Document:

Exhibit 10.8
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INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
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This Agreement made and entered into this ___ day of ________ ____, (the “Agreement”), by and between Watts Water Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term shall include, where appropriate, any Entity (as hereinafter defined) controlled directly or indirectly by the Company) and ____________ (the “Indemnitee”):
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WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company that it be able to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons available;
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WHEREAS, increased corporate litigation has subjected directors and officers to litigation risks and expenses, and the limitations on the availability of directors and officers liability insurance have made it increasingly difficult for the Company to attract and retain such persons;
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WHEREAS, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws (the “Certificate of Incorporation” and “By-laws,” respectively) require it to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law and permit it to make other indemnification arrangements and agreements;
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WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance of Indemnitee’s rights to full indemnification against litigation risks and expenses (regardless, among other things, of any amendment to or revocation of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or any change in the ownership of the Company or the composition of its Board of Directors);
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WHEREAS, the Company intends that this Agreement provide Indemnitee with greater protection than that which is provided by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws; and
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WHEREAS, Indemnitee is relying upon the rights afforded under this Agreement in continuing as a director or officer of the Company.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
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1.Definitions.
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(a)“Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is serving or has served (i) as a director or officer of the Company, (ii) in any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company, or (iii) as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of any other Entity at the request of the Company.  For purposes of subsection (iii) of this Section 1(a), if Indemnitee is serving or has served as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of a
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Subsidiary, Indemnitee shall be deemed to be serving at the request of the Company.
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(b)“Entity” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, foundation, association, organization or other legal entity.
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(c)“Expenses” shall mean all fees, costs and expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (as defined below), including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, disbursements and retainers (including, without limitation, any such fees, disbursements and retainers incurred by Indemnitee pursuant to Sections 10 and 11(c) of this Agreement), fees and disbursements of expert witnesses, private investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants and investment bankers), court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, travel expenses, duplicating, printing and binding costs, telephone and fax transmission charges, postage, delivery services, secretarial services, and other disbursements and expenses.
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(d)“Indemnifiable Expenses,” “Indemnifiable Liabilities” and “Indemnifiable Amounts” shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in Section 3(a) below.
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(e)“Liabilities” shall mean judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid in settlement.
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(f)“Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution process, investigation, administrative hearing, appeal, or any other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, including a proceeding initiated by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement to enforce Indemnitee’s rights hereunder.
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(g)“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other Entity of which the Company owns (either directly or through or together with another Subsidiary of the Company) either (i) a general partner, managing member or other similar interest or (ii) (A) 50% or more of the voting power of the voting capital equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other Entity, or (B) 50% or more of the outstanding voting capital stock or other voting equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other Entity.
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2.Services of Indemnitee.  In consideration of the Company’s covenants and commitments hereunder, Indemnitee agrees to serve or continue to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company.  However, this Agreement shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.
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3.Agreement to Indemnify.  The Company agrees to indemnify Indemnitee as follows:
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(a)Proceedings Other Than By or In the Right of the Company.  Subject to the exceptions contained in Section 4(a) below, if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Company against all Expenses and Liabilities incurred or paid by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding (referred to herein as “Indemnifiable Expenses” and “Indemnifiable Liabilities,” respectively, and collectively as “Indemnifiable Amounts”).
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(b)Proceedings By or In the Right of the Company.  Subject to the exceptions contained in Section 4(b) below, if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Company against all Indemnifiable Expenses.
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(c)Conclusive Presumption Regarding Standard of Care.  In making any determination required to be made under Delaware law with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee submitted a request therefor in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.
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4.Exceptions to Indemnification.  Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification under Sections 3(a) and 3(b) above in all circumstances other than with respect to any specific claim, issue or matter involved in the Proceeding out of which Indemnitee’s claim for indemnification has arisen, as follows:
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(a)Proceedings Other Than By or In the Right of the Company.  If indemnification is requested under Section 3(a) and it has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that, in connection with such specific claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee failed to act (i) in good faith and (ii) in a manner
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Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder.
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(b)Proceedings By or In the Right of the Company.  If indemnification is requested under Section 3(b) and
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(i) it has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that, in connection with such specific claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee failed to act (A) in good faith and (B) in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Expenses hereunder; or
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(ii) it has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee is liable to the Company with respect to such specific claim, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Expenses hereunder with respect to such claim, issue or matter unless the Court of Chancery or another court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such Indemnifiable Expenses which such court shall deem proper; or
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(iii) it has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee is liable to the Company for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and amendments thereto or similar provisions of any federal, state or local statutory law, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Expenses hereunder.
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(c)Insurance Proceeds.  To the extent payment is actually made to the Indemnitee under a valid and collectible insurance policy in respect of Indemnifiable Amounts in connection with such specific claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder except in respect of any excess beyond the amount of payment under such insurance.
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5.Procedure for Payment of Indemnifiable Amounts.  Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request specifying the Indemnifiable Amounts for which Indemnitee seeks payment under Section 3 of this Agreement and the basis for the claim.  The Company shall pay such Indemnifiable Amounts to Indemnitee within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt of the request.  At the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall furnish such documentation and information as are reasonably available to Indemnitee and necessary to establish that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder.
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6.Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, by reason of settlement, judgment, order or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
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7.Effect of Certain Resolutions.  Neither the settlement or termination of any Proceeding nor the failure of the Company to award indemnification or to determine that indemnification is payable shall create a presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder.  In addition, the termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s action was unlawful.
