UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

 

SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.

Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

September 30, 2009

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

 

 

 

Underwriting Agreement

September 30, 2009

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

     As Representative of the several Underwriters

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

           Introductory.   Sovran Self Storage, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), together with Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership"), and Sovran Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the general partner of the Operating Partnership and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company and the Operating Partnership, the "Transaction Entities") proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 3,500,000 shares (the "Firm Shares") of its Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock").  In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 525,000 shares (the "Optional Shares") of Common Stock, as provided in Section 2.  The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Optional Shares are collectively called the "Shares".   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") has agreed to act as the representative of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the "Representative") in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

          To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule A other than you, the terms Representative and Underwriters as used herein shall mean you, as the Underwriter.  The terms Representative and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.

          Each of the Transaction Entities jointly and severally hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:

           Section 1.   Representations and Warranties of the Transaction Entities

          A.  Each of the Transaction Entities hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants with, each Underwriter as follows:

                    (a)  The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-138970), which contains a base prospectus (the "Base Prospectus"), to be used in connection with the

 

 

public offering and sale of the Shares.  Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, at each time of effectiveness under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Exchange Act"), is called the "Registration Statement."  Any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the Shares and the offering thereof and is used prior to filing of the final prospectus is called, together with the Base Prospectus, a "preliminary prospectus."  The term "Prospectus" shall mean the final prospectus relating to the Shares that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the "Execution Time").  Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                    (b)   Compliance with Registration Requirements.   The Registration Statement has become effective upon filing with the Commission under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act.  The Company has complied to the Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information.  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, the Commission has not issued any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

                    Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules thereunder.  Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at each time of effectiveness and at the date hereof, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.  The Prospectus (including any Prospectus wrapper), as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the date hereof, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date (as defined herein) and at any Subsequent Closing Date (as defined herein), did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus (including any wrapper thereto), or any

 

 

amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of the Representative consists of the Underwriter Content (as defined herein).  There is no contract or other document required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that has not been described or filed as required.

                    The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable. Any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                    (c)   Disclosure Package.    The term "Disclosure Package" shall mean (i) each preliminary prospectus, if any, as amended or supplemented, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (each, an "Issuer Free Writing Prospectus"), if any, identified in Schedule B hereto, (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package and (iv) the information set forth in Schedule C hereto.  As of 8:30 (Eastern time) on  September 30, 2009 (the "Applicable Time"), the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Content.

                    (d)   Company is a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer .  (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, and (iv) at the Execution Time of this Agreement, the Company was and is a "well-known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  The Registration Statement is an "automatic shelf registration statement," as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form, and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form. The Company meets the requirements for use of its registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-138970) under the Securities Act for the offer and sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

                    (e)   Company Not Ineligible Issuer.   (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement relating to the Shares that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act), and (ii) as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

                    (f)   Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses .  Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offering of Shares under this Agreement or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representative as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any prospectus or prospectus supplement that is or becomes part of the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representative and has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict.  The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Content.

                    (g)   Accuracy of Statements in Prospectus.   The statements in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings "Federal Income Tax Considerations," as supplemented in the preliminary prospectus under the headings "Description of Capital Stock," "Restrictions On Transfer/Ownership Limits," "Plan of Distribution," and "Underwriting," insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, summaries of agreements or documents, or summaries of legal matters or proceedings, accurately and fairly present and summarize the matters referred to therein, provided, however, that the foregoing sentence does not apply to the Underwriting Content.

                    (h)   REIT Status .  The Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") for each taxable year commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 1995, and its current and proposed organization and method of operation (as described in the Prospectus, as supplemented in the preliminary prospectus) will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2009 and thereafter.

                    (i)   Distribution of Offering Material By the Company.   The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the last Subsequent Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters' distribution of the Shares, any offering

 

 

material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representative or included in Schedule B hereto or the Registration Statement.

                    (j)   The Underwriting Agreement.   This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Transaction Entities.

                    (k)   Authorization of the Shares.   The Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company to the Underwriters against payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                    (l)   No Transfer Taxes.   There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance by the Company or sale by the Company of the Shares.

                    (m)   No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights.   There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

                    (n)   No Material Adverse Change.   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, properties, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a "Material Adverse Change"); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction or agreement; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

                    (o)   Independent Accountants.   Ernst & Young LLP, who have expressed their opinions with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are, to the Company's knowledge, independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

 

 

                    (p)   Preparation of the Financial Statements.   The financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries, as the case may be, as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their respective operations and cash flows for the periods specified.  The supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting schedules comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto.  The financial data set forth in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions "Prospectus Supplement Summary—Selected Consolidated Financial Data," and "Capitalization" fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement.  The pro forma consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included under the caption "Prospectus Supplement Selected Consolidated—Summary Financial Data" and elsewhere in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference in the preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the pro forma adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the computation of compilation of such pro forma financial statements.  All of the disclosures contained or incorporated by reference into the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and the Registration Statement regarding "non-GAAP financial measures" (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.  No other financial statements (pro forma or otherwise) or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the preliminary prospectus or prospectus.

