0001144204-16-094367.txt : 20160414 0001144204-16-094367.hdr.sgml : 20160414 20160414160548 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001144204-16-094367 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 1-A/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 FILED AS OF DATE: 20160414 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20160414 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001654595 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 1-A/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 024-10487 FILM NUMBER: 161571796 BUSINESS ADDRESS: BUSINESS PHONE: 8043444435 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 11 S. 12TH STREET STREET 2: SUITE 401 CITY: RICHMOND STATE: VA ZIP: 23221 1-A/A 1 primary_doc.xml 1-A/A LIVE 0001654595 XXXXXXXX 024-10487 Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. MD 2015 0001654595 6510 47-5201540 2 0 11 S. 12th Street Suite 401 Richmond VA 23219 804-344-4435 Thomas G. Voekler, Esq. Other 126.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 126.00 116712.00 0.00 166712.00 -166586.00 126.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -141836.00 0.00 0.00 Keiter, Stephens, Hurst, Gary and Shreaves, PC Common Stock 0 000000000 N/A N/A 0 000000000 N/A N/A 0 000000000 N/A true true Tier2 Audited Equity (common or preferred stock) Y N N Y N N 5000000 0 10.00 50000000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50000000.00 Moloney Securities Co., Inc. 4500000.00 TBD 0.00 Keiter Stephens 65000.00 Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC and Sands Anderson PC 225000.00 Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC 75000.00 45135000.00 true AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC PR A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 B0 Z4 AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC PR A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 B0 Z4 true PART II AND III 2 v436797_partiiandiii.htm PART II AND III

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 1-A

OFFERING STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

This Offering Circular Uses the Form S-11 Disclosure Format

 

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.

11 S. 12 th Street, Suite 401

Richmond, Virginia 23219

(804) 344-4435

 

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation referred to herein as our company, is offering a minimum of $7,000,000 and a maximum of $50,000,000 of shares of our company’s common stock, which we refer to as shares, at an anticipated offering price of between $9.00 and $11.00 per share. Our minimum offering amount is based upon the low-end of our price range and the maximum offering amount assumes the shares are sold at the mid-point of the range. There are no selling securityholders in this Offering.

 

The proposed offering will begin as soon as practicable after this Offering Circular has been qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This offering will terminate when all the shares offered are sold or one-year from the date of qualification. The minimum purchase requirement for any single investment is $5,000 worth of shares; however, we can waive the minimum purchase requirement in our sole discretion. Until the minimum of $7,000,000 has been reached, funds received for the purchase of shares will be deposited in an escrow account. We have engaged Moloney Securities Co., Inc., or our Dealer-Manager, a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, as our dealer-manager to offer our shares prospective investors on a best efforts basis, and our Dealer-Manager will have the right to engage such other FINRA member firms as it determines to assist in the offering. We expect to commence the sale of our shares as of the date on which the Offering Statement of which this Offering Circular is a part is declared qualified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Investing in shares of our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this offering circular for a discussion of the risks that should be considered in connection with your investment in our shares.

 

Generally, if you are not an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D (17 CFR §230.501 (a)) no sale may be made to you in this offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or net worth. Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to  www.investor.gov . See “Plan of Distribution – Investment Limitations.”

 

THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR THE COMMISSION, DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OR GIVE ITS APPROVAL TO ANY SECURITIES OFFERED OR THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, NOR DOES IT PASS UPON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY OFFERING CIRCULAR OR OTHER SELLING LITERATURE. THESE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMISSION; HOWEVER, THE COMMISION HAS NOT MADE AN INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION THAT THE SECURITIES OFFERED ARE EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.

 

An offering statement pursuant to Regulation A relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained in this Offering circular is subject to completion or amendment. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted before the offering statement filed with the Commission is qualified. This Offering circular shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor may there be any sales of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under the laws of any such state. We may elect to satisfy our obligation to deliver a Final Offering Circular by sending you a notice within two business days after the completion of our sale to you that contains the URL where the Offering Circular was filed may be obtained.

 

i 

 

 

An offering statement pursuant to Regulation A relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained in this Offering circular is subject to completion or amendment. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted before the offering statement filed with the Commission is qualified. This Offering circular shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor may there be any sales of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under the laws of any such state. We may elect to satisfy our obligation to deliver a Final Offering Circular by sending you a notice within two business days after the completion of our sale to you that contains the URL where the Offering Circular was filed may be obtained.

 

PRELIMINARY OFFERING CIRCULAR

 

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.

 

Minimum Offering Amount: $7,000,000 in Shares of Common Stock (based on the low-point of our range)

Maximum Offering Amount: $50,000,000 in Shares of Common Stock (based on the mid-point of our range)

 

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation referred to herein as our company, was formed to acquire, reposition, renovate, lease and manage income-producing properties, with a primary focus on (i) commercial properties, including flex-industrial, and retail properties, and (ii) multi-family residential properties. We intend to invest primarily in properties across secondary and tertiary markets in the southeastern part of the United States, with an expected concentration in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We intend to operate as an UPREIT, and own our properties through our subsidiary, Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. We intend to elect to be treated as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. We are externally managed and advised by Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., a Virginia corporation, or the Manager. The Manager will make all investment decisions for us.

 

We are offering a minimum of $7,000,000 and a maximum of $50,000,000 of our shares at an anticipated offering price of between $9.00 and $11.00 per share. Our minimum offering amount is based upon the low-end of our price range and the maximum offering amount assumes the shares are sold at the mid-point of the range. The minimum purchase requirement is $5,000 in shares; however, we can waive the minimum purchase requirement in our sole discretion. Following achievement of our minimum offering amount, the offering will be closed in incremental phases of at least $2,500,000 each and final closing will occur whenever we have reached the maximum offering amount. Until we achieve the minimum offering and thereafter until each incremental phase closes, the proceeds for that phase will be kept in an escrow account.  Upon closing of the phase, the proceeds for that phase will be disbursed to us and the shares sold in that phase will be issued to the investors.  If the phase does not close, for any reason, the proceeds for that phase will be promptly returned to investors. We have engaged Moloney Securities Co., Inc., or our Dealer-Manager, a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, as our dealer-manager to offer our shares prospective investors on a best efforts basis, and our Dealer-Manager will have the right to engage such other FINRA member firms as it determines to assist in the offering.

 

At the closing of the minimum offering amount, we intend to acquire a property from an affiliate in a combination of cash and operating partnership units. In addition, if we are successful in raising additional offering proceeds, we intend to acquire three additional properties from affiliates, as described further herein.

 

The sale of shares pursuant to this offering will begin as soon as practicable after this offering circular has been qualified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and is expected to continue until the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the shares offered hereby have been sold, or (ii) 365 days from the qualified date of this offering circular, unless extended by the company’s board of directors as permitted under applicable law. We may, however, terminate the offering at any time and for any reason. At this time, there is no public trading market for shares of our common stock.

 

    Price to Public (1)     Commissions and Expense
Reimbursements (2)(3)
    Proceeds to
Company (2)(3)
    Proceeds to Other
Persons
 
Per Offered Unit:   $ 10.00     $ 0.90     $ 9.10     $ 0  
Minimum Offering Amount:   $ 7,000,000     $ 630,000     $ 6,370,000     $ 0  
Maximum Offering Amount:   $ 50,000,000     $ 4,500,000     $ 45,500,000     $ 0  

  

(1)Assuming we sell the shares at the mid-point of our price range.
(2)This table depicts underwriting discounts, commissions and expense reimbursements of 9% of the gross offering proceeds. We will pay our Dealer-Manager selling commissions of 7% of the gross offering proceeds, a non-accountable expense reimbursement of 1% of the gross offering proceeds, and reimbursements of accountable expenses of up to 1% of the gross offering proceeds.
(3) In addition to the underwriting discounts, commission and expense reimbursements included in the above table, our Dealer-Manager will have the right to acquire warrants to purchase an amount of shares equal to 10% of the shares sold in this Offering, or the Underwriter Warrants. The Underwriter Warrants will have an exercise price equal to 125% of the price at which we sell our shares in this offering. Assuming we sell the shares at the mid-point of our price range, the exercise price of the Underwriter Warrants will be $12.50. See “PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION” for further description of the underwriting and distribution agreements.

 

Preliminary Offering Circular Dated April 14, 2016.

 

Generally, if you are not an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D (17 CFR §230.501 (a)) no sale may be made to you in this offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or net worth. Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to www.investor.gov. See “Plan of Distribution – Investment Limitations.”

 

An investment in the Offered Units is subject to certain risks and should be made only by persons or entities able to bear the risk of and to withstand the total loss of their investment. Prospective investors should carefully consider and review the RISK FACTORS beginning on page 8.

 

THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR THE COMMISSION, DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OR GIVE ITS APPROVAL TO ANY SECURITIES OFFERED OR THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, NOR DOES IT PASS UPON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY OFFERING CIRCULAR OR OTHER SELLING LITERATURE. THESE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMISSION; HOWEVER, THE COMMISION HAS NOT MADE AN INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION THAT THE SECURITIES OFFERED ARE EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION

 

 

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY 1
RISK FACTORS 10
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 34
USE OF PROCEEDS 35
DISTRIBUTION POLICY 36
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 37
OUR INDUSTRY AND MARKET OPPORTUNITY 38
OUR BUSINESS 39
MANAGEMENT 44
OUR MANAGER AND RELATED AGREEMENTS 47
POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES 51
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS 54
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS 55
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 56
IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND CORPORATE LAW AND OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS 61
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE 65
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS 66
THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT 68
MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS 76
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS 96
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 98
REPORTS 100
LEGAL MATTERS 101
EXPERTS 101
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 101
PART F/S FS-1

 

 

 

  

SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights the information contained elsewhere in this offering circular. Because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our shares. To fully understand this offering, you should carefully read this entire offering circular, including the more detailed information set forth under the caption “Risk Factors.” Unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, references in this offering circular to “us,” “we,” “our” or “our company” refer to Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, which we refer to as our operating partnership. We refer to Medalist Properties, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company, as Medalist, and Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., a Virginia corporation, as our Manager.  As used in this offering circular, an affiliate of, or person affiliated with, a specified person, is a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, the information set forth in this offering circular assumes (i) the effectiveness of (a) the Management Agreement that we expect to enter into simultaneously with the completion of this offering between us and our Manager, or the Management Agreement, and (b) the Limited Partnership Agreement of Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P., or the Limited Partnership Agreement, and (ii) that the value of each unit of limited partnership interest in our operating partnership, or Unit, issuable to persons contributing interests in our Initial Properties(as defined below) is equivalent to the public offering price per share of our common stock in this offering.

 

Our Company

 

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. was formed in 2015 as a Maryland corporation, and we intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Our objective is to acquire, reposition, renovate, lease and manage income-producing properties, with a primary focus on (i) commercial properties, including flex-industrial, and retail properties, and (ii) multi-family residential properties. We intend to invest primarily in properties across secondary and tertiary markets in the southeastern part of the United States, with an expected concentration in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We intend to operate as an UPREIT, and own our properties through our subsidiary, Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. We may also pursue, in an opportunistic manner, other real estate-related investments, including but not limited to equity or other ownership interests in entities that are the direct or indirect owners of real property, or indirect investments in real property, such as those that may be obtained in a joint venture. We anticipate that any such equity or joint venture investments to be in controlling interests in such entities. We refer to our investments in real property and our real estate-related investments, collectively, as Investments. We are externally managed and advised by Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., a Virginia corporation, or the Manager. The Manager will make all investment decisions for us. The Manager, is owned fifty percent each by Mr. Bill Elliott and Mr. Tim Messier, who are co-Presidents thereof.

 

Upon raising the minimum offering amount, we intend to purchase from Medalist Fund I, LLC, an affiliate, the Shops at Franklin Square, a 134,299 square foot retail property located at 3940 East Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia, North Carolina 28056, or the Franklin Square Property. The purchase price for the Franklin Square Property is $20,500,000 and has been based upon an independent, third party appraisal of the Franklin Square Property. We expect to pay approximately $5,125,000 in cash and assume secured debt of approximately $15,375,000 to acquire the Franklin Square Property, in addition to closing and acquisition costs (including acquisition fees payable to our Manager). The Franklin Square Property is located on 10.293 acres, built in 2006 and 2007, that is currently 90.0% occupied, and anchored by Ashley Furniture, hhgregg and Monkey Joe’s.

 

If we are able to raise additional funds above the minimum in the offering of shares, we intend to purchase three additional properties from affiliates, if: (i) we are able to agree on purchase price; (ii) we believe the purchase price to be attractive to us; and (iii) customary closing conditions are met. The first additional property is a hotel known as the Greensboro Airport Hampton Inn, located at 7803 National Service Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27409, or the Hampton Inn Property. The hotel has 127 rooms, was built in 1996, is approximately 65,400 square feet and sits on 2.162 acres. We intend to purchase the Hampton Inn Property for a combination of cash and operating partnership units, or OP Units, The second additional property is Warsaw Village, a 60,100 square foot shopping center, located at 4665-4719 Richmond Road, Warsaw, Virginia, or the Warsaw Property, on 9.8 acres with a contiguous out parcel of 0.97 acres, built in 1991, that is currently 95.0% occupied, and is anchored by Food Lion and Rite Aid. We intend to purchase this for a combination of cash and OP units, which will reduce our need for cash. The third additional property is Arrowridge I, II, III and IV, a 194,553 square foot flex industrial center, located at 8041, 8107, 8227 & 8301 Arrowridge Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina, or the Arrowridge Property. The improvements were constructed in 1979 and 1980, are situated on four tax parcels totaling 13.5769-acres and are 90.0% occupied. We refer to the Hampton Inn Property, Arrowridge Property and Warsaw Property collectively as the “Additional Properties,” and we refer to the Additional Properties and the Franklin Square Property collectively as our “Initial Properties.”

 

We anticipate that the purchase price of each of our Initial Properties will be supported by an MAI appraisal of the applicable Initial Property, whether obtained by us or by a lender making an acquisition loan to us. In addition to such MAI appraisals, the Dealer-Manager intends to obtain independent fairness opinions with respect to certain value determinations referenced in this Offering Statement in respect of our acquisitions of the Initial Properties.

 

The Manager and Messrs. Elliott and Messier have a network of relationships with real estate owners, investors, operators and developers of all sizes and investment formats, across the United States. We believe these relationships will provide us with a competitive advantage, greater access to off-market transactions, and flexibility in our investment choices to invest in a similar format, joint venture or co-invest with best in class owners, operators, investors, developers and sponsors, leveraging their resources, skills and relationships to maximize our opportunities and investment returns.

 

We believe that in the long-term, there will be a consistent flow of properties in our target markets for purposes of acquisition, repositioning, renovation, rehabilitation, or leasing and managing which we expect will enable us to continue our platform into the foreseeable future. We intend to make Investments located across secondary and tertiary markets throughout the southeastern part of the United States. We do not anticipate making Investments outside of the United States.

 

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Our principal objectives include sourcing value-add Investments in markets in which we maintains deep industry relationships and local market knowledge, and the creation of value for stockholders by utilizing our relationships and local knowledge of commercial real estate investment, management and disposition. There is no assurance that any of these objectives will be achieved. See “Objectives and Investment Strategies.”

 

We may also pursue, in an opportunistic manner, other real estate-related Investments, including, among other things, equity or other ownership interests in entities that are the direct or indirect owners of real property, indirect investments in real property, such as those that may be obtained in a joint venture. While we do not intend for these types of Investments to be a primary focus, we may make such Investments in the Manager’s sole discretion.

 

We primarily expect to make Investments directly, but we may also invest through indirect investments in real property, such as those that may be obtained in a joint venture which may or may not be managed or affiliated with the Manager or its affiliates, whereby we own less than a 100% of the beneficial interest in the Investment; provided, that in such event, either we or an affiliate intends to hold a controlling interest in the Investment.  While the Manager does not intend for these types of Investments to be a primary focus, we may make such Investments in the Manager’s sole discretion.

 

We may make Investments in properties owned by unaffiliated third parties, the Manager, or affiliates of the Manager, as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion. The purchase price of any Investment owned by an affiliated party will be based upon the fair market value of the asset established by third party MAI appraisal or fairness opinion that is dated within the last 90 days prior to the transaction.

 

Management

 

We are externally managed by Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., or the "Manager." The Manager will make all investment decisions for us. The Manager and its affiliated companies specialize in acquiring, developing, owning and managing value-added commercial real estate in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. The Manager’s principals and their respective affiliates have a strong track record of success. We intend to leverage this experience to identify suitable Investments, primarily in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. This offering represents an opportunity for outside investors to take advantage of the principals’ expertise through a pooled investment vehicle.

 

The Manager will oversee our overall business and affairs, and will have broad discretion to make operating decisions on behalf of us and to make Investments. Our stockholders will not be involved in our day-to-day affairs. Summary background information regarding the management of the Manager appears in the section entitled “The Manager and Affiliates.”

 

Investment Strategies

 

The Manager believes that its focus on value-add and opportunistic commercial real estate provides an attractive balance of risk and returns. The Manager intends to use some or all of the following strategies to enhance the performance, quality and value of our Investments:

 

·Proprietary investment sourcing;

 

·A rigorous, consistent and replicable process for sourcing and conducting due diligence;

 

·Appropriate exit strategy;

 

·Hands-on portfolio management; and

 

·Focus on opportunistic properties.

 

Our investment policies will provide the Manager with substantial discretion with respect to the selection, purchase and sale of specific Investments, subject to the limitations in the Management Agreement. We may revise the investment policies, which are described below, without the approval of our stockholders. We will review the investment policies at least annually to determine whether the policies are in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

Our Opportunity

 

We intend to continue to raise money pursuant to multiple Tier II offerings under Regulation A, if available, or other securities offerings to continue to grow the assets of our Company. Once our Board of Directors is able to engage an underwriter, we intend to pursue a listing transaction on a registered national securities exchange. If we are unable to list, and there is no current market on an alternative exchange for our shares, we intend to pursue a merger, portfolio sale or liquidation within seven years of the termination of this offering.

 

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Our Initial Portfolio

 

Upon completion of this offering and closing on the identified affiliated transactions, we expect to own, through wholly owned subsidiaries of our operating partnership, a portfolio of commercial and retail properties including those identified herein located primarily in the southeastern United States. The following table presents an overview of the properties we have identified and expect to acquire initially if we are able to close on terms satisfactory to us.

 

Name   Type   Description
Shops at Franklin Square   Retail   134,299 square foot retail property located at 3940 East Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia, North Carolina 28056, on 10.293 acres, built in 2006 and 2007, that is currently 90.0% occupied, and anchored by Ashley Furniture, hhgregg, Gold’s Gym and Monkey Joe’s
Greensboro Airport Hampton Inn   Hotel   Located at 7803 National Service Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27409.  The hotel has 127 rooms, was built in 1996, is approximately 65,400 square feet and sits on 2.162 acre
Warsaw Village   Retail   60,100 square foot shopping center, located at 4665-4719 Richmond Road, Warsaw, Virginia, on 9.8 acres with a contiguous out parcel of 0.97 acres, built in 1991, that is currently 95.0% occupied, and is anchored by Food Lion and Rite Aid
Arrowridge I, II, III and IV   Flex Industrial   194,553 square foot flex industrial center, located at 8041, 8107, 8227 & 8301 Arrowridge Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina. The improvements were constructed in 1979 and 1980, are situated on four tax parcels totaling 13.5769-acres and are 81.3% occupied.

 

Each of the above referenced potential acquisitions is owned by an affiliated entity: Medalist Properties 8, LLC – the Hampton Inn Property; Medalist Fund I, LLC – the Franklin Square Property; Medalist Properties I, LLC – the Warsaw Property; and Medalist Fund I, LLC – the Arrowridge Property. Additionally, the Manager is the limited liability company manager of each of the four affiliated potential sellers. We have only begun determining a purchase price and acquisition terms relative to the Franklin Square Property and the Hampton Inn Property, and we have delivered a letter to the LLC investors in the Hampton Inn Property enquiring as to their interest in contributing the Hampton Inn Property to us in exchange for OP Units in lieu of cash. Based on indications to date, we anticipate that investors owning approximately 50% of the beneficial interest in the Hampton Inn Property will approve contribution. We will pay cash to the non-contributing investors for their interests in the Hampton Inn Property. Holders of OP Units issued in our acquisition of properties may have certain registration or qualification rights covering the resale of the shares of common stock into which their OP Units will be convertible, subject to conditions set forth in our operating partner’s limited partnership agreement.

 

We have not begun to determine a purchase price or acquisition terms relative to the Warsaw Property or Arrowridge Property. However, our Manager also controls these properties and is constantly monitoring market terms for such acquisition so that if we do raise sufficient funds to enable the acquisition of the Warsaw and Arrowridge Properties, we will be able to efficiently engage their sellers at that time.

 

Our Competitive Strengths

 

We believe the experience of our Manager and its affiliates, which we refer to as the Medalist companies, as well as our investment strategies, distinguish us from other real estate companies. Specifically, our competitive strengths include the following :

 

§Experienced and Dedicated Management Team . The Medalist companies consist of a committed management team with experience in all phases of commercial real estate investment, management and disposition. The Medalist management team has 50+ years combined experience in commercial real estate and fixed income capital markets. The Medalist management team has also established a robust infrastructure of service providers, including longstanding relationships with two fully-staffed property managers for assets under management.

 

§ Strong Investment Track Record . The Manager and its affiliates have a strong track record of success. The Medalist companies have acquired and managed an over $131 million commercial real estate portfolio since 2003. Medalist Fund I, LLC, our first multi-property affiliated investment fund, has invested in three properties since its first close in the third quarter of 2013, representing retail, flex-industrial and multifamily. Medalist Fund I, LLC, has paid out its required 8% annualized cash distribution in each consecutive quarter (Q3 and Q4 of 2013, Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 of 2014, Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 of 2015 and Q1 of 2016) out of operating cash flow. Medalist Fund I, LLC paid approximately 4.9% of its offering proceeds in sales commissions, offering expenses and fees. Medalist Fund II, LLC, our second multi-property affiliated investment fund, has just begun operations and has acquired two properties. Medalist Fund II, LLC is anticipated to pay an estimated 10.15% of its offering proceeds in sales commissions, offering expenses and fees if its maximum offering amount is raised. Each of Medalist Fund I and Medalist Fund II pay market property management fees as will our Company. Prospective investors in the company should note, however, that they will have no interest in Medalist Fund I, LLC or Medalist Fund II, LLC. See “Risk Factors.”

 

§Strategy of Opportunistic Investing . The Medalist companies have an extensive deal flow network in target markets due to long-standing relationships with brokers and lenders. The Medalist companies focus on value creation through a “hands on” management approach to previously neglected properties and a thorough knowledge of the geographic target area.

 

§Highly Disciplined Investing Approach . The Medalist companies take a time-tested and thorough approach to analysis, management and investor reporting. The Medalist companies also adhere to a rigorous due diligence process, strict acquisition price discipline and prudent leverage levels.

 

§Market Opportunity . The Medalist companies have identified market opportunities based on severe dislocations in the secondary and tertiary commercial real estate markets and the availability of debt financing at historically low rates.

 

Summary Risk Factors

 

An investment in our common stock involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors,” beginning on page 8 of this offering circular. Some of the more significant risks include those set forth below.

 

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  · We will only own one initial property upon raising the minimum and should not be considered diversified. We have currently identified three additional potential acquisition opportunities, but these may not materialize depending on our offering and the timing of funds.
  · Our initial property and each of the three additional potential acquisitions we have currently identified are owned by entities affiliated with us and our manager. While any acquisition of an affiliated property will be based on market terms and in accordance with our investment policies, substantial conflicts of interest exist for our manager and management team in advising each side of such transactions.
  · We were recently organized and do not have a significant operating history or financial resources. There is no assurance that we will be able to successfully achieve its investment objectives.
  · Investors will not have the opportunity to evaluate or approve any Investments prior to our financing or acquisition thereof.
  · We may not be able to invest the net proceeds of this offering on terms acceptable to investors, or at all.
  · Investors will rely solely on the Manager to manage the company and our Investments. The Manager will have broad discretion to invest our capital and make decisions regarding Investments. Investors will have limited control over changes in our policies and day-to-day operations, which increases the uncertainty and risks you face as an Investor. In addition, our board of directors may approve changes to our policies without your approval.
  · There are substantial risks associated with owning, financing, operating and leasing real estate, and value-added real estate investments may involve additional risks.
  · The amount of distributions we may make is uncertain. We may fund distributions from offering proceeds, borrowings and the sale of assets to the extent distributions exceed our earnings or cash flows from operations if we are unable to make distributions from our cash flows from our operations. There is no limit on the amount of offering proceeds we may use to fund distributions. Distributions paid from sources other than cash flow or funds from operations may constitute a return of capital to our stockholders. Rates of distribution may not be indicative of our operating results.
  · The offering price of our common stock was not established based upon any appraisals of assets we own or may own, and will not be adjusted based upon any such appraisals. Thus, the offering price may not accurately reflect the value of our assets at the time an Investor’s investment is made.
  · Real estate-related investments, including joint ventures, co-investments and real estate-related securities, involve substantial risks.
  · The Fund will pay substantial fees and expenses to the Manager and its affiliates. These fees will increase Investors’ risk of loss, and will reduce the amounts available for Investments.
  · Substantial actual and potential conflicts of interest exist between our Investors and our interests or the interests of our Manager, and our respective affiliates, including conflicts arising out of (a) allocation of personnel to our activities, (b) allocation of investment opportunities between us.
  · Mr. Elliott, one of the co-Presidents and owners of our Manager owns a 36% interest in Shockoe Properties, LLC, or Shockoe, a property management company we will engage relative to one or more of our Initial Properties and additional properties we may acquire. While Mr. Elliott is a passive investor in Shockoe and we expect any engagement of Shockoe to be on market terms, Mr. Elliott will have a conflict of interest relative to any such engagement.
  · An Investor could lose all or a substantial portion of its investment.
  · There is no public trading market for our common stock, and we are not obligated to effectuate a liquidity event by a certain date or at all. It will thus be difficult for an Investor to sell its shares of our common stock.
  · We may fail to qualify or maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. We would then be subject to corporate level taxation and we would not be required to pay any distributions to our stockholders.

 

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Compensation to Our Manager

 

Type   Description
     
Asset Management Fee   We will pay our Manager a monthly asset management fee equal to 0.125% of our stockholders’ equity payable in arrears in cash. For purposes of calculating the asset management fee, our stockholders’ equity means: (a) the sum of (1) the net proceeds from (or equity value assigned to) all issuances of the Company’s equity and equity equivalent securities (including common stock, common stock equivalents, preferred stock and OP Units issued by our operating partnership) since inception (allocated on a pro rata daily basis for such issuances during the fiscal quarter of any such issuance), plus (2) the Company’s retained earnings at the end of the most recently completed calendar quarter (without taking into account any non-cash equity compensation expense incurred in current or prior periods), less (b) any amount that our company has paid to repurchase our common stock issued in this or any subsequent offering. Stockholders’ equity also excludes (1) any unrealized gains and losses and other non-cash items (including depreciation and amortization) that have impacted stockholders’ equity as reported in the Company’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (2) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP, and certain non-cash items not otherwise described above, in each case after discussions between our Manager and our independent director(s) and approval by a majority of our independent directors.  
     
Property Management Fee   Shockoe Properties, LLC, an entity in which Mr. Elliott holds a 36% interest, shall receive an annual property management fee, of up to 3.0% of the monthly gross revenue from any of our Investments. The Property Management Fee will be paid in arrears on a monthly basis.
     
Acquisition Fee   Our Manager will receive an acquisition fee, of 2.0% of the purchase price plus transaction costs, for each Property or Investment made on our behalf at the closing of the acquisition of such Property or Investment, in consideration for such party’s assistance in effectuating such acquisition.
     
Incentive Fee  

Our Manager will be entitled to an incentive fee, payable quarterly, equal to an amount, not less than zero, equal to the difference between  (1) the product of (x) 20% and (y) the difference between (i) our Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO) (as further defined below) for the previous 12-month period, and (ii) the product of (A) the weighted average of the issue price of equity securities issued in this offering and in future offerings and transactions, multiplied by the weighted average number of all shares of our common stock outstanding on a fully-diluted basis (including any restricted stock units, any restricted shares of common stock and OP Units) in the previous 12-month period, exclusive of equity securities issued prior to this offering, and (B) 7%, and (2) the sum of any incentive fee paid to our Manager with respect to the first three calendar quarters of such previous 12-month period. For purposes of calculating the incentive fee during the first 12 months after completion of this offering, AFFO will be determined by annualizing the applicable period following completion of this offering.   See "Our Management and Related Agreements" – "Our Manager" —  "Incentive Compensation" herein for further details of the Incentive Fee.

 

AFFO is calculated by removing the effect of items that do not reflect ongoing property operations. We further adjust FFO for certain items that are not added to net income in NAREIT’s definition of FFO, such as acquisition expenses, equity based compensation expenses, and any other non-recurring or non-cash expenses, which are costs that do not relate to the operating performance of our properties, and subtract recurring capital expenditures (and, when calculating the incentive fee only, we further adjust FFO to include any realized gains or losses on our real estate investments). The following example illustrates how we would calculate our quarterly incentive fee in accordance with the Management Agreement. Our actual results may differ materially from the following example.

 

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Assume the following:

 

AFFO for the 12-month period equals $4,000,000;
3,000,000 shares of common stock are outstanding and the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the 12-month period is 3,000,000;
weighted average issue price per share of common stock is $10.00; and
incentive fees paid during the first three quarters of such 12-month period are $300,000.

 

Under these assumptions, the quarterly incentive fee payable to our Manager would be $80,000, as calculated below:

 

1.   AFFO   $ 4,000,000  
2.   Weighted average issue price per share of common stock of $10.00 multiplied by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding of 3,000,000 multiplied by 7%   $ 2,100,000  
3.   Excess of AFFO over amount calculated in 2 above   $ 1,900,000  
4.   20% of the amount calculated in 3 above   $ 380,000  
5.   Incentive fee equals the amount calculated in 4 above less the incentive fees paid during the first three quarters of such previous 12-month period;   $ 300,000  
6.   Quarterly incentive fee payable to our Manager:   $ 80,000  

 

Pursuant to the calculation formula, if AFFO increases and the weighted average share price and weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding remain constant, the incentive fee will increase.

 

Our Manager will compute each quarterly installment of the incentive fee within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter with respect to which such installment is payable and promptly deliver such calculation to our board of directors. The amount of the installment shown in the calculation will be due and payable no later than the date which is five business days after the date of delivery of such computation to our board of directors.

 

Our Initial Property Acquisition

 

Upon raising the minimum offering amount, we intend to purchase the Franklin Square Property through a combination of cash and assumption of existing secured debt on the property. Our purchase of the Franklin Square Property will be subject to agreeing upon a purchase price, which will be supported by an MAI appraisal of the Franklin Square Property, customary closing conditions and raising the minimum offering amount.

 

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Conflicts of Interest

 

Our officers and directors, and the owners and officers of our Manager and its affiliates are involved in, and will continue to be involved in, the ownership and advising of other real estate entities and programs, including those sponsored by the Medalist companies and its affiliates or in which one or more of the Medalist companies is a manager or participant. These pre-existing interests, and similar additional interests as may arise in the future, may give rise to conflicts of interest with respect to our business, our investments and our investment opportunities. In particular, but without limitation:

 

·Our Manager, its officers and their respective affiliates will face conflicts of interest relating to the purchase and leasing of real estate investments, and such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor. This could limit our investment opportunities, impair our ability to make distributions and reduce the value of your investment in us.  Our Management Agreement provides that our Manager will not sponsor or manage any new real estate entity or program during the period of this offering and until all net proceeds of this offering have been invested; however, our Manager will continue to advise its pre-existing programs, Medalist Fund I, LLC and Medalist Fund II, LLC, during that period, who may have deployable capital and compete with us for investment opportunities sourced by our Manager.
·If we acquire properties from entities owned or sponsored by affiliates of our Manager, the price may be higher than we would pay if the transaction was the result of arm’s-length negotiations with a third party. 
·Our Manager will have considerable discretion with respect to the terms and timing of our acquisition, disposition and leasing transactions.
·Our Manager and its affiliates, including our officers, some of whom are also our directors, face conflicts of interest caused by their ownership of our Manager and their roles with other programs, which could result in actions that are not in the long-term best interests of our stockholders.
·If the competing demands for the time of our Manager, its affiliates and our officers result in them spending insufficient time on our business, we may miss investment opportunities or have less efficient operations, which could reduce our profitability and result in lower distributions to you.

 

We do not have a policy that expressly restricts any of our directors, officers, stockholders or affiliates, including our Manager and its officers and employees, from having a pecuniary interest in an investment in or from conducting, for their own account, business activities of the type we conduct. We have not adopted any specific conflicts of interest policies, and, therefore, other than in respect of the restrictions placed on our Manager in the Management Agreement, we will be reliant upon the good faith of our Manager, officers and directors in the resolution of any conflict.

 

Financing Policy

 

We anticipate that with respect to Investments either acquired with debt financing or refinanced, the debt financing amount generally would be up to approximately 80% of the acquisition price of a particular Investment, provided, however, we are not restricted in the amount of leverage we may use to finance an Investment. Particular Investments may be more highly leveraged. Further, the Manager expects that any debt financing for an Investment will be secured by that Investment or the interests in an entity that owns that Investment.

 

Distribution Policy

 

In order to qualify as a REIT, we must distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our annual taxable income (excluding net capital gains and income from operations or sales through a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS). We intend to make regular cash distributions to our stockholders out of our cash available for distribution, typically on a quarterly basis. Our board of directors will determine the amount of distributions to be distributed to our stockholders on a quarterly basis. The board’s determination will be based on a number of factors, including funds available from operations, our capital expenditure requirements and the annual distribution requirements necessary to maintain our REIT qualification under the Code. As a result, our distribution rate and payment frequency may vary from time to time. Generally, our policy will be to pay distributions from cash flow from operations. However, our distributions may be paid from sources other than cash flows from operations, such as from the proceeds of this offering, borrowings, advances from our Manager or from our Manager’s deferral of its fees and expense reimbursements, as necessary. See “Distribution Policy.”

 

REIT Status

 

We intend to elect to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As long as we maintain our qualification as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income or excise tax on income that we currently distribute to our stockholders. Under the Code, a REIT is subject to numerous organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it annually distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain) to its stockholders. If we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT in any year, our income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates, regardless of our distributions to stockholders, and we may be precluded from qualifying for treatment as a REIT for the four-year period immediately following the taxable year in which such failure occurs. Even if we qualify for treatment as a REIT, we may still be subject to state and local taxes on our income and property and to federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed income. Moreover, if we establish TRSs, such TRSs generally will be subject to federal income taxation and to various other taxes.

 

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Restriction on Ownership and Transfer of Our Common Stock

 

Our charter contains a restriction on ownership of our shares that generally prevents any one person from owning more than 9.8% in value of the outstanding shares of our capital stock or more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock, unless otherwise excepted (prospectively or retroactively) by our board of directors. Our charter also contains other restrictions designed to help us maintain our qualification as a REIT. See “Description of Capital Stock — Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

 

Background and Corporate Information

 

We were incorporated on September 28, 2015 under the laws of the State of Maryland for the purpose of raising capital and acquiring a diverse portfolio of real estate assets. Our principal executive offices are located at 11 S. 12 th Street, Suite 401, Richmond, Virginia 23219. Our telephone number is (804) 344-4435.

 

Reporting Requirements under Tier 2 of Regulation A

 

Following this Tier 2 Regulation A offering, we will be required to comply with certain ongoing disclosure requirements under Rule 257 of Regulation A. We will be required to file (i) an annual report with the SEC on Form 1-K, (ii) a semi-annual report with the SEC on Form 1-SA, (iii) current reports with the SEC on Form 1-U, and (iv) a notice under cover of Form 1-Z. The necessity to file current reports will be triggered by certain corporate events. Parts I & II of Form 1-Z will be filed by us if and when we decide to and are no longer obligated to file and provide annual reports pursuant to the requirements of Regulation A.

 

The Offering

 

Common stock offered by us:   5,000,000 shares
     
Common stock to be outstanding after this offering (assuming the maximum offering amount is sold):   5,000,002 shares
     
Dividend rights   Holders of our common stock will share proportionately in any dividends authorized by our board of directors and declared by us.
     
Voting rights   Each share of our common stock will entitle its holder to one vote per share.
     
Use of Proceeds   We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering will be approximately $45,135,000, after deducting sales commissions of 7.0% of the offering proceeds payable to the dealer-manager, which it may re-allow and pay to participating broker-dealers, who sell Offered Units, and after deducting a non-accountable due diligence, marketing and expense reimbursement fee of 1.0% of the offering proceeds payable to the dealer-manager, which it may also re-allow and pay to the participating broker-dealers, and after deducting an accountable expense allowance of 1.0% of offering proceeds payable to the dealer-manager in connection with its services as underwriter of the offering, and after deducting an estimated expense reimbursement payable to us. Specified sales may be made net of selling commissions, accountable expense allowance and non-accountable expense allowance. See “Plan of Distribution.” We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering as follows:

 

approximately $5,745,000 to fund our acquisition of our initial property;
the balance for future acquisitions including of our Additional Properties from affiliates and for general corporate and working capital purposes, which may include the repayment of indebtedness and the funding of capital improvements at our Investments.

 

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Tier 2 Offering Under Regulation A

 

This is a Tier 2 offering under Regulation A where the offered securities will not be listed on a registered national securities exchange upon qualification. This offering is being conducted pursuant to an exemption from registration under Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. After qualification, we intend to apply for these qualified securities to be eligible for quotation on either the OTCQX or OTCQB. There is no guarantee that we will be quoted or that a market will develop.

 

Generally, if you are not an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D (17 CFR §230.501 (a)) no sale may be made to you in this offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or net worth. Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to www.investor.gov . See “Plan of Distribution – Investment Limitations.”

 

 9 
 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Prospective investors should be aware that an investment in shares of the company’s common stock involves a high, and sometimes speculative, degree of risk, and is suitable only for persons or entities who are able to evaluate the risks of the investment. An investment in our shares should be made only by persons or entities able to bear the risk of and to withstand the total loss of their investment. Prospective investors should carefully read this offering circular prior to making a decision to purchase shares.

 

It is impossible to accurately predict the results to an investor from an investment in shares of the company’s common stock because of general risks associated with the ownership and operation of real estate, the risks associated with the types of properties the company intends to acquire, and certain tax risks, among other risks. These risks may be exacerbated by the additional risks associated with the specific properties that the company acquires and the ownership structure of the Investment. Such specific risks include, but are not limited to, high vacancy rates, tenants in possession but not paying rent, tenants paying rent but who have “gone dark,” properties that need substantial capital improvements and/or repositioning in their local markets, properties that are not generating income, and risks relating to joint venture and co-investor structures. In addition, prospective investors must rely solely upon the Manager to identify Investment opportunities and to negotiate any debt financing. Prospective investors who are unwilling to rely solely on the Manager should not invest in our shares.

 

Each prospective investor should consider carefully, among other risks, the following risks, and should consult with his own legal, tax, and financial advisors with respect thereto prior to investing in shares of the company’s common stock.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Investments

 

Upon raising the minimum we will only own one Investment. Upon raising the minimum, our portfolio will consist only of the Franklin Square Property.  We have identified the three Additional Properties that we intend to purchase from affiliates, if the properties are available and we can agree on a price that our Manager believes is accretive. We cannot provide prospective investors with any specific information as to the identification, location, operating histories, lease terms or other relevant economic and financial data regarding any other Investments we will make with the net proceeds of this offering. Our success is totally dependent on our ability to make Investments consistent with our investment goals, and a failure to do so is likely to materially and adversely affect returns to our stockholders.

 

Because we will own only one Investment and have only identified three potential acquisitions from affiliates you will not have the opportunity to evaluate our Investments before we make them. Because we have not identified all of the specific assets that we will acquire with the proceeds raised in this offering, we are not able to provide you with information that you may want to evaluate before deciding to invest in our shares. Our investment policies and strategies are very broad and permit us to invest in any type of commercial real estate, including developed and undeveloped properties, entities owning these assets or other real estate assets regardless of geographic location or property type.  Our Manager and board have absolute discretion in implementing these policies and strategies, subject to the restrictions on investment objectives and policies set forth in our articles of incorporation.  Because you cannot evaluate our investments in advance of purchasing shares of our common stock, this offering may entail more risk than other types of offerings. This additional risk may hinder your ability to achieve your own personal investment objectives related to portfolio diversification, risk-adjusted investment returns and other objectives.

 

We are different in some respects from other investment vehicles sponsored by the Manager, and therefore the past performance of such investments may not be indicative of our future results, and the Manager has limited experience in acquiring and operating certain types of real estate investments that we may acquire. We are Manager’s first publicly-offered investment vehicle. We collectively refer to real estate joint ventures, funds and programs as investment vehicles. All of the previous investment vehicles of the Medalist companies were conducted through privately-held entities, which were not subject to either the up-front commissions, fees and expenses associated with this offering or all of the laws and regulations that govern us, including reporting requirements under the federal securities laws and tax and other regulations applicable to REITs. Only two of the previous investment vehicles of the Manager and its affiliates have been multi-property programs, including one, Medalist Fund II, LLC, that is in its very early stages. Thus, the past performance of other investment vehicles sponsored by the Manager or its affiliates may not be indicative of our future results, and we may not be able to successfully operate our business and implement our investment strategy, which may be different in a number of respects from the operations previously conducted by the Manager. As a result of all of these factors, you should not rely on the past performance of other investment vehicles sponsored by the Manager and its affiliates to predict or as an indication of our future performance.

 

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Our future growth will depend upon our ability to acquire and lease properties in a competitive real estate business and to raise additional capital. Our future growth will depend, in large part, upon our ability to acquire and lease properties and raise additional capital. In order to grow we need to continue to acquire and finance investment properties and sell non-core properties. We face significant competition with respect to our acquisition and origination of assets from many other companies, including other REITs, insurance companies, private investment funds, hedge funds, specialty finance companies and other investors. Some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, there is significant competition on a national, regional and local level with respect to property management services and in commercial real estate services generally, and we are subject to competition from large national and multi-national firms as well as local or regional firms that offer similar services to ours. Some of our competitors may have greater financial and operational resources, larger customer bases, and more established relationships with their customers and suppliers than we do. The competitive pressures we face, if not effectively managed, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

 

Also, as a result of this competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive origination and investment opportunities, and therefore may not be able to identify and pursue opportunities that are consistent with our objectives. Competition may limit the number of suitable investment opportunities offered to us. It may also result in higher prices, lower yields and a narrower spread of yields over our borrowing costs, making it more difficult for us to acquire new investments on attractive terms. In addition, competition for desirable investments could delay our investment in desirable assets, which may in turn reduce our earnings per share and negatively affect our ability to declare and make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Our Manager may not be successful in identifying and consummating suitable investment opportunities. Our investment strategy requires us, through our Manager, to identify suitable investment opportunities compatible with our investment criteria. Our Manager may not be successful in identifying suitable opportunities that meet our criteria or in consummating investments, including those identified as part of our investment pipeline, on satisfactory terms or at all. Our ability to make investments on favorable terms may be constrained by several factors including, but not limited to, competition from other investors with significant capital, including publicly-traded REITs and institutional investment funds, which may significantly increase investment costs; and/or the inability to finance an investment on favorable terms or at all. The failure to identify or consummate investments on satisfactory terms, or at all, may impede our growth and negatively affect our cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

If we cannot obtain additional capital, our ability to make acquisitions and lease properties will be limited. We are subject to risks associated with debt and capital stock issuances, and such issuances may have consequences to holders of shares of our common stock. Our ability to make acquisitions and lease properties will depend, in large part, upon our ability to raise additional capital. If we were to raise additional capital through the issuance of equity securities, we could dilute the interests of holders of shares of our common stock. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of classes or series of preferred stock which may have rights that could dilute, or otherwise adversely affect, the interest of holders of shares our common stock.

 

Further, we expect to incur additional indebtedness in the future, which may include a corporate credit facility. Such indebtedness could also have other important consequences to holders of the notes and holders of our common and preferred stock, including subjecting us to covenants restricting our operating flexibility, increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate requirements, requiring the use of a portion of our cash flow from operations for the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures and general corporate requirements, and limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry.

 

Lack of diversification in number of investments increases our dependence on individual investments. If we acquire other property interests that are similarly large in relation to our overall size, our portfolio could become even more concentrated, increasing the risk of loss to stockholders if a default or other problem arises. Alternatively, property sales may reduce the aggregate amount of our property investment portfolio in value or number. As a result, our portfolio could become concentrated in larger assets, thereby reducing the benefits of diversification by geography, property type, tenancy or other measures.

 

We may never reach sufficient size to achieve diversity in our portfolio. We are presently a comparatively small net leased company with a modest number of warehouse and industrial properties, resulting in a portfolio that lacks geographic and tenant diversity. While we intend to endeavor to grow and diversify our portfolio through additional property acquisitions, we may never reach a significant size to achieve true portfolio diversity.

 

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We have no operating history and limited capitalization. We were organized in September 2015 for the purpose of engaging in the activities set forth in this offering circular. We have no history of operations and, accordingly, no performance history to which a potential investor may refer in determining whether to invest in us. While we will engage in this offering to raise capital, we will nonetheless have limited capitalization. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by new ventures, including our reliance on the Manager and its key personnel and affiliates and other factors. The Manager believes that the risks associated with real estate investing can be reduced by diversifying among multiple Investments. However, there is no assurance that any attempts by the Manager to diversify will reduce the potential for the company to incur losses. A significant financial reversal for the Manager or its affiliates could adversely affect the ability of the Manager to satisfy its obligation to manage the company.

 

The market for real estate investments is highly competitive . Identifying attractive real estate investment opportunities, particularly in the value-added real estate arena, is difficult and involves a high degree of uncertainty. Furthermore, the historical performance of a particular property or market is not a guarantee or prediction of the property’s or market’s future performance. There can be no assurance that we will be able to locate suitable acquisition opportunities, achieve its investment goal and objectives, or fully deploy for investment the net proceeds of this offering.

 

Because of the recent growth in demand for real estate investments, there may be increased competition among investors to invest in the same asset classes as the company. This competition may lead to an increase in the investment prices or otherwise less favorable investment terms. If this situation occurs with a particular Investment, our return on that Investment is likely to be less than the return it could have achieved if it had invested at a time of less investor competition for the Investment. For this and other reasons, the Manager is under no restrictions concerning the timing of Investments.

 

We are required to make a number of judgments in applying accounting policies, and different estimates and assumptions in the application of these policies could result in changes to our reporting of financial condition and results of operations. Various estimates are used in the preparation of our financial statements, including estimates related to asset and liability valuations (or potential impairments) and various receivables. Often these estimates require the use of market data values that may be difficult to assess, as well as estimates of future performance or receivables collectability that may be difficult to accurately predict. While we have identified those accounting policies that are considered critical and have procedures in place to facilitate the associated judgments, different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes to our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We utilize, and intend to continue to utilize, leverage, which may limit our financial flexibility in the future. We make acquisitions and operate our business in part through the utilization of leverage pursuant to loan agreements with various financial institutions. These loan agreements contain financial covenants that restrict our operations. These financial covenants, as well as any future financial covenants we may enter into through further loan agreements, could inhibit our financial flexibility in the future and prevent distributions to stockholders.

 

We may incur losses as a result of ineffective risk management processes and strategies. We seek to monitor and control our risk exposure through a risk and control framework encompassing a variety of separate but complementary financial, credit, operational, compliance and legal reporting systems, internal controls, management review processes and other mechanisms. While we employ a broad and diversified set of risk monitoring and risk mitigation techniques, those techniques and the judgments that accompany their application cannot anticipate every economic and financial outcome or the specifics and timing of such outcomes. Thus, we may, in the course of our activities, incur losses due to these risks.

 

We are dependent on information systems and third parties, and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. Our business is dependent on communications and information systems, some of which are provided by third parties. Any failure or interruption of our systems could cause delays or other problems, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Inflation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Although inflation has not materially impacted the results of operations of our affiliates in the recent past, increased inflation could have a more pronounced negative impact on any variable rate debt we incur in the future and on our results of operations. During times when inflation is greater than increases in rent, the contracted rent increases called for under our leases may be unable to keep pace with the rate of inflation. Likewise, while triple-net leases will generally reduce our exposure to rising property expenses resulting from inflation, substantial inflationary pressures and increased costs may have an adverse impact on our tenants, which may adversely affect the ability of our tenants to pay rent.

 

 12 
 

  

Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses. Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, new Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and stock exchange rules and state blue sky laws, regulations and filing requirements, are creating uncertainty for companies such as ours. These new or changed laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity. As a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations, and standards have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.

 

Risks Related to our Management and Relationships with our Manager

 

We are dependent on our Manager and its key personnel for our success. Currently, we are advised by our Manager and, pursuant to the Management Agreement, our Manager is not obligated to dedicate any specific personnel exclusively to us, nor is its personnel obligated to dedicate any specific portion of their time to the management of our business. As a result, we cannot provide any assurances regarding the amount of time our Manager will dedicate to the management of our business. Moreover, each of our officers and non-independent directors is also an employee of our Manager or one of its affiliates, and has significant responsibilities for other investment vehicles currently managed by affiliates, and may not always be able to devote sufficient time to the management of our business. Consequently, we may not receive the level of support and assistance that we otherwise might receive if we were internally managed.

 

In addition, we offer no assurance that our Manager will remain our manager or that we will continue to have access to our Manager’s principals and professionals. The initial term of our Management Agreement with our Manager only extends until December 31, 2016, with automatic one-year renewals thereafter, and may be terminated earlier under certain circumstances. If the Management Agreement is terminated or not renewed and no suitable replacement is found to manage us, we may not be able to execute our business plan, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

The inability of our Manager to retain or obtain key personnel could delay or hinder implementation of our investment strategies, which could impair our ability to make distributions and could reduce the value of your investment. Our Manager is obligated to supply us with substantially all of our senior management team, including our chief executive officer, president, chief accounting officer and chief operating officer. Subject to investment, leverage and other guidelines or policies adopted by our board of directors, our Manager has significant discretion regarding the implementation of our investment and operating policies and strategies. Accordingly, we believe that our success will depend significantly upon the experience, skill, resources, relationships and contacts of the senior officers and key personnel of our Manager and its affiliates. In particular, our success depends to a significant degree upon the contributions of Messrs. Thomas E. Messier and William R. Elliott, who are senior officers of our Manager. We do not have employment agreements with any of these key personnel and do not have key man life insurance on any of them. If either of Messrs. Messier or Elliott were to cease their affiliation with us or our Manager, our Manager may be unable to find suitable replacements, and our operating results could suffer. We believe that our future success depends, in large part, upon our Manager’s ability to hire and retain highly skilled managerial, operational and marketing personnel. Competition for highly skilled personnel is intense, and our Manager may be unsuccessful in attracting and retaining such skilled personnel. If we lose or are unable to obtain the services of highly skilled personnel, our ability to implement our investment strategies could be delayed or hindered, and the value of your investment may decline.

 

Our Manager’s limited operating history makes it difficult for you to evaluate this investment. Our Manager has less than one year of operating history and may not be able to successfully operate our business or achieve our investment objectives. We may not be able to conduct our business as described in our plan of operation.

 

Termination of our Management Agreement, even for poor performance, could be difficult and costly, including as a result of termination or incentive fees, and may cause us to be unable to execute our business plan. Termination of our Management Agreement without cause, even for poor performance, could be difficult and costly. We may generally terminate our Manager for “cause” (as defined in our Management Agreement); provided, that if we are terminating due to a “change of control” of our Manager (as defined in our Management Agreement), and a majority of our directors must determine such change of control is materially detrimental to us prior to any termination. If we terminate the Management Agreement without cause or in connection with an internalization, or if the Manager terminates the Management Agreement because of a material breach thereof by us or as a result of a change of control of our company, we must pay our Manager a termination fee payable in cash or, in connection with an internalization, acquire our Manager at an equivalent price, which may include a contribution of the Manager’s assets in exchange for units in our operating partnership, or Units, or other tax-efficient transaction. The termination fee, if any, will be equal to three times the sum of the management fee and incentive fee earned, in each case, by our Manager during the 12-month period prior to such termination, calculated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter. These provisions may substantially restrict our ability to terminate the Management Agreement without cause and would cause us to incur substantial costs in connection with such a termination. Furthermore, in the event that our Management Agreement is terminated, with or without cause, and we are unable to identify a suitable replacement to manage us, our ability to execute our business plan could be adversely affected.

 

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Because we are dependent upon our Manager and its affiliates to conduct our operations, any adverse changes in the financial health of our Manager or its affiliates or our relationship with them could hinder our operating performance and the return on your investment. We are dependent on our Manager and its affiliates to manage our operations and acquire and manage our portfolio of real estate assets. Under the direction of our board of directors, and subject to our investment guidelines, our Manager makes all decisions with respect to the management of our company. Our Manager depends upon the fees and other compensation that it receives from us in connection with managing our company to conduct its operations. Any adverse changes in the financial condition of our Manager or its affiliates, or our relationship with our Manager, could hinder its ability to successfully manage our operations and our portfolio of investments, which would adversely affect us and our stockholders.

 

Our board of directors has approved very broad investment guidelines for our Manager and will not approve each investment and financing decision made by our Manager unless required by our investment guidelines. Our Manager is authorized to follow very broad investment guidelines established by our board of directors. Our board of directors will periodically review our investment guidelines and our portfolio of assets but will not, and will not be required to, review all of our proposed investments, except in limited circumstances as set forth in our investment policies. In addition, in conducting periodic reviews, our board of directors may rely primarily on information provided to them by our Manager. Furthermore, transactions entered into by our Manager may be costly, difficult or impossible to unwind by the time they are reviewed by our board of directors. Our board of directors will be controlled by affiliates of our Manager. Our Manager has great latitude within the broad parameters of our investment guidelines in determining the types and amounts of assets in which to invest on our behalf, including making investments that may result in returns that are substantially below expectations or result in losses, which would materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations, or may otherwise not be in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

Our Manager and our senior management team have no experience managing a REIT. Our senior management team has no experience managing a REIT. We cannot assure you that the past experience of our Manager and our senior management team will be sufficient to successfully operate our company as a REIT, including the requirements to timely meet disclosure requirements of the SEC, state requirements, and requirements relative to maintaining our qualification as a REIT.

 

The Manager may fail to identify acceptable Investments . There can be no assurances that the Manager will be able to identify, make or acquire suitable Investments meeting our investment criteria. There is no guarantee that any Investment selected by the Manager will generate operating income or gains. While affiliates of the Manager have been successful in the past in identifying and structuring favorable real estate investments, there is no guarantee that the Manager will be able to identify and structure favorable Investments in the future.

 

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Risks Related to the Real Estate Industry and Investments in Real Estate

 

Our real estate investments are subject to risks particular to real property. Real estate investments are subject to risks particular to real property, including:

 

adverse changes in national and local economic and market conditions, including the credit and securitization markets;

 

  changes in governmental laws and regulations, fiscal policies and zoning ordinances and the related costs of compliance with laws and regulations, fiscal policies and ordinances;

 

  takings by condemnation or eminent domain;

 

  real estate conditions, such as an oversupply of or a reduction in demand for real estate space in the area;

 

  the perceptions of tenants and prospective tenants of the convenience, attractiveness and safety of our properties;

 

  competition from comparable properties;

 

  the occupancy rate of our properties;

 

  the ability to collect all rent from tenants on a timely basis;

 

  the effects of any bankruptcies or insolvencies of major tenants;

 

  the expense of re-leasing space;

 

  changes in interest rates and in the availability, cost and terms of mortgage funding;

 

  the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws;

 

  acts of war or terrorism, including the consequences of terrorist attacks;

 

  acts of God, including earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters, which may result in uninsured losses; and

 

  cost of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

 

If any of these or similar events occur, it may reduce our return from an affected property or investment and reduce or eliminate our ability to make distributions to stockholders.

 

Real estate investments are not as liquid as other types of assets, which may reduce economic returns to our stockholders. Real estate investments are not as liquid as other types of investments. In addition, the instruments that we purchase in connection with privately negotiated transactions are not registered under the relevant securities laws, resulting in a prohibition against their transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition except in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of, or is otherwise in accordance with, those laws. As a result, our ability to sell under-performing assets in our portfolio or respond to changes in economic and other conditions may be relatively limited.