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8.Agreement to Advance Expenses; Undertaking.  The Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company, in which Indemnitee is involved by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within ten (10) calendar days after the receipt by the Company of a written statement from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.  To the extent required by Delaware law, Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any and all of the amount of Indemnifiable Expenses paid to Indemnitee if it is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee is not entitled under this Agreement to indemnification with respect to such Expenses.  This undertaking is an unlimited general obligation of Indemnitee.
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9.Procedure for Advance Payment of Expenses.  Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request specifying the Indemnifiable Expenses for which Indemnitee seeks an advancement under Section 8 of this Agreement, together with documentation evidencing that Indemnitee has incurred such Indemnifiable Expenses.  Payment of Indemnifiable Expenses
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under Section 8 shall be made no later than ten (10) calendar days after the Company’s receipt of such request.
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10.Remedies of Indemnitee.
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(a)Right to Petition Court.  In the event that Indemnitee makes a request for payment of Indemnifiable Amounts under Sections 3 and 5 above or a request for an advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses under Sections 8 and 9 above and the Company fails to make such payment or advancement in a timely manner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery to enforce the Company’s obligations under this Agreement.
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(b)Burden of Proof.  In any judicial proceeding brought under Section 10(a) above, the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder.
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(c)Expenses.  The Company agrees to reimburse Indemnitee in full for any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with investigating, preparing for, litigating, defending or settling any action brought by Indemnitee under Section 10(a) above, or in connection with any claim or counterclaim brought by the Company in connection therewith, whether or not Indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in connection with any such action.
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(d)Failure to Act Not a Defense.  The failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or the advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses under this Agreement shall not be a defense in any action brought under Section 10(a) above, and shall not create a presumption that such payment or advancement is not permissible.
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11.Defense of the Underlying Proceeding.
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(a)Notice by Indemnitee.  Indemnitee agrees to notify the Company promptly upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information, or other document relating to any Proceeding which may result in the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or the advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses hereunder; provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect in any manner any right of Indemnitee, to receive payments of Indemnifiable Amounts or advancements of Indemnifiable Expenses unless the Company’s ability to defend in such Proceeding is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby.
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(b)Defense by Company.  Subject to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 11(b) and of Section 11(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding which may give rise to the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder; provided, however that the Company shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of notice of any such Proceeding under Section 11(a) above.  The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee or (ii) does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee.  This Section 11(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 10(a) above or pursuant to Section 19 below.
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(c)Indemnitee’s Right to Counsel.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11(b) above, if in a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, (i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes that he or she may have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with the position of other defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between Indemnitee and the Company, or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the defense of such proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate legal counsel of Indemnitee’s choice at the expense of the Company.  In addition, if the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any action, suit or proceeding to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Company, to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter.
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12.Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company hereby represents and warrants to Indemnitee as follows:
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(a)Authority.  The Company has all necessary power and authority to enter into, and be bound by the terms of, this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance of the undertakings contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company.
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(b)Enforceability.  This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.
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13.Insurance.  For a period of six (6) years following the date on which Indemnitee no longer serves as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, and for such longer period, if any, for which Indemnitee may be subject to a Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, the Company (i) shall maintain a policy or policies of insurance with one or more reputable insurance companies providing the Indemnitee with coverage in an amount not less than, and of a type and scope not materially less favorable to Indemnitee than, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage presently maintained by the Company, (ii) shall pay on a timely basis all premiums on such insurance and (iii) shall provide such notices and renewals in a complete and timely manner and take such other actions as may be required in order to keep such insurance in full force and effect.  In all policies of director and officer liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s officers and directors.
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14.Contract Rights Not Exclusive.  The rights to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts and advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to, but not exclusive of, any other rights which Indemnitee may have at any time under applicable law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, or any other agreement, vote of stockholders or directors (or a committee of directors), or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action in any other capacity as a result of Indemnitee’s serving as a director or officer of the Company.
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15.Successors.  This Agreement shall be (a) binding upon all successors and assigns of the Company (including any transferee of all or a substantial portion of the business, stock and/or assets of the Company and any direct or indirect successor by merger or consolidation or otherwise by operation of law) and (b) binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators of Indemnitee.  In the event that the Company or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person or entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person or entity, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company assume the obligations of the Company under this Agreement.  This Agreement shall continue for the benefit of Indemnitee and such heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators after Indemnitee has ceased to have Corporate Status.
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16.Subrogation.  In the event of any payment of Indemnifiable Amounts under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of contribution or recovery of Indemnitee against other persons, and Indemnitee shall take, at the request of the Company, all reasonable action necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
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17.Change in Law.  To the extent that a change in Delaware law (whether by statute or judicial decision) shall permit broader indemnification or advancement of expenses  than is
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provided under the terms of the By-laws and this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to such broader indemnification and advancements, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to such extent.
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18.Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement, or any clause thereof, shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such provision or clause shall be limited or modified in its application to the minimum extent necessary to make such provision or clause valid, legal and enforceable, and the remaining provisions and clauses of this Agreement shall remain fully enforceable and binding on the parties.
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19.Indemnitee as Plaintiff.  Except as provided in Section 10(c) of this Agreement and in the next sentence, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee against the Company, any Entity which it controls, any director or officer thereof, or any third party, unless the Board of Directors of the Company has consented to the initiation of such Proceeding.  This Section shall not apply to counterclaims or affirmative defenses asserted by Indemnitee in an action brought against Indemnitee.
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20.Modifications and Waiver.  Except as provided in Section 17 above with respect to changes in Delaware law which broaden the right of Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company, no supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
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21.General Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered by hand, (b) when transmitted by facsimile and receipt is acknowledged, or (c) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
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	(i)  If to Indemnitee, to:

