6. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser at the Execution Time and on each such time the following representations and warranties are repeated or deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth below.
(a) Registration Statement and Prospectus.
(i) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement (File Number 333-297995), as defined in Rule 405 on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Securities Act of the offering and sale of the Shares. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, became effective upon filing. The Company shall file promptly after the Execution Time with the Commission the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, the Prospectus shall contain in all material respects all information required by the Securities Act, and, except to the extent the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with
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Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The initial Effective Date of the Registration Statement was not earlier than the date three years before the Execution Time. Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the most recently filed Interim Prospectus Supplement (if any), the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (if any) identified in Schedule I hereto or any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package shall, unless stated otherwise, be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the most recently filed Interim Prospectus Supplement (if any), the Prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.
(ii) To the extent that the Registration Statement is not available for the sales of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement or the Company is not a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer or otherwise is unable to make the representations set forth in Section 6(c) at any time when such representations are required, the Company shall file a new registration statement with respect to any additional shares of Common Stock necessary to complete such sales of the Shares and shall cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. After the effectiveness of any such registration statement, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such new registration statement, including all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, and all references to “Base Prospectus” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the final form of prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in any such registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective. For the avoidance of confusion, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement relating to the offer and sale of any Shares or such other relevant action that occurred prior to the effective time of such new registration statement shall be deemed to refer to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-297995), including a Base Prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Shares, including all documents incorporated by reference therein.
(iii) On each Effective Date, at the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time, at each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 7(a)) and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the
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Execution Time, at each Applicable Time, on each Settlement Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (y) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (z) that part of the Registration Statement (including any new registration statement filed pursuant to Section 6(a)(ii) hereof) which constitutes the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
(b) Accurate Disclosure. At the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time and at each Settlement Date, the Disclosure Package does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers specifically for use therein.
(c) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Shares in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163, and (iv) at the Execution Time and on each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (iv)), the Company was or is (as the case may be) a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. The Company agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Shares within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).
(d) Issuer Status. (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Shares and (ii) as of the Execution Time and on each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.
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(e) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated therein by reference and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers specifically for use therein.
(f) No Stop Orders or Proceedings. The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Shares.
(g) Actively-Traded Security. The Common Stock is an “actively-traded security” exempted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
(h) No Finder’s Fee. Except as provided otherwise herein, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(i) Authorization and Description of Shares. The Shares have been duly and validly authorized and conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will be fully paid and non-assessable free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law, under the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company (the charter, by-laws and other organizational documents of the Company shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Company Organizational Documents”) or under any agreement to which the Company or any one of its subsidiaries is a party; no person has a right of participation or first refusal with respect to the sale of the Shares by the Company. The form of certificate for the Shares will be in valid and sufficient form in compliance with Maryland law and the NYSE requirements.
(j) Equity Interests and Rights. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are free of any preemptive or similar rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (or any amendment or supplement thereto) (including any existing forward sale agreements described therein), there are no outstanding (i) securities or obligations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
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convertible into or exchangeable for any equity interests of the Company or any such subsidiary, (ii) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company or any such subsidiary any such equity interests or any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations or (iii) obligations of the Company or any such subsidiary to issue any equity interests, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligation, or any such warrants, rights or options. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (or any amendment or supplement thereto), there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities, including securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities, registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Securities Act.
(k) Good Standing. Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust, as applicable, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation, with full corporate, limited liability company, partnership or trust power, as applicable, and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, and each is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure so to register or qualify does not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), prospects, earnings, business, properties, net worth or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(l) Subsidiaries. As of the Execution Time, the Company has no subsidiaries or joint ventures other than as set forth on Schedule II hereto, and does not control, directly or indirectly, any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or other business association. The issued shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned legally and beneficially by the Company free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.
(m) Absence of Proceedings. There are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or to which the Company or any properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, that (i) are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus but are not described as required; (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (iii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (exclusive of any supplement thereto). There are no statutes, regulations, capital expenditures, off-balance sheet transactions, contingencies or agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments or documents of a character that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package or to be filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not described, filed or incorporated as required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. The statements in the Base Prospectus under the heading “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations,” to the extent they constitute matters of law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, are accurate in all material respects.
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(n) Compliance. The Company is not in violation of the Company Organizational Documents. None of the Company’s subsidiaries is in violation of its certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, declaration of trust or articles of incorporation, as applicable, or its operating agreement, partnership agreement or by-laws, as applicable, or any other similar organizational document of any of the Company’s subsidiaries (collectively, the “Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents”). Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is: (i) in violation of (A) any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries or (B) any decree or judgment of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries, except with respect to clauses (i)(A) and (i)(B), for such violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) (A) in default in any material respect in the performance of any obligation, agreement, condition or covenant (financial or otherwise) contained in any bond, debenture, indenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or (B) in default in the performance of any obligation, agreement, or condition contained in any other agreement or instrument, in each case, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or its subsidiaries is or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except, with respect to clause (ii)(B) for such defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) Properties. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company owns, either directly or through investment interests, 3,767 properties (collectively, the “Properties”). (i) To the best of the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any municipal, state or federal law, rule or regulation concerning any of their Properties, which violation would have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, each of the Properties complies with all applicable zoning laws, ordinances and regulations in all material respects and, if and to the extent there is a failure to comply, such failure does not materially impair the value of any of such Properties and will not result in a forfeiture or reversion of title thereof; (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received from any Governmental Authority (as defined below) any written notice of any condemnation of, or zoning change affecting any of, the Properties, and the Company does not know of any such condemnation or zoning change which is threatened and which if consummated would have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) the leases under which the Company leases the Properties as lessor (collectively, the “Leases”) are in full force and effect and have been entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Company, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (v) the Company and each of its subsidiaries has complied with its respective obligations under the Leases in all material respects and the Company does not know of any default by any other party to the Leases which, alone or together with other such defaults, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(p) Absence of Conflicts. Neither the issuance and sale of the Shares, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the applicable Master Forward Confirmation and any “Supplemental Confirmation” under the applicable Master Forward Confirmation by the Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares), nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof: (i) requires any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, agency or official (except such as may be required for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act, the listing of the Shares on the NYSE and compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of various jurisdictions), or conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the Company Organizational Documents or the Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents; or (ii) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries may be bound, or violates or will violate any statute, law, regulation or filing or judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may be bound, or to which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except, in the case of clause (ii) above, for any such conflicts breaches, defaults, violations or lien impositions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Independent Accountants. To the Company’s knowledge, Ernst & Young LLP, who has audited and certified certain financial statements and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (or any amendment or supplement thereto), is and was, during the periods covered by the financial statements on which the Company reported, an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”).
(r) Financial Statements. The financial statements, together with related schedules and notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (and any amendment or supplement thereto), present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries on the basis stated in the Registration Statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply. Such statements and related schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein. The other financial and statistical information and data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure
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Package (and any amendment or supplement thereto) are accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries. The pro forma financial statements and other pro forma financial information included, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, if any, include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, if any. The pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, if any, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements. The Company has filed with the Commission all financial statements, together with related schedules and notes, required to be filed pursuant to Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(s) Corporate Power. The Company has the corporate power to issue, sell and deliver the Shares as provided herein; the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity and to the extent that rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
(t) Absence of Material Changes. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (or any amendment or supplement thereto), subsequent to the respective dates as of which such information is given in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (or any amendment or supplement thereto), neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation (financial or other), direct or contingent, or entered into any transaction (including any off-balance sheet activities or transactions), not in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and there has not been any material change in the capital stock or other equity interests (other than (A) subsequent issuances of Common Stock upon exercise, redemption or exchange of stock options, restricted stock units or warrants, (B) the grant of equity awards under Company equity incentive plans, or (C) the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s at-the-market offering program or any existing forward sale agreements, each as described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package), or material increase in the short-term debt or long-term debt (including any off-balance sheet activities or transactions), of either the Company or its subsidiaries, or any material adverse change in, or any development involving or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a prospective material adverse change in, the condition (financial or other), business, prospects, net worth or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
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(u) Rights to Property. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all property (real and personal) described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package as being owned by each of them (including the Properties), free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances that would materially and adversely affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or presently contemplated to be made thereof by them as described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, except such as are described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (and all such required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Disclosure Package are disclosed therein), or in any document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and each property described in the Disclosure Package as being held under lease by the Company or any of its subsidiaries is held by it under a valid, subsisting and enforceable lease, except as described in the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package, including any document filed as an exhibit thereto.
(v) Absence of Manipulation. The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (x) the Settlement Date and (y) completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package. The Company has not, directly or indirectly: (i) taken, or will take, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares; or (ii) since the filing of the Registration Statement (A) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Shares (other than the Managers, Forward Sellers and Forward Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement) or (B) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company (other than the Managers, Forward Sellers and Forward Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement). The Company or any Affiliate thereof will not acquire any Common Stock from, or enter into a long derivative position with respect to shares of Common Stock with, a third party during any Forward Hedge Selling Period or Unwind Period (as defined in the Master Forward Confirmation). For this purpose, “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any person or entity, any other person or entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such person or entity. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any person or entity shall mean ownership of 50% or more of the voting power or value of such person or entity.
(w) Permits. The Company and each of its subsidiaries possess all certificates, permits, licenses, franchises and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (collectively, “Permits”) (and inclusive of all Permits required by Environmental Laws) as are necessary to own their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure
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Package, except where such failure to possess would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all of their respective obligations with respect to such Permits, except for any failure to so fulfill or perform as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or which would result in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, and except for any such event as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, exclusive of any supplement thereto, neither the revocation or modification of any Permit singly or in the aggregate, nor the announcement of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding with respect to any Permit, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(x) Controls and Procedures. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure; and the Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and which includes policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company and each of its subsidiaries, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with the authorization of management, and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisitions, use or dispositions of assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures have been evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of the period covered by the Company’s most recently filed periodic report on Form 10-Q or 10-K, as the case may be, and were effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Based on the most recent evaluation of its internal control over financial reporting, the Company was not aware of (A) any material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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(y) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including, without limitation, Section 402 related to loans to insiders and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(z) Handling of Funds. To the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company and its subsidiaries nor any employee or agent of the Company and its subsidiaries has made any payment of funds of the Company or its subsidiaries or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package.
(aa) Absence of Corruption. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective directors or officers nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee, agent, affiliate, or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, in connection with the business or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (i) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”); or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its officers, directors, employees and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with all Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintained, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws.
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(bb) Absence of Money Laundering. The operations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and each of its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”). The Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its officers, directors, employees and affiliates have conducted and will conduct the businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries in compliance with all Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and the Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintained, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein. No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner, or other person in violation of any applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws.
(cc) Compliance with Sanctions. (i) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any director or officer thereof, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are:
(A) the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Sanctions”),
(B) located, organized or resident in a country, jurisdiction, or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic region of Ukraine, or so-called Luhansk People’s Republic region of Ukraine or any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065) (each a “Sanctioned Jurisdiction”), or
(C) the government of a Sanctioned Jurisdiction, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, or an entity directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any of the foregoing.
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(ii) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:
(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person that is the subject or target of Sanctions or in any Sanctioned Jurisdiction; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as agent, underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(iii) Since April 24, 2019, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not knowingly engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person that is the subject or target of Sanctions or in any Sanctioned Jurisdiction. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintained and enforced, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable Sanctions laws.
(dd) Absence of Labor Disputes. No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, exists, or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent that could result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no labor problem or dispute with the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ tenants exists, is threatened or imminent that could result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not been notified that any officer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 16a-1(f)) of the Company plans to terminate employment or engagement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, as applicable.
(ee) Taxes. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, the Company has filed all foreign, U.S. federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed, which returns are complete and correct in all material respects, or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) Intellectual Property. Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries (i) own or possess all patents, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and rights described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package as being owned by them or necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses; and (ii) are not aware of any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to the foregoing. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation, or conflict with any such intellectual property rights of others that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(gg) Investment Company Status. The Company is not now, and after sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company hereunder and the application of the total net proceeds from such sale as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(hh) Environmental Matters.
(i) Except (i) as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, (ii) as disclosed in environmental site assessment reports obtained by the Company on or before the date hereof relating to any of the Properties and in the written summary maintained by the Company of the status of ongoing environmental projects at Properties, each of which have been directly provided to the Managers and the Forward Purchasers or their counsel (collectively, the “Environmental Reports”), or (iii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company, its subsidiaries, the Properties and the operations conducted thereon comply and heretofore have complied with all applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), and no expenditures are required or advisable to maintain or achieve such compliance.
(ii) Except (i) as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, (ii) as disclosed in the Environmental Reports, or (iii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has at any time and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no other party has at any time, handled, buried, stored, retained, refined, transported, processed, manufactured, generated, produced, spilled, allowed to seep, leak, escape or leach, or be pumped, poured, emitted, emptied, discharged, injected, dumped, transferred or otherwise disposed of or dealt with, Hazardous Materials (as defined below) on, to, under or from the Properties; provided, however, the tenants of the Company may use Properties for their intended, lawful purpose, which may involve the handling, storing, pumping and transporting of Hazardous Materials, undertaken in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws.
(iii) Except (i) as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, (ii) as disclosed in the Environmental Reports, or (iii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no seepage, leak, escape, leach, discharge, injection, release, emission, spill, pumping, pouring, emptying or dumping of Hazardous Materials into any surface water, groundwater, soil, air or other media on or adjacent to the Properties has occurred, is occurring or is reasonably expected to occur.
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(iv) Except (i) as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, (ii) as disclosed in the Environmental Reports, or (iii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice from any Governmental Authority or other person of, or has knowledge of, any occurrence or circumstance which, with notice, passage of time, or failure to act, would give rise to any claim under or pursuant to any Environmental Law or under common law pertaining to Hazardous Materials on or originating from the existing Properties or any act or omission of any party with respect to the existing Properties.
As used herein, “Hazardous Material” shall include, without limitation, any flammable explosives, radioactive materials, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous or toxic substances, or related materials, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, petroleum products and by-products and substances defined or listed as “hazardous substances,” “toxic substances,” “hazardous waste,” or “hazardous materials” in any Federal, state or local Environmental Law.
As used herein, “Environmental Law” shall mean all laws, common law duties, regulations or ordinances (including any orders or agreements) of any Federal, state or local governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over any of the Properties (a “Governmental Authority”) that are designed or intended to protect the public health and the environment or to regulate the handling of Hazardous Materials, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.) (“CERCLA”), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. Section 5101 et seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.), and the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.), and any and all analogous future federal or present or future state or local laws.
(ii) REIT Status of the Company. The Company is organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the rules and regulations thereunder. As of the close of every taxable year during the Company’s existence, the Company has had no earnings and profits accumulated in a non-REIT year within the meaning of Section 857(a)(2)(B) of the Code. The Company’s past, current and proposed method of operation have enabled it, and will enable it, to meet the requirements for taxation as a REIT under the Code.
(jj) REIT Compliance of Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s corporate subsidiaries is in compliance with all requirements applicable to a REIT or a “qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the Code and all applicable regulations under the Code, and the Company is not aware of any fact that would negatively impact such qualifications. Each of the Company’s non-corporate subsidiaries qualifies as a partnership or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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(kk) Insurance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged and the value of their properties. All policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect except for such invalidity or unenforceability as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects and there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and the Company does not have any reason to believe that the Company and each of its subsidiaries will not be able to renew its respective existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue their respective businesses at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ll) Title Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries have title insurance on each of the Properties owned in fee simple in amounts at least equal to the cost of acquisition of such property; with respect to an uninsured loss on any of the Properties, the title insurance shortfall would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(mm) Restricted Payments. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or other equity interests, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s assets or property to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package.
(nn) ERISA. Each of the Company and its ERISA Affiliates (as defined below) has fulfilled its obligations (without regard to any waiver thereof), if any, under the minimum funding standards of Sections 412 and 430 of the Code or Section 302 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), with respect to each “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, for which the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has any liability (each, a “Plan”). “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, any member of any group of organizations described in Section 414 of the Code which together with the Company or such subsidiary is treated as a single employer. Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including ERISA and the Code, and its terms. Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred or expects to incur any unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for the payment of premiums in the ordinary course) or to any Plan under Title IV of ERISA (other than for contributions to the Plan in the ordinary course and without default). No “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4032(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan that either has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material liability to the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates. No non-exempt “prohibited
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transaction” pursuant to Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred with respect to any Plan that would result in any material liability to the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates. Each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(oo) Equity Awards. To the knowledge of the Company, no stock options awards granted by the Company have been retroactively granted, and the exercise or purchase price of any stock option award has not been determined retroactively. The per share exercise price of each stock option, stock appreciation right or similar award granted by the Company was equal to or greater than the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the applicable date of grant and no action has been taken by the Company that would be considered a “repricing” of such an award under the applicable listing standards of the national securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is listed (if any) or “modification” of such award such that the award would be subject to Section 409A of the Code.
(pp) Capitalization. The Company’s authorized capitalization is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; the authorized and issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued in compliance with all Federal and state securities laws, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
(qq) Cybersecurity. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package (i) to the knowledge of the Company, there has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data, or equipment owned by the Company or its subsidiaries or of any data of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors that they maintain or that, to their knowledge, any third party maintains on their behalf (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) that had, or would reasonably be expected to have had, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any written notice of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data that had, or would reasonably be expected to have had, a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all applicable judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority (collectively, “Data Protection Laws”), internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the protection of IT Systems and Data from a security breach or unauthorized use, access, misappropriation, modification or other compromise, except as would not, in the case of this clause (iii), individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iv) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained (A) appropriate controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy, and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards, and (B) commercially reasonable backup and disaster recovery technology, procedures and facilities taking into account the nature, sensitivity and use of such IT Systems and Data.
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(rr) NYSE Application. Application has been made to list the Shares on the NYSE.
(ss) Reservation of Shares. In respect to any Forward, a number of shares of Common Stock at least equal to the Capped Number shall be reserved for issuance by the Board of Directors.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers or to counsel for the Managers, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers in connection with the offering of Shares as contemplated by this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers.
7. Delivery to the Managers and the Forward Sellers; Settlement.
(a) Settlement of Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Issuance Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), settlement for sales of Shares in an Issuance will occur on the first (1st) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Shares sold in an Issuance (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate offering price received by the Current Agent at which such Shares were sold, after deduction for (i) the Current Agent’s Selling Commission, (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to the Current Agent hereunder pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.
(b) Delivery of Shares. On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Shares being sold in an Issuance by crediting the Current Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided the Current Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Current Agent which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Current Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company prior to the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Issuance Shares on a Settlement Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 11(a) and Section 11(d) hereof, it will (i) hold the Current Agent harmless against any Loss (as hereinafter defined) (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) and (ii) pay to the Current Agent any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.
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(c) Delivery of Forward Hedge Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Forward Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) or the Current Forward Purchaser and Current Forward Seller agree otherwise, settlement for sales of Forward Hedge Shares will occur on the first (1st) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Forward Hedge Settlement Date”). Unless the Current Forward Purchaser and Current Forward Seller agree otherwise, on or before each Forward Hedge Settlement Date, the Current Forward Purchaser will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Forward Hedge Shares being sold by crediting the Current Forward Seller’s or its designee’s account (provided that the Current Forward Seller shall have given the Current Forward Purchaser written notice of such designee prior to the relevant Forward Hedge Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. Unless the Current Forward Purchaser and Current Forward Seller agree otherwise, on each Forward Hedge Settlement Date, the Current Forward Seller will deliver to the Current Forward Purchaser the proceeds, or other amount, payable in respect of the Forward Hedge Shares sold, or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Shares sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, in each case as determined in accordance with the applicable Master Forward Confirmation, in same day funds to an account designated by the Current Forward Purchaser prior to the relevant Forward Hedge Settlement Date, or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the Current Forward Seller and the Current Forward Purchaser. The amount of any discount, commission, or other compensation to be reflected in the Forward Price (as defined in the Master Forward Confirmation) in connection with a Forward shall not exceed the Forward Hedge Selling Commission.
(d) Registration. The Shares shall be registered in such names as the Current Agent may request in writing at least one Business Day before the Settlement Date. The Company shall deliver the Shares, if any, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Current Agent shall otherwise instruct.
(e) Limitations on Offering Size. Under no circumstances shall the Company deliver a Placement Notice if after giving effect to the sale of the Shares to be sold pursuant to such Placement Notice, the aggregate number of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount, (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement, and (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Company and notified to the Managers and the Forward Sellers in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company and notified to the Managers and the Forward Sellers in writing.
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(f) Certain Blackout Periods. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company and the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers agree that the Company shall not request the Managers or the Forward Sellers to sell and the Managers and the Forward Sellers shall not be obligated to sell and the Forward Purchasers shall not be obligated to borrow, any Shares, Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of a Contingent Forward, Shares to be sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, that would be sold or so introduced (i) during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information or (ii) except as provided in Section 7(g) below, at any time from and including the date (each, an “Announcement Date”) on which the Company shall issue a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (each, an “Earnings Announcement”) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files (a “Filing Time”) a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement provided that nothing in this Section 7(f) shall suspend, impair or otherwise affect any Forward Contract entered into or deemed entered into prior to such period or any rights or obligations under the applicable Master Forward Confirmation or any related Supplemental Confirmation.
(g) Filing of Earnings Form 8-K. If the Company wishes to execute an Issuance or Forward at any time during the period from and including an Announcement Date through and including the time that is 24 hours after the corresponding Filing Time, the Company shall (i) prepare and deliver to the Managers and the Forward Sellers (with a copy to their counsel) a Current Report on Form 8-K, which shall include substantially the same financial and related information as was set forth in the relevant Earnings Announcement (other than any earnings projections, similar forward-looking data and officers’ quotations) (each, an “Earnings 8-K”), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers and the Forward Sellers, (ii) provide the Managers and the Forward Sellers with the officers’ certificate, opinions/letters of counsel and accountant’s letter called for by Sections 8(k), (l), (m), and (n) hereof; respectively, (iii) afford the Managers and the Forward Sellers the opportunity to conduct a due diligence review in accordance with Section 8(o) hereof and (iv) file such Earnings 8-K with the Commission, then the provisions of clause (ii) of Section 7(f) shall not be applicable for the period from and after the time at which the foregoing conditions shall have been satisfied (or, if later, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the relevant Earnings Announcement was first publicly released) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the Filing Time of the relevant Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be. For purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that (A) the delivery of any officers’ certificate, opinions/letters of counsel and accountant’s letter pursuant to this Section 7(g) shall not relieve the Company from any of its obligations under this Agreement with respect to any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be, including, without limitation, the obligation to deliver officers’ certificates, opinions/letters of counsel and accountants’ letters as provided in Section 8 hereof and (B) this Section 7(g) shall in no way affect or limit the operation of the provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7(f), which shall have independent application.
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8. Agreements. The Company agrees with the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers that:
(a) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172) to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Prospectus Supplement or any Interim Prospectus Supplement) to the Base Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers a copy for its review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Managers, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers reasonably object. The Company shall properly complete the Prospectus, in a form approved by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, and shall file such Prospectus, as amended at the Execution Time, with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) promptly following the Execution Time and will cause any supplement to the Prospectus to be properly completed, in a form approved by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, and will file such supplement with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed thereby and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) when, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) is required under the Securities Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.
