EX-10.2



 Exhibit 10.2 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of October 15, 2013 by and among QTS
Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the Persons listed on Schedule I hereto (the “Holders,” and each individually, a “Holder”). 

WHEREAS, the Company intends to engage in various related transactions (collectively, the “IPO Transactions”) pursuant to
which, among other things, the Company will effect an initial public offering of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”); 

WHEREAS, the Holders, including employees, officers and directors of the Company, hold, and following the IPO Transactions, will continue to
hold, the Class A units of limited partnership interest (the “Class A Units”), or limited partnership units convertible into Class A Units, of QualityTech, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating
Partnership”), as set forth on Schedule I hereto; 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of Section 8.6 and the other
related provisions of the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership (such agreement, as amended from time to time, the “Partnership Agreement”), commencing not later than one year from
the beginning of the first full calendar month following the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and subject to the various limitations contained in the Partnership Agreement and other instruments being delivered in connection
with the IPO Transactions, the Holders will be entitled to redeem any Class A Units then held by them for cash or, at the Company’s election, shares of Common Stock (such shares, the “Redemption Shares”); 

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to grant to the Holders the registration rights described in this Agreement. 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, hereby agree as follows: 
  

	SECTION 1	DEFINITIONS 

 As used in this Agreement, and unless the context requires a different
meaning, the following terms have the meanings indicated: 
 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such
Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. 

“Agreement” mean this Registration Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified in accordance with
the terms hereof. 
 “Black-Out Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5. 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company. 







 “Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in Overland Park, Kansas or New York City are authorized or required by law to close. 
 “Class A Units”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement. 
 “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission
or any successor agency then having jurisdiction to enforce the Securities Act. 
 “Common Shares” means shares of
Class A common stock, $.01 par value per share, in the Company, including any capital stock of the Company into which such shares of common stock are reclassified or reconstituted. 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble. 

“Designated Holder” means each Holder, any Affiliate thereof that, after the date hereof, acquires any Registrable
Securities, and permitted transferee thereof to whom Registrable Securities are transferred, to the extent that Class A Units could be transferred to such person in accordance with the Partnership Agreement (so long as such agreement is in
effect). 
 “Disclosure Package” means, with respect to any offering of securities, (a) the Prospectus, (b) each
Free Writing Prospectus and (c) all other information, in each case, that is deemed, under Rule 159 under the Securities Act, to have been conveyed to purchasers of securities at the time of sale of such securities (including a contract of
sale). 
 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder. 
 “FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. 

“Free Writing Prospectus” means any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. 

“Holder” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement. 

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3. 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3. 

“Issuer Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. 

“Partnership” means QualityTech, LP, a limited partnership of which the Company is the sole general partner and majority
limited partner. 
 “Partnership Agreement” means that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
of the Partnership, dated as of the date hereof. 
 “Person” means a natural person, partnership (whether general or
limited), trust, estate, association, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity. 

“Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. 







 “Redemption Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 “Registrable Securities” means each of the following: (a) any and all Common Shares issued to or owned by any
Designated Holder, (b) any Common Shares issued or issuable to any of the Designated Holders with respect to the Registrable Securities by way of share dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation or other reorganization or otherwise and any Common Shares or voting common stock issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, and (c) any Redemption Shares that have not been included in the filing of an Issuer
Registration Statement as provided in Section 2 hereof, provided that if Redemption Shares have been included in the Issuer Registration Statement and the Issuer Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission
within 90 days after the original filing date or the Company is unable to keep such Issuer Registration Statement effective until such time as the Holders no longer own any Class A Units, such Redemption Shares shall be “Registrable
Securities.” 
 “Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5. 

“Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder. 
 “Suspension Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. 

 

	SECTION 2	REGISTRATION RIGHTS; ISSUER REGISTRATION STATEMENT 

 2.1 Grant of Rights. The
Company hereby agrees that each Designated Holder shall be entitled to offer its Registrable Securities for sale pursuant to a Registration Statement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (the “Registration
Rights”). 
 2.2 Registrable Securities. For the purposes of this Agreement, Registrable Securities shall cease to be
Registrable Securities when (a) a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act by the Commission and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of pursuant to such
effective Registration Statement, (b) the entire amount of the Registrable Securities owned by a Designated Holder may be sold in a single sale, in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company and such Designated Holder, each in
their reasonable judgment, without any limitation as to volume pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, or (c) the Registrable Securities are proposed to be sold or distributed by a Person not
entitled to the Registration Rights granted by this Agreement. 
 2.3 Holders of Registrable Securities. A Person is deemed to be a
holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns of record Registrable Securities, or holds an option to purchase, or a security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, Registrable Securities whether or not such
acquisition or conversion has actually been effected; provided that the Company’s registration obligations under this Agreement shall be with respect to the registration of Registrable Securities and not with respect to the registration of any
option to purchase, or a security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable
Securities, the Company may act upon the basis of the instructions, notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities. Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise of an option or upon conversion of
another security shall be deemed outstanding for the purposes of this Agreement. 