 

Investments in real estate-related assets can be speculative . Investments in real estate-related assets can involve speculative risks and always involve substantial risks. No assurance can be given that the Manager will be able to execute the investment strategy or that stockholders in the company will realize their investment objectives. No assurance can be given that our stockholders will realize a substantial return (if any) on their investment or that they will not lose their entire investment in the company. For this reason, each prospective purchaser of shares of our common stock should carefully read this offering circular and all exhibits to this offering circular. All such persons or entities should consult with their attorney or business advisor prior to making an investment.

 

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Our Investments may be concentrated. We expect to diversify our Investments, and do not expect to concentrate on any single Investment. However, our investments may nonetheless result in significant concentration in a single Investment, especially in our initial stages of operation. If such an Investment experienced a material adverse event, the company and our stockholders would likely be significantly and adversely affected.

 

Liability relating to environmental matters may impact the value of the properties that we may acquire or underlying our investments. Under various U.S. federal, state and local laws, an owner or operator of real property may become liable for the costs of removal of certain hazardous substances released on its property. These laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances. If we fail to disclose environmental issues, we could also be liable to a buyer or lessee of a property.

 

There may be environmental problems associated with our properties which we were unaware of at the time of acquisition. The presence of hazardous substances may adversely affect our ability to sell real estate, including the affected property, or borrow using real estate as collateral. The presence of hazardous substances, if any, on our properties may cause us to incur substantial remediation costs, thus harming our financial condition. In addition, although our leases will generally require our tenants to operate in compliance with all applicable laws and to indemnify us against any environmental liabilities arising from a tenant’s activities on the property, we nonetheless would be subject to strict liability by virtue of our ownership interest for environmental liabilities created by such tenants, and we cannot ensure the stockholders that any tenants we might have would satisfy their indemnification obligations under the applicable sales agreement or lease. The discovery of material environmental liabilities attached to such properties could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Discovery of previously undetected environmentally hazardous conditions, including mold or asbestos, may lead to liability for adverse health effects and costs of remediating the problem could adversely affect our operating results. Under various U.S. federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property. The costs of removal or remediation could be substantial. Such laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. Environmental laws also may impose restrictions on the manner in which property may be used or businesses may be operated, and these restrictions may require substantial expenditures. Environmental laws provide for sanctions in the event of noncompliance and may be enforced by governmental agencies or, in certain circumstances, by private parties. Certain environmental laws and common law principles could be used to impose liability for release of and exposure to hazardous substances, including asbestos-containing materials into the air, and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury or property damage associated with exposure to released hazardous substances. The cost of defending against claims of liability, of compliance with environmental regulatory requirements, of remediating any contaminated property, or of paying personal injury claims related to any contaminated property could materially adversely affect our business, assets or results of operations and, consequently, amounts available for distribution to our security holders.

 

We may invest in real-estate related Investments, including joint ventures and co-investment arrangements. We expect to primarily invest in properties as sole owner. However, we may, in the Manager's sole discretion subject to our investment guidelines, invest as a joint venture partner or co-investor in an Investment. In such event, we generally anticipate owning a controlling interest in the joint venture or co-investment vehicle. However, our joint venture partner or co-investor may have a consent or similar right with respect to certain major decisions with respect to an Investment, including a refinancing, sale or other disposition. Additionally, we may rely on our joint venture partner or co-investor to act as the property manager or developer, and, thus, our returns will be subject to the performance of our joint venture partner or co-investor. While the Manager does not intend for these types of Investments to be a primary focus of the company, the Manager may make such Investments in its sole discretion.

 

We expect to lease a significant portion of our real estate to middle-market businesses, which may be more susceptible to adverse market conditions. We expect that a substantial number of our properties will be leased to middle-market businesses that generally have less financial and other resources than larger businesses. Middle-market companies are more likely to be adversely affected by a downturn in their respective businesses or in the regional, national or international economy. As such, negative market conditions affecting existing or potential middle-market tenants, or the industries in which they operate, could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Adverse economic conditions may negatively affect our results of operations and, as a result, our ability to make distributions to our stockholders or to realize appreciation in the value of our Investments. Our operating results may be adversely affected by market and economic challenges, which may negatively affect our returns and profitability and, as a result, our ability to make distributions to our stockholders or to realize appreciation in the value of our Investments. These market and economic challenges include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

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any future downturn in the U.S. economy and the related reduction in spending, reduced home prices and high unemployment could result in tenant defaults under leases, vacancies at our office, industrial, retail or multifamily properties, and concessions or reduced rental rates under new leases due to reduced demand;

 

  the rate of household formation or population growth in our target markets or a continued or exacerbated economic slow-down experienced by the local economies where our properties are located or by the real estate industry generally may result in changes in supply of or demand for apartment units in our target markets; and

 

  the failure of the real estate market to attract the same level of capital investment in the future that it attracts at the time of our purchases or a reduction in the number of companies seeking to acquire properties may result in the value of our investments not appreciating or decreasing significantly below the amount we pay for these investments.

 

The length and severity of any economic slow-down or downturn cannot be predicted. Our operations and, as a result, our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and/or our ability to realize appreciation in the value of our properties could be materially and adversely affected to the extent that an economic slow-down or downturn is prolonged or becomes severe.

 

We may be adversely affected by unfavorable economic changes in the specific geographic areas where our Investments are concentrated. Adverse conditions (including business layoffs or downsizing, industry slowdowns, changing demographics and other factors) in the areas where our Investments are located and/or concentrated, and local real estate conditions (such as oversupply of, or reduced demand for, office, industrial, retail or multifamily properties) may have an adverse effect on the value of our Investments. A material decline in the demand or the ability of tenants to pay rent for office, industrial or retail space in these geographic areas may result in a material decline in our cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

We may not be able to re-lease or renew leases at the Investments held by us on terms favorable to us or at all. We are subject to risks that upon expiration or earlier termination of the leases for space located at our Investments the space may not be re-leased or, if re-leased, the terms of the renewal or re-leasing (including the costs of required renovations or concessions to tenants) may be less favorable than current lease terms. Any of these situations may result in extended periods where there is a significant decline in revenues or no revenues generated by an Investment. If we are unable to re-lease or renew leases for all or substantially all of the spaces at these Investments, if the rental rates upon such renewal or re-leasing are significantly lower than expected, if our reserves for these purposes prove inadequate, or if we are required to make significant renovations or concessions to tenants as part of the renewal or re-leasing process, we will experience a reduction in net income and may be required to reduce or eliminate distributions to our stockholders.

 

The bankruptcy, insolvency or diminished creditworthiness of our tenants under their leases or delays by our tenants in making rental payments could seriously harm our operating results and financial condition. We lease our properties to tenants, and we receive rents from our tenants during the terms of their respective leases. A tenant’s ability to pay rent is often initially determined by the creditworthiness of the tenant. However, if a tenant’s credit deteriorates, the tenant may default on its obligations under its lease and the tenant may also become bankrupt. The bankruptcy or insolvency of our tenants or other failure to pay is likely to adversely affect the income produced by our real estate investments. Any bankruptcy filings by or relating to one of our tenants could bar us from collecting pre-bankruptcy debts from that tenant or its property, unless we receive an order permitting us to do so from the bankruptcy court. A tenant bankruptcy could delay our efforts to collect past due balances under the relevant leases, and could ultimately preclude full collection of these sums. If a tenant files for bankruptcy, we may not be able to evict the tenant solely because of such bankruptcy or failure to pay. A court, however, may authorize a tenant to reject and terminate its lease with us. In such a case, our claim against the tenant for unpaid, future rent would be subject to a statutory cap that might be substantially less than the remaining rent owed under the lease. In addition, certain amounts paid to us within 90 days prior to the tenant’s bankruptcy filing could be required to be returned to the tenant’s bankruptcy estate. In any event, it is highly unlikely that a bankrupt or insolvent tenant would pay in full amounts it owes us under its lease. In other circumstances, where a tenant’s financial condition has become impaired, we may agree to partially or wholly terminate the lease in advance of the termination date in consideration for a lease termination fee that is likely less than the agreed rental amount. If a lease is rejected by a tenant in bankruptcy, we would have only a general unsecured claim for damages. Any unsecured claim we hold against a bankrupt entity may be paid only to the extent that funds are available and only in the same percentage as is paid to all other holders of unsecured claims. We may recover substantially less than the full value of any unsecured claims, which would harm our financial condition.

 

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Lease defaults or terminations or landlord-tenant disputes may adversely reduce our income from our leased property portfolio. Lease defaults or terminations by one or more of our significant tenants may reduce our revenues unless a default is cured or a suitable replacement tenant is found promptly. In addition, disputes may arise between the landlord and tenant that result in the tenant withholding rent payments, possibly for an extended period. These disputes may lead to litigation or other legal procedures to secure payment of the rent withheld or to evict the tenant. In other circumstances, a tenant may have a contractual right to abate or suspend rent payments. Even without such right, a tenant might determine to do so. Any of these situations may result in extended periods during which there is a significant decline in revenues or no revenues generated by the property. If this were to occur, it could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Net leases may require us to pay property-related expenses that are not the obligations of our tenants. Under the terms of net leases, in addition to satisfying their rent obligations, tenants are responsible for the payment of real estate taxes, insurance and ordinary maintenance and repairs. However, pursuant to leases we may assume or enter into in the future, we may be required to pay certain expenses, such as the costs of environmental liabilities, roof and structural repairs, insurance, certain non-structural repairs and maintenance and other costs and expenses for which insurance proceeds or other means of recovery are not available. If one or more of our properties incur significant expenses under the terms of the leases, such property, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected and the amount of cash available to meet expenses and to make distributions to our stockholders may be reduced.

 

Net leases may not result in fair market lease rates over time, which could negatively impact our income and reduce the amount of funds available to make distributions to our stockholders. A significant portion of our rental income is expected to come from net leases, which generally provide the tenant greater discretion in using the leased property than ordinary property leases, such as the right to freely sublease the property, to make alterations in the leased premises and to terminate the lease prior to its expiration under specified circumstances. Furthermore, net leases typically have longer lease terms and, thus, there is an increased risk that contractual rental increases in future years will fail to result in fair market rental rates during those years. As a result, our income and distributions to our stockholders could be lower than they would otherwise be if we did not engage in net leases.

 

We could be adversely affected by various facts and events related to our Investments over which we have limited or no control. We could be adversely affected by various facts and events over which we have limited or no control, such as (i) oversupply of space and changes in market rental rates; (ii) economic or physical decline of the areas where the Investments are located; and (iii) deterioration of the physical condition of our Investments. Negative market conditions or adverse events affecting our existing or potential tenants, or the industries in which they operate, could have an adverse impact on our ability to attract new tenants, re-lease space, collect rent or renew leases, any of which could adversely affect our financial condition.

 

We may be required to reimburse tenants for overpayments of estimated operating expenses. Under certain of our leases, tenants pay us as additional rent their proportionate share of the costs we incur to manage, operate and maintain the buildings and properties where they rent space. These leases often limit the types and amounts of expenses we can pass through to our tenants and allow the tenants to audit and contest our determination of the operating expenses they are required to pay. Given the complexity of certain additional rent calculations, tenant audit rights under large portfolio leases can remain unresolved for several years. If as a result of a tenant audit it is determined that we have collected more additional rent than we are permitted to collect under a lease, we must refund the excess amount back to the tenant and, sometimes, also reimburse the tenant for its audit costs. Such unexpected reimbursement payments could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

An uninsured loss or a loss that exceeds the policies on our Investments could subject us to lost capital or revenue on those properties. Under the terms and conditions of the leases expected to be in force on our Investments, tenants are generally expected to be required to indemnify and hold us harmless from liabilities resulting from injury to persons, air, water, land or property, on or off the premises, due to activities conducted on the Investments, except for claims arising from the negligence or intentional misconduct of us or our agents. Additionally, tenants are generally expected to be required, at the tenants’ expense, to obtain and keep in full force during the term of the lease, liability and property damage insurance policies. Insurance policies for property damage are generally expected to be in amounts not less than the full replacement cost of the improvements less slab, foundations, supports and other customarily excluded improvements and insure against all perils of fire, extended coverage, vandalism, malicious mischief and special extended perils (“all risk,” as that term is used in the insurance industry). Insurance policies are generally expected to be obtained by the tenant providing general liability coverage in varying amounts depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the tenant and the industry in which it operates. These policies may include liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising out of the ownership, use, occupancy or maintenance of the properties and all of their appurtenant areas. To the extent that losses are uninsured or underinsured, we could be subject to lost capital and revenue on those Investments.

 

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Acquired Investments may not meet projected occupancy . If the tenants in an Investment do not renew or extend their leases or if tenants terminate their leases, the operating results of the Investment could be substantially and adversely affected by the loss of revenue and possible increase in operating expenses not reimbursed by the tenants. There can be no assurance that the Investments will be substantially occupied at projected rents. We will anticipate a minimum occupancy rate for each Investment, but there can be no assurance that the Investments will maintain the minimum occupancy rate or meet our anticipated lease-up schedule. In addition, lease-up of the unoccupied space may be achievable only at rental rates less than those we anticipate.

 

Distributions may represent a return of capital . A portion of the distributed cash may constitute a return of each stockholder’s capital investment in the company. Any such distributions would constitute a return of capital. Accordingly, such distributed cash will not constitute profit or earnings but merely a return of capital.

 

We could be exposed to environmental liabilities with respect to Investments to which we take title. In the course of our business, and taking title to properties, we could be subject to environmental liabilities with respect to such properties. In such a circumstance, we may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property damage, personal injury, investigation and clean-up costs incurred by these parties in connection with environmental contamination, or we may be required to investigate or clean up hazardous or toxic substances or chemical releases at a property. The costs associated with investigation or remediation activities could be substantial. If we become subject to significant environmental liabilities, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Properties may contain toxic and hazardous materials . Federal, state and local laws impose liability on a landowner for releases or the otherwise improper presence on the premises of hazardous substances. This liability is without regard to fault for, or knowledge of, the presence of such substances. A landowner may be held liable for hazardous materials brought onto the property before it acquired title and for hazardous materials that are not discovered until after it sells the property. Similar liability may occur under applicable state law. If any hazardous materials are found within an Investment that are in violation of law at any time, we may be liable for all cleanup costs, fines, penalties and other costs. This potential liability will continue after we sell the Investment and may apply to hazardous materials present within the Investment before we acquired such Investment. If losses arise from hazardous substance contamination which cannot be recovered from a responsible party, the financial viability of that property may be substantially affected. It is possible that we will acquire an Investment with known or unknown environmental problems which may adversely affect us.

 

Properties may contain mold .. Mold contamination has been linked to a number of health problems, resulting in recent litigation by tenants seeking various remedies, including damages and ability to terminate their leases. Originally occurring in residential property, mold claims have recently begun to appear in commercial properties as well. Several insurance companies have reported a substantial increase in mold-related claims, causing a growing concern that real estate owners might be subject to increasing lawsuits regarding mold contamination. No assurance can be given that a mold condition will not exist at one or more of our Investments, with the risk of substantial damages, legal fees and possibly loss of tenants. It is unclear whether such mold claims would be covered by the customary insurance policies to be obtained for us.

 

Significant restrictions on transfer and encumbrance of Investments are expected . The terms of any debt financing for an Investment are expected to prohibit the transfer or further encumbrance of that Investment or any interest in that Investment except with the lender’s prior consent, which consent each lender is expected to be able to withhold. The relative illiquidity of the Investments may prevent or substantially impair our ability to dispose of an Investment at times when it may be otherwise advantageous for us to do so. If we were forced to immediately liquidate some or all of our Investments, the proceeds are likely to result in a significant loss, if such a liquidation is possible at all.

 

We will likely receive limited representations and warranties from sellers . Investments will likely be acquired with limited representations and warranties from the seller regarding the condition of the Investment, the status of leases, the presence of hazardous substances, the status of governmental approvals and entitlements and other significant matters affecting the use, ownership and enjoyment of the Investment. As a result, if defects in an Investment or other matters adversely affecting an Investment are discovered, we may not be able to pursue a claim for damages against the seller of the Investment. The extent of damages that we may incur as a result of such matters cannot be predicted, but potentially could result in a significant adverse affect on the value of the Investments.

 

We may experience delays in the sale of an Investment . If a trading market does not develop for our shares and we are not able to list on a registered national securities exchange, we anticipate pursuing a merger, portfolio sale or liquidate our Investments within seven years of the termination of this offering. However, it may not be possible to sell any or all of our Investments at a favorable price, or at all, in such a time frame. If we are unable to sell our Investments in the time frames or for the prices anticipated, our ability to make distributions to you may be materially delayed or reduced, you may not be able to get a return of capital as expected or you may not have any liquidity.

 

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We may be subject to the risk of liability and casualty loss as the owner of an Investment . It is expected that the Manager will maintain or cause to be maintained insurance against certain liabilities and other losses for an Investment, but the insurance obtained will not cover all amounts or types of loss. There is no assurance that any liability that may occur will be insured or that, if insured, the insurance proceeds will be sufficient to cover the loss. There are certain categories of loss that may be or may become uninsurable or not economically insurable, such as earthquakes, floods and hazardous waste.

 

Further, if losses arise from hazardous substance contamination that cannot be recovered from a responsible party, the financial viability of the affected Investment may be substantially impaired. It is expected that lenders will require a Phase I environmental site assessment to determine the existence of hazardous materials and other environmental problems prior to making a Loan secured by an Investment. However, a Phase I environmental site assessment generally does not involve invasive testing, but instead is limited to a physical walk through or inspection of an Investment and a review of governmental records. It is possible that we will acquire an Investment with known or unknown environmental problems that may adversely affect our Investments.

 

Risks Related to Our Taxation as a REIT

 

Our failure to qualify as a REIT would result in higher taxes and reduced cash available for stockholders. We intend to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our initial and continued qualification as a REIT depends on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution and stockholder ownership requirements on a continuing basis. Our ability to satisfy some of the asset tests depends upon the fair market values of our assets, some of which are not able to be precisely determined and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals. If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and certain statutory relief provisions were not available, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, and distributions to stockholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution. Unless entitled to relief under certain Internal Revenue Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to qualify as a REIT. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, we will no longer be required to make distributions. As a result of all these factors, our failure to qualify as a REIT could impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital, and it would adversely affect the value of our common stock. Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may be subject to the corporate alternative minimum tax on our items of tax preference if our alternative minimum taxable income exceeds our taxable income.

 

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our liquidity. In order to maintain our REIT status and to meet the REIT distribution requirements, we may need to borrow funds on a short-term basis or sell assets, even if the then-prevailing market conditions are not favorable for these borrowings or sales. To qualify as a REIT, we generally must distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our net taxable income each year, excluding capital gains. In addition, we will be subject to corporate income tax to the extent we distribute less than 100% of our net taxable income including any net capital gain. We intend to make distributions to our stockholders to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code for REITs and to minimize or eliminate our corporate income tax obligation to the extent consistent with our business objectives. Our cash flows from operations may be insufficient to fund required distributions as a result of differences in timing between the actual receipt of income and the recognition of income for federal income tax purposes, or the effect of non-deductible capital expenditures, the creation of reserves or required debt service or amortization payments. The insufficiency of our cash flows to cover our distribution requirements could have an adverse impact on our ability to raise short- and long-term debt or sell equity securities in order to fund distributions required to maintain our REIT status. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which distributions paid by us in any calendar year are less than the sum of 85% of our ordinary income, 95% of our capital gain net income and 100% of our undistributed income from prior years.

 

Further, amounts distributed will not be available to fund investment activities. We expect to fund our investments by raising equity capital and through borrowings from financial institutions and the debt capital markets. If we fail to obtain debt or equity capital in the future, it could limit our ability to grow, which could have a material adverse effect on the value of our common stock.

 

The stock ownership limit imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for REITs and our charter may inhibit market activity in our stock and may restrict our business combination opportunities. In order for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of each taxable year. Additionally, at least 100 persons must beneficially own our capital stock during at least 335 days of a taxable year for each taxable year. Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT. Unless exempted by the board of directors, no person may own more than 9.8% of the aggregate value of the outstanding shares of our stock or more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The board of directors may not grant such an exemption to any proposed transferee whose ownership in excess of 9.8% of the value of our outstanding shares or more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock, would result in the termination of our status as a REIT. These ownership limits could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in our control that might be in the best interest of our stockholders.

 

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Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for some dividends. The maximum tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” payable to U.S. stockholders that are taxed at individual rates is 20%. Dividends payable by REITs, however, generally are not eligible for the reduced rates on qualified dividend income. The more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate qualified dividends could cause investors who are taxed at individual rates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the shares of REITs, including our common stock.

 

The prohibited transactions tax may subject us to tax on our gain from sales of property and limit our ability to dispose of our properties. A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Although we intend to acquire and hold all of our assets as investments and not for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, the IRS may assert that we are subject to the prohibited transaction tax equal to 100% of net gain upon a disposition of real property. Although a safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of real property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction is available, not all of our prior property dispositions qualified for the safe harbor and we cannot assure you that we can comply with the safe harbor in the future or that we have avoided, or will avoid, owning property that may be characterized as held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Consequently, we may choose not to engage in certain sales of our properties or may conduct such sales through a TRS, which would be subject to federal and state income taxation. Additionally, in the event that we engage in sales of our properties, any gains from the sales of properties classified as prohibited transactions would be taxed at the 100% prohibited transaction tax rate.

 

We may be unable to generate sufficient revenue from operations, operating cash flow or portfolio income to pay our operating expenses, and our operating expenses could rise, diminishing our ability and to pay distributions to our stockholders. As a REIT, we are generally required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and not including net capital gains, each year to our stockholders. To qualify for the tax benefits accorded to REITs, we have and intend to continue to make distributions to our stockholders in amounts such that we distribute all or substantially all our net taxable income each year, subject to certain adjustments. However, our ability to make distributions may be adversely affected by the risk factors described herein. Our ability to make and sustain cash distributions is based on many factors, including the return on our investments, the size of our investment portfolio, operating expense levels, and certain restrictions imposed by Maryland law. Some of the factors are beyond our control and a change in any such factor could affect our ability to pay future dividends. No assurance can be given as to our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders. In the event of a downturn in our operating results and financial performance or unanticipated declines in the value of our asset portfolio, we may be unable to declare or pay quarterly distributions or make distributions to our stockholders. The timing and amount of distributions are in the sole discretion of our board of directors, which considers, among other factors, our earnings, financial condition, debt service obligations and applicable debt covenants, REIT qualification requirements and other tax considerations and capital expenditure requirements as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time.

 

Although our use of TRSs may partially mitigate the impact of meeting the requirements necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT, our ownership of and relationship with our TRSs will be limited, and a failure to comply with the limits would jeopardize our REIT qualification and may result in the application of a 100% excise tax. A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. A TRS generally may hold assets and earn income that would not be qualifying assets or income if held or earned directly by a REIT. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. A corporation of which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock will automatically be treated as a TRS. Overall, no more than 25% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more TRSs. In addition, the TRS rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The rules also impose a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis.

 

Any TRSs that we own will pay U.S. federal, state and local income tax on their taxable income, and their after-tax net income will be available for distribution to us but will not be required to be distributed to us. We will monitor the value of our investments in TRSs for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the rule that no more than 25% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of TRS securities (which is applied at the end of each calendar quarter). In addition, we will scrutinize all of our transactions with any TRSs for the purpose of ensuring that they are entered into on arm’s-length terms in order to avoid incurring the 100% excise tax described above. The value of the securities that we hold in TRSs may not be subject to precise valuation. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with the 25% REIT subsidiaries limitation or to avoid application of the 100% excise tax.

 

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We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could reduce the market price of our common stock. At any time, the U.S. federal income tax laws governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws may be amended. We cannot predict when or if any new U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, or any amendment to any existing U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted, promulgated or become effective and any such law, regulation, or interpretation may take effect retroactively. We and our stockholders could be adversely affected by any such change in the U.S. federal income tax laws, regulations or administrative interpretations.

 

If our operating partnership failed to qualify as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, we would cease to qualify as a REIT and suffer other adverse consequences. We believe that our operating partnership will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, our operating partnership will not be subject to federal income tax on its income. Instead, each of its partners, including us, will be allocated, and may be required to pay tax with respect to, its share of our operating partnership’s income. We cannot assure you, however, that the IRS will not challenge the status of our operating partnership or any other subsidiary partnership in which we own an interest as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. If the IRS were successful in treating our operating partnership or any such other subsidiary partnership as an entity taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would fail to meet the gross income tests and certain of the asset tests applicable to REITs and, accordingly, we would likely cease to qualify as a REIT. Also, the failure of our operating partnership or any subsidiary partnerships to qualify as a partnership could cause it to become subject to federal and state corporate income tax, which would reduce significantly the amount of cash available for debt service and for distribution to its partners, including us.

 

Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest

 

The Management Agreement with our Manager was not negotiated on an arm’s-length basis and may not be as favorable to us as if it had been negotiated with an unaffiliated third party. Our executive officers, including a majority of our directors, are executives of our Manager. Our Management Agreement was negotiated between related parties and its terms, including fees payable to our Manager, may not be as favorable to us as if it had been negotiated with an unaffiliated third party. In addition, we may choose not to enforce, or to enforce less vigorously, our rights under the Management Agreement because of our desire to maintain our ongoing relationship with Medalist and its affiliates.

 

We may have conflicts of interest with our Manager and other affiliates, which could result in investment decisions that are not in the best interests of our stockholders. There are numerous conflicts of interest between our interests and the interests of our Manager, the Medalist companies and their respective affiliates, including conflicts arising out of allocation of personnel to our activities, allocation of investment opportunities between us and investment vehicles affiliated with our Manager, purchase or sale of properties, including from or to Medalist or its affiliates and fee arrangements with our Manager that might induce our Manager to make investment decisions that are not in our best interests. Examples of these potential conflicts of interest include:

 

  Competition for the time and services of personnel that work for us and our affiliates;

 

  Compensation payable by us to our Manager and its affiliates for their various services, which may not be on market terms and is payable, in some cases, whether or not our stockholders receive distributions;

 

  The possibility that our Manager, its officers and their respective affiliates will face conflicts of interest relating to the purchase and leasing of properties, and that such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor, thus potentially limiting our investment opportunities, impairing our ability to make distributions and adversely affecting the trading price of our stock;

 

  The possibility that if we acquire properties from Medalist or its affiliates, the price may be higher than we would pay if the transaction were the result of arm’s-length negotiations with a third party;

 

  The possibility that our Manager will face conflicts of interest caused by its indirect ownership by Medalist, some of whose officers are also our officers and two of whom are directors of ours, resulting in actions that may not be in the long-term best interests of our stockholders;

 

  Our Manager has considerable discretion with respect to the terms and timing of our acquisition, disposition and leasing transactions;

 

  The possibility that we may acquire or merge with our Manager, resulting in an internalization of our management functions; and

 

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  The possibility that the competing demands for the time of our Manager, its affiliates and our officers may result in them spending insufficient time on our business, which may result in our missing investment opportunities or having less efficient operations, which could reduce our profitability and result in lower distributions to you.

 

Any of these and other conflicts of interest between us and our Manager could have a material adverse effect on the returns on our investments, our ability to make distributions to stockholders and the trading price of our stock.

 

Our executive officers have interests that may conflict with the interests of stockholders. Our executive officers are also affiliated with or are executive and/or senior officers of our Manager, Medalist and their affiliates. These individuals may have personal and professional interests that conflict with the interests of our stockholders with respect to business decisions affecting us and our operating partnership. As a result, the effect of these conflicts of interest on these individuals may influence their decisions affecting the negotiation and consummation of the transactions whereby we acquire apartment properties in the future from Medalist or its affiliates, or in the allocation of investment opportunities to us by Medalist or its affiliates.

 

Risks Associated with Debt Financing

 

We have used and may continue to use mortgage and other debt financing to acquire properties or interests in properties and otherwise incur other indebtedness, which increases our expenses and could subject us to the risk of losing properties in foreclosure if our cash flow is insufficient to make loan payments. We are permitted to acquire real properties and other real estate-related investments, including entity acquisitions, by assuming either existing financing secured by the asset or by borrowing new funds. In addition, we may incur or increase our mortgage debt by obtaining loans secured by some or all of our assets to obtain funds to acquire additional investments or to pay distributions to our stockholders. We also may borrow funds if necessary to satisfy the requirement that we distribute at least 90% of our annual “REIT taxable income,” or otherwise as is necessary or advisable to assure that we maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.

 

There is no limit on the amount we may invest in any single property or other asset or on the amount we can borrow to purchase any individual property or other investment. If we mortgage a property and have insufficient cash flow to service the debt, we risk an event of default which may result in our lenders foreclosing on the properties securing the mortgage.

 

If we cannot repay or refinance loans incurred to purchase our properties, or interests therein, then we may lose our interests in the properties secured by the loans we are unable to repay or refinance.

 

High levels of debt or increases in interest rates could increase the amount of our loan payments, which could reduce the cash available for distribution to stockholders. Our policies do not limit us from incurring debt. For purposes of calculating our leverage, we assume full consolidation of all of our real estate investments, whether or not they would be consolidated under GAAP, include assets we have classified as held for sale, and include any joint venture level indebtedness in our total indebtedness.

 

High debt levels will cause us to incur higher interest charges, resulting in higher debt service payments, and may be accompanied by restrictive covenants. Interest we pay reduces cash available for distribution to stockholders. Additionally, with respect to our variable rate debt, increases in interest rates increase our interest costs, which reduces our cash flow and our ability to make distributions to you. In addition, if we need to repay existing debt during periods of rising interest rates, we could be required to liquidate one or more of our investments in properties at times which may not permit realization of the maximum return on such investments and could result in a loss. In addition, if we are unable to service our debt payments, our lenders may foreclose on our interests in the real property that secures the loans we have entered into.

 

High mortgage rates may make it difficult for us to finance or refinance properties, which could reduce the number of properties we can acquire, our cash flow from operations and the amount of cash distributions we can make. To qualify as a REIT, we will be required to distribute at least 90% of our annual taxable income (excluding net capital gains) to our stockholders in each taxable year, and thus our ability to retain internally generated cash is limited. Accordingly, our ability to acquire properties or to make capital improvements to or remodel properties will depend on our ability to obtain debt or equity financing from third parties or the sellers of properties. If mortgage debt is unavailable at reasonable rates, we may not be able to finance the purchase of properties. If we place mortgage debt on properties, we run the risk of being unable to refinance the properties when the debt becomes due or of being unable to refinance on favorable terms. If interest rates are higher when we refinance the properties, our income could be reduced. We may be unable to refinance properties. If any of these events occurs, our cash flow would be reduced. This, in turn, would reduce cash available for distribution to you and may hinder our ability to raise capital by issuing more stock or borrowing more money.

 

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Lenders may require us to enter into restrictive covenants relating to our operations, which could limit our ability to make distributions to you. When providing financing, a lender may impose restrictions on us that affect our distribution and operating policies and our ability to incur additional debt. Loan documents we enter into may contain covenants that limit our ability to further mortgage the property, discontinue insurance coverage, or replace our Manager. These or other limitations may limit our flexibility and prevent us from achieving our operating plans.

 

Our ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms would be impacted by negative capital market conditions. Recently, domestic and international financial markets have experienced unusual volatility and uncertainty. Although this condition occurred initially within the “subprime” single-family mortgage lending sector of the credit market, liquidity has tightened in overall financial markets, including the investment grade debt and equity capital markets. Consequently, there is greater uncertainty regarding our ability to access the credit market in order to attract financing on reasonable terms. Investment returns on our assets and our ability to make acquisitions could be adversely affected by our inability to secure financing on reasonable terms, if at all.

 

Some of our mortgage loans may have “due on sale” provisions, which may impact the manner in which we acquire, sell and/or finance our properties. In purchasing properties subject to financing, we may obtain financing with “due-on-sale” and/or “due-on-encumbrance” clauses. Due-on-sale clauses in mortgages allow a mortgage lender to demand full repayment of the mortgage loan if the borrower sells the mortgaged property. Similarly, due-on-encumbrance clauses allow a mortgage lender to demand full repayment if the borrower uses the real estate securing the mortgage loan as security for another loan. In such event, we may be required to sell our properties on an all-cash basis, which may make it more difficult to sell the property or reduce the selling price.

 

Lenders may be able to recover against our other Investments under our mortgage loans. In financing our acquisitions, we will seek to obtain secured nonrecourse loans. However, only recourse financing may be available, in which event, in addition to the Investment securing the loan, the lender would have the ability to look to our other assets for satisfaction of the debt if the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the Investment securing the loan are insufficient to fully repay it. Also, in order to facilitate the sale of an Investment, we may allow the buyer to purchase the Investment subject to an existing loan whereby we remain responsible for the debt.

 

If we are required to make payments under any “bad boy” carve-out guaranties that we may provide in connection with certain mortgages and related loans, our business and financial results could be materially adversely affected. In obtaining certain nonrecourse loans, we may provide standard carve-out guaranties. These guaranties are only applicable if and when the borrower directly, or indirectly through agreement with an affiliate, joint venture partner or other third party, voluntarily files a bankruptcy or similar liquidation or reorganization action or takes other actions that are fraudulent or improper (commonly referred to as “bad boy” guaranties). Although we believe that “bad boy” carve-out guaranties are not guaranties of payment in the event of foreclosure or other actions of the foreclosing lender that are beyond the borrower’s control, some lenders in the real estate industry have recently sought to make claims for payment under such guaranties. In the event such a claim were made against us under a “bad boy” carve-out guaranty following foreclosure on mortgages or related loan, and such claim were successful, our business and financial results could be materially adversely affected.

 

Interest-only indebtedness may increase our risk of default and ultimately may reduce our funds available for distribution to our stockholders. We may finance our property acquisitions using interest-only mortgage indebtedness. During the interest-only period, the amount of each scheduled payment will be less than that of a traditional amortizing mortgage loan. The principal balance of the mortgage loan will not be reduced (except in the case of prepayments) because there are no scheduled monthly payments of principal during this period. After the interest-only period, we will be required either to make scheduled payments of amortized principal and interest or to make a lump-sum or “balloon” payment at maturity. These required principal or balloon payments will increase the amount of our scheduled payments and may increase our risk of default under the related mortgage loan. If the mortgage loan has an adjustable interest rate, the amount of our scheduled payments also may increase at a time of rising interest rates. Increased payments and substantial principal or balloon maturity payments will reduce the funds available for distribution to our stockholders because cash otherwise available for distribution will be required to pay principal and interest associated with these mortgage loans.

 

We may enter into derivative or hedging contracts that could expose us to contingent liabilities and certain risks and costs in the future. Part of our investment strategy may involve entering into derivative or hedging contracts that could require us to fund cash payments in the future under certain circumstances, such as the early termination of the derivative agreement caused by an event of default or other early termination event, or the decision by a counterparty to request margin securities it is contractually owed under the terms of the derivative contract. The amount due would be equal to the unrealized loss of the open swap positions with the respective counterparty and could also include other fees and charges. These economic losses would be reflected in our financial results of operations, and our ability to fund these obligations will depend on the liquidity of our assets and access to capital at the time, and the need to fund these obligations could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Further, the cost of using derivative or hedging instruments increases as the period covered by the instrument increases and during periods of rising and volatile interest rates. We may increase our derivative or hedging activity and thus increase our related costs during periods when interest rates are volatile or rising and hedging costs have increased.

 

In addition, hedging instruments involve risk since they often are not traded on regulated exchanges, guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house, or regulated by any U.S. or foreign governmental authorities. Consequently, in many cases, there are no requirements with respect to record keeping, financial responsibility or segregation of customer funds and positions. Furthermore, the enforceability of agreements underlying derivative transactions may depend on compliance with applicable statutory and commodity and other regulatory requirements and, depending on the identity of the counterparty, applicable international requirements. The business failure of a hedging counterparty with whom we enter into a hedging transaction will most likely result in a default. Default by a party with whom we enter into a hedging transaction may result in the loss of unrealized profits and force us to cover our resale commitments, if any, at the then current market price. Although generally we will seek to reserve the right to terminate our hedging positions, it may not always be possible to dispose of or close out a hedging position without the consent of the hedging counterparty, and we may not be able to enter into an offsetting contract in order to cover our risk. We cannot be assured that a liquid secondary market will exist for hedging instruments purchased or sold, and we may be required to maintain a position until exercise or expiration, which could result in losses.

 

Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge risk effectively. The REIT provisions of the Code may limit our ability to hedge the risks inherent to our operations. From time to time, we may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging transactions may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Any income or gain derived by us from transactions that hedge certain risks, such as the risk of changes in interest rates, will not be treated as gross income for purposes of either the 75% or the 95% income test, as defined below in “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations — Gross Income Tests,” unless specific requirements are met. Such requirements include that the hedging transaction be properly identified within prescribed time periods and that the transaction either (1) hedges risks associated with indebtedness issued by us that is incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets or (2) manages the risks of currency fluctuations with respect to income or gain that qualifies under the 75% or 95% income test (or assets that generate such income). To the extent that we do not properly identify such transactions as hedges, hedge with other types of financial instruments, or hedge other types of indebtedness, the income from those transactions is not likely to be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% income tests. As a result of these rules, we may have to limit the use of hedging techniques that might otherwise be advantageous, which could result in greater risks associated with interest rate or other changes than we would otherwise incur.

 

Interest rates might increase. Based on historical interest rates, current interest rates are low and, as a result, it is likely that the interest rates available for future real estate loans and refinances will be higher than the current interest rates for such loans, which may have a material and adverse impact on the company and our Investments. If there is an increase in interest rates, any debt servicing on Investments could be significantly higher than currently anticipated, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to the stockholders. Also, rising interest rates may affect the ability of the Manager to refinance an Investment. Investments may be less desirable to prospective purchasers in a rising interest rate environment and their values may be adversely impacted by the reduction in cash flow due to increased interest payments.

 

We may use floating rate, interest-only or short-term loans to acquire Investments . The Manager has the right, in its sole discretion, to negotiate any debt financing, including obtaining (i) interest-only, (ii) floating rate and/or (iii) short-term loans to acquire Investments. If the Manager obtains floating rate loans, the interest rate would not be fixed but would float with an established index (probably at higher interest rates in the future). No principal would be repaid on interest-only loans. Finally, we would be required to refinance short term loans at the end of a relatively short period. The credit markets have recently been in flux and are experiencing a malaise. No assurance can be given that the Manager would be able to refinance with fixed-rate permanent loans in the future, on favorable terms or at all, to refinance the short-term loans. In addition, no assurance can be given that the terms of such future loans to refinance the short-term loans would be favorable to the company.

 

We may use leverage to make Investments . The Manager, in its sole discretion, may leverage the Investments. As a result of the use of leverage, a decrease in revenues of a leveraged Investment may materially and adversely affect that Investment’s cash flow and, in turn, our ability to make distributions. No assurance can be given that future cash flow of a particular Investment will be sufficient to make the debt service payments on any borrowed funds for that Investment and also cover operating expenses. If the Investment’s revenues are insufficient to pay debt service and operating expenses, we would be required to use net income from other Investments, working capital or reserves, or seek additional funds. There can be no assurance that additional funds will be available, if needed, or, if such funds are available, that they will be available on terms acceptable to us.

 

Leveraging an Investment allows a lender to foreclose on that Investment . Lenders to an Investment, even non-recourse lenders, are expected in all instances to retain the right to foreclose on that Investment if there is a default in the loan terms. If this were to occur, we would likely lose our entire investment in that Investment.

 

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Lenders may have approval rights with respect to an encumbered Investment . A lender to an Investment will likely have numerous other rights, which may include the right to approve any change in the property manager for a particular Investment.

 

Availability of financing and market conditions will affect the success of the company . Market fluctuations in real estate financing may affect the availability and cost of funds needed in the future for Investments. In addition, credit availability has been restricted in the past and may become restricted again in the future. Restrictions upon the availability of real estate financing or high interest rates for real estate loans could adversely affect the Investments and our ability to execute its investment goals.

 

We do not have guaranteed cash flow . There can be no assurance that cash flow or profits will be generated by the Investments. If the Investments do not generate the anticipated amount of cash flow, we may not be able to pay the anticipated distributions to the stockholders without making such distributions from the net proceeds of this offering or from reserves.

 

Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure

 

A limit on the percentage of our securities a person may own may discourage a takeover or business combination, which could prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium price for their stock. Our charter restricts direct or indirect ownership by one person or entity to no more than 9.8% in value of the outstanding shares of our capital stock or 9.8% in number of shares or value, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock unless exempted (prospectively or retroactively) by our board of directors. This restriction may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price to our stockholders.

 

Our charter permits our board of directors to issue stock with terms that may subordinate the rights of our common stockholders or discourage a third party from acquiring us in a manner that could result in a premium price to our stockholders. Our board of directors may amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue and may classify or reclassify any unissued common stock or preferred stock into other classes or series of stock and establish the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of any such stock. Our board of directors could also authorize the issuance of up to 250,000,000 shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have priority as to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation over the rights of the holders of our common stock. Such preferred stock could also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price to holders of our common stock.

 

Your investment return may be reduced if we are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act; if we are subject to registration under the Investment Company Act, we will not be able to continue our business. Neither we, nor our operating partnership, nor any of our subsidiaries intend to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We expect that our operating partnership’s and subsidiaries’ investments in real estate will represent the substantial majority of our total asset mix, which would not subject us to the Investment Company Act. In order to maintain an exemption from regulation under the Investment Company Act, we intend to engage, through our operating partnership and our wholly and majority owned subsidiaries, primarily in the business of buying real estate, and these investments must be made within a year after an offering ends. If we are unable to invest a significant portion of the proceeds of an offering in properties within one year of the termination of such offering, we may avoid being required to register as an investment company by temporarily investing any unused proceeds in government securities with low returns, which would reduce the cash available for distribution to stockholders and possibly lower your returns.

 

We expect that most of our assets will be held through wholly owned or majority owned subsidiaries of our operating partnership. We expect that most of these subsidiaries will be outside the definition of investment company under Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act as they are generally expected to hold at least 60% of their assets in real property or in entities that they manage or co-manage that own real property. Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment Company Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of the issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis, which we refer to as the 40% test. Excluded from the term “investment securities,” among other things, are U.S. government securities and securities issued by majority owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on the exception from the definition of investment company set forth in Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act. We believe that we, our operating partnership and most of the subsidiaries of our operating partnership will not fall within either definition of investment company as we invest primarily in real property, through our wholly or majority owned subsidiaries, the majority of which we expect to have at least 60% of their assets in real property or in entities that they manage or co-manage that own real property. As these subsidiaries would be investing either solely or primarily in real property, they would be outside of the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act. We are organized as a holding company that conducts its businesses primarily through the operating partnership, which in turn is a holding company conducting its business through its subsidiaries. Both we and our operating partnership intend to conduct our operations so that they comply with the 40% test. We will monitor our holdings to ensure continuing and ongoing compliance with this test. In addition, we believe that neither we nor the operating partnership will be considered an investment company under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act because neither we nor the operating partnership will engage primarily or hold itself out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Rather, through the operating partnership’s wholly-owned or majority owned subsidiaries, we and the operating partnership will be primarily engaged in the non-investment company businesses of these subsidiaries.

 

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In the event that the value of investment securities held by the subsidiaries of our operating partnership were to exceed 40%, we expect our subsidiaries to be able to rely on the exclusion from the definition of “investment company” provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act. Section 3(c)(5)(C), as interpreted by the staff of the SEC, requires each of our subsidiaries relying on this exception to invest at least 55% of its portfolio in “mortgage and other liens on and interests in real estate,” which we refer to as “qualifying real estate assets” and maintain at least 70% to 90% of its assets in qualifying real estate assets or other real estate-related assets. The remaining 20% of the portfolio can consist of miscellaneous assets. What we buy and sell is therefore limited to these criteria. How we determine to classify our assets for purposes of the Investment Company Act will be based in large measure upon no-action letters issued by the SEC staff in the past and other SEC interpretive guidance. These no-action positions were issued in accordance with factual situations that may be substantially different from the factual situations we may face, and a number of these no-action positions were issued more than ten years ago. Pursuant to this guidance, and depending on the characteristics of the specific investments, certain joint venture investments may not constitute qualifying real estate assets and therefore investments in these types of assets may be limited. No assurance can be given that the SEC will concur with our classification of our assets. Future revisions to the Investment Company Act or further guidance from the SEC may cause us to lose our exclusion from registration or force us to re-evaluate our portfolio and our investment strategy. Such changes may prevent us from operating our business successfully.

 

In the event that we, or our operating partnership, were to acquire assets that could make either entity fall within the definition of investment company under Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act, we believe that we would still qualify for an exclusion from registration pursuant to Section 3(c)(6). Section 3(c)(6) excludes from the definition of investment company any company primarily engaged, directly or through majority owned subsidiaries, in one or more of certain specified businesses. These specified businesses include the real estate business described in Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act. It also excludes from the definition of investment company any company primarily engaged, directly or through majority owned subsidiaries, in one or more of such specified businesses from which at least 25% of such company’s gross income during its last fiscal year is derived, together with any additional business or businesses other than investing, reinvesting, owning, holding, or trading in securities. Although the SEC staff has issued little interpretive guidance with respect to Section 3(c)(6), we believe that we and our operating partnership may rely on Section 3(c)(6) if 55% of the assets of our operating partnership consist of, and at least 55% of the income of our operating partnership is derived from, qualifying real estate assets owned by wholly owned or majority owned subsidiaries of our operating partnership.

 

To ensure that neither we, nor our operating partnership nor subsidiaries are required to register as an investment company, each entity may be unable to sell assets they would otherwise want to sell and may need to sell assets they would otherwise wish to retain. In addition, we, our operating partnership or our subsidiaries may be required to acquire additional income or loss-generating assets that we might not otherwise acquire or forego opportunities to acquire interests in companies that we would otherwise want to acquire. Although we, our operating partnership and our subsidiaries intend to monitor our respective portfolios periodically and prior to each acquisition or disposition, any of these entities may not be able to maintain an exclusion from registration as an investment company. If we, our operating partnership or our subsidiaries are required to register as an investment company but fail to do so, the unregistered entity would be prohibited from engaging in our business, and criminal and civil actions could be brought against such entity. In addition, the contracts of such entity would be unenforceable unless a court required enforcement, and a court could appoint a receiver to take control of the entity and liquidate its business. Finally, if we were to become an investment company then we would not be permitted to rely upon Regulation A for future offerings of our securities, which may adversely impact our ability to raise additional capital.

 

We may change our investment and operational policies without stockholder consent. We may change our investment and operational policies, including our policies with respect to investments, acquisitions, growth, operations, indebtedness, capitalization and distributions, at any time without the consent of our stockholders, which could result in our making investments that are different from, and possibly riskier than, the types of investments described in this filing. A change in our investment strategy may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, default risk and real estate market fluctuations, all of which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions.

 

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We may in the future choose to pay dividends in our own stock, in which case you may be required to pay income taxes in excess of the cash dividends you receive. We may in the future distribute taxable dividends that are payable in cash and shares of our common stock at the election of each stockholder. Taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as ordinary income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay income taxes with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash dividends received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders determine to sell shares of our common stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may put downward pressure on the trading price of our common stock.

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

Future sales of shares of our common stock in the public market or the issuance of other equity may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Sales of a substantial number of shares of common stock or other equity-related securities in the public market could depress the market price of our common stock, and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.

 

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly. If a trading market develops, our trading price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to many factors, including:

 

  actual or anticipated variations in our operating results, funds from operations, or FFO, cash flows, liquidity or distributions;

 

  changes in our earnings estimates or those of analysts;

 

  publication of research reports about us or the real estate industry or sector in which we operate;

 

  increases in market interest rates that lead purchasers of our shares to demand a higher dividend yield;

 

  changes in market valuations of companies similar to us;

 

  adverse market reaction to any securities we may issue or additional debt it incurs in the future;

 

  additions or departures of key management personnel;

 

  actions by institutional stockholders;

 

  speculation in the press or investment community;

 

  continuing high levels of volatility in the credit markets;

 

  the realization of any of the other risk factors included herein; and

 

  general market and economic conditions.

 

The availability and timing of cash distributions is uncertain. We are generally required to distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gain, each year in order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, which we intend to satisfy through quarterly cash distributions of all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income in such year, subject to certain adjustments. Our board of directors will determine the amount and timing of any distributions. In making such determinations, our directors will consider all relevant factors, including the amount of cash available for distribution, capital expenditures, general operational requirements and applicable law. We intend over time to make regular quarterly distributions to holders of shares of our common stock. However, we bear all expenses incurred by our operations, and the funds generated by operations, after deducting these expenses, may not be sufficient to cover desired levels of distributions to stockholders. In addition, our board of directors, in its discretion, may retain any portion of such cash in excess of our REIT taxable income for working capital. We cannot predict the amount of distributions we may make, maintain or increase over time.

 

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There are many factors that can affect the availability and timing of cash distributions to stockholders. Because we may receive rents and income from our properties at various times during our fiscal year, distributions paid may not reflect our income earned in that particular distribution period. The amount of cash available for distribution will be affected by many factors, including without limitation, the amount of income we will earn from investments in target assets, the amount of its operating expenses and many other variables. Actual cash available for distribution may vary substantially from our expectations.

 

While we intend to fund the payment of quarterly distributions to holders of shares of our common stock entirely from distributable cash flows, we may fund quarterly distributions to its stockholders from a combination of available net cash flows, equity capital and proceeds from borrowings. In the event we are unable to consistently fund future quarterly distributions to stockholders entirely from distributable cash flows, the value of our common stock may be negatively impacted.

 

An increase in market interest rates may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to its stockholders. One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell shares of our common stock is our distribution rate as a percentage of our share price, relative to market interest rates. If market interest rates increase, prospective investors may demand a higher distribution rate on shares of common stock or seek alternative investments paying higher distributions or interest. As a result, interest rate fluctuations and capital market conditions can affect the market price of shares of our common stock. For instance, if interest rates rise without an increase in our distribution rate, the market price of shares of our common stock could decrease because potential investors may require a higher distribution yield on shares of our common stock as market rates on interest-bearing instruments such as bonds rise. In addition, to the extent we have variable rate debt, rising interest rates would result in increased interest expense on our variable rate debt, thereby adversely affecting our cash flow and its ability to service our indebtedness and make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Risks Related to the Offering and Lack of Liquidity

 

Shares of our common stock will have limited transferability and liquidity. While we intend to pursue listing on an alternative exchange and once our size permits a listing on a registered national exchange, a market may not develop for our shares. Initially stockholders cannot expect to be able to liquidate their investment in case of an emergency. Further, the sale of the shares may have adverse federal income tax consequences.

 

The price of the shares is arbitrary .. The purchase price of the shares of our common stock has been determined primarily by our capital needs and bears no relationship to any established criteria of value such as book value or earnings per shares, or any combination thereof. Further, the price of the shares is not based on our past earnings.

 

Material Federal Income Tax Risks

 

Failure to remain qualified as a REIT would cause us to be taxed as a regular corporation, which would substantially reduce funds available for distributions to our stockholders.

 

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2015. We believe that we have operated in a manner qualifying us as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2015 and intend to continue to so operate. However, we cannot assure you that we will remain qualified as a REIT. In connection with this offering, we have received an opinion from our tax counsel, that we qualified to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws for our taxable year ended December 31, 2015, and our organization and current and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to qualify as a REIT for our taxable year ending December 31, 2016 and in the future. Investors should be aware that tax counsel’s opinion is based upon customary assumptions, conditioned upon certain representations made by us as to factual matters, including representations regarding the nature of our assets and the conduct of our business, is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, or any court and speaks as of the date issued. In addition, tax counsel’s opinion is based on existing U.S. federal income tax law governing qualification as a REIT, which is subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Moreover, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating results, certain qualification tests set forth in the federal tax laws. Tax counsel will not review our compliance with those tests on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operations for any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements.

 

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will face serious tax consequences that will substantially reduce the funds available for distributions to our stockholders because:

 

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  we would not be able to deduct dividends paid to stockholders in computing our taxable income and would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates;

 

  we could be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax and possibly increased state and local taxes; and

 

  unless we are entitled to relief under certain U.S. federal income tax laws, we could not re-elect REIT status until the fifth calendar year after the year in which we failed to qualify as a REIT.

 

In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, we will no longer be required to make distributions. As a result of all these factors, our failure to qualify as a REIT could impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital, and it would adversely affect the value of our common stock. See “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a discussion of material federal income tax consequences relating to us and our common stock.

 

Complying with REIT requirements may cause us to forego otherwise attractive opportunities or liquidate otherwise attractive investments.

 

To maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the sources of our income, the nature and diversification of our assets, the amounts we distribute to our stockholders and the ownership of our capital stock. In order to meet these tests, we may be required to forego investments we might otherwise make. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our performance.

 

In particular, we must ensure that at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash items, government securities and qualified real estate assets. The remainder of our investment in securities (other than government securities, securities of TRSs and qualified real estate assets) generally cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our assets (other than government securities, securities of TRSs and qualified real estate assets) can consist of the securities of any one issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of our total assets can be represented by the securities of one or more TRSs. If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing our REIT qualification and suffering adverse tax consequences. As a result, we may be required to liquidate otherwise attractive investments. These actions could have the effect of reducing our income and amounts available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

Even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flows.

 

Even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on our income and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from some activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure, and state or local income, property and transfer taxes. In addition, any TRS in which we own an interest will be subject to regular corporate federal, state and local taxes. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distributions to stockholders.

 

Failure to make required distributions would subject us to U.S. federal corporate income tax.

 

We intend to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In order to remain qualified as a REIT, we generally are required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gain, each year to our stockholders. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, we will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our undistributed taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we pay out to our stockholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under the Code.

 

The prohibited transactions tax may subject us to tax on our gain from sales of property and limit our ability to dispose of our properties.

 

A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Although we intend to acquire and hold all of our assets as investments and not for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, the IRS may assert that we are subject to the prohibited transaction tax equal to 100% of net gain upon a disposition of real property.

 

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Although a safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of real property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction is available, not all of our prior property dispositions qualified for the safe harbor and we cannot assure you that we can comply with the safe harbor in the future or that we have avoided, or will avoid, owning property that may be characterized as held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Consequently, we may choose not to engage in certain sales of our properties or may conduct such sales through a TRS, which would be subject to federal and state income taxation. Additionally, in the event that we engage in sales of our properties, any gains from the sales of properties classified as prohibited transactions would be taxed at the 100% prohibited transaction tax rate.

 

The ability of our board of directors to revoke our REIT qualification without stockholder approval may cause adverse consequences to our stockholders.

 

Our charter provides that our board of directors may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without the approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT. If we cease to qualify as a REIT, we would become subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income and would no longer be required to distribute most of our taxable income to our stockholders, which may have adverse consequences on our total return to our stockholders.

 

Our ownership of any TRSs will be subject to limitations and our transactions with any TRSs will cause us to be subject to a 100% penalty tax on certain income or deductions if those transactions are not conducted on arm’s-length terms.

 

Overall, no more than 25% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more TRSs. In addition, the Code limits the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The Code also imposes a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. Furthermore, we will monitor the value of our respective investments in any TRSs for the purpose of ensuring compliance with TRS ownership limitations and will structure our transactions with any TRSs on terms that we believe are arm’s-length to avoid incurring the 100% excise tax described above. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to comply with the 25% REIT subsidiaries limitation or to avoid application of the 100% excise tax.

 

You may be restricted from acquiring or transferring certain amounts of our common stock.

 

The stock ownership restrictions of the Code for REITs and the 9.8% stock ownership limits in our charter may inhibit market activity in our capital stock and restrict our business combination opportunities.

 

In order to qualify as a REIT, five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code to include specified private foundations, employee benefit plans and trusts, and charitable trusts, may not own, beneficially or constructively, more than 50% in value of our issued and outstanding stock at any time during the last half of a taxable year. Attribution rules in the Code determine if any individual or entity beneficially or constructively owns our capital stock under this requirement. Additionally, at least 100 persons must beneficially own our capital stock during at least 335 days of a taxable year. To help insure that we meet these tests, among other purposes, our charter restricts the acquisition and ownership of shares of our capital stock.

 

Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT. Unless exempted, prospectively or retroactively, by our board of directors, our charter prohibits any person from beneficially or constructively owning more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of our outstanding shares of capital stock or 9.8% in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Our board of directors may not grant an exemption from these restrictions to any proposed transferee whose ownership in excess of such thresholds does not satisfy certain conditions designed to ensure that we will not fail to qualify as a REIT. These restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply, however, if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT or that compliance is no longer required for REIT qualification.

 

We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could reduce the market price of our common stock.

 

At any time, the U.S. federal income tax laws governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws may be amended. We cannot predict when or if any new U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, or any amendment to any existing U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted, promulgated or become effective and any such law, regulation, or interpretation may take effect retroactively. We and our stockholders could be adversely affected by any such change in the U.S. federal income tax laws, regulations or administrative interpretations.