(b) If, at any time on or after an Applicable Time but prior to the related Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will
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(i) notify promptly the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to any Manager, any Forward Seller and any Forward Purchaser in such quantities as any such Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser may reasonably request.
(c) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172) to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, including in connection with use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers of any such event, (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 8, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to any Manager, any Forward Seller and any Forward Purchaser in such quantities as any such Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser may reasonably request.
(d) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158.
(e) The Company will furnish to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers and counsel for the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, without charge, conformed electronic copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by the Managers, the Forward Sellers or Forward Purchasers or dealer may be required by the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as any Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.
(f) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Shares for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Managers or the Forward Sellers may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
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(g) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Managers and the Forward Sellers, and each of the Managers and the Forward Sellers agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule I hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Managers, the Forward Sellers or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.
(h) During any Selling Period, the Company will not (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement (other than a registration statement on Form S-8) with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock or (ii) publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction without (A) giving the applicable Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers engaged during such Selling Period at least three Business Days’ prior written notice, or such shorter period mutually agreed upon between the Company and such Managers, Forward Sellers and Forward Purchasers, specifying the nature of the proposed transaction and the date of such proposed transaction and (B) such Managers, Forward Sellers or Forward Purchasers suspending acting under this Agreement for such period of time requested by the Company or as deemed appropriate by such Managers, Forward Sellers or Forward Purchasers in light of the proposed transaction; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to the entry into, termination, cancelation, exercise, settlement or performance of any Forward, Forward Contract, Master Forward Confirmation or Supplemental Confirmation, including any Contingent Forward, or any suspension of sales under this Agreement in connection with any Forward, or to issuances or sales (i) pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, (ii) pursuant to any executive or employee compensation plan, employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or any similar plan or arrangement or dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, or any similar plan or arrangement of the Company in effect at the Execution
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Time or established subsequent to the date hereof and disclosed in a report filed pursuant to the Exchange Act, (iii) upon the conversion or exchange of securities or the exercise of warrants or options outstanding at the Execution Time or issued subsequent to the date hereof and disclosed in a report filed pursuant to the Exchange Act, (iv) in connection with an acquisition, merger or sale or purchase of assets or (v) for no consideration of no more than 100 shares of Common Stock to one or more persons unaffiliated with the Company as door or drawing prizes in connection with the Company’s marketing efforts.
(i) The Company will not (i) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, purchase or pay any person (other than as contemplated by this Agreement or any Terms Agreement) any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares.
(j) The Company will, at any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers immediately after it shall have received notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers pursuant to Section 10 herein.
(k) Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than (A) an Interim Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) pursuant to Section 8(x) of this Agreement, (B) a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Shares, (C) the filing with the Commission of any Current Report on Form 8-K that contains financial information that is not incorporated by reference into the Prospectus or (D) except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iv) of this Section 8(k), the filing with the Commission of any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus), (ii) there is filed with the Commission any Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K that contains financial information that is filed, and any amendments thereto, which are incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, (iii) the Shares are delivered to a Manager as principal at the Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement, or (iv) otherwise as a Manager, a Forward Seller and a Forward Purchaser may reasonably request and upon reasonable advance notice to the Company (such commencement or recommencement date and each such date referred to in (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers forthwith a certificate dated and delivered on a date that is no later than three Business Days following the applicable Representation Date (except in the case of the commencement or recommencement of the offering of Shares under this Agreement, in which case such certificate shall be dated and delivered on the date of such commencement or recommencement), as the case may be, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers to the effect that the
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statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 10(d) of this Agreement which were last furnished to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers are true and correct at the time of such commencement or recommencement, amendment, supplement, filing, or delivery, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such time (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such time) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in said Section 10(d), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 8(k) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no instruction to any of the Managers to sell Shares or no Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3 has been delivered by the Company or is pending and no sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is pending, which waiver shall continue until the date the Company instructs a Manager to sell Shares or delivers a Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3, or any sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is to occur (such date shall be considered a Representation Date).
(l) At each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers and to counsel to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers a written opinion and negative assurance letter of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, dated and delivered on a date that is no later than three Business Days following the applicable Representation Date (except in the case of the commencement or recommencement of the offering of Shares under this Agreement, in which case such opinion and negative assurance letter shall be dated and delivered on the date of such commencement or recommencement), as the case may be, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, of the same tenor as the opinions referred to in Section 10(b) of this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion and negative assurance letter. The requirement to provide an opinion and negative assurance letter under this Section 8(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no instruction to any of the Managers to sell Shares no Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3 has been delivered by the Company or is pending and no sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is pending, which waiver shall continue until the date the Company instructs a Manager to sell Shares or delivers a Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3, or any sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is to occur (such date shall be considered a Representation Date).
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(m) At each Representation Date, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to the Managers and the Forward Sellers (“Participant Counsel”), or other counsel satisfactory to the Managers and the Forward Sellers, shall deliver a written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated and delivered on a date that is no later than three Business Days following the applicable Representation Date (except in the case of the commencement or recommencement of the offering of Shares under this Agreement, in which case such opinion and negative assurance letter shall be dated and delivered on the date of such commencement or recommencement), as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, of the same tenor as the opinions referred to in Section 10(c) of this Agreement but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion and negative assurance letter. The requirement to provide an opinion and negative assurance letter under this Section 8(m) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no instruction to any of the Managers to sell Shares no Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3 has been delivered by the Company or is pending and no sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is pending, which waiver shall continue until the date the Company instructs a Manager to sell Shares or delivers a Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3, or any sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is to occur (such date shall be considered a Representation Date).
(n) Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented to include additional amended financial information, (ii) the Shares are delivered to a Manager as principal at a Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement, (iii) the Company files a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K, or (iv) at a Manager’s, a Forward Seller’s or a Forward Purchaser’s reasonable request and upon reasonable advance notice to the Company, there is filed with the Commission any document which contains financial information (other than an Annual Report on Form 10-K or a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, the Company shall cause Ernst & Young LLP (the “Accountants”), or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers forthwith, to furnish the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers a letter, dated and delivered on (1) the date of commencement or recommencement, or (2) for each event set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above, a date that is no later than three Business Days following such event, in form satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, of the same tenor as the letter referred to in Section 10(e) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as
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amended and supplemented to the date of such letter. The requirement to provide a letter under this Section 8(n) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no instruction to any of the Managers to sell Shares no Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3 has been delivered by the Company or is pending and no sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is pending, which waiver shall continue until the date the Company instructs a Manager to sell Shares or delivers a Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3, or any sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is to occur (such date shall be considered a Representation Date).
(o) Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder), and on or around each Representation Date, the Company will conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, which shall include representatives of the management and the Accountants of the Company. The Company shall cooperate timely with any reasonable due diligence request from or review conducted by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers or their agents from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information and available documents and access to appropriate corporate officers and the Company’s agents during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, and timely furnishing or causing to be furnished such certificates, letters and opinions from the Company, its officers and its agents, as the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers may reasonably request. The requirement to conduct a diligence session or cooperate with other due diligence requests or reviews shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no instruction to any of the Managers to sell Shares no Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3 has been delivered by the Company or is pending and no sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is pending, which waiver shall continue until the date the Company instructs a Manager to sell Shares or delivers a Forward Placement Notice or Acceptance relating to any Forward pursuant to Section 3, or any sale of Forward Hedge Shares or, in the case of any Contingent Forward, sale or other introduction into the public markets of Shares in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, is to occur (such date shall be considered a Representation Date).
(p) The Company consents to each of the Managers and the Forward Sellers trading in the Common Stock for their own accounts and for the accounts of their clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.
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(q) The Company will disclose in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, the number of Shares sold through the Managers and the Forward Sellers under this Agreement the total net proceeds to the Company, if any, and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.
(r) If to the knowledge of the Company, the conditions set forth in Sections 10(a), 10(f) or 10(h) shall not be true and correct on the applicable Settlement Date, the Company will offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by a Manager or a Forward Seller the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.
(s) Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the applicable Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).
(t) The Company shall ensure that there are at all times sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for the issuance, free of any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in treasury, of the maximum aggregate number of Shares authorized for issuance by the Board pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed for trading on the NYSE and to maintain such listing.
(u) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172) to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.
(v) The Company shall cooperate with the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers and use its reasonable efforts to permit the Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.
(w) The Company will apply the total net proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.
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(x) The Company agrees that on such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (each and every filing under Rule 424(b), a “Filing Date”), which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the number of Shares sold through the Managers, acting as a sales agents on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Agreement by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the NYSE that qualify for delivery of a Prospectus to the NYSE in accordance with Rule 153, and the number of Shares sold through the Forward Sellers pursuant to this Agreement, the total net proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to such sales of the Shares pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement, or disclose such information in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to the NYSE as are required by such exchange.
(y) The Company will use its best efforts to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code and to continue to have each of its corporate subsidiaries (other than any taxable REIT subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code) comply with all applicable laws and regulations necessary to maintain a status as a REIT or a “qualified REIT subsidiary” under the Code, unless the Company’s board of directors determines by resolution that it is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders not to so qualify.
9. Payment of Expenses.
(a) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, including without limitation: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares by the Company; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Shares, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Shares; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Shares; (v) listing of the Shares on the NYSE; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers relating to such filings); (viii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.
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(b) If an aggregate number of Shares having at least an aggregate offering price of $10,000,000 have not been offered and sold under this Agreement, including Issuance Shares sold by the Managers, Forward Hedge Shares sold by the Forward Sellers in connection with any Non-Contingent Forward and, in the case of any Contingent Forward, Shares sold or otherwise introduced into the public markets by the Forward Sellers in connection with establishing the applicable Initial Hedge Position, by the one-year anniversary of this Agreement (or such earlier date on which the Company terminates this Agreement) (the “Determination Date”), the Company shall reimburse the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers for all of their reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel for the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers incurred by them in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, “Expenses”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to reimburse the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers pursuant to this Section 9(b) for their Expenses in excess of $150,000. The Expenses shall be due and payable by the Company to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers within five (5) Business Days of the Determination Date.
10. Conditions to the Obligations of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers. The obligations of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement with respect to an Issuance or a Forward, as the case may be, shall be subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, each Representation Date, and as of each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, required by Rule 424 to be filed with the Commission have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) with respect to any sale of Shares; each Interim Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed in the manner required by Rule 424(b) within the time period required by this Agreement; any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.
(b) The Company shall have requested and caused the Company Counsel, to furnish to each of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, on every date specified in Section 8(l) of this Agreement, its written opinions and negative assurance letter, substantially similar to the forms attached hereto as Exhibit C and Exhibit D, dated as of such date and addressed to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers.
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(c) Each of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers shall have received from Participant Counsel, on every date specified in Section 8(m) of this Agreement, such opinion and negative assurance letter, dated as of such date and addressed to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as any Managers, Forward Sellers or Forward Purchasers may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(d) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, on every date specified in Section 8(k) of this Agreement, a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, or such other executive officers of the Company reasonably acceptable to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, dated as of such date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of such date with the same effect as if made on such date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package.
(e) The Company shall have requested and caused the Accountants to have furnished to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, on every date specified in Section 8(n) hereof and to the extent requested by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers), dated as of such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder and that they have performed a review of any unaudited interim financial information of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in accordance with the PCAOB Auditing Standards No. 4105, Reviews of Interim Financial Information (“PCAOB AS 4105”) and stating in effect that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;
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(ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited financial statements made available by the Company and its subsidiaries; their limited review, in accordance with standards established under PCAOB 4105, of the unaudited interim financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, directors and the audit committee of the Company and the subsidiaries; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and events subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that:
(A) any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form with applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and with the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission with respect to financial statements included or incorporated by reference in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and said unaudited financial statements are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(B) with respect to the period subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements (other than any capsule information), audited or unaudited, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there were any changes, at a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of the letter, in the capital stock and consolidated debt of the Company or decreases in the stockholders’ equity of the Company as compared with the amounts shown on the consolidated balance sheet dated as of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or for the period from such date to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the appropriate comparative period in consolidated revenues or in total or per share amounts of consolidated earnings of the Company before extraordinary items or of consolidate earnings except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers;
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(C) the information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in response to Regulation S-K, Item 301 (Selected Financial Data) is not in conformity with the applicable disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K; and
(D) To the extent capsule financial information is included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the unaudited capsule information does not agree with the amounts set forth in the unaudited financial statements for the same periods or were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with that of the corresponding amounts in the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and
(iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries) set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus agrees with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.
References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (e) include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.
(f) Since the respective dates as of which information is disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, except as otherwise stated therein, there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 10 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Managers and the Forward Sellers, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
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(g) The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Shares within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).
(h) Between the Execution Time and the time of any sale of Shares through the Managers, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Securities Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.
(i) FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements under this Agreement.
(j) The Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the NYSE, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Managers.
(k) Prior to each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, as applicable, the Company shall have furnished to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers such further information, certificates and documents as any Manager, Forward Seller and Forward Purchaser may reasonably request.
(l) In respect of any Forward Placement Notice delivered in respect to any Forward, the applicable Master Forward Confirmation shall be in full force and effect.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 10 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions, negative assurance letters and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Managers, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers and counsel for the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, this Agreement and all obligations of any of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as applicable, by any applicable Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
11. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Manager, each Forward Seller, each Forward Purchaser and the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser and each person who controls each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
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damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Shares as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability (or actions in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.
(b) The Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers agree to indemnify, severally and not jointly, and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, but only with reference to written information relating to the Managers, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers furnished to the Company by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 11 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 11, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel),
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and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (A) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (B) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (C) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (D) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (y) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 11 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, then each indemnifying party agrees to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which such indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and by each applicable Manager, each applicable Forward Seller and if relevant, each applicable Forward Purchaser on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares; provided, however, that in no case shall any of the Managers, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission, as the case may be, applicable to the Shares distributed by any of such Managers, Forward Sellers or Forward Purchasers hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company, the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as determined by this Agreement or any applicable Terms Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Managers, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers on the other, the
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intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company, the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 11, each person who controls each Manager, each Forward Seller or each Forward Purchaser within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of the each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser shall have the same rights to contribution as each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
12. Termination.
(a) The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) if Shares have been sold through any Manager for the Company, then Section 8(s) shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect to any pending sale through any Manager for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of such Manager, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Sections 2, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(b) Each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to such Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser with respect to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 2, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) This Agreement shall automatically terminate on the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the Shares have been sold pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) August 6, 2029, except that the provisions of Sections 2, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(d) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 12(a), (b) or (c) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Sections 2, 9, 11 and 13 shall remain in full force and effect.
53
(e) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement or the applicable Terms Agreement. No termination of this Agreement shall terminate, cancel, impair or otherwise affect any Forward Contract, Master Forward Confirmation or Supplemental Confirmation entered into or deemed entered into prior to such termination, or any rights or obligations thereunder.
(f) In the case of any purchase of Shares by any Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of such Manager pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination, in the absolute discretion of such Manager, by notice given to the Company prior to the Time of Delivery relating to such Shares, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the NYSE or trading in securities generally on the NYSE shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of such Manager, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
13. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by any Manager, Forward Seller, Forward Purchaser or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 11 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.
14. Notices. Except with respect to notices for Placements or purchases (each as set forth in Sections 3(a)(i) and 3(b) hereof), all communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and:
(a) If sent to a Manager or Forward Purchaser, will be mailed, delivered or sent via electronic mail, as applicable, to the address(es) set forth in Schedule III hereto.
(b) If sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or sent via electronic mail to
54
NNN REIT, Inc.
450 South Orange Avenue, Suite 900
Orlando, Florida, 32801
Attention: Vincent H. Chao
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Email: [email protected]
15. Entire Agreement.
(a) This Agreement together with any Terms Agreement, any Master Forward Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation, as applicable, represents the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the preparation of any Registration Statement, Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering and the sale and distribution of the Shares and, in the case of any Forward, the entry into and performance of the related Forward Contract.
(b) The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Shares: (i) each of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers have acted and will act at arm’s length and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii) each of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, any contemporaneous written agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, (iii) each of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers may have interests that differ from those of the Company and (iv) none of the activities of each of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitute a recommendation, investment advice, or solicitation of any action by each of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers with respect to any entity or natural person. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against each of the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale and distribution of the Shares.
16. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such party of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
55
17. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 11 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of Shares through or from the Managers or the Forward Sellers shall be deemed to be a successor by reason of such purchase.
18. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser and any affiliate through which they may be acting, on the other, (b) each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser is acting solely as a sales agent and/or principal in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and any Forward Contract and the process leading to such transactions and not as a fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of each Manager, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that any Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.
19. Integration. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company, on one hand, and the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, on the other hand, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
20. Applicable Law. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.
21. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and, any Terms Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
22. Counterparts. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
23. Headings. The section and subsection headings used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
[Signature Pages Follow]
56
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| NNN REIT, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Vincent H. Chao | |
| Name: | Vincent H. Chao | |
| Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to the Equity Distribution Agreement]
| The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above. | ||
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, as Manager and Forward Seller
| By: | /s/ Rohit Mehta | |
| Name: Rohit Mehta | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Forward Purchaser
| By: | /s/ Christine Roemer | |
| Name: Christine Roemer | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
BOFA SECURITIES, INC., as Manager and Forward Seller
| By: | /s/ Chris Djoganopoulos | |
| Name: Chris Djoganopoulos | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Forward Purchaser
| By: | /s/ Jake Mendelsohn | |
| Name: Jake Mendelsohn | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| BTIG, LLC, as Manager | ||
| By: | /s/ Anthony Wayne | |
| Name: Anthony Wayne | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
[Signature Page to the Equity Distribution Agreement]
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., as Manager and Forward Seller | ||
| By: | /s/ Harry Scott | |
| Name: Harry Scott | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
CITIBANK, N.A., as Forward Purchaser
| By: | /s/ Eric Natelson | |
| Name: Eric Natelson | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
| JEFFERIES LLC, as Manager, Forward Seller and Forward Purchaser | ||
| By: | /s/ Donald Lynaugh | |
| Name: Donald Lynaugh | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC, as Manager and Forward Seller | ||
| By: | /s/ Ivana Rupcic-Hulin | |
| Name: Ivana Rupcic-Hulin | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
[Signature Page to the Equity Distribution Agreement]
| MIZUHO MARKETS AMERICAS LLC, as Forward Purchaser | ||
| By: | /s/ Matthew Chiavaroli | |
| Name: Matthew Chiavaroli | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
| MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC, as Manager and Forward Seller | ||
| By: | /s/ Daniel Croitoru | |
| Name: Daniel Croitoru | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
| MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC, as Forward Purchaser | ||
| By: | /s/ Ellen Weinstein | |
| Name: Ellen Weinstein | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| NOMURA GLOBAL FINANCIAL PRODUCTS, INC., as Forward Purchaser | ||
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Petillo | |
| Name: Jeffrey Petillo | ||
| Title: Authorized Representative | ||
| NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. (acting through BTIG, LLC as agent), as Forward Seller | ||
| By: | /s/ Jason Eisenhauer | |
| Name: Jason Eisenhauer | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
[Signature Page to the Equity Distribution Agreement]
| RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC., as Manager, Forward Seller and Forward Purchaser | ||
| By: | /s/ Sean Wolf | |
| Name: Sean Wolf | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC, as Manager and Forward Seller | ||
| By: | /s/ J.T. Deignan | |
| Name: J.T. Deignan | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Forward Purchaser | ||
| By: RBC Capital Markets LLC, as its agent | ||
| By: | /s/ Chris Amery | |
| Name: Chris Amery | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC, as Manager and Forward Seller | ||
| By: | /s/ Adriano Pierroz | |
| Name: Adriano Pierroz | ||
| Title: Director | ||
| THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, as Forward Purchaser | ||
| By: | /s/ Igor Biselman | |
| Name: Igor Biselman | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
[Signature Page to the Equity Distribution Agreement]
| TRUIST SECURITIES, INC., as Manager and Forward Seller | ||
| By: | /s/ Keith Carpenter | |
| Name: Keith Carpenter | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| TRUIST BANK, as Forward Purchaser | ||
| By: | /s/ Rakesh Mangat | |
| Name: Rakesh Mangat | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
[Signature Page to the Equity Distribution Agreement]
SCHEDULE I
Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package
None.
Schedule I
SCHEDULE II
Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures
Subsidiaries and Consolidated Joint Ventures
| CCMH V, LLC | NNN Brokerage Services, Inc. | |
| CNL Commercial Mortgage Funding, Inc. | NNN CA Auto Svc LLC | |
| NNN REIT Trust | NNN GP Corp. | |
| NNN REIT, LP | NNN PBY LLC | |
| Net Lease Funding, Inc. | NNN TRS, Inc. | |
| Net Lease Realty I, Inc. | Orange Avenue Mortgage Investments, Inc. | |
| NNN Athletic I LLC | Early Bird MIS, LLC | |
| NNN SC Trust |
Significant Subsidiaries
NNN REIT, LP
Schedule II
SCHEDULE III
Schedule III
ANNEX I
NNN REIT, INC.
Common Stock
TERMS AGREEMENT
[Manager Name and Address]
| _________, 20__ |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
NNN REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated August 6, 2026 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), among the Company, the Managers, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, to issue and sell to the Manager, the securities specified in Schedule I hereto (the “Purchased Shares”).
Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery (as defined in Schedule I hereto), except that each representation and warranty in Section 6 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Shares (as defined in Schedule I hereto).
An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Shares, in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Shares at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule I hereto.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between the Manager and the Company.
Annex I
| NNN REIT, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| ACCEPTED as of the date first written above. | ||
| [MANAGER] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title | ||
Annex I
Schedule I to the Terms Agreement
Title of Purchased Shares:
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Number of Shares of Purchased Shares:
[Price to Public:]
Purchase Price by the Manager:
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.
Method of Delivery:
Free delivery of the Purchased Shares to the Manager’s account at The Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the purchase price.