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	(ii)  If to the Company, to:

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	Watts Water Technologies, Inc.

	815 Chestnut Street

	North Andover, MA 01845

	Facsimile: (978) 688-2976 

	Attention:

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or to such other address as may have been furnished in the same manner by any party to the others.
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22.Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its rules of conflict of laws.  Each of the Company and the Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the courts of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Courts") for any litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto except in such courts), waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  Each of the parties hereto agrees, (a) to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such party's agent for acceptance of legal process, and (b) that service of process may also be made on such party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the United States Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service.  Service made pursuant to (a) or (b) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware.  For purposes of implementing the parties' agreement to appoint and maintain an agent for service of process in the State of Delaware, each such party does hereby appoint The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, as such agent and each such party hereby agrees to complete all actions necessary for such appointment.
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23.[Prior Agreement.  This Agreement supersedes and replaces in its entirety the Indemnification Agreement between the Indemnitee and the Company dated as of _______, ___.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
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	WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

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	By:
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	Name:

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	Title:

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	INDEMNITEE

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	Name:

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Schedule of Omitted Information
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	Name of Indemnitee
	Date of Agreement
	Date of Prior 
Agreement
(Section 23)
	Person Signing on 
behalf of the Company

	Timothy P. Horne
	February 10, 2004
	August 7, 2002
	Patrick S. O’Keefe 
Chief Executive Officer