 

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Dividends payable by REITs generally do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for certain dividends.

 

The maximum tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” payable to U.S. stockholders taxed at individual rates is 20%. Dividends payable by REITs, however, generally are not eligible for the reduced rates. The more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate qualified dividends could cause investors who are taxed at individual rates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the shares of REITs, including our common stock.

 

Distributions to tax-exempt investors may be classified as unrelated business taxable income and tax-exempt investors would be required to pay tax on the unrelated business taxable income and to file income tax returns.

 

Neither ordinary nor capital gain distributions with respect to our common stock nor gain from the sale of stock should generally constitute unrelated business taxable income to a tax-exempt investor. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule. In particular:

 

  under certain circumstances, part of the income and gain recognized by certain qualified employee pension trusts with respect to our stock may be treated as unrelated business taxable income if our stock is predominately held by qualified employee pension trusts, such that we are a “pension-held” REIT (which we do not expect to be the case);

 

  part of the income and gain recognized by a tax exempt investor with respect to our stock would constitute unrelated business taxable income if such investor incurs debt in order to acquire our common stock; and

 

  part or all of the income or gain recognized with respect to our stock held by social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans which are exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (9), (17) or (20) of the Code may be treated as unrelated business taxable income.

 

We encourage you to consult your own tax advisor to determine the tax consequences applicable to you if you are a tax-exempt investor. See “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations — Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders.”

 

Benefit Plan Risks Under ERISA or the Code

 

If you fail to meet the fiduciary and other standards under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended or the Code as a result of an investment in our stock, you could be subject to criminal and civil penalties.

 

Special considerations apply to the purchase of stock by employee benefit plans subject to the fiduciary rules of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA, including pension or profit sharing plans and entities that hold assets of such plans, which we refer to as ERISA Plans, and plans and accounts that are not subject to ERISA, but are subject to the prohibited transaction rules of Section 4975 of the Code, including IRAs, Keogh Plans, and medical savings accounts. (Collectively, we refer to ERISA Plans and plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code as “Benefit Plans” or “Benefit Plan Investors”). If you are investing the assets of any Benefit Plan, you should consider whether:

 

  your investment will be consistent with your fiduciary obligations under ERISA and the Code;

 

  your investment will be made in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Benefit Plan, including the Plan’s investment policy;

 

  your investment will satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of Sections 404(a)(1)(B) and 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA, if applicable, and other applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;

 

  your investment will impair the liquidity of the Benefit Plan;

 

  your investment will produce “unrelated business taxable income” for the Benefit Plan;

 

  you will be able to satisfy plan liquidity requirements as there may be only a limited market to sell or otherwise dispose of our stock; and

 

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  your investment will constitute a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

 

Failure to satisfy the fiduciary standards of conduct and other applicable requirements of ERISA and the Code may result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties, and can subject the fiduciary to claims for damages or for equitable remedies. In addition, if an investment in our shares constitutes a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code, the fiduciary or IRA owner who authorized or directed the investment may be subject to the imposition of excise taxes with respect to the amount invested. In the case of a prohibited transaction involving an IRA owner, the IRA may be disqualified and all of the assets of the IRA may be deemed distributed and subjected to tax. Benefit Plan Investors should consult with counsel before making an investment in shares of our common stock.

 

Plans that are not subject to ERISA or the prohibited transactions of the Code, such as government plans or church plans, may be subject to similar requirements under state law. The fiduciaries of such plans should satisfy themselves that the investment satisfies applicable law.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This offering circular contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “outlook,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “approximately,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain financial and operating projections or state other forward-looking information. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future events, actions, plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees. Actual events or our investments and results of operations could differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth or anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our forward-looking statements and upon our business, results of operations, financial condition, funds derived from operations, cash available for distribution, cash flows, liquidity and prospects include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” and otherwise referenced in this offering circular, as well as the following:

 

  · national, international, regional and local economic conditions;

 

  · capital expenditures;

 

  · the availability of capital;

 

  · interest rates;

 

  · financing risks;

 

  · legislative or regulatory changes (including changes to the laws governing the taxation of REITs);

 

  · our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT; and

 

  · related industry developments, including trends affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this offering circular. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this offering circular, which reflect our views as of the date of this offering circular. The matters summarized below and elsewhere in this offering circular could cause our actual results and performance to differ materially from those set forth or anticipated in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee future results or performance. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this offering circular, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this offering circular, including, without limitation, the risks described under “Risk Factors,” the inclusion of such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the objectives and plans set forth in this offering circular will be achieved.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from the offering of the shares pursuant to this offering circular, after deducting selling commissions and fees and offering costs and expenses payable by us, will be approximately $6,005,000 if we raise the minimum offering amount and $45,135,000 if we raise the maximum offering amount (as determined using the mid-point of our range), following the payment of selling commissions, Dealer-Manager fees and other offering costs. Set forth below is a table showing the estimated sources and uses of the proceeds from this offering, for both the minimum and maximum offering amounts.

 

  

    Minimum
Dollar
Amount
    Offering
Amount %
    Maximum
Offering
Amount
    Offering
Amount %
 
                         
Gross Proceeds   $ 7,000,000       100.00 %   $ 50,000,000       100.00 %
                                 
Estimated Offering Expenses 1   $ 365,000       5.21 %   $ 365,000       1.22 %
                                 
Selling Commissions & Fees 2   $ 560,000       8.00 %   $ 4,000,000       8.0 %
                                 
Accountable Expense Allowance 3   $ 70,000       1.0 %   $ 500,000       1.0 %
                                 
Net Proceeds   $ 6,005,000       85.79 %   $ 45,135,000       90.27 %
                                 
Acquisition of Assets 4   $ 5,745,000       82.07 %   $ 43,510,000       87.02 %
                                 
Working Capital 5   $ 260,000       3.71 %   $ 1,625,000       3.25 %
                                 
Total Use of  Proceeds   $ 7,000,000       100.00 %   $ 50,000,000       100.00 %

 

1 Estimated offering expenses include legal, accounting, printing, advertising, travel, marketing, blue sky compliance and other expenses of this offering, and transfer agent and escrow fees.

 

2 Our Dealer-Manager will receive selling commissions of seven percent (7%) of the gross offering proceeds and a non-accountable expense allowance of one percent (1%) of the gross offering proceeds, each of which it may re-allow and pay to participating broker-dealers.

 

3 Our Dealer Manager will receive an accountable expense allowance for due diligence, marketing and expense reimbursement of 1% of the gross proceeds.

 

4 If the minimum offering amount is raised, we intend to use approximately 82.07% of the gross proceeds of this offering ($5,745,000) to acquire the Franklin Square Property. If the maximum offering amount is raised, we intend to use approximately 87.02% of the gross proceeds of this offering to acquire the four identified assets from affiliates, if available, and pursue the acquisition of additional properties and Investments. Amounts payable for acquisition and closing costs, including the 2% acquisition fee payable to our Manager, are included herein.

 

5 If the minimum offering amount is raised, we intend to use approximately 3.71% of the gross offering proceeds to manage our business and provide working capital for operations including new contracts and acquisitions and for increased marketing and transition expenses for organic growth. If the maximum offering amount is raised, we intend to use approximately 3.25% of the gross offering proceeds to manage our business and provide working capital for operations including costs related to new contracts and acquisitions and for increased marketing and transition expenses for organic growth. These amounts may be used to pay salaries and other compensation to members of our board of managers and our officers or new employees we need to hire, such as analysts or asset managers.

 

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DISTRIBUTION POLICY

 

We intend to continue to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. The Code generally requires that a REIT annually distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain, and imposes tax on any taxable income retained by a REIT, including capital gains.

 

To satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT and generally not be subject to federal income and excise tax, we intend to make regular quarterly distributions of all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to dividends paid, to our stockholders out of assets legally available for such purposes. Our board of directors has not yet determined the rate for our future dividends, and all future distributions will be determined at the sole discretion of our board of directors on a quarterly basis. When determining the amount of future distributions, we expect that our board of directors will consider, among other factors, (i) the amount of cash generated from our operating activities, (ii) our expectations of future cash flows, (iii) our determination of near-term cash needs for acquisitions of new properties, general property capital improvements and debt repayments, (iv) our ability to continue to access additional sources of capital, (v) the requirements of Maryland law, (vi) the amount required to be distributed to maintain our status as a REIT and to reduce any income and excise taxes that we otherwise would be required to pay and (vii) any limitations on our distributions contained in our credit or other agreements.

 

We cannot assure you that we will generate sufficient cash flows to make distributions to our stockholders or that we will be able to sustain those distributions. If our operations do not generate sufficient cash flow to allow us to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements, we may be required to fund distributions from working capital, borrow funds, sell assets, make a taxable distribution of our equity or debt securities, or reduce such distributions. In addition, while we have no intention to do so, prior to the time we have fully invested the net proceeds of this offering, we may fund our distributions out of the net proceeds of this offering, which could adversely impact our results of operations. Our distribution policy enables us to review the alternative funding sources available to us from time to time. Our actual results of operations will be affected by a number of factors, including the revenues we receive from our properties, our operating expenses, interest expense, the ability of our tenants to meet their obligations and unanticipated expenditures. For more information regarding risk factors that could materially adversely affect our actual results of operations, please see “Risk Factors.”

 

For income tax purposes, dividends to stockholders will be characterized as ordinary income, capital gains, or as a return of a stockholder’s invested capital. We will furnish annually to each of our stockholders a statement setting forth distributions paid during the preceding year and their characterization as ordinary income, return of capital qualified dividend income or capital gain.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

General

 

We were incorporated as a Maryland corporation on September 28, 2015. Our company’s objective is to acquire, reposition, renovate, lease and manage income-producing properties, with a primary focus on (i) commercial properties, including flex-industrial, and retail properties, and (ii) multi-family residential properties. We intend to invest primarily in properties across secondary and tertiary markets in the southeastern part of the United States, with an expected concentration in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

 

As of the date of this offering circular, we have not yet commenced active operations. Offering proceeds will be applied to the acquisition of Investments and the payment or reimbursement of selling commissions and other fees and expenses. We will experience a relative increase in liquidity as we receive net offering proceeds and a relative decrease in liquidity as we spend net offering proceeds in connection with the acquisition, development and operation of our assets.

 

As of the date of this offering circular, we have not entered into any arrangements creating a reasonable probability that we will acquire a specific property or other asset. The number of properties and other assets that we will acquire will depend upon the number of shares sold and the resulting amount of the net proceeds available for investment in properties and other assets. Until required for the acquisition, development or operation of assets, we will keep the net proceeds of this offering in short-term, liquid investments.

 

We intend to make reserve allocations as necessary to aid our objective of preserving capital for our investors by supporting the maintenance and viability of properties we acquire in the future. If reserves and any other available income become insufficient to cover our operating expenses and liabilities, it may be necessary to obtain additional funds by borrowing, refinancing properties or liquidating our investment in one or more properties. There is no assurance that such funds will be available or, if available, that the terms will be acceptable to us.

 

We intend to make an election to be taxed as a REIT under Section 856(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. In order to qualify as a REIT, we must distribute to our stockholders each calendar year at least 90% of our taxable income (excluding net capital gains and income from operations or sales through a TRS). If we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on income that we distribute to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates and will not be permitted to qualify as a REIT for four years following the year in which our qualification is denied. Such an event could materially and adversely affect our net income and results of operations.

 

Results of Operations

 

As of the date of this offering circular, we have not yet commenced business operations, as we are currently in our organizational and development stage. We do not intend to begin our operations until we have sold at least the minimum offering amount of $7,000,000 in shares of our common stock. As we currently do not own any Investments, our management is not aware of any material trends or uncertainties, favorable or unfavorable, other than national economic conditions affecting our targeted portfolio, the commercial real estate industry and real estate generally, that may be reasonably anticipated to have a material impact on either our capital resources, or the revenues or incomes to be derived from the operation of our assets.

 

Operating Results

 

We intend to operate on a fiscal year basis from January 1 to December 31. We have not yet had any operations.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2015, we had cash on hand of $126.00. We also expect that the proceeds from this offering will significantly improve our financial performance through changes in our capital structure, enabling us to further implement our acquisition strategy, and increase cash flows. We have identified no additional material internal or external sources of liquidity as of the date of this offering circular.

 

We anticipate that raising our minimum offering proceeds will sufficiently capitalize us to acquire and operate the Franklin Square Property, and that we will not require any additional funds in order to operate the Franklin Square Property over the six months following our initial closing. We anticipate that if we are able to raise additional funds in this offering we will acquire the Additional Properties and additional Investments. We anticipate that acquisition costs for Investments will be our primary cash expenditure over the next twelve months; however, our level of cash expenditures will be entirely dependent on factors that we cannot predict at this time, among others: (i) the aggregate proceeds raised in this offering; (ii) the sourcing and negotiation of acquisitions of the Additional Properties and other additional Investments; (iii) interest rate fluctuation; and (iv) ability of our Manager to source whole or partial contributions of Investments for OP Unit, thereby reducing our cash needs. In addition we expect to make expenditures on renovations and repositioning of our Investments. At this time we have identified solely the $1 million renovation necessary at the Hampton Inn Property. We cannot predict with any certainty the timing of any expenditures beyond our initial investment in the Franklin Square Property

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of the date of this Offering Circular, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have had or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital resources or capital expenditures.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

There has been no issued accounting guidance not yet adopted by us that we believe is material or potentially material to our consolidated financial statements.

 

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OUR INDUSTRY AND MARKET OPPORTUNITY

 

Sector Outlook

 

Multifamily Outlook *

 

Widely recognized by commercial real estate investors as the best-performing sector over the past two years, apartments are the first property type to have transitioned from recovery into the growth phase of the cycle. Apartments benefited from an early surge in demand as homeowners experienced distress with their mortgages and the homeownership rate declined to levels last experienced in the 1990’s.

 

The apartment construction boom generally has added more supply in the largest cities, while secondary cities saw less supply growth in 2014. This should allow for possible continued strong rent growth during the near term in smaller and midsize cities. Developers are currently focused on building in prime urban/infill locations located in the gateway cities, a historic shift from previous cycles when Sunbelt cities and the outer suburbs received the majority of activity. According to Jones, Lang, Lasalle Commercial Real Estate, liquidity in the multifamily market remains strong, bringing third quarter 2014 sales to a 10.4% increase over comparable deal flow last year.

 

Industrial Outlook **

 

The U.S. Industrial Index continues to see growth triggered by strong fundamentals in most markets and asset qualities. Average quarterly growth for this property type is a healthy 3.4% over the last 12-month period ending in September of 2014. The overall market index outperformed the Prime Industrial Metros by 5.5% over the same period, indicating that a broad recovery is underway.

 

Key economic drivers should support favorable industrial space demand in the future. Retail spending and international trade have normalized and should grow more strongly, fueling warehouse demand. Continued uplift for U.S. manufacturers and high tech firms should aid near-term recovery for multi-tenant industrial properties.

 

Industrial demand fundamentals are poised to benefit from further economic expansion. It is estimated that the industrial property market recovery could be sustained and accelerate in 2015.

 

Market rents are currently 20 to 30% below previous levels, so as vacancy tightens, there is potential for strong rent gains in coming years. If the next expansion cycle is sustained, well-located Class B small-bay product will benefit strongly, as well.

 

Retail Outlook ***

 

Grocery anchored retail was one of the few investment products to weather the recession and has since become one of the most attractive commercial real estate property types for investors in the U.S. and abroad. The grocery industry has consolidated in recent decades, with one to two national or regional chains generally dominating each metro area. At the same time, the remaining traditional grocers are facing new types of competition at both the high and especially low end of the spectrum: gourmet and organic retailers appeal to higher-income consumers, while discount supermarkets (e.g., Bi-Lo, Save-A-Lot, Grocery Outlet) and discount retailers with more grocery offerings (e.g., Wal-Mart, Target) cater to less affluent households. Meanwhile, consumers appear to appreciate the convenience and savings offered by smaller specialty groceries such as Fresh and Easy or Trader Joe’s.

 

While most investors have focused their investment efforts on top tier markets, there is a significant amount of opportunistic value to be realized in secondary and tertiary markets, specifically among retail centers containing discount groceries such as Food Lion. These centers have relatively low rents, and there has been little to no construction in the retail market since 2008, allowing existing centers to recover occupancy levels faster and retain existing tenants. As one of the few investment products to weather the recession, grocery-anchored retail centers present the potential for significant growth and a value-add opportunity. According to Co-Star Commercial, the U.S. Retail Index rose 15% over the 12-month period ending in September 2014.

 

*Sources – REIS and Jones Lang Lasalle Commercial Real Estate

**Sources – REIS and Co-Star Commercial

***Sources – REIS, Co-Star Commercial and Cushman/Wakefield

 

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OUR BUSINESS

 

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. was formed in 2015 as a Maryland corporation, and we have elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Our objective is to acquire, reposition, renovate, lease and manage income-producing properties, with a primary focus on (i) commercial properties, including flex-industrial, and retail properties, and (ii) multi-family residential properties. We intend to invest primarily in properties across secondary and tertiary markets in the southeastern part of the United States, with an expected concentration in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We intend to operate as an UPREIT, and own our properties through our subsidiary, Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. We may also pursue, in an opportunistic manner, other real estate-related investments, including but not limited to equity or other ownership interests in entities that are the direct or indirect owners of real property, or indirect investments in real property, such as those that may be obtained in a joint venture. We refer to our investments in real property and our real estate-related investments, collectively, as Investments. We are externally managed and advised by Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., a Virginia corporation, or the Manager. The Manager will make all investment decisions for us. The Manager, is owned fifty percent each by Mr. Bill Elliott and Mr. Tim Messier, who are co-Presidents thereof.

 

Upon raising the minimum offering amount, we intend to purchase from Medalist Fund I, LLC, an affiliate, the Shops at Franklin Square, a 134,299 square foot retail property located at 3940 East Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia, North Carolina 28056, or the Franklin Square Property. The purchase price for the Franklin Square Property is $20,500,000 and has been based upon an independent, third party appraisal of the Franklin Square Property. We expect to pay approximately $5,125,000 in cash and assume secured debt of approximately $15,375,000 to acquire the Franklin Square Property, in addition to closing and acquisition costs (including acquisition fees payable to our Manager). The Franklin Square Property is located on 10.293 acres, built in 2006 and 2007, that is currently 90.0% occupied, and anchored by Ashley Furniture, hhgregg and Monkey Joe’s.

 

If we are able to raise additional funds in the offering of shares, we intend to purchase three additional properties from affiliates, if we are able to agree on purchase price, we believe the purchase price to be attractive to us and customary closing conditions are met. The first additional property is a hotel known as the Greensboro Airport Hampton Inn, located at 7803 National Service Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27409, or the Hampton Inn Property. The hotel has 127 rooms, was built in 1996, is approximately 65,400 square feet and sits on 2.162 acres. We intend to purchase the Hampton Inn Property for a combination of cash and operating partnership units, or OP Units, The second additional property is Warsaw Village, a 60,100 square foot shopping center, located at 4665-4719 Richmond Road, Warsaw, Virginia, or the Warsaw Property, on 9.8 acres with a contiguous out parcel of 0.97 acres, built in 1991, that is currently 95.0% occupied, and is anchored by Food Lion and Rite Aid. We intend to purchase this for a combination of cash and OP units, which will reduce our need for cash. The third additional property is Arrowridge I, II, III and IV, a 194,553 square foot flex industrial center, located at 8041, 8107, 8227 & 8301 Arrowridge Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina, or the Arrowridge Property. The improvements were constructed in 1979 and 1980, are situated on four tax parcels totaling 13.5769-acres and are 90.0% occupied. We refer to the Hampton Inn Property, Arrowridge Property and Warsaw Property collectively as the “Additional Properties.” Of our four initial investments, we intend to undertake immediate renovations on only the Hampton Inn Property. We anticipate investing approximately $1 million into the Hampton Inn Property shortly following acquisition in order to renovate and modernize the hotel’s guest rooms and hallways.

 

The Manager and Messrs. Elliott and Messier have a network of relationships with real estate owners, investors, operators and developers of all sizes and investment formats, across the United States. We believe these relationships will provide us with a competitive advantage, greater access to off-market transactions, and flexibility in our investment choices to invest in a similar format, joint venture or co-invest with best in class owners, operators, investors, developers and sponsors, leveraging their resources, skills and relationships to maximize our opportunities and investment returns.

 

We believe that in the long-term, there will be a consistent flow of properties in our target markets for purposes of acquisition, repositioning, renovation, rehabilitation, or leasing and managing which we expect will enable us to continue our platform into the foreseeable future. We intend to make Investments located across secondary and tertiary markets throughout the southeastern part of the United States. We do not anticipate making Investments outside of the United States.

 

Our principal objectives include sourcing value-add Investments in markets in which we maintain deep industry relationships and local market knowledge, and the creation of value for stockholders by utilizing our relationships and local knowledge of commercial real estate investment, management and disposition. There is no assurance that any of these objectives will be achieved. See “Objectives and Investment Strategies.”

  

We primarily expect to make Investments directly, but we may also invest through indirect investments in real property, such as those that may be obtained in a joint venture which may or may not be managed or affiliated with the Manager or its affiliates, whereby we own less than a 100% of the beneficial interest in the Investment; provided, that in such event, either we intend to hold a controlling interest in the Investment.  While the Manager does not intend for these types of Investments to be a primary focus, we may make such Investments in the Manager’s sole discretion.

 

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We may make Investments in properties owned by unaffiliated third parties, the Manager, or affiliates of the Manager, as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion. The purchase price of any Investment owned by an affiliated party will be based upon the fair market value of the asset established by third party MAI appraisal or fairness opinion that is dated within the last 90 days prior to the transaction.

 

Investment Strategies

 

The Manager believes that its focus on value-add and opportunistic commercial real estate provides an attractive balance of risk and returns. The Manager intends to use some or all of the following strategies to enhance the performance, quality and value of our Investments:

 

  · Proprietary investment sourcing;

  · A rigorous, consistent and replicable process for sourcing and conducting due diligence;

  · Appropriate exit strategy;

  · Hands-on portfolio management; and

  · Focus on opportunistic properties.

 

Our investment policies will provide the Manager with substantial discretion with respect to the selection, purchase and sale of specific Investments, subject to the limitations in the Management Agreement. We may revise the investment policies, which are described below, without the approval of our stockholders. We will review the investment policies at least annually to determine whether the policies are in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

Our Opportunity

 

We intend to continue to raise money pursuant to multiple Tier II offerings under Regulation A, if available, or other securities offerings to continue to grow the assets of our Company. We intend to pursue a listing transaction on a registered national securities exchange. We make no assurances that such a listing can or will be made. If we are unable to list, and there is no current market on an alternative exchange for our shares, we intend to pursue a merger, portfolio sale or liquidation within seven years of the termination of this offering.

 

Our Initial Portfolio

 

Upon completion of this offering and closing on the identified affiliated transactions, we expect to own, through wholly owned subsidiaries of our operating partnership, an interest in a portfolio of commercial and retail properties including those identified herein located primarily in the southeastern United States. The following table presents an overview of the properties we have identified and expect to acquire initially if we are able to close on terms satisfactory to us.

 

Name   Type   Description
Shops at Franklin Square   Retail   134,299 square foot retail property located at 3940 East Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia, North Carolina 28056, on 10.293 acres, built in 2006 and 2007, that is currently 90.0% occupied, and anchored by Ashley Furniture, hhgregg, Gold’s Gym and Monkey Joe’s
Greensboro Airport Hampton Inn   Hotel   Located at 7803 National Service Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27409.  The hotel has 127 rooms, was built in 1996, is approximately 65,400 square feet and sits on 2.162 acre
Warsaw Village   Retail   60,100 square foot shopping center, located at 4665-4719 Richmond Road, Warsaw, Virginia, on 9.8 acres with a contiguous out parcel of 0.97 acres, built in 1991, that is currently 95.0% occupied, and is anchored by Food Lion and Rite Aid
Arrowridge I, II, III and IV   Flex Industrial   194,553 square foot flex industrial center, located at 8041, 8107, 8227 & 8301 Arrowridge Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina. The improvements were constructed in 1979 and 1980, are situated on four tax parcels totaling 13.5769-acres and are 90.0% occupied.

 

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Shops at Franklin Square Description

 

The property is an eight building one-floor retail center totaling approximately 134,299 gross leasable area. It is currently, as of April 11, 2016, 90.0% occupied. The building is concrete slab on grade with spread footings. The exterior walls are a combination of insulation and finish system, metal panel siding, brick veneer and textured CMU. Retail storefronts are double-pane glass set in anodized aluminum frames. The roof is flat with fully-adhered, thermoplastic olefin membrane roof system. The parking area comprises 435 spaces.

 

The property is considered to be overall good and well-maintained condition, with average landscaping that is well maintained.

 

Material leases in place as of April 11, 2016:

 

Tenant  Approximate Square Footage   Lease Expiration 
Ashley Furniture   34,682    2022 
Hhgregg   30,000    2035 
Monkey Joes   12,632    2025 
Gold’s Gym   12,000    2016 

  

Greensboro Airport Hampton Inn Description

 

The hotel is a five-story building totaling approximately 65,414 square feet, with 127 guestrooms. The building is cast in place reinforced concrete upper level flooring supported by reinforced concrete columns bearing on spread footings and piers. The ground level floor is a concrete slab-on-grade. The exterior walls are frame with brick veneer with synthetic stucco exterior elements. Carpeting covers common area corridor and guestroom flooring with ceramic tiles in restrooms and guest services lobby, business center and breakfast/lounge area. Flat rubber membrane roof covers the building.

 

The parking area comprises 138 spaces, including 6 ADA accessible stalls. Perimeter sidewalks are concrete. The hotel is considered to be overall good and well-maintained condition.

 

The hotel is operated by Marshall Hotels and Resorts. More information can be found at www.marshallhotels.com , but any information is not to included or incorporated herein and not to be considered as part of this offering circular or reviewed or passed on by us.

 

Historical occupancy has been:

 

Month   Average
Occupancy
 
February 2016     67.0 %
January 2016     41.9 %
December 2015     52.01 %
November 2015     62.32 %
October 2015     86.17 %
September 2015     73.47 %
August 2015     79.92 %
July 2015     79.05 %
June 2015     85.4 %
May 2015     78.9 %
April 2015     79.6 %
March 2015     85.5 %
February 2015     62.5 %
January 2015     58.4 %
December 2014     54.9 %
November 2014     78.48 %
October 2014     94.37 %
September 2014     77.2 %
August 2014     83.4 %
July 2014     84.3 %
June 2014     87.8 %
May 2014     80.98 %
April 2014     85.2 %
March 2014     88.0 %
February 2014     79.0 %
January 2014     59.0 %

 

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Warsaw Village Description

 

The property is a one building one-floor with one outparcel retail center totaling approximately 60,100 gross leasable area on 10.77 acres. It is currently, as of April 11, 2016, 95% occupied. The building was built in 1991 and is block and steel on concrete slab. Exterior walls are brick and block. Store fronts are glass in metal frame. The roof is flat with rubber membrane roof system.

 

The property is considered to be overall good and well-maintained condition, with average landscaping that is well maintained.

 

The parking area comprises approximately 400 spaces.

 

Material leases in place as of April 11, 2016:

 

Tenant   Approximate Square Footage     Lease Expiration  
Food Lion     29,000       2027  
Rite Aid     9,600       2022  
US Renal Care     7,000       2021  
Mincheng Zheng     7,150       2025  

 

Arrowridge Business Park Description

 

The property is a four building industrial flex center totaling approximately 194,553 gross leasable area. It is commonly referred to as Arrowridge I, II, III and IV. The buildings were constructed in 1979 and 1980 and situated on 13.57 acres. It is currently, as of April 11, 2016, 90% occupied. The building is concrete slab on grade with masonry/concrete exterior walls. The roof is flat with rubber membrane roof system. There are 309 parking spaces. Office entrances are plate glass set in anodized aluminum frames.

 

The property is considered to be overall average and well-maintained condition, with average landscaping that is well maintained.

 

Material leases in place as of April 11, 2016:

 

Tenant   Approximate Square Footage     Lease Expiration  
Advanced Flooring     19,440       2021  
Centimark Corp     12,000       2020  
Sears Home Improvement     11,565       2019  

 

Our Competitive Strengths

 

We believe the experience of our Manager and Medalist and their affiliates, which we refer to as the Medalist companies, as well as our investment strategies, distinguish us from other real estate companies. Specifically, our competitive strengths include the following :

 

  § Experienced and Dedicated Management Team . The Medalist companies consist of a committed management team with experience in all phases of commercial real estate investment, management and disposition. The Medalist management team has 50+ years combined experience in commercial real estate and fixed income capital markets. The Medalist management team has also established a robust infrastructure of service providers, including longstanding relationships with two fully-staffed property managers for assets under management.

 

  § Strong Investment Track Record . The Manager and its affiliates have a strong track record of success. The Medalist companies have acquired and managed an over $131 million commercial real estate portfolio since 2003. Medalist Fund I, LLC, our first multi-property affiliated investment fund, has invested in three properties since its first close in the third quarter of 2013, representing retail, flex-industrial and multifamily. Medalist Fund I, LLC, has paid out its required 8% annualized cash distribution in each consecutive quarter (Q3 and Q4 of 2013, Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 of 2014, Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 of 2015 and Q1 of 2016) out of operating cash flow.  Medalist Fund I, LLC paid approximately 4.9% of its offering proceeds in sales commissions, offering expenses and fees. Medalist Fund II, LLC, our second multi-property affiliated investment fund, has just begun operations and has acquired two properties.  Medalist Fund II, LLC is anticipated to pay an estimated 10.15% of its offering proceeds in sales commissions, offering expenses and fees if its maximum offering amount is raised.  Each of Medalist Fund I and Medalist Fund II pay market property management fees as will our Company. Prospective investors in the company should note, however, that they will have no interest in Medalist Fund I, LLC or Medalist Fund II, LLC. See “Risk Factors.”

 

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  § Strategy of Opportunistic Investing . The Medalist companies have an extensive deal flow network in target markets due to long-standing relationships with brokers and lenders. The Medalist companies focus on value creation through a “hands on” management approach to previously neglected properties and a thorough knowledge of the geographic target area.

 

  § Highly Disciplined Investing Approach . The Medalist companies take a time-tested and thorough approach to analysis, management and investor reporting. The Medalist companies also adhere to a rigorous due diligence process, strict acquisition price discipline and prudent leverage levels.

 

  § Market Opportunity . The Medalist companies have identified market opportunities based on severe dislocations in the secondary and tertiary commercial real estate markets and the availability of debt financing at historically low rates.

 

Tier 2 Offering Under Regulation A

 

This is a Tier 2 offering under Regulation A where the offered securities will not be listed on a registered national securities exchange upon qualification. This offering is being conducted pursuant to an exemption from registration under Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. After qualification, we intend to apply for these qualified securities to be eligible for quotation on either the OTCQX or OTCQB or other alternative exchange not requiring the filing of reports under the Exchange Act to be eligible. Once we are eligible, we intend to pursue listing on a registered national securities exchange in a listing transaction.

 

Generally, if you are not an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D (17 CFR §230.501 (a)) no sale may be made to you in this offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or net worth. Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to www.investor.gov. See “Plan of Distribution – Investment Limitations.”

 

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MANAGEMENT

 

Our Board of Directors

 

We operate under the direction of our board of directors. Our board of directors is responsible for the management and control of our affairs. Our board of directors has retained our Manager to manage our day-to-day operations and our portfolio of real estate assets, subject to the supervision of our board of directors.

 

Our directors must perform their duties in good faith and in a manner each director reasonably believes to be in our best interests. Further, our directors must act with such care as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. However, our directors and executive officers are not required to devote all of their time to our business and must only devote such time to our affairs as their duties may require. We do not expect that our directors will be required to devote a substantial portion of their time to us in discharging their duties.

 

We intend to have three directors, one of whom is an independent director. Until we are subject to certain listing requirements our directors will serve until they resign or upon death or disability and until his successor has been duly elected and qualifies. At any stockholder meeting, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter constitutes a quorum.

 

Although our board of directors may increase or decrease the number of directors, a decrease may not have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. Any director may resign at any time or may be removed only for cause, and then only by the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. The notice of any special meeting called to remove a director will indicate that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to determine if the director shall be removed.

 

A vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors or the death, resignation, removal, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity of a director may be filled only by a vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred.

 

In addition to meetings of the various committees of our board of directors, which committees we describe below, we expect our directors to hold at least four regular board meetings each year.

 

Our Executive Officers and Directors

 

The individuals listed as our executive officers below also serve as officers and employees of our Manager. As executive officers of the Manager, they serve to manage the day-to-day affairs and carry out the directives of our board of directors in the review, selection and recommendation of investment opportunities and operating acquired investments and monitoring the performance of those investments to ensure that they are consistent with our investment objectives.

 

The following table and biographical descriptions set forth certain information with respect to the individuals who currently serve as our executive officers and directors:

 

Name   Age*   Position
Thomas E. Messier   61   Director and Co-President
William R. Elliott   64   Director and Co-President
Neil P. Farmer   60   Director Nominee

*As of April 8, 2016

 

Thomas E. Messier, Director and Co-President. Mr. Messier is co-president and co-founder of Medalist Fund Manager, Inc. Since 2003 he has co-managed the Medalist property portfolio as co-President of our Manager and its predecessor. Our Manager is the sole manager of Medalist Fund I, LLC and Medalist Fund II, LLC and Mr. Messier co-manages, with Mr. Elliott, Fund I and Fund II through our Manager. From 2003 until December of 2015 he was also President of Medalist Securities, Inc. which provided real estate investment banking relative to certain of the prior acquisitions of the Medalist companies and investor relations related to the same. Prior to 2003, Mr. Messier previously worked successfully with institutional investors in the fixed income securities industry for over twenty years. From January 2002 to June 2003 he was a Managing Partner of Westmoreland Capital Management. From 1992 to January 2002, Mr. Messier was a Director of Global Capital Markets at First Union/Wachovia. Prior to that, from 1980 to 1992, he was a Senior Vice President of Capital Markets at Bank of America. Mr. Messier received his BBA from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia in 1977.

 

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William R. Elliott, Director and Co-President. Mr. Elliott has been involved in the commercial real estate industry since 1983. Prior to that he was a civil engineer from 1977 to 1983. Mr. Elliott co-founded the Medalist companies with Mr. Messier in 2003 and is currently co-President of our Manager with Mr. Messier. Through our Manager, he, along with Mr. Messier, co-manages Fund I and Fund II. As co-President of our Manager, Mr. Elliott is involved in sourcing, executing and the management of investment properties. He was formerly Managing Partner of Prudential Commercial Real Estate, former President of Virginia Realty and Development Company and former President of the Central Virginia Region of Goodman, Segar, Hogan, Hoffler. As a commercial real estate professional, he has demonstrated proficiency in transactions including major office buildings, shopping centers, industrial land and facility sales and large mixed-use development land sales. Mr. Elliott is a licensed real estate broker, certified property manager, Vice President of the Institute of Real Estate Management, a Certified Value Engineer and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Building Owners and Managers Association. Mr. Elliott received his B.S. in Building Construction from Auburn University in 1974. He received a Masters in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1977.

 

Neil P. Farmer, Independent Director Nominee. Mr. Farmer is our independent director nominee and is anticipated to become the third member of our board of directors as of the initial closing date of this offering. Mr. Farmer founded Farmer Properties, Inc., a real estate development firm located in Richmond, Virginia in 1983. Mr. Farmer is the President of Farmer Properties with responsibility over the entirety of its real estate development business. He received his B.A. in Government and Foreign Affairs from Hampden-Sydney College in 1978.

 

Our general investment and borrowing policies are set forth in this offering circular. Our directors may establish further written policies on investments and borrowings and will monitor our administrative procedures, investment operations and performance to ensure that our executive officers and Manager follow these policies and that these policies continue to be in the best interests of our stockholders. Unless modified by our directors, we will follow the policies on investments and borrowings set forth in this offering circular.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Our board of directors may establish committees it deems appropriate to address specific areas in more depth than may be possible at a full board meeting. We currently do not anticipate having any committees since we the board has appointed our Manager to manage our day to day affairs.

 

Compensation of Directors and Officers

 

Director Compensation

 

We will pay our independent director an annual retainer of $8,000, payable quarterly. All directors will receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the board of directors. Our directors who are also executive officers will not receive any additional compensation from us for acting as directors.

 

Executive Officer Compensation

 

We do not currently have any employees and our executive officers are employed by our Manager. We will not reimburse our Manager for compensation paid to our executive officers.

 

Limited Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Other Agents

 

Our charter limits the personal liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for monetary damages and our charter authorizes us to obligate ourselves to indemnify and advance expenses to our directors, our officers, and our Manager, except to the extent prohibited by the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, and as set forth below. In addition, our bylaws require us to indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and our officers, and permit us, with the approval of our board of directors, to indemnify and advance expenses to our Manager, except to the extent prohibited by the MGCL.

 

Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may limit in its charter the liability of directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages unless such liability results from actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action.

 

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In addition, the MGCL requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity and allows directors and officers to be indemnified against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements, and expenses actually incurred in a proceeding unless the following can be established:

 

  the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding, and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

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

 

  with respect to any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his or her act or omission was unlawful.

 

However, under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses.

 

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

 

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for monetary damages and our charter authorizes us to obligate ourselves to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to our directors, our officers, and our Manager (including any director or officer who is or was serving at the request of our company as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise). In addition, our bylaws require us to indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and our officers, and permit us, with the approval of our board of directors, to provide such indemnification and advance of expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of us in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of us, including our Manager, or a predecessor of us.

 

However, the SEC takes the position that indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and unenforceable.

 

We intend to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of all of our directors and executive officers against liability asserted against or incurred by them in their official capacities with us, whether or not we are required or have the power to indemnify them against the same liability.

 

Prior Performance of our Manager

 

Medalist Fund Manager Inc. (“Medalist”) is a private equity firm that invests in commercial real estate. Our Manager has sponsored two prior investment programs in the past 10 years, Medalist Fund I and Medalist Fund II. The total amount of money raised for each program: approximately $11,500,000 for Fund I and approximately $4,750,000 for Fund II. Descriptions of Fund I’s and Fund II’s performance are below. So far there have been no major adverse business developments or conditions experienced in the formation or performance of Fund I or Fund II.

 

Medalist Fund I, LLC is a private real estate fund issued under Regulation D. The fund was fully invested by December 31, 2014 and contains three commercial properties representing retail, multi-family and flex/industrial. Fund I closed on December 31, 2014 and has 3 properties with an original aggregate value of $42,500,000 consisting of one shopping center (located in Gastonia N.C), one industrial/flex property (located in Charlotte, N.C.) and one multi-family property (located in Roanoke, Virginia). The investment strategy for Fund I is a value-add and diverse property strategy similar to the strategy designated for our company. The fund has distributed an 8.00% annualized quarterly distribution to investors for the last 11 quarters (since inception). To date, no sales of properties or capital events have occurred in the fund. Medalist Fund I, LLC anticipates, but is not obligated, to liquidate within five to seven years of the termination of its offering, December 31, 2014. Therefore, Medalist Fund I, LLC has not yet reached its anticipated liquidity event.

 

Medalist Fund II, LLC was opened on August 14, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, Fund II has approximately $4,750,000 in equity investments. Fund II currently has an aggregate property value of approximately $12,050,000 representing the aggregate purchase value of one shopping center in Newport News, Virginia acquired in August 2015 and an industrial/flex property acquired in February 2016. The investment strategy for Fund II is a value-add and diverse property strategy similar to the strategy designated for our company. To date, there have been no major adverse business developments or conditions experienced in the formation or performance of Fund II. Medalist Fund II, LLC anticipates, but is not obligated, to liquidate approximately seven years following the termination of its offering, which remains ongoing. Therefore, Medalist Fund II, LLC has not yet reached its anticipated liquidity event.

 

100% of the properties acquired by prior investment programs sponsored by our Manager are located in the South. Calculated by acquisition cost, 69.0% of the properties acquired by prior investment programs sponsored by our Manager are commercial properties and 31.0% are residential properties.

 

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OUR MANAGER AND RELATED AGREEMENTS

 

Our Manager

 

We are externally managed and advised by Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., or our Manager, pursuant to a Management Agreement. See “— The Management Agreement.” Each of our officers and one of our directors are also officers of our Manager. Our Manager is primarily responsible for managing our day-to-day business affairs and assets and carrying out the directives of our board of directors. Our Manager maintains a contractual as opposed to a fiduciary relationship with us. Our Manager will conduct our operations and manage our portfolio of real estate investments. We have no paid employees.

 

The officers of our Manager are as follow:

 

Name   Age*   Position
Thomas E. Messier   61   Co-Founder and Co-President
William R. Elliott   64   Co-Founder and Co-President

*As of April 8, 2016

 

The background and experience of Messrs. Messier and Elliot are described above in “Management — Our Executive Officers and Directors.”

   

Management Agreement

 

Upon completion of this offering, we will enter into a Management Agreement with our Manager pursuant to which it will provide for the day-to-day management of our operations. The Management Agreement will require our Manager to manage our business affairs in conformity with the investment guidelines and other policies as approved and monitored by our board of directors. Our Manager’s role as Manager will be under the supervision and direction of our board of directors. Our Manager does not currently manage or advise any other entities and is not actively seeking new clients in such a capacity, although it is not prohibited from doing so under the Management Agreement.

 

Management Services

 

Our Manager will be responsible for (1) the selection, purchase and sale of our portfolio investments, (2) our financing activities, and (3) providing us with advisory services. Our Manager will be responsible for our day-to-day operations and will perform (or will cause to be performed) such services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate.

 

Term and Termination

 

Our Management Agreement will have an initial term through December 31, 2016 and then will automatically renew annually. The Management Agreement may be amended or modified by agreement between us and our Manager. Our independent directors will review our Manager’s performance and the fees payable to the Manager under the Management Agreement annually and, following the initial term, the Management Agreement may be terminated annually upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of our independent directors, based upon (1) unsatisfactory performance that is materially detrimental to us or (2) our determination that the fees payable to our Manager are not fair, subject to our Manager’s right to prevent such termination due to unfair fees by accepting a reduction of the fees agreed to by at least two-thirds of our independent directors. We must provide 180 days prior notice of any such termination. Unless terminated for cause as described below, our Manager will be paid a termination fee equal to three times the sum of the management fee and incentive fee earned, in each case, by our Manager during the 12-month period prior to such termination, calculated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter.

 

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We may also terminate the Management Agreement at any time, including during the initial term, without the payment of any termination fee, with 30 days prior written notice from our board of directors for cause, which is defined as:

 

  our Manager’s continued breach of any material provision of the Management Agreement following a period of 30 days after written notice thereof (or 45 days after written notice of such breach if our Manager, under certain circumstances, has taken steps to cure such breach within 30 days of the written notice);
     
  the occurrence of certain events with respect to the bankruptcy or insolvency of our Manager, including an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case or our Manager authorizing or filing a voluntary bankruptcy petition;
     
  any change of control of our Manager which a majority of our independent directors determines is materially detrimental to us;
     
  our Manager’s inability to perform its obligations under the Management Agreement;
     
  our Manager commits fraud against us, misappropriates or embezzles our funds, or acts, or fails to act, in a manner constituting gross negligence, or acts in a manner constituting bad faith or willful misconduct, in the performance of its duties under the Management Agreement; provided, however, that if any of these actions or omissions is caused by an employee and/or officer of our Manager or one of its affiliates and the Manager takes all necessary and appropriate action against such person and cures the damage caused by such actions or omissions within 30 days of the Manager’s actual knowledge of its commission or omission, the Management Agreement shall not be terminable; and
     
  the dissolution of our Manager.

 

Our Manager may assign the agreement in its entirety or delegate certain of its duties under the Management Agreement to any of its affiliates without the approval of our independent directors subject to certain caveats.

 

Our Manager may terminate the Management Agreement if we become required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, with such termination deemed to occur immediately before such event, in which case we would not be required to pay a termination fee. Our Manager may decline to renew the Management Agreement by providing us with 180 days written notice, in which case we would not be required to pay a termination fee. In addition, if we default in the performance of any material term of the agreement and the default continues for a period of 30 days after written notice to us, our Manager may terminate the Management Agreement upon 60 days’ written notice. If the Management Agreement is terminated by our Manager upon our breach, we would be required to pay our Manager the termination fee described above.

 

We may not assign our rights or responsibilities under the Management Agreement without the prior written consent of our Manager, except in the case of assignment to another REIT or other organization which is our successor, in which case such successor organization will be bound under the Management Agreement and by the terms of such assignment in the same manner as we are bound under the Management Agreement.

 

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Management Fees, Incentive Fees and Expense Reimbursements

 

Type   Description
     
Asset Management Fee   We will pay our Manager a monthly asset management fee equal to 0.125% of our stockholders’ equity payable in arrears in cash. For purposes of calculating the asset management fee, our stockholders’ equity means: (a) the sum of (1) the net proceeds from (or equity value assigned to) all issuances of the Company’s equity and equity equivalent securities (including common stock, common stock equivalents, preferred stock and OP Units issued by our operating partnership) since inception (allocated on a pro rata daily basis for such issuances during the fiscal quarter of any such issuance), plus (2) the Company’s retained earnings at the end of the most recently completed calendar quarter (without taking into account any non-cash equity compensation expense incurred in current or prior periods), less (b) any amount that our company has paid to repurchase our common stock issued in this or any subsequent offering. Stockholders’ equity also excludes (1) any unrealized gains and losses and other non-cash items (including depreciation and amortization) that have impacted stockholders’ equity as reported in the Company’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (2) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP, and certain non-cash items not otherwise described above, in each case after discussions between our Manager and our independent director(s) and approval by a majority of our independent directors.  As a result, our stockholders’ equity, for purposes of calculating the asset management fee, could be greater or less than the amount of stockholders’ equity shown on our financial statements. Our Manager uses the proceeds from its asset management fee in part to pay compensation to its officers and personnel who, notwithstanding that certain of them also are our officers, receive no cash compensation directly from us. The asset management fee is payable independent of the performance of our investments.  The asset management fee of our Manager shall be calculated within 5 days after the end of each month and such calculation shall be promptly delivered to us. We are obligated to pay the monthly installment of the asset management fee calculated for that month in cash within five business days after delivery to us of the written statement of our Manager setting forth the computation of the asset management fee for such month.
     
Property Management Fee   Shockoe Properties, LLC, an entity in which Mr. Elliott holds a 36% interest, shall receive an annual property management fee, of up to 3.0% of the monthly gross revenue from any of our Investments. The Property Management Fee will be paid in arrears on a monthly basis.
     
Acquisition Fee   Our Manager will receive an acquisition fee, of 2.0% of the purchase price plus transaction costs, for each Property or Investment made on our behalf at the closing of the acquisition of such Property or Investment, in consideration for such party’s assistance in effectuating such acquisition.
     
Incentive Compensation  

 

Incentive Fee

 

We will pay our Manager an incentive fee with respect to each calendar quarter (or part thereof that the Management Agreement is in effect) in arrears. The incentive fee will be an amount, not less than zero, equal to the difference between (1) the product of (x) 20% and (y) the difference between (i) our AFFO (as defined below) for the previous 12-month period, and (ii) the product of (A) the weighted average of the issue price of equity securities issued in this offering and in future offerings and transactions, multiplied by the weighted average number of all shares of our common stock outstanding on a fully-diluted basis (including any restricted stock units, any restricted shares of common stock and OP Units) in the previous 12-month period, exclusive of equity securities issued prior to this offering, and (B) 7%, and (2) the sum of any incentive fee paid to our Manager with respect to the first three calendar quarters of such previous 12-month period. For purposes of calculating the incentive fee during the first 12 months after completion of this offering, AFFO will be determined by annualizing the applicable period following completion of this offering.

 

AFFO is calculated by removing the effect of items that do not reflect ongoing property operations. We further adjust FFO for certain items that are not added to net income in NAREIT’s definition of FFO, such as acquisition expenses, equity based compensation expenses, and any other non-recurring or non-cash expenses, which are costs that do not relate to the operating performance of our properties, and subtract recurring capital expenditures (and, when calculating the incentive fee only, we further adjust FFO to include any realized gains or losses on our real estate investments). The following example illustrates how we would calculate our quarterly incentive fee in accordance with the Management Agreement. Our actual results may differ materially from the following example.

 

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Assume the following:

 

  AFFO for the 12-month period equals $4,000,000;
  3,000,000 shares of common stock are outstanding and the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the 12-month period is 3,000,000;
  weighted average issue price per share of common stock is $10.00; and
  incentive fees paid during the first three quarters of such 12-month period are $300,000.

 

Under these assumptions, the quarterly incentive fee payable to our Manager would be $80,000, as calculated below:

 

1.   AFFO   $ 4,000,000  
2.   Weighted average issue price per share of common stock of $10.00 multiplied by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding of 3,000,000 multiplied by 7%   $ 2,100,000  
3.   Excess of AFFO over amount calculated in 2 above   $ 1,900,000  
4.   20% of the amount calculated in 3 above   $ 380,000  
5.   Incentive fee equals the amount calculated in 4 above less the incentive fees paid during the first three quarters of such previous 12-month period;   $ 300,000  
6.   Quarterly incentive fee payable to our Manager:   $ 80,000  

 

Pursuant to the calculation formula, if AFFO increases and the weighted average share price and weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding remain constant, the incentive fee will increase.

 

Our Manager will compute each quarterly installment of the incentive fee within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter with respect to which such installment is payable and promptly deliver such calculation to our board of directors. The amount of the installment shown in the calculation will be due and payable no later than the date which is five business days after the date of delivery of such computation to our board of directors.

 

Liability and Indemnification

 

Pursuant to the Management Agreement and unless provided otherwise therein, our Manager will not assume any responsibility other than to render the services called for thereunder in good faith and will not be responsible for any action of our board of directors in following or declining to follow its advice or recommendations. Our Manager maintains a contractual as opposed to a fiduciary relationship with us (however, to the extent that officers of our Manager also serve as officers of our company, such officers will owe us duties under Maryland law in their capacity as officers of our company, which may include the duty to exercise reasonable care in the performance of such officers’ responsibilities, as well as the duties of loyalty, good faith and candid disclosure). Under the terms of the Management Agreement, our Manager, its officers, members, managers, directors, personnel, any person controlling or controlled by our Manager and any person providing sub-advisory services to our Manager will not be liable to us, any subsidiary of ours, our directors, our stockholders or any subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for acts or omissions performed in accordance with and pursuant to the Management Agreement, except because of acts or omissions constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of their duties under the Management Agreement, as determined by a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. We have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless our Manager, its officers, members, managers, directors, personnel, any person controlling or controlled by our Manager and any person providing sub-advisory services to our Manager with respect to all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims arising from acts or omissions of such indemnified party not constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties, performed in good faith in accordance with and pursuant to the Management Agreement as determined by a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or those incurred in connection with the Manager’s proper release of the Company’s money or other property, as set forth in the Management Agreement. Additionally, we have agreed to advance funds to any of the indemnified parties for legal fees and other costs and expenses incurred as a result of any claim, suit, action or proceeding for which indemnification is sought, provided, that such Manager indemnified party undertakes to repay the advanced funds to us in the event it is ultimately determined that indemnification is not appropriate. Our Manager has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless us, our directors and officers, personnel, agents and any persons controlling or controlled by us with respect to all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims arising from acts or omissions of our Manager constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties under the Management Agreement or any claims by our Manager’s personnel relating to the terms and conditions of their employment by our Manager. Our Manager will not be liable for errors that may result from ordinary negligence, such as errors in the investment decision making process (such as a transaction that was effected in violation of our investment guidelines).

 

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POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES

 

The following is a discussion of certain of our investment, financing and other policies. These policies have been determined by our board of directors and may be amended or revised from time to time by our board of directors without a vote of our stockholders, except as set forth below. However, any change to any of these policies would be made by our board of directors only after a review and analysis of such change, in light of then-existing business and other circumstances, and then only if our directors believe, in the exercise of their business judgment, that it is advisable to do so and in our and our stockholders’ best interests.

 

Our Investment Policies

 

Investment in Real Estate or Interests in Real Estate

 

We conduct all of our investment activities through our operating partnership and its affiliates. 

 

We will focus on sourcing value-add Investments in markets in which we maintain deep industry relationships and local market knowledge. We intend to create value for investors by utilizing our relationships and local knowledge of commercial real estate investment, management and disposition

 

Our primary investment characteristics include:

 

  · Equity investments of $1 million to $6 million;
  · 80% maximum leverage ratio for the portfolio;
  · Average property values between $5 million to $30 million;
  · Focus on Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia;
  · Particular focus on undermanaged properties with high value-add opportunities; and
  · Relationship sourcing under the radar of big institutional buyers.

 

Our investments are expected to be geographically concentrated in the southeastern part of the United States. We expect our investment portfolio to consist of direct and indirect equity interests in individual properties and/or larger property portfolios. We will generally target equity investments ranging from approximately $1 million to $6 million, and will target approximately 80% average leverage across our investment portfolio. We will underwrite potential investments to a target gross property-level IRR of between 13% and 15%, although there can be no assurance that such returns can or will be achieved.

 

Our investment policies give broad discretion to our Manager and officers to source, approve and consummate acquisitions. However, our investment guidelines currently require board approval of any acquisition or other investment that: (i) requires equity investment in excess of $10.0 million; (ii) would be leveraged, on an individual basis, more than 85%; (iii) would cause the aggregate leverage of our portfolio to exceed 80%; or (iv) would otherwise materially differ from the investment parameters approved by our board.

 

Financing

 

The aggregate indebtedness of our investment portfolio is expected to be approximately 80% of the all-in cost of all portfolio investments (direct and indirect). However, there is no maximum limit on the amount of indebtedness secured by the portfolio investments as a whole, or any portfolio investment individually.

 

We will have the ability to exercise discretion as to the types of financing structures we utilize. For example, we may obtain new mortgage loans to finance property acquisitions, acquire properties subject to debt or otherwise incur secured or unsecured indebtedness at the property level at any time. The use of leverage will enable us to acquire more properties than if leverage is not used. However, leverage will also increase the risks associated with an investment in our common stock. See “Risk Factors.”

 

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The Manager may also elect to enter into one or more credit facilities with financial institutions. Any such credit facility may be unsecured or secured, including by a pledge of or security interest granted in our assets.

 

Disposition Terms

 

Investments may be disposed of by sale on an all-cash or upon other terms as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion. We may accept purchase money obligations and other forms of consideration (including other real properties) in exchange for one or more investments. In connection with acquisitions or dispositions of investments, we may enter into certain guarantee or indemnification obligations relating to environmental claims, breaches of representations and warranties, claims against certain financial defaults and other matters, and may be required to maintain reserves against such obligations. In addition, we may dispose of less than 100% of its ownership interest in any investment in the sole discretion of the Manager.

 

We will consider all viable exit strategies for our investments, including single asset and/or portfolio sales to institutions, investment companies, real estate investment trusts, individuals and 1031 exchange buyers.

 

Interested Director and Officer Transactions

 

Pursuant to the MGCL, a contract or other transaction between us and a director or between us and any other corporation or other entity in which any of our directors is a director or has a material financial interest is not void or voidable solely on the grounds of such common directorship or interest. The common directorship or interest, the presence of such director at the meeting at which the contract or transaction is authorized, approved or ratified or the counting of the director’s vote in favor thereof will not render the transaction void or voidable if:

 

  the fact of the common directorship or interest is disclosed or known to our board of directors or a committee of our board of directors, and our board of directors or such committee authorizes, approves or ratifies the transaction or contract by the affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested directors, even if the disinterested directors constitute less than a quorum;
     
  the fact of the common directorship or interest is disclosed or known to our stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the transaction is authorized, approved or ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote, other than the votes of shares owned of record or beneficially by the interested director or corporation or other entity; or
     
  the transaction or contract is fair and reasonable to us at the time it is authorized, ratified or approved.

 

Conflict of Interest Policies

 

Our management will be subject to various conflicts of interest arising out of our relationship with our Manager and its affiliates. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest.” We are entirely dependent upon our Manager for our day-to-day management and do not have any independent employees. Our executive officers and two of our directors, serve as officers of our Manager. Messrs. Messier and Elliott each own 50% of our Manager. As a result, conflicts of interest may arise between our Manager and its affiliates, on the one hand, and us on the other.