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Documents to be Delivered:
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement shall be delivered as a condition to the closing at the Time of Delivery:
| (1) | The opinion and negative assurance letter referred to in Section 8(l). |
| (2) | The opinion and negative assurance letter referred to in Section 8(m). |
| (3) | The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 8(n). |
| (4) | The officers’ certificate referred to in Section 8(k). |
| (5) | Such other documents as the Manager shall reasonably request. |
Annex I
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF FORWARD PLACEMENT NOTICE – NON-CONTINGENT FORWARD
| From: | [ ] | |
| Cc: | [ ] | |
| To: | [ ] |
Subject: Sales Financing Agency Agreement—Placement Notice—Non-Contingent Forward
To whom it may concern:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated August 6, 2026, among NNN REIT, Inc., (the “Company”), each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BTIG, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC and Truist Securities, Inc., as sales agent, and/or (together with Nomura Securities International, Inc. (acting through BTIG, LLC as agent) and except in the case of BTIG, LLC) forward seller, and each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Markets America LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Truist Bank, each in its capacity as forward purchaser, I hereby request on behalf of the Company that [_______] enter into an agreement with the following conditions:
Maximum Forward Hedge Shares: [____]
Forward Hedge Selling Period Start Date: [____]
Forward Hedge Selling Period End Date: [____]
Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate: [____]
Spread: [__]
Maturity Date: [____]
Additional Instructions: [_____]
| Forward Price Reduction Dates | Forward Price Reduction Amounts | |||
| ________________ |
$________________ |
|||
| ________________ |
$________________ |
Regular Dividend Amounts:
| For any calendar quarter ending on or prior to [December 31, 20[__]]: | $[___] | |
| For any calendar quarter ending after [December 31, 20[__]]: | $[___] |
Exhibit A-1
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF FORWARD PLACEMENT NOTICE — CONTINGENT FORWARD
| From: | [ ] | |
| Cc: | [ ] | |
| To: | [ ] |
Subject: Sales Financing Agency Agreement—Placement Notice—Contingent Forward
To whom it may concern:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated August 6, 2026, among NNN REIT, Inc., (the “Company”), each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BTIG, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC and Truist Securities, Inc., as sales agent, and/or (together with Nomura Securities International, Inc. (acting through BTIG, LLC as agent) and except in the case of BTIG, LLC) forward seller, and each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Markets America LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Truist Bank, each in its capacity as forward purchaser, I hereby request on behalf of the Company that [_______] enter into an agreement with the following conditions:
Maximum Transaction Shares: [____]
Initial Forward Price: [____]
First Contingency Expiration Date: [____]
Last Contingency Expiration Date: [____]
Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate: [____]
Spread: [__]
Maturity Date: [____]
Additional Instructions: [_____]
| Forward Price Reduction Dates | Forward Price Reduction Amounts | |||
| ________________ |
$________________ |
|||
| ________________ |
$________________ |
Regular Dividend Amounts:
| For any calendar quarter ending on or prior to [December 31, 20[__]]: | $[___] | |
| For any calendar quarter ending after [December 31, 20[__]]: | $[___] |
Exhibit A-2
EXHIBIT A-3
FORM OF ISSUANCE PLACEMENT NOTICE
| From: | [ ] | |
| Cc: | [ ] | |
| To: | [ ] |
Subject: Sales Financing Agency Agreement—Placement Notice—Issuance
To whom it may concern:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated August 6, 2026, among NNN REIT, Inc., (the “Company”), each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BTIG, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC and Truist Securities, Inc., as sales agent, and/or (together with Nomura Securities International, Inc. (acting through BTIG, LLC as agent) and except in the case of BTIG, LLC) forward seller, and each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., Jefferies LLC, Mizuho Markets America LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Truist Bank, each in its capacity as forward purchaser, I hereby request on behalf of the Company that [_______] enter into an agreement with the following conditions:
Maximum Issuance Shares: [____]
Selling Period Start Date: [____]
Selling Period End Date: [____]
Selling Commission Rate: [____]
Additional Instructions: [_____]
Exhibit A-3
EXHIBIT B
AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS FOR PLACEMENT NOTICES AND ACCEPTANCES
Exhibit B
EXHIBIT C
Exhibit C
EXHIBIT D
Exhibit D
Exhibit 1.2
Final Form
FORM OF MASTER FORWARD CONFIRMATION
| To: | NNN REIT, Inc. | |
| From: | [Dealer] | |
| Re: | Issuer Share Forward Sale Transactions | |
| Date: | August 3, 2023 | |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The purpose of this communication (this “Master Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the Forwards (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) to be entered into from time to time between [Dealer] (“Dealer”) and NNN REIT, Inc. (“Counterparty”) in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2023 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), among Dealer, [Insert name of Forward Seller from EDA] (“Forward Seller”), Counterparty and the other parties named therein, on the Trade Dates specified herein (collectively, the “Transactions” and each, a “Transaction”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below. Each Transaction will be evidenced by a supplemental confirmation (each, a “Supplemental Confirmation”, and each such Supplemental Confirmation, together with this Master Confirmation, a “Confirmation” for purposes of the Agreement specified below) substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. Each Confirmation will be a confirmation for purposes of Rule 10b-10 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
1. Each Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). For purposes of the Equity Definitions, each Transaction will be deemed to be a Share Forward Transaction.
Each Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of and be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “ISDA Form”), as published by ISDA, as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed the ISDA Form on the date hereof (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of New York law (without regard to New York’s choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law (the “General Obligations Law”)) as the governing law and US Dollars (“USD”) as the Termination Currency and (ii) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) shall apply to Dealer and Counterparty with a “Threshold Amount” in respect of Dealer of 3% of the stockholders’ equity of [Dealer/Dealer’s Parent] and a “Threshold Amount” in respect of Counterparty of USD 50 million; provided that (x) the words “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” shall be deleted from clause (1) thereof and (y) the following language shall be added to the end of such Section 5(a)(vi): “Notwithstanding the foregoing, a default under subsection (2) hereof shall not constitute an Event of Default if (X) the default was caused solely by error or omission of an administrative or operational nature; (Y) funds were available to enable the party to make the payment when due; and (Z) the payment is made within two Local Business Days of such party’s receipt of written notice of its failure to pay;”).
All provisions contained in the Agreement are incorporated into and shall govern each Confirmation except as expressly modified below or in the relevant Supplemental Confirmation. Each Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the relevant Transaction and replaces any previous agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
1
The Transactions hereunder shall be the sole Transactions under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty or any confirmation or other agreement between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Dealer or such other Affiliates and Counterparty are parties, the Transactions shall not be considered Transactions under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency among the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail in the order of precedence indicated: (i) such Supplemental Confirmation; (ii) this Master Confirmation; (iii) the Equity Definitions; and (iv) the Agreement.
2. The terms of the particular Transactions to which this Master Confirmation relates are as follows:
General Terms:
| Trade Date: | For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be, subject to the provisions opposite the caption “Early Valuation” below, the last Trading Day (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) of the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for such Transaction. | |
| Effective Date: | For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the date that is one Settlement Cycle following the Trade Date for such Transaction, or such later date on which the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Master Confirmation shall have been satisfied or waived by Dealer. | |
| Buyer: | Dealer | |
| Seller: | Counterparty | |
| Maturity Date: | For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the date that follows the Trade Date for such Transaction by the number of days set forth in the effective Forward Placement Notice as amended by any corresponding Acceptance (each as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for such Transaction (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day). | |
| Shares: | The shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Counterparty (Ticker: “NNN”) | |
| Number of Shares: | For each Transaction, initially, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the number of Shares equal to the Forward Hedge Shares (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for such Transaction, as reduced on each Relevant Settlement Date (as defined under “Settlement Terms” below) by the number of Settlement Shares to which the related Valuation Date relates. | |
| Settlement Currency: | USD | |
| Exchange: | The New York Stock Exchange | |
| Related Exchange: | All Exchanges | |
| Prepayment: | Not Applicable | |
| Variable Obligation: | Not Applicable | |
2
| Forward Price: | For each Transaction, on the Effective Date for such Transaction, the Initial Forward Price for such Transaction, and on any calendar day thereafter, the product of the Forward Price for such Transaction on the immediately preceding calendar day and | |
| 1 + the Daily Rate * (1/365);
provided that the Forward Price for such Transaction on each Forward Price Reduction Date for such Transaction shall be the Forward Price for such Transaction otherwise in effect on such date minus the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date. | ||
| Initial Forward Price: | For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the product of (i) an amount equal to 1 minus the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) applicable to such Transaction; and (ii) the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price, subject to adjustment as set forth herein. | |
| Volume-Weighted Hedge Price: | For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the volume-weighted average of the price per share of Forward Hedge Shares (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) sold by Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) on each Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction, as determined by the Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable manner; provided that, solely for the purposes of calculating the Initial Forward Price, each such sale price (other than the sale price for the last day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period) shall be subject to adjustment by the Calculation Agent in the same manner as the Forward Price pursuant to the definition thereof during the period from, and including, the date on which the sale of the Forward Hedge Shares related to such sale price settles to, and including, the Effective Date of such Transaction. | |
| Daily Rate: | For any day, the Overnight Bank Rate minus the Spread. | |
| Spread: | For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction. | |
| Overnight Bank Rate: | For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Overnight bank funding rate” as displayed on the page “OBFR01 <Index> <GO>” on the BLOOMBERG Professional Service, or any successor page; provided that, if no such rate appears for such day on such page, Overnight Bank Rate for such day shall be such rate for the immediately preceding day for which such a rate appears. | |
| Forward Price Reduction Dates: | For each Transaction, as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be each date set forth under the heading “Forward Price Reduction Date” in the effective Forward Placement Notice for such Transaction. | |
| Forward Price Reduction Amount: | For each Forward Price Reduction Date, as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date in in the effective Forward Placement Notice for such Transaction. | |
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| Valuation: | ||
| Valuation Date: | For any Settlement (as defined below) with respect to any Transaction, if Physical Settlement is applicable, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice (as defined below); or if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement is applicable, the last Unwind Date for such Settlement. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the last Unwind Date shall be determined by Dealer in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner based on the completion of the unwinding of its commercially reasonable hedge position in a commercially reasonable manner. Dealer shall notify Counterparty in writing that such last Unwind Date has so occurred before the second following Scheduled Trading Day. | |
| Unwind Dates: | For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, each day on which Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) purchases Shares in the market in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in a commercially reasonable manner in connection with such Settlement, starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement. | |
| First Unwind Date: | For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice. | |
| Unwind Period: | For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, the period starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement and ending on the Valuation Date for such Settlement. | |
| Market Disruption Event: | The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” and inserting the words “at any time on any Exchange Business Day during the Valuation Period” after the word “material,” in the third line thereof. | |
| Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof. | ||
| Settlement Terms: | ||
| Settlement: | With respect to any Transaction, any Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of all or any portion of such Transaction. | |
| Settlement Notice: | For any Transaction, subject to “Early Valuation” below, Counterparty may elect to effect a Settlement of all or any portion of such Transaction by designating one or more Scheduled Trading Days following the Effective Date for such Transaction and on or prior to the Maturity Date for such Transaction to be Valuation Dates (or, with respect to Cash Settlements or Net Share Settlements of such Transaction, First Unwind Dates, each of which First Unwind Dates shall occur no later than a | |
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| number of Scheduled Trading Days as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation (the “Notice Settlement Number”) immediately preceding the Maturity Date for such Transaction) in a written notice to Dealer (a “Settlement Notice”) delivered no later than the applicable Settlement Method Election Date for such Transaction, which notice shall also specify (i) the number of Shares (the “Settlement Shares”) for such Settlement (not to exceed the number of Undesignated Shares for such Transaction as of the date of such Settlement Notice) and (ii) the Settlement Method applicable to such Settlement; provided that (A) Counterparty may not designate a First Unwind Date for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement of any Transaction if, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, any Shares have been designated as Settlement Shares for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement of such Transaction for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred; and (B) if the number of Undesignated Shares as of the Maturity Date for such Transaction is not zero, then the Maturity Date for such Transaction shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement of such Transaction and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Undesignated Shares for such Transaction as of the Maturity Date for such Transaction (provided that if such Maturity Date occurs during the period from the time any Settlement Notice is given for a Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of such Transaction until the related Relevant Settlement Date, inclusive, then the provisions set forth below opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply to such Transaction as if the Maturity Date for such Transaction were the Early Valuation Date for such Transaction). | ||
| Undesignated Shares: | For any Transaction, as of any date, the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of such date minus the number of Shares designated as Settlement Shares for Settlements of such Transaction for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred. | |
| Settlement Method Election: | For any Transaction, applicable; provided that: | |
| (i) Net Share Settlement shall be deemed to be included as an additional settlement method under Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions; | ||
| (ii) Counterparty may elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement for any Settlement of any Transaction only if Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer in the Settlement Notice containing such election that, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares, (B) Counterparty is electing the settlement method and designating the First Unwind Date specified in such Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-5”) or any other provisions of the federal securities laws, (C) Counterparty is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)), (D) Counterparty would be able to purchase a number of Shares equal to the greater of (x) the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice and (y) a number of Shares with a value as of the date of such Settlement Notice equal to the product of (I) such number of Settlement Shares and (II) the applicable Relevant Forward Price for such Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in compliance with the laws of Counterparty’s jurisdiction of organization and (E) such election, and settlement in | ||
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| accordance therewith, does not and will not violate or conflict with any law or regulation applicable to Counterparty, or any order or judgment of any court or other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets, and any governmental consents that are required to have been obtained by Counterparty with respect to such election or settlement have been obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been complied with; and | ||
| (iii) Notwithstanding any election to the contrary in any Settlement Notice, Physical Settlement shall be applicable for any Settlement of any Transaction: | ||
| (A) to all of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, at any time from the date such Settlement Notice is received by Dealer until the related First Unwind Date, inclusive, Dealer determines, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, that it would, after using commercially reasonable efforts, be unable to purchase a number of Shares in the market sufficient to unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of the portion of the Transaction represented by such Settlement Shares and satisfy its delivery obligation hereunder, if any, by the Maturity Date (x) in a manner that (A) would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be subject to the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18(b) under the Exchange Act and (B) based on advice of counsel, would not raise material risks under applicable securities laws or (y) due to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares (each, a “Trading Condition”); or | ||
| (B) to all or a portion of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, on any day during the relevant Unwind Period, Dealer determines, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment or based on advice of counsel, as applicable, that a Trading Condition has occurred with respect to such Transaction, in which case the provisions set forth below in the fourth paragraph opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply as if such day were the Early Valuation Date for such Transaction and (x) for purposes of clause (i) of such paragraph, such day shall be the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period and the “Unwound Shares” shall be calculated to, and including, such day and (y) for purposes of clause (ii) of such paragraph, the “Remaining Shares” shall be equal to the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice minus the Unwound Shares determined in accordance with clause (x) of this sentence. | ||
| Electing Party: | Counterparty | |
| Settlement Method Election Date: | With respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, the 5th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding (x) the Valuation Date for such Transaction, in the case of Physical Settlement, or (y) the First Unwind Date for such Transaction, in the case of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement. | |
| Default Settlement Method: | Physical Settlement | |
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| Physical Settlement: | Notwithstanding Section 9.2(a)(i) of the Equity Definitions, on the Settlement Date for any Physical Settlement of any Transaction, Dealer shall pay to Counterparty an amount equal to the Forward Price for such Transaction on the relevant Settlement Date multiplied by the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement, and Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer such Settlement Shares. | |
| Settlement Date: | For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Physical Settlement is applicable, the Valuation Date for such Settlement. | |
| Net Share Settlement: | On the Net Share Settlement Date for any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, if the Net Share Settlement Amount for such Settlement is greater than zero, Counterparty shall deliver a number of Shares equal to such Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Dealer, and if such Net Share Settlement Amount is less than zero, Dealer shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the absolute value of such Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Counterparty, in either case, in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with such Net Share Settlement Date deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4, and, in either case, plus cash in lieu of any fractional Shares included in such Net Share Settlement Amount but not delivered due to rounding required hereby, valued at the relevant Settlement Price. | |
| Net Share Settlement Date: | For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, the date that follows the Valuation Date for such Settlement by one Settlement Cycle. | |
| Net Share Settlement Amount: | For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, an amount equal to the Forward Cash Settlement Amount for such Settlement divided by the Settlement Price for such Settlement. | |
| Forward Cash Settlement Amount: | Notwithstanding Section 8.5(c) of the Equity Definitions, the Forward Cash Settlement Amount for any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction shall be equal to (i) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement multiplied by (ii) an amount equal to (A) the Settlement Price for such Settlement minus (B) the Relevant Forward Price for such Settlement. | |
| Relevant Forward Price: | For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction, the arithmetic average of the Forward Prices for such Transaction on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement.1 | |
| Settlement Price: | For any Cash Settlement of any Transaction, or any Net Share Settlement of any Transaction, the weighted average price of the purchases of Shares made by Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) during the Unwind Period for such Settlement in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position relating to such Settlement (weighted based on the number of Shares purchased by Dealer or its agent or affiliate on each Unwind Date in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent; provided that such purchases shall be made in a commercially reasonable manner at prevailing market prices), plus a commercially reasonable amount determined by the Calculation Agent that in no event will exceed USD0.02. | |
| 1 | Note to OMM/V&E: this change has been requested by our accountants. |
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| For the avoidance of doubt, the commercially reasonable amounts described above shall be included in the calculation of the Forward Hedge Selling Commission and, in the event the commercially reasonable amount described above would cause the Forward Hedge Selling Commission to exceed the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate, the amount payable shall be USD0.00. | ||
| Unwind Activities: | The times and prices at which Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) purchases any Shares during any Unwind Period in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of each Transaction shall be determined by Dealer in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Dealer concludes, in its reasonable discretion based on advice of counsel, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer, so long as such policies or procedures are generally applicable in similar situations and consistently applied to the relevant Transaction in a non-discriminatory manner) (a “Regulatory Disruption”), for it to refrain from purchasing Shares in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of such Transaction on any Scheduled Trading Day that would have been an Unwind Date but for the occurrence of a Regulatory Disruption, Dealer may (but shall not be required to) notify Counterparty in writing that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred on such Scheduled Trading Day with respect to such Transaction, in which case Dealer shall, to the extent practicable in its good faith discretion, specify the nature of such Regulatory Disruption, and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Scheduled Trading Day shall not be an Unwind Date for such Transaction and such Regulatory Disruption shall be deemed to be a Market Disruption Event; provided that Dealer may exercise its right to suspend under this sentence only in good faith in relation to events or circumstances that are not the result of actions of it or any of its Affiliates that are taken with the intent to avoid its obligations under the Transactions. | |
| Relevant Settlement Date: | For any Settlement of any Transaction, the Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date for such Settlement, as the case may be. | |
| Other Applicable Provisions: | To the extent Dealer is obligated to deliver Shares under any Transaction, the provisions of Sections 9.2 (last sentence only), 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to such Transaction; provided that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws that exist as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the issuer of the Shares. | |
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Share Adjustments:
| Potential Adjustment Events: | An Extraordinary Dividend shall not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event. For the avoidance of doubt, a cash dividend on the Shares that differs from expected dividends as of the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction shall not be a Potential Adjustment Event under Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions with respect to such Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the declaration or payment of a cash dividend will not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event. | |
| Notwithstanding Section 11.2(e)(v) of the Equity Definitions, the following repurchases of Shares (if applicable) shall not be considered to be a Potential Adjustment Event: | ||
| (i) | Shares withheld from employees of Counterparty or its Affiliates to pay certain withholding taxes upon the vesting of Share awards granted to such employees under compensation or benefit plans of Counterparty; and | |
| (ii) | Shares purchased in connection with the reinvestment of dividends by recipients of Share awards under Counterparty’s compensation or benefit plans; and | |
| (iii) | Shares purchased in connection with the operation of Counterparty’s 401(k) plans or dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plans; and | |
| (iv) | Shares purchased by Counterparty to offset any shareholder dilution arising from the exercise of options to purchase Shares. | |
| Extraordinary Dividend: | For any Transaction, any dividend or distribution on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring on any day following the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction (other than (i) any dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions or (ii) a regular, quarterly cash dividend in an amount equal to or less than the Regular Dividend Amount for such calendar quarter for such Transaction that has an ex-dividend date no earlier than the Forward Price Reduction Date occurring in the relevant quarter for such Transaction). | |
| Regular Dividend Amount: | For each Transaction and for each calendar quarter, the amount set forth under the heading “Regular Dividend Amount” in the effective Forward Placement Notice as amended by any corresponding Acceptance for such Transaction and for such calendar quarter (or, if no such amount is specified, an amount determined by Dealer in good faith), as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction. | |
| Method of Adjustment: | Calculation Agent Adjustment | |
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| Extraordinary Events: | ||
| Extraordinary Events: | The consequences that would otherwise apply under Article 12 of the Equity Definitions to any applicable Extraordinary Event (excluding any Failure to Deliver, Increased Cost of Hedging, Increased Cost of Stock | |
| Borrow or any Extraordinary Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, but including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other applicable Additional Disruption Event) shall not apply. | ||
| Tender Offer: | Applicable; provided that Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing the reference therein to “10%” with a reference to “20%”. | |
| Delisting: | In addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange. | |
| Additional Disruption Events: | ||
| Change in Law: | Applicable; provided that (A) any determination as to whether (i) the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any tax law) or (ii) the promulgation of or any change in or public announcement of the formal or informal interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in each case, constitutes a “Change in Law” shall be made without regard to Section 739 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (B) Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended (i) by adding the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof and (ii) by replacing the words “the interpretation” with the words “or public announcement of any formal or informal interpretation” in the third line thereof and (C) the words “, unless the illegality is due to an act or omission of the party seeking to elect termination of the Transaction with the intent to avoid its obligations under the terms of the Transaction” are added immediately following the word “Transaction” in the fifth line thereof; and provided further that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the phrase “and/or Hedge Position” after the word “Shares” in clause (X) thereof and by adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, a Change in Law described in clause (Y) of Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions shall not constitute a Change in Law and instead shall constitute an Increased Cost of Hedging as described in Section 12.9(a) (vi) of the Equity Definitions. | |
| Failure to Deliver: | Applicable with respect to a Transaction if Dealer is required to deliver Shares under such Transaction; otherwise, Not Applicable. | |
| Hedging Disruption: | Applicable | |
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| Increased Cost of Hedging: | Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) adding the word “or” before clause (B) of the second sentence thereof, (ii) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof, (iii) deleting the third and fourth sentences thereof, and (iv) inserting the following language at the end of such Section “provided, however, that any such increased tax, duty, expense or fee that occurs solely due to the deterioration of the creditworthiness of the Hedging Party relative to the comparable financial institutions shall not be an Increased Cost of Hedging.” | |
| Increased Cost of Stock Borrow: | Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) adding the word “or” before clause (B) of the second sentence thereof, (ii) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof and (iii) deleting the third, fourth and fifth sentences thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the announcement by the Company or any Valid Third Party Entity (as defined below) of any event that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event or Tender Offer, the term “rate to borrow Shares” as used in Section 12.9(a)(viii) of the Equity Definitions shall include any commercially reasonable cost borne or amount payable by the Hedging Party in respect of maintaining or reestablishing its hedge position with respect to the relevant Transaction, including, but not limited to, any assessment or other amount payable by the Hedging Party to a lender of Shares in respect of any merger or tender offer premium, as applicable. “Valid Third Party Entity” means any entity or an affiliate or an agent of any entity that would reasonably be expected to become a party to any such event if such event were consummated, as determined by the Calculation Agent. | |
| Initial Stock Loan Rate: | For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction. | |
| Loss of Stock Borrow: | Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (A) of the first sentence thereof in its entirety and (ii) deleting the words “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares or” in the second sentence thereof. | |
| Maximum Stock Loan Rate: | For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction. | |
| Hedging Party: | For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer. | |
| Determining Party: | For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer. | |
| Early Valuation: | ||
| Early Valuation: | For any Transaction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement, in any Supplemental Confirmation or in the Equity Definitions, at any time (x) following the occurrence of a Hedging Event with respect to such Transaction, the declaration by Issuer of an Extraordinary Dividend, or an ISDA Event with respect to such Transaction or (y) if an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position exists, Dealer (or, in the case of such an ISDA Event that is an Event of Default or Termination Event, the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date in respect of such event pursuant to Section 6 of | |
