Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Among
NEW PLAN EXCEL REALTY TRUST,
INC.,
EXCEL REALTY PARTNERS,
L.P.
SUPER INTERMEDIATECO
LLC,
SUPER MERGERSUB INC.,
AND
SUPER DOWNREIT MERGERSUB
LLC
Dated as of February 27, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS
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Section 1.01
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Definitions
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2
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Section 1.02
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Interpretation and Rules of
Construction
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11
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ARTICLE II
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THE
OFFER AND THE MERGERS
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Section 2.01
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The
Offer
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12
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Section 2.02
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Company Actions
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14
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Section 2.03
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Directors
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16
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Section 2.04
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Top-Up Option
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17
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Section 2.05
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Mergers
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19
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Section 2.06
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Tax
Characterization
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19
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Section 2.07
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Organizational Documents
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19
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Section 2.08
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Effective Times
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20
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Section 2.09
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Closings
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20
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Section 2.10
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Directors and Officers of Surviving
Corporation
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21
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Section 2.11
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Further Assurances
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21
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Section 2.12
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Dissolution and Liquidation of the Surviving
Corporation
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22
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Section 2.13
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Termination of DRIP
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22
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ARTICLE III
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EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS
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Section 3.01
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Effects on Shares
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22
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Section 3.02
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Effect on Units of Partnership
Interest
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24
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Section 3.03
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Exchange of Certificates and Uncertificated
Units; Paying Agent
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26
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Section 3.04
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Effect on Out-Performance Plan
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29
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Section 3.05
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Withholding Rights
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29
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Section 3.06
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Dissenters’ Rights
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30
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i
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ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
PARTIES
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Section 4.01
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Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries;
Authority
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30
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Section 4.02
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Organizational Documents
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31
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Section 4.03
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Capitalization
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32
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Section 4.04
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Authority; Validity and Effect of
Agreements
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34
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Section 4.05
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No
Conflict; Required Filings and Consents
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35
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Section 4.06
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Permits; Compliance with Laws
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37
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Section 4.07
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SEC
Filings; Financial Statements; No Unknown Liabilities
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37
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Section 4.08
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Absence of Certain Changes or Events
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38
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Section 4.09
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Absence of Litigation
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39
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Section 4.10
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Employee Benefit Plans
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39
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Section 4.11
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Labor Matters
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41
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Section 4.12
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Offer Documents; Proxy Statement; Schedule
14D-9
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42
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Section 4.13
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Property and Leases
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42
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Section 4.14
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Intellectual Property
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47
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Section 4.15
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Taxes
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47
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Section 4.16
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Environmental Matters
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51
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Section 4.17
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Material Contracts
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51
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Section 4.18
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Brokers
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53
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Section 4.19
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Opinion of Financial Advisors
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53
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Section 4.20
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Insurance
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53
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Section 4.21
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Interested Party Transactions
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54
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Section 4.22
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Investment Company Act of 1940
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54
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Section 4.23
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Accounting Controls
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54
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Section 4.24
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Inapplicability of Takeover Statutes and
Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions
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54
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ARTICLE V
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER
PARTIES
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Section 5.01
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Organization
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55
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Section 5.02
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Ownership; No Prior Activities
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56
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Section 5.03
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Power and Authority; Validity and Effect of
Agreements
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56
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Section 5.04
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No
Conflict; Required Filings and Consents
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56
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Section 5.05
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Preparation of Offer Documents; Proxy
Statement; Schedule 14D-9
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57
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Section 5.06
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Absence of Litigation
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58
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Section 5.07
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Available Funds; Performance
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58
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Section 5.08
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No
Ownership of Company Capital Stock
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59
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Section 5.09
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Brokers
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59
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Section 5.10
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Other Agreements or Understandings
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60
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ii
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ARTICLE VI
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CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE
MERGERS
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Section 6.01
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Conduct of Business by Company Pending the
Mergers
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60
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Section 6.02
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Conduct of Business by Parent Pending the
Merger
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65
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ARTICLE VII
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ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
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Section 7.01
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Preparation of Proxy Statement; Other Filings;
Stockholders’ Meeting
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65
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Section 7.02
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Merger Without Meeting of
Stockholders
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67
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Section 7.03
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Access to Information;
Confidentiality
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67
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Section 7.04
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No
Solicitation of Transactions
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68
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Section 7.05
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Employee Benefits Matters
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70
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Section 7.06
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Directors’ and Officers’
Indemnification and Insurance
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72
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Section 7.07
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Further Action; Reasonable Efforts
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75
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Section 7.08
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Transfer Taxes
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77
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Section 7.09
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Public Announcements
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77
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Section 7.10
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Certain Tax Matters
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77
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Section 7.11
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Financing; Cooperation with
Financing
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78
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Section 7.12
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NYSE Delisting; Exchange Act
Deregistration
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79
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Section 7.13
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Approval of Compensation Actions
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79
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ARTICLE VIII
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CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS
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Section 8.01
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Conditions to the Obligations of Each
Party
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79
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ARTICLE IX
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TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
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Section 9.01
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Termination
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80
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Section 9.02
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Effect of Termination
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82
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Section 9.03
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Notice of Termination
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82
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Section 9.04
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Fees and Expenses
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82
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Section 9.05
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Waiver
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84
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ARTICLE X
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 10.01
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Non-Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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84
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iii
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Section 10.02
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Notices
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84
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Section 10.03
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Severability
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85
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Section 10.04
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Amendment
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85
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Section 10.05
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Entire Agreement; Assignment
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86
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Section 10.06
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Specific Performance
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86
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Section 10.07
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Parties in Interest
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86
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Section 10.08
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Governing Law; Enforcement and Forum
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86
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Section 10.09
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Headings
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87
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Section 10.10
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Counterparts
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87
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Section 10.11
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Waiver
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87
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Section 10.12
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Mutual Drafting
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87
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Section 10.13
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Waiver of Jury Trial
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87
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Section 10.14
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Remedies Cumulative
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87
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iv
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A
Knowledge of the Company
Exhibit
B
Form of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. Tax Opinion
Exhibit
C
Additional Notice Information
Exhibit
D
Terms of Class A Preferred Units
Exhibit
E
Co-Obligor Agreement
v
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND
PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of February 27, 2007 (this “
Agreement
”), is made and entered into by and among New Plan Excel
Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “
Company
”), Excel Realty Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the “ DownREIT Partnership
” and together with the Company, the “ Company
Parties ”), Super IntermediateCo LLC, a Maryland limited
liability company (“ Parent ”), Super
MergerSub Inc., a Maryland corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent (“ MergerSub ”), and
Super DownREIT MergerSub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “ Super REIT
MergerSub ” and together with MergerSub and Parent, the
“ Buyer
Parties ”).