 2.4 Issuer Registration Statement. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts,
during the period beginning 15 days prior to the date the Holders are first permitted to redeem their Class A Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement and ending 15 days thereafter, to cause to be filed with the Commission a
registration statement (an “Issuer Registration Statement”) that complies as to form in all material respects with applicable Commission rules providing for the registration of the Redemption Shares, and agrees to use reasonable
best efforts to cause the Issuer Registration Statement and related prospectus to be declared and remain effective by the Commission as soon as practicable; provided if the Company, in its good faith judgment, determines that any registration
should not be made or continued because the negotiation or consummation of a material transaction by the Company or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event would require additional disclosure by
the Company in the Issuer Registration Statement of material information which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the
Company’s reasonable determination, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance a “Suspension Event”), the Company may postpone the filing of an Issuer
Registration Statement or suspend the effectiveness thereof. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Issuer Registration Statement continuously effective (including the preparation and filing of any amendments and
supplements necessary for that purpose) until such time as the Holders no longer own any Redemption Shares. When the Redemption Shares are issued to the Holders pursuant to an Issuer Registration Statement, subject to the foregoing provisos, the
Company shall: 
 (a) promptly notify the Holders: (i) when the Issuer Registration Statement, any pre-effective
amendment, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the Issuer Registration Statement has been filed, and, with respect to the Issuer Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Issuer Registration Statement or the initiation or threat of any proceedings for that purpose, and (iii) of the receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Redemption Shares for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; 

(b) promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Issuer Registration Statement, and, if any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Issuer Registration Statement is issued, shall promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible
moment; and 
 (c) use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Redemption Shares to be listed on the national securities
exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed, if the listing of Redemption Shares is then permitted under the rules of such national securities exchange; provided, that, all applicable listing requirements are satisfied. 

As used herein, “Registration Statement” and “Prospectus” refer to a registration statement and related prospectus
(including any preliminary prospectus) filed pursuant to the Securities Act utilized by the Company to satisfy a Designated Holder’s Registration Rights pursuant to this Agreement, including, but not limited to, an Issuer Registration Statement
and related prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus) and any documents incorporated therein by reference. 
 2.5 Restrictions on
Public Sale by Designated Holders. Each Designated Holder hereby agrees that it shall not, to the extent requested by the Company or an underwriter of securities of 







 
the Company, directly or indirectly sell, offer to sell (including, without limitation, any short sale), grant any option or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Registrable Securities (other
than to donees or Affiliates of a Designated Holder who agree to be similarly bound) within seven days prior to and for up to 90 days following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act or the date
of an underwriting agreement with respect to an underwritten public offering of the Company’s securities (the “Black-Out Period”); provided, however, that: 

(i) all executive officers and directors of the Company then holding Common Shares shall enter into similar agreements; 

(ii) the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain similar agreements from each 5% or greater equity holders
of the Company; and 
 (iii) the Designated Holders shall be allowed any concession or proportionate release allowed to any
officer, director or other 5% or greater equity holders of the Company that entered into similar agreements. 
 In order to enforce the foregoing covenant,
the Company shall have the right to place restrictive legends on the certificates representing the Registrable Securities subject to this Section 2.5 and to impose stop transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Securities and
such other Common Shares of a Designated Holder (and the Common Shares or securities of every other person subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such period. 

2.6 Suspension of Offering. Notwithstanding Section 2.4 hereof, if the Board of Directors, in its good faith judgment,
determines that any registration should not be made or continued because of a Suspension Event, the Company may postpone the filing of a Registration Statement and, upon the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors, require the Designated
Holders not to sell under the Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof; provided, however, that the Company may not delay, suspend or withdraw the Registration Statement for more than sixty (60) days at any
one time, or more than twice in any twelve (12) month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the happening of any Suspension Event during the period the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a
Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the Prospectus) not misleading, each Designated Holder agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement
until such Designated Holder receives copies of a supplemental or amended Prospectus (which the Company agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective
amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Company that it may resume such offers and sales, and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in the written notice delivered by the Company unless
otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by the Company, each Designated Holder will deliver to the Company all copies of the Prospectus covering the Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice, other than
permanent file copies then in the possession of such Designated Holder’s counsel. 
  