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| the Agreement) shall have the right to designate any Scheduled Trading Day to be the “Early Valuation Date” for such Transaction, in which case the provisions set forth in this “Early Valuation” section shall apply to such Transaction (and, in the case of an Event of Default or Termination Event, such provisions shall apply in lieu of Section 6 of the Agreement). For the avoidance of doubt, any amount calculated pursuant to this “Early Valuation” section as a result of an Extraordinary Dividend shall not be adjusted by the value associated with such Extraordinary Dividend. | ||
| Dealer represents and warrants to and agrees with Counterparty, assuming the accuracy and completeness of the representations of Counterparty hereunder and the compliance with, and satisfaction of, the covenants and undertakings of Counterparty hereunder, that (i) based upon advice of counsel, Dealer (A) does not know of the existence on the first Trading Day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (B) based on reasonable internal inquiry in the ordinary course of Dealer’s business does not know on the first Trading Day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period of any event or circumstance that will cause the occurrence of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of such Transaction; and (ii) Dealer will not knowingly cause the occurrence of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of any Transaction for the purpose, in whole or in part, of causing the occurrence of an Early Valuation Date. | ||
| If an Early Valuation Date for a Transaction occurs on a date that is not during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, then such Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement of such Transaction, and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the Number of Shares on such Early Valuation Date; provided that Dealer may in its sole discretion permit Counterparty to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of such Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation, the Agreement or the Equity Definitions, if Dealer designates an Early Valuation Date with respect to a Transaction following the occurrence of an ISDA Event and such Early Valuation Date is to occur before the date that is one Settlement Cycle after the last day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction, then, for purposes of such Early Valuation Date, (i) a Supplemental Confirmation relating to such Transaction shall, notwithstanding the provisions under Section 3 below, be deemed to be effective; and (ii) the Forward Price shall be deemed to be the Initial Forward Price. | ||
| If an Early Valuation Date for a Transaction occurs during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, then (i) (A) the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period shall be deemed to be such Early Valuation Date, (B) a Settlement shall occur in respect of such Unwind Period, and the Settlement Method elected by Counterparty in respect of such Settlement shall apply, and (C) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Unwound Shares for such Unwind Period on such | ||
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| Early Valuation Date, and (ii) (A) such Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for an additional Physical Settlement of such Transaction (provided that Dealer may in its sole discretion elect that the Settlement Method elected by Counterparty for the Settlement described in clause (i) of this sentence shall apply) and (B) the number of Settlement Shares for such additional Settlement shall be the number of Remaining Shares on such Early Valuation Date. | ||
| Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Nationalization or Merger Event, if at the time of the related Relevant Settlement Date the Shares have been exchanged pursuant to the terms of such Nationalization or Merger Event into cash or any other property or the right to receive cash or any other property, the Calculation Agent shall adjust the nature of the Shares in a commercially reasonable manner as it determines appropriate to account for such exchange such that the nature of the Shares is consistent with the amount of cash and type and amount of other property or rights received in exchange for Shares in such event. | ||
| ISDA Event: | (i) Any Event of Default or Termination Event, other than an Event of Default or Termination Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, that gives rise to the right of either party to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement or (ii) the public announcement by the Company or any Valid Third Party Entity of any event or transaction on or after the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Delisting or Change in Law, in each case, as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent. | |
| Amendment to Merger Event: | Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of such Section immediately following the words “in each case if the Merger Date is on or before” in the fourth to last line thereof and replacing such deleted language with the words, “the Valuation Date”. | |
| Hedging Event: | In respect of any Transaction, the occurrence of any of the following events on or following the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period: (i) (x) a Loss of Stock Borrow in connection with which Counterparty does not refer the Hedging Party to a reasonably satisfactory Lending Party within the required time period as provided in Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions or (y) a Hedging Disruption, (ii) (A) an Increased Cost of Stock Borrow or (B) an Increased Cost of Hedging in connection with which, in the case of sub-clause (A) or (B), Counterparty does not elect, and so notify the Hedging Party of its election, in each case, within the required time period to either amend such Transaction pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(A) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(A) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or pay an amount determined by the Calculation Agent that corresponds to the relevant Price Adjustment pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(B) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(B) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or (iii) a Market Disruption Event during an Unwind Period for such Transaction and the continuance of such Market Disruption Event for at least eight Scheduled Trading Days. In respect of any Transaction, if a Hedging Event occurs with respect to such Transaction on or after the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as each such term is defined in the Equity | |
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| Distribution Agreement) for such Transaction and prior to the Trade Date for such Transaction, the Calculation Agent may reduce the Initial Forward Price in a commercially reasonable manner to account for such Hedging Event and any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred by Dealer as a result of such Hedging Event. | ||
| Remaining Shares: | For any Transaction, on any day, the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of such day (or, if such day occurs during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of such day minus the Unwound Shares for such Transaction for such Unwind Period on such day). | |
| Unwound Shares: | For any Transaction, for any Unwind Period in respect of such Transaction on any day, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Dealer has unwound its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of such Transaction in connection with the related Settlement as of such day. | |
| Acknowledgements: | ||
| Non-Reliance: | Applicable | |
| Agreements and Acknowledgements Regarding Hedging Activities: | Applicable | |
| Additional Acknowledgements: | Applicable | |
| Transfer: | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, Dealer may assign, transfer and set over all rights, title and interest, powers, privileges and remedies of Dealer under any Transaction, in whole or in part, to an affiliate of Dealer whose obligations hereunder are guaranteed by Dealer or Dealer’s ultimate parent entity pursuant to the terms of a customary guarantee in a form used by Dealer generally for similar transactions without the consent of Counterparty; provided that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred with respect to either party solely as a result of such transfer and assignment; provided further that (i) such assignee or transferee is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof; (ii) such assignment or transfer shall not have a material adverse tax or regulatory consequence to Counterparty; and (iii) Counterparty will not be required to pay to such assignee or transferee an amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than the amount in respect of which Counterparty would have been required to pay Dealer in each case in the absence of such assignment or transfer nor receive a payment from which an amount has been deducted or withheld for or on account of any Tax in respect of which the other party is not required to pay an additional amount, in either case, as a result of such transfer or assignment. | |
| Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in the Agreement requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of any Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty only to the extent of any such performance. | ||
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| Calculation Agent: | Dealer; provided that, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the sole Defaulting Party, Counterparty shall have the right to select a leading dealer in the market for U.S. corporate equity derivatives to replace Dealer as Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a written request by Counterparty, the Calculation Agent will, within a commercially reasonable period of time following such request, provide to Counterparty by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Counterparty in such written request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be; provided that Dealer shall not be required to disclose any proprietary or confidential models of Dealer or any information that is proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information. | |
| Counterparty Payment/Delivery | ||
| Instructions: | To be provided by Counterparty | |
| Dealer Payment/Delivery Instructions: | [ ] | |
| [ ] | ||
| [ ] | ||
| Counterparty’s Contact Details | ||
| for Purpose of Giving Notice: | NNN REIT, Inc. | |
| 450 South Orange Avenue, Suite 900 | ||
| Orlando, Florida, 32801 | ||
| Attention: Kevin B. Habicht, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Fax: (407) 650-3650 | ||
| Dealer’s Contact Details for Purpose of Giving Notice: | [ ] | |
| [ ] | ||
| [ ] | ||
| Attention: [ ] | ||
| Telephone: [ ] | ||
| Facsimile: [ ] | ||
| Email: [ ]@[ ].com | ||
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3. Effectiveness.
The effectiveness of each Supplemental Confirmation and the related Transaction on the Effective Date for such Supplemental Confirmation shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) the representations and warranties of Counterparty contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement, and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Counterparty shall be true and correct on such Effective Date as if made as of such Effective Date;
(b) Counterparty shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Equity Distribution Agreement on or prior to such Effective Date;
(c) all of the conditions set forth in Section 10 of the Equity Distribution Agreement shall have been satisfied;
(d) the Forward Date (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) shall have occurred as provided in the Equity Distribution Agreement;
(e) all of the representations and warranties of Counterparty hereunder and under the Agreement shall be true and correct on such Effective Date as if made as of such Effective Date; and
(f) Counterparty shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it hereunder and under the Agreement on or prior to such Effective Date, including without limitation its obligations under Section 6 hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, if in respect of any Transaction (x) on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Forward Hedge Settlement Date (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), in connection with establishing its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of such Transaction, Dealer, in its sole judgment, is unable, after using commercially reasonable efforts, to borrow and deliver for sale the full number of Shares to be borrowed and sold pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement on such Settlement Date or (y) in Dealer’s sole judgment, it would incur a stock loan cost of more than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction with respect to all or any portion of such full number of Shares, the effectiveness of the related Supplemental Confirmation and such Transaction shall be limited to the number of Shares Dealer is so able to borrow in connection with establishing its commercially reasonable hedge position of such Transaction at a cost of not more than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be zero.
4. Additional Mutual Representations and Warranties. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement, each party represents and warrants to the other party that, as of the date hereof and on the Trade Date for each Transaction, it is an “eligible contract participant”, as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (as amended) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and an “accredited investor” as defined in Section 2(a)(15)(ii) of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the “Securities Act”), and is entering into each Transaction hereunder as principal and not for the benefit of any third party.
5. Additional Representations and Warranties of Counterparty. The representations and warranties of Counterparty set forth in Section 6 of the Equity Distribution Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof, each “Forward Date” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), each Trade Date for any Transaction and each “Forward Hedge Settlement Date” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in Section 6 of the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer, and agrees with Dealer, as of the date hereof, as of each day on which Counterparty delivers the Forward Placement Notice or the Acceptance, as applicable, as of each Trade Date for any Transaction, and each Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period that:
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(a) without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, it acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of any Transaction, including without limitation ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Liabilities & Equity Project;
(b) it shall not take any action to reduce or decrease the number of authorized and unissued Shares below the sum of (i) the aggregate Number of Shares across all Transactions hereunder plus (ii) the total number of Shares issuable upon settlement (whether by net share settlement or otherwise) of any other transaction or agreement to which it is a party;
(c) it will not repurchase any Shares if, immediately following such repurchase, the aggregate Number of Shares across all Transactions hereunder would be equal to or greater than 4.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares and it will notify Dealer immediately upon the announcement or consummation of any repurchase of Shares in an amount that, taken together with the amount of all repurchases since the date of the last such notice (or, if no such notice has been given, since the Trade Date), exceeds 0.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares;
(d) it is not entering into this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares), or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) by others;
(e) it is not aware of any material non-public information regarding itself or the Shares; it is entering into this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation and will provide any Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5 or any other provisions of the federal securities laws; it has not entered into or altered any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting any Transaction; and it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b5-1”);
(f) as of the date hereof and the Trade Date for each Transaction, to its knowledge, no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares; provided that Counterparty makes no such representation or warranty regarding any such requirement that is applicable generally to the ownership of equity securities by Dealer;
(g) as of the date hereof, the Trade Date for each Transaction and the date of any payment or delivery by Counterparty or Dealer under any Transaction, it is not and will not be “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code);
(h) it is not as of the date hereof, and on the Trade Date for each Transaction and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby and by each Supplemental Confirmation will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(i) as of the date hereof and the Trade Date for each Transaction it: (i) is an “institutional account” as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c); and (ii) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, and will exercise independent judgment in evaluating any recommendations of Dealer or its associated persons;
(j) IT UNDERSTANDS AS OF THE DATE HEREOF AND AS OF THE TRADE DATE FOR EACH TRANSACTION THAT EACH TRANSACTION IS SUBJECT TO COMPLEX RISKS WHICH MAY ARISE WITHOUT WARNING AND MAY AT TIMES BE VOLATILE AND THAT LOSSES MAY OCCUR QUICKLY AND IN UNANTICIPATED MAGNITUDE AND IS WILLING TO ACCEPT SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND ASSUME (FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE) SUCH RISKS;
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(k) Counterparty (A) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; (B) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing; and (C) has total assets of at least USD 50 million; and
(l) it is not a “financial end user” as defined in 12 CFR §45.2.
6. Additional Covenants of Counterparty.
(a) Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer on any Settlement Date or Net Share Settlement Date for any Transaction will be (i) newly issued, (ii) approved for listing or quotation on the Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and (iii) registered under the Exchange Act, and, when delivered by Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) to securities lenders from whom Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) borrowed Shares in connection with hedging its exposure to such Transaction, will be freely saleable without further registration or other restrictions under the Securities Act in the hands of those securities lenders, irrespective of whether any such stock loan is effected by Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer. Accordingly, Counterparty agrees that any Shares so delivered will not bear a restrictive legend and will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System. In addition, Counterparty represents and agrees that any such Shares shall be, upon such delivery, duly and validly authorized, issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free of any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance.
(b) Counterparty agrees that Counterparty shall not enter into or alter any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting any Transaction. Without limiting the generality of the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Unwind Activities” in Section 2 of this Master Confirmation, Counterparty acknowledges that it has no right to, and agrees that it will not seek to, control or influence Dealer’s decision to make any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B)(3)) under or in connection with any Transaction, including, without limitation, Dealer’s decision to enter into any hedging transactions.
(c) Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Counterparty or any officer, director, manager or similar person of Counterparty is aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares.
(d) Counterparty shall promptly provide notice thereof to Dealer (i) upon the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Termination Event in respect of which Counterparty is a Defaulting Party or an Affected Party, as the case may be, and (ii) upon announcement by the Company or any valid Third Party Entity of any event that, if consummated, would constitute an Extraordinary Event or Potential Adjustment Event.
(e) Neither Counterparty nor any of its “affiliated purchasers” (as defined by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall take any action that would cause any purchases of Shares by Dealer or any of its Affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 if such purchases were made by Counterparty. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during any Unwind Period for any Transaction, except with the prior written consent of Dealer, Counterparty will not, and will cause its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Rule 10b-18) not to, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of a derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or announce or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares.
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(f) Counterparty will not be subject to any “restricted period” (as such term is defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) in respect of Shares or any security with respect to which the Shares are a “reference security” (as such term is defined in Regulation M) during any Unwind Period for any Transaction.
(g) Counterparty shall: (i) prior to the opening of trading in the Shares on any day on which Counterparty makes, or expects to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any Merger Transaction, notify Dealer of such public announcement; (ii) promptly notify Dealer following any such announcement that such announcement has been made; (iii) promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) provide Dealer with written notice specifying (A) Counterparty’s average daily Rule 10b-18 Purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months immediately preceding the announcement date for the Merger Transaction that were not effected through Dealer or its affiliates and (B) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding such announcement date. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Counterparty to Dealer that such information is true and correct. In addition, Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders. Counterparty acknowledges that any such notice may result in a Regulatory Disruption, a Trading Condition or, if such notice relates to an event that is also an ISDA Event, an Early Valuation, or may affect the length of any ongoing Unwind Period; accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 6(c) above. “Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act. For the avoidance of doubt, a Merger Transaction or the announcement thereof shall not give either party the right to designate an Early Valuation Date for any Transaction and/or to accelerate or preclude an election by Counterparty of Physical Settlement for any Settlement of any Transaction, unless such Merger Transaction or the announcement thereof is also an ISDA Event.
(h) Counterparty will promptly execute each properly completed Supplemental Confirmation delivered to Counterparty by Dealer.
7. Termination on Bankruptcy. The parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or the Equity Definitions, each Transaction constitutes a contract to issue a security of Counterparty as contemplated by Section 365(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code and that a Transaction and the obligations and rights of Counterparty and Dealer (except for any liability as a result of breach of any of the representations or warranties provided by Counterparty in Section 4 or Section 5 above) shall immediately terminate, without the necessity of any notice, payment (whether directly, by netting or otherwise) or other action by Counterparty or Dealer, if, on or prior to the final Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date, as the case may be, for such Transaction an Insolvency Filing occurs or any other proceeding commences with respect to Counterparty under the Bankruptcy Code (a “Bankruptcy Termination Event”).
8. Additional Provisions.
(a) Dealer acknowledges and agrees that Counterparty’s obligations under the Transactions are not secured by any collateral and that neither this Master Confirmation nor any Supplemental Confirmation is intended to convey to Dealer rights with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and by any Supplemental Confirmation that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Counterparty; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement; provided further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transaction other than the Transactions.
(b) [Reserved.]2
| 2 | Agency language to be included for Dealers acting through agents. |
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(c) The parties hereto intend for:
(i) each Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(j), 555 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code;
(ii) the rights given to Dealer pursuant to “Early Valuation” in Section 2 above to constitute “contractual rights” to cause the liquidation of a “securities contract” and to set off mutual debts and claims in connection with a “securities contract”, as such terms are used in Sections 555 and 362(b)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code;
(iii) any cash, securities or other property provided as performance assurance, credit support or collateral with respect to the Transactions to constitute “margin payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code;
(iv) all payments for, under or in connection with the Transactions, all payments for Shares and the transfer of Shares to constitute “settlement payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; and
(v) any or all obligations that either party has with respect to this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement to constitute property held by or due from such party to margin, guaranty or settle obligations of the other party with respect to the transactions under the Agreement (including the Transactions) or any other agreement between such parties.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, in no event will Counterparty be required to deliver in the aggregate in respect of all Settlement Dates, Net Share Settlement Dates or other dates on which Shares are delivered in respect of any amount owed under any Transaction a number of Shares greater than two times the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of the Trade Date for such Transaction (the “Capped Number”). The Capped Number shall be subject to adjustment only on account of (x) Potential Adjustment Events of the type specified in (1) Sections 11.2(e)(i) through (vi) of the Equity Definitions or (2) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions so long as, in the case of this sub-clause (2), such event is within Issuer’s control, (y) Merger Events requiring corporate action of Issuer (or any surviving entity of the Issuer hereunder in connection with any such Merger Event) and (z) Announcement Events that are not outside Issuer’s control. Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer (which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be repeated for all Transactions on each day that any Transaction is outstanding) that the aggregate Capped Number across all Transactions hereunder is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transactions) on the date of the determination of such aggregated Capped Number. In the event Counterparty shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable under any Transaction as a result of this Section 8(c) (the resulting deficit for such Transaction, the “Deficit Shares”), Counterparty shall be continually obligated to deliver Shares, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, on a pro rata basis across all Transactions hereunder, when, and to the extent that, (A) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries after the date hereof (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (B) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved and (C) Counterparty additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for transactions other than the Transactions (such events as set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, collectively, the “Share Issuance Events”). Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the occurrence of any of the Share Issuance Events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (A), (B) or (C) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered for each Transaction) and, as promptly as reasonably practicable, deliver such Shares thereafter. Counterparty shall not, until Counterparty’s obligations under the Transactions have been satisfied in full, use any Shares that become available for potential delivery to Dealer as a result of any Share Issuance Event for the settlement or satisfaction of any transaction or obligation other than the Transactions or reserve any such Shares for future issuance for any purpose other than to satisfy Counterparty’s obligations to Dealer under the Transactions.
(e) The parties intend for this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation to constitute a “Contract” as described in the letter dated October 6, 2003 submitted on behalf of Goldman, Sachs & Co. to Paula Dubberly of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Staff”) to which the Staff responded in an interpretive letter dated October 9, 2003.
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(f) The parties intend for each Transaction (taking into account purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction) to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(A) under the Exchange Act and for this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation to constitute a binding contract or instruction satisfying the requirements of 10b5-1(c) and to be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).
(g) US QFC Stay Rules. The parties agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof all parties have adhered to the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement, and for such purposes this Agreement shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the same status as Regulated Entity and/or Adhering Party as applicable to it under the Protocol; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the status of “Covered Entity” or “Counterparty Entity” (or other similar term) as applicable to it under the Bilateral Agreement; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement, and for such purposes this Agreement shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” [Dealer] shall be deemed “Covered Entities” and NNN REIT, Inc. shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of this Agreement, all parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this section. In the event of any inconsistencies between this Agreement and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC Stay Terms”), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this paragraph without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “this Agreement” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other.
“QFC Stay Rules” means the regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. 252.2, 252.81–8, 12 C.F.R. 382.1-7 and 12 C.F.R. 47.1-8, which, subject to limited exceptions, require an express recognition of the stay-and-transfer powers of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Orderly Liquidation Authority under Title II of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the override of default rights related directly or indirectly to the entry of an affiliate into certain insolvency proceedings and any restrictions on the transfer of any covered affiliate credit enhancements.
(h) Counterparty acknowledges that:
(i) during the term of the Transactions, Dealer and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to the Transactions;
(ii) Dealer and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and derivatives linked to the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transactions, including acting as agent or as principal and for its own account or on behalf of customers;
(iii) Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Counterparty’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the Settlement Price for each Transaction;
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(iv) any market activities of Dealer and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price and the Settlement Price for each Transaction, each in a manner that may be adverse to Counterparty; and
(v) each Transaction is a derivatives transaction; Dealer may purchase or sell shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the price received by Counterparty under the terms of the relevant Transaction.
(i) Counterparty and Dealer agree and acknowledge that (A) the Transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation will be entered into in reliance on the fact that this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation hereto form a single agreement between Counterparty and Dealer, and Dealer would not otherwise enter into such Transactions; (B) this Master Confirmation, together with each Supplemental Confirmation hereto, is a “qualified financial contract,” as such term is defined in Section 5-701(b)(2) of the General Obligations Law; (C) each Supplemental Confirmation hereto, regardless of whether transmitted electronically or otherwise, constitutes a “confirmation in writing sufficient to indicate that a contract has been made between the parties” hereto, as set forth in Section 5-701(b)(3)(b) of the General Obligations Law; and (D) this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation hereto constitute a prior “written contract,” as set forth in Section 5-701(b)(1)(b) of the General Obligations Law, and each party hereto intends and agrees to be bound by this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation.
(j) Counterparty and Dealer agree that, upon the delivery of any Forward Placement Notice (as such term is defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) relating to a Forward (as such term is defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) by Counterparty, in respect of the Transaction to which such Forward Placement Notice relates, each of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Master Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction (including, without limitation, Dealer’s right to designate an Early Valuation Date in respect of such Transaction pursuant to the provisions opposite the caption “Early Valuation” in Section 2 and the termination of such Transaction following a Bankruptcy Termination Event as described in Section 7) shall govern, and be applicable to, such Transaction as of the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction as if the Trade Date for such Transaction were such first Trading Day.
(k) Tax Matters.
(i) Payee Tax Representations. For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement, Dealer and Counterparty make the following representations:
a. The following representations will apply to Dealer:
i. [Dealer is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 7701(a)(30) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
ii. Dealer is a national banking association organized or formed under the laws of the United States and is an exempt recipient under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(M).]3
b. The following representations will apply to Counterparty:
i. Counterparty is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
ii. Counterparty is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code , and section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a corporation that is an exempt recipient under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(A).
| 3 | NTD: To be revised for each Dealer, as applicable. |
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(ii) Agreements to Deliver Documents. For the purpose of Section 4(a)(i) of the Agreement, Dealer and Counterparty each agrees to deliver, as applicable, (i) in the case of Dealer, a completed and accurate U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or successor thereto) and (ii) in the case of Counterparty, a complete and accurate U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or successor thereto), in each case (x) promptly upon execution of this Confirmation, (y) promptly upon reasonable demand by the other party and (z) promptly upon learning that any form previously provided has become obsolete or incorrect.