WHEREAS, pursuant
to this Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, MergerSub shall commence a cash tender offer (such tender
offer, as it may be amended and supplemented from time to time as
permitted by this Agreement, the “ Offer ”) to
purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Company
Common Shares ”) at a price per share of $33.15 net to
the seller in cash without interest (such price, or any higher
price per share as may be paid pursuant to the Offer being
hereafter referred to as the “ Offer Price
”);
WHEREAS, following
the consummation of the Offer, MergerSub will merge (the “
Merger ”) with and into the Company in accordance with
the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “ MGCL ”), with the
Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent, and each Company Common Share outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time (other than Company Common Shares owned by
Parent or MergerSub or any direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiary of Parent or the Company immediately prior to the
Effective Time, which will be cancelled with no consideration
issued in exchange therefor) will thereupon be cancelled and
converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to the
Offer Price, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein;
WHEREAS, in
connection with the Offer and the Merger, Super REIT MergerSub will
merge (the “ DownREIT Merger ”, and together
with the Merger, the “ Mergers ”) with and into
the DownREIT Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Revised
Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended (“ DRULPA
”), and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as
amended (“ DLLCA ”), with the DownREIT
Partnership surviving the DownREIT Merger, on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Board
of Directors of the Company (the “ Company Board
”) has (i) determined that this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the
Merger, are advisable and in the best interest of the Company and
its stockholders,
(ii) adopted and
approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Offer and the Merger, in accordance the requirements
of the MGCL, and (iii) subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein, resolved to recommend acceptance of the Offer and
approval of the Merger by its stockholders;
WHEREAS, New Plan
DRP Trust, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company (the “ DRP Trust ”), as
the sole general partner of the DownREIT Partnership, has approved
this Agreement and the DownREIT Merger and deemed it advisable and
in the best interests of the DownREIT Partnership and its limited
partners to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
DownREIT Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein;
WHEREAS, the
parties hereto desire to make certain representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements in connection with the Mergers, and also
to prescribe various conditions to such transactions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01
Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement:
“
Acquisition
Proposal ” means any proposal or offer from any
Person or group for, whether in one transaction or a series of
related transactions, any (a) merger, consolidation or similar
transaction involving the Company or any Subsidiary that would
constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in
Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, but substituting 20% for references to
10% therein), (b) sale or other disposition, directly or
indirectly, by merger, consolidation, combination, reorganization,
share exchange or any similar transaction, of any assets of the
Company or the Subsidiaries representing 20% or more of the
consolidated assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries, (c) issue,
sale or other disposition by the Company of (including by way of
merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction)
securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or
securities convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or
more of the votes associated with the outstanding voting equity
securities of the Company, (d) tender offer or exchange offer in
which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined
under the Exchange Act) shall acquire beneficial ownership (as such
term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), or the right
to acquire beneficial ownership, of 20% or more of the outstanding
Company Common Shares, or (e) recapitalization,
liquidation,
2
dissolution or other
similar type of transaction with respect to the Company which would
result in any Person or group acquiring 20% or more of the fair
market value of the assets (including capital stock of the
subsidiaries) of the Company and Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
provided , however , that the term “Acquisition
Proposal” shall not include (i) the Offer, the Merger, the
issuance of the Top-Up Shares or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) the issuance of Company Common
Shares upon redemption of Existing Units, or (iii) any merger,
consolidation, business combination, recapitalization or similar
transaction solely among the Company and one or more Subsidiaries
or among Subsidiaries.
“
Action
” means any claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration,
mediation or other investigation.
“
Affiliate
” or “ affiliate ” of a
specified person means a person who, directly or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such specified person.
“
beneficial
owner ”, with respect to any Company Common
Shares, has the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 13d-3(a)
of the Exchange Act.
“
Business Day
” or “ business day ”
means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a
legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York or Melbourne,
Australia or is a day on which banking institutions in New York,
New York or Melbourne, Australia are authorized or obligated by Law
or other governmental action to close.
“
Certificate
” or “ Certificates ”
means any certificate representing Company Common
Shares.
“ Class A
Preferred Units ” means the Class A Preferred Units of
limited partner interest of the Surviving Partnership, the rights
and terms of which are generally described in Exhibit D
attached hereto.
“
Company
Bylaws ” means the Restated Bylaws of New Plan
Excel Realty Trust, Inc. adopted on February 23, 2004, as
amended.
“
Company
Charter ” means the Articles of Amendment and
Restatement of New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc., as accepted for
record by SDAT on May 23, 1995, as amended and
supplemented.
3
“
Company Insurance
Policy ” means any insurance policy, other than a
Company Title Insurance Policy, which is owned by the Company
and/or a Subsidiary, including any which pertains to the
Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ assets, employees or
operations.
“
Company Material
Adverse Effect ” means, with respect to the
Company, an effect, event, development or change that has a
materially adverse effect on the assets, business, results of
operations or financial condition of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any effect, event,
development or change arising out of or resulting from (a) decrease
in the market price of the Company Common Shares (but not any
effect, event, development or change underlying such decrease to
the extent that such effect, event, development or change would
otherwise constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect), (b)
changes in conditions in the U.S. or global economy or capital or
financial markets generally, including changes in interest rates or
exchange rates, (c) changes in general legal, tax, regulatory,
political or business conditions that, in each case, generally
affect a geographic region or industry in which the Company or its
Subsidiaries conduct their business (unless, and only to the
extent, such effect, event, development or change affects the
Company and its Subsidiaries in a materially disproportionate
manner as compared to other persons or participants in the
industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their
business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by
such effect, event, development or change), (d) changes in GAAP,
(e) the negotiation, execution, announcement or performance of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including any litigation resulting therefrom and the impact thereof
on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with tenants,
suppliers, lenders, investors, venture partners or employees, (f)
acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, or any
escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, armed hostilities,
sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway as of the date of this
Agreement (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event,
development or change affects the Company and its Subsidiaries in a
materially disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or
participants in the industries in which the Company and its
Subsidiaries conduct their business and that operate in the
geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or
change), (g) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or other natural
disasters (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event,
development or change affects the Company and its Subsidiaries in a
materially disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or
participants in the industries in which the Company and its
Subsidiaries conduct their business and that operate in the
geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or
change), or (h) any action taken by the Company or its Subsidiaries
at the written request or with the written consent of any of the
Buyer Parties.