	SECTION 3	REGISTRATION PROCEDURES 

 3.1 Qualification. The Company agrees to use
commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such
jurisdictions 







 
as a Designated Holder may reasonably request in writing, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective pursuant to this Agreement or during the period offers or sales are being made by the Designated Holders after delivery of a Registration Notice to the Company, whichever is shorter, and to do
any and all other similar acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Designated Holders to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities in each such jurisdiction; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction or to register as a broker or dealer in such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Agreement, (ii) take
any action that would cause it to become subject to any taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to such taxation or (iii) take any action that would subject it to the general service of process in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so subject. 
 3.2 Obligations of the Company. When the Company is required to effect the registration of
Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, subject to Section 2.6 hereof (as applicable), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and sale of such
Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof as quickly as practicable, and in connection with any such request, the Company shall, as expeditiously as practicable: 

(a) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements as to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
used in connection therewith as may be necessary (i) to keep such Registration Statement effective and (ii) to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement, in each case for such time as is contemplated in Section 2.4 of this Agreement; 
 (b) furnish,
without charge, to each Designated Holder selling Registrable Securities, prior to filing a Registration Statement, such number of copies of the Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits, but
excluding any documents to be incorporated by reference therein that are publicly available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”)), and the Prospectus included in such
Registration Statement in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act as the Designated Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Designated
Holder; 
 (c) promptly notify the Designated Holders: (i) when the Registration Statement, any pre-effective amendment,
the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed, and, with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation or threat of any proceedings for that purpose, and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; 

(d) promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, and, if any such order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement is issued, shall promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment; 







 (e) use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be
listed on the national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed, if the listing of Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such national securities exchange; provided, that, all applicable listing
requirements are satisfied; and 
 (f) if requested by a Designated Holder, incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information concerning such Designated Holder or the intended method of distribution as such Designated Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and is reasonably necessary to permit the sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other material terms of the offering of the
Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to include in any such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment any requested information that is not required by the rules of
the Commission and is unreasonable in scope compared with the Company’s most recent prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a primary or secondary offering of equity securities by the Company. 

3.3 Obligations of Designated Holders. In connection with any Registration Statement utilized by the Company to satisfy the
Registration Rights, each Designated Holder selling Registrable Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, and each Designated Holder selling Registrable Securities agrees that
it will (i) respond within ten (10) Business Days to any reasonable written request by the Company to provide or verify information regarding such Designated Holder or such Designated Holder’s Registrable Securities (including the
proposed manner of sale) that may be required to be included in such Registration Statement and related Prospectus pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission, and (ii) provide in a timely manner information regarding the proposed
distribution by such Designated Holder of the Registrable Securities and such other information as may be requested by the Company from time to time in connection with the preparation of and for inclusion in the Registration Statement and related
Prospectus. 
  

	SECTION 4	INDEMNIFICATION; CONTRIBUTION 

 4.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Designated Holder and each person, if any, who controls a Designated Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any of their Affiliates
(and any officer, director, general partner or trustee thereof), partners, members, officers, directors, employees or representatives, as follows: 

(a) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of or based
upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto; and (b) the omission
or alleged omission to state, in any Registration Statement, Disclosure Package, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading under the circumstances such statements were made; 
 (b) against any and all loss, liability, claim,
damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,








 
or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Company; and 
 (c) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, in each case whether or not a party, or any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (a) or (b) above; 

provided, however, that the indemnity provided pursuant to this Section 4.1 does not apply to any Designated Holder with respect to any
loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment or expense to the extent arising out of (A) any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Designated Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) such Designated Holder’s failure to deliver an
amended or supplemental prospectus furnished to such Designated Holder by the Company, if such loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment or expense would not have arisen had such delivery occurred. The Company shall also provide customary indemnities
to any underwriters of the Registrable Securities, their officers, directors and employees and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act). 

4.2 Indemnification by Designated Holder. Each Designated Holder (and each permitted assignee thereof, on a several basis) severally
and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors or trustees, as applicable, and officers (including each director or trustee, as applicable, and officer of the Company who signed a Registration
Statement), any underwriter retained by the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, as follows: 

(a) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of or based
upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto; and (b) the omission
or alleged omission to state, in any Registration Statement, Disclosure Package, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading under the circumstances such statements were made; 
 (b) against any and all loss, liability, claim,
damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Designated Holder; and 

(c) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, in each case whether or not a party, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (a) or (b) above; 







 provided, however, that the indemnity provided pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall only apply
with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment or expense to the extent arising out of (A) any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Designated Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) such Designated Holder’s failure
to deliver an amended or supplemental prospectus furnished to such Designated Holder by the Company, if such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense would not have arisen had such delivery occurred. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 6.2, such Designated Holder and any permitted assignee shall not be required to indemnify any Person pursuant to this Section 6.2 in excess of the amount of the net proceeds (after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and
commissions) to such Designated Holder or such permitted assignee, as the case may be, from sales of the Registrable Securities of such Designated Holder under the Registration Statement that is the subject of the indemnification claim. 