(iii) “Tax” as used in this clause (k) and “Indemnifiable Tax” as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement shall not include (A) any tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”) and (B) any tax imposed or collected pursuant to Section 871(m) of the Code or any current or future regulations or official interpretation thereof (a “Section 871(m) Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, each of a FATCA Withholding Tax and a Section 871(m) Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.
9. Indemnification. Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and its assignees and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, financial losses resulting from the economic terms of the Transactions), claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to, the execution or delivery of this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations under the Transactions, any breach of any covenant or representation made by Counterparty in this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Counterparty will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Dealer’s willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in performing the services that are subject of the Transactions. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty. Counterparty also agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to Counterparty or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of Counterparty in connection with or as a result of any matter referred to in this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by Counterparty result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Indemnified Party. The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive the completion of the Transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation and any assignment and/or delegation of the Transactions made pursuant to the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments due as a result of this provision may not be used to set off any obligation of Dealer upon settlement of the Transactions.
10. Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be entitled to receive, or be deemed to receive, or have the “right to acquire” (within the meaning of NYSE Rule 312.04(g)) Shares to the extent that, upon such receipt of such Shares, (i) the “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Shares by Dealer, any of its affiliates’ business units subject to aggregation with Dealer for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and all persons who may form a “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) with Dealer with respect to “beneficial ownership” of any Shares (collectively, “Dealer Group”) that would be equal to or greater than the lesser of (x) 4.5% of the outstanding Shares (such condition, an “Excess Section 13 Ownership Position”), and (y)
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4.9% of the outstanding Shares as of the Trade Date for any Transaction (such number of Shares, the “Threshold Number of Shares” and such condition, the “Excess NYSE Ownership Position”) or (ii) Dealer, Dealer Group or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under Sections 3-601 through 3-603 of the Maryland Code (Corporations and Associations) or any state or federal bank holding company or banking laws, or any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), would own, beneficially own, constructively own, control, hold the power to vote or otherwise meet a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the lesser of (A) the maximum number of Shares that would be permitted under Applicable Laws and (B) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received or that would give rise to any consequences under the constitutive documents of Counterparty (including, without limitation, Article VI of the Articles) or any contract or agreement to which Counterparty is a party, in each case minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (such condition described in clause (ii), an “Excess Regulatory Ownership Position”). If any delivery owed to Dealer under any Transaction is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, (i) Counterparty’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Counterparty shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Counterparty that such delivery would not result in (x) Dealer Group directly or indirectly so beneficially owning in excess of the lesser of (A) 4.5% of the outstanding Shares and (B) the Threshold Number of Shares or (y) the occurrence of an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (ii) if such delivery relates to a Physical Settlement of any Transaction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer shall not be obligated to satisfy the portion of its payment obligation with respect to such Transaction corresponding to any Shares required to be so delivered until the date Counterparty makes such delivery. Upon request of Dealer, Counterparty shall promptly confirm to Dealer the number of Shares then outstanding and Dealer shall then promptly advise Counterparty with respect to any limitations under this Section 10 applicable to any anticipated delivery of Shares hereunder; provided, however, that neither a failure by Counterparty to notify Dealer of the number of Shares then outstanding nor a failure of Dealer to advise Counterparty with respect to any applicable limitations shall be deemed a default hereunder and notwithstanding such failure the remainder of this Section 10 shall continue to apply. For the avoidance of doubt, any delivery of Shares made by Counterparty to Dealer that Dealer was not entitled to receive under the terms of this Section 10 shall not be deemed to satisfy any of the delivery obligations of Counterparty hereunder and Dealer shall promptly return such Shares to Counterparty, pending which Dealer shall be deemed to hold any such Shares solely as custodian for the benefit of Counterparty.
11. Non-Confidentiality. The parties hereby agree that (i) effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transactions, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transactions and all materials of any kind, including opinions or other tax analyses, provided by Dealer and its affiliates to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that the foregoing does not constitute an authorization to disclose the identity of Dealer or its affiliates, agents or advisers, or, except to the extent relating to such tax structure or tax treatment, any specific pricing terms or commercial or financial information, and (ii) Dealer does not assert any claim of proprietary ownership in respect of any description contained herein or therein relating to the use of any entities, plans or arrangements to give rise to a particular United States federal income tax treatment for Counterparty.
12. Restricted Shares. If Counterparty is unable to comply with the covenant of Counterparty contained in Section 6 above or Dealer otherwise determines in its reasonable opinion that any Shares to be delivered to Dealer by Counterparty under any Transaction may not be freely returned by Dealer to securities lenders as described in the covenant of Counterparty contained in Section 6 above, then delivery of any such Settlement Shares (the “Unregistered Settlement Shares”) shall be effected pursuant to Annex A hereto, unless waived by Dealer.
13. Use of Shares. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that, except in the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall use any Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer on any Settlement Date to return to securities lenders to close out borrowings created by Dealer in connection with its hedging activities related to exposure under the Transactions or otherwise in compliance with applicable law.
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14. Rule 10b-18. In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Net Share Settlement or Cash Settlement of any Transaction, Dealer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its activities, or cause its affiliates to conduct their activities, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, as if such provisions were applicable to such purchases and taking into account any applicable Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters as appropriate, and subject to any delays between the execution and reporting of a trade of the Shares on the Exchange and other circumstances beyond Dealer’s control.
15. Governing Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and all matters arising in connection with the Agreement this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without reference to its choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law).
16. Set-Off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set-off delivery or payment obligations it owes to the other party under any Transaction against any delivery or payment obligations owed to it by the other party, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise.
17. Staggered Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer may, by prior notice to Counterparty, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.
18. Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF COUNTERPARTY AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.
19. Jurisdiction. The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with all matters relating hereto and waive any objection to the laying of venue in, and any claim of inconvenient forum with respect to, these courts. Nothing in this provision shall prohibit a party from bringing an action to enforce a money judgment in any other jurisdiction.
20. Counterparts. This Master Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Master Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.
21. Delivery of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Counterparty to deliver cash or other assets in respect of the settlement of the Transactions, except in circumstances where the required cash or other asset settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, as in effect on the date hereof.
22. Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party, as applicable, shall make such adjustment in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner , and by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party, assuming that the Hedging Party maintains a commercially reasonable hedge position with respect to the Transaction at the time of the event.
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23. Ownership Limit. Counterparty represents and undertakes to Dealer that Dealer, solely in its capacity as “Forward Purchaser” or “Forward Seller” (each as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) and any of its agents or affiliates, each solely with respect to its entering into and consummating the transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Distribution Agreement, will not collectively with any other Forward Purchasers or Forward Sellers or their agents or affiliates acting in connection with other Master Confirmations, any Supplemental Confirmations or the Equity Distribution Agreement, be subject to the ownership limitations set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of Section 3(B) of Article VI of the Counterparty’s First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, solely with respect to whether such ownership limitations have been exceeded by reason of being a “group” (as referenced in the definition of Person in Section 3(A) of Article VI of the Articles); provided, however, that such parties shall remain subject to all of the ownership limits of Section 3(B) of Article VI of the Articles as they apply to them individually or as part of any such “group” otherwise than as specified above.
24. Other Forward Transactions. Counterparty agrees that (x) it shall not cause to occur, or permit to exist, any Forward Hedge Selling Period at any time there is (1) a “Forward Hedge Selling Period” (or equivalent term) relating to any other issuer forward sale or similar transaction (including, without limitation, any “Transaction” under (as and defined under) any substantially identical master forward confirmation) with any financial institution other than Dealer (an “Other Forward Transaction”) or (2) any “Unwind Period” (or equivalent term) hereunder or under any Other Forward Transaction, and (y) Counterparty shall not cause to occur, or permit to exist, an Unwind Period at any time there is an “Unwind Period” (or equivalent term) under any Other Forward Transaction or a “Forward Hedge Selling Period” (or equivalent term) relating to any Transaction or any Other Forward Transaction.
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Counterparty hereby agrees (a) to check this Master Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty hereunder, by manually signing this Master Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to us.
| Yours faithfully, | ||
| [DEALER] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Agreed and accepted by: | ||
| NNN REIT, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
S-1
ANNEX A
PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES
If Counterparty delivers Unregistered Settlement Shares pursuant to Section 12 above (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then:
(a) all Unregistered Settlement Shares shall be delivered to Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof;
(b) as of or prior to the date of delivery, Dealer and any potential purchaser of any such shares from Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) identified by Dealer shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for private placements of equity securities of similar size (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them);
(c) as of the date of delivery, Counterparty shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) with Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate), substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its affiliates and obligations to use best efforts to obtain customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters, and shall provide for the payment by Counterparty of all commercially reasonable fees and expenses in connection with such resale, including all commercially reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, and shall contain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Counterparty reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales; and
(d) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate), Counterparty shall, if so requested by Dealer, prepare, in cooperation with Dealer, a private placement memorandum in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer.
In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall, in its good faith and commercially reasonable discretion, adjust the amount of Unregistered Settlement Shares to be delivered to Dealer hereunder in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Unregistered Settlement Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Dealer and may only be saleable by Dealer at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Unregistered Settlement Shares.
If Counterparty delivers any Unregistered Settlement Shares in respect of a Transaction, unless it is advised in writing by outside counsel that any of the following actions would violate applicable securities laws because of a change in law or a change in the policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff occurring after the Trade Date, Counterparty agrees that (i) such Shares may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and (ii) after the applicable “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed after the applicable Settlement Date, Counterparty shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for the Shares to remove, any legends referring to any transfer restrictions from such Shares upon delivery by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer) to Counterparty or such transfer agent of any seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer or its affiliates in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer).
EXHIBIT A
SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION
| To: | NNN REIT, Inc. | |
| From: | [______] | |
| Re: | Issuer Share Forward Sale Transaction | |
| Date: | [_________], 20[__] | |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The purpose of this Supplemental Confirmation is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between [____] (“Dealer”) and NNN REIT, Inc. (“Counterparty”) (together, the “Contracting Parties”) on the Trade Date specified below. This Supplemental Confirmation is a binding contract between Dealer and Counterparty as of the relevant Trade Date for the Transaction referenced below.
1. This Supplemental Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Master Confirmation dated as of August 3, 2023 (the “Master Confirmation”) between the Contracting Parties, as amended and supplemented from time to time. All provisions contained in the Master Confirmation govern this Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified below.
2. The terms of the Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates are as follows:
| Trade Date: | [_______], 20[__] | |
| Effective Date: | [_______], 20[__] | |
| Maturity Date: | [_______], 20[__] | |
| Number of Shares: | [________] | |
| Initial Forward Price: | USD [____] | |
| Spread: | [_.__]% | |
| Notice Settlement Number | [__] Scheduled Trading Days | |
| Volume-Weighted Hedge Price: | USD [____] | |
| Initial Stock Loan Rate: | [___] basis points per annum | |
| Maximum Stock Loan Rate: | [___] basis points per annum | |
Schedule I
FORWARD PRICE REDUCTION AMOUNTS
| Forward Price Reduction Date: | Forward Price Reduction Amount: | |
| [______], 20[__] | USD[___] | |
| [______], 20[__] | USD[___] | |
| [______], 20[__] | USD[___] | |
| [______], 20[__] | USD[___] | |
REGULAR DIVIDEND AMOUNTS
| For any calendar quarter ending on or prior to [December 31, 20[__]]: | USD[___] | |
| For any calendar quarter ending after [December 31, 20[__]]: | USD[___] | |
Exhibit 1.3
Final Form
Date: August 6, 2026
To: NNN REIT, Inc.
From:
| Re: | Master Confirmation – Contingent Forward Transactions |
The purpose of this letter agreement (including the terms set forth in Appendix 1, this “Master Confirmation”) is to confirm the terms and conditions for one or more contingent forward transactions that NNN REIT, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland (“Company”), will enter into with [Dealer] (“Dealer”) from time to time. Each such transaction (a “Transaction”) entered into between Company and Dealer that is to be subject to this Master Confirmation shall be evidenced by a supplemental confirmation substantially in the form of Annex A hereto (a “Supplemental Confirmation”), with such modifications thereto as to which Company and Dealer mutually agree. This Master Confirmation and a Supplemental Confirmation together shall constitute a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below. The time of any Transaction is available upon request.
The definitions and provisions contained in the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”), are incorporated into this Master Confirmation.
Each party is hereby advised, and each such party acknowledges, that the other party has engaged in, or refrained from engaging in, substantial financial transactions and has taken other material actions in reliance upon the parties’ entry into the Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and a Supplemental Confirmation relate on the terms and conditions set forth below and therein.
1. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation evidence a complete and binding agreement between Company and Dealer as to the subject matter and terms of the Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation relate, and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of, and be subject to an agreement in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “Agreement”) as if Dealer and Company had executed an agreement in such form on the date hereof (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law (without regard to New York’s choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law), (ii) the election of U.S. Dollars (“USD”) as the Termination Currency and (iii) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) shall apply to Dealer and Company with a “Threshold Amount” in respect of [Dealer] or [Dealer’s ultimate parent] of 3% of the stockholders’ equity of [Dealer] or [Dealer’s ultimate parent], as applicable, and a “Threshold Amount” in respect of Company of USD 50 million; provided that (x) the words “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” shall be deleted from clause (1) thereof and (y) the following language shall be added to the end of such Section 5(a)(vi): “Notwithstanding the foregoing, a default under subsection (2) hereof shall not constitute an Event of Default if (X) the default was caused solely by error or omission of an administrative or operational nature; (Y) funds were available to enable the party to make the payment when due; and (Z) the payment is made within two Local Business Days of such party’s receipt of written notice of its failure to pay;”) on the date hereof. All provisions contained in the Agreement govern this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified herein or in such Supplemental Confirmation.
If, in relation to any Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and a Supplemental Confirmation relate, there is any inconsistency between the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, such Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail for purposes of such Transaction in the order of precedence indicated: (i) such Supplemental Confirmation; (ii) this Master Confirmation; (iii) the Equity Definitions; and (iv) the Agreement. The parties hereby agree that no Transaction other than the Transactions to which this Master Confirmation relate shall be governed by the Agreement. This Master Confirmation and the Agreement, together with the Supplemental Confirmation relating to a Transaction, shall constitute the written agreement between Company and Dealer with respect to such Transaction.
The Transactions hereunder shall be the sole Transactions under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Dealer and Company or any confirmation or other agreement between Dealer and Company pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Dealer and Company, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Dealer and Company are parties, none of the Transactions shall be considered a Transaction under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement.
2. Each Transaction is a Contingent Forward Transaction, which shall be considered a Share Forward Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of a particular Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and a Supplemental Confirmation relate are as follows:
General Terms:
| Trade Date: |
For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Maturity Date: |
For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Seller: |
Company | |
| Buyer: |
Dealer | |
| Shares: |
The shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of NNN REIT, Inc. (“Issuer”) (Ticker: “NNN”) | |
| Components: |
Each Transaction will be divided into a number of individual Components equal to the number of Components for such Transaction, each with the terms set forth in this Master Confirmation and the related Supplemental Confirmation, and, in particular, with the Maximum Number of Shares and Contingency Expiration Date set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. The payments and deliveries to be made upon settlement of each Transaction will be determined separately for each Component as if each Component were a separate Transaction under the Agreement. | |
| Maximum Transaction Number of Shares: |
For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. For the avoidance of doubt, the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares for any Transaction shall not exceed the number of Shares introduced into the public markets by Forward Hedge Seller (as defined below) in connection with the Initial Hedge Position in respect of such Transaction pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement, and neither party shall have any obligation hereunder with respect to any Shares that have not become part of the Transaction Number of Shares following the applicable Contingency Expiration Date. | |
| Transaction Number of Shares: |
For each Transaction, initially zero; and subject to increase from time to time pursuant to the terms set forth under “Contingency Terms” below. The Calculation Agent shall promptly notify Company of any change in the Transaction Number of Shares and the Maximum Number of Shares for each Component of such Transaction from time to time. | |
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| Maximum Number of Shares: |
With respect to each Component of a Transaction, the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares divided by the number of Components for such Transaction (rounded using a rounding convention determined by the Calculation Agent, with any remainder allocated to the final Component of such Transaction), as specified in the related Supplemental Confirmation. For the avoidance of doubt, the Maximum Number of Shares for any Component of a Transaction shall, if applicable, be reduced from time to time pursuant to terms set forth under “Contingency Terms” below. | |
| Initial Forward Price: |
For each Transaction, initially as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. The Initial Forward Price shall be decreased by the Forward Price Reduction Amounts set forth in the relevant Supplemental Confirmation under “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” on the corresponding Forward Price Reduction Dates set forth therein that occur on or before the Contingency Completion Date for such Transaction. | |
| Forward Price: |
For each Transaction: | |
| (a) from and including the Trade Date for such Transaction up to, and including the Scheduled Trading Day on which the sum of the Maximum Number of Shares with respect to all Components of such Transaction is reduced to zero (“Contingency Completion Date”), the product of (i) the Initial Forward Price for such Transaction and (ii)(A) one (1) minus (B) the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate; and | ||
| (b) on each calendar day thereafter, (i) the Forward Price as of the immediately preceding calendar day multiplied by (ii) 1 + the Daily Rate * (1/365). The Forward Price shall be decreased by the Forward Price Reduction Amounts set forth in the relevant Supplemental Confirmation under “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” on the corresponding Forward Price Reduction Dates set forth therein that occur after the Contingency Completion Date for such Transaction. | ||
| Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate: |
For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Daily Rate: |
For any day, a rate (which may be positive or negative) equal to (i) (a) Overnight Bank Rate (or if the Overnight Bank Rate is no longer available, a successor rate selected by the Calculation Agent in its commercially reasonable discretion) for such day minus (b) the Spread. | |
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| Overnight Bank Rate: |
For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Overnight bank funding rate”, as such rate is displayed on Bloomberg Screen “OBFR01 <Index> <GO>”, or any successor page; provided that, if no rate appears for a particular day on such page, the rate for the immediately preceding day for which a rate does so appear shall be used for such day. | |
| Spread: |
For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Forward Price Reduction Dates: |
For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Forward Price Reduction Amounts: |
For each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date in the Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Contingency Premium: |
For all Components comprising a Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Contingency Premium Payment Date: |
For each Transaction, the later of (i) the second Currency Business Day following the Trade Date for such Transaction and (ii) the first Currency Business Day following the date on which Company executes the related Supplemental Confirmation evidencing such Transaction. | |
| It shall be a condition to Dealer’s obligation to pay to Company the Contingency Premium on the Contingency Premium Payment Date that Company shall have satisfied (or caused to have satisfied) each of the conditions set forth in Section 8 of this Master Confirmation. | ||
| Initial Share Price: |
For each Transaction, unless otherwise agreed between the parties, the volume-weighted average price per Share at which Forward Hedge Seller establishes the initial hedge of the equity price risk undertaken by Dealer with respect to the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction during the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) by selling Shares in transactions effected under the Prospectus (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement (as defined below)), net of any sales commissions or other discounts as set forth in the Equity Distribution Agreement, in amounts and at times determined by Dealer (or Forward Hedge Seller) but pursuant to commercially reasonable instructions or parameters (e.g., limit prices) as Company may notify Dealer from time to time (and Dealer will use good faith efforts to comply with any such instructions or parameters, subject to market conditions, and subject to applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer), and as set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation. The number of Shares comprising Dealer’s initial hedge is referred to herein as the “Initial Hedge Position”. | |
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| Equity Distribution Agreement: |
The Equity Distribution Agreement, dated August 6, 2026, by and among Company, as company, and Dealer, as forward purchaser, and [Dealer], as forward seller (“Forward Hedge Seller”) and the other parties party thereto.1 | |
| Exchange: |
The New York Stock Exchange. | |
| Related Exchange(s): |
All Exchanges | |
| Clearance System: |
The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) | |
| Prepayment: |
Not Applicable | |
| Variable Obligation: |
Not Applicable | |
Contingency Terms:
In respect of any Component:
| Contingency: |
On any Scheduled Trading Day from, and including, the Trade Date to, and including, the Contingency Expiration Date for such Component between 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) and 7:00 p.m. (New York City time), Dealer may, from time to time, designate any number of Shares with respect to such Component (the “Designated Shares” and each such Scheduled Trading Day on which such designation occurred, a “Contingency Exercise Date”) up to the then-Maximum Number of Shares with respect to such Component, in which case the Transaction Number of Shares with respect to the relevant Transaction shall be increased by such number of Designated Shares and the Maximum Number of Shares for such Component shall be reduced by such number of Designated Shares; provided that, unless Dealer notifies Company otherwise by 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following such Contingency Expiration Date), if the Reference Price is greater than the Initial Forward Price, Dealer shall be deemed to have designated Designated Shares equal to the then-Maximum Number of Shares with respect to such Component. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the immediately preceding proviso, Dealer’s right to designate any Designated Shares with respect to any then-Maximum Number of Shares shall be deemed to have expired as of 7:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Contingency Expiration Date, and the Maximum Number of Shares with respect to such Component shall be reduced to zero. At any time, the portion of the relevant Transaction corresponding to the Transaction Number of Shares is referred to herein as the “Contingency Exercised Portion,” and the remaining portion is referred to herein as the “Remaining Contingency Portion.” |
| 1 | NTD: Terms of this contingent forward subject to drafting of Equity Distribution Agreement. |
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| Contingency Expiration Dates: |
As set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day that is not already a Contingency Expiration Date for another Component under any Transaction). | |
| Reference Price: |
The official closing price of a Share on the relevant Contingency Expiration Date published on Bloomberg Page “<NNN: US EQUITY> <HP>” (or any successor page thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such date for any reason or is manifestly erroneous, the Reference Price on such Contingency Expiration Date shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. | |
| Market Disruption Event: |
The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” and replacing the words “or (iii) an Early Closure” with “(iii) an Early Closure that the Calculation Agent determines is material, or (iv) a Regulatory Disruption, in each case at any time on any Scheduled Trading Day during the period commencing on, and including, the Trade Date of the relevant Transaction to, and including, the Contingency Expiration Date of such Component (such period, the “Term of a Component”) or during any Unwind Period”. | |
| The definition of “Early Closure” in Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof. | ||
| Notwithstanding the second and third sentences of Section 3.1(f) of the Equity Definitions, if any Scheduled Trading Day during the Term of a Component is a Disrupted Day, then Dealer may postpone the Contingency Expiration Date specified in the related Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction to a Scheduled Trading Day determined by Dealer. | ||
| Regulatory Disruption: |
Any event that Dealer concludes, in its reasonable discretion based on advice of counsel, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer, so long as such policies or procedures are generally applicable in similar situations and consistently applied to the relevant Transaction in a non-discriminatory manner), | |