“
control
” (including the terms “ controlled by ”
and “ under
common control with ”) means the possession,
directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor,
by contract or credit arrangement or otherwise;
4
“
Disclosure
Schedule ” means the disclosure schedule delivered
by the Company to Parent concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement, which disclosure schedule is arranged in paragraphs
corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections contained in
Article IV of this Agreement, provided , however
, that the disclosure of any fact or item in any section of such
disclosure schedule shall, should the existence of such fact or
item be relevant to any other section, be deemed to be disclosed
with respect to that other section so long as the relevance of such
disclosure to such other section is reasonably apparent from the
nature of such disclosure. Nothing in the Disclosure Schedule
is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty
of the Company made herein.
“
DownREIT Partnership
Agreement ” means that certain Second Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the DownREIT
Partnership, dated as of May 19, 2003, as amended by that certain
First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of the DownREIT Partnership, dated as of December 7,
2004 (as amended from time to time and including any applicable
partner schedules for the Existing Unit Holders).
“
Environmental
Laws ” means any applicable United States federal,
state, local law in existence on or before the date hereof relating
to (i) releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances;
(ii) the manufacture, handling, transport, use, treatment, storage
or disposal of Hazardous Substances; or (iii) pollution or
protection of the environment, health, safety or natural
resources.
“
GAAP ”
means generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the
United States.
“
Governmental
Authority ” means any United States federal,
state, municipal or local government, governmental, regulatory or
administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or
any United States court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body of
any nature; or any United States body exercising, or entitled to
exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative,
police, regulatory or taxing authority or power of any
nature.
“
Hazardous
Substances ” means (i) those substances defined in
or regulated under the following United States federal statutes and
their state counterparts, as each has been amended from time to
time, and all regulations thereunder in effect prior to the date
hereof, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Atomic
Energy Act, and the Clean Air Act; (ii) petroleum and petroleum
products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; (iii)
polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos and radon; and (iv) any other
contaminant, substance, material or waste regulated by any
Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental
Law.
5
“
Intellectual
Property ” means (i) United States and
international patents, patent applications and invention
registrations of any type, (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade
dress, logos, trade names, domain names, corporate names and other
source identifiers, and registrations and applications for
registration thereof, (iii) copyrightable works, copyrights, and
registrations and applications for registration thereof, and (iv)
confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets
and know-how.
“
knowledge of the
Company ” means the actual knowledge of those
individuals listed on Exhibit A .
“
Law ”
means any United States federal, state, municipal or local statute,
law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order,
injunction, judgment, decree or other order of any Governmental
Authority.
“
Liens
” means with respect to any asset (including any security),
any mortgage, claim, lien, pledge, charge, title defect, security
interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect to such
asset.
“
Ownership Limit ” shall have the meaning set forth in
the Company Charter.
“
Parent Material Adverse
Effect ” means any event, circumstance, change or
effect that would reasonably be expected to prevent, or materially
hinder Parent, MergerSub or Super REIT MergerSub from consummating
the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
“
Permitted
Liens ” means (i) the outstanding mortgage
indebtedness and other matters identified on Section 4.13(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule; (ii) Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent and
Liens for Taxes being contested in good faith and for which there
are adequate reserves on the financial statements of the Company
(if such reserves are required pursuant to GAAP); (iii) inchoate
mechanics’ and materialmen’s Liens for construction in
progress; (iv) inchoate workmen’s, repairmen’s,
warehousemen’s and carriers’ Liens arising in the
ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary; (v)
zoning restrictions; (vi) any matter disclosed in a title exception
set forth in any Company Title Insurance Policy provided or made
available to Parent for wholly-owned Company Properties (whether
material or immaterial); (vii) Liens arising under the leases in
which the Company or any Subsidiary is tenant for amounts due to
the landlords thereunder, which amounts are not yet due and
payable; (viii) the Company Leases; (ix) matters that would be
disclosed on current title reports or surveys that arise or have
arisen in the ordinary course of business (excluding the Liens of
mortgages or deeds of trust which do not secure indebtedness
described on Section 4.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedule) and (x)
any other Lien that does not interfere materially with the current
use of such property (assuming its continued use in the manner in
which it is currently used) or materially adversely affect the
value or marketability of such property.
6
“
person
” or “ Person ” means an
individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture syndicate, person (including a
“person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act), trust, association or entity or government, political
subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government, including
Governmental Authorities.
“
Subsidiary
” or “ Subsidiaries ” of
the Company, Parent or any other person means a corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other entity or organization of which: (a) such party or any other
subsidiary of such party is a general partner; (b) voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others
performing similar functions with respect to such organization is
held by such party or by any one or more of such party’s
subsidiaries; or (c) at least 50% of the equity interests is
controlled by such party; and with respect to the Company shall
include the DownREIT Partnership but exclude Galileo America LLC
and all subsidiaries of Galileo America LLC (collectively, “
Galileo America ”).
“
Substantial Detriment ” means a material adverse
effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial
condition of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
“
Superior Proposal ” shall mean a written Acquisition
Proposal made by a third party (a) on terms which the Company Board
determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial
advisors) to be more favorable to the stockholders of the Company
(in their capacity as stockholders) from a financial point of view
as compared to the Offer Price (after giving effect to any
alternative proposed by Parent in accordance with Section 1.01(d)),
(b) the material conditions to the consummation of which are
reasonably capable of being satisfied in the judgment of the
Company Board (taking into account, among other things, all legal,
financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal, including
any conditions, and the identity of the offeror) and (c) in respect
of which any required financing is then committed or has been
determined in good faith by the Company Board to be available or
reasonably likely to be obtained, provided , however
, that any such Acquisition Proposal that is contingent upon such
third party obtaining financing shall be deemed not to be a
Superior Proposal. For the purposes of this definition, the
term “ Acquisition Proposal ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the above definition of Acquisition Proposal,
except that all references to “20%” shall be deemed
references to “more than 50%”.
“
Taxes
” means any and all taxes, charges, fees, levies and other
assessments, including income, gross receipts, excise, property,
sales, social security, occupation, use, service, license, payroll,
franchise, transfer and recording taxes, fees and charges,
including estimated
7
taxes, imposed by the
United States or any taxing authority (domestic or foreign),
whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or
any other basis, and similar charges of any kind (together with any
and all interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional
amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any government or
taxing authority.
“ U.S.
Dollars ” and the sign “ $ ” shall
each mean the lawful currency of the United States of
America.
(a)
the following terms have the meaning set forth in the Sections set
forth below:
|
Defined Term
|
|
Location of Definition
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1999 Indenture
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
|
2003 Convertible Notes
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
|
2006 Convertible Notes
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
|
2007 Budget
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(m)
|
|
|
Acceptance Date
|
|
|
|
§ 2.01(a)
|
|
|
Agreement
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
Amended DownREIT Partnership
Agreement
|
|
|
|
§ 2.07(a)
|
|
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Articles of Merger
|
|
|
|
§ 2.08(a)
|
|
|
Blue Sky Laws
|
|
|
|
§ 4.05(b)
|
|
|
Buyer Parties
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
Capital Expenditures
|
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|
|
§ 6.01(j)
|
|
|
CERCLA
|
|
|
|
§ 4.16(c)
|
|
|
Company Adverse Recommendation
Change
|
|
|
|
§ 7.04(a)
|
|
|
Claim
|
|
|
|
§ 7.06(a)
|
|
|
Closing
|
|
|
|
§ 2.09(a)
|
|
|
Closing Date
|
|
|
|
§ 2.09(a)
|
|
|
Code
|
|
|
|
§ 4.10(b)
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
Company Board
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
Company Common Shares
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
Company Common Share Cash Merger
Consideration
|
|
|
|
§ 3.01(b)
|
|
|
Company Disclosure Documents
|
|
|
|
§ 5.05(b)
|
|
|
Company Employees
|
|
|
|
§ 7.05(c)
|
|
|
Company Financial Advisor
|
|
|
|
§ 4.18
|
|
|
Company Intellectual Property
|
|
|
|
§ 4.14
|
|
|
Company Leases
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(g)
|
|
|
Company Option Plans
|
|
|
|
§ 3.01(d)
|
|
|
Company Properties
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(a)
|
|
|
Company Property
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(a)
|
|
|
Company Property Restrictions
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(b)
|
|
8
|
Defined Term
|
|
Location of Definition
|
|
|
Company Restricted Shares
|
|
|
|
§ 3.01(d)
|
|
|
Company SEC Reports
|
|
|
|
§ 4.07(a)
|
|
|
Company Series D Preferred Shares
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
|
Company Series E Preferred Shares
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
|
Company Share Options
|
|
|
|
§ 3.01(d)
|
|
|
Company Share Rights
|
|
|
|
§ 3.01(f)
|
|
|
Company Stockholder Approval
|
|
|
|
§ 4.04(a)(i)
|
|
|
Company Stockholders’ Meeting
|
|
|
|
§ 7.01(a)
|
|
|
Company Termination Fee
|
|
|
|
§ 9.04(d)
|
|
|
Company Title Insurance Policy
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(e)
|
|
|
Compensation Actions
|
|
|
|
§ 4.08(b)
|
|
|
Confidentiality Agreement
|
|
|
|
§ 7.03(b)
|
|
|
Continuing Employees
|
|
|
|
§ 7.05(c)
|
|
|
Conversion
|
|
|
|
§ 7.10
|
|
|
Convertible Notes
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
|
Debt Commitment Letter
|
|
|
|
§ 5.07(b)
|
|
|
Debt Financing
|
|
|
|
§ 7.11(a)
|
|
|
DLLCA
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
DownREIT Merger
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
DownREIT Merger Certificate
|
|
|
|
§ 2.08(b)
|
|
|
DownREIT Merger Closing
|
|
|
|
§ 2.09(b)
|
|
|
DownREIT Merger Closing Date
|
|
|
|
§ 2.09(b)
|
|
|
DownREIT Merger Effective Time
|
|
|
|
§ 2.08(b)
|
|
|
DownREIT Partnership
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
DownREIT Partnership Offer
|
|
|
|
§ 3.02
|
|
|
DRIP
|
|
|
|
§ 2.13
|
|
|
DRP
Trust
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
DRULPA
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
DSOS
|
|
|
|
§ 2.08(b)
|
|
|
Effective Time
|
|
|
|
§ 2.08(a)
|
|
|
Election
|
|
|
|
§ 3.02(c)
|
|
|
Election Form
|
|
|
|
§ 3.02(c)
|
|
|
Environmental Permits
|
|
|
|
§ 4.16(a)
|
|
|
ERISA
|
|
|
|
§ 4.10(a)
|
|
|
ERISA Affiliate
|
|
|
|
§ 4.10(i)
|
|
|
Exchange Act
|
|
|
|
§ 4.05(b)
|
|
|
Exchange Fund
|
|
|
|
§ 3.03(a)
|
|
|
Existing Unit Cash Consideration
|
|
|
|
§ 3.02(a)
|
|
|
Existing Unit Consideration
|
|
|
|
§ 3.02(a)
|
|
|
Existing Unit Preferred
Consideration
|
|
|
|
§ 3.02(a)
|
|
|
Existing Unit Holders
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
|
Existing Units
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
9
|
Defined Term
|
|
Location of Definition
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
§ 7.06(a)
|
|
|
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
Annex I
|
|
|
Governmental Order
|
|
|
|
§ 9.01(c)
|
|
|
Ground Lease
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(i)
|
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
|
|
§ 3.01(d)
|
|
|
Indemnified Parties
|
|
|
|
§ 7.06(a)
|
|
|
Indenture
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(a)
|
|
|
Interested Persons
|
|
|
|
§ 2.03(a)
|
|
|
IRS
|
|
|
|
§ 4.10(a)
|
|
|
JV
Entities
|
|
|
|
§ 4.01(c)
|
|
|
Liquidation
|
|
|
|
§ 2.12
|
|
|
Liquidation Payment Date
|
|
|
|
§ 2.12
|
|
|
Major Title Defect
|
|
|
|
§ 7.07(h)
|
|
|
Maryland Courts
|
|
|
|
§ 10.08
|
|
|
Material Company Leases
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(g)
|
|
|
Material Contract
|
|
|
|
§ 4.17
|
|
|
Merger
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
Merger Recommendation
|
|
|
|
§ 2.02(a)
|
|
|
Mergers
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
MergerSub
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
MGCL
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
Minimum Tender Condition
|
|
|
|
Annex I
|
|
|
Non-Qualified Account Plans
|
|
|
|
§ 7.05(f)
|
|
|
NYSE
|
|
|
|
§ 4.05(b)
|
|
|
Offer
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
Offer Documents
|
|
|
|
§ 2.01(a)
|
|
|
Offer Price
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
Offer Recommendation
|
|
|
|
§ 2.02(a)
|
|
|
OPP
Awards
|
|
|
|
§ 3.04
|
|
|
Option Merger Consideration
|
|
|
|
§ 3.01(d)
|
|
|
Other Filings
|
|
|
|
§ 4.12(a)
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
Parent’s Title Notice
|
|
|
|
§ 7.07(h)
|
|
|
Participation Agreements
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(e)
|
|
|
Participation Party
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(e)
|
|
|
Paying Agent
|
|
|
|
§ 3.03(a)
|
|
|
Permits
|
|
|
|
§ 4.06(a)
|
|
|
Plans
|
|
|
|
§ 4.10(a)
|
|
|
Preemptive Rights
|
|
|
|
§ 4.01(d)
|
|
|
Preferred Liquidating Payment Amount
|
|
|
|
§ 2.12
|
|
|
Property Agreements
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(c)
|
|
|
Proxy Statement
|
|
|
|
§ 4.05(b)
|
|
10
|
Defined Term
|
|
Location of Definition
|
|
|
Purchaser Insiders
|
|
|
|
§ 2.03(a)
|
|
|
REA
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(h)
|
|
|
REIT
|
|
|
|
§ 4.15(b)
|
|
|
Rent Roll
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(g)
|
|
|
Representative
|
|
|
|
§ 7.04(a)
|
|
|
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
|
|
|
|
§ 4.07(d)
|
|
|
Schedule 14D-9
|
|
|
|
§ 2.02(a)
|
|
|
Schedule TO
|
|
|
|
§ 2.01(a)
|
|
|
Scheduled Executive Contracts
|
|
|
|
§ 7.05(a)
|
|
|
SDAT
|
|
|
|
§ 2.08(a)
|
|
|
SEC
|
|
|
|
§ 2.01(a)
|
|
|
Section 16
|
|
|
|
§ 7.05(e)
|
|
|
Securities Act
|
|
|
|
§ 4.05(b)
|
|
|
Subsequent Offering Period
|
|
|
|
§ 2.01(b)
|
|
|
Super REIT MergerSub
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
Supplemental Indenture
|
|
|
|
§ 4.03(b)
|
|
|
Surviving Corporation
|
|
|
|
§ 2.05(a)
|
|
|
Surviving Partnership
|
|
|
|
§ 2.05(b)
|
|
|
Takeover Statute
|
|
|
|
§ 4.23
|
|
|
Tax
Protection Agreements
|
|
|
|
§ 4.15(o)
|
|
|
Tax
Returns
|
|
|
|
§ 4.15(a)
|
|
|
Tender Offer Conditions
|
|
|
|
§ 2.01(a)
|
|
|
Termination Date
|
|
|
|
§ 9.01
|
|
|
Termination Expenses
|
|
|
|
§ 9.04(e)
|
|
|
Third Party
|
|
|
|
§ 4.13(j)
|
|
|
Top-Up Option
|
|
|
|
§ 2.04(a)
|
|
|
Top-Up Shares
|
|
|
|
§ 2.04(a)
|
|
|
Top-Up Notice
|
|
|
|
§ 2.04(c)
|
|
|
Transfer Taxes
|
|
|
|
§ 7.08
|
|
|
Uncertificated Units
|
|
|
|
§ 3.03(d)
|
|
|
Walk-Away Date
|
|
|
|
§ 9.01(b)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 1.02
Interpretation and Rules of Construction .
In
this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the
context otherwise requires:
(a)
when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section,
Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of,
or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated;
11
(b)
the table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement;
(c)
whenever the words “include,” “includes” or
“including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed
to be followed by the words “without
limitation”;
(d)
the words “hereof,” “herein” and
“hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in
this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision of this Agreement;
(e)
references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute,
rule or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced
from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules
and regulations promulgated under the statute) and to any Section
of any statute, rule or regulation include any successor to the
section;
(f)
all terms defined in this Agreement have the defined meanings when
used in any certificate or other document made or delivered
pursuant hereto, unless otherwise defined therein;
(g)
the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the
singular as well as the plural forms of such terms;
(h)
references to a person are also to its successors and permitted
assigns; and
(i)
the use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless
expressly indicated otherwise.
ARTICLE II
THE OFFER AND THE MERGERS
Section 2.01
The Offer .
(a)
Provided that this Agreement shall not have been terminated in
accordance with Article IX, and none of the events set forth in
paragraphs (a), (b), (c) (to the extent performance is required
theretofore), (e) and (f) of Annex I hereto shall have occurred and
be continuing, as promptly as practicable and in any event within
ten (10) Business Days after the date hereof, MergerSub shall
commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the
Exchange
12
Act) an offer to purchase all
outstanding Company Common Shares at the Offer Price, and shall,
upon commencement of the Offer but after affording the Company
reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon, file a Tender
Offer Statement on Schedule TO with respect to the Offer (together
with all amendments and supplements thereto and including exhibits
thereto, the “ Schedule TO ”) and all other
necessary documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “ SEC ”) and make all deliveries, mailings
and telephonic notices required by Rule 14d-3 under the Exchange
Act, in each case in connection with the Offer (the “
Offer Documents ”), and shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to consummate the Offer, subject to the terms
and conditions thereof. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement and to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Annex I hereto (the “ Tender Offer
Conditions ”), MergerSub shall, as soon as possible after
the expiration of the Offer (or, if applicable, the expiration of
the “initial offering period”), accept for payment, and
pay for (after giving effect to any required withholding Tax), all
Company Common Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and
not withdrawn (the first date of acceptance for payment, the
“ Acceptance Date ”). MergerSub and the
Company each agree promptly to correct any information provided by
it for use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent that it
shall have become false or misleading in any material respect and
MergerSub shall take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule TO,
as so corrected or supplemented, to be filed with the SEC and the
Offer Documents, as so corrected or supplemented, to be
disseminated to holders of shares, in each case as and to the
extent required by applicable Federal securities laws.
MergerSub shall provide the Company with (in writing, if written),
and shall consult with the Company regarding, any comment (written
or oral) that may be received by MergerSub or its counsel from the
SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents as promptly as
practicable after receipt thereof. The Company and its
counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and
comment on any such written and oral comments and proposed
responses.
(b)
Without the prior written consent of the Company, MergerSub shall
not decrease the Offer Price or change the form of consideration
payable in the Offer, decrease the number of Company Common Shares
sought to be purchased in the Offer, impose additional conditions
to the Offer or amend any other term of the Offer in any manner
adverse to the holders of Company Common Shares. MergerSub
may, in its sole and absolute discretion, increase the price per
Company Common Share payable in the Offer without the consent of
the Company. The initial expiration date of the Offer shall be the
twentieth business day (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-1(g)(3)
under the Exchange Act) following the commencement of the Offer
(determined using Rules 14d-1(g)(3) and 14d-2 promulgated under the
Exchange Act). MergerSub expressly reserves the right to
waive any condition to the Offer ( provided that any waiver
of the Minimum Tender Condition shall require the prior written
consent of the Company) or modify the terms of the Offer, subject
to compliance with the Exchange Act and the first sentence of this
subsection (b); provided that all such modifications to the
terms of the Offer (other than a modification to increase the Offer
Price or to waive a condition to the Offer) shall not, in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to delay the Acceptance Date by
more than ten Business Days after the first public dissemination of
notice of any such modification. Except as expressly provided
in this subsection (b), MergerSub shall not extend the Offer if all
of the conditions of the Offer are satisfied or waived and it is
permitted under applicable Law to accept
13
for payment and pay for
tendered shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, MergerSub
shall extend the Offer at any time, and from time to time: (1) if
at the then-scheduled expiration date of the Offer any of the
Tender Offer Conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived,
until such time as such conditions are satisfied or waived;
provided that any extension shall be in increments of not
more than three Business Days (unless a longer period of time is
agreed to by the Company in writing, such agreement not to be
unreasonably withheld); (2) for any period required by any rule,
regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff
applicable to the Offer; or (3) if all of the Tender Offer
Conditions are satisfied or waived, and Company Common Shares have
been accepted for payment, but the number of Company Common Shares
acquired by MergerSub (together with other Company Common Shares
owned of record by the Buyer Parties or any of their Affiliates)
represent less than 90% of the votes entitled to be cast by the
holders of the then outstanding number of Company Common Shares and
Company Series D Preferred Shares (after reflecting and taking into
account any adjustment to the number of votes such holders have
relative to holders of Company Common Shares in accordance with the
terms of the Company Series D Preferred Shares), voting together as
a class, for an aggregate period of not more than ten Business Days
(for all such extensions pursuant to this clause (3)) as a
“subsequent offering period” (the “ Subsequent
Offering Period ”) in accordance with Rule 14d-11 of the
Exchange Act. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall
affect any termination rights in Article IX. Subject to the
terms of the Offer and this Agreement and the satisfaction of all
the Tender Offer Conditions as of any date on which the Offer is
scheduled to expire, MergerSub will accept for payment and pay for
all Company Common Shares validly tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer as soon as practicable after such
date.
Section 2.02
Company Actions .
(a)
The Company shall, after affording Parent a reasonable opportunity
to review and comment thereon, file with the SEC and mail to the
holders of Company Common Shares, as promptly as practicable on or
after the date of the filing by Parent and MergerSub of the Offer
Documents, a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule
14D-9 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the
“ Schedule 14D-9 ”) reflecting the
recommendation of the Company Board that holders of Company Common
Shares tender their Company Common Shares pursuant to the Offer and
shall disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 and the Offer Documents to the
stockholders of the Company as required by Rule 14d-9 promulgated
under the Exchange Act. The Schedule 14D-9 will set forth,
and the Company hereby represents, that the Company Board, at a
meeting duly called and held at which a quorum was present
throughout, has (i) determined that each of the Offer and the
Merger is advisable and in the best interests of the Company and
its stockholders, (ii) approved the Offer and this Agreement in
accordance with the MGCL, (iii) recommended acceptance of the Offer
and that holders of Company Common Shares tender their shares in
the Offer (the “ Offer Recommendation ”) and
approve the Merger by the Company’s stockholders if such
approval is required by applicable Law (the “ Merger
Recommendation ”), and (iv) provided that the
representations in Section 5.08 are accurate and continue to be
accurate through the Acceptance Date, and subject to the
Company’s continued qualification as a REIT, taken all
appropriate and necessary actions to cause the acquisition of
Company Common Shares by the Parent and MergerSub in
connection
14
with the Offer to comply with
or be exempted from any provision contained in the Company Charter
(other than the provisions in Sections 2(c) and 2(d) of Article VII
of the Company Charter), Company Bylaws or in the comparable
organizational document of any Company Subsidiary that would
otherwise prohibit, hinder or delay such transactions and render
any and all limitations on ownership of Company Common Shares as
set forth in the Company Charter (other than the provisions in
Sections 2(c) and 2(d) of Article VII of the Company Charter),
including the Ownership Limit set forth in Article VII of the
Company Charter, inapplicable to the acquisition of Company Common
Shares by Parent and MergerSub in connection with the Offer;
provided , however , that the Company may make a
Company Adverse Recommendation Change (as hereinafter defined) only
prior to the acceptance for payment of Company Common Shares
pursuant to the Offer, and in any case only to the extent permitted
by Section 7.04(d) (and then only after compliance with Section
7.04(c)). The Company hereby consents to the Offer and to the
inclusion in the Offer Documents of the Offer Recommendation and
the Merger Recommendation ( provided , that if there has
been a Company Adverse Recommendation Change, such change shall be
reflected in the Offer Documents or amendments thereto). The
Company agrees reasonably promptly to correct the Schedule 14D-9 if
and to the extent that it shall become false or misleading in any
material respect (and Parent, with respect to written information
supplied by it specifically for use in the Schedule 14D-9, shall
promptly notify the Company of any required corrections of such
information and cooperate with the Company with respect to
correcting such information) and to supplement the information
contained in the Schedule 14D-9 to include any information that
shall become necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to
cause the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC
and disseminated to the Company’s stockholders to the extent
required by applicable Federal securities laws. The Company
shall provide MergerSub (in writing, if written), and consult with
MergerSub prior to responding to, any comments the Company or its
counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the
Schedule 14D-9 as promptly as practicable after receipt of such
comments.
(b)
In connection with the Offer, the Company will promptly furnish
MergerSub with mailing labels, security position listings,
non-objecting beneficial owner lists and any available listing or
computer list containing the names and addresses of the record
holders of the Company Common Shares as of the most recent
practicable date and shall furnish MergerSub with such additional
available information (including updated lists of holders of
Company Common Shares and their addresses, mailing labels and lists
of security positions and non-objecting beneficial owner lists) and
such other assistance as the MergerSub or its agents may reasonably
request in communicating the Offer to the Company’s record
and beneficial stockholders. Subject to the requirements of
applicable Laws, and except for such steps as are necessary to
disseminate the Offer Documents and any other documents necessary
to consummate the Merger, Parent, MergerSub and their Affiliates,
associates, agents and advisors, shall keep such information
confidential and use the information contained in any such labels,
listings and files only in connection with the Offer and the Merger
and, should the Offer terminate or if this Agreement shall be
terminated, Parent will, upon Company’s written request,
deliver to the Company or destroy (and provide a certification of
an officer of Parent certifying to such destruction) all copies of
such information then in their possession.
15
Section 2.03
Directors .
(a)
Subject to compliance with applicable Laws, promptly upon the
payment by Parent for Company Common Shares pursuant to the Offer
and from time to time thereafter Parent shall be entitled to
designate such number of directors, rounded up to the next whole
number, on the Company Board as is equal to the product of the
total number of directors on the Company Board (determined after
giving effect to the directors elected pursuant to this sentence)
multiplied by the percentage that the aggregate number of Company
Common Shares beneficially owned by Parent and its controlled
Subsidiaries bears to the total number of Company Common Shares
then outstanding (including Company Common Shares that are accepted
for payment, but excluding any shares held by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries), and the Company shall, upon request of Parent,
promptly take all actions necessary to cause Parent’s
designees to be so elected, including, if necessary, seeking the
resignations of one or more existing directors; provided ,
however , that Parent shall be entitled to designate at
least a majority of the directors on the Company Board (as long as
Parent and its controlled Subsidiaries beneficially own a majority
of the outstanding Company Common Shares, which for these purposes
shall exclude any Company Common Shares held by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries); and provided , further , that
prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board shall always have at
least two members who are (1) not officers, directors, employees or
designees of Parent or any of its Affiliates (“ Purchaser
Insiders ”) or officers or directors of Affiliates of the
Company (other than by reason of being directors of the Company) or
officers or directors of any joint venture partner or participant
(other than the Company) or its Affiliates (“ Interested
Persons ”), (2) members of the Company Board as of the
date hereof, and (3) reasonably satisfactory to Parent. If
the number of directors who are not Purchaser Insiders is reduced
below two prior to the Effective Time, the remaining director who
is not a Purchaser Insider shall be entitled to designate a Person
to fill such vacancy who is not a Purchaser Insider or Interested
Person and who shall be a director not deemed to be a Purchaser
Insider or Interested Person for all purposes of this Agreement;
provided that if the number of directors who are not
Purchaser Insiders is reduced to zero prior to the Effective Time,
a majority of the members of the Company Board at the time of the
execution of this Agreement shall be entitled to designate two
Persons to fill such vacancies who are not Purchaser Insiders or
Interested Persons and who are reasonably satisfactory to Parent
and who shall be directors not deemed to be Purchaser Insiders for
all purposes of this Agreement.
(b)
The Company’s obligations to appoint Parent’s designees
to the Company Board shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 14-f thereunder. The Company shall promptly
take all actions required pursuant to such Section and Rule in
order to fulfill its obligations under this Section 2.03 and shall
include in the Schedule 14D-9 such information with respect to the
Company and its officers and directors as is required under such
Section and Rule in order to fulfill its obligations under this
Section 2.03. Parent will supply to Company any information
with respect to itself and its officers, directors and Affiliates
required by such Section and Rule.
16
(c)
Following the election or appointment of Parent’s designees
pursuant to this Section 2.03 and prior to the Effective Time, any
amendment or termination of this Agreement by the Company, any
extension by the Company of the time for the performance of any of
the obligations or other acts of Parent, the waiver of any of the
Company’s rights hereunder, or the taking of any other action
by the Company in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby required to be taken by the
Company Board will require the concurrence of the two directors of
Company then in office who are not Purchaser Insiders if such
amendment, termination, extension or waiver would or could
reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the
stockholders of the Company other than Parent and its Affiliates.
The directors of the Company who are not Purchaser Insiders shall
have the authority to retain such counsel (which may include
current counsel to the Company) and other advisors at the expense
of the Company as determined appropriate by such directors and
shall have the authority to institute any action on behalf of the
Company to enforce the performance of this Agreement.
Section 2.04
Top-Up Option .