	Kenneth R. Lepage
	February 10, 2004
	November 5, 2003
	Patrick S. O’Keefe
Chief Executive Officer

	Merilee Raines
	February 7, 2011
	Not Applicable
	David J. Coghlan
Chief Executive Officer

	W. Craig Kissel
	October 30, 2011
	Not Applicable
	David J. Coghlan
Chief Executive Officer

	Joseph T. Noonan
	May 15, 2013
	Not Applicable
	David J. Coghlan
Chief Executive Officer

	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
	May 27, 2014
	Not Applicable
	Kenneth R. Lepage
General Counsel

	Munish Nanda
	April 6, 2015
	Not Applicable
	Kenneth R. Lepage
General Counsel

	Christopher L. Conway
	June 2, 2015
	Not Applicable
	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer

	Joseph W. Reitmeier
	February 10, 2016
	Not Applicable
	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer

	Jennifer L. Congdon
	December 12, 2016
	Not Applicable
	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer

	David A. Dunbar
	February 8, 2017
	Not Applicable
	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer

	Jes Munk Hansen
	February 8, 2017
	Not Applicable
	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer

	Louise K. Goeser
	March 12, 2018
	Not Applicable
	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer

	Shashank Patel
	July 2, 2018
	Not Applicable
	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer

	Michael J. Dubose
	December 8, 2020
	Not Applicable
	Robert J. Pagano, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer

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Exhibit 4.10

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON SHARES
The following summary of the material terms and provisions of our common shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to the detailed provisions of our Declaration of Trust and our By-Laws, each as supplemented, amended or restated, and each of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.10 is a part. You should carefully read each of these documents in order to fully understand the terms and provisions of our common shares.
General
Under our Declaration of Trust, we have the authority to issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 400,000,000 shares are classified as common shares, 500,000,000 are classified as excess stock, or excess shares, and 100,000,000 shares are classified as preferred shares. As of December 31, 2020, we had issued and outstanding 277,152,450 common shares.
Terms
Subject to the preferential rights of any other shares or class or series of our equity securities and to the provisions of our Declaration of Trust regarding excess shares, holders of common shares are entitled to receive dividends on such common shares if, as and when authorized by our board of trustees and declared by us out of assets legally available therefor and to share ratably in those of our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders in the event that we liquidate, dissolve or wind up, after payment of, or adequate provision for, all of our known debts and liabilities and the amount to which holders of any class of shares having a preference on distributions in liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us will be entitled. 
Subject to the provisions of our Declaration of Trust regarding excess shares, each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of trustees and, except as otherwise required by law or except as otherwise provided in our Declaration of Trust with respect to any other class or series of shares, the holders of common shares will possess exclusive voting power. In uncontested elections of trustees at a meeting duly called at which a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote is sufficient to elect a trustee nominee. In contested elections at a meeting duly called at which a quorum is present, a plurality of votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote is required for the election of a trustee. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a trustee nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” or “withheld” with respect to such trustee nominee. Votes “against” or “withheld” with respect to a nominee will count as votes cast with respect to that nominee, but “abstentions” and broker non-votes with respect to that nominee will not count as votes cast with respect to that nominee. There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees, which means that the holders of a majority of our outstanding common shares can elect all of the trustees then standing for election, and the holders of the remaining common shares will not be able to elect any trustees. 

Subject to the provisions of our Declaration of Trust regarding excess shares, holders of common shares have no conversion, sinking fund or redemption rights or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. 
We furnish our shareholders with annual reports containing audited consolidated financial statements and an opinion thereon expressed by an independent registered public accounting firm. 
Subject to the provisions of our Declaration of Trust regarding excess shares, all of the common shares have equal dividend, distribution, liquidation and other rights and generally have no preference, appraisal or exchange rights.
Restrictions on Ownership
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code, among other things, not more than 50% in value of its outstanding shares of capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. To assist us in meeting this requirement, among other purposes, our Declaration of Trust contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our shares.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for the common shares is Computershare.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED SHARES
The following summary of the material terms and provisions of our preferred shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to the detailed provisions of our Declaration of Trust (including any applicable articles supplementary, amendment or annex to our Declaration of Trust designating the terms of a series of preferred shares) and our By-Laws, each as supplemented, amended or restated, and each of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.10 is a part. You should carefully read each of these documents in order to fully understand the terms and provisions of our preferred shares.
General
Under our Declaration of Trust, we have the authority to issue up to 100,000,000 preferred shares, of which 3,100,000 shares are classified as Series C Preferred Shares. As of December 31, 2020, we have issued and outstanding 1,935,400 Series C Preferred Shares and have no other outstanding series of preferred shares. 
Subject to limitations prescribed by Maryland law and our Declaration of Trust, our board of trustees is authorized to classify and reclassify any unissued shares and to set the number of shares constituting each class or series of preferred shares and the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption. The preferred shares will, 