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| for Dealer to refrain from or decrease any market activity in connection with the relevant Transaction. Whenever a Regulatory Disruption occurs, Dealer may (but shall not be required to) notify Company in writing that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred with respect to such Transaction, in which case Dealer shall, to the extent practicable in its good faith discretion, specify the nature of such Regulatory Disruption, and such Regulatory Disruption shall be deemed to be a Market Disruption Event; provided that Dealer may exercise its right under this provision only in good faith in relation to events or circumstances that are not the result of actions of it or any of its affiliates that are taken with the intent to avoid its obligations under the Transactions. |
Settlement Terms:
| Settlement Date: |
Any Scheduled Trading Day following the Contingency Completion Date for any Transaction and up to and including the Maturity Date for such Transaction that is either: | |
| (a) designated by Company as a “Settlement Date” with respect to any Component by a written notice (a “Settlement Notice”) that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements and is delivered to Dealer no later than (i) 12:00 p.m. New York City time on the day that is one Scheduled Trading Day prior to such Settlement Date, which may be such Maturity Date, if Physical Settlement applies, and (ii) the 60th Scheduled Trading Day prior to such Settlement Date, which may be such Maturity Date but shall not be earlier than the 60th Scheduled Trading Day following the Contingency Completion Date for such Transaction, if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies; provided that, with respect to Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, if Dealer shall fully unwind its hedge with respect to the portion of the Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction to be settled during an Unwind Period by a date that is more than one Scheduled Trading Day prior to a Settlement Date specified above, Dealer may, by written notice to Company, specify any Scheduled Trading Day prior to such original Settlement Date as the Settlement Date (with prior notice to Company at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to such specified Settlement Date); or | ||
| (b) designated by Dealer as a “Settlement Date” pursuant to “Termination Settlement” provisions of Section 8(f) below; | ||
| provided that such Maturity Date will be a Settlement Date if on such date the Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction for which a Settlement Date has not already been designated is greater than zero. | ||
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| Settlement Shares: |
(a) With respect to any Settlement Date other than the Maturity Date for such Transaction, the number of Shares designated as such by Company in the relevant Settlement Notice or designated by Dealer pursuant to the “Termination Settlement” provisions of Section 8(f) below, as applicable; provided that the Settlement Shares so designated shall (i) not exceed the Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction at that time and (ii) in the case of a designation by Company, the aggregate number of Shares designated as such by Company with respect to such Transaction be at least equal to the lesser of 100,000 and the Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction at that time, in each case determined taking into account pending Settlement Shares; and | |
| (b) with respect to the Settlement Date on the Maturity Date for such Transaction, a number of Shares equal to the Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction at that time; in each case with the Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction determined taking into account pending Settlement Shares. | ||
| Settlement Method: |
Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement, or Net Share Settlement, at the election of Company as set forth in a Settlement Notice that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements; provided that Physical Settlement shall apply (i) if no Settlement Method is validly selected, (ii) with respect to any Settlement Shares in respect of which Dealer is unable, in good faith and in its commercially reasonable discretion, to unwind its hedge by the end of the Unwind Period (taking into account any restrictions on Dealer resulting from any Overlap Unwind Period (as defined below)) (A) in a manner that, in the reasonable discretion of Dealer, is consistent with the requirements for qualifying for the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 or (B) due to the occurrence of Disrupted Days or to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares on any Exchange Business Day during the Unwind Period and (iii) to any Termination Settlement Date (as defined under “Termination Settlement” in Section 8(f) below); provided further that, if Physical Settlement applies under clause (ii) immediately above, Dealer shall provide written notice to Company at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to the applicable Settlement Date. | |
| Settlement Notice Requirements: |
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, a Settlement Notice delivered by Company that specifies Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement will not be effective to establish a Settlement Date or require Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement unless (i) Company delivers to Dealer with such Settlement Notice representations, dated as of the date of such Settlement Notice and signed by Company, in the form set forth in “Settlement Method Election Representations” below and (ii) the same Settlement Method is specified to be applicable for all Components of a Transaction designated in such Settlement Notice. | |
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| Settlement Method Election |
||
| Representations: |
(A) Company is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares, (B) Company is electing Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-5”) or any other provision of the federal securities laws, (C) it is not making such election to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares), (D) such election, and settlement in accordance therewith, does not and will not violate or conflict with any law, regulation or supervisory guidance applicable to Company, or any order or judgment of any court or other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets, and any governmental consents that are required to have been obtained by Company with respect to such election or settlement have been obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been complied with and (E) Company will be able to purchase the number of Shares equal to the greater of (x) the number of Settlement Shares designated in the relevant Settlement Notice and (y) a number of Shares with a value as of the date of such Settlement Notice equal to the product of (I) such number of Settlement Shares and (II) the applicable Forward Price(s) for such Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, in compliance with the laws of Company’s jurisdiction of organization in accordance with its organizational documents and the required corporate approvals thereunder (if any). | |
| Physical Settlement: |
If Physical Settlement is applicable, then Company shall deliver to Dealer through the Clearance System a number of Shares equal to the Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date, and Dealer shall pay to Company, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Company, an amount equal to the Physical Settlement Amount for such Settlement Date. If, on any Settlement Date, the Shares to be delivered by Company to Dealer hereunder are not so delivered (the “Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date occurs during the period from, and including, such Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to Dealer, then the portion of the Physical Settlement Amount payable by Dealer to Company in respect of the Deferred Shares shall be reduced by the corresponding Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth in the relevant Supplemental Confirmation under “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” for such Forward Price Reduction Date, multiplied by the number of Deferred Shares. | |
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| Physical Settlement Amount: |
For any Settlement Date for which Physical Settlement is applicable, an amount in cash equal to the product of (a) the Forward Price for such Transaction in effect on the relevant Settlement Date multiplied by (b) the Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date. | |
| Cash Settlement: |
On any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement applies, if the Cash Settlement Amount is a positive number, Dealer will pay the Cash Settlement Amount to Company. If the Cash Settlement Amount is a negative number, Company will pay the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount to Dealer. Such amounts shall be paid on such Settlement Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds. | |
| Cash Settlement Amount: |
An amount determined by the Calculation Agent equal to: | |
| (a) (i)(A) the weighted average (weighted on the same basis as clause (B)) of the Forward Prices for such Transaction on each day during the applicable Unwind Period (calculated assuming no reduction to such Forward Prices for such Transaction for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, which is accounted for in clause (b) below), minus USD 0.02, minus (B) the weighted average price (the “Unwind Price”) at which Dealer purchases Shares during the Unwind Period to unwind its hedge with respect to the portion of the Transaction Number of Shares to be settled during the Unwind Period (including, for the avoidance of doubt, purchases on any Disrupted Day in part), taking into account Shares anticipated to be delivered or received if Net Share Settlement applies, and the restrictions of Rule 10b-18 agreed to hereunder, multiplied by (ii) the Settlement Shares for the relevant Settlement Date; minus | ||
| (b) the product of (i) the Forward Price Reduction Amount for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, and (ii) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date with respect to which Dealer has not unwound its hedge, including the settlement of such unwinds, as of such Forward Price Reduction Date. | ||
| Net Share Settlement: |
On any Settlement Date in respect of which Net Share Settlement applies, if the Cash Settlement Amount is a (i) positive number, Dealer shall deliver a number of Shares to Company equal to the Net Share Settlement Shares, or (ii) negative number, Company shall deliver a number of Shares to Dealer equal to the Net Share Settlement Shares; provided that, if Dealer determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it would be required to deliver Net Share Settlement Shares to Company, Dealer may elect to deliver a portion of such Net Share Settlement Shares on one or more dates prior to the applicable Settlement Date. | |
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| Net Share Settlement Shares: |
With respect to a Settlement Date, the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount divided by the Unwind Price, with the number of Shares rounded up in the event such calculation results in a fractional number. | |
| Unwind Period: |
The period from and including the first Exchange Business Day following the date Company validly elects Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of a Settlement Date through the Exchange Business Day preceding such Settlement Date, subject to “Other Forwards” as described in 8(d) below and “Termination Settlement” as described in Section 8(f) below. | |
| Other Applicable Provisions: |
To the extent Dealer or Company is obligated to deliver Shares hereunder, the provisions of Sections 9.2 (last sentence only), 9.4, 9.8, 9.9, 9.10 and 9.11 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction; provided that, in such case, with respect to any delivery of Shares by Dealer, the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws that exist as a result of the fact that Company is the issuer of the Shares. | |
Share Adjustments; Dividends:
| Method of Adjustment: |
Calculation Agent Adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, in making any adjustments under the Equity Definitions, the Calculation Agent may make commercially reasonable adjustments, if any, to any one or more of the Initial Forward Price, the Forward Price, the Maximum Number of Shares for any Component and the Transaction Number of Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any cash dividends or distributions on the Shares, whether or not extraordinary, shall be governed by the provisions of “Dividend Adjustment” below in lieu of Article 10 or Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions with respect to the Remaining Contingency Portion of each Transaction or by the provisions of “Acceleration Events” and “Termination Settlement” as described in Section 8(e) and Section 8(f), respectively, below with respect to the Contingency Exercised Portion of such Transaction. | |
| Dividend Adjustment: |
If at any time during the period from, and including, a Forward Price Reduction Date for a Transaction to, but excluding, the succeeding Forward Price Reduction Date, an ex-dividend date for any cash dividend occurs with respect to the Shares (an “Ex-Dividend Date”), and that dividend, together with any and all other cash dividends with an ex-dividend date occurring during the same period, is greater than the Forward Price Reduction Amount | |
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| corresponding to the first such succeeding Forward Price Reduction Date on a per Share basis, then the Calculation Agent will adjust the Initial Forward Price to preserve the fair value of the Remaining Contingency Portion of the Transaction after taking into account such dividend. |
| Extraordinary Events: | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, with respect to the Remaining Contingency Portion of any Transaction, the consequences of any Extraordinary Event or any Announcement Event shall be as specified below in this Section 2 of this Master Confirmation, and with respect to the Contingency Exercised Portion of such Transaction, the consequences of any Extraordinary Event shall be as specified below under the headings “Acceleration Events” and “Termination Settlement” in Section 8(e) and Section 8(f), respectively. | |
| New Shares: |
Section 12.1(i) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended (a) by deleting the text in clause (i) thereof in its entirety (including the word “and” following clause (i)) and replacing it with the phrase “publicly quoted, traded or listed (or whose related depositary receipts are publicly quoted, traded or listed) on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors)” and (b) by inserting immediately prior to the period the phrase “and (iii) of an entity or person that is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that also becomes Company under the applicable Transaction following such Merger Event or Tender Offer”. | |
| Consequence of Merger Events: |
||
| Merger Event: |
Applicable | |
|
Share-for-Share: |
Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment | |
|
Share-for-Other: |
Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment or Cancellation and Payment, at the election of Dealer | |
|
Share-for-Combined: |
Component Adjustment | |
| Consequence of Tender Offers: |
||
| Tender Offer: |
Applicable | |
|
Share-for-Share: |
Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment | |
|
Share-for-Other: |
Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment or Cancellation and Payment, at the election of Dealer | |
|
Share-for-Combined: |
Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment | |
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| Composition of Combined |
||
| Consideration: |
Not Applicable; provided that, notwithstanding Sections 12.1 and 12.5(b) of the Equity Definitions, to the extent that the composition of the consideration for the relevant Shares pursuant to a Tender Offer or Merger Event could be determined by a holder of the Shares, the Calculation Agent will determine such composition. | |
| Announcement Event: |
If (i) an Announcement Date occurs in respect of any event or transaction that would, if consummated, lead to a Merger Event (for purposes of this and related provisions, the definition of Merger Event shall be read with the references therein to “100%” being replaced by “15%” and references to “50%” being replaced by “75%” and without reference to the clause beginning immediately following the definition of Reverse Merger therein to the end of such definition), a Tender Offer, or other acquisition or disposition by Company or its subsidiaries where the aggregate consideration or value exceeds 15% of the market capitalization of Company as of the Announcement Date (such other acquisition or disposition, a “Significant Transaction”) or (ii) there is a public announcement or statement by Company of an intention to solicit or enter into, or to explore strategic alternatives or other similar undertakings that may include, a Merger Event, Tender Offer or Significant Transaction, or any subsequent announcement or statement of a change to such intention (the occurrence of (i) or (ii), an “Announcement Event”), as determined by the Calculation Agent, then the “Consequences of Announcement Event” set forth below shall apply in respect of such Announcement Event. For purposes of any Transaction, a Significant Transaction shall be an Extraordinary Event. | |
| Announcement Date: |
The definition of “Announcement Date” in Section 12.1(l) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) adding the words “or a Significant Transaction” immediately following the words “Merger Event” in the second and third lines thereof, (ii) replacing the words “a firm” with the word “any” in the second and fourth lines thereof, (iii) replacing the word “leads to the” with the words “would, if consummated, lead to a” in the third and the fifth lines thereof, (iv) adding after the words “voting shares” in the fifth line thereof the words “, voting power or Shares”, (v) inserting the words “by any person” after the word “announcement” in the second and the fourth lines thereof and (vi) inserting the words “, as determined by the Calculation Agent, or any subsequent public announcement of a change to such transaction or intention (including, without limitation, a new announcement, whether or not by the same party, relating to such a transaction or intention or the announcement of a withdrawal from, or the abandonment or discontinuance of, such a transaction or intention)” at the end of each of clauses (i) and (ii) thereof. | |
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| Consequences of Announcement Event: |
With respect to any Announcement Event, the Calculation Agent shall determine the economic effect of such Announcement Event on the theoretical value of each Component of the Transaction to Dealer (including without limitation any change in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relevant to the Shares or to the Transaction) (i) one or more times on or after the relevant Announcement Date or other date of announcement and (ii) on the Contingency Expiration Date or any earlier date of termination or cancellation for such Component and, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), (x) the Calculation Agent shall adjust the terms of such Component to account for such economic effect and determine the effective date of such adjustment or (y) if the Calculation Agent determines, on or after the Announcement Date or other date of announcement, that no adjustment it could make under clause (x) above is likely to produce a commercially reasonable result, shall notify the parties that such Component of the Transaction will be terminated, in which case the amount payable upon such termination will be determined pursuant to the terms of this Master Confirmation as if such Announcement Event were an Extraordinary Event to which Cancellation and Payment were applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, any such adjustment shall be without prejudice to the application of the provisions set forth in the preceding sentence, “Consequences of Merger Events” or “Consequences of Tender Offers” with respect to any other Announcement Date in respect of the same event or transaction, or, if the related Merger Date or Tender Offer Date occurs on or prior to the Contingency Expiration Date or earlier date of termination or cancellation for such Component, with respect to the related Merger Event or Tender Offer; provided that any such adjustment shall be taken into account by the Calculation Agent or the Determining Party, as the case may be, in determining any subsequent adjustment to the terms of the Transaction, or in subsequently determining any payment amount, Cancellation Amount or Early Termination Amount, as the case may be, on account of any related Announcement Date, Merger Event or Tender Offer. | |
| Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting: |
Cancellation and Payment; provided that, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it will also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors), such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange. | |
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| Limitation on Certain Adjustments: |
Notwithstanding any provision of the Equity Definitions or this Master Confirmation to the contrary, no adjustment as a result of a Potential Adjustment Event (other than a Potential Adjustment Event described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or (ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions) or an Extraordinary Event shall increase the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of the Equity Definitions or this Master Confirmation to the contrary, if the Calculation Agent determines that no such adjustment that it could make in accordance with the preceding sentence will produce a commercially reasonable result, then the Calculation Agent may notify the parties that the consequence of such event shall be the termination of such Transaction, in which case “Cancellation and Payment” will be deemed to apply and any payment to be made by one party to the other shall be calculated in accordance with Section 12.7 of the Equity Definitions. | |
| Additional Disruption Events: | ||
| Change in Law: |
Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “or announcement or statement of the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) deleting the words “a party to such Transaction” in the fifth line thereof and replacing them with the words “Dealer”, (iii) replacing the word “Shares” with “Hedge Positions” in the sixth line thereof, (iv) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (v) adding the words “, or holding, acquiring or disposing of Shares or any Hedge Positions relating to,” after the word “under” in clause (Y) thereof. | |
| Failure to Deliver: |
Not Applicable | |
| Insolvency Filing: |
Applicable | |
| Hedging Disruption: |
Applicable; provided that: | |
| (i) Section 12.9(a)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (a) inserting the following words at the end of clause (A) thereof: “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (b) inserting the following two phrases at the end of such Section: | ||
| “For the avoidance of doubt, the term “equity price risk” shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, stock price and volatility risk. And, for the further avoidance of doubt, any such transactions or assets referred to in phrases (A) or (B) above must be available on commercially reasonable pricing terms.”; and | ||
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| (ii) Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting in the third line thereof, after the words “to terminate the Transaction”, the words “or a portion of the Transaction affected by such Hedging Disruption”. | ||
| Increased Cost of Hedging: |
Applicable | |
| Loss of Stock Borrow: |
Applicable | |
| Maximum Stock Loan Rate: |
For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Increased Cost of Stock Borrow: |
Applicable | |
| Initial Stock Loan Rate: |
For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. | |
| Hedging Party: |
For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer. | |
| Determining Party: |
For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer. | |
| Non-Reliance: |
Applicable | |
| Agreements and Acknowledgments |
||
| Regarding Hedging Activities: |
Applicable | |
| Additional Acknowledgments: |
Applicable | |
| 3. Calculation Agent. |
Dealer; provided that, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the sole Defaulting Party, Company shall have the right to select a leading dealer in the market for U.S. corporate equity derivatives to replace Dealer as Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a written request by Company, the Calculation Agent will, within a commercially reasonable period of time following such request, provide to Company by email to the email address provided by Company in such written request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be; provided that Dealer shall not be required to disclose any proprietary or confidential models of Dealer or any information that is proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information. | |
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| 4. | Account Details. |
| (a) | Account for payments to Company: |
To be advised.
Account for delivery of Shares from Company:
To be advised.
Account for delivery of Shares to Company:
To be advised.
| (b) | Account for payments to Dealer: |
Bank: [Dealer Bank]
ABA#: [Dealer ABA]
Acct No.: [Dealer Account]
FFC: [Dealer Account Name]
Account for delivery of Shares from Dealer:
To be advised.
Account for delivery of Shares to Dealer:
To be advised.
| 5. | Offices. |
| (a) | The Office of Company for the Transactions is: . |
| (b) | The Office of Dealer for the Transactions is: |
| 6. | Notices. |
| (a) | Address for notices or communications to Company: |
| [•] | ||
| Address: | [•] | |
| Attention: | [•] | |
| Telephone: | [•] | |
| Email: | [•] | |
| With a copy to: | ||
| [•] | ||
| Address: | [•] | |
| Attention: | [•] | |
| Telephone: | [•] | |
| Email: | [•] | |
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| (b) | Address for notices or communications to Dealer: |
| [Dealer] | ||||
| Address: | [Dealer Address] | |||
| [Dealer City, State ZIP] | ||||
| Attention: | [Dealer Contact] | |||
| Telephone: | [Dealer telephone] | |||
| Email: | [Dealer email] | |||
| With copies to: | ||||
| [•] | ||||
7. Representations and Warranties of Company. The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 6 of the Equity Distribution Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof, each “Forward Date” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), each Trade Date for any Transaction, each “Forward Hedge Settlement Date” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) and any day on which it makes any election in respect of any Transaction, including any election of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in Section 6 of the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, the Company represents and warrants to Dealer, and agrees with Dealer, as of the date hereof, as of each day on which the Company delivers the Forward Placement Notice or the Acceptance (each as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), as applicable, as of each Trade Date for any Transaction, and each Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period that:
(a) No filing with, or approval, authorization, consent, license, registration, qualification, order or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the execution, delivery and performance by Company of this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation hereunder and the consummation of such Transaction (including, without limitation, the delivery of Shares on the Settlement Dates) except (i) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and (ii) as may be required to be obtained under state securities laws.
(b) A number of Shares equal to the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction have been reserved for issuance by all required corporate action of Company and the Company shall not take any action to reduce or decrease the number of authorized and unissued Shares below such number. The Shares issuable under such Transaction have been duly authorized and, when delivered against payment therefor and otherwise as contemplated by the terms of such Transaction following the settlement of such Transaction in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Transaction, will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(c) Company is not, and after giving effect to such Transaction will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(d) Company is an “eligible contract participant” (as such term is defined in Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, other than a person that is an eligible contract participant under Section 1a(18)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act).
(e) (A) Company is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Company or the Shares and (B) Company is not entering into such Transaction nor making any election thereunder to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
(f) No federal, state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares.
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(g) Company (A) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, (B) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing and (C) has total assets of at least USD 50 million.
(h) Company (A) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business affairs as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of entering into such Transaction, (B) has consulted with its own legal, financial, accounting and tax advisors in connection with such Transaction and (C) is entering into such Transaction for a bona fide business purpose.
(i) The assets of Company do not constitute “plan assets” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Labor Regulations promulgated thereunder or similar law.
(j) As of such date and as of each Settlement Date for such Transaction, Company is not and will not be insolvent, nor will Company be rendered insolvent as a result of such Transaction or its performance of the terms hereof.
(k) Company understands that no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.
(l) Company will promptly, and in any event within three (3) Scheduled Trading Days, notify Dealer upon obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default with respect to Company, a Potential Event of Default with respect to Company or a Potential Adjustment Event.
(m) Dealer is not acting as a fiduciary for or an adviser to Company in respect of such Transaction.
(n) As of (i) the date hereof and (ii) such Trade Date, Company is in compliance with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, together with all reports subsequently filed by it pursuant to the Exchange Act, taken together and as amended and supplemented to the date of this representation, do not, as of their respective filing dates, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(o) In connection with this Master Confirmation and the Transactions, it is an “accredited investor” as defined in Section 2(a)(15)(ii) of the Securities Act.
(p) COMPANY UNDERSTANDS THAT THE TRANSACTIONS HEREUNDER ARE SUBJECT TO COMPLEX RISKS WHICH MAY ARISE WITHOUT WARNING AND MAY AT TIMES BE VOLATILE AND THAT LOSSES MAY OCCUR QUICKLY AND IN UNANTICIPATED MAGNITUDE AND IS WILLING TO ACCEPT SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND ASSUME (FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE) SUCH RISKS.
(q) To the extent the parties have agreed (which for the avoidance of doubt may be agreed by phone call or email) to enter into a Transaction, Company shall execute a Supplemental Confirmation specifying such agreed terms and conditions of such Transaction as promptly as practicable following receipt of such Supplemental Confirmation from Dealer.
(r) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, the Company acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of any Transaction, including without limitation ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Liabilities & Equity Project.
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(s) The Company will not repurchase any Shares if, immediately following such repurchase, the aggregate Number of Shares across all Transactions hereunder would be equal to or greater than 4.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares and it will notify Dealer immediately upon the announcement or consummation of any repurchase of Shares in an amount that, taken together with the amount of all repurchases since the date of the last such notice (or, if no such notice has been given, since the Trade Date), exceeds 0.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares.
(t) The Company is not a “financial end user” as defined in 12 CFR §45.2.
| 8. | Other Provisions. |
(a) Conditions to Dealer’s Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Confirmation or the Agreement, Dealer’s obligations with respect to a Transaction shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Dealer of the following conditions:
(i) The representations and warranties of Company contained herein and in the Agreement (including as may be modified herein) shall be true and correct as of the Trade Date for such Transaction;
(ii) Company shall have performed all of the covenants and obligations to be performed by Company on or prior to the Trade Date for such Transaction under the Agreement (including as may be modified herein) and hereunder;
(iii) Company shall have executed the related Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction;
(iv) The representations and warranties of Company contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Company shall be true and correct as of the Trade Date for such Transaction;
(v) Company has performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Equity Distribution Agreement on or prior to the Trade Date for such Transaction; and
(vi) all of the conditions set forth in Section 10 of the Equity Distribution Agreement shall have been satisfied.