 

Other than the limitations placed upon our Manager’s sponsorship or management of new real estate entities or investment programs during the pendency of this offering and the deployment of the net proceeds hereof, we have not established any formal procedures to resolve the conflicts of interest. Our stockholders will therefore be dependent on the good faith of the respective parties to resolve conflicts equitably, and reliant upon the fiduciary duties of our directors and executive officers. We do not have a policy that expressly restricts any of our directors, officers, stockholders or affiliates, including our Manager and its officers and employees, from having a pecuniary interest in an investment in or from conducting, for their own account, business activities of the type we conduct.

 

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Investment Parameters

 

We will seek to achieve a gross, annual IRR of 13% to 15% on our investments by pursuing a value-add strategy of repositioning, leasing, and managing multifamily, retail, and flex-industrial properties located in our target markets. We will seek to generate overall attractive risk-adjusted returns through our investments, a portion of which may include current-yielding investments. Our principal investment objective will be to furnish investment capital that we or our affiliates may commit to raise for commercial real estate investments that we will manage and potentially co-own with unrelated investors. There is no guarantee that the Manager will be able to identify investments that will permit it to achieve such returns or investment objectives. Prospective investors should further note that these IRR figures refer to the type of investments we intend to source, and do not represent projected returns to investors in the offering, which will be subject to additional factors including company expenses (including offering expenses) and the timing of an investor’s investment in our common stock.

 

We expect our investment portfolio to consist of equity interests in individual properties and/or larger property portfolios. The Manager will exercise control over the real estate being acquired, with affiliates of the Manager providing property management and related services on market terms post-investment as appropriate.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Management Agreement

 

Prior to the initial closing of this offering, we will enter into the Management Agreement. We describe this agreement and the associated fees in “Our Manager and Related Agreements — Management Agreement.” Messrs. Messier and Elliott, each a director and co-President of our company, each own 50% of the outstanding stock of our Manager.

 

Initial Transactions

 

In connection with our intended initial acquisitions, Messrs. Elliott and Messier, will receive material benefits as described below.

 

  · Messrs. Messier and Elliott each own an approximately 1% interest in Medalist Fund I, LLC, which owns the Franklin Square Property and the Arrowridge Property. Additionally, our Manager is the manager of Medalist Fund I, LLC, and is entitled to a 20% carried interest upon the return of all investor capital and a 8% cumulative return to investors. Because we do not know the purchase prices of the Franklin Square and Arrowridge Properties at this time, we cannot determine the aggregate value that will be received by Messrs. Messier and Elliott relative to the potential sales of the Franklin Square Property and the Arrowridge Property to us at this time.

 

  · Messrs. Messier and Elliott each own a 2.2% interest in Medalist Properties 8, LLC, owner of the Hampton Inn Property. Additionally, our Manager is entitled to a 15% carried interest as manager of Medalist Properties 8, LLC upon investors receipt of an 8% internal rate of return. Because we do not know the purchase price of the Hampton Inn Property at this time, we cannot determine the aggregate value to be received by Messrs. Messier and Elliott relative to the potential sale of the Hampton Inn Property to us. Messrs. Elliott and Messier intend to contribute their individual interests in the Hampton Inn Property to us, rather than taking cash.

 

  · Mr. Elliot owns a 2% interest in Medalist Properties 1, LLC, owner of the Warsaw Village Property. Additionally, our Manager is entitled to a 15% carried interest as manager of Medalist Properties 1, LLC upon investors receipt of an 8% internal rate of return. Because we do not know the purchase price of the Warsaw Village Property at this time, we cannot determine the aggregate value to be received by Messrs. Messier and Elliott relative to the potential sale of the Warsaw Village Property to us.

 

We anticipate that the purchase price of each of our Initial Properties will be supported by an MAI appraisal of the applicable Initial Property, whether obtained by us or by a lender making an acquisition loan to us. In addition to such MAI appraisals, the Dealer-Manager intends to obtain independent fairness opinions with respect to certain value determinations referenced in this Offering Statement in respect of our acquisitions of the Initial Properties.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

 

The table below sets forth, as of the completion of this offering, certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock and shares of common stock issuable upon redemption of Units immediately following the completion of this offering and our initial property acquisition for (1) each person who is expected to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding shares of common stock immediately following the completion of this offering, (2) each of our directors and named executive officers, and (3) all of our directors and executive officers as a group. This table assumes that our initial acquisition and this offering are completed, and gives effect to the expected issuance of shares of common stock and Units in connection with this offering and our initial acquisition transaction (based on the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover of this offering circular). Each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all of the shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by such person, except as otherwise set forth in the notes to the table. The extent to which a person will hold shares of common stock as opposed to Units is set forth in the footnotes below.

 

The SEC has defined “beneficial ownership” of a security to mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of voting power and/or investment power over such security. A stockholder is also deemed to be, as of any date, the beneficial owner of all securities that such stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days after that date through (1) the exercise of any option, warrant or right, (2) the conversion of a security, (3) the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement or (4) the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, our shares of common stock subject to options or other rights (as set forth above) held by that person that are exercisable as of the completion of this offering or will become exercisable within 60 days thereafter, are deemed outstanding, while such shares are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing percentage ownership of any other person.

 

Name of Beneficial
Owner (1)
  Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
    Number of
Shares and
Units
Beneficially
Owned
    Percentage
of all
Shares
    Percentage
of all
Shares and
Units
 
Thomas Messier     1       1       50 %        
William Elliott     1       1       50 %        
All Named Executive Officers and Directors as a Group     2       2       100 %        

 

(1)  The address of each beneficial owner listed is 11 S. 12 th Street, Suite 401, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following is a summary of the rights and preferences of our capital stock. While we believe that the following description covers the material terms of our capital stock, the description may not contain all of the information that is important to you. We encourage you to read carefully this entire offering circular, our charter and bylaws and the relevant provisions of Maryland law for a more complete understanding of our capital stock. Copies of our charter and bylaws are filed as exhibits to the offering statement of which this offering circular is a part and the following summary, to the extent it relates to those documents, is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto. See “Additional Information.”

 

General

 

Our charter provides that we may issue up to 750,000,000 shares of common stock and 250,000,000 shares of preferred stock, both having par value $0.01 per share. Immediately prior to this offering, we had two outstanding shares of common stock. Upon completion of this offering 5,000,002 shares of common stock will be issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock will be issued and outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

The shares of our common stock offered by this offering circular, when issued, will be duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. Our common stock is not convertible or subject to redemption.

 

Holders of our common stock:

 

  are entitled to receive distributions authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of legally available funds after payment of, or provision for, full cumulative distributions on and any required redemptions of shares of preferred stock then outstanding;

 

  in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of our company, are entitled to share ratably in the distributable assets of our company remaining after satisfaction of the prior preferential rights of the preferred stock and the satisfaction of all of our debts and liabilities; and

 

  do not have preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, or redemption rights or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities and generally have no appraisal rights unless our board of directors determines that appraisal rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of shares, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights.

 

Shares of our common stock will be held in “uncertificated” form, which will eliminate the physical handling and safekeeping responsibilities inherent in owning transferable stock certificates and eliminate the need to return a duly executed stock certificate to effect a transfer. [TRANSFER AGENT] acts as our registrar and as the transfer agent for our shares. Transfers can be effected simply by mailing to [TRANSFER AGENT] a transfer and assignment form, which will be provided to you at no charge upon written request.

 

Stockholder Voting

 

Subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock contained in our charter and except as may otherwise be specified in our charter, each share of common stock will have one vote per share on all matters voted on by stockholders, including election of directors. Because stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock can elect our entire board of directors.

 

Generally, the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast is necessary to take stockholder action, except that a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect a director and except as set forth in the next paragraph.

 

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business, unless approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter provides for a majority vote in these situations. Our charter further provides that any or all of our directors may be removed from office for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. For these purposes, “cause” means, with respect to any particular director, conviction of a felony or final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable material harm to us through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.

 

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Each stockholder entitled to vote on a matter may do so at a meeting in person or by proxy directing the manner in which he or she desires that his or her vote be cast or without a meeting by a consent in writing or by electronic transmission. Any proxy must be received by us prior to the date on which the vote is taken. Pursuant to Maryland law and our bylaws, if no meeting is held, 100% of the stockholders must consent in writing or by electronic transmission to take effective action on behalf of our company, unless the action is advised, and submitted to the stockholders for approval, by our board of directors, in which case such action may be approved by the consent in writing or by electronic transmission of stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of stockholders.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our charter authorizes our board of directors, without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 250,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more classes or series, with such terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption, as our board of directors approves. As of the date of this offering circular, there are no shares of preferred stock outstanding and we have no present plans to issue any preferred stock.

 

Issuance of Additional Securities and Debt Instruments

 

Our board of directors is authorized to issue additional securities, including common stock, preferred stock, convertible preferred stock and convertible debt, for cash, property or other consideration on such terms as they may deem advisable and to classify or reclassify any unissued shares of capital stock of our company into other classes or series of stock without approval of the holders of the outstanding securities. We may issue debt obligations with conversion privileges on such terms and conditions as the directors may determine, whereby the holders of such debt obligations may acquire our common stock or preferred stock. We may also issue warrants, options and rights to buy shares on such terms as the directors deem advisable, despite the possible dilution in the value of the outstanding shares which may result from the exercise of such warrants, options or rights to buy shares, as part of a ratable issue to stockholders, as part of a private or public offering or as part of other financial arrangements. Our board of directors, with the approval of a majority of the directors and without any action by stockholders, may also amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of our stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue.

 

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

 

In order to qualify as a REIT under the federal tax laws, we must meet several requirements concerning the ownership of our outstanding capital stock. Specifically, no more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals, as defined in the federal income tax laws to include specified private foundations, employee benefit plans and trusts, and charitable trusts, during the last half of a taxable year, other than our first REIT taxable year. Moreover, 100 or more persons must own our outstanding shares of capital stock during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year, other than our first REIT taxable year.

 

Because our board of directors believes it is essential for our company to qualify and continue to qualify as a REIT and for other corporate purposes, our charter, subject to the exceptions described below, provides that no person may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the federal income tax laws, more than 9.8% of:

 

  the total value of the outstanding shares of our capital stock; or

 

  the total value or number (whichever is more restrictive) of outstanding shares of our common stock.

 

This limitation regarding the ownership of our shares is the “9.8% Ownership Limitation.” Further, our charter provides for certain circumstances where our board of directors may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a person from the 9.8% Ownership Limitation and establish or increase an excepted holder limit for such person. This exception is the “Excepted Holder Ownership Limitation.” Subject to certain conditions, our board of directors may also increase the 9.8% Ownership Limitation for one or more persons and decrease the 9.8% Ownership Limitation for all other persons.

 

To assist us in preserving our status as a REIT, among other purposes, our charter also contains limitations on the ownership and transfer of shares of common stock that would:

 

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  result in our capital stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons, determined without reference to any rules of attribution;

 

  result in our company being “closely held” under the federal income tax laws; and

 

  cause our company to own, actually or constructively, 9.8% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant of our real property, under the federal income tax laws or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT.

 

Any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void, with the intended transferee acquiring no rights in such shares of stock. If any transfer of our stock occurs which, if effective, would result in any person owning shares in violation of the other limitations described above (including the 9.8% Ownership Limitation), then that number of shares the ownership of which otherwise would cause such person to violate such limitations will automatically result in such shares being designated as shares-in-trust and transferred automatically to a trust effective on the day before the purported transfer of such shares. The record holder of the shares that are designated as shares-in-trust, or the prohibited owner, will be required to submit such number of shares of capital stock to our company for registration in the name of the trust. We will designate the trustee, but it will not be affiliated with our company. The beneficiary of the trust will be one or more charitable organizations that are named by our company. If the transfer to the trust would not be effective for any reason to prevent a violation of the limitations on ownership and transfer, then the transfer of that number of shares that otherwise would cause the violation will be null and void, with the intended transferee acquiring no rights in such shares.

 

Shares-in-trust will remain shares of issued and outstanding capital stock and will be entitled to the same rights and privileges as all other stock of the same class or series. The trust will receive all dividends and other distributions on the shares-in-trust and will hold such dividends or other distributions in trust for the benefit of the beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that shares of stock have been transferred to the trust will be paid by the recipient to the trustee upon demand. Any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the trustee. The trust will vote all shares-in-trust and, subject to Maryland law, the trustee will have the authority to rescind as void any vote cast by the proposed transferee prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast the vote.

 

Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares of our stock have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will sell the shares to a person designated by the trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the above ownership limitations. Upon the sale, the interest of the beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner and to the beneficiary as follows. The prohibited owner generally will receive from the trust the lesser of:

 

  the price per share such prohibited owner paid for the shares of capital stock that were designated as shares-in-trust or, in the case of a gift or devise, the market price per share on the date of such transfer; or

 

  the price per share received by the trust from the sale of such shares-in-trust.

 

The trustee may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions that have been paid to the prohibited owner and are owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. The trust will distribute to the beneficiary any amounts received by the trust in excess of the amounts to be paid to the prohibited owner. If, prior to our discovery that shares of our stock have been transferred to the trust, the shares are sold by the proposed transferee, then the shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and, to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for the shares that exceeds the amount such prohibited owner was entitled to receive, the excess shall be paid to the trustee upon demand.

 

In addition, the shares-in-trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to our company, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of:

 

  the price per share in the transaction that created such shares-in-trust or, in the case of a gift or devise, the market price per share on the date of such gift or devise; or

 

  the market price per share on the date that our company, or our designee, accepts such offer.

 

We may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions that have been paid to the prohibited owner and are owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. We may pay the amount of such reduction to the trustee for the benefit of the beneficiary. We will have the right to accept such offer for a period of 90 days after the later of the date of the purported transfer which resulted in such shares-in-trust or the date we determine in good faith that a transfer resulting in such shares-in-trust occurred.

 

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“Market price” on any date means the closing price for our stock on such date. The “closing price” refers to the last quoted price as reported by the primary securities exchange or market on which our stock is then listed or quoted for trading. If our stock is not so listed or quoted at the time of determination of the market price, our board of directors will determine the market price in good faith.

 

If you acquire or attempt to acquire shares of our capital stock in violation of the foregoing restrictions, or if you owned common or preferred stock that was transferred to a trust, then we will require you to give us immediate written notice of such event or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, at least 15 days written notice, and to provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such transfer on our status as a REIT.

 

If you own, directly or indirectly, more than 5%, or such lower percentages as required under the federal income tax laws, of our outstanding shares of stock, then you must, within 30 days after January 1 of each year, provide to us a written statement or affidavit stating your name and address, the number of shares of capital stock owned directly or indirectly, and a description of how such shares are held. In addition, each direct or indirect stockholder shall provide to us such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such ownership on our qualification as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limit.

 

The ownership limit generally will not apply to the acquisition of shares of capital stock by an underwriter that participates in a public offering of such shares. In addition, our board of directors, upon receipt of a ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel and upon such other conditions as our board of directors may direct, including the receipt of certain representations and undertakings required by our charter, may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a person from the ownership limit and establish or increase an excepted holder limit for such person. However, the ownership limit will continue to apply until our board of directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of our company to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT or that compliance is no longer required for REIT qualification.

 

All certificates, if any, representing our common or preferred stock, will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

 

The ownership limit in our charter may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a takeover or other transaction or change in control of our company that might involve a premium price for your shares or otherwise be in your interest as a stockholder.

 

Distributions

 

Some or all of our distributions may be paid from sources other than cash flow from operations, such as from the proceeds of this offering, cash advances to us by our Manager, the sale of our assets, cash resulting from a waiver of asset management fees and borrowings (including borrowings secured by our assets) in anticipation of future operating cash flow until such time as we have sufficient cash flow from operations to fully fund the payment of distributions therefrom. Generally, our policy is to pay distributions from cash flow from operations. Further, because we may receive income from interest or rents at various times during our fiscal year and because we may need cash flow from operations during a particular period to fund capital expenditures and other expenses, we expect that at least during the early stages of our development and from time to time during our operational stage, we will declare distributions in anticipation of cash flow that we expect to receive during a later period and we will pay these distributions in advance of our actual receipt of these funds. We may fund such distributions from third party borrowings, offering proceeds, sale proceeds, advances from our Manager or sponsors or from our Manager’s deferral of its base management fee. To the extent that we make payments or reimburse certain expenses to our Manager pursuant to our Management Agreement, our cash flow and therefore our ability to make distributions from cash flow, as well as cash flow available for investment, will be negatively impacted. See “Our Manager and Related Agreements.” In addition, to the extent we invest in development or redevelopment projects or in properties that have significant capital requirements, these properties will not immediately generate operating cash flow, although we intend to structure many of these investments to provide for income to us during the development stage. Our ability to make distributions may be negatively impacted, especially during our early periods of operation.

 

Following completion of this offering, our board of directors intends to, on a quarterly basis, establish the distribution amount for our common stock for the quarter. The record date and payment date will be as determined by our board of directors in their sole discretion. We expect to declare distributions on a quarterly basis and to pay distributions to our stockholders on a quarterly basis, in arrears. Distributions will be paid to stockholders as of the record dates for the periods selected by the directors.

 

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We are required to make distributions sufficient to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT for tax purposes. Generally, distributed income will not be taxable to us under the Code if we distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income.

 

Distributions are authorized at the discretion of our board of directors, in accordance with our earnings, cash flow, anticipated cash flow and general financial condition. The board’s discretion will be directed, in substantial part, by its intention to cause us to continue to qualify as a REIT.

 

Many of the factors that can affect the availability and timing of cash distributions to stockholders are beyond our control, and a change in any one factor could adversely affect our ability to pay future distributions. There can be no assurance that future cash flow will support distributions at the rate that such distributions are paid in any particular distribution period.

 

Under Maryland law, we may issue our own securities as stock dividends in lieu of making cash distributions to stockholders. We may issue securities as stock dividends in the future.

 

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IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND CORPORATE LAW AND
OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

 

The following is a summary of some important provisions of Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws in effect as of the date of this offering circular, copies of which are filed as an exhibit to the offering statement to which this offering circular relates and may also be obtained from us.

 

Our Charter and Bylaws

 

Stockholder rights and related matters are governed by the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, and our charter and bylaws. Provisions of our charter and bylaws, which are summarized below, may make it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors and may discourage or make more difficult any attempt by a person or group to obtain control of our company.

 

Stockholders’ Meetings

 

An annual meeting of our stockholders will be held each year on the date and at the time and place set by our board of directors for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. A special meeting of our stockholders may be called in the manner provided in the bylaws, including by the president, the chief executive officer, the chairman of the board, or our board of directors, and, subject to certain procedural requirements set forth in our bylaws, must be called by the secretary to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting. Subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock contained in our charter and except as may otherwise be specified in our charter, at any meeting of the stockholders, each outstanding share of common stock entitles the owner of record thereof on the applicable record date to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. In general, the presence in person or by proxy of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote constitutes a quorum, and the majority vote of our stockholders will be binding on all of our stockholders.

 

Our Board of Directors

 

A vacancy in our board of directors caused by the death, resignation or incapacity of a director or by an increase in the number of directors may be filled only by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Any director may resign at any time and may be removed only for cause, and then only by our stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.

 

Each director will serve a term beginning on the date of his or her election and ending on the next annual meeting of the stockholders and when his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. Because holders of common stock have no right to cumulative voting for the election of directors, at each annual meeting of stockholders, the holders of the shares of common stock with a majority of the voting power of the common stock will be able to elect all of the directors.

 

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

 

Maryland law permits us to include in our charter a provision limiting the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (1) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (2) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action.

 

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

 

  the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

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

 

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

 

However, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses.

 

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

 

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for monetary damages and our charter authorizes us to obligate ourselves to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to our directors, our officers, and our Manager (including any director or officer who is or was serving at the request of our company as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise). In addition, our bylaws require us to indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and our officers, and permit us, with the approval of our board of directors, to provide such indemnification and advance of expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of us in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of us, including our Manager, or a predecessor of us.

 

However, the SEC takes the position that indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and unenforceable.

 

We may also purchase and maintain insurance to indemnify such parties against the liability assumed by them whether or not we are required or have the power to indemnify them against this same liability.

 

Takeover Provisions of the MGCL

 

The following paragraphs summarize some provisions of Maryland law and our charter and bylaws which may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our stockholders.

 

Business Combinations

 

Under the MGCL, certain “business combinations” (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder (defined as any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s then outstanding voting stock or an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding stock of the corporation) or an affiliate of such an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board. After the five-year prohibition, any such business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of such corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least (1) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation and (2) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than voting stock held by the interested stockholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder, unless, among other conditions, the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares. These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder.

 

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Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has opted out of these provisions of the MGCL provided that the business combination is first approved by our board of directors, in which case, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and any person. As a result, any person may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our stockholders without compliance by our company with the super-majority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute.

 

Control Share Acquisitions

 

The MGCL provides that “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights except to the extent approved at a special meeting by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares of stock in a corporation in respect of which any of the following persons is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power of shares of stock of the corporation in the election of directors:

 

  a person who makes or proposes to make a control share acquisition;

 

  an officer of the corporation; or

 

an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation.

 

“Control shares” are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

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

 

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

 

  a majority or more of all voting power.

 

Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

 

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

 

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

 

The control share acquisition statute does not apply to (1) shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (2) acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

 

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of our stock. We cannot assure you that such provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.

 

Subtitle 8

 

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

 

  a classified board;

 

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  a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;

 

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

 

  a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred; and

 

  a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

 

We have elected to provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already vest in our board of directors the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships and require, unless called by the president, the chief executive officer, the chairman of the board or our board of directors, the request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders to call a special meeting to act on such matter.

 

Dissolution or Termination of Our Company

 

We are an infinite-life corporation that may be dissolved under the MGCL at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of our entire board and of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our operating partnership has a perpetual existence.

 

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

 

Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to the board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of the board of directors or (3) by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving the advance notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the board of directors at a special meeting may be made only (1) by or at the direction of the board of directors or (2) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with our bylaws for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving the advance notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

 

General

 

After giving effect to the completion of this offering, we will have 5,000,002 shares of common stock outstanding. The 5,000,002 shares of common stock sold in this offering will be freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, subject to the limitations on ownership set forth in our charter.

 

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. No assurance can be given as to (1) the likelihood that an active market for our shares of common stock will develop, (2) the liquidity of any such market, (3) the ability of the stockholders to sell the shares or (4) the prices that stockholders may obtain for any of the shares. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on the market price prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to this Offering.”

 

For a description of certain restrictions on transfers of shares of our common stock, see “Description of Capital Stock.”

 

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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS

 

Broker-Dealer Requirements

 

Each of the participating broker-dealers, authorized registered representatives or any other person selling shares of our common stock on our behalf is required to:

 

  •  make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of shares is a suitable and appropriate investment for each investor based on information provided by such investor to the broker-dealer, including such investor’s age, investment objectives, income, net worth, financial situation and other investments held by such investor; and
     
  •  maintain, for at least six (6) years, records of the information used to determine that an investment in our shares is suitable and appropriate for each investor.

 

In making this determination, your participating broker-dealer, authorized registered representative or other person selling shares on our behalf will, based on a review of the information provided by you, consider whether you:

 

  •  meet the minimum suitability standards established by us and the investment limitations established under Regulation A;
     
  •  can reasonably benefit from an investment in our shares based on your overall investment objectives and portfolio structure;
     
  •  are able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on your overall financial situation; and
     
  •  have an apparent understanding of:

 

  the fundamental risks of an investment in the shares;
     
  •  the risk that you may lose your entire investment;
     
  •  the lack of liquidity of the shares;
     
  •  the restrictions on transferability of the share;
     
  •  the background and qualifications of our management; and
     
  •  our business.

 

Restrictions Imposed by the USA PATRIOT Act and Related Acts

 

In accordance with the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, or the USA PATRIOT Act, the securities offered hereby may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, to any “unacceptable investor,” which means anyone who is:

 

  a “designated national,” “specially designated national,” “specially designated terrorist,” “specially designated global terrorist,” “foreign terrorist organization,” or “blocked person” within the definitions set forth in the Foreign Assets Control Regulations of the United States, or U.S., Treasury Department;
     
  acting on behalf of, or an entity owned or controlled by, any government against whom the U.S. maintains economic sanctions or embargoes under the Regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department;
     
  within the scope of Executive Order 13224 — Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism, effective September 24, 2001;

 

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  •  a person or entity subject to additional restrictions imposed by any of the following statutes or regulations and executive orders issued thereunder: the Trading with the Enemy Act, the National Emergencies Act, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the United Nations Participation Act, the International Security and Development Cooperation Act, the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1994, the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996, the Cuban Democracy Act, the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act and the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act or any other law of similar import as to any non-U.S. country, as each such act or law has been or may be amended, adjusted, modified or reviewed from time to time; or
     
  •  designated or blocked, associated or involved in terrorism, or subject to restrictions under laws, regulations, or executive orders as may apply in the future similar to those set forth above.

 

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THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

General

 

Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P., which we refer to as our operating partnership, was formed as a Delaware limited partnership on September 29, 2015. Substantially all of our assets are held by, and substantially all of our operations are conducted through, our operating partnership. On or prior to the initial closing of this offering, we will enter into an agreement of limited partnership of our operating partnership, or the Limited Partnership Agreement as the general partner and initial limited partner of our operating partnership. Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement, we are the sole general partner of the operating partnership.

 

As the general partner of our operating partnership, we have full, exclusive and complete responsibility and discretion in the management and control of the operating partnership, including the ability to cause the operating partnership to enter into certain major transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, re-financings, select tenants for our properties, enter into leases for our properties, make distributions to partners, and cause changes in the operating partnership’s business activities.

 

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Upon completion of this offering, limited partners other than us will own approximately __% of our operating partnership. The limited partners of our operating partnership have no authority in their capacity as limited partners to transact business for, or participate in the management activities or decisions of, our operating partnership except as required by applicable law. Consequently, we, by virtue of our position as the sole general partner, control the assets and business of our operating partnership.

 

In the Limited Partnership Agreement, the limited partners of our operating partnership expressly acknowledge that we, as general partner of our operating partnership, are acting for the benefit of our operating partnership, the limited partners and our stockholders, collectively. Neither us nor our board of directors is under any obligation to give priority to the separate interests of the limited partners in deciding whether to cause our operating partnership to take or decline to take any actions. In particular, we will be under no obligation to consider the tax consequence to limited partners when making decisions for the benefit of our operating partnership, but we are expressly permitted to take into account our tax consequences. If there is a conflict between the interests of our stockholders, on one hand, and the interests of the limited partners, on the other, we will endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or the limited partners; provided, however, that for so long as we own a controlling interest in our operating partnership, we have agreed to resolve any conflict that cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or the limited partners in favor of our stockholders. We are not liable under the Limited Partnership Agreement to our operating partnership or to any partner for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by limited partners in connection with such decisions so long as we have acted in good faith.

 

Units

 

Subject to our discretion as general partner to create additional classes of limited partnership interests, our operating partnership initially has two classes of limited partnership interests. These classes are the OP Units and the LTIP units. See “— LTIP Units” below. In calculating the percentage interests of our operating partnership’s partners, holders of LTIP units are treated as holders of OP Units and LTIP units are treated as OP Units.

 

We expect that our operating partnership will issue OP Units to limited partners, including us, in exchange for capital contributions of cash or property, and that our operating partnership will issue LTIP units, including pursuant to any equity incentive plan adopted by our board, to persons who provide services to us, including our officers, directors and employees.

 

However, as general partner, we may cause our operating partnership to issue additional OP Units or LTIP units for any consideration, or we may cause the creation of a new class of limited partnership interests, at our sole and absolute discretion. As general partner, we may elect to issue LTIP units subject to vesting agreements, which may provide that a recipient’s rights in such LTIP units vest over time, vest based upon our company’s performance or vest based upon any other conditions that we determine. The only difference between vested and unvested LTIP units is that unvested LTIP units may not be converted into OP Units.

 

Taking these differences into account, when we refer to “partnership units,” we are referring to OP Units and vested and unvested LTIP units collectively.

  

Amendments to the Limited Partnership Agreement

 

Amendments to the Limited Partnership Agreement may be proposed by us, as general partner, or by limited partners holding 66 2/3% or more of all of the outstanding partnership units held by limited partners other than us.

 

Generally, the Limited Partnership Agreement may not be amended, modified, or terminated without our approval and the written consent of limited partners holding more than 66 2/3% of all of the outstanding partnership units held by limited partners other than us if such actions would adversely affect the rights, privileges and protections afforded to the limited partners under the Limited Partnership Agreement. As general partner, we will have the power to unilaterally make certain amendments to the Limited Partnership Agreement without obtaining the consent of the limited partners, as may be necessary to:

 

  add to our obligations as general partner or surrender any right or power granted to us as general partner for the benefit of the limited partners;

 

  reflect the issuance of additional partnership units or the admission, substitution, termination or withdrawal of partners in accordance with the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement;

 

  set forth or amend the designations, rights, powers, duties, and preferences of the holders of any additional partnership units issued by our operating partnership;

 

  reflect a change of an inconsequential nature that does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect, or cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions of the Limited Partnership Agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions of the Limited Partnership Agreement, or make other changes concerning matters under the Limited Partnership Agreement that will not otherwise be inconsistent with the Limited Partnership Agreement or law;

 

  reflect changes that are reasonably necessary for us, as general partner, to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT;

 

  modify the manner in which capital accounts are computed;

 

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  include provisions referenced in future federal income tax guidance relating to compensatory partnership interests that we determine are reasonably necessary in respect of such guidance; or

 

  satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines of federal or state law.

 

Amendments that would, among other things, convert a limited partner’s interest into a general partner’s interest, modify the limited liability of a limited partner, adversely alter a partner’s right to receive any distributions or allocations of profits or losses or adversely alter or modify the redemption rights, or alter the protections of the limited partners in connection with the transactions described in “— Restrictions on Mergers, Sales, Transfers and Other Significant Transactions,” below, must be approved by each limited partner that would be adversely affected by such amendment.

 

In addition, we, as general partner, may not do any of the following except as expressly authorized in the Limited Partnership Agreement:

 

  without the written consent of limited partners holding more than 66 2/3% of all of the outstanding partnership units held by limited partners other than us, take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation contained in the Limited Partnership Agreement;

 

  enter into or conduct any business other than in connection with our role as general partner of our operating partnership and our operation as a REIT;

 

  acquire an interest in real or personal property other than through our operating partnership; or

 

  except as described in “— Restrictions on Mergers, Sales, Transfers and Other Significant Transactions” below, withdraw from our operating partnership or transfer any portion of our general partnership interest.

 

Restrictions on Mergers, Sales, Transfers and Other Significant Transactions

 

We may not voluntarily withdraw from the operating partnership or transfer or assign our general partnership interest in the operating partnership or engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination, or sale of all, or substantially all, of our assets in a transaction which results in a change of control of our company (as general partner) unless:

 

  we receive the consent of limited partners holding more than 50% of the partnership units held by the limited partners (other than those held by us or our subsidiaries);

 

  as a result of such a transaction, all limited partners (other than us or our subsidiaries) holding partnership units, will receive for each partnership unit an amount of cash, securities or other property equal in value to the amount of cash, securities or other property they would have received if their partnership units had been converted into shares of our common stock immediately prior to such transaction, provided that if, in connection with the transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer shall have been made to, and accepted by, the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, each holder of OP Units (other than us or our subsidiaries) shall be given the option to exchange such OP Units for the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property that a limited partner would have received had it (A) exercised its redemption right (described below) and (B) sold, tendered or exchanged pursuant to the offer shares of our common stock received upon exercise of the redemption right immediately prior to the expiration of the offer; or

 

  we are the surviving entity in the transaction and either (A) our stockholders do not receive cash, securities or other property in the transaction or (B) all limited partners (other than us or our subsidiaries) receive for each partnership unit an amount of cash, securities or other property having a value that is no less than the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property received in the transaction by our stockholders.

 

We also may merge or consolidate with another entity, if immediately after such merger or consolidation (i) substantially all of the assets of the successor or surviving entity, other than OP Units held by us, are contributed, directly or indirectly, to our operating partnership as a capital contribution in exchange for OP Units with a fair market value equal to the value of the assets so contributed as determined by the survivor in good faith and (ii) the survivor in such merger or consolidation expressly agrees to assume all of our obligations under our Limited Partnership Agreement and such Limited Partnership Agreement shall be amended after any such merger or consolidation so as to arrive at a new method of calculating the amounts payable upon exercise of conversion or redemption rights that approximates the existing method for such calculation as closely as reasonably possible.

 

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We also may (i) transfer all or any portion of our general partnership interest to (A) a wholly owned subsidiary or (B) a parent company, and following such transfer may withdraw as the general partner and (ii) engage in a transaction required by law or by the rules of any national securities exchange on which shares of our common stock are listed.

 

Limited partners may not transfer their partnership units without our consent, as the operating partnership’s general partner.

 

Capital Contributions

 

We will contribute directly to our operating partnership substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering in exchange for additional OP Units; however, we will be deemed to have made capital contributions in the amount of the gross offering proceeds received from investors. The operating partnership will be deemed to have simultaneously paid the underwriting discounts and commissions and other costs associated with the offering.

 

As a result of this structure, we are considered an UPREIT, or an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust. An UPREIT is a structure that REITs often use to acquire real property from sellers on a tax-deferred basis because the sellers can generally accept partnership units and defer taxable gain otherwise required to be recognized by them upon the disposition of their properties. Such sellers may also desire to achieve diversity in their investment and other benefits afforded to stockholders in a REIT. Prior to the completion of this offering, we owned, directly and indirectly, 100% of the partnership interests in our operating partnership, and our operating partnership was a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes and we were treated as owning all of our operating partnership’s assets and income for purposes of satisfying the asset and income tests for qualification as a REIT. Upon completion of this offering, our operating partnership will be treated as having two or more partners for federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a partnership, and the REIT’s proportionate share of the assets and income of the operating partnership will be deemed to be assets and income of the REIT for purposes of satisfying the asset and income tests for qualification as a REIT.

 

We are obligated to contribute the net proceeds of any future offering of shares as additional capital to our operating partnership. If we contribute additional capital to our operating partnership, we will receive additional OP Units and our percentage interest will be increased on a proportionate basis based upon the amount of such additional capital contributions and the value of the operating partnership at the time of such contributions. Conversely, the percentage interests of the limited partners will be decreased on a proportionate basis in the event of additional capital contributions by us. The Limited Partnership Agreement provides that if the operating partnership requires additional funds at any time in excess of funds available to the operating partnership from cash flow, borrowings by our operating partnership or capital contributions, we may borrow such funds from a financial institution or other lenders and lend such funds to the operating partnership on the same terms and conditions as are applicable to our borrowing of such funds. In addition, if we contribute additional capital to the operating partnership, we will revalue the property of the operating partnership to its fair market value (as determined by us) and the capital accounts of the partners will be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized gain or loss inherent in such property (that has not been reflected in the capital accounts previously) would be allocated among the partners under the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement, if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair market value (as determined by us) on the date of the revaluation.

 

Issuance of Additional Limited Partnership Interests

 

As the sole general partner of our operating partnership, we are authorized, without the consent of the limited partners, to cause our operating partnership to issue additional units to us, to other limited partners or to other persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as we deem appropriate. If additional units are issued to us, then, unless the additional units are issued in connection with a contribution of property to our operating partnership, we must (1) issue additional shares of our common stock and must contribute to our operating partnership the entire proceeds received by us from such issuance or (2) issue additional units to all partners in proportion to their respective interests in our operating partnership. In addition, we may cause our operating partnership to issue to us additional partnership interests in different series or classes, which may be senior to the units, in conjunction with an offering of our securities having substantially similar rights, in which the proceeds thereof are contributed to our operating partnership. Consideration for additional partnership interests may be cash or other property or assets. No person, including any partner or assignee, has preemptive, preferential or similar rights with respect to additional capital contributions to our operating partnership or the issuance or sale of any partnership interests therein.

 

Our operating partnership may issue limited partnership interests that are OP Units, limited partnership interests that are preferred as to distributions and upon liquidation to our OP Units, LTIP Units and other types of units with such rights and obligations as may be established by us, as the sole general partner of our operating partnership, from time to time.

 

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Redemption Rights

 

Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement, any holders of OP Units, other than us or our subsidiaries, will receive redemption rights, which will enable them to cause the operating partnership to redeem their OP Units in exchange for cash or, at our option, shares of our common stock. The cash redemption amount per share of common stock will be based on the market price of our common stock at the time of redemption, multiplied by the conversion ratio set forth in our Limited Partnership Agreement. Alternatively, we may elect to purchase the OP Units by issuing shares of our common stock for OP Units, based on the conversion ratio set forth in our Limited Partnership Agreement.

 

The conversion ratio is initially one to one, but is adjusted based on certain events including: (i) a distribution in shares of our common stock to holders of our outstanding common stock, (ii) a subdivision of our outstanding common stock, or (iii) a reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller number of shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a limited partner will not be entitled to exercise its redemption rights if the delivery of shares of our common stock to the redeeming limited partner would:

 

  result in any person owning, directly or indirectly, shares of our common stock in excess of the stock ownership limit in our charter;

 

  result in our common stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution);

 

  result in our being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code;

 

  cause us to own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant (other than a TRS) of ours, the operating partnership’s or a subsidiary partnership’s real property, within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code;

 

  cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code; or

 

  cause the acquisition of our common stock by such redeeming limited partner to be “integrated” with any other distribution of common stock for purposes of complying with the registration provisions of the Securities Act.

 

We may, in our sole and absolute discretion, waive certain of these restrictions.

 

Subject to the foregoing, limited partners of our operating partnership holding OP Units may exercise their redemption rights at any time after one year following the date of issuance of their OP Units. However, a limited partner may not deliver more than two notices of redemption during each calendar year (subject to the terms of any agreement between us, as general partner, and a limited partner) and may not exercise its redemption right for less than 1,000 OP Units, unless such limited partner holds less than 1,000 OP Units, in which case, it must exercise its redemption right for all of its OP Units. We do not expect to issue any shares of our common stock offered hereby to limited partners of the operating partnership in exchange for their OP Units, if they elect to redeem their OP Units. Rather, in the event a limited partner of our operating partnership exercises its redemption rights, and we elect to redeem the OP Units by the issuance of shares of our common stock, we expect to issue unregistered shares, or shares that shall have been registered after completion of this offering in connection with any such redemption transaction.

 

No Removal of the General Partner

 

We may not be removed as general partner by the limited partners with or without cause.

 

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LTIP Units

 

In general, LTIP units, a class of partnership units in our operating partnership, will receive the same per-unit distributions as the OP Units. Initially, each LTIP unit will have a capital account balance of zero and, therefore, will not have full parity with OP Units with respect to liquidating distributions. However, our Limited Partnership Agreement provides that “book gain,” or economic appreciation, in our assets realized by our operating partnership as a result of the actual sale of all or substantially all of our operating partnership’s assets or the revaluation of our operating partnership’s assets as provided by applicable U.S. Department of Treasury regulations, or Treasury Regulations, will be allocated first to the LTIP unit holders until the capital account per LTIP unit is equal to the average capital account per-unit of the general partner’s OP Units in our operating partnership.

 

Our Limited Partnership Agreement provides that our operating partnership’s assets will be revalued upon the occurrence of certain events, specifically additional capital contributions by us or other partners, the redemption of a partnership interest, a liquidation (as defined in the Treasury Regulations) of our operating partnership or the issuance of a partnership interest (including LTIP units) to a new or existing partner as consideration for the provision of services to, or for the benefit of, our operating partnership.

 

Upon equalization of the capital accounts of the LTIP unit holders with the average per-unit capital account of the general partner’s OP Units, the LTIP Units will achieve full parity with OP Units for all purposes, including with respect to liquidating distributions. If such parity is reached, vested LTIP Units may be converted into an equal number of OP Units at any time, and thereafter enjoy all the rights of OP Units. If a sale or revaluation of assets occurs at a time when our operating partnership’s assets have appreciated sufficiently since the last revaluation, the LTIP Units would achieve full parity with the OP Units upon such sale or revaluation. In the absence of sufficient appreciation in the value of our operating partnership’s assets at the time of a sale or revaluation, full parity would not be reached.

 

Consequently, an LTIP Unit may never become convertible because the value of our operating partnership’s assets has not appreciated sufficiently between revaluations to equalize capital accounts. Until and unless parity is reached, the value for a given number of vested LTIP Units will be less than the value of an equal number of our shares of common stock.

  

Operations

 

Our Limited Partnership Agreement requires that our operating partnership be operated in a manner that will enable us to (1) satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT for tax purposes, (2) avoid any U.S. federal income or excise tax liability, and (3) ensure that our operating partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code, which classification could result in our operating partnership being taxed as a corporation, rather than as a partnership.

 

Rights, Obligations and Powers of the General Partner

 

As our operating partnership’s general partner, generally we have complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control our operating partnership’s business and to make all decisions affecting its assets. This authority generally includes, among other things, the authority to:

 

  acquire, purchase, own, operate, lease and dispose of any real property and any other property;

 

  construct buildings and make other improvements on owned or leased properties;

 

  authorize, issue, sell, redeem or otherwise purchase any OP Units or any securities of the partnership;

 

  borrow or lend money;

 

  make or revoke any tax election;

 

  maintain insurance coverage in amounts and types as we determine is necessary;

 

  retain employees or other service providers;

 

  form or acquire interests in joint ventures; and

 

  merge, consolidate or combine our operating partnership with another entity.

 

In addition to the administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the operating partnership, the operating partnership generally will pay all of our administrative costs and expenses, including:

 

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  all expenses relating to our continuity of existence and our subsidiaries’ operations;

 

  all expenses relating to offerings and registration of securities;

 

  all expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any of our periodic or other reports and communications under U.S. federal, state or local laws or regulations;

 

  all expenses associated with our compliance with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body; and

 

  all of our other operating or administrative costs incurred in the ordinary course of business on behalf of the operating partnership.

 

These expenses, however, do not include any of our administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred that are attributable to properties or interests in subsidiaries that are owned by us directly rather than by the operating partnership or its subsidiaries.

 

Fiduciary Responsibilities of the General Partner

 

Our directors and officers have duties under applicable Maryland law to manage us in a manner consistent with the best interests of our stockholders. At the same time, we, as the general partner of our operating partnership, will have fiduciary duties to manage our operating partnership in a manner beneficial to our operating partnership and its partners. Our duties, as general partner to our operating partnership and its limited partners, therefore, may come into conflict with the duties of our directors and officers to our stockholders. In the event that a conflict of interest exists between the interests of our stockholders, on the one hand, and our operating partnership’s limited partners, on the other, we will endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or such limited partners. However, any such conflict that we determine cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or such limited partners shall be resolved in favor of our stockholders. The limited partners of our operating partnership will acknowledge expressly that in the event of such a determination by us, as the general partner of our operating partnership, we shall not be liable to such limited partners for losses sustained or benefits not realized in connection with, or as a result of, such a determination.

 

Distributions; Allocations of Profits and Losses

 

Our Limited Partnership Agreement provides that our operating partnership will distribute cash from operations at times and in amounts determined by us, as the sole general partner of our operating partnership, in our sole discretion, to the partners, in accordance with their respective percentage interests in our operating partnership. We will cause our operating partnership to distribute annually to us amounts sufficient to allow us to satisfy the annual distribution requirements necessary for us to qualify as a REIT, currently 90% of our REIT taxable income. We generally intend to cause our operating partnership to distribute annually to us an amount equal to at least 100% of our net taxable income, which we will then distribute to our stockholders, but we will be subject to corporate taxation to the extent distributions in such amounts are not made. Upon liquidation of our operating partnership, after payment of, or adequate provision for, debts and obligations of our operating partnership, including any partner loans, any remaining assets of our operating partnership will be distributed to all partners with positive capital accounts in accordance with their respective positive capital account balances. If any partner has a deficit balance in its capital account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), such partner shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of our operating partnership with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to our operating partnership or to any other person for any purpose whatsoever.

 

Income, expenses, gains and losses of our operating partnership will generally be allocated among the partners in a manner consistent with the distribution of cash described in “— Distributions” above. All such allocations are subject to compliance with the provisions of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. To the extent Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code permit, we, as the general partner, shall have the authority to elect the method to be used by the operating partnership for allocating items with respect to contributed property acquired in connection with this offering for which fair market value differs from the adjusted tax basis at the time of contribution, and such election shall be binding on all partners.

 

Term and Termination

 

Our operating partnership will continue indefinitely, or until sooner dissolved upon:

 

  our bankruptcy, dissolution, removal or withdrawal (unless the limited partners elect to continue the partnership);

 

  the passage of 90 days after the sale or other disposition of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the partnership;

 

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  the redemption of all limited partnership interests (other than those held by us or our subsidiaries) unless we decide to continue the partnership by the admission of one or more limited partners; or

 

  an election by us in our capacity as the general partner.

 

Tax Matters

 

Our Limited Partnership Agreement provides that we, as the sole general partner of the operating partnership, will be the tax matters partner of the operating partnership and, as such, will have authority to handle tax audits and to make tax elections under the Code on behalf of the operating partnership.

 

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MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

This section summarizes the material federal income tax considerations that you, as a stockholder, may consider relevant in connection with the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock. Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC, or our tax counsel, has reviewed this summary, and is of the opinion that the discussion contained herein is accurate in all material respects. Because this section is a summary, it does not address all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to particular stockholders in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of stockholders that are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:

 

  insurance companies;

 

  tax-exempt organizations (except to the limited extent discussed in “— Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders” below);

 

  financial institutions or broker-dealers;

 

  non-U.S. individuals and foreign corporations (except to the limited extent discussed in “— Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders” below);

 

  U.S. expatriates;

 

  persons who mark-to-market our common stock;

 

  subchapter S corporations;

 

  U.S. stockholders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

  regulated investment companies and REITs;

 

  trusts and estates;

 

  holders who receive our common stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation;

 

  persons holding our common stock as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment;

 

  persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code; and

 

  persons holding our common stock through a partnership or similar pass-through entity.

 

This summary assumes that stockholders hold shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which generally means property held for investment.

 

The statements in this section are not intended to be, and should not be construed as, tax advice. The statements in this section based on the Code, current, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS, and court decisions. The reference to IRS interpretations and practices includes the IRS practices and policies endorsed in private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except with respect to the taxpayer that receives the ruling. In each case, these sources are relied upon as they exist on the date of this discussion. Future legislation, Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions could change the current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law on which the information in this section is based. Any such change could apply retroactively. We have not received any rulings from the IRS concerning our qualification as a REIT. Accordingly, even if there is no change in the applicable law, no assurance can be provided that the statements made in the following discussion, which do not bind the IRS or the courts, will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if so challenged.

 

WE URGE YOU TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND SALE OF OUR COMMON STOCK AND OF OUR ELECTION TO BE TAXED AS A REIT. SPECIFICALLY, YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, SALE AND ELECTION, AND REGARDING POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS.

 

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Taxation of our Company

 

We plan to elect to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws for our first full taxable year. We believe that, commencing with such taxable year, we will be organized and will operate in a manner so as to qualify as a REIT under the federal income tax laws. We cannot assure you, however, that we will qualify or remain qualified as a REIT. This section discusses the laws governing the federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders, which laws are highly technical and complex.

 

Tax counsel has acted as tax counsel to us in connection with this offering. Tax counsel is of the opinion that based on our proposed method of operation, we are in a position to qualify for taxation as a REIT for the taxable year that will end December 31, 2016. Tax counsel’s opinion is based solely on our representations with respect to factual matters concerning our business operations and our properties. Tax counsel has not independently verified these facts. In addition, our qualification as a REIT depends, among other things, upon our meeting the requirements of Sections 856 through 860 of the Code throughout each year. Accordingly, because our satisfaction of such requirements will depend upon future events, including the final determination of financial and operational results, no assurance can be given that we will satisfy the REIT requirements during the taxable year that will end December 31, 2015, or in any future year.

  

Our REIT qualification depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis several qualification tests set forth in the federal tax laws. Those qualification tests involve the percentage of income that we earn from specified sources, the percentage of our assets that fall within specified categories, the diversity of our share ownership, and the percentage of our earnings that we distribute. We describe the REIT qualification tests, and the consequences of our failure to meet those tests, in more detail below. Tax counsel will not review our compliance with those tests on a continuing basis. Accordingly, neither we nor tax counsel can assure you that we will satisfy those tests.

  

If we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on the taxable income that we distribute to our stockholders. The benefit of that tax treatment is that it avoids the “double taxation,” which means taxation at both the corporate and stockholder levels, that generally results from owning stock in a corporation.

 

However, we will be subject to U.S. federal tax in the following circumstances:

 

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

 

  We may be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” on any items of tax preference including any deductions of net operating losses.

 

  We will pay income tax at the highest corporate rate on:

 

  net income from the sale or other disposition of property acquired through foreclosure (“foreclosure property”) that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, and

 

  other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property.

 

  We will pay a 100% tax on net income from sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

 

  If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as described below under “— Gross Income Tests,” and nonetheless continue to qualify as a REIT because we meet other requirements, we will pay a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, in either case, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

 

  If we fail to distribute during a calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year, and (3) any undistributed taxable income required to be distributed from earlier periods, we will pay a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amount we actually distributed.

 

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

 

  We will be subject to a 100% excise tax on transactions with any TRSs we form in the future that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis.

 

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

 

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

 

  If we acquire any asset from a C corporation, or a corporation that generally is subject to full corporate-level tax, in a merger or other transaction in which we acquire a basis in the asset that is determined by reference either to the C corporation’s basis in the asset or to another asset, we will pay tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable if we recognize gain on the sale or disposition of the asset during the 10-year period after we acquire the asset provided no election is made for the transaction to be taxable on a current basis. The amount of gain on which we will pay tax is the lesser of:

 

  the amount of gain that we recognize at the time of the sale or disposition, and

 

  the amount of gain that we would have recognized if we had sold the asset at the time we acquired it.

 

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

 

  The earnings of our lower-tier entities that are subchapter C corporations, including any TRSs we form in the future, will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax.

 

In addition, notwithstanding our qualification as a REIT, we may also have to pay certain state and local income taxes because not all states and localities treat REITs in the same manner that they are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Moreover, as further described below, any TRSs we form in the future will be subject to federal, state and local corporate income tax on their taxable income.

 

Requirements for Qualification

 

A REIT is a corporation, trust, or association that meets each of the following requirements:

 

  1. It is managed by one or more trustees or directors.

 

  2. Its beneficial ownership is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest.

 

  3. It would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for the REIT provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws.

 

  4. It is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws.

 

  5. At least 100 persons are beneficial owners of its shares or ownership certificates.

 

  6. Not more than 50% in value of its outstanding shares or ownership certificates is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals, which the Code defines to include certain entities, during the last half of any taxable year.

 

  7. It elects to be a REIT, or has made such election for a previous taxable year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to elect and maintain REIT qualification.

 

  8. It meets certain other qualification tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions to stockholders.

 

  9. It uses a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and complies with the recordkeeping requirements of the U.S. federal income tax laws.

 

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We must meet requirements 1 through 4, 8 and 9 during our entire taxable year and must meet requirement 5 during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. If we comply with all the requirements for ascertaining the ownership of our outstanding shares in a taxable year and have no reason to know that we violated requirement 6, we will be deemed to have satisfied requirement 6 for that taxable year. We do not have to comply with 5 and 6 for the first taxable year for which we elect REIT tax status. For purposes of determining stock ownership under requirement 6, an “individual” generally includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes. An “individual,” however, generally does not include a trust that is a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust under the U.S. federal income tax laws, and beneficiaries of such a trust will be treated as holding our shares in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of requirement 6.

 

Our charter provides restrictions regarding the transfer and ownership of shares of our capital stock. See “Description of Capital Stock — Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” We believe that we will have issued sufficient stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy requirements 5 and 6 above. The restrictions in our charter are intended (among other things) to assist us in continuing to satisfy requirements 5 and 6 above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy such share ownership requirements. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, our qualification as a REIT may terminate.

 

Qualified REIT Subsidiaries.   A corporation that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” is not treated as a corporation separate from its parent REIT. All assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a “qualified REIT subsidiary” are treated as assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the REIT. A “qualified REIT subsidiary” is a corporation, other than a TRS, all of the stock of which is owned by the REIT. Thus, in applying the requirements described herein, any “qualified REIT subsidiary” that we own will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of such subsidiary will be treated as our assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit.

 

Other Disregarded Entities and Partnerships.   An unincorporated domestic entity, such as a partnership or limited liability company that has a single owner, generally is not treated as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An unincorporated domestic entity with two or more owners is generally treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership that has other partners, the REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the partnership for purposes of the applicable REIT qualification tests. Our proportionate share for purposes of the 10% value test (see “— Asset Tests”) will be based on our proportionate interest in the equity interests and certain debt securities issued by the partnership. For all of the other asset and income tests, our proportionate share will be based on our proportionate interest in the capital interests in the partnership. Our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities, and items of income of any partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we acquire an equity interest, directly or indirectly, will be treated as our assets and gross income for purposes of applying the various REIT qualification requirements.

 

We own limited partner or non-managing member interests in partnerships and limited liability companies that are joint ventures, and we intend to acquire similar interests in the future. If a partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest takes or expects to take actions that could jeopardize our qualification as a REIT or require us to pay tax, we may be forced to dispose of our interest in such entity. In addition, it is possible that a partnership or limited liability company could take an action which could cause us to fail a gross income or asset test, and that we would not become aware of such action in time to dispose of our interest in the partnership or limited liability company or take other corrective action on a timely basis. In that case, we could fail to qualify as a REIT unless we were able to qualify for a statutory REIT “savings” provision, which may require us to pay a significant penalty tax to maintain our REIT qualification.

 

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries.   A REIT may own up to 100% of the shares of one or more TRSs. A TRS is a fully taxable corporation that may earn income that would not be qualifying income if earned directly by the parent REIT. The subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. A corporation of which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the securities will automatically be treated as a TRS. We will not be treated as holding the assets of a TRS or as receiving any income that the TRS earns. Rather, the stock issued by a TRS to us will be an asset in our hands, and we will treat the distributions paid to us from such TRS, if any, as income. This treatment may affect our compliance with the gross income and asset tests. Because we will not include the assets and income of TRSs in determining our compliance with the REIT requirements, we may use such entities to undertake indirectly activities, such as earning fee income, that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude us from doing directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. Overall, no more than 25% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more TRSs.

 

A TRS pays income tax at regular corporate rates on any income that it earns. In addition, the TRS rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a taxable REIT subsidiary to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. Further, the rules impose a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REIT’s tenants that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis.

 

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A TRS may not directly or indirectly operate or manage any health care facilities or lodging facilities or provide rights to any brand name under which any health care facility or lodging facility is operated. A TRS is not considered to operate or manage a “qualified health care property” or “qualified lodging facility” solely because the TRS directly or indirectly possesses a license, permit, or similar instrument enabling it to do so.

 

Rent that we receive from a TRS will qualify as “rents from real property” as long as (1) at least 90% of the leased space in the property is leased to persons other than TRSs and related-party tenants, and (2) the amount paid by the TRS to rent space at the property is substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants of the property for comparable space, as described in further detail below under “— Gross Income Tests — Rents from Real Property.” If we lease space to a TRS in the future, we will seek to comply with these requirements.

 

Gross Income Tests

 

We must satisfy two gross income tests annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of defined types of income that we derive, directly or indirectly, from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property or qualified temporary investment income. Qualifying income for purposes of that 75% gross income test generally includes:

 

  rents from real property;

 

  interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property, or on interests in real property;

 

  dividends or other distributions on, and gain from the sale of, shares in other REITs;

 

  gain from the sale of real estate assets;

 

  income and gain derived from foreclosure property; and

 

  income derived from the temporary investment of new capital that is attributable to the issuance of our stock or a public offering of our debt with a maturity date of at least five years and that we receive during the one-year period beginning on the date on which we received such new capital.

 

Second, in general, at least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, other types of interest and dividends, gain from the sale or disposition of shares or securities, or any combination of these. Cancellation of indebtedness, or COD, income and gross income from our sale of property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business is excluded from both the numerator and the denominator in both gross income tests. In addition, income and gain from “hedging transactions” that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets and that are clearly and timely identified as such will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Finally, certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests. See “— Foreign Currency Gain.” The following paragraphs discuss the specific application of the gross income tests to us.

 

Rents from Real Property.   Rent that we receive, including as a result of our ownership of preferred or common equity interests in a partnership that owns rental properties, from our real property will qualify as “rents from real property,” which is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, only if the following conditions are met:

 

  First, the rent must not be based, in whole or in part, on the income or profits of any person, but may be based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.