when issued against payment therefor, be fully paid and nonassessable and will not be subject to preemptive rights, unless determined by our board of trustees. Our board of trustees could authorize the issuance of preferred shares with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction that holders of common shares might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of common shares might receive a premium for their common shares over the then-current market price of their shares.
Terms of Our 6.50% Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
General. In December 2004 and January 2005, we sold an aggregate 3,100,000 Series C Preferred Shares. The Series C Preferred Shares are convertible into common shares and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LXPPRC.” As of December 31, 2020, 1,935,400 Series C Preferred Shares remain outstanding.
Dividends. Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of shares ranking senior to the Series C Preferred Shares as to dividends, the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares are entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by the board of trustees and declared by us, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at a rate of 6.50% per annum of the $50.00 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to $3.25 per year per share). 
Liquidation Preference. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of us, holders of the Series C Preferred Shares (and of the excess shares converted from Series C Preferred Shares, if any) will have the right to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders $50.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) to and including the date of payment, before any payments are made to the holders of common shares and any other shares ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Shares as to liquidation rights. The rights of the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares to receive their liquidation preference will be subject to the proportionate rights of each other series or class of our capital shares ranking, as to liquidation rights, on a parity with the Series C Preferred Shares. The consolidation or merger of LXP with or into any other trust, corporation or entity, or the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business, will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of us.
Redemption. We may not redeem the Series C Preferred Shares unless necessary to preserve our status as a REIT. 
Conversion Rights. The Series C Preferred Shares may be converted by the holder, at its option (the “Optional Conversion”), into common shares, at a conversion rate of 2.4339 common shares per $50.00 liquidation preference, as of December 31, 2020, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $20.54 per common share (subject to adjustment in certain events). 
Company Conversion Option. We may, at our option, cause the Series C Preferred Shares to be automatically converted into that number of common shares that are issuable at the then prevailing conversion rate (the “Company Conversion Option”) in the following 

circumstances. We may exercise our conversion right only if, for at least twenty (20) trading days within any period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days (including the last trading day of such period), the closing price of the common shares equals or exceeds 125% of the then prevailing conversion price of the Series C Preferred Shares. In addition, if there are fewer than 25,000 Series C Preferred Shares outstanding, we may, at our option, cause all of the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares to be automatically converted into that number of common shares equal to $50.00 divided by the lesser of the then prevailing conversion price and the current market price for the five trading day period ending on the second trading day immediately prior to the conversion date. 
Settlement. Upon conversion (whether pursuant to an Optional Conversion or the Company Conversion Option), we may choose to deliver the conversion value to investors in cash, common shares or a combination of cash and common shares. 
We can elect at any time to obligate ourselves to satisfy solely in cash, the portion of the conversion value that is equal to 100% of the liquidation preference amount of the Series C Preferred Shares, with any remaining amount of the conversion value to be satisfied in cash, common shares or a combination of cash and common shares. If we elect to do so, we will notify holders at any time that we intend to settle in cash the portion of the conversion value that is equal to the liquidation preference amount of the Series C Preferred Shares. This notification, once provided to holders, will be irrevocable and will apply to future conversions of the Series C Preferred Shares even if the shares cease to be convertible but subsequently become convertible again. 
Payment of Dividends Upon Conversion. With respect to an Optional Conversion, upon delivery of the Series C Preferred Shares for conversion, those Series C Preferred Shares will cease to accumulate dividends as of the end of the day immediately preceding the conversion date and a holder of such converted Series C Preferred Shares will not receive any cash payment representing accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series C Preferred Shares, whether or not in arrears, except in certain limited circumstances. With respect to the Company Conversion Option, a holder of such converted Series C Preferred Shares will receive a cash payment for all unpaid dividends in arrears. If we exercise the Company Conversion Option and the conversion date is on or after the record date for payment of dividends and before the corresponding dividend payment date, such holder will also receive a cash payment for the dividend payable for such period. If we exercise the Company Conversion Option and the conversion date is prior to the record date for payment of dividends, such holder will not receive payment for any portion of the dividend payable for such period. 
Conversion Rate Adjustments. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including if we distribute in any quarter to all or substantially all holders of common shares, any cash, including quarterly cash dividends, in excess of an amount per common share (subject to adjustment), which is currently approximately $0.38. 
Fundamental Change. Upon the occurrence of certain fundamental changes in LXP, a holder may require us to purchase for cash all or part of its Series C Preferred Shares at a price equal to 100% of their liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, up to, but not including, the fundamental change purchase date. 