(b) Limitations.
(i) If at any time on any day on or after the Trade Date for a Transaction, (i) Dealer determines that the number of Shares Dealer or its affiliates theoretically would be short in order to hedge the equity price risk of such Transaction (such number of Shares, the “Theoretical Delta”) exceeds the total number of Shares then sold under the Prospectus as contemplated in the Equity Distribution Agreement and (ii) such day is a Suspension Day, then Dealer shall notify Company of the existence of such excess delta and Dealer shall have the right to adjust the terms of the Transaction as it determines appropriate to preserve the fair value of the Transaction to Dealer. A “Suspension Day” means any day (i) on which for any reason, the Prospectus contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement ceases to satisfy the requirements of the Equity Distribution Agreement, (ii) on which Dealer has not received the deliverables contemplated by Section 10 of the Equity Distribution Agreement or with respect to which Company has not satisfied its obligations under Section 8 of the Equity Distribution Agreement, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Dealer or (iii) the Company, the Forward Hedge Seller or Dealer suspended any sale of Shares pursuant to Section 5 of the Equity Distribution Agreement.
(ii) If, during the period from the Trade Date for a Transaction to the Sales Period Outside Date (as defined below) for such Transaction Dealer or its affiliates have, in connection with such Transaction, sold a number of Shares under the Prospectus as contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement that is less than the Transaction Number of Shares (such number of Shares, the “Sold Number of Shares”) for any reason, then Dealer may notify Company that it will reduce the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction to the Sold Number of Shares (in which case the Maximum Number of Shares for each Component shall be proportionally reduced) and make any other adjustments to the terms of the Transaction
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as it determines appropriate to reflect such reduction (including, without limitation, to account for any losses or costs incurred by Dealer or its affiliates as a result of its establishing, maintaining, terminating or liquidating any related Hedge Position or related trading position in connection with such reduction). “Sales Period Outside Date,” with respect to a Transaction, has the meaning given to such term in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, if in respect of any Transaction (x) on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on any “Forward Hedge Settlement Date” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), in connection with Dealer establishing Dealer’s commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of such Transaction Dealer, in Dealer’s sole judgment, Dealer is unable, after using commercially reasonable efforts, to borrow and deliver for sale the full number of Shares to be borrowed and sold pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement on such Forward Hedge Settlement Date or (y) in Dealer’s sole judgment, Dealer would incur a stock loan cost of more than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction with respect to all or any portion of such full number of Shares, then Dealer may notify Company that it will reduce the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction, which for the avoidance of doubt, may be reduced to zero (in which case the Maximum Number of Shares for each Component shall be proportionally reduced) and make any other adjustments to the terms of the Transaction as it determines appropriate to reflect such reduction (including, without limitation, to account for any losses or costs incurred by Dealer or its affiliates as a result of its establishing, maintaining, terminating or liquidating any related Hedge Position or related trading position in connection with such reduction).
(c) Contingent Forward Exclusivity. From and including the date of this Master Confirmation until, but excluding, the date specified as the Contingent Forward Exclusivity End Date in the first Supplemental Confirmation executed under this Master Confirmation, Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Dealer, issue, offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any call option or right or warrant to purchase Shares (any such call option or right or warrant, a “Similar Transaction”) other than the Transactions hereunder; provided that the Company shall be permitted to issue or sell a Similar Transaction pursuant to an employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of Company in effect on the date of this Master Confirmation. For the avoidance of doubt, a Non-Contingent Forward (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) shall not be considered a Similar Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions in this Section 8(c) are subject to the provisions of Section 3 of the Equity Distribution Agreement.
(d) Other Forwards. Subject to the provisions of Section 3 of the Equity Distribution Agreement, Dealer acknowledges that Company has entered or may enter into one or more other forward transactions for its Shares during the term of any Transaction pursuant to “Master Forward Confirmation(s)” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) with Forward Purchaser(s) (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) other than Dealer (each, an “Other Forward”). Dealer and Company agree that if Company designates a Settlement Date, or if a Settlement Date occurs, in each case with respect to any Other Forward and for which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement is applicable, and the resulting Unwind Period for the Other Forward coincides for any period of time with an Unwind Period for such Transaction (the “Overlap Unwind Period”), Company shall notify Dealer, in writing, at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to the commencement of such Overlap Unwind Period (the “Overlap Notice”), and Dealer shall be permitted to purchase Shares to unwind its hedge in respect of the Transaction only on alternating Scheduled Trading Days during such Overlap Unwind Period, commencing on the first, second, third or later Scheduled Trading Day prior to such Overlap Unwind Period (the “Alternating Days”) (which Alternating Days, for the avoidance of doubt, may be every other Scheduled Trading Day if there is only one Other Forward, every third Scheduled Trading Day if there are two Other Forwards, etc.), and corresponding adjustments shall be made to the Exchange Business Days comprising such Unwind Period, including for purposes of determining the Unwind Price(s). The Overlap Notice shall specify which Scheduled Trading Days are Dealer’s Alternating Days. Company also agrees that it shall not cause to occur, or permit to exist, any Forward Hedge Selling Period at any time there is (1) a Forward Hedge Selling Period (or equivalent term) relating to any Other Forward or (2) any Unwind Period (or equivalent term) hereunder or under any Other Forward.
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(e) Acceleration Events. The occurrence of the following events following the first Contingency Exercise Date for any Transaction shall each constitute an “Acceleration Event” with respect to the Contingency Exercised Portion of such Transaction:
(i) Stock Borrow Event. In the commercially reasonable judgment of Dealer (A) Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) is not able to hedge in a commercially reasonable manner its exposure under the Contingency Exercised Portion of such Transaction because insufficient Shares are made available for borrowing by securities lenders or (B) Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) would incur a Stock Loan Fee to borrow (or to maintain a borrow of) Shares to hedge in a commercially reasonable manner its exposure under the Contingency Exercised Portion of such Transaction that is greater than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction (each, a “Stock Borrow Event”);
(ii) Dividends and Other Distributions. Company declares a distribution, issue or dividend to existing holders of the Shares of (A) any cash dividend (other than an Extraordinary Dividend) to the extent all cash dividends having an ex-dividend date during the period from, and including, any Forward Price Reduction Date (with such first Contingency Exercise Date being deemed a Forward Price Reduction Date for purposes of this paragraph (ii) only) to, but excluding, the next subsequent Forward Price Reduction Date exceeds, on a per Share basis, the corresponding Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth in the relevant Supplemental Confirmation under “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” for the first such Forward Price Reduction Date, (B) any Extraordinary Dividend, (C) any share capital or other securities of another issuer acquired or owned (directly or indirectly) by Company as a result of a spin-off or other similar transaction or (D) any other type of securities (other than Shares), rights or warrants or other assets, in any case for payment (cash or other consideration) at less than the prevailing market price, as determined in a commercially reasonable manner by Dealer; “Extraordinary Dividend” means any dividend or distribution (that is not an ordinary cash dividend) declared by the Issuer with respect to the Shares that, in the commercially reasonable determination of Dealer, is (1) a dividend or distribution declared on the Shares at a time at which the Issuer has not previously declared or paid dividends or distributions on such Shares for the prior four quarterly periods, (2) a payment or distribution by the Issuer to holders of Shares that the Issuer announces will be an “extraordinary” or “special” dividend or distribution, (3) a payment by the Issuer to holders of Shares out of the Issuer’s capital and surplus or (4) any other “special” dividend or distribution on the Shares that is, by its terms or declared intent, outside the normal course of operations or normal dividend policies or practices of the Issuer;
(iii) ISDA Termination. Either Dealer or Company has the right to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement;
(iv) Other ISDA Events. An Announcement Date occurs in respect of any Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting or the occurrence of any Hedging Disruption or Change in Law; or
(v) Ownership Event. In the good faith judgment of Dealer, on any day, the Share Amount for such day exceeds the Post-Effective Limit for such day (if any applies) (each, an “Ownership Event”). For purposes of this clause (v), the “Share Amount” as of any day is the number of Shares that Dealer and any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer (Dealer or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any law, rule, regulation or regulatory order or Company constituent document that for any reason is, or after the Trade Date for such applicable Transaction becomes, applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Provisions”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership of under the Applicable Provisions, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion. The “Post-Effective Limit” means (x) the minimum number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations (except for any filing requirements on Form 13F, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act, in each case, as in effect on the Trade Date for such applicable Transaction) or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval from any person or entity) of a Dealer Person, or would result in an adverse effect on a Dealer Person, under the Applicable Provisions, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion, minus (y) 1.0% of the number of Shares outstanding.
(f) Termination Settlement. Upon the occurrence of any Acceleration Event, Dealer shall have the right to designate, upon at least one Scheduled Trading Day’s notice, any Scheduled Trading Day following such occurrence to be a Settlement Date hereunder (a “Termination Settlement Date”) to which Physical Settlement shall apply with respect to the Contingency Exercised Portion of the relevant Transaction, and to select the number of Settlement
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Shares relating to such Termination Settlement Date; provided that (i) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of an Ownership Event, the number of Settlement Shares so designated by Dealer shall not exceed the number of Shares necessary to reduce the Share Amount to reasonably below the Post-Effective Limit and (ii) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of a Stock Borrow Event, the number of Settlement Shares so designated by Dealer shall not exceed the number of Shares as to which such Stock Borrow Event exists. If, upon designation of a Termination Settlement Date by Dealer pursuant to the preceding sentence, Company fails to deliver the Settlement Shares relating to such Termination Settlement Date when due or otherwise fails to perform obligations within its control in respect of this Transaction, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Company as the sole Defaulting Party and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. If an Acceleration Event occurs during an Unwind Period relating to a number of Settlement Shares to which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies, then on the Termination Settlement Date relating to such Acceleration Event, notwithstanding any election to the contrary by Company, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement shall apply to the portion of the Settlement Shares relating to such Unwind Period as to which Dealer has unwound its hedge and Physical Settlement shall apply in respect of (x) the remainder (if any) of such Settlement Shares and (y) the Settlement Shares designated by Dealer in respect of such Termination Settlement Date. If an Acceleration Event occurs after Company has designated a Settlement Date to which Physical Settlement applies but before the relevant Settlement Shares have been delivered to Dealer, then Dealer shall have the right to cancel such Settlement Date and designate a Termination Settlement Date in respect of such Shares pursuant to the first sentence hereof.
(g) Additional Adjustment. If, in Dealer’s commercially reasonable judgment, the actual cost to Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer), on any Scheduled Trading Day, of borrowing a number of Shares equal to the Transaction Number of Shares to hedge in a commercially reasonable manner its exposure to the Contingency Exercised Portion of the applicable Transaction exceeds a weighted average rate equal to the Initial Stock Loan Rate, the Calculation Agent shall reduce the Forward Price to compensate Dealer for the amount by which such cost exceeded a weighted average rate equal to the Initial Stock Loan Rate during such Scheduled Trading Day. The Calculation Agent shall notify Company prior to making any such adjustment to the Forward Price.
(h) Insolvency Filing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement or in the Equity Definitions, upon any Insolvency Filing or other proceeding under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in respect of the Company following the first Contingency Exercise Date for any Transaction (a “Bankruptcy Termination Event”), the Contingency Exercised Portion of such Transaction shall automatically terminate on the date thereof without further liability of either party to this Master Confirmation to the other party (except for any liability in respect of any breach of representation or covenant by a party under this Master Confirmation prior to the date of such Insolvency Filing or other proceeding), it being understood that such Transaction is a contract for the issuance of Shares by the Company.
(i) Master Confirmation constitutes a contract. The parties intend for this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation to constitute a “Contract” as described in the letter dated October 6, 2003 submitted on behalf of Goldman, Sachs & Co. to Paula Dubberly of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Staff”) to which the Staff responded in an interpretive letter dated October 9, 2003.
Ownership Limit. The Company represents and undertakes to Dealer that Dealer, solely in its capacity as “Forward Purchaser” or “Forward Seller” (each as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) and any of its agents or affiliates, each solely with respect to its entering into and consummating the transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Distribution Agreement, will not collectively with any other Forward Purchasers or Forward Sellers or their agents or affiliates acting in connection with other Master Confirmations, any Supplemental Confirmations or the Equity Distribution Agreement, be subject to the ownership limitations set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of Section 3(B) of Article VI of the Company’s First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, solely with respect to whether such ownership limitations have been exceeded by reason of being a “group” (as referenced in the definition of Person in Section 3(A) of Article VI of the Articles); provided, however, that such parties shall remain subject to all of the ownership limits of Section 3(B) of Article VI of the Articles as they apply to them individually or as part of any such “group” otherwise than as specified above.
[Signature page follows.]
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Please confirm by signing below that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Company with respect to any Transaction contemplated by this Master Confirmation and return to us.
| Yours faithfully, | ||
| [DEALER]: | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Agreed and Accepted By: | ||
| NNN REIT, Inc. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: Vincent H. Chao | ||
| Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Assistant Secretary and Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to Master Confirmation for Contingent Forward Transactions]
APPENDIX 1
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
(a) Interpretive Letter. The parties intend that this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation hereunder constitute a “contract” as described in the letter dated October 6, 2003 submitted by Robert Reeder and Leslie Silverman to Paula Dubberly of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Staff”) to which the Staff responded in an interpretive letter dated October 9, 2003 (the “Interpretive Letter”).
(b) Regulation M. Company agrees that neither it nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Regulation M) will, directly or indirectly, bid for, purchase or attempt to induce any person to bid for or purchase, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Shares during any “restricted period” as such term is defined in Regulation M arising from transactions contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement and that neither it nor any affiliated purchaser will engage in any “distribution” (as defined in Regulation M) that would cause a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M) to occur on any Contingency Exercise Date or during any Unwind Period. In addition, Company represents that it is eligible to conduct a primary offering of Shares on Form S-3, the offering contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement complies with Rule 415 under the Securities Act, and the Shares are “actively traded” as defined in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M.
(c) Agreements and Acknowledgments regarding Shares.
(i) In addition to the representations in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions, Company agrees and acknowledges that, in respect of any Shares delivered to Dealer hereunder, such Shares shall be newly issued (unless mutually agreed otherwise by the parties) and, upon such delivery, be duly and validly authorized, issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free of any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights and shall, upon such issuance, be accepted for listing or quotation on the Exchange, and that such Shares will not bear a restrictive legend and that such Shares will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System.
(ii) In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction, Dealer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its activities, or cause its affiliates to conduct their activities, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18, as if such provisions were applicable to such purchases and any analogous purchases under any Transaction, taking into account any applicable Securities and Exchange Commission no action letters, as appropriate, and subject to any delays between the execution and reporting of a trade of the Shares on the Exchange and other circumstances beyond Dealer’s control.
(iii) Company shall, at least one day prior to the first day of any Unwind Period, notify Dealer of the total number of Shares purchased in Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks pursuant to the once-a-week block exception contained in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) by or for Company or any of its affiliated purchasers during each of the four calendar weeks preceding the first day of the Unwind Period and during the calendar week in which the first day of the Unwind Period occurs (“Rule 10b-18 purchase”, “blocks” and “affiliated purchaser” each being used as defined in Rule 10b-18).
(iv) During any Unwind Period, Company shall (a) notify Dealer prior to the opening of trading in the Shares on any day on which Company makes, or expects to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization relating to Company (other than any such transaction in which the consideration consists solely of cash and there is no valuation period), (b) promptly notify Dealer following any such announcement that such announcement has been made and (c) promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session of the Exchange) deliver to Dealer following the making of any such announcement information indicating (A) Company’s average daily Rule 10b-18 purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months preceding the date of the announcement of such transaction and (B) Company’s block purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) effected pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of Rule 10b-18 during the three full calendar months preceding the date of the announcement of such transaction. Such
written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Company to Dealer that such information is true and correct. In addition, Company shall promptly notify Dealer of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders. Company acknowledges that under the terms of this Master Confirmation, any such notice may result in a Regulatory Disruption or may affect the length of any ongoing Unwind Period; accordingly, Company acknowledges that its delivery of such notice shall comply with the standards set forth in Section 6(c) above. “Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization with respect to Company and/or the Shares as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act.
(v) Company shall not, nor shall it cause any of its affiliated purchasers (within the meaning of Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act) to, take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, any direct purchases by Company or any of its affiliates, or any purchases by a party to a derivative transaction with Company or any of its affiliates), either under this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation, under an agreement with another party or otherwise, that might cause any purchases of Shares by Dealer or any of its affiliated purchasers in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Component of any Transaction not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 determined as if all such foregoing purchases were made by Company.
(d) Calculations and Payment Date upon Early Termination. The parties acknowledge and agree that in calculating (i) the Close-Out Amount pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and (ii) the amount due upon cancellation or termination of any Transaction (whether in whole or in part) to the extent relating to any Remaining Contingency Portion thereof pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions as a result of an Extraordinary Event, Dealer may (but need not) determine such amount based on (A) expected losses assuming a commercially reasonable (including, without limitation, with regard to reasonable legal and regulatory guidelines) risk bid determination of the commercially reasonable fair value of the terminated Remaining Contingency Portion of such Transaction were used to determine loss or (B) the price at which one or more market participants would offer to sell to or buy from, as applicable, Dealer a block of Shares equal in number to Dealer’s hedge position in relation to any Transaction the terminated Remaining Contingency Portion of such Transaction.
(e) Designation. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement to the contrary, Dealer shall be entitled to assign its rights and obligations hereunder and under any Credit Support Documents to make or receive cash payments or deliveries and other related rights to any affiliate of Dealer or any successor thereto (each, a “Dealer Affiliate”); provided that Company shall have recourse to Dealer in the event of the failure by a Dealer Affiliate to perform any of such obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, recourse to Dealer shall be limited to recoupment of Company’s monetary damages and Company hereby waives any right to seek specific performance by Dealer of its obligations hereunder.
(f) Transfer or Assignment. Company may not transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction without the prior written consent of Dealer. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement to the contrary, Dealer shall be entitled to transfer or assign its rights and obligations hereunder and under any Credit Support Document to (i) Dealer Affiliate or any successor thereto, without the consent of Company and in connection therewith to effect necessary amendments to facilitate such transfer or assignment or (ii) any other Dealer Affiliate (a “Designated Transferee”); provided that in the case of clause (ii), (1) the obligations of the Designated Transferee hereunder are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Dealer’s ultimate parent; (2) no Event of Default or Termination Event will occur as a result of such transfer or assignment; (3) as a result of any such transfer or assignment, Company will not (A) be required to pay the transferee or assignee of such rights or obligations on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than the amount, if any, that Company would have been required to pay Dealer in the absence of such transfer or assignment, or (B) receive from the transferee or assignee on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement that is less than the amount that Company would have received from Dealer in the absence of such transfer or assignment; and (4) the transferee or assignee shall provide Company with a complete and accurate U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8 (as applicable) prior to becoming a party to the Transaction. If at any time at which (A) the Section 16 Percentage exceeds 4.5%, (B) the Transaction Equity Percentage exceeds 8.0%, or (C) the Share Amount exceeds the Post-Effective Limit (if any applies) (any such condition described in clauses (A), (B) or (C), an “Excess Ownership Position”), Dealer is unable after using its commercially reasonable efforts to effect a transfer or assignment of any Transaction to a third party on pricing terms reasonably acceptable to Dealer and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that no
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Excess Ownership Position exists, then Dealer may designate any Exchange Business Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Remaining Contingency Portion of any Transaction (the “Terminated Portion”), such that following such partial termination no Excess Ownership Position exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a Terminated Portion, a payment shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of the Remaining Contingency Portion of a Transaction having terms identical to the Remaining Contingency Portion of the relevant Transaction and the Maximum Number of Shares for each Component equal to the Maximum Number of Shares for each Component underlying the Terminated Portion, (2) Company were the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (3) the Terminated Portion were the sole Affected Transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Paragraph (k) below shall apply to any amount that is payable by Company to Dealer pursuant to this sentence as if Company was not the Affected Party). The “Section 16 Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day (or, to the extent that for any reason the equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder results in a higher number, such higher number) and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. The “Transaction Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the sum of (1) the aggregate of the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares for all Transactions outstanding under this Master Confirmation as of such day and (2) the aggregate number of Shares underlying any other issuer forward transactions or warrant transactions between Dealer and Company, and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding.
(g) Consent to Recording. Each party (i) consents to the recording of the telephone conversations of trading and marketing personnel of the parties and their affiliates in connection with the Agreement, this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation, and (ii) agrees to obtain any necessary consent of, and give notice of such recording to, such personnel of such party and such party’s affiliates.
(h) Severability; Illegality. If compliance by either party with any provision of a Transaction would be unenforceable or illegal, (i) the parties shall negotiate in good faith to resolve such unenforceability or illegality in a manner that preserves the economic benefits of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) the other provisions of such Transaction shall not be invalidated, but shall remain in full force and effect.
(i) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF COMPANY AND Dealer HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON SUCH PARTY’S OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF SUCH PARTY’S STOCKHOLDERS OR OTHER EQUITY HOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT, THIS MASTER CONFIRMATION, ANY SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF Dealer OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.