 

  Second, neither we nor a direct or indirect owner of 10% or more of our stock may own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of a tenant from whom we receive rent, other than a TRS.

 

  Third, if the rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property is 15% or less of the total rent received under the lease, then the rent attributable to personal property will qualify as rents from real property. However, if the 15% threshold is exceeded, the rent attributable to personal property will not qualify as rents from real property.

 

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  Fourth, we generally must not operate or manage our real property or furnish or render services to our tenants, other than through an “independent contractor” who is adequately compensated and from whom we do not derive revenue. However, we need not provide services through an “independent contractor,” but instead may provide services directly to our tenants, if the services are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not considered to be provided for the tenants’ convenience. In addition, we may provide a minimal amount of “noncustomary” services to the tenants of a property, other than through an independent contractor, as long as our income from the services (valued at not less than 150% of our direct cost of performing such services) does not exceed 1% of our income from the related property. Furthermore, we may own up to 100% of the stock of a TRS which may provide customary and noncustomary services to our tenants without tainting our rental income for the related properties.

 

If a portion of the rent that we receive from a property does not qualify as “rents from real property” because the rent attributable to personal property exceeds 15% of the total rent for a taxable year, the portion of the rent that is attributable to personal property will not be qualifying income for purposes of either the 75% or 95% gross income test. Thus, if such rent attributable to personal property, plus any other income that is nonqualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, during a taxable year exceeds 5% of our gross income during the year, we would lose our REIT qualification. If, however, the rent from a particular property does not qualify as “rents from real property” because either (1) the rent is considered based on the income or profits of the related tenant, (2) the tenant either is a related party tenant or fails to qualify for the exceptions to the related party tenant rule for qualifying TRSs or (3) we furnish noncustomary services to the tenants of the property, or manage or operate the property, other than through a qualifying independent contractor or a TRS, none of the rent from that property would qualify as “rents from real property.”

 

Our operating partnership and its subsidiaries generally lease substantially all our properties to tenants’ that are individuals. Our leases typically have a term of at least one year and require the tenant to pay fixed rent. We do not anticipate leasing significant amounts of personal property pursuant to our leases. Moreover, we do not intend to perform any services other than customary ones for our tenants, unless such services are provided through independent contractors or a TRS. Accordingly, we anticipate that our leases will generally produce rent that qualifies as “rents from real property” for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

 

In addition to the rent, the tenants may be required to pay certain additional charges. To the extent that such additional charges represent reimbursements of amounts that we are obligated to pay to third parties, such charges generally will qualify as “rents from real property.” To the extent such additional charges represent penalties for nonpayment or late payment of such amounts, such charges should qualify as “rents from real property.” However, to the extent that late charges do not qualify as “rents from real property,” they instead will be treated as interest that qualifies for the 95% gross income test.

 

Interest.   The term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of such amount depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, interest generally includes the following:

 

  an amount that is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales; and

 

  an amount that is based on the income or profits of a debtor, as long as the debtor derives substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt from leasing substantially all of its interest in the property, and only to the extent that the amounts received by the debtor would be qualifying “rents from real property” if received directly by a REIT.

 

If a loan contains a provision that entitles a REIT to a percentage of the borrower’s gain upon the sale of the real property securing the loan or a percentage of the appreciation in the property’s value as of a specific date, income attributable to that loan provision will be treated as gain from the sale of the property securing the loan, which generally is qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests.

 

In connection with development projects, we may originate mezzanine loans, which are loans secured by equity interests in an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property, rather than by a direct mortgage of the real property. In Revenue Procedure 2003-65, the IRS established a safe harbor under which loans secured by a first priority security interest in ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company owning real property will be treated as real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests described below, and interest derived from those loans will be treated as qualifying income for both the 75% and 95% gross income tests, provided several requirements are satisfied. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. Moreover, we anticipate that our mezzanine loans typically will not meet all of the requirements for reliance on the safe harbor. To the extent any mezzanine loans that we originate do not qualify for the safe harbor described above, the interest income from the loans will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but there is a risk that such interest income will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. We intend to invest in mezzanine loans in a manner that will enable us to continue to satisfy the REIT gross income and asset tests.

 

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Dividends.   Our share of any dividends received from any corporation (including any TRS, but excluding any REIT) in which we own an equity interest will qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Our share of any dividends received from any other REIT in which we own an equity interest, if any, will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests.

 

Prohibited Transactions.   A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income (including foreign currency gain) derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. We believe that none of our properties have been or will be held primarily for sale to customers and that all prior sales of our properties were not, and a sale of any of our properties in the future will not be in the ordinary course of our business. However, there can be no assurance that the IRS would not disagree with that belief. Whether a REIT holds a property “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” depends on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including those related to a particular property. A safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction and the 100% prohibited transaction tax is available if the following requirements are met:

 

  the REIT has held the property for not less than two years;

 

  the aggregate expenditures made by the REIT, or any partner of the REIT, during the two-year period preceding the date of the sale that are includable in the basis of the property do not exceed 30% of the selling price of the property;

 

  either (1) during the year in question, the REIT did not make more than seven sales of property other than foreclosure property or sales to which Section 1033 of the Code applies, (2) the aggregate adjusted bases of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate bases of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year or (3) the aggregate fair market value of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year;

 

  in the case of property not acquired through foreclosure or lease termination, the REIT has held the property for at least two years for the production of rental income; and

 

  if the REIT has made more than seven sales of non-foreclosure property during the taxable year, substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property were made through an independent contractor from whom the REIT derives no income.

 

We will attempt to comply with the terms of the safe-harbor provisions in the U.S. federal income tax laws prescribing when a property sale will not be characterized as a prohibited transaction. However, not all of our prior sales of properties have qualified for the safe-harbor provisions. In addition, we cannot assure you that we can comply with the safe-harbor provisions or that we have avoided and will avoid owning property that may be characterized as property that we hold “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.” The 100% tax will not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a TRS or other taxable corporation, although such income will be taxed to the corporation at regular corporate income tax rates.

 

Fee Income.   Fee income generally will not be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Any fees earned by a TRS will not be included for purposes of the gross income tests.

 

Foreclosure Property.   We will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any income from foreclosure property, which includes certain foreign currency gains and related deductions, other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, less expenses directly connected with the production of that income. However, gross income from foreclosure property will qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Foreclosure property is any real property, including interests in real property, and any personal property incident to such real property:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

A REIT will not be considered to have foreclosed on a property where the REIT takes control of the property as a mortgagee-in-possession and cannot receive any profit or sustain any loss except as a creditor of the mortgagor. property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of the third taxable year (or, with respect to qualified health care property, the second taxable year) following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, or longer if an extension is granted by the Secretary of the Treasury. However, this grace period terminates and foreclosure property ceases to be foreclosure property on the first day:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Hedging Transactions.   From time to time, we or our operating partnership may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase such items, and futures and forward contracts. Income and gain from “hedging transactions” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests provided we satisfy the indemnification requirements discussed below. A “hedging transaction” means either (1) any transaction entered into in the normal course of our or our operating partnership’s trade or business primarily to manage the risk of interest rate, price changes, or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets and (2) any transaction entered into primarily to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income test (or any property which generates such income or gain). We are required to clearly identify any such hedging transaction before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into and to satisfy other identification requirements. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT.

 

COD Income.   From time-to-time, we and our subsidiaries may recognize COD income in connection with repurchasing debt at a discount. COD income is excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 95% gross income test and the 75% gross income test.

 

Foreign Currency Gain.   Certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests. “Real estate foreign exchange gain” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Real estate foreign exchange gain generally includes foreign currency gain attributable to any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, foreign currency gain attributable to the acquisition or ownership of (or becoming or being the obligor under) obligations secured by mortgages on real property or an interest in real property and certain foreign currency gain attributable to certain “qualified business units” of a REIT. “Passive foreign exchange gain” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. Passive foreign exchange gain generally includes real estate foreign exchange gain as described above, and also includes foreign currency gain attributable to any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test and foreign currency gain attributable to the acquisition or ownership of (or becoming or being the obligor under) obligations. These exclusions for real estate foreign exchange gain and passive foreign exchange gain do not apply to any certain foreign currency gain derived from dealing, or engaging in substantial and regular trading, in securities. Such gain is treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

 

Failure to Satisfy Gross Income Tests.   If we fail to satisfy one or both of the gross income tests for any taxable year, we nevertheless may qualify as a REIT for that year if we qualify for relief under certain provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws. Those relief provisions are available if:

 

  our failure to meet those tests is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect; and

 

  following such failure for any taxable year, we file a schedule of the sources of our income in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury.

 

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We cannot predict, however, whether in all circumstances we would qualify for the relief provisions. In addition, as discussed above in “— Taxation of Our Company,” even if the relief provisions apply, we would incur a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test multiplied, in either case, by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

 

Asset Tests

 

To qualify as a REIT, we also must satisfy the following asset tests at the end of each quarter of each taxable year. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must consist of:

 

  cash or cash items, including certain receivables and money market funds and, in certain circumstances, foreign currencies;

 

  government securities;

 

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

 

  interests in mortgage loans secured by real property;

 

  stock in other REITs; and

 

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

 

Second, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class, the value of our interest in any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets, or the 5% asset test.

 

Third, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class, we may not own more than 10% of the voting power of any one issuer’s outstanding securities or 10% of the value of any one issuer’s outstanding securities, or the 10% vote test or 10% value test, respectively.

 

Fourth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more TRSs.

 

Fifth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of TRSs and other non-TRS taxable subsidiaries and other assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test, or the 25% securities test.

 

For purposes of the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test and the 10% value test, the term “securities” does not include shares in another REIT, equity or debt securities of a qualified REIT subsidiary or TRS, mortgage loans that constitute real estate assets, or equity interests in a partnership. The term “securities,” however, generally includes debt securities issued by a partnership or another REIT, except that for purposes of the 10% value test, the term “securities” does not include:

 

  “Straight debt” securities, which is defined as a written unconditional promise to pay on demand or on a specified date a sum certain in money if (1) the debt is not convertible, directly or indirectly, into equity, and (2) the interest rate and interest payment dates are not contingent on profits, the borrower’s discretion, or similar factors. “Straight debt” securities do not include any securities issued by a partnership or a corporation in which we or any controlled TRS (i.e., a TRS in which we own directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting power or value of the stock) hold non-”straight debt” securities that have an aggregate value of more than 1% of the issuer’s outstanding securities. However, “straight debt” securities include debt subject to the following contingencies:

 

  a contingency relating to the time of payment of interest or principal, as long as either (1) there is no change to the effective yield of the debt obligation, other than a change to the annual yield that does not exceed the greater of 0.25% or 5% of the annual yield, or (2) neither the aggregate issue price nor the aggregate face amount of the issuer’s debt obligations held by us exceeds $1 million and no more than 12 months of unaccrued interest on the debt obligations can be required to be prepaid; and

 

  a contingency relating to the time or amount of payment upon a default or prepayment of a debt obligation, as long as the contingency is consistent with customary commercial practice.

 

  Any loan to an individual or an estate;

 

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  Any “section 467 rental agreement,” other than an agreement with a related party tenant;

 

  Any obligation to pay “rents from real property”;

 

  Certain securities issued by governmental entities;

 

  Any security issued by a REIT;

 

  Any debt instrument issued by an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we are a partner to the extent of our proportionate interest in the equity and debt securities of the partnership; and

 

  Any debt instrument issued by an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes not described in the preceding bullet points if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income, excluding income from prohibited transactions, is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test described above in “— Gross Income Tests.”

 

For purposes of the 10% value test, our proportionate share of the assets of a partnership is our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership, without regard to the securities described in the last two bullet points above.

 

We believe that our holdings of assets comply with the foregoing asset tests, and we intend to monitor compliance on an ongoing basis. However, independent appraisals have not been obtained to support our conclusions as to the value of our assets or the value of any particular security or securities. Moreover, values of some assets may not be susceptible to a precise determination, and values are subject to change in the future. As described above, Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which certain mezzanine loans secured by a first priority security interest in ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company will be treated as qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test (and therefore, are not subject to the 5% asset test and the 10% vote or value test). See “— Gross Income Tests.” Although we anticipate that our mezzanine loans typically will not qualify for that safe harbor, we believe our mezzanine loans should be treated as qualifying assets for the 75% asset test or should be excluded from the definition of securities for purposes of the 10% vote or value test. We intend to make mezzanine loans only to the extent such loans will not cause us to fail the asset tests described above.

 

We will continue to monitor the status of our assets for purposes of the various asset tests and will manage our portfolio in order to comply at all times with such tests. However, there is no assurance that we will not inadvertently fail to comply with such tests. If we fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, we will not lose our REIT qualification if:

 

  we satisfied the asset tests at the end of the preceding calendar quarter; and

 

  the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset test requirements arose from changes in the market values of our assets and was not wholly or partly caused by the acquisition of one or more non-qualifying assets.

 

If we did not satisfy the condition described in the second item, above, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose.

 

If we violate the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test described above, we will not lose our REIT qualification if (1) the failure is  de minimis  (up to the lesser of 1% of our assets or $10 million) and (2) we dispose of assets causing the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify such failure. In the event of a failure of any of the asset tests (other than  de minimis  failures described in the preceding sentence), as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will not lose our REIT qualification if we (1) dispose of assets causing the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify the failure, (2) we file a description of each asset causing the failure with the IRS and (3) pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or 35% of the net income from the assets causing the failure during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset tests.

 

Distribution Requirements

 

Each year, we must distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends and deemed distributions of retained capital gain, to our stockholders in an aggregate amount at least equal to:

 

  the sum of

 

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  90% of our “REIT taxable income,” computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain or loss, and

 

  90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property, minus

 

  the sum of certain items of non-cash income.

 

We must pay such distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if either (1) we declare the distribution before we timely file our U.S. federal income tax return for the year and pay the distribution on or before the first regular dividend payment date after such declaration or (2) we declare the distribution in October, November or December of the taxable year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified day in any such month, and we actually pay the dividend before the end of January of the following year. The distributions under clause (1) are taxable to the stockholders in the year in which paid, and the distributions in clause (2) are treated as paid on December 31 st  of the prior taxable year. In both instances, these distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement.

 

We will pay U.S. federal income tax on taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to stockholders. Furthermore, if we fail to distribute during a calendar year, or by the end of January following the calendar year in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, at least the sum of:

 

  85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year,

 

  95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and

 

  any undistributed taxable income from prior periods.

 

We will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts we actually distribute.

 

In order to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements, the dividends we pay must not be “preferential.” A dividend determined to be preferential will not qualify for the dividends paid deduction. To avoid paying preferential dividends, we must treat every stockholder of a class of stock with respect to which we make a distribution the same as every other stockholder of that class, and we must not treat any class of stock other than according to its dividend rights as a class. For example, if certain stockholders receive a distribution that is more or less than the distributions received by other stockholders of the same class, the distribution will be preferential. If any part of a distribution is preferential, none of that distribution will be applied towards satisfying our REIT distribution requirements.

 

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on the net long-term capital gain we receive in a taxable year. If we so elect, we will be treated as having distributed any such retained amount for purposes of the 4% nondeductible excise tax described above. We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax.

 

It is possible that, from time to time, we may experience timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of that income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at our REIT taxable income. For example, we may not deduct recognized capital losses from our “REIT taxable income.” Further, it is possible that, from time to time, we may be allocated a share of net capital gain attributable to the sale of depreciated property that exceeds our allocable share of cash attributable to that sale. As a result of the foregoing, we may have less cash than is necessary to distribute taxable income sufficient to avoid corporate income tax and the excise tax imposed on certain undistributed income or even to meet the 90% distribution requirement. In such a situation, we may need to borrow funds or, if possible, pay taxable dividends of our capital stock or debt securities.

 

We may satisfy the 90% distribution test with taxable distributions of our stock or debt securities. The IRS has issued private letter rulings to other REITs treating certain distributions that are paid partly in cash and partly in stock as dividends that would satisfy the REIT annual distribution requirement and qualify for the dividends paid deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Those rulings may be relied upon only by taxpayers to whom they were issued, but we could request a similar ruling from the IRS. In addition, the IRS previously issued a revenue procedure authorizing publicly traded REITs to make elective cash/stock dividends. Accordingly, it is unclear whether and to what extent we will be able to make taxable dividends payable in cash and stock. We have no current intention to make a taxable dividend payable in our stock.

 

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Under certain circumstances, we may be able to correct a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our stockholders in a later year. We may include such deficiency dividends in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Although we may be able to avoid income tax on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction we take for deficiency dividends.

 

Recordkeeping Requirements

 

We must maintain certain records in order to qualify as a REIT. In addition, to avoid a monetary penalty, we must request on an annual basis information from our stockholders designed to disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding stock. We intend to comply with these requirements.

 

Failure to Qualify

 

If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, we could avoid disqualification if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. In addition, there are relief provisions for a failure of the gross income tests and asset tests, as described in “— Gross Income Tests” and “— Asset Tests.”

 

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and no relief provision applies, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax and any applicable alternative minimum tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. In calculating our taxable income in a year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT, we would not be able to deduct amounts paid out to stockholders. In fact, we would not be required to distribute any amounts to stockholders in that year. In such event, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, distributions to stockholders generally would be taxable as ordinary income. Subject to certain limitations of the U.S. federal income tax laws, corporate stockholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction and stockholders taxed at individual rates may be eligible for the reduced U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% on such dividends. Unless we qualified for relief under specific statutory provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to qualify as a REIT. We cannot predict whether in all circumstances we would qualify for such statutory relief.

 

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders

 

As used herein, the term “U.S. stockholder” means a holder of shares of our common stock that for U.S. federal income tax purposes is:

 

  a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

  a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any of its states or the District of Columbia;

 

  an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

  any trust if (1) a court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person.

 

If a partnership, entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds shares of our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding shares of our common stock, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock by the partnership.

 

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As long as we qualify as a REIT, a taxable U.S. stockholder must generally take into account as ordinary income distributions made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that we do not designate as capital gain dividends or retained long-term capital gain. A U.S. stockholder will not qualify for the dividends received deduction generally available to corporations. In addition, dividends paid to a U.S. stockholder generally will not qualify for the 20% tax rate for “qualified dividend income.” The maximum tax rate for qualified dividend income received by U.S. stockholders taxed at individual rates is currently 20%. The maximum tax rate on qualified dividend income is lower than the maximum tax rate on ordinary income, which is 39.6%. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends paid by domestic C corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations to U.S. stockholders that are taxed at individual rates. Because we are not generally subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our REIT taxable income distributed to our stockholders (See — “Taxation of Our Company” above), our dividends generally will not be eligible for the 20% rate on qualified dividend income. As a result, our ordinary REIT dividends will be taxed at the higher tax rate applicable to ordinary income. However, the 20% tax rate for qualified dividend income will apply to our ordinary REIT dividends (1) attributable to dividends received by us from non REIT corporations, and (2) to the extent attributable to income upon which we have paid corporate income tax (e.g., to the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our taxable income). In general, to qualify for the reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income, a stockholder must hold our common stock for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the date on which our common stock becomes ex-dividend.

 

A U.S. stockholder generally will take into account as long-term capital gain any distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends without regard to the period for which the U.S. stockholder has held shares of our common stock. We generally will designate our capital gain dividends as either 20% or 25% rate distributions. See “— Capital Gains and Losses.” A corporate U.S. stockholder, however, may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

 

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on the net long-term capital gain that we receive in a taxable year. In that case, to the extent that we designate such amount in a timely notice to such stockholder, a U.S. stockholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain. The U.S. stockholder would receive a credit for its proportionate share of the tax we paid. The U.S. stockholder would increase the basis in its stock by the amount of its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain, minus its share of the tax we paid.

 

A U.S. stockholder will not incur tax on a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the distribution does not exceed the adjusted basis of the U.S. stockholder’s shares of our common stock. Instead, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of such stock. A U.S. stockholder will recognize a distribution in excess of both our current and accumulated earnings and profits and the U.S. stockholder’s adjusted basis in his or her shares of our common stock as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the shares of the stock have been held for one year or less, assuming the shares of stock are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. stockholder. In addition, if we declare a distribution in October, November, or December of any year that is payable to a U.S. stockholder of record on a specified date in any such month, such distribution shall be treated as both paid by us and received by the U.S. stockholder on December 31 of such year, provided that we actually pay the distribution during January of the following calendar year.

 

U.S. stockholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses. Instead, these losses are generally carried over by us for potential offset against our future income. Taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of shares of our common stock will not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, stockholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive activity losses,” such as losses from certain types of limited partnerships in which the U.S. stockholder is a limited partner, against such income. In addition, taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of shares of our common stock generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations. We will notify U.S. stockholders after the close of our taxable year as to the portions of the distributions attributable to that year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital and capital gain.

 

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Certain U.S. stockholders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax. The Medicare tax will apply to, among other things, dividends and other income derived from certain trades or business and net gains from the sale or other disposition of property, such as our capital stock, subject to certain exceptions. Our dividends and any gain from the disposition of shares of our common stock generally will be the type of gain that is subject to the Medicare tax.

 

Taxation of U.S. Stockholders on the Disposition of Shares of our Common Stock

 

A U.S. stockholder who is not a dealer in securities must generally treat any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares of our common stock as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. stockholder has held shares of our common stock for more than one year and otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss. In general, a U.S. stockholder will realize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the sum of the fair market value of any property and the amount of cash received in such disposition and the U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis. A stockholder’s adjusted tax basis generally will equal the U.S. stockholder’s acquisition cost, increased by the excess of net capital gains deemed distributed to the U.S. stockholder (discussed above) less tax deemed paid on such gains and reduced by any returns of capital. However, a U.S. stockholder must treat any loss upon a sale or exchange of common stock held by such stockholder for six months or less as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends and any other actual or deemed distributions from us that such U.S. stockholder treats as long-term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss that a U.S. stockholder realizes upon a taxable disposition of shares of our common stock may be disallowed if the U.S. stockholder purchases other shares of our common stock within 30 days before or after the disposition.

 

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Capital Gains and Losses

 

A taxpayer generally must hold a capital asset for more than one year for gain or loss derived from its sale or exchange to be treated as long-term capital gain or loss. The highest marginal individual income tax rate currently is 39.6%. The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain applicable to taxpayers taxed at individual rates is 20% for sales and exchanges of assets held for more than one year. The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain from the sale or exchange of “Section 1250 property,” or depreciable real property, is 25%, which applies to the lesser of the total amount of the gain or the accumulated depreciation on the Section 1250 property.

 

With respect to distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends and any retained capital gain that we are deemed to distribute, we generally may designate whether such a distribution is taxable to U.S. stockholders taxed at individual rates currently at a 20% or 25% rate. Thus, the tax rate differential between capital gain and ordinary income for those taxpayers may be significant. In addition, the characterization of income as capital gain or ordinary income may affect the deductibility of capital losses. A non-corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses not offset by capital gains against its ordinary income only up to a maximum annual amount of $3,000. A non-corporate taxpayer may carry forward unused capital losses indefinitely. A corporate taxpayer must pay tax on its net capital gain at ordinary corporate rates. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses only to the extent of capital gains, with unused losses being carried back three years and forward five years.

 

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders

 

Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. However, they are subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income, or UBTI. Although many investments in real estate generate UBTI, the IRS has issued a ruling that dividend distributions from a REIT to an exempt employee pension trust do not constitute UBTI so long as the exempt employee pension trust does not otherwise use the shares of the REIT in an unrelated trade or business of the pension trust. Based on that ruling, amounts that we distribute to tax-exempt stockholders generally should not constitute UBTI. However, if a tax-exempt stockholder were to finance (or be deemed to finance) its acquisition of common stock with debt, a portion of the income that it receives from us would constitute UBTI pursuant to the “debt-financed property” rules. Moreover, social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt from taxation under special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally will require them to characterize distributions that they receive from us as UBTI. Finally, in certain circumstances, a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust that owns more than 10% of our capital stock must treat a percentage of the dividends that it receives from us as UBTI. Such percentage is equal to the gross income we derive from an unrelated trade or business, determined as if we were a pension trust, divided by our total gross income for the year in which we pay the dividends. That rule applies to a pension trust holding more than 10% of our capital stock only if:

 

the percentage of our dividends that the tax-exempt trust must treat as UBTI is at least 5%;

 

  we qualify as a REIT by reason of the modification of the rule requiring that no more than 50% of our capital stock be owned by five or fewer individuals that allows the beneficiaries of the pension trust to be treated as holding our capital stock in proportion to their actuarial interests in the pension trust; and

 

  either:

 

  one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our capital stock; or

 

  a group of pension trusts individually holding more than 10% of the value of our capital stock collectively owns more than 50% of the value of our capital stock.

 

Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders

 

The term “non-U.S. stockholder” means a holder of shares of our common stock that is not a U.S. stockholder, a partnership (or entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or a tax-exempt stockholder. The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships, and other foreign stockholders are complex. This section is only a summary of such rules.  We urge non-U.S. stockholders to consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state, and local income tax laws on the purchase, ownership and sale of shares of our common stock, including any reporting requirements.

 

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Distributions

 

A non-U.S. stockholder that receives a distribution that is not attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of a “United States real property interest,” or USRPI, as defined below, and that we do not designate as a capital gain dividend or retained capital gain will recognize ordinary income to the extent that we pay such distribution out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. A withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution ordinarily will apply to such distribution unless an applicable tax treaty reduces or eliminates the tax. However, if a distribution is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. stockholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the distribution at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect to such distribution, and a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax with respect to that distribution. We plan to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any such distribution paid to a non-U.S. stockholder unless either:

 

a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder files an IRS Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate with us;

 

the non-U.S. stockholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us claiming that the distribution is effectively connected income; or

 

the distribution is treated as attributable to a sale of a USRPI under FIRPTA (discussed below).

 

A non-U.S. stockholder will not incur tax on a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the excess portion of such distribution does not exceed the adjusted basis of its common stock. Instead, the excess portion of such distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of such stock. A non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to tax on a distribution that exceeds both our current and accumulated earnings and profits and the adjusted basis of its common stock, if the non-U.S. stockholder otherwise would be subject to tax on gain from the sale or disposition of its common stock, as described below. We must withhold 10% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Consequently, although we intend to withhold at a rate of 30% on the entire amount of any distribution, to the extent that we do not do so, we will withhold at a rate of 10% on any portion of a distribution not subject to withholding at a rate of 30%. Because we generally cannot determine at the time we make a distribution whether the distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we normally will withhold tax on the entire amount of any distribution at the same rate as we would withhold on a dividend. However, a non-U.S. stockholder may claim a refund of amounts that we withhold if we later determine that a distribution in fact exceeded our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, a non-U.S. stockholder may incur tax on distributions that are attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of a USRPI under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA. A USRPI includes certain interests in real property and stock in corporations at least 50% of whose assets consist of interests in real property. Under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. stockholder is taxed on distributions attributable to gain from sales of USRPIs as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business of the non-U.S. stockholder. A non-U.S. stockholder thus would be taxed on such a distribution at the normal capital gains rates applicable to U.S. stockholders, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of a nonresident alien individual. A non-U.S. corporate stockholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax on such a distribution.

 

However, if our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States, capital gain distributions on our common stock that are attributable to our sale of a USRPI will be treated as ordinary dividends rather than as gain from the sale of a USRPI, as long as the non-U.S. stockholder did not own more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the one-year period preceding the distribution. In such a case, non-U.S. stockholders generally will be subject to withholding tax on such capital gain distributions in the same manner as they are subject to withholding tax on ordinary dividends.

 

If our common stock is not regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States, capital gain distributions that are attributable to our sale of USRPIs will be subject to tax under FIRPTA, as described above. In such case, we must withhold 35% of any distribution that we could designate as a capital gain dividend. A non-U.S. stockholder may receive a credit against its tax liability for the amount we withhold. Moreover, if a non-U.S. stockholder disposes of our common stock during the 30-day period preceding a dividend payment, and such non-U.S. stockholder (or a person related to such non-U.S. stockholder) acquires or enters into a contract or option to acquire our common stock within 61 days of the first day of the 30-day period described above, and any portion of such dividend payment would, but for the disposition, be treated as a USRPI capital gain to such non-U.S. stockholder, then such non-U.S. stockholder shall be treated as having USRPI capital gain in an amount that, but for the disposition, would have been treated as USRPI capital gain.

 

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For payments after June 30, 2014, a U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate will be imposed on dividends paid to certain non-U.S. stockholders if certain disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied. If payment of withholding taxes is required, non-U.S. stockholders that are otherwise eligible for an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding taxes with respect of such dividends will be required to seek a refund from the IRS to obtain the benefit or such exemption or reduction. We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of any amounts withheld.

 

Dispositions

 

Non-U.S. stockholders could incur tax under FIRPTA with respect to gain realized upon a disposition of shares of our common stock if we are a United States real property holding corporation during a specified testing period. If at least 50% of a REIT’s assets are USRPIs, then the REIT will be a United States real property holding corporation. We believe that we are, and that we will continue to be, a United States real property holding corporation based on our investment strategy. However, even if we are a United States real property holding corporation, a non-U.S. stockholder generally would not incur tax under FIRPTA on gain from the sale of shares of our common stock if we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.”

 

A “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” includes a REIT in which, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its shares are held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. stockholders. We cannot assure you that this test will be met.

 

If our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, an additional exception to the tax under FIRPTA will be available with respect to our common stock, even if we do not qualify as a domestically controlled qualified investment entity at the time the non-U.S. stockholder sells our common stock. Under that exception, the gain from such a sale by such a non-U.S. stockholder will not be subject to tax under FIRPTA if (1) our common stock is treated as being regularly traded under applicable Treasury Regulations on an established securities market and (2) the non-U.S. stockholder owned, actually or constructively, 5% or less of our common stock at all times during a specified testing period. As noted above, we expect that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market following this offering.

 

If the gain on the sale of shares of our common stock were taxed under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. stockholder would be taxed on that gain in the same manner as U.S. stockholders, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. In addition, distributions that are subject to tax under FIRPTA also may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax when made to a non-U.S. stockholder treated as a corporation (under U.S. federal income tax principles) that is not otherwise entitled to treaty exemption. Finally, if we are not a domestically controlled qualified investment entity at the time our stock is sold and the non-U.S. stockholder does not qualify for the exemptions described in the preceding paragraph, under FIRPTA the purchaser of shares of our common stock also may be required to withhold 10% of the purchase price and remit this amount to the IRS on behalf of the selling non-U.S. stockholder.

 

With respect to individual non-U.S. stockholders, even if not subject to FIRPTA, capital gains recognized from the sale of shares of our common stock will be taxable to such non-U.S. stockholder if he or she is a non-resident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and some other conditions apply, in which case the non-resident alien individual may be subject to a U.S. federal income tax on his or her U.S. source capital gain.

 

A U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate will be imposed on proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock received after December 31, 2016 by certain non-U.S. stockholders if certain disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied. If payment of withholding taxes is required, non-U.S. stockholders that are otherwise eligible for an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding taxes with respect of such proceeds will be required to seek a refund from the IRS to obtain the benefit or such exemption or reduction. We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of any amounts withheld.

 

Information Reporting Requirements and Withholding

 

We will report to our stockholders and to the IRS the amount of distributions we pay during each calendar year, and the amount of tax we withhold, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, a stockholder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to distributions unless the stockholder:

 

  is a corporation or qualifies for certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact; or

 

  provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

 

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A stockholder who does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the stockholder’s income tax liability. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any stockholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to us.

 

Backup withholding will generally not apply to payments of dividends made by us or our paying agents, in their capacities as such, to a non-U.S. stockholder provided that the non-U.S. stockholder furnishes to us or our paying agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status, such as providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, or certain other requirements are met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person that is not an exempt recipient. Payments of the proceeds from a disposition or a redemption effected outside the U.S. by a non-U.S. stockholder made by or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, information reporting (but not backup withholding) generally will apply to such a payment if the broker has certain connections with the U.S. unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is a non-U.S. stockholder and specified conditions are met or an exemption is otherwise established. Payment of the proceeds from a disposition by a non-U.S. stockholder of shares of our common stock made by or through the U.S. office of a broker is generally subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the non-U.S. stockholder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability if certain required information is furnished to the IRS. Stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding to them and the availability of, and procedure for obtaining an exemption from, backup withholding.

 

For payments after June 30, 2014, a U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate will be imposed on dividends received by U.S. stockholders who own shares of our common stock through foreign accounts or foreign intermediaries if certain disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied. In addition, if those disclosure requirements are not satisfied, a U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate will be imposed on proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock received after December 31, 2016 by U.S. stockholders who own shares of our common stock through foreign accounts or foreign intermediaries. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any U.S. stockholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to us. We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of amounts withheld.

 

Other Tax Consequences

 

Tax Aspects of Our Investments in Our Operating Partnership and Subsidiary Partnerships

 

The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to our direct or indirect investments in our operating partnership and any subsidiary partnerships or limited liability companies that we form or acquire (each individually a “Partnership” and, collectively, the “Partnerships”). The discussion does not cover state or local tax laws or any federal tax laws other than income tax laws.

 

Classification as Partnerships.   We are entitled to include in our income our distributive share of each Partnership’s income and to deduct our distributive share of each Partnership’s losses only if such Partnership is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership (or an entity that is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes if the entity is treated as having only one owner or member for U.S. federal income tax purposes) rather than as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation. An unincorporated entity with at least two owners or members will be classified as a partnership, rather than as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes if it:

 

  is treated as a partnership under the Treasury Regulations relating to entity classification (the “check-the-box regulations”); and

 

  is not a “publicly-traded partnership.”

 

Under the check-the-box regulations, an unincorporated entity with at least two owners or members may elect to be classified either as an association taxable as a corporation or as a partnership. If such an entity fails to make an election, it generally will be treated as a partnership (or an entity that is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes if the entity is treated as having only one owner or member for U.S. federal income tax purposes) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Once our operating partnership is no longer treated as a disregarded entity, we intend for our operating partnership intends to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will not cause our operating partnership to elect to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation under the check-the-box regulations.

 

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A publicly-traded partnership is a partnership whose interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. A publicly-traded partnership will not, however, be treated as a corporation for any taxable year if, for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 1987 in which it was classified as a publicly-traded partnership, 90% or more of the partnership’s gross income for such year consists of certain passive-type income, including real property rents, gains from the sale or other disposition of real property, interest, and dividends, or (the “90% passive income exception”). Treasury Regulations provide limited safe harbors from the definition of a publicly-traded partnership. Pursuant to one of those safe harbors (the “private placement exclusion”), interests in a partnership will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof if (1) all interests in the partnership were issued in a transaction or transactions that were not required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (2) the partnership does not have more than 100 partners at any time during the partnership’s taxable year. In determining the number of partners in a partnership, a person owning an interest in a partnership, grantor trust, or S corporation that owns an interest in the partnership is treated as a partner in such partnership only if (1) substantially all of the value of the owner’s interest in the entity is attributable to the entity’s direct or indirect interest in the partnership and (2) a principal purpose of the use of the entity is to permit the partnership to satisfy the 100-partner limitation. Each Partnership in which we own an interest currently qualifies for the private placement exclusion.

 

We have not requested and do not intend to request a ruling from the IRS that our operating partnership will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes once it is treated as having two or more partners for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If for any reason our operating partnership were taxable as a corporation, rather than as a partnership, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we likely would not be able to qualify as a REIT unless we qualified for certain relief provisions. See “— Gross Income Tests” and “— Asset Tests.” In addition, any change in a Partnership’s status for tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case we might incur tax liability without any related cash distribution. See “— Distribution Requirements.” Further, items of income and deduction of such Partnership would not pass through to its partners, and its partners would be treated as stockholders for tax purposes. Consequently, such Partnership would be required to pay income tax at corporate rates on its net income, and distributions to its partners would constitute dividends that would not be deductible in computing such Partnership’s taxable income.

 

Income Taxation of the Partnerships and their Partners

 

Partners, Not the Partnerships, Subject to Tax.   A partnership is not a taxable entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Rather, we are required to take into account our allocable share of each Partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits for any taxable year of such Partnership ending within or with our taxable year, without regard to whether we have received or will receive any distribution from such Partnership.

 

Partnership Allocations.   Although a partnership agreement generally will determine the allocation of income and losses among partners, such allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes if they do not comply with the provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations. If an allocation is not recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership, which will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. Each Partnership’s allocations of taxable income, gain, and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of the U.S. federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations.

 

Tax Allocations With Respect to Partnership Properties.   Income, gain, loss, and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated in a manner such that the contributing partner is charged with, or benefits from, respectively, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss (“built-in gain” or “built-in loss”) is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property at the time of contribution and the adjusted tax basis of such property at the time of contribution (a “book-tax difference”). Any property purchased for cash initially will have an adjusted tax basis equal to its fair market value, resulting in no book-tax difference.

 

Allocations with respect to book-tax differences are solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements among the partners. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued regulations requiring partnerships to use a “reasonable method” for allocating items with respect to which there is a book-tax difference and outlining several reasonable allocation methods. Under certain available methods, the carryover basis of contributed properties in the hands of our operating partnership (1) could cause us to be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes than would be allocated to us if all contributed properties were to have a tax basis equal to their fair market value at the time of the contribution and (2) in the event of a sale of such properties, could cause us to be allocated taxable gain in excess of the economic or book gain allocated to us as a result of such sale, with a corresponding benefit to the contributing partners. An allocation described in (2) above might cause us to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds in the event of a sale or other disposition of property, which might adversely affect our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements and may result in a greater portion of our distributions being taxed as dividends. We have not yet decided what method will be used to account for book-tax differences.

 

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Sale of a Partnership’s Property

 

Generally, any gain realized by a Partnership on the sale of property held by the Partnership for more than one year will be long-term capital gain, except for any portion of such gain that is treated as depreciation or cost recovery recapture. Under Section 704(c) of the Code, any gain or loss recognized by a Partnership on the disposition of contributed properties will be allocated first to the partners of the Partnership who contributed such properties to the extent of their built-in gain or loss on those properties for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The partners’ built-in gain or loss on such contributed properties will equal the difference between the partners’ proportionate share of the book value of those properties and the partners’ tax basis allocable to those properties at the time of the contribution as reduced for any decrease in the “book-tax difference.” See “— Income Taxation of the Partnerships and their Partners — Tax Allocations With Respect to Partnership Properties.” Any remaining gain or loss recognized by the Partnership on the disposition of the contributed properties, and any gain or loss recognized by the Partnership on the disposition of the other properties, will be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests in the Partnership.

 

Our share of any gain realized by a Partnership on the sale of any property held by the Partnership as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the Partnership’s trade or business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. Such prohibited transaction income also may have an adverse effect upon our ability to satisfy the income tests for REIT qualification. See “— Gross Income Tests.” We do not presently intend to acquire or hold or to allow any Partnership to acquire or hold any property that represents inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of our or such Partnership’s trade or business.

 

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

 

The present federal income tax treatment of REITs may be modified, possibly with retroactive effect, by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time. The REIT rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department which may result in statutory changes as well as revisions to regulations and interpretations. Additionally, several of the tax considerations described herein are currently under review and are subject to change. Prospective stockholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the effect of potential changes to the federal tax laws on an investment in shares of our common stock.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

We and/or you may be subject to taxation by various states and localities, including those in which we or a stockholder transacts business, owns property or resides. The state and local tax treatment may differ from the U.S. federal income tax treatment described above. Consequently, you should consult your own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws upon an investment in shares of our common stock.

 

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ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following is a summary of material considerations arising under ERISA and the prohibited transaction provisions of the Code that may be relevant to a prospective purchaser, including plans and arrangements subject to the fiduciary rules of ERISA and plans or entities that hold assets of such plans (“ERISA Plans”); plans and accounts that are not subject to ERISA but are subject to the prohibited transaction rules of Section 4975 of the Code, including IRAs, Keogh plans, and medical savings accounts (together with ERISA Plans, “Benefit Plans” or “Benefit Plan Investors”); and governmental plans, church plans, and foreign plans that are exempt from ERISA and the prohibited transaction provisions of the Code but that may be subject to state law or other requirements, which we refer to as Other Plans. This discussion does not address all the aspects of ERISA, the Code or other laws that may be applicable to a Benefit Plan or Other Plan, in light of their particular circumstances.

 

In considering whether to invest a portion of the assets of a Benefit Plan or Other Plan, fiduciaries should consider, among other things, whether the investment:

 

  will be consistent with applicable fiduciary obligations;

 

  will be in accordance with the documents and instruments covering the investments by such plan, including its investment policy;

 

  in the case of an ERISA plan, will satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of Sections 404(a)(1)(B) and 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA, if applicable, and other provisions of the Code and ERISA;

 

  will impair the liquidity of the Benefit Plan or Other Plan;

 

  will result in unrelated business taxable income to the plan; and

 

  will provide sufficient liquidity, as there may be only a limited market to sell or otherwise dispose of our stock.

 

ERISA and the corresponding provisions of the Code prohibit a wide range of transactions involving the assets of the Benefit Plan and persons who have specified relationships to the Benefit Plan, who are “parties in interest” within the meaning of ERISA and, “disqualified persons” within the meaning of the Code. Thus, a designated plan fiduciary of a Benefit Plan considering an investment in our shares should also consider whether the acquisition or the continued holding of our shares might constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction. Fiduciaries of Other Plans should satisfy themselves that the investment is in accord with applicable law.

 

Section 3(42) of ERISA and regulations issued by the Department of Labor provide guidance on the definition of plan assets under ERISA. These regulations also apply under the Code for purposes of the prohibited transaction rules. Under the regulations, if a plan acquires an equity interest in an entity which is neither a “publicly-offered security” nor a security issued by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act, the plan’s assets would include both the equity interest and an undivided interest in each of the entity’s underlying assets unless an exception from the plan asset regulations applies.

 

The regulations define a publicly-offered security as a security that is:

 

  “widely-held;”

 

  “freely-transferable;” and

 

  either part of a class of securities registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or sold in connection with an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, provided the securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within 120 days (or such later time as may be allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission) after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering occurred.

 

Because we have not registered and do not intend to register our common stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we do not believe our common stock would be treated as a “public-offering security” for purposes of the Department of Labor’s plan assets guidelines. Therefore, we must comply with another exception to the plan assets regulations.

 

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Another exception in the plan asset regulations applies to a Benefit Plan’s investment in a “real estate operating company.” If a Benefit Plan acquires an equity security issued by a real estate operating company, the Benefit Plan’s assets include that equity security but do not include an undivided interest in the underlying assets of the real estate operating company. To constitute a “real estate operating company” under the plan asset regulations, an entity such as us must, on its initial valuation date and during each annual valuation period, have at least 50% of its assets (valued at cost and excluding short-term investments pending long-term commitment or distribution) invested in real estate which is managed or developed and with respect to which the entity has the right to substantially participate directly in the management and development activities and must, in the ordinary course of business, engage in real estate management and development activities. We believe that we will qualify as a “real estate operating company” so that our assets should not constitute the assets of a Benefit Plan that acquires or holds our common stock.

 

Another exception in the plan asset regulations applies if Benefit Plan participation in an entity is “insignificant.” The plan asset regulations provide that Benefit Plan participation in an entity is insignificant if Benefit Plans do not hold 25% or more of any class of equity security in the entity (disregarding for this purpose, any equity securities held by persons, other than Benefit Plans, who have discretionary authority or control with respect to the assets of the entity or a person who provides investment advice for a fee with respect to those assets). We may qualify for this exception so that our assets should not constitute the assets of a Benefit Plan that acquires or holds our common stock. However, we do not intend to restrict investment in us by Benefit Plans. Thus, no assurance can be given that the “insignificant participation” exception will apply to us. 

 

If the underlying assets of our company were treated by the Department of Labor as “plan assets,” the management of our company would be treated as fiduciaries with respect to Benefit Plan stockholders and the prohibited transaction restrictions of ERISA and the Code could apply to transactions involving our assets and transactions with “parties in interest” (as defined in ERISA) or “disqualified persons” (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code) with respect to Benefit Plan stockholders. If the underlying assets of our company were treated as “plan assets,” an investment in our company also might constitute an improper delegation of fiduciary responsibility to our company under ERISA and expose the ERISA Plan fiduciary to co-fiduciary liability under ERISA and might result in an impermissible commingling of plan assets with other property.

 

If a prohibited transaction were to occur, an excise tax equal to 15% of the amount involved would be imposed under the Code, with an additional 100% excise tax if the prohibited transaction is not “corrected.” Such taxes will be imposed on any disqualified person who participates in the prohibited transaction. In addition, our Manager, and possibly other fiduciaries of Benefit Plan stockholders subject to ERISA who permitted such prohibited transaction to occur or who otherwise breached their fiduciary responsibilities, could be required to restore to the plan any losses suffered by the ERISA Plan or any profits realized by these fiduciaries as a result of the transaction or beach. With respect to an IRA or similar account that invests in our company, the occurrence of a prohibited transaction involving the individual who established the IRA, or his or her beneficiary, would cause the IRA to lose its tax-exempt status. In that event, the IRA or other account owner generally would be taxed on the fair market value of all the assets in the account as of the first day of the owner’s taxable year in which the prohibited transaction occurred.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The offers and sales of our shares will be made on best efforts basis by broker-dealers who are members of FINRA. Moloney Securities Co., Inc is our dealer-manager and principal underwriter. In addition to the Underwriter Warrants, our dealer-manager will receive selling commissions of seven percent (7%) of the offering proceeds which it may re-allow and pay to participating broker-dealers who sell shares and our dealer-manager will also receive a non-accountable due diligence, marketing and expense reimbursement fee of one percent (1%) of the offering proceeds, which it may also re-allow and pay to the participating broker-dealers, accountable expense reimbursements of up to one percent (1%) of the offering. Our dealer-manager will not be required to account for the spending of amounts comprising the non-accountable due diligence, marketing and expense reimbursement fee. Our Dealer-Manager may also sell shares as part of the selling group, thereby becoming entitled to retain a greater portion of the seven percent (7%) selling commissions. Any portion of the seven percent (7%) selling commissions retained by the Dealer-Manager would be included within the amount of selling commissions payable by us and not in addition thereto.

 

We may pay reduced or no selling commissions and/or expense reimbursements or fees in connection with the sale of shares in this offering to:

 

registered principals or representatives of our dealer-manager or a participating broker (and immediate family members of any of the foregoing Persons);

 

our employees, officers and directors or those of our manager, our property manager or the affiliates of any of the foregoing entities (and the immediate family members of any of the foregoing Persons), any Plan established exclusively for the benefit of such persons or entities, and, if approved by our board of directors, joint venture partners, consultants and other service providers;

 

clients of an investment advisor registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or under applicable state securities laws (other than any registered investment advisor that is also registered as a broker-dealer, with the exception of clients who have “wrap” accounts which have asset based fees with such dually registered investment advisor/broker-dealer); or

 

persons investing in a bank trust account with respect to which the authority for investment decisions made has been delegated to the bank trust department.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, “immediate family members” means such Person’s spouse, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren and any such Person who is so related by marriage such that this includes “step-” and “-in-law” relations as well as such Persons so related by adoption. In addition, participating brokers contractually obligated to their clients for the payment of fees on terms inconsistent with the terms of acceptance of all or a portion of the selling commissions and/or expense reimbursements or fees may elect not to accept all or a portion of such compensation. In that event, such shares will be sold to the investor at a per share purchase price, net of all or a portion of selling commissions and/or expense reimbursements or fees. All sales must be made through a registered broker-dealer participating in this offering, and investment advisors must arrange for the placement of sales accordingly. The net proceeds to us will not be affected by reducing or eliminating selling commissions and/or expense reimbursements or fees payable in connection with sales through registered investment advisors or bank trust departments.

 

The Underwriter Warrants will have an exercise price equal to 125% of the price at which we sell our shares in this offering. Assuming we sell the shares at the mid-point of our price range, the exercise price of the Underwriter Warrants will be $12.50.

 

Our Dealer-Manager will also have the right but not the obligation to purchase Underwriter Warrants. An Underwriter Warrant may be purchased by our Dealer-Manager as of the initial closing of this offering and as of each subsequent closing, if any. An amount of our shares equal to 10.0% of the number of the shares sold in the applicable closing will underlie each Underwriter Warrant. The purchase price per Underwriter Warrant will be $0.001 per share underlying the Underwriter Warrant and the exercise price shall be 125% of the sale price of our shares, $12.50 assuming we sell the shares at the mid-point of our range. Each Underwriter Warrant will be exercisable commencing on the date that is [•] days immediately following the issuance of such Underwriter Warrant. The exercise period for all Underwriter Warrants will terminate at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the date which is five years immediately following the qualification date of this offering. Further terms and conditions of the Underwriter Warrants will be set forth in form of warrant mutually acceptable to the Company and our Dealer-Manager. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1) the Underwriter Warrants may not be sold by the Dealer-Manager during the offering or sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging short sale derivative put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the warrants by any person for period of 180 days immediately following commencement of the offering except as permitted by FINRA Rule 5110(g)(2). For purposes of this restriction the commencement of the offering is deemed to be the date on which the Offering Statement of which this Offering Circular is part is declared qualified by the SEC.

 

We anticipate that our Company and our Dealer-Manager will enter into a Dealer-Manager Agreement, which will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the Offering Statement of which this Offering Circular is a part, for the sale of our shares. Broker-dealers desiring to become members of the selling group will be required to execute a participating dealer agreement with our Dealer-Manager either before or after the date of this Offering Circular.

   

Offering Amount and Distribution

 

We are offering a minimum of $7,000,000 and a maximum of $50,000,000 of our shares at an anticipated offering price of between $9.00 and $11.00 per share. Our minimum offering amount is based upon the low-end of our price range and the maximum offering amount assumes the shares are sold at the mid-point of the range. The minimum purchase requirement is $5,000 in shares; however, we can waive the minimum purchase requirement in our sole discretion. Following achievement of our minimum offering amount, the offering will be closed in incremental phases of at least $2,500,000 each and final closing will occur whenever we have reached the maximum offering amount. Until we achieve the minimum offering and thereafter until each incremental phase closes, the proceeds for that phase will be kept in an escrow account compliant with Exchange Act Rule 15c2-4.  Upon closing of the phase, the proceeds for that phase will be disbursed to us and the shares sold in that phase will be issued to the investors.  If the phase does not close, for any reason, the proceeds for that phase will be promptly returned to investors.

 

Procedures for Acquiring Shares of Our Common Stock

 

Prior to purchasing any shares of our common stock, you should review this entire offering circular and any appendices, exhibits and supplements accompanying this offering circular. We anticipate that prospective investors will acquire our shares through book-entry order through the Dealer-Manager and the participating broker-dealers, if any. Prospective investors who abide by the investment limitations described below may subscribe for shares of our common stock as follows:

 

 98 
 

 

Complete the order form provided to you by the Dealer-Manager, including the representations and warranties regarding your accredited status and the percentage of your net worth being invested in this offering.

 

  Deliver your completed and executed form to the Dealer-Manager.

 

  Payment for your shares may be made (i) via wire transfer to the escrow agent, pursuant to the wiring instructions provided by the Dealer-Manager concurrently with the submission of your order form and (ii) by authorization of withdrawal from securities accounts maintained with the selling group concurrent with the submission of your order form.

 

  If payment is made by authorization of withdrawal from securities accounts, the funds authorized to be withdrawn from a securities account will continue to accrue interest, if any interest is to accrue on such amounts, at the contractual rates until the date on which the applicable closing occurs or the termination of this offering. If a purchaser authorizes a selling group member to withdraw the amount of the purchase price from a securities account, the selling group member will do so as of the date of the applicable closing.

 

Orders will be effective only upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any order, in whole or in part. An approved custodian or trustee must process and forward to us orders made through IRAs, Keogh plans, 401(k) plans and other tax-deferred plans. If we do not accept your order, the escrow agent will promptly refund any purchase price transferred via wire transfer. Any order application not accepted within ten (10) days after receipt shall be deemed rejected.

 

Investment Limitations

 

Generally, if you are not an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D (17 CFR §230.501 (a)) no sale may be made to you in this offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or net worth. Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to www.investor.gov . See “Plan of Distribution – Investment Limitations.”

 

As a Tier 2 Regulation A offering, investors must comply with the 10% limitation to investment in the offering. The only investor in this offering exempt from this limitation is an accredited investor, or an Accredited Investor, as defined under Rule 501 of Regulation D. If you meet one of the following tests you should qualify as an Accredited Investor:

 

(i)    You are a natural person who has had individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years, or joint income with your spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of these years, and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year;

 

(ii)   You are a natural person and your individual net worth, or joint net worth with your spouse, exceeds $1,000,000 at the time you purchase Units (please see below on how to calculate your net worth);

 

(iii)  You are an executive officer or general partner of the issuer or a manager or executive officer of the general partner of the issuer;

 

(iv)  You are an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, a corporation, a Massachusetts or similar business trust or a partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the shares, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000;

 

(v)   You are a bank or a savings and loan association or other institution as defined in the Securities Act, a broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, an insurance company as defined by the Securities Act, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act, or a business development company as defined in that act, any Small Business Investment Company licensed by the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 or a private business development company as defined in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;

 

(vi)  You are an entity (including an Individual Retirement Account trust) in which each equity owner is an accredited investor;

 

 99 
 

 

(vii) You are a trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, your purchase of Units is directed by a person who either alone or with his purchaser representative(s) (as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment, and you were not formed for the specific purpose of investing in the shares; or

 

(viii) You are a plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has assets in excess of $5,000,000.

 

Under Rule 251 of Regulation A, non-accredited, non-natural investors are subject to the investment limitation and may only invest funds which do not exceed 10% of the greater of the purchaser’s revenue or net assets (as of the purchaser’s most recent fiscal year end). A non-accredited, natural person may only invest funds which do not exceed 10% of the greater of the purchaser’s annual income or net worth (please see below on how to calculate your net worth).

 

NOTE : For the purposes of calculating your net worth, or Net Worth, it is defined as the difference between total assets and total liabilities. This calculation must exclude the value of your primary residence and may exclude any indebtedness secured by your primary residence (up to an amount equal to the value of your primary residence). In the case of fiduciary accounts, net worth and/or income suitability requirements may be satisfied by the beneficiary of the account or by the fiduciary, if the fiduciary directly or indirectly provides funds for the purchase of the shares.

 

REPORTS

 

We will furnish the following reports, statements, and tax information to each of our stockholders:

 

Reporting Requirements under Tier 2 of Regulation A. Following this Tier 2 Regulation A offering, we will be required to comply with certain ongoing disclosure requirements under Rule 257 of Regulation A. We will be required to file the following: an annual report with the SEC on Form 1-K; a semi-annual report with the SEC on Form 1-SA; current reports with the SEC on Form 1-U; and a notice under cover of Form 1-Z. The necessity to file current reports will be triggered by certain corporate events, similar to the ongoing reporting obligation faced by issuers under the Exchange Act; however, the requirement to file a Form 1-U is expected to be triggered by significantly fewer corporate events than that of the Form 8-K. Parts I & II of Form 1-Z will be filed by us if and when we decide to and are no longer obligated to file and provide annual reports pursuant to the requirements of Regulation A.

 

Annual Reports. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of our fiscal year, ending December 31, our board of directors will cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means, to each stockholder as of a date selected by the board of directors, an annual report containing financial statements of the company for such fiscal year, presented in accordance with GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, company equity and cash flows, with such statements having been audited by an accountant selected by the board of directors. The board of directors shall be deemed to have made a report available to each stockholder as required if it has either (i) filed such report with the SEC via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval, or EDGAR, system and such report is publicly available on such system, or (ii) made such report available on any website maintained by the company and available for viewing by the stockholders.

 

Tax Information. On or before March 31st of the year immediately following our fiscal year, which is currently January 1 through December 31, we will send to each stockholder such tax information as shall be reasonably required for federal and state income tax reporting purposes.

 

Stock Certificates. We do not anticipate issuing stock certificates representing shares purchased in this offering to the stockholders. However, we are permitted to issue stock certificates and may do so at the request of our transfer agent. The number of shares held by each stockholder, and each stockholder’s percentage of the aggregate outstanding shares, will be maintained by us or our transfer agent in our company register.

 

 100 
 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal and tax matters will be passed upon for us by Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC. Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC also provides legal services to some of our affiliates. The statements under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” as they relate to U.S. federal income tax matters have been reviewed by our tax counsel, which will opine as to certain federal income tax matters relating to the company. Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC will issue an opinion regarding certain matters of Maryland law, including the validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby.