Rank. With respect to the payment of dividends and amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the Series C Preferred Shares rank (i) senior to all classes or series of common shares and to all equity securities ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Shares, (ii) on a parity with all equity securities the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity with the Series C Preferred Shares, and (iii) junior to all equity securities the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the Series C Preferred Shares.
Voting Rights. Holders of the Series C Preferred Shares generally have no voting rights. However, if we do not pay dividends on the Series C Preferred Shares for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares voting together as a class with all other classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series C Preferred Shares which are entitled to similar voting rights, will be entitled to vote at the next annual meeting of our shareholders and at each subsequent annual meeting for the election of two additional trustees to serve on our board of trustees until all unpaid cumulative dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. The holders of Series C Preferred Shares and all other classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series C Preferred Shares which are entitled to similar voting rights will be entitled to one vote per $25.00 of liquidation preference (i.e., two votes for each Series C Preferred Share). In addition, the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Series C Preferred Shares, and all other classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series C Preferred Shares which are entitled to similar voting rights, voting together as a class, is required for us (i) to authorize, create or increase the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of shares ranking senior to the Series C Preferred Shares with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolutions or winding up of our affairs or (ii) to amend our Declaration of Trust (whether by merger, consolidation, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of its assets or otherwise) in a manner that materially and adversely affects the rights of the Series C Preferred Shares; provided, however, with respect to the occurrence of any event described in clause (ii) above, so long as the Series C Preferred Shares remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged (taking into account that, upon the occurrence of such an event, we may not be the surviving entity), the occurrence of such an event will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights of the Series C Preferred Shares and holders of Series C Preferred Shares will not have any voting rights with respect to the occurrence of the event or the holders thereof.
Restrictions on Ownership
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, among other things, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding shares of capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. To assist us in meeting this requirement, among other purposes, our Declaration of Trust contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our shares, including our preferred shares. 