4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. An indemnified party hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give
reasonably prompt notice to the indemnifying party (the “Indemnifying Party”) of any action or proceeding commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party
(i) shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under the indemnity agreement provided in Section 4.1 or 4.2 above, unless and only to the extent the lack of notice by the Indemnified Party results in the forfeiture by the
Indemnifying Party of substantial rights and defenses, and (ii) shall not, in any event, relieve the Indemnifying Party from any obligations to any Indemnified Party other than the indemnification obligation provided under Section 4.1 or
4.2 above. If the Indemnifying Party so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, the Indemnifying Party may assume the defense of such action or proceeding at such Indemnifying Party’s own expense with counsel chosen by the
Indemnifying Party and approved by the Indemnified Party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party will not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any such action or proceeding without the written consent of the Indemnified Party unless such settlement, compromise or consent secures the unconditional release of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to
employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expense of such counsel shall be paid by the Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party agrees to pay the same, (ii) the
Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense of such action with counsel approved by the Indemnified Party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified
Party and such parties have been advised by such counsel that either (x) representation of such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct or
(y) there may be one or more legal defenses available to the Indemnified Party which are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party. In any of such cases, the Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to assume
such defense and the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to separate counsel at the Indemnifying Party’s expense. If the Indemnifying Party is not entitled to assume the defense of such action or proceeding as a result of clause
(iii) above, the Indemnifying Party’s counsel shall be entitled to conduct the Indemnifying Party’s defense and counsel for the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to conduct the defense of the Indemnified Party, it being understood
that both such counsel will cooperate with each other to conduct the defense of such action or proceeding as efficiently as possible. If the Indemnifying Party is not so entitled to assume the defense of such action or does not assume such defense,
after having received the notice referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Indemnifying Party will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Indemnified Party. In such event, however, the Indemnifying Party will not be
liable for any settlement effected without the 







 
written consent of the Indemnifying Party. If an Indemnifying Party is entitled to assume, and assumes, the defense of such action or proceeding in accordance with this paragraph, the
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any fees and expenses of counsel for the Indemnified Party incurred thereafter in connection with such action or proceeding. 

4.4 Contribution. 
 (a)
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 above is for any reason held to be unenforceable by the Indemnified Party although applicable in
accordance with its terms, the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement incurred by the Indemnified Party
and the Indemnifying Party, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Party on the one hand and the Indemnifying Party on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the action in question, including any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, the Indemnifying Party or the Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. 
 (b) The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, a Designated Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the net proceeds (after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions) to
such Designated Holder from sales of the Registrable Securities of such Designated Holder under the Registration Statement that is the subject of the indemnification claim. 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 4.4, each person, if any, who controls a Designated Holder within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Designated Holder, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. 
  

	SECTION 5	EXPENSES 

 The Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance by the Company
of its registration obligations under Section 2 above, including (i) Commission, stock exchange and FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in complying with securities or “blue sky” laws
(including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to any underwriter incurred in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities as may be set forth in any underwriting agreement), (iii) all
printing, messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) the fees, charges and expenses of counsel to the Company and of its independent public accountants and any other accounting fees, charges and expenses incurred by the Company (including,
without limitation, any expenses arising from any “comfort” letters or any special audits incident to or required by any registration or qualification), and (v) any liability insurance or other premiums for insurance obtained in
connection with any Shelf Registration pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, regardless of whether such Registration 







 
Statement is declared effective. All of the expenses described in the preceding sentence of this Section 5 are referred to herein as “Registration Expenses.” Subject to
clause (iv) above, each Designated Holder shall be responsible for the payment of any brokerage and sales commissions, fees and disbursements of such Designated Holder’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, and any transfer taxes
relating to the sale or disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Designated Holder pursuant to this Agreement. 
  

	SECTION 6	RULE 144 COMPLIANCE 

 The Company covenants that it will use its best efforts to timely
file the reports required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and take such further action as each Designated Holder may reasonably request (including providing any information necessary to comply with Rule 144
under the Securities Act), so as to enable the Designated Holders to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or Regulation S under the Securities Act or (ii) any similar rules or regulations
hereinafter adopted by the Commission. In connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition by a Designated Holder of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Company shall cooperate with such
Designated Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any Securities Act legend, and enable certificates for such Registrable Securities to be for such
number of shares and registered in such names as Holder may reasonably request at least five (5) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities hereunder. 
  