 

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Dealer-Manager by Sands Anderson, PC.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015, have been included in this offering circular in reliance upon the report of Keiter, independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The statement of revenues and expenses of Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC (Franklin Square) for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015 have been included in this offering circular in reliance upon the report of Keiter, independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC an offering statement on Form 1-A, as amended, of which this offering circular is a part under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the shares offered by this offering circular. This offering circular does not contain all of the information set forth in the offering statement, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Statements contained in this offering circular as to the content of any contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the offering statement are necessarily summaries of such contract or other document, with each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the schedules and exhibits to this offering circular. For further information regarding our company and the shares offered by this offering circular, reference is made by this offering circular to the offering statement and such schedules and exhibits.

 

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom our offering circular is delivered, upon request, a copy of any or all of the information that we have incorporated by reference into our offering circular but not delivered with our offering circular. To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in our offering circular, other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents, call or write us at:

 

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.

11 S. 12 th Street, Suite 401

Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 344-4435

 

The offering statement and the schedules and exhibits forming a part of the offering statement filed by us with the SEC can be inspected and copies obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission at Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxies and information statements and other information regarding our company and other registrants that have been filed electronically with the SEC. The address of such site is  http://www.sec.gov .

  

 101 
 

 

 PART F/S
 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 

  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS FS-2
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
   
Consolidated Balance Sheet FS-3
Consolidated Statement of Operations FS-4
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity FS-5
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows FS-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements FS-7
   
MEDALIST FUND 1-A, LLC (FRANKLIN SQUARE) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Years Ended December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2015 FS-10
Report of Independent Auditors FS-12
Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses FS-14
Notes to Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses FS-15
Notes to Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses, Continued FS-16
   
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT DECEMBER 31, 2015 FS-18
Summary of Unaudited Pro Form Consolidated Financial Statements FS-19
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet FS-20
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations FS-21

 

 FS-1 
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

 

To the Board of Directors of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.

 

Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., which comprise the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the period from inception (September 28, 2015) through December 31, 2015, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Management's Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditor's Responsibility

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

Opinion

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. as of December 31, 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the period from inception (September 28, 2015) through December 31, 2015 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

/s/ Keiter

 

March 25, 2016

Glen Allen, Virginia

 

 FS-2 
 

 

 MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 
December 31, 2015
 

 

Assets
         
Cash   $ 126  
         
Total assets   $ 126  
         
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
         
Liabilities:        
Accrued expenses   $ 116,712  
Advances from affiliate     50,000  
         
 Total liabilities     166,712  
         
Stockholders' equity:        
Additional paid in capital     250  
Retained deficit     (166,836 )
         
Total stockholders' equity     (166,586 )
         
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 126  

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 FS-3 
 

 

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
Period from Inception (September 28, 2015) to December 31, 2015
 

 

Revenues   $ -  
         
Expenses:        
Organization costs     141,712  
Other expenses     124  
Total expenses     141,836  
         
Net loss   $ (141,836 )

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 FS-4 
 

 

 

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
Period from Inception (September 28, 2015) to December 31, 2015
 

 

    Common Stock     Additional Paid
in Capital
    Accumulated
deficit
    Total  
                         
Balance, September 28, 2015   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  
                                 
Capital contribution     -       250       -       250  
                                 
Syndication costs     -       -       (25,000 )     (25,000 )
                                 
Net loss     -       -       (141,836 )     (141,836 )
                                 
Balance, December 31, 2015   $ -     $ 250     $ (166,836 )   $ (166,586 )

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 FS-5 
 

 

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
Period from Inception (September 28, 2015) to December 31, 2015
 

 

Operating activities:        
Net loss   $ (141,836 )
         
Increase in accrued expenses     116,712  
Increase in advances from affiliate     50,000  
Net cash provided by operating activities     24,876  
         
Financing activities:        
Capital contribution     250  
Syndication costs     (25,000 )
         
Net cash used in financing activities     (24,750 )
         
Cash, beginning of period     -  
         
Cash, end of period   $ 126  

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 FS-6 
 

 

medalist DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATEd FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 

 

Note 1 - Organization

 

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) was formed as a Maryland corporation on September 28, 2015 to acquire, reposition, renovate, lease and manage income-producing real estate, with a primary focus on (i) commercial properties, including flex-industrial, and retail properties, and (ii) multi-family residential properties. The Company is externally managed and advised by Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., a Virginia corporation. The Manager will make all investment decisions.

 

As of December 31, 2015, the Company has not yet commenced operations and has not entered into any contracts to acquire properties. The Company formed a subsidiary, Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”) on September 29, 2015. Substantially all of the Company’s assets will be held by, and operations will be conducted through the Operating Partnership. The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership.

 

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the resources and financial activities of the Company and its subsidiary, and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Cash

 

Cash consists of amounts that the Company has on deposit with a major commercial financial institution.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual events and results could differ from those assumptions and estimates.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company intends to operate and be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. As a REIT, the Company generally is not subject to federal corporate income tax on that portion of its taxable income that is currently distributed to stockholders.

 

Organizational and Offering Costs

 

The Company expenses organization costs as incurred and offering costs, when incurred, will be deferred and charged to stockholders’ equity.

 

 FS-7 
 

  

medalist DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATEd FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued
 

 

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Continued

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. This new standard will replace all current U.S. GAAP guidance related to revenue recognition and eliminate all industry- specific guidance. The new revenue recognition standard provides a unified model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This guidance will be effective beginning in 2018 and can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Management is evaluating how the adoption of this new accounting will affect its future financial reporting.

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-10, “Development Stage Entities.” This new standard eliminates the distinction between entities that are in the development stage from other entities in GAAP. The requirements to present inception-to-date information, label the financial statements as those of a development stage entity and disclose in the first year in which the company is no longer considered to be in the development stage that in prior years it had been in the development stage has also been eliminated. In addition, FASB ASU 2014-10 eliminates the requirement for development stage entities to disclose the development stage activities in which the company is engaged.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." ASU 2016-02 is intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions. The ASU will require organizations that lease assets referred to as "Lessees" to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. An organization is to provide disclosures designed to enable users of financial statements to understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative requirements concerning additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on this classification as a capital or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP which requires only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet the new ASU will require both types of leases (i.e. operating and capital) to be recognized on the balance sheet. The FASB lessee accounting model will continue to account for both types of leases. The capital lease will be accounted for in substantially the same manner as capital leases are accounted for under existing GAAP. The operating lease will be accounted for in a manner similar to operating leases under existing GAAP, except that lessees will recognize a lease liability and a lease asset for all of those leases. The leasing standard will be effective for calendar year-end companies beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for all companies and organizations. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its financial statements.

 

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies are not currently applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Subsequent Events

 

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through March 25, 2016 the date which the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued, for recognition or disclosure and has determined that there are no events to be reported or disclosed on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

 FS-8 
 

 

medalist DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATEd FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued
 

 

Note 3 - Equity

 

The Company is authorized to issue up to 750,000,000 shares of common stock at $0.01 par value per share and 250,000,000 shares of preferred stock at $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate value of all authorized Shares having par value is $10,000,000. Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends when authorized by the Company’s board of directors. The board of directors is authorized, without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of preferred stock, in one or more classes or series, with such terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption, as the board of directors approves. As of December 31, 2015, no common or preferred shares have been issued.

 

Note 4 - Related Parties

 

The Company has, and is expected to continue to engage in, transactions with related parties. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had received advances from the Manager totaling $50,000 to be used for operating expenses.

 

 FS-9 
 

  

 

MEDALIST FUND 1-A, LLC

(FRANKLIN SQUARE)

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014

 

 FS-10 
 

  

 

CONTENTS
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS FS-12
   
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
   
Statements of revenues and certain expenses FS-14
Notes to statements of revenues and certain expenses FS-15 - FS-17

 

 

 FS-11 
 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

 

To the Members

Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC

Richmond, Virginia

 

Report on the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

 

We have audited the accompanying Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses of Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC (the “Property”) for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and the related notes.

 

Management’s Responsibility for the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditor’s Responsibility

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses.

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

 FS-12 
 

 

Opinion

 

In our opinion, the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses referred to above present fairly in all material respects, the revenues and certain expenses of Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC as described in Note 1 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

Emphasis of Matter

 

We draw attention to Note 1 of the Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses, which describes that the accompanying Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses were prepared for the purpose of complying with Article 8 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and are not intended to be a complete presentation of Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC’s revenues and expenses. Our opinion is not modified with respect to this matter.

 

/s/ Keiter

 

March 25, 2016

Glen Allen, Virginia

 

 FS-13 
 

 

MEDALIST FUND 1-A, LLC

(FRANKLIN SQUARE)

 

STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND CERTAIN EXPENSES

 

Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

    2015     2014  
             
Revenues:                
Rental revenues   $ 1,726,551     $ 1,786,348  
Tenant recoveries     396,988       389,846  
                 
Total revenues     2,123,539       2,176,194  
                 
Certain expenses:                
Operating expenses     287,394       322,737  
Taxes and insurance     217,585       187,756  
                 
Total certain expenses     504,979       510,493  
                 
Revenues in excess of expenses   $ 1,618,560     $ 1,665,701  

 

See Report of Independent Accountants and Accompanying Notes

 

 FS-14 
 

  

medalist fund 1-a, llc
(FRANKLIN SQUare)
 
Notes to statements of revenues and certain expenses
 
Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
 

 

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses include the operations of Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC (the ”Property”), a retail shopping center in North Carolina.

 

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses relate to the Property and have been prepared for the purpose of complying with Article 8 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, the statements are not representative of the actual operations for the periods presented as revenues and certain operating expenses, which may not be directly attributable to the revenues and expenses expected to be incurred in the future operations of the Property, have been excluded. Such items include depreciation, amortization, asset management fees, and interest expense.

 

Note 2. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

  

Basis of accounting:

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) as determined by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).

 

Revenue recognition:

 

The Property recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset.

 

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Property is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers and bears the associated credit risk.

 

Advertising costs:

 

The Property expenses all advertising costs as incurred. There was $1,891 in advertising expense for the year ended 2015 and $75 for the year ended 2014.

 

Income taxes:

 

As a limited liability company, The Property’s taxable income or loss is allocated to its members. Therefore, no provision or liability for income taxes has been included in the financial statements.

 

Use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements:

 

Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting and disclosure of revenues and certain expenses during the reporting periods to present the statements of revenues and certain expenses in conformity with GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

 FS-15 
 

  

medalist fund 1-a, llc
(FRANKLIN SQUare)
 
Notes to statements of revenues and certain expenses
 
Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
 

 

Note 3. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Continued

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. This new standard will replace all current U.S. GAAP guidance related to revenue recognition and eliminate all industry- specific guidance. The new revenue recognition standard provides a unified model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This guidance will be effective beginning in 2018 and can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Management is evaluating how the adoption of this new accounting will affect its future financial reporting.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." ASU 2016-02 is intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions. The ASU will require organizations that lease assets referred to as "Lessees" to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. An organization is to provide disclosures designed to enable users of financial statements to understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative requirements concerning additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on this classification as a capital or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP which requires only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet the new ASU will require both types of leases (i.e. operating and capital) to be recognized on the balance sheet. The FASB lessee accounting model will continue to account for both types of leases. The capital lease will be accounted for in substantially the same manner as capital leases are accounted for under existing GAAP. The operating lease will be accounted for in a manner similar to operating leases under existing GAAP, except that lessees will recognize a lease liability and a lease asset for all of those leases. The new accounting standard for lessors remains largely the same as now applied with some changes to align the lessor accounting model to the new lessee accounting model and to align it with the revenue recognition guidance. The leasing standard will be effective for calendar year-end companies beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for all companies and organizations. The Property is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its financial statements.

 

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies are not currently applicable to the Property or are not expected to have a significant impact on the Property's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

 FS-16 
 

 

medalist fund 1-a, llc
(FRANKLIN SQUare)
 
Notes to statements of revenues and certain expenses
 
Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
 

 

 

Note 3. Minimum Future Lease Rentals

 

There are various lease agreements in place with tenants to lease space in the Property. As of December 31, 2015, the minimum future cash rents receivable under noncancelable operating leases in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

 

2016   $ 1,492,679  
2017     1,398,938  
2018     1,441,588  
2019     1,338,710  
2020     1,127,641  
Thereafter     2,353,597  
         
    $ 9,153,153  

 

Leases generally require reimbursement of the tenant’s proportional share of real estate taxes and other operating expenses, which are excluded from the amounts above.

 

Note 4. Tenant Concentrations

 

For the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, two tenants represented 50% and 48% of the Property’s rental revenues.

 

Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Property is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. Management has asserted that there are no material claims or suits pending against the Property.

 

Note 6. Related Party

 

An affiliate of the Property provides property management services to the Property. Total fees incurred were $62,452 for 2015 and $64,329 for 2014. The expense is included in operating expenses on the accompanying Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses.

 

Note 7. Subsequent Events

 

The Property evaluated subsequent events through March 25, 2016, the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there are no items for disclosure in the accompanying financial statements. 

 

 FS-17 
 

 

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

DECEMBER 31, 2015

 

 FS-18 
 

 

Summary of Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated balance sheet of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2015, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the period from inception (September 28, 2015) through December 31, 2015, and the notes thereto. The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the period ended December 31, 2015 are included in the Company’s filing with the SEC. In addition, this unaudited pro forma information should be read in conjunction with the statement of revenues and certain operating expenses and notes thereto of Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, which also have been included in the Company’s filing with the SEC.

 

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 has been prepared to give effect to the acquisition of the property owned by Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC as if the acquisition occurred on December 31, 2015. Additionally, the following unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet has been prepared to give effect to the Company’s receipt of initial offering proceeds as if it occurred on December 31, 2015.

 

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 has been prepared to give effect to the acquisition of the property owned by Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC and the effect of the Company’s receipt of initial offering proceeds as if these transactions occurred on January 1, 2015.

 

These unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements are prepared for informational purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of future results or of actual results that would have been achieved had the acquisition of the property owned by Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC been consummated as of the date indicated.

 

 FS-19 
 

  

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

DECEMBER 31, 2015
 

  

    Medalist Diversified     Pro Forma Adjustments        
    REIT, Inc.     Initial     Initial Property     Pro Forma  
    Historical (a)     Capital Raise (b)     Acquisition (c)     Total  
Assets                                
                                 
Investment in real estate, net   $ -     $ -     $ 19,822,000     $ 19,822,000  
Cash     126       6,380,000       (6,210,000 )     170,126  
Rents and other receivables     -       -       50,000       50,000  
Property tax and insurance reserves     -       -       200,000       200,000  
Lender held reserves                     369,000       369,000  
Escrow deposits and prepaid expenses     -       -       15,000       15,000  
Deferred financing costs, net     -       -       265,000       265,000  
Lease origination costs, net     -       -       74,000       74,000  
                                 
Total assets   $ 126     $ 6,380,000     $ 14,585,000     $ 20,965,126  
                                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                                
                                 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 166,712     $ -     $ 30,000     $ 196,712  
Note payable     -       -       14,275,000       14,275,000  
                                 
Total liabilities     166,712       -       14,305,000       14,471,712  
                                 
Stockholders' equity:                                
Common stock     -       7,000       750       7,750  
Additional paid-in capital     250       6,373,000       749,250       7,122,500  
Accumulated deficit     (166,836 )     -       (470,000 )     (636,836 )
                                 
Total stockholders' equity     (166,586 )     6,380,000       280,000       6,493,414  
                                 
Total liabilities and  stockholder's equity   $ 126     $ 6,380,000     $ 14,585,000     $ 20,965,126  

 

Notes to unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet

(a) Historical financial information was derived from the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2015, included in the Company’s filing with the SEC.
(b) Represents the initial capital raise of the Company. 700,000 common shares ($0.01 par value) were issued at $10 per share. Proceeds less syndication costs ($620,000) were used in the purchase of the property owned by Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC.
(c) Represents the acquisition of the property owned by Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC. The purchase price of the property was $20,500,000 plus closing and acquisition costs of $470,000. The Company secured a note payable totaling $14,275,000 with deferred financing costs totaling $265,000. 75,000 common shares ($0.01 par value) were issued at $10 per share to the previous owners of the property.

 

 FS-20 
 

 

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER, 2015
 

 

    Medalist Diversified     Pro Forma Adjustments        
    REIT, Inc.     Initial     Initial Property     Pro Forma  
    Historical (a)     Capital Raise     Acquisition     Total  
                         
Revenues   $ -     $ -     $ 2,123,539 (b)   $ 2,123,539  
                                 
Expenses:                                
Operating expenses     124       -       442,227 (c)     442,351  
Organization expenses     141,712       -       -       141,712  
Depreciation and amortization     -       -       1,006,033 (d)     1,006,033  
Management fees     -       -       166,852 (e)     166,852  
Real estate acquisition costs     -       -       470,000 (f)     470,000  
Interest expense     -       -       670,925 (g)     670,925  
                                 
Total operating expenses   $ 141,836     $ -     $ 2,756,037     $ 2,897,873  
                                 
Net loss   $ (141,836 )   $ -     $ (632,498 )   $ (774,334 )

 

Notes to unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of operations

(a) Historical financial information was derived from the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2015, included in the Company’s filing with the SEC.
(b) Represents rental and tenant recovery revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015, based on historical operations of the previous owner.
(c) Represents operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015, based on historical operations of the previous owner.
(d) Represents depreciation and amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2015. Depreciation expense is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of 39 years for the building, 15 years for land improvements, and 5-7 years for furniture and fixtures. Amortization expense on deferred financing costs is recognized using the straight-line method over the remaining term of the loan (5 years).
(e) Represents property management costs based on 4% of the rental revenues for the year ending December 31, 2015, based on management’s estimates of what would have been incurred had the asset been acquired on January 1, 2015. Represents asset management costs based on 1.5% of the invested proceeds for the year ending December 31, 2015, based on management’s estimates of what would have been incurred had the asset been acquired on January 1, 2015.
(f) Represents acquisition and closing costs relating to the purchase of the real estate had it occurred on January 1, 2015.
(g) Represents interest expense on the note payable of $14,275,000 as if it had been advanced on January 1, 2015. Interest is calculated at the stated annual rate of 4.70%.

 

 FS-21 
 

 

APPENDIX A

 

 PRIOR PERFORMANCE TABLES

 

The following prior performance tables, or Tables, provide information relating to the real estate investment programs previously sponsored by Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. and its affiliates, or Prior Programs, which had investment objectives similar to ours. Generally, we consider Prior Programs that were “blind pool” offerings to have investment objectives similar to ours. Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. and its affiliates have sponsored only two Prior Programs that are “blind pool” offerings and that were in operation as of December 31, 2015. Medalist Fund II, LLC began offering its LLC interests in May 2015. Please see “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business and Investments” for additional information regarding “blind pool” offerings and certain risks related to investments therein.

 

This information should be read together with the summary information included in the “MANAGEMENT - Prior Performance of our Manager” section of this offering circular, which includes a description of the Prior Program included in the Tables below. These Tables provide information on the performance of private programs only.

 

The inclusion of the Tables does not imply that we will make investments comparable to those reflected in the Tables or that investors in our shares will experience returns comparable to the returns experienced in the Prior Programs referred to in the Tables. In addition, you may not experience any return on your investment. Please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Real Estate Industry and Investments in Real Estate.” If you purchase our shares, you will not acquire any ownership in any of the Prior Programs to which the Tables relate.

 

The following tables are included herein:

 

TABLE I   Experience in Raising and Investing Funds
TABLE II   Compensation to Sponsor
TABLE III   Operating Results of Prior Programs

 

Table IV—Results of Completed Programs has been omitted since none of the Prior Programs had completed its operations and sold all of its properties during the five years ended December 31, 2015.

 

Table V— Sales or Disposals of Properties has been omitted since none of the properties from programs sponsored by the registrant and its affiliates were sold or disposed of during the most recent three-year period ended December 31, 2015.

 

 A-1 
 

 

TABLE I

 

EXPERIENCE IN RAISING AND INVESTING FUNDS

 

Table I provides a summary of the experience of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. and its affiliates as a sponsor in raising and investing funds in Medalist Fund I, LLC, which is the only program sponsored by the registrant or an affiliate that has closed within the most recent three-year period, ended December 31, 2015.

 

Information is provided as to the timing and length of the offering and information pertaining to the time period over which the proceeds have been invested. Amounts are in thousands, unless otherwise noted.

 

Medalist Fund I, LLC

 

Dollar amount offered   $ 20,000  
Dollar amount raised   $ 11,399  
Less offering expenses:        
Selling commissions and discounts retained by affiliates   $ 288  
Organizational expenses   $ 8  
Selling commissions paid to non-affiliates   $ 263  
Reserves   $ 0  
Percent available for investment     n/a  
Acquisition costs:        
Prepaid items and fees related to purchase of property   $ -  
Cash down payment   $ 7,974  
Acquisition fees   $ 840  
Additional working capital advances   $ 885  
Total acquisition cost   $ 9,699  
Percent leverage (mortgage financing divided by total acquisition cost)     0 %
Date offering began     September 17, 2012  
Length of offering (in months)     28  
Months to invest 90% of amount available for investment     27  
(measured from beginning of offering)        

 

 A-2 
 

 

TABLE II

 

COMPENSATION TO SPONSOR

 

Table II summarizes the aggregate amount and type of compensation paid to our Manager and its affiliates during the most recent three-year period ended December 31, 2015, in connection with all programs sponsored by the registrant and its affiliates from which compensation has been paid during such three-year period.

 

The information set forth below includes amounts related to all offerings of such programs, including Medalist Fund I, LLC, which is the only program sponsored by the registrant or an affiliate that has closed during such three-year period, and is the only program sponsored by the registrant and its affiliates with investment objectives similar to those of the registrant. Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted.

 

    Medalist Fund I, LLC     Medalist Fund II, LLC  
Date offering commenced     9/17/2012       4/13/2015  
Dollar amount raised(1)   $ 11,399     $ 4,644  
Amount paid to sponsor from proceeds of offering:                
Underwriting fees   $       $    
Acquisition fees:                
Real estate commissions   $ -     $ -  
Advisory fees   $ 1,076     $ 354  
Dollar amount of cash generated from operations before deducting payments to sponsor (2)   $ (8,571 )   $ (2,186 )
Amount paid to sponsor from operations:                
Property management fees   $ -     $ -  
Development, acquisition, and disposition fees   $ 75     $ -  
Partnership and asset management fees   $ 133     $ 11  
Reimbursements   $ -     $ -  
Leasing commissions   $ -     $ -  
Dollar amount of cash generated from property sales and refinancing before deducting payments to sponsor:                
Cash   $       $    
Notes   $ -     $ -  
Amount paid to sponsor from property Sales and refinancing:                
Real estate commissions   $       $    
Incentive fees or distributions                

 

(1) "Dollar amount raised" represents total amount of equity raised over the life of the program.
(2) Cash flows used in operating activities include cash used in the purchase of investments

 

 A-3 
 

 

TABLE III

 

OPERATING RESULTS OF PRIOR PROGRAMS

 

Table III summarizes the operating results of the prior programs of the registrant and its affiliates that have had offerings close during the most recent five-year period ended December 31, 2014. Medalist Fund I, LLC is the only such program.

 

For this program, this table reflects the income or loss of the program (based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)); the cash generated from operations, sales and refinancings; and information regarding cash distributions. Medalist Fund I, LLC is the only program sponsored by the registrant and its affiliates with investment objectives similar to those of the registrant. All figures are as of December 31, of the year indicated, except as otherwise noted. Amounts are in thousands, unless otherwise noted.

 

Medalist Fund I, LLC

 

    2015     2014     2013
Selected Operating Results(1)                        
Revenues     934       629       4  
Operating expenses     198       96       23  
Interest expense     -       23       -  
Operating Income (Loss)     735       510       (19 )
Net (Loss) income attributable to common stockholders — GAAP basis     2,647       1,406       (19 )
Summary Statement of Cash Flows(1)                        
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities (2)     (4 )     (4,172 )     (4,396 )
Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities     -       -       -  
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities     (1,071 )     5,676       4,383  
Amount and Source of Distributions                        
Amount of Distributions paid to investors(3)     996       614       -  
Source of distributions:                        
Cash flows provided by operating activities     996       614       -  
Proceeds from sales of properties     -       -       -  
Total     996       614       -  
Source of distributions (per $1000 invested):                        
From operations     100 %     100 %     100 %
From sales of properties     0 %     0 %     0 %
Summary Balance Sheet                        
Total Assets (before depreciation/amortization)     13,249       11,953       4,593  
Total Assets (after depreciation/amortization)     13,249       11,953       4,593  
Total Liabilities     582       641       160  
Estimated value per share(4)                        

 

(1) Amounts include discontinued operations.
(2) Cash flows used in operating activities include cash used in the purchase of investments
(3) All distributions were paid in cash.
(4) The value has been provided if it was disclosed to program investors.

 

 A-4 
 

 

PART III – EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

The following exhibits are filed as part of this offering circular on Form 1-A:

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description
     
1.1*   Form of Dealer Manager Agreement by and between Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. and Moloney Securities Co., Inc.
1.2*   Form of Underwriter Warrant
2.1**   Articles of Incorporation of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.
2.2   Bylaws of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.
4.1*   Form of Subscription Agreement
6.1   Form of Agreement of Limited Partnership of Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P.
6.2   Form of Management Agreement by and among Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P.
8.1*   Escrow Agreement by and among _________, Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., and Moloney Securities Co., Inc.
10.1   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this offering circular)
11.1   Consent of Keiter, Stephens, Hurst, Gary & Shreaves, P.C.
11.2*   Consent of Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC (included in Exhibit 12.1)
11.3*   Consent of Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC (included in Exhibit 12.2)
12.1*   Opinion of Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC as to legality of the securities being registered
12.2*   Opinion of Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC as to certain federal income tax considerations

 

*To be filed by amendment

**Previously Filed

 

 III-1 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation A, the issuer certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 1-A and has duly caused this offering circular to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia on April 14, 2016.

 

  MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Thomas E. Messier
    Thomas E. Messier
    Co-President and Director

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned directors and officers of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby severally constitute and appoint Thomas E. Messier and William R. Elliott, with full power of substitution, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, to do any and all things in our names in the capacities indicated below which said Thomas E. Messier and William R. Elliott may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with the Regulation A offering circular on Form 1-A of the Company, including specifically but not limited to, power and authority to sign for us in our names in the capacities indicated below, the Regulation A offering circular and any and all amendments thereto; and we hereby ratify and confirm all that said Thomas E. Messier and William R. Elliott shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

This offering circular has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name   Title   Date
         
/s/ Thomas E. Messier   Co-President and Director   April 14, 2016
Thomas E. Messier   (principal executive officer, principal accounting officer and principal financial officer)    
         
/s/ William R. Elliott   Co-President and Director   April 14, 2016
William R. Elliott        

 

 

 

EX1A-2B BYLAWS 3 v436797_ex2-2.htm EXHIBIT 2.2

 

Exhibit 2.2

 

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.

 

BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors may designate.

 

Section 2. ADDITIONAL OFFICES. The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.       PLACE. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 2.       ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors. Failure to hold an annual meeting shall not invalidate the Corporation’s existence or affect any otherwise valid acts of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.       SPECIAL MEETINGS.

 

(a)       General. Each of the chairman of the Board of Directors, chief executive officer, president and Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in subsection (b)(4) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the chairman of the Board of Directors, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors, whoever has called the meeting. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.

 

(b)       Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings.

 

(1)         Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the “Record Date Request Notice”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Request Record Date”). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder, each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director and each matter proposed to be acted on at the meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors or the election of each such individual, as applicable, in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Maryland General Corporate Law (“MGCL”) Sections 2-502 and 2-504(f). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which a Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary.

 

 

 

 

(2)         In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) shall be delivered to the secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall (a) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the secretary), (b) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (d) be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.

 

(3)         The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 3(b), the secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.

 

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(4)         In the case of any special meeting called by the secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder-Requested Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the “Delivery Date”), a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 3(b).

 

(5)         If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the secretary: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (A) the secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

 

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(6)         The chairman of the Board of Directors, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after actual receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

 

(7)         For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Section 4.       NOTICE. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless such stockholder objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

 

Subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice for such special meeting. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.

 

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Section 5.       ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the vice chairman of the Board of Directors, if there is one, the chief executive officer, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, the secretary or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The secretary or, in the secretary’s absence, an assistant secretary or, in the absence of both the secretary and assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary. In the event that the secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an assistant secretary or, in the absence of all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments; (e) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (i) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

Section 6.       QUORUM. At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If such quorum is not established at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting sine die or from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

 

The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough stockholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.

 

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Section 7.       VOTING. The affirmative vote of a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted, without any right to cumulative votes. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the Charter. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

 

Section 8.       PROXIES. A holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation may cast votes in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

 

Section 9.       VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS. Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, general partner, trustee or managing member thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any trustee or fiduciary may vote stock registered in the name of such person in the capacity of trustee or fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.

 

Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.

 

The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date, the time after the record date within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. Upon receipt by the Corporation of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.

 

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Section 10.         INSPECTORS. The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and (v) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

 

Section 11.         ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS.

 

(a)       Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 11(a).

 

(2) For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 11 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the notice provided under Article II, Section 4 hereof, for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement, if any, of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement, if any, of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

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(3) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

 

(i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to MGCL 2-502, 2-504, and 2-507 (including the Proposed Nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director as needed);

 

(ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the stockholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom;

 

(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person,

 

(A) the class, series and number of all shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or any affiliate thereof (each, a “Company Security” and, collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,

 

(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person,

 

(C) whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of Company Securities or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities, and

 

(D) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series.

 

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(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 11(a) and any Proposed Nominee,

 

(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee and

 

(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;

 

(v) the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee or other business proposal prior to the date of such stockholder’s notice; and

 

(vi) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder’s notice.

 

(4) Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a certificate executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) certifying that such Proposed Nominee (a) is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (b) will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation, upon request, to the stockholder providing the notice and shall include all information relating to the Proposed Nominee required by the Corporation.

 

(5) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the notice provided under Article II, Section 4 hereof for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 11(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(6) For purposes of this Section 11, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.

 

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(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 11, is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement, if any, is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement, if any, of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c) General. (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 11 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11.

 

(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 11. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 11.

 

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(3) “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or the requirements of Regulation A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of MGCL and other laws of the state and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11.

 

Section 12. STOCKHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting (a) if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders, (b) if the action is advised, and submitted to the stockholders for approval, by the Board of Directors and a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of stockholders is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law, or any successor statute (the “MGCL”), or (c) in any manner set forth in the terms of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give notice of any action taken by less than unanimous consent to each stockholder not later than ten days after the effective time of such action.

 

Section 13. CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the MGCL or any successor statute, shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the Corporation. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

 

ARTICLE III

 

DIRECTORS

 

Section 1. GENERAL POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors.

 

Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE AND RESIGNATION.

 

(a)       At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.

 

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(b)       Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation’s Board of Directors shall at all times from and after the date of the initial closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering of its common stock pursuant to either an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or a qualified offering statement under Regulation A promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, subject to filling of vacancies resulting from a Director’s resignation, death or other removal, be comprised of at least one-third, and not less than 1, Independent Director.

 

(c)       “Independent Director” means a duly appointed or elected person who: (a) does not receive, other than in his capacity as a member of a board of managers or directors or a board committee, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Corporation, any subsidiary of the Corporation, or any associate (as defined below) thereof and has not received any such fee within the last two years; and (b) does not have a “material business relationship” with the Corporation, any subsidiary of the Corporation, or any of the Corporation’s associates. For purposes of the above definition of “Independent Director”:

 

(1)         the term “Associate” means any person who is: (a) a corporation or other legal entity, other than the Corporation or a majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, of which the person in question is an officer, director, partner, or a direct or indirect, legal or beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or more of any class of equity securities; and (b) a trust or other estate in which the person in question has a substantial beneficial interest or for which the person in question serves as a trustee or in a similar capacity; and

 

(2)         the term “Material Business Relationship” means a business or professional relationship from which a person derives gross revenue that exceeds 5% of (a) such person’s annual gross revenue from all sources during either of the last two years; or (b) such person’s net worth on a fair market value basis.

 

Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. In the event such meeting is not so held, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

 

Section 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the time and place for any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of special meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

 

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Section 5. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute, the Charter or these Bylaws.

 

Section 6. QUORUM. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a majority of such directors is present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other percentage of a particular group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or such other percentage of such group.

 

The directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough directors to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum.

 

Section 7. VOTING. The action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum, but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws.

 

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Section 8. ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or, in the absence of the chief executive officer, the president or, in the absence of the president, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present shall act as chairman of the meeting. The secretary or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the Corporation or, in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 9. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 10. CONSENT BY DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 11. VACANCIES. If, for any reason, any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder. Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors, whether resulting from a director ceasing to be a director or from an increase in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors, may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

Section 12. COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they perform or engage in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a director who is also an officer of the Corporation shall not receive additional compensation for such service as a director.

 

Section 13. RELIANCE. Each director and officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the director or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other person, as to a matter which the director or officer reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, with respect to a director, by a committee of the Board of Directors on which the director does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.

 

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Section 14. RATIFICATION. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify and make binding on the Corporation any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

 

Section 15. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. A director or officer of the Corporation shall have no responsibility to devote his or her full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.

 

Section 16. EMERGENCY PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 16 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (i) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

COMMITTEES

 

Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2. POWERS. The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or prohibited by the charter of such committee, any committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority to one or more subcommittees, composed of one or more directors, as the committee deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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Section 3. MEETINGS. Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide.

 

Section 4. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 5. CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

 

Section 6. VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

 

ARTICLE V

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the Board of Directors, a vice chairman of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the chief executive officer or president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

 

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Section 2. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.

 

Section 3. VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term.

 

Section 4. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the Board of Directors shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

Section 5. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

 

Section 6. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

 

Section 7. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors may designate from among its members a chairman of the Board of Directors, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate the chairman of the Board of Directors as an executive or non-executive chairman. The chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and over those meetings of the stockholders as may be required pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 5 of these Bylaws. The chairman of the Board of Directors shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

 

Section 8. PRESIDENT. In the absence of a chief executive officer, the president shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. In the absence of a designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief operating officer. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

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Section 9. VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such vice president by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president, senior vice president, or vice president for particular areas of responsibility.

 

Section 10. SECRETARY. The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

 

Section 11. TREASURER. The treasurer shall (a) have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, (b) keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, (c) deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors, (d) disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, (e) render to the president and the Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever it may so require, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and (f) in general, perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a chief financial officer by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation.

 

Section 12. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

 

Section 13. COMPENSATION. The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

 

Section 1. CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors and executed by an authorized person.

 

Section 2. CHECKS AND DRAFTS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3. DEPOSITS. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Corporation as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may determine.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

STOCK

 

Section 1. CERTIFICATES. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MGCL and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in any manner permitted by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

 

Section 2. TRANSFERS. All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.

 

The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

 

Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Any officer of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors has determined that such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.

 

Section 4. FIXING OF RECORD DATE. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

 

When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in this section, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if adjourned or postponed, except if the meeting is adjourned or postponed to a date more than 120 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting shall be determined as set forth herein.

 

Section 5. STOCK LEDGER. The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

 

Section 6. FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS. The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue fractional shares of stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as it may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue units consisting of different securities of the Corporation. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Corporation, except that the Board of Directors may provide that for a specified period securities of the Corporation issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only in such unit.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

ACCOUNTING YEAR

 

The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 1. AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.

 

Section 2. CONTINGENCIES. Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

INVESTMENT POLICY

 

Subject to the provisions of the Charter, the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

 

ARTICLE XI

 

SEAL

 

Section 1. SEAL. The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall contain the name of the Corporation and the year of its incorporation and the words “Incorporated Maryland.” The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.

 

Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL. Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE XII

 

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

 

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made or threatened to be made a party to or witness in the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to or witness in the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Charter and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer. The Corporation may, with the approval of its Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to an individual who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation. The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement or otherwise.

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

WAIVER OF NOTICE

 

Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission, given by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by statute. The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

 

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.

 

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EX1A-6 MAT CTRCT 4 v436797_ex6-1.htm EXHIBIT 6.1

 

Exhibit 6.1

 

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS 1
ARTICLE II FORMATION OF PARTNERSHIP 11
2.01 Formation of the Partnership 11
2.02 Name 11
2.03 Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office 11
2.04 Term and Dissolution 11
2.05 Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership 12
2.06 Certificates Describing Partnership Units 12
ARTICLE III BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP 13
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS 13
4.01 Capital Contributions 13
4.02 Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Units 13
4.03 Additional Funding 16
4.04 LTIP Units 17
4.05 Conversion of LTIP Units 19
4.06 Capital Accounts 22
4.07 Percentage Interests 23
4.08 No Interest on Contributions 23
4.09 Return of Capital Contributions 23
4.10 No Third-Party Beneficiary 23
ARTICLE V PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS 24
5.01 Allocation of Profit and Loss 24
5.02 Distribution of Cash 26
5.03 REIT Distribution Requirements 27
5.04 No Right to Distributions in Kind 27
5.05 Limitations on Return of Capital Contributions 27
5.06 Distributions Upon Liquidation 28
5.07 Substantial Economic Effect 28
ARTICLE VI RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER 28
6.01 Management of the Partnership 28
6.02 Delegation of Authority 31
6.03 Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees 31
6.04 Liability of the General Partner 33
6.05 Partnership Obligations 34
6.06 Outside Activities 34
6.07 Employment or Retention of Affiliates 34
6.08 General Partner Activities 35
6.09 Title to Partnership Assets 35
6.10 Restrictions on General Partner Authority 35
ARTICLE VII CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER 36
7.01 Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest 36
7.02 Admission of a Substitute or Additional General Partner 38
7.03 Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of General Partner 38

 

 i 
 

 

7.04 Removal of General Partner 39
ARTICLE VIII RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS 40
8.01 Management of the Partnership 40
8.02 Power of Attorney 40
8.03 Limitation on Liability of Limited Partners 40
8.04 Common Unit Redemption Right 41
ARTICLE IX TRANSFERS OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS 43
9.01 Purchase for Investment 43
9.02 Restrictions on Transfer of Partnership Units 43
9.03 Admission of Substitute Limited Partner 45
9.04 Rights of Assignees of Partnership Units 46
9.05 Effect of Bankruptcy, Death, Incompetence or Termination of a Limited Partner 46
9.06 Joint Ownership of Partnership Units 47
ARTICLE X BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS 47
10.01 Books and Records 47
10.02 Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts 47
10.03 Fiscal and Taxable Year 47
10.04 Annual Tax Information and Report 48
10.05 Tax Matters Partner; Tax Elections; Special Basis Adjustments 48
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT 50
11.01 Amendment of Agreement 50
ARTICLE XII GENERAL PROVISIONS 52
12.01 Notices 52
12.02 Survival of Rights 52
12.03 Additional Documents 52
12.04 Severability 52
12.05 Entire Agreement 52
12.06 Pronouns and Plurals 52
12.07 Headings 52
12.08 Counterparts 52
12.09 Governing Law 53

 

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A - Partners, Capital Contributions and Percentage Interests

EXHIBIT B - Notice of Exercise of Common Unit Redemption Right

EXHIBIT C-1 - Certification of Non-Foreign Status (For Redeeming Limited Partners That Are Entities)

EXHIBIT C-2 - Certification of Non-Foreign Status (For Redeeming Limited Partners That Are Individuals)

EXHIBIT D - Notice of Election by Partner to Convert LTIP Units into Common Units

EXHIBIT E - Notice of Election by Partnership to Force Conversion of LTIP Units into Common Units

 

 ii 
 

 

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS, L.P.

 

THIS AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF MEDALIST DIVERSFIED HOLDINGS, L.P. (the “Partnership”), dated as of [______] 2016, is made and entered into by and among Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “General Partner”), and the Limited Partners set forth on the attached Exhibit A.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to a Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware effective as of September 29, 2015 and an Agreement of Limited Partnership, entered into as of [_______], 2016 (the “Original Agreement”), by and between the General Partner and Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, as the initial limited partner (the “Initial Limited Partner”);

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to such terms in Article I.

 

 

AGREEMENT

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINED TERMS

 

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

 

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

 

Additional Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03.

 

Additional Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(a)(ii).

 

Adjustment Events” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a)(i).

 

 1
 

 

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

 

Affiliate” means, (i) any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, (ii) any other Person that owns, beneficially, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding capital stock, shares or equity interests of such Person, or (iii) any officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager or trustee of such Person or any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person (excluding directors and persons serving in similar capacities who are not otherwise an Affiliate of such Person). For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, through the ownership of voting securities or partnership interests or otherwise.

 

Agreed Value” means the fair market value of a Partner’s non-cash Capital Contribution as of the date of contribution as agreed to by such Partner and the General Partner. The names and addresses of the Partners, number of Partnership Units issued to each Partner, and the Agreed Value of non-cash Capital Contributions as of the date of contribution is set forth on Exhibit A, as it may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

Agreement” means this Agreement of Limited Partnership, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

 

Capital Account” has the meaning provided in Section 4.06.

 

Capital Account Limitation” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(b).

 

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

 

Cash Amount” means an amount of cash per Common Unit equal to the Value of the REIT Common Shares Amount on the date of receipt by the Partnership and the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption.

 

 2
 

 

“Certificate” means any instrument or document that is required under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business, to be signed and sworn to by the Partners of the Partnership (either by themselves or pursuant to the power-of-attorney granted to the General Partner in Section 8.02) and filed for recording in the appropriate public offices within the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction to perfect or maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership, to effect the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Partner of the Partnership, or to protect the limited liability of the Limited Partners as limited partners under the laws of the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction.

 

Change of Control” means, as to the General Partner, the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of 80% or more of the assets of the General Partner, taken as a whole, to any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than an Affiliate of the General Partner; or (ii) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than an Affiliate of the General Partner in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, share exchange, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting capital securities of the General Partner.

 

Charter” means the Articles of Incorporation of the General Partner filed on September 28, 2015 with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Code means that provision in the Code on the date of this Agreement and any successor provision of the Code.

 

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Redemption Amount” means either the Cash Amount or the REIT Common Shares Amount, as selected by the General Partner pursuant to Section 8.04(b).

 

Common Unit” means a Partnership Unit which is designated as a Common Unit of the Partnership.

 

Common Unit Economic Balance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(g).

 

Common Unit Redemption Right” has the meaning provided in Section 8.04(a).

 

Common Unit Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(f).

 

 3
 

 

Constituent Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(f).

 

Conversion Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(b).

 

Conversion Factor” means 1.0, provided, however, if the General Partner (i) declares or pays a dividend on its outstanding REIT Common Shares in REIT Common Shares or makes a distribution to all holders of its outstanding REIT Common Shares in REIT Common Shares, (ii) subdivides its outstanding REIT Common Shares or (iii) combines its outstanding REIT Common Shares into a smaller number of REIT Common Shares, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Common Shares issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination (assuming for such purposes that such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination has occurred as of such time), and the denominator of which shall be the actual number of REIT Common Shares (determined without the above assumption) issued and outstanding on such date and, provided, however, if an entity other than an Affiliate of the General Partner shall become General Partner pursuant to any merger, consolidation or combination of the General Partner with or into another entity (the “Successor Entity”), the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by the number of shares of the Successor Entity into which one REIT Common Share is converted pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination, determined as of the date of such merger, consolidation or combination. Any adjustment to the Conversion Factor shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event; provided, however, if the General Partner receives a Notice of Redemption after the record date, but before the effective date of such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination, the Conversion Factor shall be determined as if the General Partner had received the Notice of Redemption immediately before the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment shall be made to the Conversion Factor if the number of outstanding Common Units is otherwise adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the adjustment to the number of outstanding REIT Common Shares.

 

Defaulting Limited Partner” means a Limited Partner that has failed to pay any amount owed to the Partnership under a Partnership Loan within 15 days after demand for payment thereof is made by the Partnership.

 

Distributable Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02(d).

 

Economic Capital Account Balances” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(g).

 

Equity Incentive Plan” means any equity incentive or compensation plan hereafter adopted by the Partnership or the General Partner.

 

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

 

 4
 

 

Excepted Holder Limit” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Forced Conversion” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(c).

 

Forced Conversion Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(c).

 

General Partner” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

 

General Partner Loan” means a loan extended by the General Partner to a Defaulting Limited Partner in the form of a payment on a Partnership Loan by the General Partner to the Partnership on behalf of the Defaulting Limited Partner.

 

General Partnership Interest” means the Partnership Interest held by the General Partner in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, which Partnership Interest is an interest as a general partner under the Act. The General Partnership Interest may be expressed as a number of Partnership Units. A number of Common Units held by the General Partner equal to one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of all outstanding Partnership Units shall be deemed to be the General Partnership Interest. All other Partnership Units owned by the General Partner and any Partnership Units owned by any Affiliate or Subsidiary of the General Partner shall be considered to constitute a Limited Partnership Interest.

 

Indemnitee” means (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding by reason of its status as (A) the General Partner or (B) a director of the General Partner or an officer or employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Independent Director” means a director of the General Partner who meets the requirements for an independent director as set forth in the General Partner’s bylaws from time to time.

 

Initial Limited Partner” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

 

 5
 

 

Limited Partner” means any Person named as a Limited Partner on the attached Exhibit A, as it may be amended or restated from time to time, and any Person who becomes a Substitute Limited Partner or any additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

 

Limited Partnership Interest” means a Partnership Interest held by a Limited Partner at any particular time representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interest of all Limited Partners, and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Limited Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement and in the Act, together with the obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with all the provisions of this Agreement and of such Act. Limited Partnership Interests may be expressed as a number of Common Units, LTIP Units or other Partnership Units.

 

Liquidating Gains” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(g).

 

“LTIP Unit” means a Partnership Unit which is designated as an LTIP Unit and which has the rights, preferences and other privileges designated in Section 4.04 and elsewhere in this Agreement in respect of holders of LTIP Units. The allocation of LTIP Units among the Partners shall be set forth on Exhibit A, as it may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

LTIP Unitholder” means a Partner that holds LTIP Units.

 

Loss” has the meaning provided in Section 5.01(h).

 

Majority in Interest” means the Limited Partners holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners.

 

Management Agreement” means that certain Management Agreement dated as of [________], 2016 by and among the General Partner, the Partnership and the Manager.

 

Manager” means Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., a Virginia corporation.

 

Notice of Redemption” means the Notice of Exercise of Common Unit Redemption Right substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B.

 

Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c)(ii).

 

Offering” means the underwritten initial public offering of REIT Common Shares by the General Partner.

 

Original Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

 

OTC” means OTC Link ATS provided by OTC Link, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of OTC Market Group, Inc.

 

 6
 

 

Partner” means any General Partner or Limited Partner, and “Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

 

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

 

Partnership” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Partnership Loan” means a loan from the Partnership to the Partner on the day the Partnership pays over the excess of the Withheld Amount over the Distributable Amount to a taxing authority.

 

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

 

Partnership Record Date” means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of cash pursuant to Section 5.02, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution to its shareholders of some or its entire portion of such distribution.

 

Partnership Unit” means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder, and includes Common Units, LTIP Units and any other class or series of Partnership Units that may be established after the date of this Agreement. The number of Partnership Units outstanding and the Percentage Interests represented by such Partnership Units are set forth on Exhibit A, as it may be amended or restated from time to time. The ownership of Partnership Units may be evidenced by a certificate in a form approved by the General Partner.

 

Percentage Interest” means the percentage determined by dividing the number of Common Units of a Partner by the aggregate number of Common Units of all Partners, treating LTIP Units as Common Units for this purpose in accordance with Section 4.04(a).

 

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

 

 7
 

 

Profit” has the meaning provided in Section 5.01(h).

 

Property” means any property or other investment in which the Partnership, directly or indirectly, holds an ownership interest.

 

Redeeming Limited Partner” has the meaning provided in Section 8.04(a).

 

Regulations” means the Federal Income Tax Regulations validly issued under the Code, as amended and as hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Regulations shall mean that provision of the Regulations on the date of this Agreement and any successor provision of the Regulations.

 

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

 

REIT Common Share” means one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the General Partner (or Successor Entity, as the case may be), including without limitation the General Partner’s common shares.

 

REIT Expenses” means (i) costs and expenses relating to the formation and continuity of existence and operation of the General Partner and any Subsidiaries thereof (which Subsidiaries shall, for these purposes, be included within the definition of the General Partner), including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any director, officer or employee of the General Partner, (ii) costs and expenses relating to any public offering and registration and qualification, or private offering, of securities by the General Partner, and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, including, without limitation, underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to any such offering of securities, and any costs and expenses associated with any claims made by any holders of such securities or any underwriters or placement agents thereof, (iii) costs and expenses associated with any repurchase of any securities by the General Partner, (iv) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic or other reports and communications by the General Partner under federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with the Commission, (v) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the Commission and any securities exchange, (vi) costs and expenses associated with any 401(k) plan, incentive plan, bonus plan or other plan providing for compensation for the employees of the General Partner, (vii) costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner relating to any issuing or redemption of Partnership Interests and (viii) all other operating or administrative costs of the General Partner incurred in the ordinary course of its business on behalf of or in connection with the Partnership.

 

REIT Preferred Share” means one share of the preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the General Partner (or Successor Entity, as the case may be), including without limitation the General Partner’s Preferred Shares.

 

 8
 

 

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

 

Restriction Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04(f).

 

Rights” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “REIT Common Shares Amount” contained herein.

 

Safe Harbor” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(d)

 

Safe Harbor Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(d).

 

Safe Harbor Interests” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(d).

 

Secondary Market Safe Harbors has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(f).

 

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

 

Service” means the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Share Ownership Limit” means the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Common Share Ownership Limit, each as defined in the Charter.

 

Specified Redemption Date” means the date that is three business days following the General Partner’s receipt of a Notice of Redemption.

 

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

 

Subsidiary Partnership” means any partnership or limited liability company in which the General Partner, the Partnership, or a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Partner or the Partnership owns a partnership or limited liability company interest.

 

Substitute Limited Partner” means any Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.03.

 

 9
 

 

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

 

Survivor” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(d).

 

Tax Matters Partner” has the meaning set forth within Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code.

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the principal national securities exchange or alternative trading system on which a security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c).

 

Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).

 

TRS” means a taxable REIT subsidiary (as defined in Section 856(l) of the Code) of the General Partner.

 

Two Thirds Majority” means the Limited Partners holding more than Sixty-Six and Sixty-Six Hundredths percent (66.66%) of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners.

 

Unvested LTIP Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(c).

 

Value” means, with respect to any security, the average of the daily market price of such security for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date of such valuation. The market price for each such Trading Day shall be: (i) if the security is listed or admitted to trading on the a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price, regular way, on such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, on such day, (ii) if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or (iii) if the security is not listed or admitted to trading and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than ten days before the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided, that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten days before the date in question, the value of the security shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate. If security includes any Rights, then the value of such rights shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

 

 10
 

 

Vested LTIP Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(c).

 

Vesting Agreement” means each or any, as the context implies, agreement or instrument entered into by an LTIP Unitholder upon acceptance of an award of LTIP Units under an Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Withheld Amount” means any amount required to be withheld by the Partnership to pay over to any taxing authority as a result of any allocation or distribution of income to a Partner.

 

ARTICLE II

FORMATION OF PARTNERSHIP

 

2.01        Formation of the Partnership. The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, the Act shall govern the rights and obligations of the Partners and administration and termination of the Partnership. The Partnership Interest of each Partner shall be personal property for all purposes.

 

2.02        Name. The Name of the Partnership shall be “Medalist Residential Holdings, LP” and the Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof. The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “L.P.” or “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Partners.

 

2.03        Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office. The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808 and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office is Corporation Service Company, a Delaware corporation. The principal office of the Partnership is located at 11 S. 12th Street, Suite 401 Richmond, Virginia 23219, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems necessary or desirable.

 

2.04        Term and Dissolution.

 

(a)          The term of the Partnership shall continue in full force and effect until dissolved upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

 

 11
 

 

(i) the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner or the dissolution, death, removal or withdrawal of a General Partner unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.03(b); provided, that if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the dissolution of such General Partner as a result of the dissolution, death, withdrawal, removal or Event of Bankruptcy of a partner in such partnership shall not be an event of dissolution of the Partnership if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners, either alone or with additional partners, and such General Partner and such partners comply with any other applicable requirements of this Agreement;

 

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

 

(iii) the redemption of all Limited Partnership Interests (other than any such Limited Partnership Interests held by the General Partner or its subsidiaries), unless the General Partner determines to continue the term of the Partnership by the admission of one or more additional Limited Partners; or

 

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

 

(b)          Upon dissolution of the Partnership (unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.03(b)), the General Partner (or its director, receiver, successor or legal representative) shall amend or cancel the Certificate and liquidate the Partnership’s assets and apply and distribute the proceeds thereof in accordance with Section 5.06. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liquidating General Partner may either (i) defer liquidation of, or withhold from distribution for a reasonable time, any assets of the Partnership (including those necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and obligations), or (ii) distribute the assets to the Partners in kind.

 

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

 

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

 

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THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE. THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE GOVERNED BY AND TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS, L.P. AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME.

 

ARTICLE III

 

BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

 

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, provided, however, that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT, unless the General Partner otherwise ceases to, or the Board of Directors determines, pursuant to Section 7.7 of the Charter, that the General Partner shall no longer qualify as a REIT, (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or the ownership of interests in any entity engaged in any of the foregoing and (iii) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing. In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the General Partner’s right in its sole and absolute discretion to cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the General Partner has elected REIT status and intends to continue to elect REIT status and the avoidance of income and excise taxes on the General Partner inures to the benefit of all the Partners and not solely to the General Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Limited Partners agree that the General Partner may terminate or revoke its status as a REIT under the Code at any time. The General Partner shall also be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” taxable as a corporation for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

 

4.01         Capital Contributions. The General Partner and each Limited Partner has made a capital contribution to the Partnership in exchange for the Partnership Units set forth opposite such Partner’s name on Exhibit A, as it may be amended or restated from time to time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to reflect accurately sales, exchanges or other Transfers, redemptions, Capital Contributions, the issuance of additional Partnership Units or similar events having an effect on a Partner’s ownership of Partnership Units.

 

4.02         Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Units. Except as provided in this Section 4.02 or in Section 4.03, the Partners shall have no right or obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership. The General Partner may contribute additional capital to the Partnership, from time to time, and receive additional Partnership Interests, in the form of Partnership Units, in respect thereof, in the manner contemplated in this Section 4.02.

 

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(a)          Issuances of Additional Partnership Units.

 

(i) General. As of the effective date of this Agreement, the Partnership shall have two classes of Partnership Units, entitled “Common Units” and “LTIP Units.” The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership to issue additional Partnership Interests, in the form of Partnership Units, for any Partnership purpose at any time or from time to time to the Partners (including the General Partner) or to other Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as shall be established by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partners. The General Partner’s determination that consideration is adequate shall be conclusive insofar as the adequacy of consideration relates to whether the Partnership Units are validly issued and fully paid. Any additional Partnership Units issued thereby may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to the then-outstanding Partnership Units held by the Limited Partners, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of any Limited Partner, subject to Delaware law, including, without limitation, (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Units; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Units to share in Partnership distributions; and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Units upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided, however, that no additional Partnership Units shall be issued to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) unless:

 

(1) (A) the additional Partnership Units are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Common Shares of or other interests in the General Partner, which shares or interests have designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Units issued to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.02 and (B) the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the cash consideration received by the General Partner from the issuance of such REIT Common Shares or other interests in the General Partner;

 

(2) (A) the additional Partnership Units are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Common Shares of or other interests in the General Partner pursuant to a taxable share dividend declared by the General Partner, which shares or interests have designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Units issued to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.02, (B) if the General Partner allows the holders of its REIT Common Shares to elect whether to receive such dividend in REIT Common Shares, other interests of the General Partner or cash, the Partnership will give the Limited Partners (excluding the General Partner or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the General Partner) the same election to elect to receive (I) Partnership Units or cash or, (II) at the election of the General Partner, REIT Common Shares or cash, and (C) if the Partnership issues additional Partnership Units pursuant to this Section 4.02(a)(i)(2), then an amount of income equal to the value of the Partnership Units received will be allocated to those holders of Common Units that elect to receive additional Partnership Units;

 

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(3) the additional Partnership Units are issued in exchange for property owned by the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) with a fair market value, as determined by the General Partner, in good faith, equal to the value of the Partnership Units; or

 

(4) Common Units are issued to all Partners owning Common Units or LTIP Units in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.