                    (q)  The Company's ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in Exhibit 12 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and incorporated by reference into the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus have been calculated in compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

                    (r)   Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.   Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power, as the case may be, to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus

 

 

and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.  Each of the Company and each subsidiary is duly qualified and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect, on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings, business, properties, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (a "Material Adverse Effect").  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim.  The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as amended.

                    (s)   Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters.   The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be).  The Common Stock (including the Shares) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws other than any non-compliance described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company.  There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights and all such plans have been approved or adopted in accordance with applicable law, rule or regulations, including without limitation, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). The Company has notified the NYSE of its intention to apply to list the Shares on the NYSE and has taken, or prior to the Closing Time, will take, all other reasonable and necessary action to effect the listing of the Shares on the NYSE upon the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                    (t)   Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required.   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) ("Default") under its charter or by-laws, (ii) in Default under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, deed of trust, note, contract, franchise, lease or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or

 

 

instrument to which the Company or such subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an "Existing Instrument") or (iii) in violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) only, for such Defaults or violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any Default under the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, and (iii) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having  jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties.  No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is required for the Company's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package and by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (" FINRA "). As used herein, a "Debt Repayment Triggering Event" means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                    (u)   No Material Actions or Proceedings.   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary, or any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

                    (v)   Labor Matters.   No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company's knowledge, is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries' principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (w)   Intellectual Property Rights.   The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the "Intellectual Property") necessary for the conduct of the Company's business as now conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted.  Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) no party has been granted an exclusive license to use any portion of such Intellectual Property owned by the Company; (b) there is no material infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company; (c) there is no pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company's rights in or to any material Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (d) there is no pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and (e) there is no pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company's business as now conducted infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim.

                    (x)   All Necessary Permits, etc.  Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and current licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such license, certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (y)   Title to Properties.   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(p) above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), in each case, except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary.  The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the

 

 

Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.

                    (z)   Tax Law Compliance.   The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign tax returns in a timely manner, and has paid (i) all taxes required to be paid by any of them and (ii) any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them, in all cases in a timely manner, except for any taxes, assessments, fines or penalties as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which all appropriate provisions have been made in accordance with GAAP in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined.

                    (aa)   Company Not an "Investment Company".   The Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act").  The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.

                    (bb)   Insurance.   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes.  All policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for.  The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (cc)   No Restrictions . (a) No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, making any other distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, or repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company, pursuant to or under (i) any mortgage loan agreement  so long as neither the Company nor the subsidiary is  in default under the applicable mortgage loan

 

 

agreement, and, as of the date hereof, none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in default under any such mortgage loan agreement, or (ii) any third party joint venture agreement, operating agreement or partnership agreement (each, a "JV Agreement"), so long as such dividends, distributions and repayments are made in accordance with the terms of the applicable JV Agreement; and (b) no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from transferring any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company under the Company's and the subsidiaries' existing mortgage loan agreements and JV Agreements, subject to customary approval rights and customary prohibitions under the applicable mortgage loan agreements and JV Agreements.

                    (dd)   No Price Stabilization or Manipulation.   The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

                    (ee)   Related Party Transactions.   There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

                    (ff)   Internal Controls and Procedures.   The Company maintains (i) effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, as amended, and (ii) a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

                    (gg)   No Material Weakness in Internal Controls.   Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or in any document incorporated by reference therein, since the end of the Company's most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

                    (hh)   Disclosure Controls.   The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of "disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  

 

 

The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

                    (ii)   Earnings Statement .  The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters to make generally available to its stockholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months after the date hereof, an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the date hereof and otherwise satisfying Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

                    (jj)   No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments.   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such Persons of the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any "foreign official" (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith. "FCPA" means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

                    (kk)   No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws.   The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the "Money Laundering Laws") and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

                    (ll)   No Conflict with OFAC Laws.   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department ("OFAC"); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

 

                    (mm)   Compliance with Environmental Laws.    Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation, order, permit or other requirement relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, "Materials of Environmental Concern"), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environment Concern (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys' fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, "Environmental Claims"), pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, (iii) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, to the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no past, present or anticipated future actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law, require expenditures to be incurred pursuant to Environmental Law, or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any pending or threatened proceeding under Environmental Law to which a governmental authority is a party and which is reasonably likely to result in monetary sanctions of $500,000 or more.

                    (nn)   Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance.   In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without

 

 

limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties).  On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (oo)   ERISA Compliance.   None of the following events has occurred or exists:  (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any member of the Company that could ha