	SECTION 7	MISCELLANEOUS 

 7.1 Recapitalizations, Exchanges, etc. The provisions of this
Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to (i) the Common Shares, (ii) any and all shares of voting common stock of the Company into which the Common Shares are converted, exchanged or substituted in any
recapitalization or other capital reorganization by the Company and (iii) any and all equity securities of the Company or any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued
in respect of, in conversion of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Common Shares and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date
hereof. The Company shall cause any successor or assign (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to enter into a new registration rights agreement with the Designated Holders on terms substantially the same as this Agreement
as a condition of any such transaction. 
 7.2 Integration; Amendment. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the
parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior oral or written agreements, commitments and understandings among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. Except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company, without the consent of any other party hereto, may amend this Agreement to add any permitted transferee of a Holder as a party to this Agreement as a Designated Holder. 

7.3 Waivers. No waiver by a party hereto shall be effective unless made in a written instrument duly executed by the party against whom
such waiver is sought to be enforced, and only to the extent set forth in such instrument. Neither the waiver by any of the parties hereto of a breach or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of any of the parties,
on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any
such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder. 







 7.4 Assignment; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and the rights granted hereunder
may not be assigned by any Designated Holder (except to another Designated Holder) without the written consent of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon all of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
executors, personal and legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns, including, without limitation, any successor of the Company by merger, acquisition, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise. 

7.5 Notices. All notices called for under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of
delivery if delivered personally, (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a nationally recognized next-day courier service, (c) on the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) if sent by facsimile transmission during business hours on a Business Day, when transmitted and receipt is confirmed, or otherwise on the following Business Day.
All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the parties at the addresses set forth opposite their signatures below, or to any other address or addressee as any party entitled to receive notice under this Agreement shall designate, from time to time,
to others in the manner provided in this Section 7.5 for the service of notices; provided, however, that notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof. 

7.6 Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that the obligations undertaken by them hereunder are unique and that there
would be no adequate remedy at law if any party fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder, and accordingly agree that each party, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to
(i) compel specific performance of the obligations, covenants and agreements of any other party under this Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (ii) obtain preliminary injunctive relief to secure
specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement in any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction. 

7.7 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. 

(a) This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the conflict of law provisions thereof). Each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State and Federal courts in the State of Delaware, and any
appellate court from any thereof, in any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each party irrevocably
and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such suit, action or other proceeding may be heard and determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in such Federal court. The parties agree that
a final judgment in any such suit, action or other proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable law. 

(b) Each party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby in any court referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (a) of this
Section 7.7. Each party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby in any court referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 7.7. 







 (c) Each party consents, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to service of any
process, summons, notice or document in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.5. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable Law. 

7.8 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial
by jury in respect to any litigation, directly or indirectly, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby. Each party (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party
has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other parties have been induced to enter into this Agreement by,
among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 7.8. 
 7.9 Headings. Section and subsection headings
contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions
hereof. 
 7.10 Pronouns. All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter,
singular or plural, as the identity of the person or entity may require. 
 7.11 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signatures 

7.12 Severability. If fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, at the time such fulfillment shall be due, shall transcend the
limit of validity prescribed by law, then the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and if any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 
 7.13 No Third Party
Beneficiaries. It is the explicit intention of the parties hereto that no person or entity other than the parties hereto is or shall be entitled to bring any action to enforce any provision of this Agreement against any of the parties hereto,
and the covenants, undertakings and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable only by, the parties hereto or their respective successors, heirs, executors, administrators, legal
representatives and permitted assigns. 
 Signatures on following page 







 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly executed on
its behalf as of the date first herein above set forth. 
  

			
	COMPANY:
	
	QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Shirley E. Goza

		 	Name:  Shirley E. Goza
		 	Title:    Secretary and General Counsel


 [Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement] 








							
	Address:	 		 	HOLDERS:
			
		 		 	Paradox Partners, LLC
				
		 		 	By:	 	 /s/ William O. Grabe

		 		 	Name:	 	 William O. Grabe

		 		 	Title:	 	 Manager / Member

			
		 		 	 /s/ John W. Barter

		 		 	John W. Barter
			
		 		 	 /s Peter Marino

		 		 	Peter Marino
			
		 		 	 /s/ Shirley E. Goza

		 		 	Shirley E. Goza
			
		 		 	 /s/ Mark D. Waddington

		 		 	Mark D. Waddington

 [Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement] 







 SCHEDULE I 
  

			
	 Holders

(Name and Address)
	  	 Class A Units

		
	[Name of Holder]	  	[Holder’s Units]