Transfer Agent
As of December 31, 2020, the transfer agent and registrar for our Series C Preferred Shares is Computershare.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES AND RELATED GUARANTEES
The following description contains general terms and provisions of the debt securities and, as applicable, related guarantees. For more information, please refer to the senior indentures we have entered into with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the issuance of the senior notes. Forms of these documents are filed as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.10 is a part. Any such notes may or may not be guaranteed by one or more of our Subsidiaries.
As used in this Exhibit 4.10, the term indentures refers to the senior indentures. The senior indenture is governed by the Trust Indenture Act. As used in this Exhibit 4.10, the term trustee refers to the senior trustee. 
The following are summaries of material provisions of the senior indentures. As summaries, they do not purport to be complete or restate the indentures in their entirety and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the indentures and the debt securities and related guarantees. We urge you to read the indentures applicable to a particular series of debt securities because they, and not this description, define the rights of the holders of the debt securities and related guarantees.
General
The debt securities may consist of debentures, notes, bonds or other types of indebtedness. One or more series of debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below its stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. One or more series of debt securities may be variable rate debt securities that may be exchanged for fixed rate debt securities. 
Debt securities may be issued where the amount of principal and/or interest payable is determined by reference to one or more currency or other indices or other formulas. Holders of such securities may receive a principal amount or a payment of interest that is greater than or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon the value of the applicable currency or other reference factor.
The term “debt securities” includes debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars or, if specified in the indenture, in any other freely transferable currency or currency unit.
We expect most debt securities to be issued in fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples thereof. Subject to the limitations provided in the indenture, debt securities that are issued in registered form may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate office of the trustee or the principal corporate trust office of the trustee, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor.
Governing Law
The indentures and the debt securities are construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.
4.25% Senior Notes due 2023
On June 10, 2013, we issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.25% Senior Notes due 2023, which we refer to as the “2023 Notes.” The 2023 Notes were issued by us at an initial offering price of 99.026% of their face value.
On September 14, 2020, we repurchased $61.2 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes pursuant to a tender offer.
The terms of the 2023 Notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of June 10, 2013, as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated September 30, 2013, which we collectively refer to as the 2023 Indenture, by and among us, as issuer, Lepercq Corporate Income Fund L.P., or LCIF (formerly a guarantor),  and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The 2023 Notes mature on June 15, 2023, and accrue interest at a rate of 4.25% per annum, payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year. Interest payments commenced on December 15, 2013.
Prior to March 15, 2023, we may redeem the 2023 Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to its present value, on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at an adjusted treasury rate plus 35 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption. At any time on or after March 15, 2023, the 2023 Notes will be redeemable, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2023 Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the amount being redeemed to, but not including, the date of redemption.
The 2023 Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, and incur secured and unsecured indebtedness.
Subject to the terms of the 2023 Indenture and the 2023 Notes, upon certain events of default, including, but not limited to, failure to comply with any of our other agreements in the 

2023 Notes or the 2023 Indenture, upon receipt by us of notice of such default from the trustee or from holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes then outstanding and our failure to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within 60 days after we receive such notice, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding 2023 Notes may declare the principal and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the 2023 Notes to be due and payable immediately by written notice to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders). Upon certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of us, our operating partnership, or any other significant subsidiary, the principal (or such portion thereof) of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the 2023 Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders.
Certain of our payment obligations with respect to the 2023 Notes were required to be guaranteed by LCIF upon issuance. LCIF was released from its guarantee effective December 21, 2018.
In addition, the 2023 Notes are cross-defaulted with certain of our indebtedness.
In connection with the issuance and sale of the 2023 Notes, we also entered into a registration rights agreement with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, in their capacity as representatives of the initial purchasers, dated as of June 10, 2013, which we refer to as the Registration Rights Agreement. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, on March 4, 2014, we completed the offer to exchange notes for an issue of registered notes with terms identical to the 2023 Notes.
4.40% Senior Notes due 2024
On May 20, 2014, we issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.40% Senior Notes due 2024, which we refer to as the “2024 Notes.” The 2024 Notes were issued by us at an initial offering price of 99.883% of their face value.  
On September 14, 2020, we repurchased $51.1 million aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes pursuant to a tender offer.
The terms of the 2024 Notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of May 9, 2014, as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated May 20, 2014, which we collectively refer to as the 2024 Indenture, by and among us, as issuer, LCIF (formerly a guarantor), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The 2024 Notes mature on June 15, 2024, and accrue interest at a rate of 4.40% per annum, payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year. Interest payments commenced on December 15, 2014.
Prior to March 15, 2024, we may redeem the 2024 Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to its present value, on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at an adjusted treasury rate plus 35 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption. At any time on or after March 15, 2024, the 2024 Notes will be redeemable, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2024 Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the amount being redeemed to, but not including, the date of redemption.