 

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

 

(ii) Upon Issuance of Additional Securities. The General Partner shall not issue any additional REIT Common Shares (other than (i) REIT Common Shares issued in connection with an exchange pursuant to Section 8.04, (ii) REIT Common Shares issued upon a conversion in accordance with Section 5.4 of the Charter, (iii) REIT Common Shares issued in a taxable share dividend as described in Section 4.02(a)(i)(2)), or (iv) Rights (collectively, “Additional Securities”) other than to all holders of REIT Common Shares, unless (A) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) Partnership Units or Rights having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the Additional Securities, and (B) the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) contributes the proceeds from the issuance of such Additional Securities and from any exercise of Rights contained in such Additional Securities to the Partnership; provided, however, that the General Partner is allowed to issue Additional Securities in connection with an acquisition of Property to be held directly by the General Partner, but if and only if, such direct acquisition and issuance of Additional Securities have been approved by a majority of the Independent Directors. Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to issue Additional Securities for less than fair market value, and the General Partner is authorized to cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) corresponding Partnership Units, so long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership and (y) the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) contributes all proceeds from such issuance to the Partnership, including without limitation, the issuance of REIT Common Shares and corresponding Partnership Units pursuant to a share purchase plan providing for purchases of REIT Common Shares at a discount from fair market value or pursuant to share awards, including share options that have an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the REIT Common Shares, either at the time of issuance or at the time of exercise, and restricted or other share awards approved by the Board of Directors. For example, in the event the General Partner issues REIT Common Shares for a cash purchase price and the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) contributes all of the proceeds of such issuance to the Partnership as required hereunder, the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall be issued a number of additional Partnership Units equal to the product of (A) the number of such REIT Common Shares issued by the General Partner, the proceeds of which were so contributed, multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is 100%, and the denominator of which is the Conversion Factor in effect on the date of such contribution.

 

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(b)           Certain Contributions of Proceeds of Issuance of REIT Common Shares. In connection with any and all issuances of REIT Common Shares, the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall make Capital Contributions to the Partnership of the proceeds therefrom, provided that if the proceeds actually received and contributed by the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any underwriter’s discount, commissions, placement fees or other expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall be deemed to have made a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount equal to the sum of the net proceeds of such issuance plus the amount of such underwriter’s discount, commissions, placement fees or other expenses paid by the General Partner and the Partnership shall be deemed simultaneously to have reimbursed such discount, commissions, placement fees and expenses as an Administrative Expense for the benefit of the Partnership for purposes of Section 6.05(b)).

 

(c)           Repurchases of General Partner Securities. If the General Partner shall repurchase shares of any class of its shares of beneficial interest, all costs incurred in connection with such repurchase shall be reimbursed to the General Partner by the Partnership pursuant to Section 6.05 and the General Partner simultaneously shall cause the Partnership to redeem an equivalent number of Partnership Units of the appropriate class or series held by the General Partner, or by the General Partner in its capacity as a Limited Partner, (which, in the case of REIT Common Shares, shall be a number equal to the quotient of the number of such REIT Common Shares divided by the Conversion Factor).

 

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

 

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4.04        LTIP Units.

 

(a)           Issuance of LTIP Units. The General Partner may from time to time cause the Partnership to issue LTIP Units to Persons who provide services to the Partnership or the General Partner, for such consideration as the General Partner may determine to be appropriate, and admit such Persons as Limited Partners. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 4.04 and the special provisions of Sections 4.05 and 5.01(g), LTIP Units shall be treated as Common Units, with all of the rights, privileges and obligations attendant thereto. For purposes of computing the Partners’ Percentage Interests, holders of LTIP Units shall be treated as Common Unit holders and LTIP Units shall be treated as Common Units. In particular, the Partnership shall maintain at all times a one-to-one correspondence between LTIP Units and Common Units for conversion, distribution and other purposes, including, without limitation, complying with the following procedures:

 

(i) If an Adjustment Event occurs, then the General Partner shall make a corresponding adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain a one-for-one conversion and economic equivalence ratio between Common Units and LTIP Units. The following shall be “Adjustment Events”: (A) the Partnership makes a distribution on all outstanding Common Units in Partnership Units, (B) the Partnership subdivides the outstanding Common Units into a greater number of units or combines the outstanding Common Units into a smaller number of units, or (C) the Partnership issues any Partnership Units in exchange for its outstanding Common Units by way of a reclassification or recapitalization of its Common Units. If more than one Adjustment Event occurs, the adjustment to the LTIP Units need be made only once using a single formula that takes into account each and every Adjustment Event as if all Adjustment Events occurred simultaneously. For the avoidance of doubt, the following shall not be Adjustment Events: (x) the issuance of Partnership Units in a financing, reorganization, acquisition or other similar business Common Unit Transaction, (y) the issuance of Partnership Units pursuant to any employee benefit or compensation plan or distribution reinvestment plan or (z) the issuance of any Partnership Units to the General Partner in respect of a capital contribution to the Partnership of proceeds from the sale of Additional Securities by the General Partner. If the Partnership takes an action affecting the Common Units other than actions specifically described above as “Adjustment Events” and in the opinion of the General Partner such action would require an adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain the one-to-one correspondence described above, the General Partner shall have the right to make such adjustment to the LTIP Units, to the extent permitted by law and by any Equity Incentive Plan, in such manner and at such time as the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances. If an adjustment is made to the LTIP Units, as herein provided, the Partnership shall promptly file in the books and records of the Partnership an officer’s certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment, which certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such adjustment absent manifest error. Promptly after filing of such certificate, the Partnership shall mail a notice to each LTIP Unitholder setting forth the adjustment to his or her LTIP Units and the effective date of such adjustment; and

 

(ii) The LTIP Unitholders shall, when, as and if authorized and declared by the General Partner out of assets legally available for that purpose, be entitled to receive distributions in an amount per LTIP Unit equal to the distributions per Common Unit (the “Common Partnership Unit Distribution”), paid to holders of Common Units on such Partnership Record Date established by the General Partner with respect to such distribution. So long as any LTIP Units are outstanding, no distributions (whether in cash or in kind) shall be authorized, declared or paid on Common Units, unless equal distributions have been or contemporaneously are authorized, declared and paid on the LTIP Units.

 

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(b)          Priority. Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04 and the special provisions of Sections 4.05 and 5.01(g), the LTIP Units shall rank pari passu with the Common Units as to the payment of regular and special periodic or other distributions and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. As to the payment of distributions and as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, any class or series of Partnership Units which by its terms specifies that it shall rank junior to, on a parity with, or senior to the Common Units shall also rank junior to, or pari passu with, or senior to, as the case may be, the LTIP Units. Subject to the terms of any Vesting Agreement, an LTIP Unitholder shall be entitled to transfer his or her LTIP Units to the same extent, and subject to the same restrictions as holders of Common Units are entitled to transfer their Common Units pursuant to Article IX.

 

(c)          Special Provisions. LTIP Units shall be subject to the following special provisions:

 

(i) Vesting Agreements. LTIP Units may, in the sole discretion of the General Partner, be issued subject to vesting, forfeiture and additional restrictions on transfer pursuant to the terms of a Vesting Agreement. The terms of any Vesting Agreement may be modified by the General Partner from time to time in its sole discretion, subject to any restrictions on amendment imposed by the relevant Vesting Agreement or by the Equity Incentive Plan, if applicable. LTIP Units that have vested under the terms of a Vesting Agreement are referred to as “Vested LTIP Units”; all other LTIP Units shall be treated as “Unvested LTIP Units.”

 

(ii) Forfeiture. Unless otherwise specified in the Vesting Agreement, upon the occurrence of any event specified in a Vesting Agreement as resulting in either the right of the Partnership or the General Partner to repurchase LTIP Units at a specified purchase price or some other forfeiture of any LTIP Units, then if the Partnership or the General Partner exercises such right to repurchase or forfeiture in accordance with the applicable Vesting Agreement, the relevant LTIP Units shall immediately, and without any further action, be treated as cancelled and no longer outstanding for any purpose. Unless otherwise specified in the Vesting Agreement, no consideration or other payment shall be due with respect to any LTIP Units that have been forfeited, other than any distributions declared with respect to a Partnership Record Date before the effective date of the forfeiture. In connection with any repurchase or forfeiture of LTIP Units, the balance of the portion of the Capital Account of the LTIP Unitholder that is attributable to all of his or her LTIP Units shall be reduced by the amount, if any, by which it exceeds the target balance contemplated by Section 5.01(g), calculated with respect to the LTIP Unitholder’s remaining LTIP Units, if any.

 

(iii) Allocations. LTIP Unitholders shall be entitled to certain special allocations of gain under Section 5.01(g).

 

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(iv) Redemption. The Common Unit Redemption Right provided to Limited Partners under Section 8.04 shall not apply with respect to LTIP Units unless and until they are converted to Common Units as provided in Section 4.04(c)(v)  and Section 4.05.

 

(v) Conversion to Common Units. Vested LTIP Units are eligible to be converted into Common Units in accordance with Section 4.05.

 

(d)           Voting. LTIP Unitholders shall (a) have the same voting rights as the Limited Partners, with the LTIP Units voting as a single class with the Common Units and having one vote per LTIP Unit; and (b) have the additional voting rights that are expressly set forth below. So long as any LTIP Units remain outstanding, the Partnership shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the LTIP Units outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting separately as a class), amend, alter or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, the provisions of this Agreement applicable to LTIP Units so as to materially and adversely affect any right, privilege or voting power of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such, unless such amendment, alteration, or repeal affects equally, ratably and proportionately the rights, privileges and voting powers of the Limited Partners; but subject, in any event, to the following provisions:

 

(i) With respect to any Common Unit Transaction (as defined in Section 4.05(f)), so long as the LTIP Units are treated in accordance with Section 4.05(f), the consummation of such Common Unit Transaction shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such; and

 

(ii) Any creation or issuance of any Partnership Units or of any class or series of Partnership Interest including without limitation additional Common Units or LTIP Units, whether ranking senior to, junior to, or on a parity with the LTIP Units with respect to distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such.

 

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or before the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required will be effected, all outstanding LTIP Units shall have been converted into Common Units.

 

4.05        Conversion of LTIP Units.

 

(a)           Subject to the provisions of this section, an LTIP Unitholder shall have the right (the “Conversion Right”), at his or her option, at any time to convert all or a portion of his or her Vested LTIP Units into Common Units; provided, however, that a holder may not exercise the Conversion Right for less than one thousand (1,000) Vested LTIP Units or, if such holder holds less than one thousand Vested LTIP Units, all of the Vested LTIP Units held by such holder. LTIP Unitholders shall not have the right to convert Unvested LTIP Units into Common Units until they become Vested LTIP Units; provided, however, that when an LTIP Unitholder is notified of the expected occurrence of an event that will cause his or her Unvested LTIP Units to become Vested LTIP Units, such LTIP Unitholder may give the Partnership a Conversion Notice conditioned upon and effective as of the time of vesting and such Conversion Notice, unless subsequently revoked by the LTIP Unitholder, shall be accepted by the Partnership subject to such condition. The General Partner shall have the right at any time to cause a conversion of Vested LTIP Units into Common Units. In all cases, the conversion of any LTIP Units into Common Units shall be subject to the conditions and procedures set forth in this Section 4.05.

 

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(b)          A holder of Vested LTIP Units may convert such LTIP Units into an equal number of fully paid and non-assessable Common Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 4.04. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may a holder of Vested LTIP Units convert a number of Vested LTIP Units that exceeds (x) the Economic Capital Account Balance of such Limited Partner, to the extent attributable to its ownership of LTIP Units, divided by (y) the Common Unit Economic Balance, in each case as determined as of the effective date of conversion (the “Capital Account Limitation”). To exercise such LTIP Unitholder’s Conversion Right, an LTIP Unitholder shall deliver a notice (a “Conversion Notice”) substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) not less than ten nor more than 60 days before a date (the “Conversion Date”) specified in such Conversion Notice; provided, however, that if the General Partner has not given to the LTIP Unitholders notice of a proposed or upcoming Common Unit Transaction (as defined in Section 4.05(f)) at least 30 days before the effective date of such Common Unit Transaction, then LTIP Unitholders shall have the right to deliver a Conversion Notice until the earlier of (x) the tenth day after such notice from the General Partner of a Common Unit Transaction or (y) the third business day immediately preceding the effective date of such Common Unit Transaction. A Conversion Notice shall be provided in the manner provided in Section 12.01. Each LTIP Unitholder covenants and agrees that all Vested LTIP Units to be converted pursuant to this Section 4.05(b) shall be free and clear of all liens. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a holder of LTIP Units may deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 8.04(a) relating to those Common Units that will be issued to such holder upon conversion of such LTIP Units into Common Units in advance of the Conversion Date; provided, however, that the redemption of such Common Units by the Partnership shall in no event take place until after the Conversion Date. For clarity, it is noted that the objective of this paragraph is to put an LTIP Unitholder in a position where, if such LTIP Unitholder so wishes, the Common Units into which such LTIP Unitholder’s Vested LTIP Units will be converted can be redeemed by the Partnership simultaneously with such conversion, with the further consequence that, if the General Partner elects to assume the Partnership’s redemption obligation with respect to such Common Units under Section 8.04(b) by delivering to such holder REIT Common Shares rather than cash, then such holder can have such REIT Common Shares issued to him or her simultaneously with the conversion of his or her Vested LTIP Units into Common Units. The General Partner and LTIP Unitholder shall reasonably cooperate with each other to coordinate the timing of the events described in the foregoing sentence.

 

(c)          The Partnership, at any time at the election of the General Partner, may cause any number of Vested LTIP Units held by an LTIP Unitholder to be converted (a “Forced Conversion”) into an equal number of Common Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 4.04; provided, however, that the Partnership may not cause Forced Conversion of any LTIP Units that would not at the time be eligible for conversion at the option of such LTIP Unitholder pursuant to Section 4.05(b). To exercise its right of Forced Conversion, the Partnership shall deliver a notice (a “Forced Conversion Notice”) in the form attached as Exhibit E to the applicable LTIP Unitholder not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the Conversion Date specified in such Forced Conversion Notice. A Forced Conversion Notice shall be provided in the manner provided in Section 12.01.

 

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(d)          A conversion of Vested LTIP Units for which the LTIP Unitholder has given a Conversion Notice or the Partnership has given a Forced Conversion Notice shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable Conversion Date without any action on the part of such LTIP Unitholder, as of which time such LTIP Unitholder shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Common Units issuable upon such conversion. After the conversion of LTIP Units as aforesaid, the Partnership shall deliver to such LTIP Unitholder, upon his or her written request, a certificate of the General Partner certifying the number of Common Units and remaining LTIP Units, if any, held by such person immediately after such conversion. The Assignee of any Limited Partner pursuant to Article IX may exercise the rights of such Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 4.05 and such Limited Partner shall be bound by the exercise of such rights by the Assignee.

 

(e)          For purposes of making future allocations under Section 5.01(g) and applying the Capital Account Limitation, the portion of the Economic Capital Account Balance of the applicable LTIP Unitholder that is treated as attributable to his or her LTIP Units shall be reduced, as of the date of conversion, by the product of the number of LTIP Units converted and the Common Unit Economic Balance.

 

(f)          If the Partnership or the General Partner shall be a party to any Common Unit Transaction (including without limitation a merger, consolidation, unit exchange, self-tender offer for all or substantially all Common Units or other business combination or reorganization, or sale of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets, but excluding any Common Unit Transaction which constitutes an Adjustment Event) in each case as a result of which Common Units shall be exchanged for or converted into the right, or the holders of such Units shall otherwise be entitled, to receive cash, securities or other property or any combination thereof (each of the foregoing being referred to herein as a “Common Unit Transaction”), then the General Partner shall, immediately before the Common Unit Transaction, exercise its right to cause a Forced Conversion with respect to the maximum number of LTIP Units then eligible for conversion, taking into account any allocations that occur in connection with the Common Unit Transaction or that would occur in connection with the Common Unit Transaction if the assets of the Partnership were sold at the Common Unit Transaction price or, if applicable, at a value determined by the General Partner in good faith using the value attributed to the Partnership Units in the context of the Common Unit Transaction (in which case the Conversion Date shall be the effective date of the Common Unit Transaction).

 

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In anticipation of such Forced Conversion and the consummation of the Common Unit Transaction, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each LTIP Unitholder to be afforded the right to receive in connection with such Common Unit Transaction in consideration for the Common Units into which such LTIP Units will be converted the same kind and amount of cash, securities and other property (or any combination thereof) receivable upon the consummation of such Common Unit Transaction by a holder of the same number of Common Units, assuming such holder of Common Units is not a Person with which the Partnership consolidated or into which the Partnership merged or which merged into the Partnership or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or an affiliate of a Constituent Person. In the event that holders of Common Units have the opportunity to elect the form or type of consideration to be received upon consummation of the Common Unit Transaction, before such Common Unit Transaction the General Partner shall give prompt written notice to each LTIP Unitholder of such election, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to afford the LTIP Unitholders the right to elect, by written notice to the General Partner, the form or type of consideration to be received upon conversion of each LTIP Unit held by such holder into Common Units in connection with such Common Unit Transaction. If an LTIP Unitholder fails to make such an election, such holder (and any of its transferees) shall receive upon conversion of each LTIP Unit held him or her (or by any of his or her transferees) the same kind and amount of consideration that a holder of a Common Unit would receive if such Common Unit holder failed to make such an election.

 

Subject to the rights of the Partnership and the General Partner under any Vesting Agreement and any Equity Incentive Plan, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the terms of any Common Unit Transaction to be consistent with the provisions of this Section 4.05(f) and to enter into an agreement with the successor or purchasing entity, as the case may be, for the benefit of any LTIP Unitholders whose LTIP Units will not be converted into Common Units in connection with the Common Unit Transaction that will (i) contain provisions enabling the holders of LTIP Units that remain outstanding after such Common Unit Transaction to convert their LTIP Units into securities as comparable as reasonably possible under the circumstances to the Common Units and (ii) preserve as far as reasonably possible under the circumstances the distribution, special allocation, conversion, and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the LTIP Unitholders.

 

4.06         Capital Accounts. A separate capital account (a “Capital Account”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). If (i) a new or existing Partner acquires an additional Partnership Interest in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution, (ii) the Partnership distributes to a Partner more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property as consideration for a Partnership Interest, (iii) the Partnership is liquidated within the meaning of Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) or (iv) the Partnership grants a Partnership Interest (other than a de minimis Partnership Interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership to an existing Partner acting in a Partner capacity, or to a new Partner acting in a Partner capacity or in anticipation of being a Partner, the General Partner shall revalue the property of the Partnership to its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f); provided, that (i) the issuance of any LTIP Unit shall be deemed to require a revaluation pursuant to this Section 4.06 and (ii) the General Partner may elect not to revalue the property of the Partnership in connection with the issuance of additional Partnership Units pursuant to Section 4.02 to the extent it determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that revaluing the property of the Partnership is not necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners. When the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner, the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and (g), which generally require such Capital Accounts to be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized gain or loss inherent in such property (that has not been reflected in the Capital Accounts previously) would be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 5.01 if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) on the date of the revaluation.

 

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4.07         Percentage Interests. If the number of outstanding Common Units or LTIP Units increases or decreases during a taxable year, each Partner’s Percentage Interest shall be adjusted by the General Partner effective as of the effective date of each such increase or decrease to a percentage equal to the number of Common Units or LTIP Units held by such Partner divided by the aggregate number of Common Units and LTIP Units, as applicable, outstanding after giving effect to such increase or decrease. If the Partners’ Percentage Interests are adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.07, the Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs shall be allocated between the part of the year ending on the day when the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner and the part of the year beginning on the following day either (i) as if the taxable year had ended on the date of the adjustment or (ii) based on the number of days in each part. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs. The allocation of Profits and Losses for the earlier part of the year shall be based on the Percentage Interests before adjustment, and the allocation of Profits and Losses for the later part shall be based on the adjusted Percentage Interests.

 

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

 

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

 

4.10         No Third-Party Beneficiary. No creditor or other third party having dealings with the Partnership shall have the right to enforce the right or obligation of any Partner to make Capital Contributions or loans or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity, it being understood and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and may be enforced solely by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. None of the rights or obligations of the Partners herein set forth to make Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership shall be deemed an asset of the Partnership for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor may such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by the Partnership or pledged or encumbered by the Partnership to secure any debt or other obligation of the Partnership or of any of the Partners. In addition, it is the intent of the parties hereto that no distribution to any Limited Partner shall be deemed a return of money or other property in violation of the Act. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Limited Partner is obligated to return such money or property, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Limited Partner and not of the General Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a deficit Capital Account of a Partner shall not be deemed to be a liability of such Partner nor an asset or property of the Partnership.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS

 

5.01        Allocation of Profit and Loss.

 

(a)           Profit. Profit of the Partnership for each fiscal year of the Partnership shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(b)           Loss. Loss of the Partnership for each fiscal year of the Partnership shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

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

 

(d)           Qualified Income Offset. If a Partner receives in any taxable year an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in subparagraphs (4), (5) or (6) of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) that causes or increases a deficit balance in such Partner’s Capital Account that exceeds the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, as determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i), such Partner shall be allocated specially for such taxable year (and, if necessary, later taxable years) items of income and gain in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such deficit Capital Account balance as quickly as possible as provided in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d). After the occurrence of an allocation of income or gain to a Partner in accordance with this Section 5.01(d), to the extent permitted by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), items of expense or loss shall be allocated to such Partner in an amount necessary to offset the income or gain previously allocated to such Partner under this Section 5.01(d).

 

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(e)           Capital Account Deficits. Loss shall not be allocated to a Limited Partner to the extent that such allocation would cause a deficit in such Partner’s Capital Account (after reduction to reflect the items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6)) to exceed the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Any Loss in excess of that limitation shall be allocated to the General Partner. After the occurrence of an allocation of Loss to the General Partner in accordance with this Section 5.01(e), to the extent permitted by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), Profit first shall be allocated to the General Partner in an amount necessary to offset the Loss previously allocated to the General Partner under this Section 5.01(e).

 

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

 

(g)           Special Allocations Regarding LTIP Units. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 5.01(a) and (b), Liquidating Gains shall first be allocated to the LTIP Unitholders until their Economic Capital Account Balances, to the extent attributable to their ownership of LTIP Units, are equal to (i) the Common Unit Economic Balance, multiplied by (ii) the number of their LTIP Units. For this purpose, “Liquidating Gains” means net capital gains realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, including but not limited to net capital gain realized in connection with an adjustment to the value of Partnership assets under Section 704(b) of the Code. The “Economic Capital Account Balances” of the LTIP Unitholders will be equal to their Capital Account balances to the extent attributable to their ownership of LTIP Units. Similarly, the “Common Unit Economic Balance” shall mean (i) the Capital Account balance of the General Partner, plus the amount of the General Partner’s share of any Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain or Partnership Minimum Gain, in either case to the extent attributable to the General Partner’s ownership of Common Units and computed on a hypothetical basis after taking into account all allocations through the date on which any allocation is made under this Section 5.01(g), divided by (ii) the number of the General Partner’s Common Units. Any such allocations shall be made among the LTIP Unitholders in proportion to the amounts required to be allocated to each under this Section 5.01(g). The parties agree that the intent of this Section 5.01(g) is to make the Capital Account balance associated with each LTIP Unit to be economically equivalent to the Capital Account balance associated with the General Partner’s Common Units (on a per-Unit basis).

 

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(h)           Definition of Profit and Loss. “Profit” and “Loss” and any items of income, gain, expense or loss referred to in this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, as modified by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), except that Profit and Loss shall not include items of income, gain and expense that are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 5.01(c), (d) or (e). All allocations of income, Profit, gain, Loss and expense (and all items contained therein) for federal income tax purposes shall be identical to all allocations of such items set forth in this Section 5.01, except as otherwise required by Section 704(c) of the Code and Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4). With respect to properties acquired by the Partnership, the General Partner shall have the authority to elect the method to be used by the Partnership for allocating items of income, gain and expense as required by Section 704(c) of the Code with respect to such properties, and such election shall be binding on all Partners.

 

5.02        Distribution of Cash.

 

(a)           Subject to Sections 5.02(c), (d) and (e), the Partnership shall distribute cash at such times and in such amounts as are determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, to the Partners who are Partners on the Partnership Record Date with respect to such quarter (or other distribution period) in proportion with their respective Percentage Interests on the Partnership Record Date.

 

(b)           In accordance with Section 4.04(a)(ii), the LTIP Unitholders shall be entitled to receive distributions in an amount per LTIP Unit equal to the Common Partnership Unit Distribution.

 

(c)           If a new or existing Partner acquires additional Partnership Units in exchange for a Capital Contribution on any date other than a Partnership Record Date, the cash distribution attributable to such additional Partnership Units relating to the Partnership Record Date next following the issuance of such additional Partnership Units shall be reduced in the proportion to (i) the number of days that such additional Partnership Units are held by such Partner bears to (ii) the number of days between such Partnership Record Date and the immediately preceding Partnership Record Date.

 

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

 

Any amounts treated as a Partnership Loan or a General Partner Loan pursuant to this Section 5.02(d) shall bear interest at the lesser of (i) 300 basis points above the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition, or (ii) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date the Partnership or the General Partner, as applicable, is deemed to extend the loan until such loan is repaid in full.

 

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

 

5.03        REIT Distribution Requirements. The General Partner shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Partnership to distribute amounts sufficient to enable the General Partner to pay distributions to its shareholders that will allow the General Partner to (i) meet its distribution requirement for qualification as a REIT as set forth in Section 857 of the Code and (ii) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability imposed by the Code, other than to the extent the General Partner elects to retain and pay income tax on its net capital gain.

 

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

 

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

 

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5.06        Distributions Upon Liquidation.

 

(a)           Upon liquidation of the Partnership, after payment of, or adequate provision for, debts and obligations of the Partnership, including any Partner loans, any remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed to all Partners with positive Capital Accounts in accordance with their respective positive Capital Account balances.

 

(b)           For purposes of Section 5.06(a), the Capital Account of each Partner shall be determined after all adjustments made in accordance with Sections 5.01 and 5.02 resulting from Partnership operations and from all sales and dispositions of all or any part of the Partnership’s assets.

 

(c)           Any distributions pursuant to this Section 5.06 shall be made by the end of the Partnership’s taxable year in which the liquidation occurs (or, if later, within 90 days after the date of the liquidation). To the extent deemed advisable by the General Partner, appropriate arrangements (including the use of a liquidating trust) may be made to assure that adequate funds are available to pay any contingent debts or obligations.

 

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

 

ARTICLE VI

 

RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND
POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER

 

 

6.01        Management of the Partnership.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(v) to pay, either directly or by reimbursement, for all operating costs and general administrative expenses of the Partnership to third parties or to the General Partner or its Affiliates as set forth in this Agreement;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(xxii) to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” taxable as a corporation under Section 7704 of the Code or an "investment company" or a subsidiary of an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940; and

 

(xxiii) enter into and perform obligations under underwriting or other agreements in connection with issuances of securities by the Partnership or the General Partner or any affiliate thereof;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

6.03        Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees.

 

(a)           The Partnership shall indemnify an Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership as set forth in this Agreement in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that: (i) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order or settlement does not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct set forth in this Section 6.03(a). The termination of any proceeding by conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation before judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified in this Section 6.03(a). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership.

 

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(b)          The Partnership shall reimburse an Indemnitee for reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a proceeding in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Partnership as authorized in this Section 6.03 has been met, and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.

 

(c)          The indemnification provided by this Section 6.03 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.

 

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

 

(e)          For purposes of this Section 6.03, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 6.03; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

 

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

 

(g)         An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 6.03 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(h)         The provisions of this Section 6.03 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

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(i)           Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.03 or any provision shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the indemnification of an Indemnitee by the Partnership under this Section 6.03 as in effect immediately before such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to matters occurring, in whole or in part, before such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when claims relating to such matters may arise or be asserted.

 

6.04        Liability of the General Partner.

 

(a)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner, nor any of its Directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership or any Partners for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or of any act or omission if any such party acted in good faith. The General Partner shall not be in breach of any duty that the General Partner may owe to the Limited Partners or the Partnership or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity provided the General Partner, acting in good faith, abides by the terms of this Agreement.

 

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

 

(c)          Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 6.01, the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it under this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents. The General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by it in good faith.

 

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

 

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(e)          Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.04 or any provision shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the General Partner’s or any of its officer’s, director’s, agent’s or employee’s liability to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section 6.04 as in effect immediately before such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to matters occurring, in whole or in part, before such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when claims relating to such matters may arise or be asserted.

 

6.05       Partnership Obligations.

 

(a)          Except as provided in this Section 6.05 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles V and VI regarding distributions, payments and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.

 

(b)          All Administrative Expenses shall be obligations of the Partnership, and the General Partner shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Partnership for any expenditure (including Administrative Expenses) incurred by it on behalf of the Partnership that shall be made other than out of the funds of the Partnership. All reimbursements hereunder shall be characterized for federal income tax purposes as expenses of the Partnership incurred on its behalf, and not as expenses of the General Partner.

 

6.06       Outside Activities. Subject to Section 6.08, the Charter and any agreements, including without limitation the Management Agreement, entered into by the General Partner or its Affiliates with the Partnership or a Subsidiary, any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or shareholder of the General Partner, the General Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities substantially similar or identical to those of the Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor any of the Limited Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business ventures, interest or activities. None of the Limited Partners nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any such business ventures, interests or activities, and the General Partner shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures, interests and activities to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, could be taken by such Person.

 

6.07       Employment or Retention of Affiliates.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

6.08       General Partner Activities. The General Partner agrees that, generally, all business activities of the General Partner, including activities pertaining to the acquisition, development, ownership of or investment in real properties or other property, shall be conducted through the Partnership or one or more Subsidiary Partnerships; provided, however, that the General Partner may make direct acquisitions or undertake business activities if such acquisitions or activities are made in connection with the issuance of Additional Securities by the General Partner or the business activity has been approved by a majority of the Independent Directors. If, at any time, the General Partner acquires material assets (other than Partnership Units or other assets on behalf of the Partnership), the definition of “REIT Common Shares Amount” may be adjusted, as reasonably determined by the General Partner, to reflect only the fair market value of a REIT Common Share attributable to the General Partner’s Partnership Units and other assets held on behalf of the Partnership.

 

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

 

6.10       Restrictions on General Partner Authority. The General Partner may not take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation of this Agreement without the written consent of a Two Thirds Majority (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner), or such other percentage of the Limited Partners as may be specifically provided for under a provision of this Agreement, and may not perform any act that would subject a Limited Partner to liability as a general partner in any jurisdiction or any liability not contemplated herein or under the Act except with the written consent of such Limited Partner.

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER

 

7.01       Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest.

 

(a)          The General Partner shall not transfer all or any portion of its General Partnership Interests, and the General Partner shall not withdraw as General Partner, except as provided in or in connection with a transaction contemplated by Sections 7.01(c), (d) or (e).

 

(b)          The General Partner agrees that its General Partnership Interest will at all times be in the aggregate at least 0.1%.

 

(c)          Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01(d) or (e), the General Partner shall not engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination with or into another Person or sale of all or substantially all of its assets (other than in connection with a change in the General Partner’s state of incorporation or organizational form), in each case which results in a Change of Control of the General Partner (a “Transaction”), unless at least one of the following conditions is met:

 

(i) the consent of a Majority in Interest (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner) is obtained;

 

(ii) as a result of such Transaction, all Limited Partners (other than the General Partner and any Subsidiary of the General Partner) will receive, or have the right to receive, for each Partnership Unit an amount of cash, securities or other property equal in value to the product of the Conversion Factor and the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid in the Transaction to a holder of one REIT Common Share in consideration of one REIT Common Share, provided that if, in connection with such Transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer (“Offer”) shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding REIT Common Shares, each holder of Partnership Units (other than the General Partner and any Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall be given the option to exchange its Partnership Units for the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property that such Limited Partner would have received had it (A) exercised its Common Unit Redemption Right pursuant to Section 8.04 and (B) sold, tendered or exchanged pursuant to the Offer the REIT Common Shares received upon exercise of the Common Unit Redemption Right immediately before the expiration of the Offer; or

 

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

 

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(d)          Notwithstanding Section 7.01(c), the General Partner may merge with or into or consolidate with another entity if immediately after such merger or consolidation (i) substantially all of the assets of the successor or surviving entity (the “Survivor”), other than Partnership Units held by the General Partner, are contributed, directly or indirectly, to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution in exchange for Partnership Units with a fair market value equal to the value of the assets so contributed as determined by the Survivor in good faith and (ii) the Survivor expressly agrees to assume all obligations of the General Partner hereunder. Upon such contribution and assumption, the Survivor shall have the right and duty to amend this Agreement as set forth in this Section 7.01(d). The Survivor shall in good faith arrive at a new method for the calculation of the Cash Amount, the REIT Common Shares Amount and Conversion Factor for a Partnership Unit after any such merger or consolidation so as to approximate the existing method for such calculation as closely as reasonably possible. Such calculation shall take into account, among other things, the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property that was receivable upon such merger or consolidation by a holder of REIT Common Shares or options, warrants or other rights relating thereto, and which a holder of Partnership Units could have acquired had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately before such merger or consolidation. Such amendment to this Agreement shall provide for adjustment to such method of calculation, which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for with respect to the Conversion Factor. The Survivor also shall in good faith modify the definition of REIT Common Shares and make such amendments to Section 8.04 so as to approximate the existing rights and obligations set forth in Section 8.04 as closely as reasonably possible. The above provisions of this Section 7.01(d) shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations permitted hereunder.

 

In respect of any transaction described in the preceding paragraph, the General Partner is required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to structure such transaction to avoid causing the Limited Partners (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary) to recognize a gain for federal income tax purposes by virtue of the occurrence of or their participation in such transaction, provided such efforts are consistent with and subject in all respects to the exercise of the Board of Directors’ fiduciary duties to the shareholders of the General Partner under applicable law.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything in this Article VII:

 

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

 

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(ii) the General Partner may engage in a transaction required by law or by the rules of any national securities exchange or over-the-counter interdealer quotation system on which the REIT Common Shares are listed or traded.

 

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

 

(a)          the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart thereof and such other documents or instruments as may be required or appropriate to effect the admission of such Person as a General Partner, and a certificate evidencing the admission of such Person as a General Partner shall have been filed for recordation and all other actions required by Section 2.05 in connection with such admission shall have been performed;

 

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

 

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

 

7.03       Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of General Partner.

 

(a)          Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to the General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.04(a)) or the death, withdrawal, removal or dissolution of the General Partner (except that, if the General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of the General Partner if the business of the General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners), the Partnership shall be dissolved and terminated unless the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.03(b). The merger of the General Partner with or into any entity that is admitted as a substitute or successor General Partner pursuant to Section 7.02 shall not be deemed to be the withdrawal, dissolution or removal of the General Partner.

 

(b)          Following the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to the General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.04(a)) or the death, withdrawal, removal or dissolution of the General Partner (except that, if the General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of the General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners), the Limited Partners, within 90 days after such occurrence, may elect to continue the business of the Partnership for the balance of the term specified in Section 2.04 by selecting, subject to Section 7.02 and any other provisions of this Agreement, a substitute General Partner by consent of a Majority in Interest. If the Limited Partners elect to continue the business of the Partnership and admit a substitute General Partner, the relationship with the Partners and of any Person who has acquired an interest of a Partner in the Partnership shall be governed by this Agreement.

 

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7.04       Removal of General Partner.

 

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

 

(b)          If the General Partner has been removed pursuant to this Section 7.04 and the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.03, the General Partner shall promptly transfer and assign its General Partnership Interest in the Partnership to the substitute General Partner approved by a Majority in Interest in accordance with Section 7.03(b) and otherwise be admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 7.02. At the time of assignment, the removed General Partner shall be entitled to receive from the substitute General Partner the fair market value of the General Partnership Interest of such removed General Partner as reduced by any damages caused to the Partnership by such General Partner. Such fair market value shall be determined by an appraiser mutually agreed upon by the General Partner and a Majority in Interest (excluding the General Partner and any Subsidiary of the General Partner) within ten days following the removal of the General Partner. In the event that the parties are unable to agree upon an appraiser, the removed General Partner and a Majority in Interest (excluding the General Partner and any Subsidiary of the General Partner) each shall select an appraiser. Each such appraiser shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest within 30 days of the General Partner’s removal, and the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals; provided, however, that if the higher appraisal exceeds the lower appraisal by more than 20% of the amount of the lower appraisal, the two appraisers, no later than 40 days after the removal of the General Partner, shall select a third appraiser who shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest no later than 60 days after the removal of the General Partner. In such case, the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals closest in value.

 

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(c)          The General Partnership Interest of a removed General Partner, during the time after default until transfer under Section 7.04(b), shall be converted to that of a special Limited Partner; provided, however, such removed General Partner shall not have any rights to participate in the management and affairs of the Partnership, and shall not be entitled to any portion of the income, expense, profit, gain or loss allocations or cash distributions allocable or payable, as the case may be, to the Limited Partners. Instead, such removed General Partner shall receive and be entitled only to retain distributions or allocations of such items that it would have been entitled to receive in its capacity as General Partner, until the transfer is effective pursuant to Section 7.04(b).

 

(d)          All Partners shall have given and hereby do give such consents, shall take such actions and shall execute such documents as shall be legally necessary and sufficient to effect all the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.04.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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8.04        Common Unit Redemption Right.

 

(a)           Subject to Sections 8.04(b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) and the provisions of any agreements between the Partnership and one or more Limited Partners with respect to Common Units (including any LTIP Units that are converted into Common Units) held by them, each Limited Partner (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall have the right (the “Common Unit Redemption Right”) to require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Redemption Date all or a portion of the Common Units held by such Limited Partner at a redemption price equal to and in the form of the Common Redemption Amount to be paid by the Partnership, provided that such Common Units (or the LTIP Units converted into such Common Units) shall have been outstanding for at least one year (or such lesser time as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion), and subject to any restriction agreed to in writing between the Redeeming Limited Partner and the Partnership or General Partner. The Common Unit Redemption Right shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Exercise of Redemption Right in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B delivered to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) by the Limited Partner who is exercising the Common Unit Redemption Right (the “Redeeming Limited Partner”); provided, however, that the Partnership shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, have the option to deliver either the Cash Amount or the REIT Common Shares Amount; provided, further, that the Partnership shall not be obligated to satisfy such Common Unit Redemption Right if the General Partner elects to purchase the Common Units subject to the Notice of Redemption; and provided, further, that, subject to the terms of any agreement between the General Partner and a Limited Partner with respect to Common Units (or any LTIP Units converted into such Common Units) held by such Limited Partner, no Limited Partner may deliver more than two Notices of Redemption during each calendar year. A Limited Partner may not exercise the Common Unit Redemption Right for less than one thousand (1,000) Common Units or, if such Limited Partner holds less than one thousand (1,000) Common Units, all of the Common Units held by such Limited Partner. The Redeeming Limited Partner shall have no right, with respect to any Common Units so redeemed, to receive any distribution paid with respect to Common Units if the record date for such distribution is on or after the Specified Redemption Date.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.04(a), a Limited Partner that exercises the Common Unit Redemption Right shall be deemed to have offered to sell the Common Units described in the Notice of Redemption to the General Partner, and the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to purchase directly and acquire such Common Units by paying to the Redeeming Limited Partner either the Cash Amount or the REIT Common Shares Amount, as elected by the General Partner (in its sole and absolute discretion), on the Specified Redemption Date, whereupon the General Partner shall acquire the Common Units offered for redemption by the Redeeming Limited Partner and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Common Units. If the General Partner shall elect to exercise its right to purchase Common Units under this Section 8.04(b) with respect to a Notice of Redemption, it shall so notify the Redeeming Limited Partner within five Business Days after the receipt by the General Partner of such Notice of Redemption.

 

If the General Partner shall exercise its right to purchase Common Units with respect to the exercise of a Common Unit Redemption Right, the Partnership shall have no obligation to pay any amount to the Redeeming Limited Partner with respect to such Redeeming Limited Partner’s exercise of such Common Unit Redemption Right, and each of the Redeeming Limited Partner, the Partnership and the General Partner shall treat the transaction between the General Partner and the Redeeming Limited Partner for federal income tax purposes as a sale of the Redeeming Limited Partner’s Common Units to the General Partner. Each Redeeming Limited Partner agrees to execute such documents as the General Partner may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of REIT Common Shares upon exercise of the Common Unit Redemption Right.

 

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(c)          Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.04(a) and 8.04(b), a Limited Partner shall not be entitled to exercise the Common Unit Redemption Right if the delivery of REIT Common Shares to such Limited Partner on the Specified Redemption Date by the General Partner pursuant to Section 8.04(b) (regardless of whether or not the General Partner would in fact exercise its rights under Section 8.04(b)) would (i) result in such Limited Partner or any other Person (as defined in the Charter) owning, directly or indirectly, REIT Common Shares in excess of the Share Ownership Limit or any Excepted Holder Limit and calculated in accordance therewith, except as provided in the Charter, (ii) result in REIT Common Shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), (iii) result in the General Partner being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, (iv) cause the General Partner to own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant (other than a TRS) of the General Partner’s, the Partnership’s or a Subsidiary Partnership’s real property, within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code, (v) otherwise cause the General Partner to fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code or (vi) cause the acquisition of REIT Common Shares by such Limited Partner to be “integrated” with any other distribution of REIT Common Shares or Common Units for purposes of complying with the registration provisions of the Securities Act or the qualification provisions of Regulation A promulgated thereunder. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may waive the restriction on redemption set forth in this Section 8.04(c).

 

(d)          Any Cash Amount to be paid to a Redeeming Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 8.04 shall be paid on the Specified Redemption Date. Any REIT Common Share Amount to be paid to a Redeeming Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 8.04 shall be paid on the Specified Redemption Date.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law that apply upon a Redeeming Limited Partner’s exercise of the Common Unit Redemption Right. If a Redeeming Limited Partner believes that it is exempt from such withholding upon the exercise of the Common Unit Redemption Right, such Partner must furnish the General Partner with a FIRPTA Certificate in substantially the form attached as Exhibit C and any similar forms or certificates required to avoid or reduce the withholding under state, local or foreign law. If the Partnership or the General Partner is required to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount upon a Redeeming Limited Partner’s exercise of the Common Unit Redemption Right and if the Common Redemption Amount equals or exceeds the Withheld Amount, the Withheld Amount shall be treated as an amount received by such Partner in redemption of its Common Units. If, however, the Common Redemption Amount is less than the Withheld Amount, the Redeeming Limited Partner shall not receive any portion of the Common Redemption Amount, the Common Redemption Amount shall be treated as an amount received by such Partner in redemption of its Common Units, and the Partner shall contribute the excess of the Withheld Amount over the Common Redemption Amount to the Partnership before the Partnership is required to pay over such excess to a taxing authority.

 

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

 

ARTICLE IX

 

TRANSFERS OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

9.01       Purchase for Investment.

 

(a)          Each Limited Partner, by its signature below or by its subsequent admission to the Partnership, hereby represents and warrants to the General Partner and to the Partnership that the acquisition of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units is made for investment purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution of such Partnership Units.

 

(b)          Subject to the provisions of Section 9.02, each Limited Partner agrees that such Limited Partner will not sell, assign or otherwise transfer such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units or any fraction thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise, to any Person who does not make the representations and warranties to the General Partner set forth in Section 9.01(a).

 

9.02       Restrictions on Transfer of Partnership Units.

 

(a)          Subject to the provisions of Sections 9.02(b), (c) and (d), no Limited Partner may offer, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise transfer all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units, or any of such Limited Partner’s economic rights as a Limited Partner, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise (collectively, a “Transfer”) without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion. The General Partner may require, as a condition of any Transfer to which it consents, that the transferor assume all costs incurred by the Partnership in connection therewith.

 

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(b)          No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted Transfer (i.e., a Transfer consented to as contemplated by clause (a) above or clause (c) below or a Transfer pursuant to Section 9.05) of all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units pursuant to this Article IX or pursuant to a redemption of all of such Limited Partner’s Common Units pursuant to Section 8.04. Upon the permitted Transfer or redemption of all of a Limited Partner’s Common Units, such Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner.

 

(c)          Subject to Sections 9.02(d), (e) and (g), a Limited Partner may Transfer, with the written consent of the General Partner, all or a portion of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units to such Limited Partner’s (i) parent or parent’s spouse, (ii) spouse, (iii) natural or adopted descendant or descendants, (iv) spouse of such Limited Partner’s descendant, (v) brother or sister, (vi) trust created by such Limited Partner for the primary benefit of such Limited Partner and/or any such Person(s) described in (i) through (v) above, of which trust such Limited Partner or any such Person(s) or bank or other commercial entity in the business of acting as a fiduciary in its ordinary course of business and having an equity capitalization of at least $100,000,000 is a trustee, (vii) a corporation, partnership or limited liability company controlled by a Person or Persons named in (i) through (v) above, or (viii) if the Limited Partner is an entity, its beneficial owners.

 

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

 

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

 

(f)          The General Partner shall monitor the Transfers of Partnership Units (including any acquisition of Common Units by the Partnership or the General Partner) to determine (i) if such units could be treated as being traded on an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and (ii) whether such Transfers could result in the Partnership being unable to qualify for the “safe harbors” set forth in Regulations Section 1.7704-1 (or such other guidance subsequently published by the Service setting forth safe harbors under which interests will not be treated as “readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code) (the “Secondary Market Safe Harbors”). The General Partner shall have the authority (but shall not be required) to take any steps it determines are necessary or appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion (i) to prevent any Transfer of Partnership Units which could cause the Partnership to become a “publicly traded partnership,” within the meaning of Code Section 7704 or (ii) to ensure that one or more of the Secondary Market Safe Harbors is met.

 

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(g)          Any purported Transfer in contravention of any of the provisions of this Article IX shall be void ab initio and ineffectual and shall not be binding upon, or recognized by, the General Partner or the Partnership.

 

(h)          Before the consummation of any Transfer under this Article IX, the transferor and/or the transferee shall deliver to the General Partner such opinions, certificates and

other documents as the General Partner shall reasonably request in connection with such Transfer.

 

9.03       Admission of Substitute Limited Partner.

 

(a)          Subject to the other provisions of this Article IX, an assignee of the Partnership Units of a Limited Partner (which shall be understood to include any purchaser, transferee, donee or other recipient of any disposition of such Partnership Units) shall be deemed admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership only with the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, and upon the satisfactory completion of the following:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii) The assignee shall have delivered a letter containing the representation set forth in Section 9.01(a) and the representations and warranties set forth in Section 9.01(b);

 

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

 

(v) The assignee shall have executed a power of attorney containing the terms and provisions set forth in Section 8.02;

 

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

 

 45
 

 

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

 

(b)          For the purpose of allocating Profits and Losses and distributing cash received by the Partnership, a Substitute Limited Partner shall be treated as having become, and appearing in the records of the Partnership as, a Partner upon the filing of the Certificate described in Section 9.03(a)(ii) or, if no such filing is required, the later of the date specified in the transfer documents or the date on which the General Partner has received all necessary instruments of transfer and substitution.

 

(c)          The General Partner and the Substitute Limited Partner shall cooperate with each other by preparing the documentation required by this Section 9.03 and making all required filings and publications. The Partnership shall take all such action as promptly as practicable after the satisfaction of the conditions in this Article IX to the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner of the Partnership.

 

9.04       Rights of Assignees of Partnership Units.

 

(a)          Subject to the provisions of Sections 9.01 and 9.02, except as required by operation of law, the Partnership shall not be obligated for any purposes whatsoever to recognize the assignment by any Limited Partner of its Partnership Units until the Partnership has received notice.

 

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

 

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

 

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9.06       Joint Ownership of Partnership Units. A Partnership Unit may be acquired by two individuals as joint tenants with right of survivorship, provided, that such individuals either are married or are related and share the same home as tenants in common. The written consent or vote of both owners of any such jointly held Partnership Unit shall be required to constitute the action of the owners of such Partnership Unit; provided, however, that the written consent of only one joint owner will be required if the Partnership has been provided with evidence satisfactory to the counsel for the Partnership that the actions of a single joint owner can bind both owners under the applicable laws of the state of residence of such joint owners. Upon the death of one owner of a Partnership Unit held in a joint tenancy with a right of survivorship, the Partnership Unit shall become owned solely by the survivor as a Limited Partner and not as an assignee. The Partnership need not recognize the death of one of the owners of a jointly-held Partnership Unit until it shall have received notice of such death. Upon notice to the General Partner from either owner, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership Unit to be divided into two equal Partnership Units, which shall thereafter be owned separately by each of the former owners.

 

ARTICLE X

 

BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS

 

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

 

10.02     Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts.

 

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

 

(b)          All deposits and other funds not needed in the operation of the business of the Partnership may be invested by the General Partner. The funds of the Partnership shall not be commingled with the funds of any other Person except for such commingling as may necessarily result from an investment in those investment companies permitted by this Section 10.02(b).

 

10.03     Fiscal and Taxable Year. The fiscal and taxable year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year unless otherwise required by the Code.

 

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10.04      Annual Tax Information and Report. Within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall furnish to each person who was a Limited Partner at any time during such year the tax information necessary to file such Limited Partner’s individual tax returns as shall be reasonably required by law.

 

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

 

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

 

Following the effective date of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, P.L. 114-74 (“BBA”), the General Partner shall be the “partner representative” as defined in Code Section 6223 as in effect following amendment by the BBA. If eligible to do so, the General Partner may cause the Company to make an election under Code Section 6221(b) (as added by the BBA) to not apply the provisions of Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code (as amended by the BBA) to the Company for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

 

If the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) makes an adjustment to the Company’s income, losses, deductions or credits or the Company makes any such adjustment for a year for which a federal income tax return had been previously filed, the adjustment, to the maximum extent permitted by law, shall be allocated, on the books and records of the Company, to the Partners (including former Partners whose interest have not been fully liquidated) in accordance with their respective interests (including the interests of their respective predecessors) in the Partnership for the year to which the adjustment related and, if the Partnership pays the tax liability associated with the adjustment, such payment shall be allocated, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to such Partners in accordance with the way that the corresponding income or reduction in tax credits was allocated.

 

Unless each Partner timely elects, in a written notice to the General Partner, the Partnership and the General Partner, to the maximum extent permitted by law (by making elections, not making elections, following options that may be available under guidance from the IRS, and/or adjusting allocations) shall (A) timely elect, as provided by Code Section 6226 (added by BBA) and applicable Regulations and other applicable guidance issued thereunder, to have the economic burden or benefits of any adjustment be borne by the Partners in a way that is as close as possible to the way that such burdens or benefits would be borne if the Company’s returns for the reviewed year (as defined in Code Section 6225(d)(1), as added by BBA) had been amended and new Schedule K-1s issued and, to the extent required by law, the Partners had filed amended tax returns taking into account the amended Schedule K-1s and (B) issue amended Schedule K-1s and such other required forms reflecting such adjustments and the Partners agree to file amended returns reflecting the adjustments and information on the amended Schedule K-1s and/or such other applicable IRS forms.

 

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Upon the promulgation of Treasury Regulations and/or other guidance implementing BBA (collectively, “Guidance”), the General Partner and the other Partners will evaluate and consider options available with respect to preserving the allocations of responsibility and authority and the elections and options described above with respect to conforming with the applicable provisions of the Code and revised partnership audit procedures, and agree to use their good faith efforts to agree to mutually agreeable amendments to this Agreement if necessary or beneficial to the Partners to better implement the BBA provisions and Guidance while preserving the terms and agreements embodied herein.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)          The Partners, intending to be legally bound, hereby authorize the Partnership to make an election (the “Safe Harbor Election”) to have the “liquidation value” safe harbor provided in Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3(1) and the Proposed Revenue Procedure set forth in Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-43, as such safe harbor may be modified when such proposed guidance is issued in final form or as amended by subsequently issued guidance (the “Safe Harbor”), apply to any interest in the Partnership transferred to a service provider while the Safe Harbor Election remains effective, to the extent such interest meets the Safe Harbor requirements (collectively, such interests are referred to as “Safe Harbor Interests”). The Tax Matters Partner is authorized and directed to execute and file the Safe Harbor Election on behalf of the Partnership and the Partners. The Partnership and the Partners (including any person to whom an interest in the Partnership is transferred in connection with the performance of services) hereby agree to comply with all requirements of the Safe Harbor (including forfeiture allocations) with respect to all Safe Harbor Interests and to prepare and file all U.S. federal income tax returns reporting the tax consequences of the issuance and vesting of Safe Harbor Interests consistent with such final Safe Harbor guidance. The Partnership is also authorized to take such actions as are necessary to achieve, under the Safe Harbor, the effect that the election and compliance with all requirements of the Safe Harbor referred to above would be intended to achieve under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3, including amending this Agreement.

 

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT

 

11.01      Amendment of Agreement.

 

(a)          Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the General Partner or by Limited Partners forming a Majority in Interest (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner). Following such proposal, the General Partner shall submit any proposed amendment to the Limited Partners. The General Partner shall seek the written vote of the Partners on the proposed amendment or shall call a meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other business that it may deem appropriate. For purposes of obtaining a written vote, the General Partner may require a response within a reasonable specified time, but not less than fifteen (15) days, and failure to respond in such time period shall constitute a vote which is consistent with the General Partner’s recommendation with respect to the proposal. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an amendment hereto if it is approved by the General Partner and it receives the consent of a Majority in Interest (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner).

 

(b)          Notwithstanding Section 11.01(a), the General Partner shall have the power, without the consent of the Limited Partners, to amend this Agreement as may be required to facilitate or implement any of the following purposes:

 

(i) to add to the obligations of the General Partner or surrender any right or power granted to the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner for the benefit of the Limited Partners;

 

(ii) to reflect the issuance of additional Partnership Units or the admission, substitution, termination, or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(iii) to set forth or amend the designations, rights (including redemption rights that differ from those specified in Section 8.04), powers, duties, and preferences of holders of any additional Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 4.02;

 

(iv) to reflect a change that is of an inconsequential nature and does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect, or to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in this Agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions, or make other changes with respect to matters arising under this Agreement that will not be inconsistent with law or with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

 50
 

 

(v) to reflect such changes as are reasonably necessary for the General Partner to maintain its qualification as a REIT, including changes which may be necessitated due to a change in applicable law (or an authoritative interpretation thereof) or a ruling of the Service;

 

(vi) to modify the manner in which Capital Accounts are computed;

 

(vii) to include provisions in this Agreement that may be referenced in any rulings, regulations, notices, announcements, or other guidance regarding the federal income tax treatment of compensatory partnership interests issued and made effective after the date hereof or in connection with any elections that the General Partner determines to be necessary or advisable in respect of any such guidance. Any such amendment may include, without limitation, (a) a provision authorizing or directing the General Partner to make any election under the such guidance, (b) a covenant by the Partnership and all of the Partners to agree to comply with the such guidance, (c) an amendment to the capital account maintenance provisions and the allocation provisions contained in this Agreement so that such provisions comply with (I) the provisions of the Code and the Regulations as they apply to the issuance of compensatory partnership interests and (II) the requirements of such guidance and any election made by the General Partner with respect thereto, including, a provision requiring “forfeiture allocations” as appropriate. Any such amendments to this Agreement shall be binding upon all Partners; and

 

(viii) to satisfy any requirements, conditions, or guidelines contained in any order, directive, opinion, ruling or regulation of a federal or state agency or contained in federal or state law.

 

The General Partner shall provide notice to the Limited Partners when any action under this Section 11.01(b) is taken.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding Sections 11.01(a) and (b), this Agreement shall not be amended without the consent of each Partner adversely affected if such amendment would (i) convert a Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership into a General Partner Interest; (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited Partner in a manner adverse to such Limited Partner; (iii) alter rights of such Partner to receive distributions pursuant to Article 5, or the allocations specified in Article 5 (except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.02 and Section 11.01(b)(iii)) in a manner adverse to such Partner; (iv) alter or modify the Common Unit Redemption Right and REIT Common Shares Amount as set forth in Section 8.04, and the related definitions, in a manner adverse to such Partner; (v) cause the termination of the Partnership prior to the time set forth in Section 2.04; or (vi) amend this Section 11.01(c); provided, however, that the consent of each Partner adversely affected shall not be required for any amendment or action that affects all Partners holding the same class or series of Partnership Units on a uniform or pro rata basis. Any amendment consented to by any Partner shall be effective as to that Partner, notwithstanding the absence of such consent by any other Partner.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding Sections 11.01(a) or (b), the General Partner shall not amend Sections 4.02(a), 6.06, 6.07 or 7.01 without the consent of a Majority in Interest (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner).