(j) Governing Law. THIS MASTER CONFIRMATION, EACH SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION AND THE AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO CHOICE OF LAW DOCTRINE. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND THERETO OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS. NOTHING IN THIS PROVISION SHALL PROHIBIT EITHER PARTY FROM BRINGING AN ACTION TO ENFORCE A MONEY JUDGMENT IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
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(k) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. To the extent the “Termination Settlement” provisions of Section 8(f) above do not apply, if (a) an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) occurs or is designated with respect to any Transaction or (b) any Transaction is cancelled or terminated upon the occurrence of an Extraordinary Event (except as a result of (i) a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event in which the consideration to be paid to all holders of Shares consists solely of cash, (ii) a Merger Event or Tender Offer that is within Company’s control, or (iii) an Event of Default in which Company is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Company is the Affected Party other than an Event of Default of the type described in Section 5(a)(iii), (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) of the Agreement or a Termination Event of the type described in Section 5(b) of the Agreement, in each case that resulted from an event or events outside Company’s control), and if Company would owe any amount to Dealer pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement or any Cancellation Amount pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions (any such amount, a “Payment Obligation”), then Company shall satisfy the Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below), unless (a) Company gives irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one (1) Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Merger Date, Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date (in the case of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting), Early Termination Date or date of cancellation, as applicable, of its election that the Share Termination Alternative shall not apply, (b) Company remakes the representations set forth in Section 7 of this Master Confirmation as of the date of such election and (c) Dealer agrees to such election, in which case the provisions of Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, or the provisions of Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply.
| Share Termination Alternative: | If applicable, Company shall deliver to Dealer the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date (the “Share Termination Payment Date”) on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable, subject to Paragraph (l)(i) below, in satisfaction, subject to Paragraph (l)(ii) below, of the relevant Payment Obligation, in the manner reasonably requested by Dealer free of payment. | |
| Share Termination Delivery Property: | A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the relevant Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the amount of Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price (without giving effect to any discount pursuant to Paragraph (l)(i) below). | |
| Share Termination Unit Price: | The value to Dealer of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit on the date such Share Termination Delivery Units are to be delivered as Share Termination Delivery Property, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means. In the case of a Private Placement of Share Termination Delivery Units that are Restricted Shares (as defined below), as set forth in Paragraph (l)(i) below, the Share Termination Unit Price shall be determined by the discounted price applicable to such Share Termination Delivery Units. In the case of a Registration Settlement of Share Termination Delivery Units that are Restricted Shares (as defined below) as set forth in Paragraph (l)(ii) below, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Share Termination Unit Price shall be | |
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| the Reference Price on the Merger Date, Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date (in the case of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting), Early Termination Date or date of cancellation, as applicable. The Calculation Agent shall notify Company of the Share Termination Unit Price at the time of notification of such Payment Obligation to Company or, if applicable, at the time the discounted price applicable to the relevant Share Termination Units is determined pursuant to Paragraph (l)(i). | ||
| Share Termination Delivery Unit: | One Share or, if the Shares have changed into cash or any other property or the right to receive cash or any other property as the result of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event (any such cash or other property, the “Exchange Property”), a unit consisting of the type and amount of Exchange Property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event. If such Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event involves a choice of Exchange Property to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash. | |
| Failure to Deliver: | Inapplicable | |
| Other applicable provisions: | If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 and 9.12 (as modified above) of the Equity Definitions will be applicable, except that all references in such provisions to “Physically-settled” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Settled” and all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units”. “Share Termination Settled” in relation to a Transaction means that the Share Termination Alternative is applicable to such Transaction. | |
(l) Registration/Private Placement Procedures. If, in the reasonable opinion of Dealer, following any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property to Dealer hereunder, such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property would be in the hands of Dealer subject to any applicable restrictions with respect to any registration or qualification requirement or prospectus delivery requirement for such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property pursuant to any applicable federal or state securities law (including, without limitation, any such requirement arising under Section 5 of the Securities Act as a result of such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property being “restricted securities”, as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or as a result of the sale of such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property being subject to paragraph (c) of Rule 145 under the Securities Act) (such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property, “Restricted Shares”), then delivery of such Restricted Shares shall be effected pursuant to either clause (i) or (ii) below at the election of Company, unless Dealer waives the need for registration/private placement procedures set forth in (i) and (ii) below.
(i) If Company elects to settle a Transaction pursuant to this clause (i) (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then delivery of Restricted Shares by Company shall be effected in customary private placement procedures with respect to such Restricted Shares reasonably acceptable to Dealer; provided that Company may not elect a Private Placement Settlement if, on the date of its election, it has taken, or caused
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to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act for the sale by Company to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Restricted Shares or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(1) or Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Restricted Shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer). Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Private Placement Settlement of such Restricted Shares to include customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Dealer, due diligence rights (for Dealer or any designated buyer of the Restricted Shares by Dealer), opinions and certificates, and such other documentation as is customary for private placement agreements, all reasonably acceptable to Dealer. In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall determine the appropriate discount to the Share Termination Unit Price (in the case of settlement of Share Termination Delivery Units pursuant to Paragraph (k) above) or premium to any Forward Price (in the case of settlement of Shares pursuant to Section 2 or Section 8(f) of this Master Confirmation) applicable to such Restricted Shares in a commercially reasonable manner and appropriately adjust the number of such Restricted Shares to be delivered to Dealer hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or this Master Confirmation, the date of delivery of such Restricted Shares shall be the Exchange Business Day following notice by Dealer to Company of such applicable discount or premium, as the case may be, and the number of Restricted Shares to be delivered pursuant to this clause (i). For the avoidance of doubt, delivery of Restricted Shares shall be due as set forth in the previous sentence and not be due on the Share Termination Payment Date (in the case of settlement of Share Termination Delivery Units pursuant to Paragraph (k) above) or on the Settlement Date for such Restricted Shares (in the case of settlement in Shares pursuant to Section 2 or Section 8(f) of this Master Confirmation).
(ii) If Company elects to settle a Transaction pursuant to this clause (ii) (a “Registration Settlement”), then Company shall promptly (but in any event no later than the beginning of the Resale Period) file and use its reasonable best efforts to make effective under the Securities Act a registration statement or supplement or amend an outstanding registration statement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, to cover the resale of such Restricted Shares in accordance with customary resale registration procedures, including covenants, conditions, representations, underwriting discounts (if applicable), commissions (if applicable), indemnities, due diligence rights, opinions and certificates, and such other documentation as is customary for equity resale underwriting agreements, all reasonably acceptable to Dealer. If Dealer, in its sole reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with such procedures and documentation Private Placement Settlement shall apply. If Dealer is satisfied with such procedures and documentation, it shall sell the Restricted Shares pursuant to such registration statement during a period (the “Resale Period”) commencing on the Exchange Business Day following delivery of such Restricted Shares (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be (x) the Share Termination Payment Date in case of settlement in Share Termination Delivery Units pursuant to Paragraph (k) above or (y) the Settlement Date in case of settlement in Shares pursuant to Section 2 or Section 8(f) of this Master Confirmation) and ending on the Exchange Business Day on which Dealer completes the sale of all Restricted Shares or, in the case of settlement of Share Termination Delivery Units, a sufficient number of Restricted Shares so that the realized net proceeds of such sales equals or exceeds the Payment Obligation (as defined above). If the Payment Obligation exceeds the realized net proceeds from such resale, Company shall transfer to Dealer by the open of the regular trading session on the Exchange on the Exchange Business Day immediately following such resale the amount of such excess (the “Additional Amount”) in cash or in a number of Shares (“Make-whole Shares”) in an amount that, based on the Reference Price on such day, has a dollar value equal to the Additional Amount. The Resale Period shall continue to enable the sale of the Make-whole Shares. If Company elects to pay the Additional Amount in Shares, the requirements and provisions for Registration Settlement shall apply. This provision shall be applied successively until the Additional Amount is equal to zero. In no event shall Company deliver a number of Restricted Shares under a Transaction greater than the Capped Number (as defined below) for such Transaction.
(iii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Company agrees that (A) any Restricted Shares delivered to Dealer in connection with a Transaction may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and Company shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer and (B) after the period of six (6) months from the Trade Date of such Transaction (or one (1) year from the Trade Date of such Transaction if, at such time, informational requirements of Rule 144(c) under the Securities Act are not satisfied with respect to Company) has elapsed in respect of any Restricted Shares delivered to Dealer,
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Company shall promptly remove, or use its best efforts to cause the transfer agent for such Restricted Shares to remove, any legends referring to any such restrictions or requirements from such Restricted Shares upon request by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer) to Company or such transfer agent, without any requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent the provisions of Rule 144 of the Securities Act or any successor rule are amended, or the applicable interpretation thereof by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any court change after the Trade Date for such Transaction, the agreements of Company herein shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary, in the opinion of outside counsel of Company, to comply with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, as in effect at the time of delivery of the relevant Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property.
(iv) If the Private Placement Settlement or the Registration Settlement shall not be effected as set forth in clauses (i) or (ii), as applicable, with respect to a Transaction, then failure to effect such Private Placement Settlement or such Registration Settlement shall constitute an Event of Default with respect to which Company shall be the Defaulting Party.
(m) Tax Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transactions, Company and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transactions and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Company relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.
(n) Status of Claims in Bankruptcy. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Master Confirmation is not intended to convey to Dealer rights against Company with respect to any Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders of Company in any United States bankruptcy proceedings of Company; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Company of its obligations and agreements with respect to any Transaction; provided, further, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transactions other than the Transactions.
(o) Acknowledgments: The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that:
(i) Dealer is a “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(53C) and 101(22A) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”).
(ii) This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder, thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment” and “transfer” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code and any cash, securities or other property provided as performance assurance, credit support or collateral with respect to each Transaction is a “margin payment” and “transfer” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder, thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “payment or other transfer of property” within the meaning of Sections 362 and 546 of the Bankruptcy Code and constitute “settlement payments” as defined in Section 741(8) of the Bankruptcy Code and (iii) a “master netting agreement” and each of the parties thereto is a “master netting agreement participant”, each as defined in the Bankruptcy Code.
(iii) The rights given to Dealer hereunder, under each Supplemental Confirmation, the Agreement and any Credit Support Document upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the other party constitute a “contractual right” to cause the liquidation, termination or acceleration of, and to offset or net out termination values, payment amounts and other transfer obligations under or in connection with a “securities contract” and a “swap agreement” and a “contractual right” under a security agreement or arrangement forming a part of or related to a “securities contract” and a “swap agreement,” as such terms are used in Sections 555, 560, 561, 362(b)(6) and 362(b)(17) of the Bankruptcy Code.
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(iv) Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 546(j), 548(d)(2), 555, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.
(p) Agreements Regarding the Supplemental Confirmation.
(i) Company accepts and agrees to be bound by the contractual terms and conditions as set forth in each Supplemental Confirmation.
(ii) Company and Dealer agree and acknowledge that (X) the Transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation will be entered into in reliance on the fact that this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation form a single agreement between Company and Dealer, and Dealer would not otherwise enter into such Transaction, (Y) this Master Confirmation, together with such Supplemental Confirmation, is a “qualified financial contract”, as such term is defined in Section 5-701(b)(2) of the General Obligations Law of New York (the “General Obligations Law”); and (Z) this Master Confirmation constitutes a prior “written contract”, as set forth in Section 5-701(b)(1)(b) of the General Obligations Law, and each party hereto intends and agrees to be bound by this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation.
(iii) Company and Dealer further agree and acknowledge that this Master Confirmation, together with each Supplemental Confirmation, constitutes a contract “for the sale or purchase of a security”, as set forth in Section 8-113 of the Uniform Commercial Code of New York.
(q) Agreements and Acknowledgements Regarding Hedging. Company understands, acknowledges and agrees that: (A) at any time on and prior to the last Settlement Date, Dealer and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to adjust its hedge position with respect to the Transaction; (B) Dealer and its affiliates also may be active in the market for Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction; (C) Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in securities of Company shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to each Transaction; and (D) any market activities of Dealer and its affiliates with respect to Shares may affect the market price and volatility of Shares, each in a manner that may be adverse to Company.
(r) Payment by Dealer. To the extent the “Termination Settlement” provisions of Section 8(f) above do not apply, in the event that (i) an Early Termination Date occurs or is designated with respect to a Transaction as a result of a Termination Event or an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement) and, as a result, Dealer owes to Company an amount calculated under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, or (ii) Dealer owes to Company, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, an amount calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.
(s) Confidentiality. Dealer and Company agree that (i) Company is not obligated to Dealer to keep confidential from any and all persons or otherwise limit the use of any element of Dealer’s descriptions relating to tax aspects of the Transactions contemplated hereby and any part of the structure necessary to understand those tax aspects, and (ii) Dealer does not assert any claim of proprietary ownership in respect of such descriptions contained herein of the use of any entities, plans or arrangements to give rise to significant U.S. federal income tax benefits for Company.
(t) Conduct Rules. Each party acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. applicable to transactions in options, and further agrees not to violate the position and exercise limits set forth therein.
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(u) Tax Matters.
(i) Withholding Tax under the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. “Indemnifiable Tax”, as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement, shall not include any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, a FATCA Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.
(ii) 871(m). “Indemnifiable Tax”, as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement, shall not include any tax imposed on payments treated as dividends from sources within the United States under Section 871(m) of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, any such tax imposed under Section 871(m) of the Code is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.
(iii) Stamp Tax. Company shall pay and, within three Local Business Days of demand, indemnify Dealer against any cost, loss or liability that Dealer incurs in relation to all stamp, registration, documentation, transfer or similar tax (including interest, penalties and additions thereto) payable in respect of or in connection with the Agreement and the Transactions. Dealer shall be under no obligation to make any payment under Section 4(e) of the Agreement.
(iv) Payor Representations. For the purpose of Section 3(e) of the Agreement, each party represents that it is not required by any applicable law, as modified by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue authority, of any Relevant Jurisdiction to make any deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax from any payment (other than interest under Section 9(h) of the Agreement or any other payments of interest or penalty charges for late payment) to be made by it to the other party under the Agreement. In making this representation, a party may rely on: (i) the accuracy of any representations made by the other party pursuant to Section 3(f) of the Agreement, (ii) the satisfaction of the agreement contained in Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of the Agreement, and the accuracy and effectiveness of any document provided by the other party pursuant to Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of the Agreement, and (iii) the satisfaction of the agreement of the other party contained in Section 4(d) of the Agreement; provided that it shall not be a breach of this representation where reliance is placed on clause (ii) above and the other party does not deliver a form or document under Section 4(a)(iii) by reason of material prejudice to its legal or commercial position.
(v) Payee Representations. For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement, Dealer makes the following representations: (A) it is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and is treated as a disregarded entity of a New York corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (B) its first regarded owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii)) for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is an exempt recipient under United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii); and Company makes the following representations: (A) Company is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (B) Company is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 7701(a)(30) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a corporation that is an exempt recipient under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(A).
(v) Delivery or Receipt of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Company to deliver cash or other assets in respect of the settlement of the Transactions, except in circumstances where the required cash or other asset settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, as in effect on the date hereof.
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(w) Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party, as applicable, shall make such adjustment in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, and by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party, assuming that the Hedging Party maintains a commercially reasonable hedge position with respect to the Transaction at the time of the event.
(x) Disclaimer. Dealer is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”). Obligations of Dealer hereunder are not protected by SIPC or any other organization or authority.
(y) Indemnity and Limitation on Liability. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and its assignees and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, financial losses resulting from the economic terms of the Transactions), claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to, the execution or delivery of this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations under the Transactions, any breach of any covenant or representation made by the Company in this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Dealer’s willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in performing the services that are subject of the Transactions. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then the Company shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, the Company will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of the Company. The Company also agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Company in connection with or as a result of any matter referred to in this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Indemnified Party. The provisions of this Section (y) shall survive the completion of the Transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation and any assignment and/or delegation of the Transactions made pursuant to the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments due as a result of this provision may not be used to set off any obligation of Dealer upon settlement of the Transactions.
(z) [Reserved.]
(aa) Amendments to the Equity Definitions.
(i) Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “a material economic”; and adding the phrase “or the Transaction” at the end of the sentence.
(ii) Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (v) replacing the words “a diluting or concentrative” with “a material economic” in the fifth line thereof, (w) adding the phrase “or the Transaction” after the words “the relevant Shares” in the same sentence, (x) deleting the words “diluting or concentrative” in the sixth to last line thereof and (y) deleting the phrase “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing it with the phrase “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares).”
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(iii) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with “a material economic” and adding the phrase “or the Transaction” at the end of the sentence; provided that it shall also constitute a Potential Adjustment Event if a Disrupted Day occurs or is continuing on or following the Trade Date and prior to the Contingency Expiration Date for the final Component of a Transaction.
(iv) Section 12.6(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (1) inserting “(1)” immediately following the word “means” in the first line thereof and (2) inserting immediately prior to the semi-colon at the end of subsection (B) thereof the following words: “or (2) the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 5(a)(vii)(1) through (9) of the Agreement with respect to that Issuer”.
(v) Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by:
(A) deleting (1) subsection (A) in its entirety, (2) the phrase “or (B)” following subsection (A) and (3) the phrase “in each case” in subsection (B); and
(B) replacing the phrase “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares” with the phrase “such Lending Party does not lend Shares” in the penultimate sentence.
(vi) Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by:
(A) adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); and
(B) (1) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety, (2) deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C), (3) deleting the penultimate sentence in its entirety and replacing it with the sentence “The Hedging Party will determine the Cancellation Amount payable by one party to the other.” and (4) deleting clause (X) in the final sentence.
(vii) Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by:
(A) adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); and
(B) (1) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety, (2) deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C) and (3) deleting the final sentence in its entirety and replacing it with the sentence “The Hedging Party will determine the Cancellation Amount payable by one party to the other.”
(bb) Limit on Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, Dealer shall not have the right to acquire Shares hereunder or be entitled to take delivery of any Shares deliverable hereunder, to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such receipt of any Shares hereunder, (i) the Section 16 Percentage would exceed 4.5%, or (ii) the Share Amount would exceed the Post-Effective Limit. Any purported delivery hereunder shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such delivery, (i) the Section 16 Percentage would exceed 4.5%, or (ii) the Share Amount would exceed the Post-Effective Limit. If any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, Company’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Company shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Company that, after such delivery, (i) the Section 16 Percentage would not exceed 4.5%, and (ii) the Share Amount would not exceed the Post-Effective Limit.
(cc) Maximum Share Delivery.
(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Master Confirmation, the Agreement or the Equity Definitions, in no event will Company at any time be required to deliver to Dealer a number of Shares greater than the Capped Number for a Transaction in connection with such Transaction. “Capped Number,” with respect to a Transaction, means a number of Shares equal to 2.0 multiplied by the Maximum Transaction Number of Shares for such Transaction.
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(ii) In the event Company shall not have delivered to Dealer the full number of Shares or Restricted Shares otherwise deliverable by Company to Dealer pursuant to the terms of a Transaction because Company has insufficient authorized but unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions (such deficit, the “Deficit Shares”), Company shall be continually obligated to deliver, from time to time, Shares or Restricted Shares, as the case may be, to Dealer until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this Paragraph (dd)(ii), when, and to the extent that, (A) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Company or any of its subsidiaries after the Trade Date for the applicable Transaction (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (B) authorized and unissued Shares previously reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions become no longer so reserved or (C) Company additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions; provided that in no event shall Company deliver any Shares or Restricted Shares to Dealer pursuant to this Paragraph (dd)(ii) to the extent that such delivery would cause the aggregate number of Shares and Restricted Shares delivered to Dealer to exceed the Capped Number for such Transaction.
(dd) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone (but not add) any Contingency Expiration Date or other valuation, payment or delivery date to the extent reasonably necessary to permit compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related compliance policies and procedures reasonably adopted in good faith to implement such requirements and applied in a substantially uniform manner to similarly situated transactions, in connection with Dealer’s hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity. Dealer shall promptly notify Company of any such postponement and the basis therefor.
(ee) 10b5-1 Plan.
(i) Company is entering into this Master Confirmation and each Transaction hereunder in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b5-1”) or any other antifraud or anti-manipulation provisions of the federal or applicable state securities laws and that it has not entered into or altered and will not enter into or alter any corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the Shares. Company acknowledges that it is the intent of the parties that following any election of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement by Company, the purchase of Shares by Dealer during any Unwind Period comply with the requirements of paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) and (B) of Rule 10b5-1 and each Transaction entered into under this Master Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).
(ii) During the term of any Transaction and in connection with the delivery of any Share Termination Delivery Property for any Transaction, Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) may effect transactions in Shares in connection with such Transaction. The timing of such transactions by Dealer, the price paid or received per Share pursuant to such transactions and the manner in which such transactions are made, including, without limitation, whether such transactions are made on any securities exchange or privately, shall be within the sole judgment of Dealer. Company acknowledges and agrees that all such transactions shall be made in Dealer’s sole judgment and for Dealer’s own account.
(iii) Company does not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any control or influence over how, when or whether Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) makes any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B)(3)) in connection with any Transaction, including, without limitation, the price paid per Share pursuant to such purchases, whether such purchases are made on any securities exchange or privately and how, when or whether Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) enters into any hedging transactions. Dealer represents and warrants that it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation under Rule 10b5-1.
(iv) Company acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Company or any officer, director, manager or similar person of Company is aware of any material non-public information regarding Company or the Shares.
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(v) Company shall not, directly or indirectly, communicate any information regarding Company or the Shares to any employee of Dealer or its affiliates who is directly involved with the hedging of and trading with respect to each Transaction and whose name is set forth on a list to be provided by Dealer, which list may be updated by Dealer from time to time.
(ff) Counterparts. This Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, if any, shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.
(gg) Staggered Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer may, by prior notice to Counterparty, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.
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ANNEX A
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION
Date: [___], 20[___]
From:
To: NNN REIT, Inc.
The purpose of this Supplemental Confirmation is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between (“Dealer”) and NNN REIT, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland (“Company”), on the Trade Date specified below. This Supplemental Confirmation is a binding contract between Dealer and Company as of the relevant Trade Date for the Transaction referenced below.
1. This Supplemental Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Master Confirmation – Contingent Forward Transactions dated as of August 6, 2026 between Dealer and Company (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Master Confirmation”). All provisions contained in the Agreement (as modified and as defined in the Master Confirmation) shall govern this Supplemental Confirmation, except as expressly modified below, and capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Master Confirmation.
2. The terms of the Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates are as follows:
| Trade Date: | [___], 20[___] | |
| Maturity Date: | [___], 20[___] | |
| Maximum Transaction Number of Shares: | [___] Shares | |
| Initial Forward Price: | USD [___] | |
| Contingency Premium: | USD [___] | |
| Initial Share Price: | USD [___] | |
| Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate: | [insert ATM fee for contingent forward]% | |
| Spread: | [___] | |
| Maximum Stock Loan Rate: | [___] | |
| Initial Stock Loan Rate: | [___] | |
| Sales Period Outside Date: | [___], 20[___] | |
| [Contingent Forward Exclusivity End Date: | [___], 20[___]] | |
The Forward Price Reduction Dates and Forward Price Reduction Amounts for the Transaction are as set forth below.
| Forward Price Reduction Date |
Forward Price Reduction Amount | |
| Trade Date | USD 0 | |
| [___], 20[___] | USD [___] | |
| [___], 20[___] | USD [___] | |
| [___], 20[___] | USD [___] | |
| [___], 20[___] | USD [___] | |
For each Component of the Transaction, the Maximum Number of Shares and the Contingency Expiration Dates are as set forth below.
| Component Number |
Maximum Number of Shares |
Contingency Expiration Date | ||
| 1 | [___] | [___], 20[___] | ||
| 2 | [___] | [___], 20[___] | ||
| 3 | [___] | [___], 20[___] | ||
| ... | [___] | [___], 20[___] | ||
[Signature Page Follows.]
Company hereby agrees (a) to check this Supplemental Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between us with respect to the particular Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates by manually signing this Supplemental Confirmation and providing any other information requested herein or in the Master Confirmation and immediately sending an executed copy to us.
| Yours sincerely, | ||
| [DEALER] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Confirmed as of the date first above written: | ||
| NNN REIT, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Exhibit 5.1
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP
1200 Seventeenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
August 6, 2026
NNN REIT, Inc.
450 South Orange Avenue
Suite 900
Orlando, FL 32801
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel for NNN REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale of up to 25,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, all of which are authorized but heretofore unissued shares to be offered and sold by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-297995) (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and related prospectus, dated August 5, 2026, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated August 6, 2026 relating to the offer and sale of the Shares (as so supplemented, the “Prospectus”).
We have reviewed and are familiar with such documents, corporate proceedings and other matters as we have considered relevant or necessary as a basis for the opinions in this letter. Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold by the Company in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and the Pricing Committee thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The opinions set forth in this letter are limited to the Maryland General Corporation Law as in effect on the date hereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Commission on the date hereof and the incorporation thereof in the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP