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CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Contribution Agreement

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT | Document Parties: CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC | CW JOINT VENTURE, LLC | Fidelity National Title Insurance Company | Mid Rivers Land LLC | South County Shoppingtown LLC | West County Parcel, LLC | Westfield Corporation, Inc | Westfield US Holdings, LLC You are currently viewing:
This Contribution Agreement involves

CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC | CW JOINT VENTURE, LLC | Fidelity National Title Insurance Company | Mid Rivers Land LLC | South County Shoppingtown LLC | West County Parcel, LLC | Westfield Corporation, Inc | Westfield US Holdings, LLC

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Title: CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 11/9/2007
Industry: Real Estate Operations     Law Firm: Husch Eppenberger;Morrison Foerster;Debevoise Plimpton     Sector: Services

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, Parties: cbl & associates properties inc , cw joint venture  llc , fidelity national title insurance company , mid rivers land llc , south county shoppingtown llc , west county parcel  llc , westfield corporation  inc , westfield us holdings  llc
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Exhibit 10.22.1

 

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

AMONG

 

WESTFIELD AMERICA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,

as Transferor

 

AND

 

CW JOINT VENTURE, LLC,

as Transferee

 

AND

 

CBL & ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

 

 

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CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

THIS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of August 9, 2007, by and among WESTFIELD AMERICA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Transferor ”), CW JOINT VENTURE, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Transferee ”), and CBL & ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ CBL OP ”). All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth herein or in Schedule 1 attached hereto.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Transferee was formed on July 17, 2007 by filing a Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

WHEREAS, CBL OP, as the sole member of Transferee, adopted that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of CW Joint Venture, LLC, dated effective as of July 17, 2007 (the “ Original Operating Agreement ”).

WHEREAS, CBL OP entered into that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, by and between CBL OP, as transferor, and Transferee, as transferee (the “ CBL Contribution Agreement ”), pursuant to which CBL OP has agreed to contribute to Transferee (the “ CBL Contribution ”) those certain properties more particularly described therein.

WHEREAS, in consideration for the CBL Contribution, Transferee has agreed to issue to CBL OP, upon the closing under the CBL Contribution Agreement, common units in Transferee that, following their issuance, will represent 100% of all of the authorized, issued and outstanding common units in Transferee (the “ Common Membership Interests ”). Each holder of the Common Membership Interests shall be referred to herein as the “ Common Member ”.

WHEREAS, Transferor owns, and immediately prior to Closing will own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the limited liability company interests (collectively, the “ Contributed Interests ”) in each of (a) Mid Rivers Mall LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Mid Rivers Mall Owner ”), (b) Mid Rivers Land LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Mid Rivers Land I Owner ”), (c) Mid Rivers Land LLC II, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Mid Rivers Land II Owner ”), (d) South County Shoppingtown LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ South County Mall Owner ”), (e) West County Shoppingtown LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ West County Mall Owner ”), and (f) West County Parcel, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ L&T Owner ”; and together with Mid Rivers Mall Owner, Mid Rivers Land I Owner, Mid Rivers Land II Owner, South County Mall Owner, and West County Mall Owner, collectively, the “ Property Owners ”, and each, a “ Property Owner ”).

WHEREAS, each of the Property Owners is disregarded as an entity separate from Transferor for tax purposes.

 

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WHEREAS, (a) Mid Rivers Mall Owner owns fee title to the shopping center located at St. Peters, Missouri, commonly known as “Westfield Mid Rivers” (including the Land described on Exhibit G-1 attached hereto and all Improvements located thereon, the “ Mid Rivers Mall Property ”), (b) Mid Rivers Land II Owner owns fee title to a certain parcel of real property upon which a Best Buy store is located (including the Land described on Exhibit G-2 attached hereto and all Improvements located thereon, the “ Mid Rivers Land II Property ”), (c) South County Mall Owner owns fee title to the shopping center located in St. Louis, Missouri, commonly known as “Westfield South County” (including the Land described on Exhibit G-3 attached hereto and all Improvements located thereon, the “ South County Mall Property ”), (d) West County Mall Owner owns fee title to the shopping center located in Des Peres, Missouri, commonly known as “Westfield West County” (including the Land described on Exhibit G-4 attached hereto and all Improvements located thereon, the “ West County Mall Property ”), and (e) L&T Owner owns fee title to a certain parcel of real property adjacent to the West County Mall Property upon which a former Lord & Taylor department store is located (including the Land described on Exhibit G-5 attached hereto and all Improvements located thereon, the “ L&T Property ”).

WHEREAS, Mid Rivers Land I Owner will own at Closing fee title to those certain parcels of real property set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto, including a certain parcel of real property located in the vicinity of the Mid Rivers Mall Property upon which an office building is located (including the Land described on Exhibit G-6 attached hereto and all Improvements located thereon, the “ Mid Rivers Office Property ”), which parcel of real property is subject to that certain Ground Lease, dated as of June 1, 1982, by and between May Centers, Inc. (as predecessor-in-interest to Mid Rivers Land I Owner), as ground lessor, and Mid Rivers Limited Partnership (the “ MRO Leasehold Owner ”), as ground lessee (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to date, collectively, the “ MRO Ground Lease ”).

WHEREAS, Transferor desires to contribute, or to cause to be contributed, to Transferee, and Transferee desires to accept, the Contributed Interests (the “ Contribution ”), in exchange for the Preferred Membership Interests, upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Each holder of the Preferred Membership Interests shall be referred to herein as the “ Preferred Member ”.

WHEREAS, upon consummation of the Contribution, Transferor shall be admitted as a Preferred Member in Transferee.

WHEREAS, simultaneous with the consummation of the Contribution and the admission of Transferor as a Preferred Member in Transferee, the Original Operating Agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety.

 

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AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I

Contribution of Contributed Interests

1.1  Contribution . For the consideration hereinafter set forth, but subject to the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions contained herein, Transferor hereby agrees to make, or cause to be made, the Contribution. In consideration of the Contribution, Transferor shall be admitted as a Preferred Member in Transferee and shall receive preferred units in Transferee that, (a) immediately following their issuance, will constitute 100% of all of the authorized, issued and outstanding preferred units in Transferee (the “ Preferred Membership Interests ”), and (b) will have a total liquidation preference equal to the initial Contributed Interests Value. Any subsequent adjustments to the Contributed Interests Value in accordance with the terms hereof shall be allocated, to the extent feasible, to the Contributed Interests to which such adjustment relates, and otherwise shall be allocated among the Contributed Interests in proportion to their respective Allocated Contributed Interests Value.

 

 

1.2

Contributed Interests Value .

(a)             The total value of the Contributed Interests shall be $741,975,333 , less the outstanding principal balances of the Existing Mortgage Loans as of the Closing Date, and subject to the adjustments as set forth in Sections 1.2(b) and (c) and Section 10.1 (such reduced and adjusted amount being hereinafter referred to as the “ Contributed Interests Value ”). The Contributed Interests Value has initially been allocated among the Contributed Interests as set forth on Schedule 1.2(a) attached hereto. Such allocations may be revised pursuant to Section 3.1(c) of the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement. The Contributed Interest Value may also be subsequently increased as set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the LLC Agreement to reflect the resolution of a disagreement as to value of the Contributed Interests.

(b)             The Contributed Interests Value shall be increased by an amount equal to:

[ 97% of (

New Income – Lost Rent

) ]

0.06

; provided , however , that if the above-described amount is equal to less than zero, the Contributed Interests Value shall not be adjusted pursuant to this Section 1.2(b) . The adjustments made to the Contributed Interests Value pursuant to this Section 1.2(b) shall be deemed final and not subject to further adjustments if no such adjustments have been requested in good faith within one year after the Closing Date. All post-Closing adjustments to the

 

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Contributed Interests Value pursuant to this Section 1.2(b) shall be subject to Sections 10.1(h) and (m) . For purposes of this Section 1.2(b) , the following definitions shall apply:

(i)              “ Early Terminated Tenant Lease ” shall mean each Tenant Lease which expires or terminates after April 24, 2007 and prior to the Closing Date.

(ii)             “ Lost Rent ” means the aggregate annualized reduction in income which is expected to occur from the Early Terminated Tenant Leases, calculated based on the annualized amount of minimum rent payable under each Early Terminated Tenant Lease during the last full calendar month period immediately prior to the expiration or termination thereof.

(iii)            “ New Income ” means the aggregate annualized increase in income which is expected to occur from the New Tenant Leases, calculated based on the annualized amount of minimum rent payable under each New Tenant Lease for the first full calendar month after the rent commencement date thereunder.

(iv)            “ New Tenant Lease ” means each new Tenant Lease entered into by any Property Owner after April 24, 2007 and prior to the Closing Date in accordance with Section 6.1(c) or otherwise with the approval of Transferee; provided , that the Tenant thereunder is scheduled to open for business on or prior to December 31, 2007 (except as may otherwise be agreed to by Transferee); provided , further , that, with respect to each New Tenant Lease:

(1)             Transferee shall receive a credit for (A) all unpaid, non-disbursed Tenant incentives, allowances or inducements (including work to be performed by or at the applicable Property Owner’s expense pursuant to the terms of such New Tenant Lease) for the initial term of such Tenant Lease, and (B) all third party brokerage and leasing agreements for which fees or commissions are or will be payable relating to such New Tenant Lease, in each case, as and to the extent set forth in Section 10.1(k) ; and

(2)             without duplication of any credits received under clause (1) , Transferee shall receive a credit for the value of any rent concessions, abatements, free rent amounts, rent “holidays”, or other “lost” rent between the Closing Date and the scheduled (as of the Closing Date) rent commencement date under such New Tenant Lease; provided , that there shall be a post-closing adjustment based on the actual rent commencement date under such New Tenant Lease.

(c)              Deposit . Within 2 Business Days after the full execution and delivery of this Agreement by Transferor and Transferee, Transferee shall deliver to Escrow Agent the amount of Eleven Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($11,250,000.00)

 

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(which sum, together with any and all interest and dividends earned thereon, shall hereinafter be referred to as the “ Deposit ”). Transferee may, at its election, deliver all or any portion of the Deposit in the form of either (i) cash (by Federal funds wire transfer to a U.S. bank account specified by Escrow Agent), or (ii) an unconditional and irrevocable letter of credit, that is payable to Transferor (x) at sight in the State of New York or (y) upon presentation via facsimile followed by overnight courier delivery of the original, and expires no earlier than the 60 th day after the last possible date for Closing under Section 9.1 , and is issued from Regions Bank or another creditworthy bank or financial institution reasonably acceptable to Transferor. Transferor hereby approves the form of letter of credit attached hereto as Exhibit I . Escrow Agent shall hold the Deposit (including any proceeds from draws under any letter of credit) pursuant to the provisions of Article XII . If the Contribution is not consummated for any reason (other than a termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms arising out of a default by Transferee or CBL OP of any provision hereof, the CBL Contribution Agreement or any other agreement between or among Transferor, Transferee and CBL OP or their respective affiliates), then the Deposit shall be returned to Transferee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, at Closing, upon admission of Transferor as a Preferred Member of Transferee holding the Preferred Membership Interests, the Deposit shall be returned to Transferee. The parties hereto shall promptly take any action required to cause the Deposit to be delivered to any party entitled thereto pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

1.3  Closing Costs . At Closing, (i) Transferee shall cause Transferee’s Closing Costs to be paid in full by delivering the amount thereof to Escrow Agent (by Federal funds wire transfer), (ii) Transferor shall cause Transferor’s Closing Costs to be paid in full by delivering the amount thereof to Escrow Agent (by Federal funds wire transfer), and (iii) Transferee and Transferor shall cause Escrow Agent to deliver all such amounts directly to the Persons to whom such amounts are owed (all as described in Section 10.2 ). CBL OP shall make a cash contribution to Transferee in an amount and as and when required to enable Transferee to satisfy its obligations under clause (i) of this Section 1.3 .

ARTICLE II

Investigation of the Properties and Titles

2.1  Inspection of Properties; Indemnity . Until Closing or earlier termination of this Agreement, Transferee, through its sole member CBL OP, shall continue to have the rights set forth in that certain Access Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2007, by and between Transferor, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries and affiliates, as owner, and CBL OP, as inspector (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Access Agreement ”), as amended by this Agreement. Without limiting the provisions of the Access Agreement, each of CBL OP and Transferee shall, jointly and severally, indemnify, hold harmless and defend Transferor and each Transferor Related Party from and against any mechanics’ or materialmen’s lien or claim therefor, any claim, cause of action, lawsuit, damage, liability, loss, cost, expense or any other Losses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) due to injury to persons or damage to property arising out of any entry by CBL OP, Transferee or CBL OP’s or Transferee’s

 

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engineers, architects and other employees, representatives, contractors, subcontractors and agents, or out of any inspections, tests or surveys conducted by or on behalf of Transferee or CBL OP, in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, in each case, except to the extent caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Transferor or such Transferor Related Party.

 

 

2.2

Title and Survey .

(a)              Schedule 2.2(a) attached hereto is a schedule with respect to each Property of the Liens, defects and other exceptions to title to which such Property will be subject at Closing when Transferee shall acquire the Contributed Interests and accept indirect possession of the Properties (such exceptions, together with (a) Liens for Taxes that are not yet due and payable, (b) rights of Tenants, as tenants only, under Tenant Leases and the rights of MRO Leasehold Owner, as ground lessee only, under the MRO Ground Lease, (c) any Liens arising out of any act of Transferee or CBL OP, and (d) any other matters that are approved or deemed approved by Transferee hereunder being collectively, the “ Permitted Exceptions ”).

(b)             Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, on or before the tenth (10th) day after the Effective Date, Transferee shall have the right to object to any matter shown on a Title Commitment or Survey heretofore delivered to Transferee, but only with respect to any matter reported or shown thereon which has or could have a Material Adverse Title Effect (as hereinafter defined) (such objections, “ Transferee’s Objections ”). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary contained herein, from and after the Effective Date until Closing, Transferee shall have until the 10 th day after Transferee’s receipt, after the Effective Date, of any update to a Survey or Title Commitment (and legible copies of all documents referenced in any such update) to notify Transferor in writing of any objection (also, “ Transferee’s Objections ”) which Transferee may have to any matter disclosed, reported or shown thereon and not disclosed, reported or shown on a Title Commitment or Survey previously delivered to Transferee as to which Transferee has already responded or failed to timely respond pursuant to the preceding sentence, but only if such matter or thing has or could have a Material Adverse Title Effect. The term “ Material Adverse Title Effect ” means any matter that has a material adverse effect on the use, value or operation of the Property in question, that breaches a law or that breaches a contract, but only if such breach would have a material adverse effect on the use, value or operation of the Property in question. The preceding three (3) sentences do not apply to Liens, as to which the express provisions of this Agreement as to Liens shall apply. Transferor will and (prior to Closing) will cause the Property Owners to cooperate reasonably and in good faith with Transferee in Transferee’s attempts to obtain customary and reasonable title insurance with respect to Permitted Exceptions (e.g., the omission of recorded memoranda of lease for leases that have expired or been terminated). As a condition to Closing, Transferor shall remove or discharge from title to the Properties (i) any Liens which secure an obligation to pay sums of money borrowed by Transferor, any Property Owner or any affiliate thereof (other than the Existing Mortgage Loans) or which are set forth on Schedule 2.2(b) attached hereto and any other matters set forth on Schedule 2.2(b) attached hereto as

 

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Transferor’s obligation to remove or discharge, (ii) any exceptions and matters objected to by Transferee which were created or caused by Transferor, any Property Owner or any affiliate thereof between the Effective Date and the Closing Date, and (iii) any other exceptions and matters timely objected to by Transferee in Transferee’s Objections that may be discharged by the payment of an ascertainable amount of money (the exceptions and matters described in clauses (i) , (ii) and (iii) , other than mechanic’s lien or materialman’s lien arising from work performed by or on behalf of a Tenant or MRO Leasehold Owner (other than by any Property Owner as the landlord of such Tenant or MRO Leasehold Owner, or such Property Owner’s contractors), collectively, the “ Curable Title Objections ”); provided , however , that Transferor shall have no obligation to spend more than Three Million and No/100 Dollars ($3,000,000.00) in the aggregate in connection with the curing and/or insuring over of the Curable Title Objections described in clause (iii) , and Transferor shall have no obligation to remove any mechanic’s lien or materialman’s lien arising from work performed by or on behalf of a Tenant or MRO Leasehold Owner (other than by any Property Owner as the landlord of such Tenant or MRO Leasehold Owner, or such Property Owner’s contractors). Alternatively, in lieu of removing or discharging any of the Curable Title Objections from title to the Properties (other than any mechanic’s lien or materialman’s lien arising from work performed by any Property Owner or such Property Owner’s contractors), Transferor may obtain for Transferee, title insurance coverage reasonably acceptable to Transferee from the Title Company insuring over any such exceptions or matters, and subject to the same $3,000,000 limitation described above and without limiting the provisions of Section 10.2(ii) , Transferor shall be responsible for the incremental costs and expenses charged by the Title Company to insure over any such exceptions and matters (the “ Incremental Title Costs ”). Without limiting the foregoing, Transferor and Transferee hereby agree to cooperate to cause to be removed from title to the Properties, at Transferor’s expense, any mechanic’s lien or materialman’s lien arising from work performed by any Property Owner or such Property Owner’s contractors which were of record prior to the Closing Date and which remain uncured after the Closing Date. The provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall survive Closing.

(c)             As a condition to Closing, Transferor shall, at Transferor’s expense, remove or discharge from title to the Contributed Interests any Liens which were created or caused by Transferor, any Property Owner or any affiliate thereof.

(d)             On or before the 10 th day following Transferor’s receipt of Transferee’s Objections (or by the Outside Closing Date, if earlier), Transferor shall deliver written notice to Transferee (“ Transferor’s Response ”) indicating whether Transferor elects to remove or insure over those Transferee’s Objections that Transferor is not obligated to remove or insure over in accordance with Sections 2.2(b) . If Transferor fails to deliver Transferor’s Response within the time frame set forth above, it shall be deemed to be an election by Transferor to not remove or insure over all of such Transferee’s Objections. If Transferor elects not to (or is deemed to have elected not to) remove or insure over all of such Transferee’s Objections, then Transferee must elect, by delivering written notice of such election to Transferor on or before the earlier to occur of (i) the 10 th day following Transferee’s receipt of

 

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Transferor’s Response (or by the Outside Closing Date, if earlier), or (ii) if no Transferor’s Response is received by Transferee, the 10 th day following the date on which Transferor shall have been deemed to have responded, as provided above (or by the Outside Closing Date, if earlier), to: (x) terminate this Agreement (in which case none of the parties thereafter shall have any rights or obligations to the other hereunder, other than pursuant to any provision hereof which expressly survives the termination of this Agreement); or (y) proceed to a timely Closing whereupon such objected to exceptions or matters shall be deemed to be approved by Transferee and constitute Permitted Exceptions. If Transferee fails to deliver a response within such 10 day period (or by the Outside Date, if earlier), then Transferee shall be deemed to have elected to proceed to Closing pursuant to clause (y) above.

2.3  Status of Title . At Closing, Transferor shall contribute, or cause to be contributed, to Transferee all of Transferor’s and/or its affiliates’ rights, titles and interests in and to the Contributed Interests, and Transferee shall accept (a) the Contributed Interests, and (b) indirect ownership and possession of the Properties, subject only to the Permitted Exceptions.

ARTICLE III

Transferee’s Acknowledgement

THE PARTIES HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT: (A) TRANSFEREE IS A SOPHISTICATED INVESTOR IN REAL PROPERTY WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH INVESTMENTS SIMILAR TO THE PROPERTIES AND THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS; (B) EXCEPT AS MAY BE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS, NEITHER TRANSFEROR NOR ANY TRANSFEROR RELATED PARTY HAS MADE OR WILL MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, ANY OF THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS, ANY OF THE PROPERTIES, THE PERMITTED USE OF ANY OF THE PROPERTIES, OR THE ZONING AND OTHER LAWS, REGULATIONS AND RULES APPLICABLE THERETO, OR THE COMPLIANCE BY ANY OF THE PROPERTIES THEREWITH, THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES GENERATED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OF THE PROPERTIES OR ANY OF THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS, OR OTHERWISE RELATING TO ANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, ANY OF THE PROPERTIES, ANY OF THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN; AND (C) EXCEPT AS MAY BE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS, THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO TRANSFEREE AND TRANSFEREE IS ACCEPTING THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS AND INDIRECT POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTIES, IN EACH CASE, IN THEIR PRESENT “AS IS, WHERE IS” CONDITION “WITH ALL FAULTS”, WITH NO RIGHT OF SETOFF OR DEDUCTION IN THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS VALUE. IN ADDITION, TRANSFEREE EXPRESSLY UNDERSTANDS, ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT UNKNOWN CONDITIONS MAY EXIST WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE PROPERTIES,

 

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THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND/OR THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS AND THAT TRANSFEREE EXPLICITLY TOOK THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH UNKNOWN CONDITIONS INTO ACCOUNT, TOGETHER WITH THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED HEREIN, IN DETERMINING AND AGREEING TO THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS VALUE. SUBJECT TO THE TERMS HEREOF, TRANSFEREE HAS BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY AND ALL INSPECTIONS AND DUE DILIGENCE OF THE PROPERTIES, THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND ANY OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS AND THE CONTRIBUTION AS TRANSFEREE REASONABLY DESIRED AND, ACCORDINGLY, EXCEPT AS MAY BE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS, TRANSFEREE WILL RELY SOLELY ON ITS OWN DUE DILIGENCE AND INVESTIGATIONS IN ACQUIRING THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS. TRANSFEREE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS, NONE OF TRANSFEROR, ANY TRANSFEROR RELATED PARTY OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM, NOR ANY PERSON WHICH PREPARED OR PROVIDED ANY OF THE MATERIALS REVIEWED BY TRANSFEREE IN CONDUCTING ITS DUE DILIGENCE, NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE, BROKER, ACCOUNTANT, ADVISOR, ATTORNEY, CONSULTANT, SUCCESSOR OR ASSIGN OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES, HAS MADE OR SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE ANY ORAL OR WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, BY OPERATION OF LAW OR OTHERWISE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF HABITABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE), WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, ANY OF THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS, OR ANY OF THE PROPERTIES, OTHER THAN THOSE EXPRESSLY CONTAINED HEREIN. TRANSFEREE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS MAY BE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS, ALL MATERIALS WHICH HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY TRANSFEROR OR ANY TRANSFEROR RELATED PARTY OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE, BROKER, ACCOUNTANT, ADVISOR, ATTORNEY, CONSULTANT, SUCCESSOR OR ASSIGN OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES, HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO THEIR CONTENT, SUITABILITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, ACCURACY, TRUTHFULNESS OR COMPLETENESS AND TRANSFEREE SHALL NOT HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST TRANSFEROR, ANY TRANSFEROR RELATED PARTY OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE, BROKER, ACCOUNTANT, ADVISOR, ATTORNEY, CONSULTANT, SUCCESSOR OR ASSIGN OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES IN THE EVENT OF ANY ERRORS THEREIN OR OMISSIONS THEREFROM. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE III SHALL SURVIVE CLOSING.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Transferor’s Representation & Warranties

Transferor represents and warrants to Transferee as follows as of the Effective Date and (except with respect to any representation or warranty set forth in the Bringdown Certificate which is updated as of the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of Section 6.1(c) ) as of the Closing Date:

 

 

4.1

Authority; Ownership of Contributed Interests .

(a)             (i) Each of Transferor and each Property Owner is duly formed or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation identified in the 5 th Recital hereto, (ii) each Property Owner is qualified to do business in the state in which the Property owned by such Property Owner is located, and (iii) except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 4.1(a) attached hereto, no Property Owner has existed or operated under any other name, and Transferor has not existed under any other name since July 1, 2002. Each Property Owner has made all filings necessary in the state in which such Property Owner’s Property is located to own and operate such Property, except to the extent such failure would not have a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial condition or results of operations of such Property Owner's Properties.

(b)             Other than as may be limited by the Existing Mortgage Loans, Transferor has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Closing Documents and all other documents contemplated hereby, and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Closing Documents and such other documents. All requisite partnership, limited liability company and corporate, as applicable, action have been taken by Transferor to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and will be taken by Transferor prior to Closing to authorize the execution and delivery of the instruments referenced herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Persons signing this Agreement, the Closing Documents, and the other documents contemplated by this Agreement on behalf of Transferor has the legal right, power and authority to bind Transferor.

(c)             Transferor owns, and will own immediately prior to Closing, directly or indirectly, beneficially and, to the extent applicable, of record, the Contributed Interests free and clear of any Lien of any nature whatsoever (subject to the rights of Transferee pursuant to this Agreement and the covenants, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Existing Loan Documents). The Contributed Interests are the only authorized, issued and outstanding direct equity interests in the Property Owners. Except for this Agreement, the Existing Loan Documents and any agreements entered into by Transferee, none of the Contributed Interests are subject to any written agreements or understandings among Persons with respect to the voting or transfer thereof to which Transferee or any Property Owner would be subject on or after the Closing Date. Except for this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement and any agreements entered into by Transferee, there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, calls,

 

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rights, convertible securities or other agreements or commitments of any character obligating Transferor, any Property Owner or any of their respective affiliates to issue, transfer or sell, or cause the issuance, transfer or sale of, any direct equity interests or other securities (whether or not such securities have voting rights) of any Property Owner to which Transferee or any Property Owner would be subject on or after the Closing Date.

4.2  No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by Transferor of this Agreement and the instruments referenced herein and the transaction contemplated hereby will not conflict with, or with or without notice or the passage of time or both, (i) result in a breach of, violation of, or constitute a default under any material term or provision of any articles of formation, certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, certificate of limited liability company, partnership agreement (oral or written) (including any designation supplemental thereto), limited liability company agreement (oral or written) (including any designation supplemental thereto) or other operating agreement (oral or written) (including any designation supplemental thereto), as applicable, of Transferor or any Property Owner, (ii) result in a breach of, violation of, or constitute a default under (subject to obtaining any consents required under the Existing Mortgage Loans) any material term or provision of, any indenture, deed of trust, mortgage, judicial or administrative order or Law, applicable to Transferor or any Property Owner or by which Transferor, any Property Owner, any of the Contributed Interests, any of the Properties (or any portion thereof), or any other asset of any Property Owner is bound, or (iii) result in a breach of, violation of, or constitute a default under, any material term or provision of any Continuing Contract which breaches, violations and defaults would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial condition or results of operations of the applicable Property or the applicable Property Owner in question.

4.3  Consents; Binding Obligations . Other than with respect to any approval required under the Existing Loan Documents, no approval or consent (other than those which have already been obtained and have not been revoked) is required from any Person for Transferor to execute, deliver or perform this Agreement, the Closing Documents or the other instruments contemplated hereby, or for Transferor to consummate the transaction contemplated hereby, and (b) this Agreement, the Closing Documents and all other documents required hereby to be executed by Transferor are and shall be valid, legally binding obligations of Transferor, enforceable against Transferor in accordance with their respective terms. Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of the Property Owner Organizational Documents, including all amendments thereto, which are true and complete in all material respects.

4.4  No Bankruptcy . No petition in bankruptcy (voluntary or otherwise), attachment, execution proceeding, assignment for the benefit of creditors, or petition seeking reorganization or insolvency, arrangement or other action or proceeding under Federal or state bankruptcy law is pending against or contemplated (or, to Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, threatened) by or against Transferor, any general partner of Transferor or any Property Owner.

 

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4.5

Tenant Leases, Contracts, Permitted Exceptions and Permits .

(a)             Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of the Tenant Leases, including all amendments, modifications and guaranties relating thereto which are true and complete in all material respects. Transferor has also made available to Transferee other material documents and notices relating to the Tenant Leases. The Property Owners are the lessors under the Tenant Leases, and no Property Owner has, directly or indirectly, voluntarily or involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, assigned, transferred, encumbered, hypothecated, pledged or granted a security interest in any of the Tenant Leases or its interest therein (other than in connection with the Existing Mortgage Loans).

(b)             To Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule   4.5(b) attached hereto, each of the Tenant Leases is in full force and effect. To Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule   4.5(b) attached hereto, none of the Property Owners has sent or received any written notice of default under any of the material Tenant Leases. Transferor is not an affiliate of any Tenant under a Tenant Lease which will survive Closing, and Transferor does not have any direct or indirect ownership interest in any Tenant under a Tenant Lease which will survive Closing. Without limiting the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge that an affiliate of Transferor owns a limited partnership interest in MRO Leasehold Owner which is the ground lessee under the MRO Ground Lease. For purposes of this Section 4.5(b) and Section 6.1(i) , the term “material Tenant Lease” shall mean a Tenant Lease demising more than 10,000 square feet of space.

(c)             Attached hereto as Schedule 4.5(c) is a true and correct copy of the rent roll for each Property (each, a “ Rent Roll ”) based upon which the applicable Property Owner operates such Property as of the date indicated therein, together with a schedule, to Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, of the amount of (i) all Tenant Deposits and pre-paid rent of more than one month in advance paid by each Tenant under each Tenant Lease, less amounts previously applied or returned to such Tenant, and (ii) any and all unpaid incentives, concessions, abatements, free rent amounts, allowances or inducements granted to each Tenant (other than those expressly set forth in the Tenant Leases).

(d)             Attached hereto as Schedule 4.5(d) is a list (the “ Contract List ”) that is true and complete in all material respects of all management, service, supply, repair and maintenance agreements, equipment leases, leasing and/or brokerage agreements and all other contracts and agreements (including the Contracts, but excluding the Tenant Leases and the MRO Ground Lease) with respect to or affecting each Property, or by which any Property Owner is bound, or under which any Property Owner is liable, in each case, as of the Effective Date. Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of all written material Continuing Contracts, which are true and complete in all material respects. The Contracts which are national contracts are identified on Schedule 4.5(d) attached hereto. Transferor has no direct or indirect ownership interest in any service provider under any Continuing Contract.

 

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(e)             Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 4.5(e) attached hereto, neither the applicable Property Owner nor any other party thereto is in default under (i) any of the material Continuing Contracts or Permits beyond the expiration of any applicable grace or cure period, except to the extent such default would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial condition or results of operations of the applicable Property or the applicable Property Owner, or (ii) any of the Permitted Exceptions beyond the expiration of any applicable grace or cure period, except to the extent such default would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial condition or results of operations of the applicable Property or the applicable Property Owner.

(f)              Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 4.5(f) attached hereto, there are no third party brokerage and leasing agreements for which fees or commissions are or will be payable relating to the Tenant Leases which would be payable by Transferee or any Property Owner after Closing.

4.6  No Actions/Compliance With Laws . Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule   4.6 attached hereto, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or investigations before any court or governmental authority pending, or to Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, threatened, against Transferor or any Property Owner with respect to or affecting all of any portion of any Property (other than actions, suits, proceedings or claims fully covered (other than any applicable deductible) by insurance) which, if determined adversely to Transferor or any Property Owner, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial condition or results of operations of the applicable Property or the applicable Property Owner, or on Transferor’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. None of Transferor, any Property Owner or any affiliate thereof is a party to or otherwise bound by any consent decree, judgment, other decree or order, or settlement agreement which could reasonably be expected to have (i) an adverse effect on Transferor’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder, or (ii) a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial conditions or results of operations of the applicable Property or the applicable Property Owner. To Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule   4.6 attached hereto, neither Transferor nor any Property Owner has received any written notice that a Property is in material violation of any Laws or requirements of any governmental authority, agency or officer having jurisdiction against or affecting such Property (a “ Violation ”), which have not previously been complied with in all material respects. Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule   4.6 attached hereto, there are no proceedings pending nor, to Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, threatened, to alter or restrict the zoning or other use restrictions applicable to any Property, or to condemn all or any portion of such Property by eminent domain proceedings or otherwise (including a study or plan for road widening, realignment or relocation).

4.7  Hazardous Materials and Repairs . Schedule 4.7 attached hereto describes the most recent environmental report for each Property in Transferor’s Possession or Reasonable Control.

 

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Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of all such environmental reports, which are true and complete in all material respects.

 

 

4.8

Taxes and Special Assessments .

(a)             Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of all ad valorem and other property tax statements and assessments covering any Property for the current plus 2 preceding years, together with a copy of any notice of increase in valuation received by Transferor or any Property Owner since the most recent of such tax statements that were issued, which copies are true and complete in all material respects. There are no special assessments or charges which have been levied against any Property that are not reflected on the tax bills with respect to any such Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.8(a) attached hereto, to Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, no application or proceeding is pending to seek a reduction or increase in taxes or assessments for any of the Properties.

(b)             No Property Owner has ever elected to be taxed other than as a partnership or a disregarded entity for Federal, state or local income tax purposes and each Property Owner is currently classified for Federal, state or local income tax purposes as an entity which is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner. Each Property Owner has filed, or caused to be filed, all federal, state and material local tax returns, informational filings and reports (collectively, “ Tax Returns ”) that are required to be filed by them. All such returns, reports, and filings are true and complete in all material respects. Each Property Owner has paid, or caused to be paid, all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns, and have paid, or caused to paid, all other Taxes that are shown on such return. None of the Property Owners has any liability for Taxes (i) of another Person by reason of an agreement, transferee liability, joint and several liability, or otherwise, or (ii) of any predecessor. None of the Property Owners owns any direct or indirect ownership interest in any Person which is liable for any Taxes, including liability for Taxes (x) of another Person by reason of an agreement, transferee liability, joint and several liability, or otherwise, or (y) of any predecessor. Transferor has not received from any governmental authority any written notice the subject of which remains uncured (1) of underpayment of any material Tax which could become a Lien on any of the Properties if not paid, (2) that any actions relating to the Tax liability of, or relating to, any Property, and which could become a Lien on any Property if not paid, are pending, and/or (3) that the institution of any such action is contemplated by any governmental authority. No Property Owner has waived any restrictions on the assessment or collection of Taxes which, if unpaid, could become a Lien on any Property, or has consented to the extension of any statute of limitations with respect to any such Tax that has not since expired. As of the Effective Date, and except as set forth on Schedule 4.8(b) attached hereto, none of the Property Owners or Transferor has received any written notice (A) of an actual or threatened audit of any tax return filed by or on behalf of a Property Owner, or (B) that the applicable governmental entity disputes any material position taken by any Property Owner or (if applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Closing Documents) Transferor, in any tax return subject to such audit.

 

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(c)             None of the Property Owners holds securities, directly or indirectly, possessing more than 10% of the total voting power or total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer for purposes of Section 856(c)(4)(B) of the Code, and not more than 5% of the total value of the total assets of the Property Owners (treating them as one entity for this purpose) is represented by securities of any one issuer for purposes of Section 856(c)(4)(B) of the Code. None of the Property Owners owns any direct or indirect ownership interest in any Person which is classified as a corporation for Federal, state, or local income tax purposes. Except for this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, the Tax Protection Agreement, and the agreements listed on Schedule 4.8(c) attached hereto, there are no Tax Matters Agreements to which any Property Owner or any subsidiary thereof is currently subject. For purposes of this Section 4.8(c) , “ Tax Matters Agreement ” shall mean any agreement pursuant to which any Property Owner or any subsidiary thereof may have any liability relating to Taxes of another Person, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d)             The adjusted tax basis of each Property (including all of its components) as set forth on Schedule 4.8(d) attached hereto are true and complete in all material respects as of March 31, 2007.

(e)             Annual tax depreciation amounts for the 2007 tax year and subsequent tax years for each Property (including all of its components), based on assets in place as of March 31, 2007 as set forth on Schedule 4.8(e) attached hereto are true and complete in all material respects as of March 31, 2007.

4.9  Non-Foreign Status . None of the Property Owners or Transferor is a “foreign person” within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code.

4.10      Not a Prohibited Person . (a) Neither Transferor nor any Property Owner is a Prohibited Person; (b) to Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, none of its investors, affiliates or brokers or other agents (if any), acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement is a Prohibited Person; and (c) to Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, the Contributed Interests are not the property of, and are not beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by a Prohibited Person, nor are any of such assets the proceeds of specified unlawful activity as defined by 18 U.S.C. §1956(c)(7).

4.11      Union Contracts; Employees . No Property Owner is a party to, and no Property Owner or Property is bound by, and Transferee shall have no obligation to assume, any collective bargaining agreement, union contract, retirement plan, benefit plan or other employment agreement with respect to the Properties, and neither Transferor nor Westfield, LLC is subject to any such collective bargaining agreement, union contract, retirement plan, benefit plan or other employment agreement that will be binding upon any Property Owner or applicable to any Property Owner’s employees from and after Closing. Attached hereto as Schedule 4.11 is a list of all managers, leasing directors and other employees who are located at or specifically assigned to each Property (collectively, the “ Property Employees ”) as of the Effective Date,

 

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their base salaries, their hire dates and a summary of their employment benefits, which list is true and complete in all material respects. All of the Property Employees are employees of Westfield, LLC, and none of the Property Owners has any employees.

4.12      Single-Purpose . Each Property Owner (a) has been formed solely for the purpose of acquiring, owning, operating, managing, leasing, financing and disposing of the Property owned by such Property Owner (and/or acquiring, owning, operating, managing, leasing, financing and disposing of a Related Property) and transacting any lawful business that is incidental to accomplish the foregoing, (b) has not engaged in any business that is unrelated to the activities set forth in the preceding clause (a) (including such activities related to a Related Property previously owned by such Property Owner), (c) does not have any assets or liabilities other than those related to the Property owned by such Property Owner (and/or those related to a Related Property previously owned by such Property Owner) and that are reflected in such Property Owner’s financial statements, to the extent such Property Owner has financial statements, and (d) has never had any assets or liabilities other than those related to the Property owned by such Property Owner (and/or those related to a Related Property previously owned by such Property Owner).

4.13      ERISA . None of the assets of Transferor or any Property Owner constitutes assets of any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, a “plan” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, or a Person deemed to hold “plan assets” within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-101 of any such employee benefit plan or plans.

4.14      Financial Statements . Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of financial statements for Mid Rivers Mall Owner, South County Mall Owner, West County Mall Owner, in each case, as of December 31, 2006. Each of such financial statements has been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, without footnotes, and present fairly in all material respects and in accordance with such principles, the financial position and result of the operations of the applicable entity as the date or period specified therein. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.14 attached hereto, no Property Owner has incurred any material liability other than (i) liabilities reflected in such Property Owner’s financial statements described above, and (ii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business of owning or operating its Property (or any Related Property previously owned by such Property Owner).

4.15      No Other Assets . Transferor has no material assets related to the ownership or operation of the Properties other than Transferor’s interest in the Contributed Interests to be conveyed to Transferee upon Closing.

4.16      Gift Certificates; Merchants Associations . None of the Property Owners operates any gift certificate program other than the Westfield Gift Card Program currently being run through American Express. There are no Merchants Associations at any of the Properties.

 

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4.17      Existing Mortgage Loans . Attached hereto as Schedule 4.17 , is a list of all of the material loan documents related to the Existing Mortgage Loans, including all amendments and modifications thereto (the “ Existing Loan Documents ”). Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of the Existing Loan Documents which are true and complete in all material respects. To Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, the outstanding principal balance of each Existing Mortgage Loan as of June 30, 2007 is set forth on Schedule 4.17 attached hereto. None of the Property Owners or Transferor has received any written notice of default under any of the Existing Mortgage Loans. The only guarantees or letters of credit contemplated by the Existing Loan Documents that are currently applicable to the Properties and which will be binding on Transferee, CBL OP and/or CBL REIT after Closing are the Assumed Guarantees. No Property Owner is currently required to make any cash escrow deposits under any of the Existing Loan Documents except for, (i) a cash escrow for real estate taxes under the Existing Loan Documents related to the West County Mortgage Loan, (ii) cash escrows for replacement and rollover reserves under the Existing Loan Documents related to the Cross-Collateralized Mortgage Loan, and (iii) a cash escrow for real estate taxes under the Existing Loan Documents related to the Cross-Collateralized Mortgage Loan. If Transferee, CBL OP and/or CBL REIT are required to assume the obligations of Transferor under that certain Guaranty of Required Repairs related to the Cross-Collateralized Mortgage Loan, Transferor hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Transferee, CBL OP and/or CBL REIT from and against all Losses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) suffered by Transferee, CBL OP and/or CBL REIT arising from claims made by the applicable Existing Lender with respect to the repair obligations assumed by Transferee, CBL OP and/or CBL REIT pursuant to such Guaranty of Required Repairs.

4.18      REAs . Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of the REAs, which are true and complete in all material respects. To Transferor’s Actual Knowledge, each of the REAs are in full force and effect. None of the Property Owners or Transferor has received or given any written notice of default under any of the REAs.

4.19      Insurance Certificates . Transferor has delivered to Transferee copies of the certificates of the casualty and commercial liability insurance policies being maintained for the Properties as of the Effective Date, which are true and complete in all material respects. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the insurance policies which will be maintained for the Properties as of the Closing Date may not be the same as the insurance policies which are currently being maintained for the Properties as of the Effective Date, but Transferor represents that the insurance policies which will be maintained for the Properties through the Closing Date will afford substantially the same coverage as the insurance policies then being maintained for other properties directly or indirectly owned by Transferor which are similar to the Properties.

4.20      MRO Ground Lease . Transferor has delivered to Transferee a copy of the MRO Ground Lease, which is true and complete in all material respects. The MRO Ground Lease is in full force and effect. Mid Rivers Land I Owner has not sent or received any written notice of default under the MRO Ground Lease. Mid Rivers Land I Owner has not voluntarily or

 

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involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, assigned, transferred, encumbered, hypothecated, pledged or granted a security interest in the MRO Ground Lease.

Each of the representations and warranties contained in this Article IV (as the same may be updated in the Bringdown Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 6.1(c) ) are acknowledged by Transferor to be material and to be relied upon by Transferee in proceeding with this transaction, and (except for any representation or warranty set forth in the Bringdown Certificate which is updated as of the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of Section 6.1(c) ) shall be deemed to have been remade by Transferor as of the Closing Date. Transferor shall promptly notify Transferee, in writing, of any event or condition known to Transferor which occurs prior to the Closing Date and which causes a material adverse change in the facts relating to, or the truth of, any of the above representations or warranties.

Transferor shall not be deemed to be in breach of the representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.5 or 4.11 , as the case may be, with respect to any Contract(s) or employee matter(s), if Transferee does not assume responsibility for such Contract(s) or such employee matter(s), respectively, which violate(s) such representations and warranties, and none of Transferee, any Property Owner or any Property would otherwise be bound thereby or have any liability with respect thereto on or after the Closing Date.

Except with respect to (i) any claims or actions arising out of any breach of covenants, agreements, indemnities, representations or warranties expressly set forth herein, (ii) any claims or actions for which a Property Owner has liability insurance coverage, in which case the release set forth herein shall not include any amounts which are actually received from the applicable insurance company for such claim or action or the right of the Property Owners to seek reimbursement under such policies, and (iii) any claims or actions for fraud on the part of Transferor or any Property Owner or any of their respective affiliates, Transferee, for itself and its agents, affiliates, successors and assigns, hereby releases and forever discharges Transferor and each Transferor Related Party and their respective successors and assigns from any and all rights, claims and demands at law or in equity, whether known or unknown at the time of this Agreement, which Transferee has or may have in the future, arising out of the physical, environmental, economic or legal condition of any Property, or any tax, legal, economic or financial matters or condition relating to the Property Owners or the Contributed Interests.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, (x) Transferee hereby expressly waives, relinquishes and releases any right or remedy available to it at law, in equity or under this Agreement, in the event Closing occurs, to make a claim against Transferor for damages that Transferee may incur, or to rescind this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as the result of any of Transferor’s representations or warranties in this Article IV being untrue, inaccurate or incorrect if, to Transferee’s Actual Knowledge and/or CBL OP’s Actual Knowledge, such representation or warranty shall be untrue, inaccurate or incorrect at the time of Closing and Transferee shall nevertheless proceed with Closing hereunder, and (y) without limiting the provisions of Section 13.4 , Transferor’s liability for breach of any representations or warranties of Transferor contained in this Article IV , any

 

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Closing Document, and/or in any other document executed by Transferor pursuant to this Agreement, including any instruments delivered at Closing, shall be deferred until such claims equal or exceed Three Hundred Seventy Five Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($375,000.00) in the aggregate (to be valued and paid from the first dollar of loss in the event that such aggregate amount is exceeded), and Transferor’s aggregate liability for all claims arising out of any such covenants, representations and warranties shall not exceed Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($7,500,000.00).

For purposes of this Agreement, whenever a determination is being made as to the impact or effect on the business operations, financial condition, results of operations, or on any other aspect, of a Property or Property Owner, (x) Mid Rivers Mall Owner, Mid Rivers Land I Owner and Mid Rivers Land II Owner, and their respective Properties, shall be taken as a whole, and (y) West County Mall Owner and L&T Owner, and their respective Properties, shall be taken as a whole).

ARTICLE V

Transferee’s Representations and Warranties

Each of CBL OP and Transferee represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to Transferor as follows as of the Effective Date and (except with respect to any representation or warranty set forth in the certificate delivered at Closing which is updated as of the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of Section 8.1(a) ) as of the Closing Date:

 

 

5.1

Authority .

(a)             Transferee is a Delaware limited liability company duly formed or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its organization and Transferee is qualified to do business in the states in which it presently conducts its business. Transferee has not existed or operated under any name other than CW Joint Venture, LLC. Transferee has made all filings necessary in the states in which it presently conducts its business to so conduct its business, except to the extent such failure would not have a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial conditions or results of operations of Transferee. Transferee has the full limited liability company right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Closing Documents, and all other documents contemplated hereby, and to consummate the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Closing Documents and such other documents. All requisite partnership, limited liability company and corporate, as applicable, action have been taken by Transferee to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and will be taken by Transferee prior to the Closing to authorize the execution and delivery of the instruments referenced herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Persons signing this Agreement, the Closing Documents and the other documents contemplated by this Agreement on behalf of Transferee has the legal right, power and authority to bind Transferee.

 

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(b)             CBL OP is a Delaware limited partnership duly formed or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its organization and CBL OP is qualified to do business in the states in which it presently conducts its business. CBL OP has made all filings necessary in the states in which it presently conducts its business to so conduct its business, except to the extent such failure would not have a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial conditions or results of operations of CBL OP. CBL OP has the full limited partnership right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Closing Documents and all other documents contemplated hereby, and to consummate the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Closing Documents and such other documents. All requisite partnership, limited liability company and corporate, as applicable, action have been taken by CBL OP to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and will be taken by CBL OP prior to the Closing to authorize the execution and delivery of the instruments referenced herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Persons signing this Agreement, the Closing Documents and the other documents contemplated by this Agreement on behalf of CBL OP has the legal right, power and authority to bind CBL OP.

5.2  No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by each of Transferee and CBL OP of this Agreement and the instruments referenced herein and the transaction contemplated hereby will not conflict with, or with or without notice or the passage of time or both, (i) result in a breach of, violation of, or constitute a default under the Original Operating Agreement or the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, or any material term or provision of any articles of formation, certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, certificate of limited liability company, partnership agreement (oral or written) (including any designation supplemental thereto), limited liability company agreement (oral or written) (including any designation supplemental thereto) or other operating agreement (oral or written) (including any designation supplemental thereto), as applicable, of Transferee or CBL OP, or (ii) result in a breach of, violation of, or constitute a default under any material term or provision of any indenture, deed of trust, mortgage, contract, agreement, judicial or administrative order or Law applicable to Transferee or CBL OP, or by which Transferee, CBL OP or their respective assets are bound.

5.3  Consents; Binding Obligations . No approval or consent (other than those which have already been obtained and have not been revoked) from any Person is required for each of Transferee and CBL OP to execute, deliver or perform this Agreement, the Closing Documents or the other instruments contemplated hereby, or for Transferee and CBL OP to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of Transferee and CBL OP has obtained all necessary consents, approvals and authorizations of third parties in order to effect the admission of Transferor as a Preferred Member of Transferee holding the Preferred Membership Interests. This Agreement, the Closing Documents and all other documents required hereby to be executed by Transferee and/or CBL OP are and shall be valid, legally binding obligations of, and enforceable against, Transferee and CBL OP, respectively, in accordance with their terms.

 

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5.4  No Bankruptcy . No petition in bankruptcy (voluntary or otherwise), attachment, execution proceeding, assignment for the benefit of creditors, or petition seeking reorganization or insolvency, arrangement or other action or proceeding under Federal or state bankruptcy law is pending against or contemplated (or, to Transferee’s Actual Knowledge and/or to CBL OP’s Actual Knowledge, threatened) by or against Transferee, CBL OP or any general partner of CBL OP.

5.5  No Liens . CBL OP is the sole member of Transferee and owns, and will own upon the closing under the CBL Contribution Agreement, the Common Membership Interests, which constitute 100% of the authorized, issued and outstanding common units and voting interests in Transferee, free and clear of any Lien of any nature whatsoever. No preferred interests in Transferee are authorized, issued or outstanding other than the Preferred Membership Interests to be issued to Transferor pursuant to this Agreement, and upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, Transferor will be the owner of 100% of the Preferred Membership Interests, which will, immediately following the issuance thereof, constitute 100% of the authorized, issued and outstanding preferred units in Transferee, free and clear of any Liens of any nature whatsoever. The Preferred Membership Interests and the Common Membership Interests will, immediately following the issuance of the Preferred Membership Interests, constitute 100% of the authorized, issued and outstanding voting and economic interests in Transferee.

5.6  No Legal Proceedings . There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations before any court or governmental authority pending or, to Transferee’s Actual Knowledge and/or CBL OP’s Actual Knowledge, threatened against Transferee or CBL OP which, if determined adversely to Transferee or CBL OP, could reasonably be expected to have (a) an adverse effect on Transferee’s or CBL OP’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder, or (b) a material adverse effect on Transferee’s or CBL OP’s business operations, financial condition or results of operations (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”). Neither Transferee nor CBL OP is a party to or otherwise bound by any consent decree, judgment, other decree or order, or settlement agreement which could reasonably be expected to have (i) an adverse effect on Transferee’s or CBL OP’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder, or (ii) a Material Adverse Effect.

5.7  No Preemptive Rights . Except as set forth in Schedule 5.7 attached hereto, no Person has any conditional or unconditional right and/or option (including, without limitation, a right of first refusal or right of first offer) to purchase any Membership Interests in Transferee. Except for this Agreement, there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible securities or other agreements or commitments of any character obligating Transferee or CBL OP or any of their respective affiliates to issue, transfer or sell, or cause the issuance, transfer or sale of, any equity interests (whether common or preferred or otherwise) or other securities (whether or not such securities have voting rights) of Transferee. Except for this Agreement and the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, neither Transferee nor CLB OP is a party to any written agreements or understandings among Persons with respect to the voting or transfer of

 

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any Membership Interests to which Transferor, any Property Owner, Transferee or CBL OP would be subject on or after the Closing Date.

5.8  No Repurchase Obligations . Except as set forth in Schedule 5.8 attached hereto, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Transferee to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Membership Interests or other ownership interests in Transferee.

5.9  Organizational Documents . True and complete copies of the certificate of formation of Transferee and the Original Operating Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date immediately prior to Closing have been delivered to Transferor.

5.10      Certain Tax Matters . Transferee was formed on July 17, 2007. Transferee has not filed, and shall not file, an election to be taxed other than as a disregarded entity or a partnership for Federal income tax purposes. Transferee is not a continuation of another partnership within the meaning of Section 708 of the Code and the Regulations promulgated thereunder. Transferee has never conducted, and does not currently conduct, any business operations (nor has Transferee owned any assets), except for entering into the CBL Contribution Agreement.

5.11      CBL Contribution Agreement . Transferee has delivered to Transferor true and complete copies of the CBL Contribution Agreement and all documents (including, without limitation, any organizational documents of any Person) delivered at or in connection with the “Closing” under and as defined in the CBL Contribution Agreement.

5.12      Not a Prohibited Person . (a) Neither Transferee nor CBL OP is a Prohibited Person; (b) to Transferee’s Actual Knowledge and/or to CBL OP’s Actual Knoweldge, none of their investors, affiliates or brokers or other agents (if any), acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement is a Prohibited Person; and (c) to Transferee’s Actual Knowledge and/or to CBL OP’s Actual Knowledge, the assets owned by Transferee and CBL OP are not the property of, and are not beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by a Prohibited Person, nor are any of such assets the proceeds of specified unlawful activity as defined by 18 U.S.C. §1956(c)(7).

5.13      ERISA . None of the assets of Transferee or CBL OP constitutes assets of any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, a “plan” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, or a Person deemed to hold “plan assets” within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-101 of any such employee benefit plan or plans.

Each of the representations and warranties contained in this Article V (as the same may be updated in the certificate delivered in accordance with Section 8.1(a) ) are acknowledged by each of Transferee and CBL OP to be material and to be relied upon by Transferor in proceeding with this transaction, and (except for any representation or warranty set forth in such certificate which is updated as of the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of Section 8.1(a) ) shall be

 

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deemed to have been remade jointly and severally by each of Transferee and CBL OP as of the Closing Date. Transferee and CBL OP shall promptly notify Transferor, in writing, of any event or condition known to Transferee or CBL OP which occurs prior to the Closing Date and which causes a material adverse change in the facts relating to, or the truth of, any of the above representations or warranties.

ARTICLE VI

Additional Undertakings

6.1  Covenants . Until the earlier of Closing or the termination of this Agreement, Transferor undertakes and agrees as follows:

(a)             Transferor shall cause each Property to be operated and maintained, shall perform or cause to be performed all of its and any Property Owner’s obligations (including obligations under the Existing Loan Documents, the Contracts, the REAs, the Tenant Leases and the MRO Ground Lease), and shall timely make or cause to be made any required payments relating to such Property in a professional manner, in each case, in accordance, in all material respects, with Transferor’s and the applicable Property Owner’s past practice and all applicable Laws. Transferor shall cause each Property Owner to maintain in existence all material licenses, permits and approvals, if any, in its name necessary to the continuing ownership, operation and maintenance of the Properties.

(b)             Subject to Section 6.1(c) , without Transferee’s prior written approval, which may be withheld in Transferee’s sole and absolute discretion, neither Transferor nor any Property Owner shall directly or indirectly (i) sell, contribute or assign any of the Contributed Interests or any of the Properties or any part thereof, (ii) cause any voluntary mortgage, deed of trust or Lien (other than the Permitted Exceptions) to be placed of record against any of the Contributed Interests or any of the Properties or any part thereof, (iii) subject to Section 2.2 , take any action which would modify the status of title to (or the legal description of) any Property as shown on any Title Commitment, (iv) subject to Section 2.2 , take any action which would adversely affect Transferee’s ability to obtain any Title Policy in accordance with Section 7.1(a) , (v) enter into any agreement to do any of the foregoing, or (vi) cause or permit any Property Owner to do any of the foregoing.

(c)             Without Transferee’s prior written approval (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, except that Transferee may withhold its consent in its sole discretion to any proposed Tenant Lease which is not consistent with the Approved Transactions Guidelines), Transferor shall not (i) enter into any new (or extend, renew or replace any existing) lease, agreement, service contract, employment contract, permit or obligation affecting any Property which would be binding upon Transferee or any Property Owner after the Closing, or (ii) terminate any Tenant Lease, the MRO Ground Lease or Continuing Contract, or otherwise materially amend, supplement or modify any of the foregoing ( provided , however , that nothing in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall prohibit Transferor or any Property Owner from (A) entering into a Tenant Lease if such Tenant Lease is with a reasonably creditworthy Tenant on

 

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terms substantially consistent with those set forth on Schedule 6.1(c) attached hereto (the “ Approved Transactions Guidelines ”) ( i.e. , within 10% of the applicable base rent set forth in the Approved Transactions Guidelines), or (B) extending or renewing the term of any Tenant Lease or the MRO Ground Lease, or expanding the space demised by any Tenant Lease or the MRO Ground Lease, or otherwise amending any Tenant Lease or the MRO Ground Lease, if such extension, renewal, expansion or amendment is (I) pursuant to an existing option in such Tenant Lease or the MRO Ground Lease, as the case may be, or (II) in the case of a Tenant Lease only, on terms substantially consistent with those set forth on the Approved Transactions Guidelines ( i.e. , within 10% of the applicable base rent set forth in the Approved Transactions Guidelines); in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B) , without Transferee’s consent, and Transferor and the Property Owners shall have the right to do any of the foregoing without Transferee’s consent), (iii) change, alter, file for, pursue, accept or obtain any zoning, land use permit or other development approval or entitlement related to the Properties, (iv) consent to the inclusion of any Property in any special district, (v) commence any action, suit or proceeding against a defaulting anchor Tenant or any other Tenant under a Tenant Lease involving more than 25,000 square feet of gross leaseable area, or (vi) cause or permit any Property Owner to do any of the foregoing; provided , however , that Transferor may enter into, or cause any Property Owner to enter into, any service or similar contract without Transferee’s approval if such contract is entered into in the ordinary course of Transferor’s or such Property Owner’s business and is terminable without penalty or premium on not more than 30 days’ notice from Transferor or such Property Owner. Transferee shall respond to any request for consent under this Section 6.1(c) within 5 Business Days of its receipt of a written request for such consent together with a copy of the document (or a summary of all material terms) for which such consent is being requested. In the event that Transferee fails to respond within such 5 Business Day period, Transferee shall be deemed to have consented to such request. At Closing, Transferor shall deliver to Transferee an updated representation certificate (the “ Bringdown Certificate ”), pursuant to which Transferor shall provide, and represent and warrant to Transferee as to, updated versions of each of the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV , all updated as of the Closing Date (or such other date as may be specified in Article IV ). Transferee’s obligation to consummate the transaction contemplated by the Agreement shall remain subject to the satisfaction of, or waiver by Transferee of, the condition set forth in Section 7.1(b) .

(d)             Neither Transferor nor any Property Owner shall (other than security deposits and first month’s rent received at the commencement of the term of a Tenant Lease or the MRO Ground Lease), accept any rent from any Tenant or under the MRO Ground Lease for more than one month in advance of the payment date.

(e)             Except as set forth in Section 6.1(c) , Transferor and each Property Owner shall have the right to commence or prosecute any action, suit or proceeding against a defaulting Tenant or MRO Ground Tenant or any defaulting vendor under any Continuing Contract so long as the commencement and prosecution of such action, suit or proceeding is consistent with Transferor’s or the applicable Property Owner’s past practice.

 

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(f)              Transferor shall not elect, and no Property Owner shall file an election, to treat any Property Owner as other than as a disregarded entity (as described in Section 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations) for Federal, state or local income tax purposes.

(g)             Transferor shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, casualty and general commercial insurance coverage for the Properties similar to the insurance coverage maintained for other properties directly or indirectly owned by Transferor which are similar to the Properties.

(h)             Transferor shall not, and shall cause the Property Owners not to, settle any proceedings with respect to the payment of real property taxes or assessments for any of the Properties with respect to (i) the tax year in which the Closing Date occurs and each tax year thereafter, and (ii) any tax year preceding the tax year in which the Closing Date occurs in a manner that would have a material adverse effect on Transferee after the Closing Date; provided , that the foregoing shall not prohibit Transferor from commencing and/or pursuing, or causing any Property Owner to commence and/or to pursue, any tax proceedings with respect to the payment of real property taxes or assessments in the ordinary course of business.

(i)              Transferor shall, or shall cause the applicable Property Owner to, provide Transferee with (i) a copy of any written notice of default given or received by Transferor or any Property Owner under any material Tenant Lease, any Existing Mortgage Loan, any REA or the MRO Ground Lease, and (ii) notice of any litigation (other than litigation covered by insurance) actually commenced by or against Transferor (with respect to the Property Owners or the Properties) or any Property Owner, (iii) notice of any arbitration or governmental proceeding instituted against any Property Owner, and (iv) a copy of any written notice of eminent domain or condemnation proceedings received by Transferor or any Property Owner. On the Closing Date, Transferor shall, or shall cause the applicable Property Owner to, provide Transferee with a list of all outstanding litigation (including litigation covered by insurance) against Transferor (with respect to the Property Owners or the Properties) or any Property Owner.

(j)              Notwithstanding the provisions of the Access Agreement, from and after the Effective Date, upon reasonable prior notice to Transferor, Transferee shall have the right, during normal business hours, to interview the Tenants under Tenant Leases, the holders of the Existing Mortgage Loans (but only to the extent necessary for Transferee to comply with its obligations under Section 6.9 ) and the counterparties to the REAs; provided , that Transferor shall have the right to have a representative of Transferor present at all such interviews. The parties shall reasonably cooperate to facilitate such interviews and such participation.

(k)             Each of Transferor and Transferee hereby agrees that, between the Effective Date and Closing, each shall keep the other reasonably informed (and shall establish procedures to keep the other reasonably informed) of matters relating to the operation and leasing of the Properties and satisfaction of any conditions precedent to Closing hereunder. Each of Transferor and Transferee shall cooperate with each other to cause any employees of

 

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Transferor or its affiliates which are officers or directors of the Community Improvement District relating to the Mid Rivers Mall Property to be replaced with employees of Transferee of its affiliates as of the Closing Date.

6.2  Actions by Property Owners . Except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, prior to Closing or termination of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of Transferee (which consent may be withheld in Transferee’s sole and absolute discretion), Transferor shall not, and shall not cause or permit any Property Owner to:

(a)             issue, sell, dispose of, or agree to issue, sell, or dispose of, any equity interests, or any debt or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity interests in any Property Owner;

(b)             purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire, or offer to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire, any equity interests in any Property Owner, if as a result of any of the foregoing, Transferor would fail to be able to contribute all of the Contributed Interests to Transferor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

(c)             incur, or become contingently liable with respect to, any new or additional indebtedness or enter into any guarantee of any indebtedness or issue any debt securities, other than trade payables in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(d)             acquire, or agree to acquire, by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial direct or indirect equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person;

(e)             mortgage or otherwise voluntarily place a Lien on any of the Properties, unless such Lien is discharged or bonded over on or prior to the Closing Date;

(f)              acquiesce in or admit liability with respect to any claim against it, or, except in the ordinary course of business, waive, surrender or compromise any claim it possesses unless any liability arising from such admission, compromise or settlement is fully discharged on or prior to the Closing Date or as to which no Property Owner would have liability after the Closing Date;

(g)             commence, or allow to be commenced, on any Property Owner’s behalf, any material action, suit or proceeding affecting any Property Owner or with respect to all or any portion of any Property or any Contributed Interests, except in the ordinary course of business or as contemplated in Section 6.1(e) ;

(h)             commence, or allow to be commenced (other than by a Tenant or MRO Leasehold Owner) any capital improvements or material renovations or alterations to any Property, except as may be (i) required by applicable law, any Tenant Lease, the MRO Ground

 

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Lease, a holder of any Existing Mortgage Loan, or any REA, or (ii) set forth in the budgets delivered to Transferee by Transferor in connection with Transferee’s due diligence of the Contributed Interests; or

(i)              be listed for direct or indirect sale or transfer; and Transferor shall not, and shall not cause or permit any Property Owner to, negotiate for the same, other than to Transferee.

6.3  Termination of Contracts . Transferee agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to communicate with all vendors under the Contracts and to consider in good faith continuing the terms of such Contracts, provided , that for any Contracts which are national contracts or which require the consent of the other party thereto to any change-of-control in the applicable Property Owner, if Transferee so elects, Transferee shall negotiate with such contract parties to continue the terms of such Contracts pursuant to a separate agreement with the applicable counterparty to such Contract. Transferor agrees to terminate (or cause any Property Owner to terminate) by written notice to the other party thereto, effective as of Closing (or as soon as possible after Closing if termination as of Closing is not possible under the terms of such Contracts), any of the Contracts specifically identified in Schedule 6.3 attached hereto or any other Contract that Transferee requests Transferor prior to Closing to terminate. Transferor shall furnish Transferee with copies of all notices of termination given by Transferor pursuant to this Section   6.3 , each of which notices shall be delivered to the addressee thereof promptly after Transferor’s receipt of Transferee’s request to terminate the related Contract. With respect to any Contracts which Transferee timely requires to be terminated, Transferee shall pay all termination costs, fees and/or expenses related thereto (together with all other fees, amounts, costs and expenses due under the terms of such Contracts whether or not due and payable on or prior to Closing); provided , however , that, Transferor shall pay such costs, fees and expenses to the extent related to the termination of (a) any Contract between a Property Owner and its affiliate, (b) any Contract that is a national contract, and (c) any Contract that provides that a change-of-control in a Property Owner must be consented to by any party to such Contract, but only if Transferee desires to continue the terms of such Contract and such consent cannot be obtained.

6.4  Casualty Damage/Condemnation . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if, prior to Closing, (a) either (i) Fifteen Million and No/100 Dollars ($15,000,000.00) or more of damage is caused to any one Property or (ii) Twenty-Five Million and No/100 Dollars ($25,000,000.00) or more of damage is caused to any one or more of the Properties in the aggregate, in each case as a result of any earthquake, hurricane, tornado, flood, landslide, fire, act of war, terrorism, terrorist activity or other casualty, or (b) either (i) any portion or portions of any one Property having an aggregate fair market value equal to or greater than Fifteen Million and No/100 Dollars ($15,000,000.00) or (ii) any portion or portions of any one or more of the Properties having an aggregate fair market value equal to or greater than Twenty-Five Million and No/100 Dollars ($25,000,000.00), in each case, is taken (or is threatened to be taken) under the power or threat of eminent domain (temporarily or permanently), (c) material access to any Property or a material portion of the parking of any

 

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Property is destroyed as a result of a casualty or taking (or threatened taking) under the power or threat of eminent domain (temporarily or permanently), or (d) any portion of any Property is rendered untenantable as a result of a casualty or taking (or threatened taking) under the power or threat of eminent domain (temporarily or permanently) such that, with respect to clauses (c) , or (d) , the use of the balance of any Property is materially impaired for a material period of time, and such impairment would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, financial condition or results of operations of the Properties, the Contributed Interests, and the Property Owners, taken as a whole, then, in any such event, Transferee may elect to terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to Transferor of its election to terminate this Agreement (a “ Material Event Termination Notice ”), on or before the 10 th day after Transferee receives written notice of such destruction, taking or threatened taking. If Transferee does not give (or has no right to give) a Material Event Termination Notice within such 10 day period, then (i) this transaction shall close as set forth in this Agreement, (ii) Transferee shall pay the full Contributed Interests Value (subject to clause (iv) below), (iii) to the extent not automatically assigned indirectly to Transferee by the making of the Contribution to Transferee, Transferor shall assign (or cause the applicable Property Owner to assign) to Transferee the proceeds of any insurance policies payable to Transferor or the applicable Property Owner (or shall assign the right or claim to receive such proceeds after Closing), or Transferor’s or the applicable Property Owner’s right to or portion of any condemnation award (or payment in lieu thereof), (iv) the amount of any deductible or self-insured or uninsured amount and any portion of the insurance proceeds or condemnation awards distributed to any direct or indirect equity owner of any Property Owner shall be a credit against the Contributed Interests Value in accordance with Section 10.1(h) , and any proceeds from rent or business interruption insurance allocable to the period from and after the Closing Date (less any deductibles allocable to such periods) shall be retained by the applicable Property Owner (or Transferor shall receive a credit for the portion of any such proceeds (less any such deductibles) not so retained by the applicable Property Owner). If an event described in the first sentence of this Section 6.4 shall occur, and Transferee timely delivers a Material Event Termination Notice with respect to such event pursuant to this Section 6.4 , Transferee shall pay all cancellation charges, if any, of Escrow Agent and the Title Company, and this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect and none of the parties shall have any further rights or obligations hereunder (other than pursuant to any provision which expressly survives the termination of this Agreement). Transferor shall not settle or compromise any insurance claim or condemnation action without the prior written consent of Transferee (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), and Transferee shall have the option to participate in any such claim or action.

6.5  Risk of Loss . Transferor shall retain risk of loss of the Properties until 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date, after which time the risk of loss shall pass to Transferee and Transferee shall be responsible for obtaining its own insurance thereafter.

6.6  Estoppel Certificates . On or before the Closing Date, Transferee shall have received copies of (a) executed estoppel certificate from each Tenant identified on Schedule 6.6 attached hereto (each, an “ Anchor Tenant ”), each in the form customary for such Anchor Tenant and not

 

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alleging any default by the applicable Property Owner (such estoppel certificates being the “ Anchor Estoppels ”), (b) for each Property, executed estoppel certificates from Tenants other than the Anchor Tenants and that, in the aggregate, lease at least 75% of the gross leaseable area of such Property that is occupied by Tenants that are not Anchor Tenants, each in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each, a “ Tenant Estoppel ”), provided , that any such Tenant Estoppel shall be accepted as long as it is consistent with the information set forth in the applicable Tenant Lease, and does not indicate the continuing existence of an actual material default of the applicable Property Owner under the applicable Tenant Lease, and (c) for the Mid Rivers Mall Property, the South County Mall Property and the West County Mall Property, executed estoppel certificates from each party to the reciprocal easement agreement (“ REA ”) encumbering such Property (each such party being an “ REA Party ”), each in the form customary for such REA Party and not alleging any default by the applicable Property Owner (each, an “ REA Estoppel ”). If a Tenant’s Tenant Lease prescribes a form of estoppel that is different than the applicable estoppel form attached to this Agreement, then an estoppel certificate executed by such Tenant in the form attached to such Tenant Lease shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 6.6 with respect to such Tenant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Transferor is not able to procure the requisite number of Tenant Estoppels identified in subsection (b) above in accordance with the terms of this Section 6.6 , then Transferor may deliver a copy of an estoppel certificate (each, a “ Transferor’s Estoppel ”) executed by Transferor relating to such Tenant’s Tenant Lease (as the case may be), in substantially the same form as the applicable Tenant Estoppel (but limited to Transferor’s Actual Knowledge), in substitution for up to 15% of the gross leaseable area of the Tenant Estoppels required pursuant to subsection (b) above. If a Tenant Estoppel is subsequently delivered to Transferee with respect to any Tenant Lease for which a Transferor’s Estoppel has already been provided, such Transferor’s Estoppel shall cease to be effective and will be considered replaced by such Tenant Estoppel. Each of the Estoppel Certificates shall be dated effective as of no earlier than 45 days prior to the Closing Date. At Closing, Transferor shall deliver to Transferee each executed original Estoppel Certificate. The failure of Tenants or REA Parties (or of Tenants, REA Parties and Transferor, collectively) to deliver Estoppel Certificates sufficient to satisfy the condition precedent set forth in this Section   6.6 shall cause the closing condition set forth in Section 7.1(e) to remain unsatisfied, but shall not give rise to any liability on the part of Transferor, and Transferee’s rights under such circumstances shall be limited to the rights set forth in Section 7.2 . Notwithstanding the foregoing, any estoppel that alleges the existence of a material default by Transferor or a Property Owner which remains uncured past applicable notice and cure periods shall not count towards the percentage of estoppels required under this Section 6.6 .

6.7  Tax Matters . As an inducement for Transferor to enter into the Transaction Documents (as defined in the Tax Protection Agreement), the Transaction Documents contain Tax Protection Provisions (as defined in the Tax Protection Agreement), including provisions that prohibit Transferee from taking certain actions, and require Transferee to take certain other actions as specifically set forth in the Tax Protection Agreement and the Transaction Documents.

 

 

6.8

Employees .

 

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(a)             Transferor shall provide, and shall cause the Property Owners to provide, reasonable opportunities for representatives of Transferee to meet with such Property Employees as it may desire at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, for the purpose of determining which of such Property Employees Transferee may select to cause the Property Owners, Transferee, CBL OP or an affiliate of CBL OP (each, a “ Transferee Employer ”; and collectively, the “ Transferee Employers ”) to retain after the Closing Date. Effective as of the close of business on the day immediately prior to the Closing Date, Transferor shall cause the termination of all of the Property Employees. Effective as of the Closing Date, the applicable Transferee Employer shall offer at-will employment to substantially all of the Property Employees, other than 4 individuals previously identified by Transferor to Transferee (it being acknowledged by Transferee that Transferor or its affiliates intends to retain the employment of such 4 individuals) such offer to be for a base salary not less than that being earned by such employee as of the Effective Date and with benefits (including bonuses and retirement benefits) consistent with benefits that CBL OP then provides to its employees in comparable positions at comparable properties directly or indirectly owned by CBL OP. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, the applicable Transferee Employer shall give each Property Employee who accepts its offer of employment credit for the term of his or her employment with the relevant Transferor affiliate for purposes of determining eligibility for vacation and other benefits (including, without limitation, for purposes of calculating any bonuses for the 2007 fiscal year) accruing from and after the Closing to the extent relevant under the employment arrangements with the relevant Transferor affiliate and permitted under applicable law. The foregoing covenants are made to, and solely for the benefit of, Transferor and the Property Owners, and none of the Property Employees or any other Persons are entitled, or shall be deemed to be entitled, to make any claim against Transferor, Transferee or any of its affiliates, or any other Person, based on this paragraph or any other provision of this Agreement. The current terms and conditions of employment of the Property Employees will not be modified, other than in the ordinary course of business, without the consent of Transferee which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(b)             Transferee Employer shall be solely responsible for, and hereby assumes, all costs, expenses and liabilities whatsoever with respect to, any and all (i) salaries of those Property Employees hired by any Transferee Employer for the period from and after the Closing Date, (ii) benefits attributable to the period from and after the Closing Date payable to such Property Employees and all relevant plan contributions, (iii) benefit continuation and/or severance payments relating to any such Property Employee that may be payable upon any termination of employment of such Property Employee from and after the Closing Date, and (iv) notices, payments (including severance payments, if any, and payments on account of accrued vacation), fines or assessments due, or other liabilities or obligations, pursuant to any laws, rules or regulations with respect to the employment, discharge or layoff of such Property Employees from and after the Closing Date, including, but not limited to, such liability as arises under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. §2101 (the “ WARN Act ”), Section 4980B of the Code (“ COBRA ”) and any rules or regulations as have been issued in connection with any of the foregoing. Transferee, the Transferee Employers and CBL OP

 

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hereby agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless, jointly and severally, Transferor and any Transfer Related Party from and against all Losses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and other liabilities and obligations incurred or suffered by Transferor or any of their affiliates as a result of any claim by any such Property Employee that arises under federal, state or local statute (including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the National Labor Relations Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), and all other statutes regulating the terms and conditions of employment), under any regulation or ordinance, under the common law or in equity (including any claims for wrongful discharge or otherwise), or under any policy, agreement, understanding or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, arising out of actions, events or omissions that occurred (or, in the case of omissions, failed to occur) from and after the Closing Date. Transferor shall be solely responsible for all costs, expenses and liabilities whatsoever with respect to any and all notices, payments (including severance payments, if any, and payments on account of accrued vacation), fines or assessments due, or other liabilities or obligations, pursuant to any laws, rules or regulations with respect to the employment, discharge or layoff of Property Employees prior to the Closing Date, including, but not limited to, such liability as arises under the WARN Act, COBRA and any rules or regulations as have been issued in connection with the foregoing. Transferor hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Transferee and any of its affiliates from and against any and all Losses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and other liabilities and obligations incurred or suffered by Transferee or any of its affiliates as a result of any claim by any Property Employee that arises under federal, state or local statute (including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the National Labor Relations Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, ERISA, and all other statutes regulating the terms and conditions of employment), under any regulation or ordinance, under the common law or in equity (including any claims for wrongful discharge or otherwise), or under any policy, agreement, understanding or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, arising out of actions, events or omissions that occurred (or, in the case of omissions, failed to occur) prior to the Closing Date. The provisions of this Section 6.8(b) shall survive Closing.

 

 

6.9

Existing Mortgage Loans; Lender Consents .

(a)             The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i) the Mid Rivers Mall Property and the Mid Rivers Land II Property are subject to the Cross-Collateralized Mortgage Loan, which has a stated maturity date of July 11, 2011, (ii) the South County Mall Property is subject to the South County Mortgage Loan, which has a stated maturity date of October 11, 2033, and (iii) the West County Mall Property is subject to the West County Mortgage Loan, which has a stated maturity date of April 11, 2033.

 

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(b)             The parties further acknowledge and agree that, under the terms of the Existing Loan Documents, the consent of each of the lenders thereunder (the “ Existing Lenders ”; and each, an “ Existing Lender ”) is required in order to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. Transferor shall contact the Existing Lenders to enable Transferee and CBL OP to obtain each Existing Lender’s consent (each, a “ Lender Consent ”; and collectively, the “ Lender Consents ”) on or prior to the Closing Date, to the following:

(i)              the transfer of the Contributed Interest for the applicable Property to Transferee;

(ii)             subject to Section 6.9(d) , modifications to the applicable Existing Loan Documents to reflect the new organizational structure of the borrower thereunder which the applicable Existing Lender may require or permit;

(iii)            the substitution of CBL OP or CBL REIT (as each Existing Lender may require) as substitute guarantor or indemnitor in place of any and all existing guarantor(s) and indemnitor(s) under the Assumed Guaranties related to the South County Mortgage Loan and the West County Mortgage Loan on terms not materially more onerous than those set forth in the Assumed Guaranties related to the South County Mortgage Loan and the West County Mortgage Loan, respectively; provided , that, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, each of CBL OP and Transferee hereby acknowledges and agrees that, if any Existing Lender shall refuse to accept CBL OP or CBL REIT as substitute guarantor or indemnitor with respect to any or all of such Assumed Guaranties relating to escrows or reserves required to be maintained pursuant to the applicable Existing Loan Documen

       
 
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