(a)
Subject to Section 2.04(b) and Section 2.04(c) hereof, the
Company grants to MergerSub an irrevocable option (the “
Top-Up Option ”), for so long as this Agreement has
not been terminated pursuant to the provisions of Article IX, to
purchase from the Company at a price per share equal to the Offer
Price the number of authorized and unissued Company Common Shares
equal to the number of Company Common Shares that, when added to
the number of Company Common Shares owned by the Buyer Parties and
their Affiliates at the time of exercise of the Top-Up Option or
the taking of any action under Section 3-106 of the MGCL as
contemplated by Section 7.02 (whichever is greater), constitutes
one (1) Company Common Share more than 90% of the votes entitled to
be cast by the holders of the then outstanding number of Company
Common Shares and Company Series D Preferred Shares (after
reflecting and taking into account any adjustment to the number of
votes such holders have relative to holders of Company Common
Shares in accordance with the terms of the Company Series D
Preferred Shares), voting together as a class, on a fully diluted
basis (which assumes the exercise of all in-the-money options for
Company Common Shares vested and exercisable as of the Acceptance
Date and 60 days thereafter, at the time of the expiration of the
Offer), that would be outstanding immediately after the issuance of
all Company Common Shares subject to the Top-Up Option (such
Company Common Shares subject to the Top-Up Option, the “
Top-Up Shares ”).
(b)
The Top-Up Option may be exercised by MergerSub, in whole or in
part, only once, at any time during the 10 Business Day period
following the Acceptance Date, or if the Subsequent Offering Period
is made available, during the 10 Business Day period following the
expiration date of the Subsequent Offering Period and only if
Parent and MergerSub collectively shall own Company Common Shares
as of such time entitled to cast less than 90%
17
of the votes entitled to be
cast by the holders of the then outstanding number of Company
Common Shares and Company Series D Preferred Shares (after
reflecting and taking into account any adjustment to the number of
votes such holders have relative to holders of Company Common
Shares in accordance with the terms of the Company Series D
Preferred Shares), voting together as a class, on a fully diluted
basis (which assumes the exercise of all in-the-money options for
Company Common Shares vested and exercisable as of the Acceptance
Date and 60 days thereafter, at the time of the expiration of the
Offer); provided , however , that notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary (i) the Top-Up Option
shall not be exercisable if (A) the number of Company Common Shares
issuable upon exercise of such Top-Up Option would exceed the
number of authorized but unissued Company Common Shares or (B) if
any provision of applicable Laws or any judgment, injunction, order
or decree of any Governmental Authority would prohibit, or require
any action, consent, approval, authorization or permit of, action
by, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority
or the Company’s stockholders in connection with the exercise
of the Top-Up Option or the delivery of the Top-Up Shares in
respect of such exercise, which action, consent, approval,
authorization or permit, action, filing or notification has not
theretofore been obtained or made, as applicable. The
aggregate purchase price payable for the Company Common Shares
being purchased by MergerSub pursuant to the Top-Up Option shall be
determined by multiplying the number of such shares by the Offer
Price and shall be paid in cash.
(c)
In the event MergerSub wishes to exercise the Top-Up Option,
MergerSub shall deliver to the Company a notice (the “
Top-Up Notice ”) setting forth (i) the number of
Top-Up Shares that MergerSub intends to purchase pursuant to the
Top-Up Option, (ii) the manner in which MergerSub intends to
pay the applicable exercise price and (iii) the place and time at
which the closing of the purchase of such Top-Up Shares by
MergerSub is to take place. The Top-Up Notice shall also
include an undertaking signed by Parent and MergerSub that, as
promptly as practicable following such exercise of the Top-Up
Option, MergerSub intends to (and MergerSub shall, as promptly as
practicable after such exercise) consummate the Merger in
accordance with the MGCL as contemplated by Section 7.02. At
the closing of the purchase of the Top-Up Shares, Parent and
MergerSub shall cause to be delivered to the Company the
consideration required to be delivered in exchange for the Top-Up
Shares, and the Company shall cause to be issued to MergerSub, a
certificate representing the Top-Up Shares. The parties
hereto agree to use their reasonable best efforts to cause the
closing of the purchase of the Top-Up Shares to occur on the same
day that the Top-Up Notice is deemed received by the Company
pursuant to Section 10.02, and if not so consummated on such
day, as promptly thereafter as possible. The parties further
agree to use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to
be consummated in accordance with the MGCL as contemplated by
Section 7.02 as close in time as possible to (including, to
the extent possible, on the same day as) the issuance of the Top-Up
Shares.
Parent and
MergerSub understand that the Top-Up Shares will not be registered
under the Securities Act and will be issued in reliance upon an
exemption thereunder for transactions not involving a public
offering. MergerSub represents, warrants and agrees that
the
18
Top-Up Option is being,
and the Top-Up Shares will be, acquired by MergerSub for the
purpose of investment and not with a view to or for resale in
connection with any distribution thereof within the meaning of the
Securities Act. Any certificates representing Top-Up Shares
may include any legends required by applicable securities
laws.
Section 2.05
Mergers .
(a)
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in
accordance with the MGCL, at the Effective Time, MergerSub and the
Company shall consummate the Merger pursuant to which (i) MergerSub
shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate
existence of MergerSub shall thereupon cease and (ii) the
Company shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (the
“ Surviving Corporation ”). The Merger
shall have the effects specified in the MGCL.
(b)
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in
accordance with the DRULPA and the DLLCA, at the DownREIT Merger
Effective Time, Super REIT MergerSub and DownREIT Partnership shall
consummate the DownREIT Merger pursuant to which (i) Super REIT
MergerSub shall be merged with and into DownREIT Partnership and
the separate existence of Super REIT MergerSub shall thereupon
cease, and (ii) the DownREIT Partnership shall be the surviving
limited partnership in the DownREIT Merger (the “
Surviving Partnership ”). The DownREIT Merger
shall have the effects specified in Section 17-211 of the
DRULPA. The sole general partner of the Surviving Partnership
shall be DRP Trust.
Section
2.06
Tax Characterization .
Parent, MergerSub and the Company intend that, for U.S. federal and
state income tax purposes, (i) the Offer and the Merger shall, in
the case of each holder of Company Common Shares that receives the
Offer Price or the Company Common Shares Cash Merger Consideration
in exchange for such holder’s Company Common Shares, be
treated as a taxable purchase of Company Common Shares, and (ii)
the Liquidation shall be treated as a distribution of all of the
assets of the Company in complete liquidation of the Company
described in Sections 331, 336 and 562 of the Code.
Section 2.07
Organizational Documents .
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