 

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ARTICLE XII

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

12.01         Notices. All communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally or upon deposit in the United States mail, registered, postage prepaid return receipt requested, to the Partners at the addresses set forth in the attached Exhibit A, as it may be amended or restated from time to time; provided, however, that any Partner may specify a different address by notifying the General Partner in writing of such different address. Notices to the General Partner and the Partnership shall be delivered at or mailed to its office address set forth in Section 2.03. The General Partner and the Partnership may specify a different address by notifying the Limited Partners in writing of such different address.

 

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

 

12.03         Additional Documents. Each Partner agrees to perform all further acts and execute, swear to, acknowledge and deliver all further documents that may be reasonable, necessary, appropriate or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement or the Act.

 

12.04         Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder.

 

12.05         Entire Agreement. This Agreement and its attached Exhibits constitute the entire agreement of the Partners and supersede all prior written agreements and prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter, including without limitation the Original Agreement.

 

12.06         Pronouns and Plurals. When the context in which words are used in the Agreement indicates that such is the intent, words in the singular number shall include the plural and the masculine gender shall include the neuter or female gender as the context may require.

 

12.07         Headings. The Article headings or sections in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing the scope of this Agreement or any particular Article.

 

12.08         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument binding on all parties, notwithstanding that all parties shall not have signed the same counterpart.

 

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12.09         Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunder affixed their signatures to this Agreement of Limited Partnership, all as of the [__]nd day of April, 2016.

 

  GENERAL PARTNER:
   
  MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
   
  INITIAL LIMITED PARTNER:
   
  MEDALIST DIVERSIFIED REIT, INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
   
  LIMITED PARTNERS:
   
  [_________________________]
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Its:  

 

[Signature Page to Agreement of Limited Partnership]

 

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EX1A-6 MAT CTRCT 5 v436797_ex6-2.htm EXHIBIT 6.2

 

Exhibit 6.2

 

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

among

 

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.

 

Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P.

 

and

 

Medalist Fund Manager, Inc.

 

Dated as of ____________, __ 2016

 

 1 
 

 

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of __________ __, 2016, among Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Medalist”), Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and Medalist Fund Manager, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the “Manager”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Medalist intends to invest in Target Assets (as defined below) and intends to qualify as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 2016; and

 

WHEREAS, Medalist is the general partner of the Operating Partnership, and Medalist intends to conduct substantially all of its business and make all Investments (as defined below) through the Operating Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, Medalist and the Operating Partnership desire to retain the Manager to administer the business activities and day-to-day operations of the Company (as defined below) and to perform services for the Company in the manner and on the terms set forth herein and the Manager wishes to be retained to provide such services, subject to the supervision of the Board (as defined below), on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

 

WHEREAS, the Manager wishes to be retained to administer such business activities and day-to-day operations and to provide such services;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Definitions.

 

(a)          The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1(a):

 

Above-Market Rates” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b).

 

Acquisition Cost” shall mean the final purchase price of the acquired Investment, following all closing adjustments, plus all transaction costs and fees associated with the applicable Investment.

 

Acquisition Expenses” means any and all expenses incurred by the Company, the Manager or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the selection, evaluation, acquisition, origination, making or development of any Investment, whether or not acquired, including, but not limited to, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, property inspection expenses, third party brokerage or finder’s fees, costs of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on property not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance premiums and expenses, survey expenses, closing costs and the costs of performing due diligence.

 

Acquisition Fee” shall have the meaning given it in Section 6(e).

 

Affiliate” means (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other Person, (ii) any executive officer or general partner of such other Person, (iii) any member of the board of directors or board of managers (or bodies performing similar functions) of such Person, and (iv) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer or general partner.

 

AFFO” means adjusted funds from operations, calculated by adjusting FFO by adding back acquisition expenses, equity based compensation expenses, and any other non-recurring on non-cash expenses, and subtracting recurring capital expenditures (and, when calculating the Incentive Fee only, further adjusting FFO to include any realized gains or losses on the Company’s real estate investments).

 

 2 
 

 

Agreement” means this Management Agreement, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Asset Management Fee” means the management fee in an amount equal to the sum of 1.5% of the amount of Stockholder’s Equity, which will be paid on a monthly basis.

 

Automatic Renewal Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.

 

Bankruptcy” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the filing by such Person of a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment, in any form, of its debts under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other U.S. federal or state or foreign insolvency law, or such Person’s filing an answer consenting to or acquiescing in any such petition, (b) the making by such Person of any assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (c) the expiration of 60 days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the United States Code, an application for the appointment of a receiver for a material portion of the assets of such Person, or an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of its debts under any other U.S. federal or state or foreign insolvency law; provided, that the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such 60-day period or (d) the entry against such Person of a final and non-appealable order for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereinafter in effect.

 

Board” means the board of directors of Medalist. In every instance herein requiring approval of the Board or referring to policies or directions of the Board, for purposes of this Agreement, the Board shall be deemed to include any duly appointed and constituted committee of the Board with respect to each and every act that under the Governing Instruments or applicable law may be taken with the approval of a duly appointed and constituted committee of the Board, and references herein to the Board shall be deemed to include references to each such committee.

 

Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Richmond, Virginia are not required to be open.

 

Cause Termination Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).

 

Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(d) hereof.

 

Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Medalist.

 

Closing Date” means the date of closing of the Public Offering.

 

Code” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Common Stock Equivalents” means shares of the Common Stock issuable pursuant to outstanding rights, options or warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of Common Stock that are in-the-money on such date.

 

Company” means, collectively, Medalist and the Operating Partnership.

 

Company Entities” means, collectively, Medalist, the Operating Partnership and each of their respective subsidiaries.

 

Company Indemnified Party” has meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.

 

Competing Program” means any REIT or similar investment vehicle engaged primarily in the business of investing in real estate assets that are substantially similar to the Target Assets and that offers and sells its securities pursuant to a registration statement effective or offering statement qualified under the Securities Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.

 

 3 
 

 

Effective Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b) hereof, and shall also mean the effective date of termination of this Agreement by any notice given pursuant to Sections 10(d), 11(a) or 11(b) hereof.

 

Equity Incentive Plans” means the equity incentive plans adopted by Medalist to provide incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified independent directors, executive officers and other key employees, including officers and employees of the Manager and Operating Partnership and their Affiliates and other service providers, including the Manager and its Affiliates.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

FFO” means funds from operations as such term is from time to time defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, as net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures will be calculated to reflect FFO on the same basis.

 

Financing Transaction” means any financing transaction with respect to any Investment involving any of the Company Entities incurring any mortgage or other indebtedness, including the entering into any line of credit, mezzanine financing, preferred equity financing, and any transaction involving the creation of any commercial mortgage-backed security.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States on the date such principles are applied.

 

Governing Instruments” means, with regard to any entity, the articles of incorporation or certificate of incorporation and bylaws in the case of a corporation, the partnership agreement in the case of a general partnership, the certificate of limited partnership and the partnership agreement in the case of a limited partnership, the certificate of formation and operating agreement in the case of a limited liability company, the trust instrument in the case of a trust, or similar governing documents, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Incentive Fee” means the incentive fee payable to the Manager, which shall be calculated and payable with respect to each calendar quarter (or part thereof that this Agreement is in effect) in arrears in an amount, not less than zero, equal to the difference between (1) the product of (a) 20% and (b) the difference between (i) AFFO of the Company for the previous 12-month period, and (ii) the product of (A) the weighted average of the issue price of equity securities issued in the Public Offering and in future offerings and transactions of the Company, multiplied by the weighted average number of all shares of common stock outstanding on a fully-diluted basis (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any restricted stock units, any restricted shares of common stock, Equity Incentive Plan units, and other shares of common stock underlying other awards granted under one or more of the Company’s Equity Incentive Plans, if any, and units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership) in the previous 12-month period, exclusive of equity securities issued prior to the Public Offering, and (B) 7%, and (2) the sum of any Incentive Fees paid to the Manager with respect to the first three calendar quarters of such previous 12-month period. For purposes of calculating the Incentive Fee during the first 12 months after completion of the Public Offering, AFFO will be determined by annualizing the applicable period following completion of the Public Offering. An example calculation of the Incentive Fee is set forth on Exhibit B hereto. “Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.

 

Independent Director” means a member of the Board who is “independent” in accordance with Medalist’s Governing Instruments and the rules of the Securities Exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed, if applicable.

 

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Initial Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.

 

Invested Proceeds” shall mean the New Stockholders’ Equity being used by the Manager to fund Investments.

 

Investment” means any investment by the Company, directly or through a subsidiary, in a Target Asset.

 

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Investment Guidelines” means the investment guidelines approved by the Board, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, as the same may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived pursuant to the approval of a majority of the entire Board (which must include a majority of the Independent Directors).

 

Investment Transaction” means any purchase, acquisition, exchange, sale or disposition, merger or interest exchange that results in the acquisition or disposition of, or other transaction involving, an Investment.

 

Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

Manager” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Manager Change of Control” means a change in the direct or indirect (i) beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Manager’s then outstanding equity interests, or (ii) power to direct or control the management policies of the Manager, whether through the ownership of beneficial equity interests, common directors or officers, by contract or otherwise. Manager Change of Control shall not include (i) public offerings of the equity interests of the Manager, or (ii) any assignment of this Agreement by the Manager as permitted hereby and in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Manager Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.

 

Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

 

Stockholders’ Equity” means (a) the sum of (1) the net proceeds from (or equity value assigned to) all issuances of the Company’s equity and equity equivalent securities (including Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents, preferred stock and units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership) since inception (allocated on a pro rata daily basis for such issuances during the fiscal quarter of any such issuance), plus (2) the Company’s retained earnings at the end of the most recently completed calendar quarter (without taking into account any non-cash equity compensation expense incurred in current or prior periods), less (b) any amount that the Company has paid to repurchase Medalist’s Common Stock issued in the Public Offering or any subsequent offering. Stockholders’ Equity also excludes (1) any unrealized gains and losses and other non-cash items (including depreciation and amortization) that have impacted stockholders’ equity as reported in the Company’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (2) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP, and certain non-cash items not otherwise described above, in each case after discussions between the Manager and the Independent Directors and approval by a majority of the Independent Directors.

 

NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, estate, trust, joint venture, any federal, state, county or municipal government or any bureau, department or agency thereof or any other legal entity and any fiduciary acting in such capacity on behalf of the foregoing.

 

Public Offering” means the REIT’s sale of common stock to the public pursuant to the REIT’s Offering Statement on Form 1-A (No. 024-10487).

 

Regulation FD” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the SEC.

 

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REIT” means a “real estate investment trust” as defined under the Code.

 

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

Securities Exchange” means the NYSE, NYSE MKT, OTCQX, OTCQB and any other nationally recognized securities exchange or other quotation system.

 

Target Assets means the types of assets described under “Our Business” in the prospectus contained in Medalist’s Offering Statement on Form 1-A (No. 024-10487) relating to the Public Offering, subject to, and including any changes to the Company’s Investment Guidelines that may be approved by the Board from time to time.

 

Termination Fee” means a termination fee equal to three (3) times the sum of (i) the Asset Management Fee and (ii) the Incentive Fee, in each case, earned by the Manager during the 12-month period immediately preceding the most recently completed fiscal quarter prior to the Effective Termination Date.

 

Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b) hereof.

 

Termination Without Cause” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b) hereof.

 

(b)          As used herein, accounting terms relating to any Company Entity, if any, not defined in Section 1(a) and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1(a), to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP. As used herein, “calendar quarters” shall mean the period from January 1 to March 31, April 1 to June 30, July 1 to September 30 and October 1 to December 31 of the applicable year.

 

(c)          The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

(d)          The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”

 

Section 2. Appointment and Duties of the Manager.

 

(a)          Medalist and the Operating Partnership hereby appoint the Manager to manage the investments and day-to-day operations of the Company Entities, subject at all times to the further terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and to the supervision and direction of, and such further limitations or parameters as may be imposed from time to time by, the Board. The Manager hereby agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to perform each of the duties set forth herein, provided that funds are made available by the Company for such purposes as set forth in Section 7 hereof, and further subject to Section 6 hereof. The appointment of the Manager shall be exclusive to the Board.

 

(b)          The Manager, in its capacity as manager of the Investments and the operations of the Company Entities, at all times will be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board and will use commercially reasonable efforts to present to the Company potential investment opportunities and will perform its duties hereunder, including managing the Company’s business affairs in conformity with the Investment Guidelines and other policies that are approved and monitored by the Board. Medalist, the Operating Partnership and the Manager hereby acknowledge the recommendation by the Manager and the approval by the Board of the Investment Guidelines, including, but not limited to the Company’s investment strategy in the Target Assets. Medalist, the Operating Partnership and the Manager hereby acknowledge and agree that, during the term of this Agreement, any proposed changes to the Company’s investment strategy that would modify or expand the Target Assets shall require a change in, or supplement to, the Investment Guidelines. The Company shall notify the Manager promptly of any amended, restated, supplemented or waived Investment Guidelines, including any modification or revocation of the Manager’s authority set forth in the Investment Guidelines; provided, however, that such modification or revocation shall not be applicable to Investment Transactions to which the Manager has committed any Company Entity prior to the date of receipt by the Manager of such notification.

 

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(c)          The Manager will be responsible for (1) the selection, purchase, sale and disposition of Investments, (2) the Company’s financing activities, and (3) providing the Company with advisory services. In addition, the Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company Entities (which, for purposes of the Manager’s responsibilities in this Agreement, includes their respective subsidiaries) and will perform (or cause to be performed) such services and activities relating to the Investments and operations of the Company Entities as may be appropriate, which may include, without limitation:

 

(i)          serving as the Company’s consultant with respect to the periodic review of the Investment Guidelines and other parameters for the Company’s Investments, financing activities and operations, any modification to which will be approved by the Board (including a majority of the Independent Directors);

 

(ii)         investigating, analyzing, and selecting possible Investment opportunities and acquiring, financing, retaining, selling, restructuring, exchanging or disposing of Investments consistent with the Investment Guidelines;

 

(iii)        with respect to prospective Investment Transactions and Financing Transactions, conducting negotiations (including negotiation of definitive agreements) on the Company’s behalf with sellers, purchasers, and brokers and, if applicable, their respective agents and representatives;

 

(iv)        negotiating and entering into, on the Company’s behalf, interest rate swap agreements and other agreements and instruments required for the Company to conduct the Company’s business;

 

(v)         effecting any private placement of interest in the Operating Partnership, tenancy-in-common or other interests in Investments as may be approved by the Board;

 

(vi)        engaging and supervising, on the Company’s behalf and at the Company’s expense, independent contractors that provide investment banking, securities brokerage, mortgage brokerage, real estate brokerage, other financial services, due diligence services, underwriting review services, legal and accounting services, and all other services (including transfer agent and registrar services) as may be required relating to the Company’s operations and actual or potential Investments Investment Transactions or Financing Transactions;

 

(vii)       coordinating and managing operations of any joint venture or co-investment interests held by the Company and conducting all matters with the joint venture or co-investment partners;

 

(viii)      providing executive and administrative personnel, office space and office services required in rendering services to the Company;

 

(ix)         administering the day-to-day operations and performing and supervising the performance of such other administrative functions necessary to the Company’s management as may be agreed upon by the Manager and the Board, including, without limitation, the collection of revenues and the payment of the Company’s debts and obligations and maintenance of appropriate computer services to perform such administrative functions;

 

(x)          communicating on the Company’s behalf with the holders of any of the Company’s equity or debt securities of Medalist or the Operating Partnership as required to satisfy the reporting and other requirements of any governmental bodies or agencies or trading markets and to maintain effective relations with such holders;

 

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(xi)         counseling the Board and the Company in connection with policy decisions to be made by the Board;

 

(xii)        evaluating and recommending to the Board hedging strategies and engaging in hedging activities on the Company’s behalf, consistent with such strategies as so modified from time to time, Medalist’s qualification as a REIT and with the Investment Guidelines;

 

(xiii)       counseling the Board and the Company regarding the maintenance of Medalist’s qualification as a REIT and monitoring compliance with the various REIT qualification tests and other rules set out in the Code and Treasury Regulations thereunder and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause Medalist to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT;

 

(xiv)      counseling the Company regarding the maintenance of the Company’s exemption from the status of an investment company required to register under the Investment Company Act, monitoring compliance with the requirements for maintaining such exemption and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to maintain such exemption from such status;

 

(xv)       furnishing reports and statistical and economic research to the Company regarding the Company’s activities and services performed for the Company by the Manager, including reports to the Board with respect to potential conflicts of interest involving the Manager or any of its Affiliates;

 

(xvi)      monitoring the operating performance of the Company’s Investments and providing periodic reports with respect thereto to the Board, including comparative information with respect to such operating performance and budgeted or projected operating results;

 

(xvii)     investing and reinvesting any moneys and securities of the Company (including investing in short-term investments pending investment in other investments, payment of fees, costs and expenses, or payments of dividends or distributions to Medalist’s stockholders and the Operating Partnership’s partners) and advising the Company as to its capital structure and capital raising;

 

(xviii)    causing the Company to retain qualified accountants and legal counsel, as applicable, to assist in developing appropriate accounting procedures and systems, internal controls and other compliance procedures and testing systems with respect to financial reporting obligations and compliance with the provisions of the Code applicable to REITs and, if applicable, taxable REIT subsidiaries, and to conduct quarterly compliance reviews with respect thereto;

 

(xix)       assisting the Company in qualifying to do business in all applicable jurisdictions and to obtain and maintain all appropriate licenses;

 

(xx)        assisting the Company in complying with all regulatory requirements applicable to the Company in respect of the Company’s business activities, including preparing or causing to be prepared all financial statements required under applicable regulations and contractual undertakings and all reports and documents, if any, required under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, or by the applicable Securities Exchange;

 

(xxi)       assisting the Company in taking all necessary action to enable the Company to make required tax filings and reports, including soliciting stockholders for required information to the extent required by the provisions of the Code applicable to REITs;

 

(xxii)      handling and resolving all claims, disputes or controversies (including all litigation, arbitration, settlement or other proceedings or negotiations) in which the Company may be involved or to which the Company may be subject arising out of the Company’s day-to-day operations (other than with the Manager or its Affiliates), subject to such limitations or parameters as may be imposed from time to time by the Board;

 

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(xxiii)     using commercially reasonable efforts to cause expenses incurred by the Company or on the Company’s behalf to be commercially reasonable or commercially customary and within any budgeted parameters or expense guidelines set by the Board from time to time;

 

(xxiv)    serving as the Company’s consultant with respect to decisions regarding any of its financings, hedging activities, borrowings or joint venture arrangements undertaken by the Company, including (1) assisting the Company in developing criteria for debt and equity financing that is specifically tailored to its investment objectives, and (2) advising the Company with respect to obtaining appropriate financing for its investments;

 

(xxv)     arranging marketing materials, advertising, industry group activities (such as conference participations and industry organization memberships) and other promotional efforts designed to promote the Company’s business;

 

(xxvi) performing such other services as may be required from time to time for management and other activities relating to the Company’s assets and business as the Board shall reasonably request or the Manager shall deem appropriate under the particular circumstances; and

 

(xxvii)   using its best efforts to cause the Company to comply with all applicable laws.

 

(d)          The Manager may retain, for and on behalf, and at the sole cost and expense, of the Company, such services of the persons and firms referred to in Section 7(b) hereof as the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company. In performing its duties under this Section 2, the Manager shall be entitled to rely reasonably on qualified experts and professionals (including, without limitation, accountants, legal counsel and other professional service providers) hired by the Manager at the Company’s sole cost and expense.

 

(e)          The Manager shall refrain from any action that, in its sole judgment made in good faith, (i) is not in compliance with the Investment Guidelines, (ii) would adversely and materially affect the qualification of Medalist as a REIT or the Operating Partnership as a partnership under the Code or the Company’s status as an entity exempted or excluded from investment company status under the Investment Company Act, or (iii) would conflict with or violate any law, rule or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or of any exchange on which the securities of the Company may be listed or any applicable Governing Instruments. If the Manager is ordered to take any action by the Board, the Manager shall promptly notify the Board if it is the Manager’s judgment that such action would adversely and materially affect such status or conflict with or violate any such law, rule or regulation or Governing Instruments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Manager nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable to the Company, the Board, or the Company’s stockholders or partners, as applicable, for any act or omission by the Manager or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement.

 

(f)          The Manager shall notify the Board in advance of all proposed Investment Transactions before they are completed. The Manager shall seek and obtain Board approval of any Investment Transaction that does not meet the Investment Guidelines. Subject to this Section 2(f), the Manager may execute without Board approval (but, in all cases, with advance notice to the Board) any Investment Transaction that fits within the Investment Guidelines, if then permitted by the Investment Guidelines. If any proposed Investment Transaction requires approval by the Independent Directors, the Manager will deliver to the Independent Directors all documents and other information reasonably required by them to evaluate properly the proposed transaction. With respect to Investment Transactions for which Board approval is not required but advance notice is required, the Manager shall provide to the Board a summary of its investment analysis with respect to the proposed Investment Transaction. The Board may, at any time upon the giving of notice to the Manager, modify or revoke the authority set forth in this Section 2(f); provided, however, that such modification or revocation shall be effective upon receipt by the Manager and shall not be applicable to Investment Transactions to which the Manager has committed the Company prior to the date of receipt by the Manager of such notification.

 

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(g)          The Company (including the Board) agrees to take all actions reasonably required to permit and enable the Manager to carry out its duties and obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, all steps reasonably necessary to allow the Manager to file any registration statement or other filing required to be made under the Securities Act, Exchange Act, the applicable Securities Exchange’s Listed Company Manual, the Code or other applicable law, rule or regulation on behalf of the Company in a timely manner. The Company further agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the Manager all resources, information and materials reasonably requested by the Manager to enable the Manager to satisfy its obligations hereunder, including its obligations to deliver financial statements and any other information or reports with respect to the Company.

 

(h)          As frequently as the Manager may deem reasonably necessary or advisable, or at the direction of the Board, the Manager shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, any reports and other information relating to any proposed or consummated Investment as may be reasonably requested by the Company.

 

(i)          The Manager shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, all reports, financial or otherwise, with respect to the Company reasonably required by the Board in order for the Company Entities to comply with their respective Governing Instruments or as otherwise reasonably requested by the Board, or any other materials required to be filed with any governmental body or agency, and shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, all materials and data necessary to complete such reports and other materials, including, without limitation, an annual audit of Medalist’s consolidated financial statements by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm.

 

(ii)         The Manager shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense to the Company, cause to be prepared, regular reports for the Board to enable the Board to review the Company’s acquisitions, portfolio composition and characteristics, performance and compliance with the Investment Guidelines and policies approved by the Board.

 

(i)          Officers, employees and agents of the Manager and its Affiliates may serve as directors, officers, agents, nominees or signatories for any Company Entity, to the extent permitted by their respective Governing Instruments or by any resolutions duly adopted by the Board, the Operating Partnership or such Company Entity. When executing documents or otherwise acting in such capacities for any Company Entity, such Persons shall indicate in what capacity they are executing on behalf of such Company Entity. Without limiting the foregoing, while this Agreement is in effect, the Manager will provide the Company with a management team, including a Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer, along with appropriate support personnel, to provide the management services to be provided by the Manager to the Company Entities hereunder, who shall devote such of their time to the management of the Company as necessary and appropriate, commensurate with the level of activity of the Company from time to time.

 

(j)          The Manager, at its sole cost and expense, shall at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain reasonable and customary “errors and omissions” insurance coverage and other customary insurance coverage in respect to its obligations and activities under, or pursuant to, this Agreement, naming Medalist and the Operating Partnership as additional insureds.

 

(k)          The Manager, at its sole cost and expense, shall provide such third party internal audit, compliance and control services as may be required for the Company to comply with applicable law (including the Securities Act and Exchange Act), regulation (including SEC regulations) and the rules and requirements of the applicable Securities Exchange and as otherwise reasonably requested by the Company or the Board from time to time.

 

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(l)          The Manager, at its sole cost and expense, shall maintain any required registration of the Manager or any Affiliate with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or with any state securities authority in any state in which the Manager or its Affiliate is required to be registered as an investment advisor under applicable state securities laws.

 

Section 3. Additional Activities of the Manager; Non-Solicitation; Restrictions.

 

(a)          Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 3(a), Section 3(b) and/or the Investment Guidelines, nothing in this Agreement shall (i) prevent the Manager or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors or employees, from engaging in other businesses or from rendering services of any kind to any other Person or entity, whether or not the investment objectives or policies of any such other Person or entity are similar to those of the Company; provided, however, that the Manager shall devote sufficient resources to the Company’s business to discharge its obligations to the Company Entities under this Agreement; or (ii) in any way bind or restrict the Manager or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors or employees from buying, selling or trading any securities or commodities for their own accounts or for the account of others for whom the Manager or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors or employees may be acting. While information and recommendations supplied to the Company shall, in the Manager’s reasonable and good faith judgment, be appropriate under the circumstances and in light of the investment objectives and policies of the Company, they may be different from the information and recommendations supplied by the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager to others. The Company shall be entitled to equitable treatment under the circumstances in receiving information, recommendations and any other services, but the Company recognizes that it is not entitled to receive preferential treatment as compared with the treatment given by the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager to others. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall have the benefit of the Manager’s best judgment and effort in rendering services hereunder and, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Manager shall not undertake activities that, in its good faith judgment, will adversely affect the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)          The Manager shall report to the Board any condition or circumstance, existing or anticipated, of which it has knowledge, which creates or could create a conflict of interest between the Manager’s obligations to the Company and its obligations to or its interest in any other Person. Until such time as the Public Offering is complete, or has been terminated, and the net proceeds thereof have been invested in the Target Assets (or such other assets as approved by the Board), the Manager shall not enter into any management agreement or similar arrangement with any other real estate fund or investment vehicle, however organized, without the prior consent of Medalist’s Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, except in respect of funds or other investment vehicles sponsored by the Manager which antedate this Agreement, specifically Medalist Fund I, LLC and Medalist Fund II, LLC. If the Manager sponsors or manages any Competing Program that has investment funds available at the same time as the Company, the Manager shall inform the Board of the method to be applied by the Manager in allocating investment opportunities among the Company and competing investment entities and shall provide regular updates to the Board of the investment opportunities provided by the Manager to competing programs in order for the Board (including the Independent Directors) to evaluate that the Manager is allocating such opportunities in accordance with such method.

 

Section 4. Bank Accounts.

 

At the direction of the Board, the Manager may establish and maintain one or more bank accounts in the name of any Company Entity, and may collect and deposit into any such account or accounts, and disburse funds from any such account or accounts, under such terms and conditions as the Board may approve; and the Manager shall from time to time render appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Board and, upon request, to the Company’s auditors.

 

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Section 5. Records; Confidentiality.

 

(a)          The Manager shall maintain appropriate books of accounts and records relating to services performed hereunder, and such books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection by representatives of the Company Entities at any time during normal business hours. The Manager shall keep confidential any and all non-public information, written or oral, obtained by it in connection with the services rendered hereunder (“Confidential Information”) and shall not use Confidential Information except in furtherance of its duties under this Agreement or disclose Confidential Information, in whole or in part, to any Person other than (i) to its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives or advisors who need to know such Confidential Information for the purpose of rendering services hereunder, (ii) to appraisers, financing sources and others in the ordinary course of the Company’s business ((i) and (ii) collectively, “Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties”), (iii) in connection with any governmental or regulatory filings of the Company or filings with any applicable Securities Exchange , market, or Listed Company Manual or disclosure or presentations to Company investors (subject to compliance with Regulation FD), if applicable, (iv) to governmental officials having jurisdiction over the Company, (v) as requested by law or legal process to which the Manager or any Person to whom disclosure is permitted hereunder is a party, or (vi) with the consent of the Company. The Manager agrees to inform each of its Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties of the non-public nature of the Confidential Information and to obtain agreement from such Persons to treat such Confidential Information in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(b)          Nothing herein shall prevent the Manager from disclosing Confidential Information (i) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (ii) upon the request or demand of, or pursuant to any law or regulation to, any regulatory agency or authority, (iii) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, or (iv) to its legal counsel or independent auditors; provided, however that with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), it is agreed that, so long as not legally prohibited, the Manager will provide the Company with prompt written notice of such order, request or demand so that the Company may seek, at its sole expense, an appropriate protective order and/or waive the Manager’s compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. If, failing the entry of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, the Manager is required to disclose Confidential Information, the Manager may disclose only that portion of such information that is legally required without liability hereunder; provided, that the Manager agrees to exercise its reasonable best efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the following shall be deemed to be excluded from the provisions of this Section 5: any Confidential Information that (A) is available to the public from a source other than the Manager, (B) is released in writing by the Company to the public or to persons who are not under similar obligation of confidentiality to the Company, or (C) is obtained by the Manager from a third party where such disclosure, to the best of the Manager’s knowledge, does not constitute a breach by such third party of an obligation of confidence with respect to the Confidential Information disclosed.

 

(d)          The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement for a period of one (1) year; provided that the parties will maintain trade secrets of the other party identified in writing as trade secrets, and which in fact constitute trade secrets, for a period of no longer than five (5) years thereafter.

 

Section 6. Compensation.

 

(a)          For the services rendered under this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Asset Management Fee, Acquisition Fee and the Incentive Fee to the Manager. The Manager will not receive any compensation for the period prior to the Closing Date other than expenses incurred and reimbursed pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

 

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(b)          The parties acknowledge that the Asset Management Fee is intended to compensate the Manager for advisory services and certain general management services rendered under this Agreement.

 

(c)          The Asset Management Fee is payable on a monthly basis. If applicable, the initial and final installments of the Asset Management Fee shall be pro-rated based on the number of days during the initial and final months, respectively, that this Agreement is in effect. The Asset Management Fee shall be calculated within 5 days after the end of each month and such calculation shall be promptly delivered to the Company. The Company will be obligated to pay each monthly installment of the Asset Management Fee calculated for that quarter in cash within five (5) Business Days after delivery to the Company of the written statement of the Manager setting forth the computation of the Asset Management Fee for such month.

 

(d)          The Incentive Fee shall be payable in arrears, in quarterly installments commencing with the quarter in which this Agreement is executed. The Manager shall compute each quarterly installment of the Incentive Fee within forty-five (45) days after the end of the calendar quarter with respect to which such installment is payable. A copy of the computations made by the Manager to calculate such installment shall thereafter promptly be delivered to the Board and, upon such delivery, payment of such installment of the Incentive Fee shown therein shall be due and payable no later than the date which is five (5) Business Days after the date of delivery to the Board of such computations.

 

(e)          The Manager will receive an Acquisition Fee of 2.0% of the Acquisition Cost for each Investment made on behalf of the Company at the closing of the acquisition of such Investment for its services in identifying Investments for purchase, arranging for the purchase of such Investments, coordinating the closing on such Investments and following up on and resolving post-closing transaction issues on behalf of the Company. The Acquisition Fee will be in addition to any third party real estate brokerage commissions incurred by the Company.

 

Section 7. Expenses of the Company.

 

(a)          Except as otherwise set forth in Section 7(b)(iv) hereof with respect to the costs of legal tax, accounting, consulting, auditing and other similar services rendered for the Company as specified therein, which costs shall be the expense of the Company, the Manager shall be responsible for the expenses related to any and all personnel of the Manager and its Affiliates who provide services to the Company Entities pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, each of the officers of the Company and any directors of Medalist who are also directors, officers, employees or agents of the Manager or any of its Affiliates), including, without limitation, salaries, bonus and other wages, payroll taxes and the cost of employee benefit plans of such personnel, and costs of insurance with respect to such personnel. For the avoidance of doubt, any Equity Incentive Plan of Medalist or the Operating Partnership in which any person referred to above participates shall be excluded from the operation of this Section 7(a).

 

(b)          The Company shall pay (or cause to be paid) all of the costs and expenses of each Company Entity and shall reimburse the Manager or its Affiliates for documented expenses of the Manager and its Affiliates incurred on behalf of any Company Entity that are reasonably necessary for the performance by the Manager of its duties and functions hereunder, provided, that such expenses are in amounts no greater than those that would be payable to third-party professionals or consultants engaged to perform such services pursuant to agreements negotiated on an arm’s-length basis, and excepting only those expenses that are specifically the responsibility of the Manager pursuant to Section 7(a) of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is specifically agreed that the following costs and expenses of the Company Entities shall be paid by the Company and shall not be paid by the Manager or Affiliates of the Manager:

 

(i)          Acquisition Expenses incurred in connection with the selection and acquisition of Investments;

 

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(ii)          general and administrative expenses of the Company Entities, if any;

 

(iii)         expenses in connection with the issuance of securities of the Company, any Financing Transaction and other costs incident to the acquisition, development, redevelopment, construction, repositioning, leasing, disposition and financing of the Investments;

 

(iv)         costs of legal, tax, accounting, consulting, auditing and other similar services rendered for the Company by providers retained by the Manager or, if provided by the Manager’s personnel, in amounts which are no greater than those which would be payable to outside professionals or consultants engaged to perform such services pursuant to agreements negotiated on an arm’s-length basis. For the avoidance of doubt, (a) any Equity Incentive Plan of Medalist or the Operating Partnership in which any person referred to in Section 7(a) above participates, and (b) all salaries, bonuses and other wages, payroll taxes and the cost of employee benefit plans of any persons referred to in Section 7(a) above, and costs of insurance with respect to any such person, shall be included in the operation of this Section 7(b)(iv);

 

(v)          the compensation and expenses of Medalist’s directors and the cost of liability insurance to indemnify the Company and its directors and officers;

 

(vi)         costs associated with the establishment and maintenance of any of the Company’s credit facilities, other financing arrangements, or other indebtedness of the Company (including commitment fees, accounting fees, legal fees, closing and other similar costs) or any of Medalist’s securities offerings;

 

(vii)        expenses connected with communications to holders of the securities of any Company Entity and other bookkeeping and clerical work necessary in maintaining relations with holders of such securities and in complying with the continuous reporting and other requirements of governmental bodies or agencies, including, without limitation, all costs of preparing and filing required reports with the SEC, the costs payable by the Company to any transfer agent and registrar in connection with the listing and/or trading of Medalist’s securities on any exchange, the fees payable by the Company to any such exchange in connection with its listing, costs of preparing, printing and mailing Medalist’s annual report to its stockholders or the Operating Partnership’s partners, as applicable, and proxy materials with respect to any meeting of Medalist’s stockholders or the Operating Partnership’s partners, as applicable;

 

(viii)      costs associated with any computer software or hardware, electronic equipment or purchased information technology services from third-party vendors that is used for the Company Entities;

 

(ix)         expenses incurred by managers, officers, personnel and agents of the Manager for travel on the Company’s behalf and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by managers, officers, personnel and agents of the Manager in connection with the acquisition, development, redevelopment, construction, repositioning, leasing, financing, refinancing, sale or other disposition of an Investment or establishment of any of Medalist’s securities offerings, or in connection with any Financing Transaction;

 

(x)          costs and expenses incurred with respect to market information systems and publications, research publications and materials, and settlement, clearing and custodial fees and expenses;

 

(xi)         compensation and expenses of Medalist’s custodian and transfer agent, if any;

 

(xii)        the costs of maintaining compliance with all federal, state and local rules and regulations or any other regulatory agency;

 

(xiii)       all taxes and license fees;

 

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(xiv)      all insurance costs incurred in connection with the operation of the Company’s business except for the costs attributable to the insurance that the Manager elects to carry for itself and its personnel;

 

(xv)       costs and expenses incurred in contracting with third parties;

 

(xvi)      all other costs and expenses relating to the Company’s business and investment operations, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of acquiring, owning, protecting, maintaining, developing and disposing of Investments, including appraisal, reporting, audit and legal fees;

 

(xvii)     expenses relating to any office(s) or office facilities, including, but not limited to, disaster backup recovery sites and facilities, maintained for any Company Entity or their Investments separate from the office or offices of the Manager, if any;

 

(xviii)    expenses connected with the payments of interest, dividends or distributions in cash or any other form authorized or caused to be made by the Board to or on account of holders of the securities of any Company Entity, including, without limitation, in connection with any dividend reinvestment plan;

 

(xix)       any judgment or settlement of pending or threatened proceedings (whether civil, criminal or otherwise) against any Company Entity, or against any trustee, director, partner, member or officer of such Company Entity in his capacity as such for which any Company Entity is required to indemnify such trustee, director, partner, member or officer pursuant to the applicable Governing Instruments or any agreement or other instrument or by any court or governmental agency; and

 

(xx)        all other expenses actually incurred by the Manager (except as otherwise specified herein) that are reasonably necessary for the performance by the Manager of its duties and functions under this Agreement.

 

(c)          Costs and expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company shall be reimbursed monthly to the Manager. The Manager shall prepare a written statement in reasonable detail documenting the costs and expenses of the Company and those incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company during each month, and shall deliver such written statement to the Company within thirty (30) days after the end of each month. The Company shall pay all amounts payable to the Manager pursuant to this Section 7(c) within five (5) Business Days after the receipt of the written statement without demand, deduction, offset or delay. Cost and expense reimbursement to the Manager shall be subject to adjustment at the end of each calendar year in connection with the annual audit of the Company. The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement to the extent such expenses have previously been incurred or are incurred in connection with such expiration or termination.

 

Section 8. Limits of the Manager’s Responsibility.

 

(a)          The Manager assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder in good faith and shall not be responsible for any action of the Board in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendations of the Manager, including as set forth in the Investment Guidelines. The Manager, its officers, members, managers, directors, personnel, Affiliates, and any Person providing sub-advisory services to the Manager (each, a “Manager Indemnified Party”), will not be liable to any Company Entity or any of the stockholders, partners, members or other holders of equity interests of any Company Entity for any acts or omissions by any Manager Indemnified Party performed in accordance with and pursuant to this Agreement, except by reason of any act or omission on the part of such Manager Indemnified Party constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties under the Management Agreement as determined by a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Manager shall perform its duties with a standard of care utilizing its best business judgment given the circumstances and the resources, in a commercially reasonable manner.

 

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(b)          The Company shall, to the full extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless each Manager Indemnified Party, of and from any and all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (collectively, “Losses”) in respect of or arising from any acts or omissions of such Manager Indemnified Party performed in good faith under this Agreement and the standards set forth in Sections 3(a) and 8(a) and the in accordance with the standard set forth in Section 3(a) and not constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties of such Manager Indemnified Party under this Agreement as determined by a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. In addition, the Company shall advance funds to a Manager Indemnified Party for legal fees and other costs and expenses incurred as a result of any claim, suit, action or proceeding for which indemnification is being sought pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, provided, that such Manager Indemnified Party undertakes to repay the advanced funds to the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it shall ultimately be determined that such Manager Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as provided herein in connection with such claim, suit, action or proceeding.

 

(c)          The Manager shall, to the full extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers, personnel, agents and Affiliates (each, a “Company Indemnified Party,” and collectively with a Manager Indemnified Party, each an “Indemnified Party”) of and from any and all Losses in respect of or arising from (i) any acts or omissions of the Manager constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties of the Manager under this Agreement, or (ii) any claims by the Manager’s personnel relating to the terms and conditions of their employment by the Manager.

 

(d)          In case any such claim, suit, action or proceeding (a “Claim”) is brought against any Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnification may be sought by such Indemnified Party pursuant hereto, the Indemnified Party shall give prompt written notice thereof to the indemnifying party, which notice shall include all documents and information in the possession of or under the control of such Indemnified Party reasonably necessary for the evaluation and/or defense of such Claim and shall specifically state that indemnification for such Claim is being sought under this Section 8; provided, however, that the failure of the Indemnified Party to so notify the indemnifying party shall not limit or affect such Indemnified Party’s rights other than pursuant to this Section 8. Upon receipt of such notice of Claim (together with such documents and information from such Indemnified Party), the indemnifying party shall, at its sole cost and expense, in good faith defend any such Claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, which counsel may, without limiting the rights of such Indemnified Party pursuant to the next sentence of this Section 8(c), also represent the indemnifying party in such investigation, action or proceeding. In the alternative, such Indemnified Party may elect to conduct the defense of the Claim, if (i) such Indemnified Party reasonably determines that the conduct of its defense by the indemnifying party could be materially prejudicial to its interests, (ii) the indemnifying party refuses to assume such defense (or fails to give written notice to the Indemnified Party within ten (10) days of receipt of a notice of Claim that the indemnifying party assumes such defense), or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed, in such Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment, to defend the Claim in good faith. The indemnifying party may settle any Claim against such Indemnified Party without such Indemnified Party’s consent, provided (i) such settlement is without any Losses whatsoever to such Indemnified Party, (ii) the settlement does not include or require any admission of liability or culpability by such Indemnified Party and (iii) the indemnifying party obtains an effective written release of liability for such Indemnified Party from the party to the Claim with whom such settlement is being made, which release must be reasonably acceptable to such Indemnified Party, and a dismissal with prejudice with respect to all claims made by the party against such Indemnified Party in connection with such Claim. The applicable Indemnified Party shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party, at the indemnifying party’s sole cost and expense, in connection with the defense or settlement of any Claim in accordance with the terms hereof. If such Indemnified Party is entitled pursuant to this Section 8 to elect to defend such Claim by counsel of its own choosing and so elects, then the indemnifying party shall be responsible for any good faith settlement of such Claim entered into by such Indemnified Party. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, no Indemnified Party may pay or settle any Claim and seek reimbursement therefor under this Section 8.

 

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(e)          Any Indemnified Party entitled to indemnification hereunder shall seek recovery under any insurance policies by which such Indemnified Party is covered and any Indemnified Party shall obtain the written consent of the indemnifying party prior to entering into any compromise or settlement which would result in an obligation of such indemnifying party to indemnify such Indemnified Party; provided, however, that the possibility of recovery under any such insurance policies shall not preclude an Indemnified Party from seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement. If such Indemnified Party shall actually recover any amounts under any applicable insurance policies, it shall offset the net proceeds so received against any amounts owed by the indemnifying party by reason of the indemnity provided hereunder or, if all such amounts shall have been paid by the indemnifying party in full prior to the actual receipt of such net insurance proceeds, it shall pay over such proceeds (up to the amount of indemnification paid by the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party) to the indemnifying party. If the amounts in respect of which indemnification is sought arise out of the conduct of the business and affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary and also of any other Person or entity for which the Indemnified Party hereunder was then acting in a similar capacity, the amount of the indemnification to be provided by the Company may be limited to the Company Parties’ proportionate share thereof if so determined by the Company in good faith.

 

(f)          The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 9. No Joint Venture.

 

The parties to this Agreement are not partners or joint venturers with each other and nothing herein shall be construed to make them such partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on any of them.

 

Section 10. Term; Renewal; Termination Without Cause.

 

(a)          This Agreement shall become effective on the Closing Date and shall continue in operation, unless terminated in accordance with the terms hereof for an initial term through December 31, 2018 (the “Initial Term”), and then will automatically renew annually. After the Initial Term, this Agreement shall be deemed renewed automatically each year for an additional one-year period (an “Automatic Renewal Term”) unless the Company or the Manager elects not to renew this Agreement in accordance with Section 10(b) or Section 10(d), respectively.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, upon the expiration of the Initial Term or any Automatic Renewal Term and upon 180 days’ prior written notice to the Manager (the “Termination Notice”), the Company may, without cause, in connection with the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Automatic Renewal Term, decline to renew this Agreement (any such nonrenewal, a “Termination Without Cause”) upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Independent Directors that there has been unsatisfactory performance by the Manager that is materially detrimental to the Company Entities taken as a whole. The Company may terminate this Agreement for cause pursuant to Section 11 hereof even after a Termination Notice and, in such case, no Termination Fee shall be payable.

 

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(c)          No later than 180 days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Automatic Renewal Term, the Manager may deliver written notice to the Company informing it of the Manager’s intention to decline to renew this Agreement, whereupon this Agreement shall not be renewed and extended and this Agreement shall terminate effective on the anniversary date of this Agreement next following the delivery of such notice. The Company is not required to pay to the Manager the Termination Fee if the Manager terminates this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10(c).

 

(d)          Except as set forth in this Section 10, a nonrenewal of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without any further liability or obligation of either party to the other, except as provided in Section 5, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 14 of this Agreement.

 

Section 11. Termination for Cause.

 

(a)          The Company may terminate this Agreement effective upon 30 days’ prior written notice of termination from the Company to the Manager (a “Cause Termination Notice”), without payment of any Termination Fee, if (i)  the Manager, its agents or assignees breaches any material provision of this Agreement and such breach shall continue for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof specifying such breach and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30-day period (or 45 days after written notice of such breach if the Manager takes steps to cure such breach within 30 days of the written notice), (ii) there is a commencement of any proceeding relating to the Manager’s Bankruptcy or insolvency, including an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case or the Manager authorizing or filing a voluntary bankruptcy petition, (iii) any Manager Change of Control which a majority of the Independent Directors determines is materially detrimental to the Company Entities taken as a whole, (iv) the Manager is unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (v) the dissolution of the Manager, or (vi) the Manager commits fraud against the Company, misappropriates or embezzles funds of the Company, or acts, or fails to act, in a manner constituting gross negligence, or acts in a manner constituting bad faith or willful misconduct, in the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that if any of the actions or omissions described in this clause (vi) are caused by an employee and/or officer of the Manager or one of its Affiliates and the Manager takes all necessary and appropriate action against such person and cures the damage caused by such actions or omissions within 30 days of the Manager actual knowledge of its commission or omission, the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11(a)(vi) and any Cause Termination Notice previously given in reliance on this clause (vi) automatically shall be deemed to have been rescinded and nugatory.

 

(b)          The Manager may terminate this Agreement effective upon 60 days’ prior written notice of termination to the Company in the event that the Company shall default in the performance of any material term, condition or covenant contained in this Agreement and such default shall continue for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof specifying such default and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30-day period. The Company is required to pay to the Manager the Termination Fee if the termination of this Agreement is made pursuant to this Section 11(b).

 

(c)          The Manager may terminate this Agreement if the Company becomes required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, with such termination deemed to occur immediately before such event, in which case the Company shall not be required to pay the Termination Fee.

 

Section 12. Action Upon Termination.

 

From and after the effective date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Sections 10 or 11 of this Agreement, the Manager shall not be entitled to compensation for further services hereunder, but shall be paid all compensation accruing to the date of termination and, if (x) terminated pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof or (y) not renewed pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof (subject to Section 10(c) hereof), the Termination Fee. Upon any such termination, the Manager shall forthwith:

 

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(a)          after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses that have been submitted to the Company prior to the effective date of termination, pay over to each Company Entity all money collected and held for the account of such Company Entity pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(b)          deliver to the Board a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board with respect to the Company Entities;

 

(c)          deliver to the Board all property and documents of the Company Entities then in the custody of the Manager; and

 

(d)          cooperate with the Company Entities to provide an orderly management transition, including, but not limited to, the transition to a new manager of control of the assets of the Company Entities.

 

Section 13. Assignments.

 

(a)          Assignments by the Manager. This Agreement shall terminate automatically without payment of the Termination Fee in the event of its assignment, in whole or in part, by the Manager, unless such assignment is consented to in writing by Medalist with the consent of a majority of the Independent Directors and the Operating Partnership. Any such permitted assignment shall bind the assignee under this Agreement in the same manner as the Manager is bound, and the Manager shall be liable to the Company for all acts or omissions of the assignee under any such assignment. In addition, the assignee shall execute and deliver to the Company a counterpart of this Agreement naming such assignee as the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may, without the approval of the Company’s Independent Directors, (i) assign this Agreement to an Affiliate of the Manager, conditioned on such Affiliate becoming a party to, or becoming subject to the rights and obligations of, the Investment Allocation Agreement, and (ii) delegate to one or more of its Affiliates the performance of any of its responsibilities hereunder so long as it remains liable for any such Affiliate’s performance. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude any pledge, hypothecation or other transfer of any amounts payable to the Manager under this Agreement.

 

(b)          Assignments by the Company. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager, except in the case of assignment by the Company to another REIT or other organization which is a successor (by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets, or other transaction) to the Company, in which case such successor organization shall be bound under this Agreement and by the terms of such assignment in the same manner as the Company is bound under this Agreement.

 

Section 14. Release of Money or Other Property Upon Written Request.

 

The Manager agrees that any money or other property of the Company Entities held by the Manager shall be held by the Manager as custodian for the Company, and the Manager’s records shall be appropriately and clearly marked to reflect the ownership of such money or other property by the Company. Upon the receipt by the Manager of a written request signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company requesting the Manager to release to the Company any money or other property then held by the Manager for the account of the Company under this Agreement, then subject to the Manager’s right to offset pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Manager shall release such money or other property to the Company within a reasonable period of time, but in no event later than 60 days following such request. Upon delivery of such money or other property to the Company, the Manager shall not be liable to the Company, the Board, Medalist’s stockholders or Operating Partnership’s partners or any of the directors or equity holders of any subsidiary of the Company for any acts or omissions by the Company in connection with the money or other property released to the Company in accordance with this Section 14. The Company shall indemnify the Manager Indemnified Parties against any and all Losses which arise in connection with the Manager’s proper release of such money or other property to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 14. Indemnification pursuant to this provision shall be in addition to any right of the Manager Indemnified Parties to indemnification under Section 8 of this Agreement.

 

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Section 15. Representations and Warranties.

 

(a)          Medalist hereby represents and warrants to the Manager as follows:

 

(i)          Medalist is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its assets, to lease any property it may operate as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company Entities, taken as a whole.

 

(ii)         Medalist has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize this Agreement on the terms and conditions hereof and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. No consent of any other Person, including stockholders and creditors of Medalist, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by Medalist in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of Medalist, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, the legally valid and binding obligation of Medalist enforceable against Medalist in accordance with its terms.

 

(iii)        The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on Medalist, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on Medalist, or the Governing Instruments of, or any securities issued by Medalist or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which Medalist is a party or by which Medalist or any of its assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company Entities, taken as a whole, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien or any of its property, assets or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

 

(b)          The Operating Partnership hereby represents and warrants to the Manager as follows:

 

(i)          The Operating Partnership is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the limited partnership power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its assets, to lease any property it may operate as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign limited partnership and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company Entities, taken as a whole.

 

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(ii)         The Operating Partnership has the limited partnership power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder and has taken all necessary limited partnership action to authorize this Agreement on the terms and conditions hereof and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. No consent of any other Person, including partners and creditors of the Operating Partnership, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by the Operating Partnership in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Operating Partnership, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, the legally valid and binding obligation of the Operating Partnership enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms.

 

(iii)        The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on the Operating Partnership, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on the Operating Partnership, or the Governing Instruments of, or any securities issued by the Operating Partnership or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which the Operating Partnership is a party or by which the Operating Partnership or any of its assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company Entities, taken as a whole, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien or any of its property, assets or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

 

(c)          The Manager hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

 

(i)          The Manager is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its assets, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Manager.

 

(ii)         The Manager has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize this Agreement on the terms and conditions hereof and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. No consent of any other Person, including shareholders and creditors of the Manager, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by the Manager in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Manager, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, the legally valid and binding obligation of the Manager enforceable against the Manager in accordance with its terms.

 

(iii)        The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on the Manager, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on the Manager, or the Governing Instruments of, or any securities issued by the Manager or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which the Manager is a party or by which the Manager or any of its assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Manager, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien or any of its property, assets or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

 

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Section 16. Miscellaneous.

 

(a)          Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered against receipt or upon actual receipt of (i) personal delivery, (ii) delivery by reputable overnight courier, (iii) delivery by facsimile transmission with telephonic confirmation or (iv) delivery by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set forth below (or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto in accordance with this Section 16):

 

Medalist:  

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.

11 S. 12th Street, Suite 401

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Attention: Thomas E. Messier

Tele: (804) 344-4435

     
with a copy to:   Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC
    1401 E. Cary Street
    Richmond, Virginia 23219
    Attention: Thomas G. Voekler, Esq.
    Fax: (804) 823-4099
     
The Operating Partnership:  

Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P.

11 S. 12th Street, Suite 401

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Attention: Thomas E. Messier

Tele: (804) 344-4435

     
with a copy to:   Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank, PLC
    1401 E. Cary Street
    Richmond, Virginia 23219
    Attention: Thomas G. Voekler, Esq.
    Fax: (804) 823-4099
     
The Manager:  

Medalist Fund Manager, Inc.

11 S. 12th Street, Suite 401

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Attention: Thomas E. Messier

Tele: (804) 344-4435

 

 22 
 

 

(b)          Binding Nature of Agreement; Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns as provided herein. Except as provided in this Agreement with respect to indemnification of Indemnified Parties hereunder, nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

 

(c)          Integration. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.

 

(d)          Amendments. This Agreement, nor any terms hereof, may not be amended, supplemented or modified except in an instrument in writing executed by the parties hereto.

 

(e)          GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THECOMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR ANY DISTRICT WITHIN SUCH STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY ACTION OR JUDGMENT RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR JUDGMENT IN SUCH COURTS, AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

(f)          WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

(g)          Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

(h)          No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of a party hereto, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

(i)          Costs and Expenses. Each party hereto shall bear its own costs and expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel and accountants) incurred in connection with the negotiations and preparation of and the closing under this Agreement, and all matter incident thereto.

 

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(j)          Section Headings. The section and subsection headings in this Agreement are for convenience in reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the interpretation of any provisions hereof.

 

(k)          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(l)          Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

 24 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Management Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  Medalist Diversified Holdings, L.P.
     
  By: Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.,
    its General Partner
       
    By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  Medalist Fund Manager, Inc.
       
    By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

[Signature for Management Agreement for Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.]

 

 25 
 

 

Exhibit A to Management Agreement

 

Investment Guidelines

 

(Effective __________ __, 2016)

 

1. No investment shall be made that would cause Medalist to fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code.

 

2. No investment shall be made that would cause Medalist or the Operating Partnership to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

 

3. The Company’s investments shall be in the Target Assets.

 

4. Until appropriate investments in the Target Assets are identified, the Manager may invest the proceeds of the Public Offering and any future offerings of Medalist’s or the Operating Partnership’s securities for cash in interest-bearing, short-term investment-grade investments, subject to the requirements for Medalist’s qualification as a REIT under the Code.

 

5. The Manager will generally target equity investments ranging from approximately $1 million to $6 million and will target aggregate portfolio leverage of between 75-80%.

 

6. The approval of the full Board shall be required for any Investment Transaction involving an equity investment that: (i) requires equity investment in excess of $10 million; (ii) would be leveraged, on an individual basis, more than 85%; (iii) would cause the aggregate leverage of our portfolio to exceed 80%; or (iv) would be materially differ from the investment parameters approved by our board.

 

These Investment Guidelines may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived by the Board (which must include a majority of the Independent Directors) without the approval of Medalist’s stockholders.

 

 26 
 

 

Exhibit B to Management Agreement

 

Example Incentive Fee Calculation

 

Set forth below is an example of the calculation of the Manager’s quarterly Incentive Fee based upon various assumptions described herein.

 

Assume the following:

 

AFFO for the 12-month period equals $4,000,000;

 

3,000,000 shares of Common Stock are outstanding and the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the 12-month period is 3,000,000;

 

weighted average issue price per share of common stock is $10.00; and

 

Incentive Fees paid during the first three quarters of such 12-month period are $300,000.

 

Under these assumptions, the quarterly incentive fee payable to our Manager would be $80,000, as calculated below:

 

1.  AFFO  $4,000,000 
         
2.  Weighted average issue price per share of common stock of $10.00 multiplied by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding of 3,000,000 multiplied by 7%  $2,100,000 
         
3.  Excess of AFFO over amount calculated in 2 above  $1,900,000 
         
4.  20% of the amount calculated in 3 above  $380,000 
         
5.  Incentive fee equals the amount calculated in 4 above less the incentive fees paid during the first three quarters of such previous 12-month period;  $300,000 
         
6.  Quarterly incentive fee payable to our Manager:  $80,000 

 

 27 

 

EX1A-11 CONSENT 6 v436797_ex11-1.htm EXHIBIT 11.1

 

Exhibit 11.1

 

 

   

Consent of Independent Accountants

  

The Board of Directors

Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc.

Richmond, Virginia

 

We consent to the use in the Offering Circular constituting a part of this Offering Statement on Form 1-A, as it may be amended, of our independent accountant’s report dated March 25, 2016 relating to the consolidated balance sheet of Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. as of December 31, 2015 and of the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from inception (September 28, 2015) through December 31, 2015.

 

We also consent to the use in the Offering Circular constituting a part of this Offering Statement on Form 1-A, as it may be amended, of our independent accountant’s report dated March 25, 2016 relating to the statements of revenues and certain expenses of Medalist Fund 1-A, LLC for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. 

 

/s/ Keiter

 

Glen Allen, Virginia

April 14, 2016

 

 

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