The 2024 Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, and incur secured and unsecured indebtedness.
Subject to the terms of the 2024 Indenture and the 2024 Notes, upon certain events of default, including, but not limited to, failure to comply with any of our other agreements in the 2024 Notes or the 2024 Indenture, upon receipt by us of notice of such default from the trustee or from holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes then outstanding and our failure to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within 60 days after we receive such notice, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding 2024 Notes may declare the principal and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the 2024 Notes to be due and payable immediately by written notice to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders). Upon certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of us, our operating partnership, or any other significant subsidiary, the principal (or such portion thereof) of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the 2024 Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders.
Certain of our payment obligations with respect to the 2024 Notes were required to be guaranteed by LCIF upon issuance. LCIF was released from its guarantee effective December 21, 2018.
In addition, the 2024 Notes are cross-defaulted with certain of our indebtedness.
2.700% Senior Notes due 2030
On August 20, 2020, we issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 2.700% Senior Notes due 2030, which we refer to as the “2030 Notes.” The 2030 Notes were issued by us at an initial offering price of 99.233% of their face value.
The terms of the 2030 Notes are governed by the 2024 Indenture as supplemented by the second supplemental indenture dated August 28, 2020, which as supplemented we collectively refer to as the 2030 Indenture. The 2030 Notes mature on September 15, 2030, and accrue interest at a rate of 2.700% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year. Interest payments will commence on March 15, 2021.
Prior to June 15, 2030, we may redeem the 2030 Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) that would be due if such notes matured 90 days prior to their maturity date but for the redemption thereof, discounted to the redemption date, on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at an adjusted treasury rate plus 35 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption. At any time on or after June 15, 2030, the 2030 Notes will be redeemable, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2030 Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the amount being redeemed to, but not including, the date of redemption.
The 2030 Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, and incur secured and unsecured indebtedness.

Subject to the terms of the 2030 Indenture and the 2030 Notes, upon certain events of default, including, but not limited to, failure to comply with any of our other agreements in the 2030 Notes or the 2030 Indenture, upon receipt by us of notice of such default from the trustee or from holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes then outstanding and our failure to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within 60 days after we receive such notice, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding 2030 Notes may declare the principal and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the 2030 Notes to be due and payable immediately by written notice to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders). Upon certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of us, our operating partnership, or any other significant subsidiary, the principal (or such portion thereof) of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the 2030 Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders.
The 2030 Notes are cross-defaulted with certain of our indebtedness.
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS OF CAPITAL STOCK  
AND ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
Restrictions Relating to REIT Status
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, among other things, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares of our capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year, and such shares of our capital stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year (in each case, other than the first such year). To assist us in continuing to remain a qualified REIT, among other purposes, our Declaration of Trust, subject to certain exceptions, provides that no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in value of our equity shares, defined as common shares or preferred shares. We refer to this restriction as the Ownership Limit. Our board of trustees may exempt a person from the Ownership Limit if upon receipt of a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel or other evidence satisfactory to our board of trustees is presented that the exemption will not result in us having fewer than 100 beneficial owners or in us being “closely held.” Any transfer of equity shares or any security convertible into equity shares that would create a direct or indirect ownership of equity shares in excess of the Ownership Limit or that would result in the equity shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons or result in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, will be null and void, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to such equity shares. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board of trustees determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. 
In addition, equity shares owned, or deemed to be owned, or transferred to a shareholder in excess of the Ownership Limit or that would cause us to become “closely held” within the meaning of the Code, will automatically be converted into an equal number of excess shares that will be transferred, by operation of law, to us as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of the transferees to whom such shares of beneficial interest in us may be ultimately transferred without violating the Ownership Limit. While the excess shares are held in trust, they will not be entitled 

to vote (except as required by Maryland law), they will not be considered for purposes of any shareholder vote or the determination of a quorum for such vote and, except upon liquidation, they will not be entitled to participate in dividends or other distributions. Any dividend or distribution paid on excess shares prior to our discovery that equity shares have converted for excess shares will be repaid to us upon demand. The excess shares are not treasury shares, but rather constitute a separate class of our issued and outstanding shares. The original transferee-shareholder may, at any time the excess shares are held by us in trust, transfer the interest in the trust representing the excess shares to any individual whose ownership of the equity shares exchanged into such excess shares would be permitted under our Declaration of Trust, at a price not in excess of the price paid by the original transferee-shareholder for the equity shares that were exchanged into excess shares, or, if the transferee-shareholder did not give value for such shares, a price not in excess of the market price (as determined in the manner set forth in our Declaration of Trust) on the date of the purported transfer. Immediately upon the transfer to the permitted transferee, the excess shares will automatically be converted into equity shares of the class from which they were converted. If the foregoing transfer restrictions are determined to be void or invalid by virtue of any legal decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the intended transferee of any excess shares may be deemed, at our option, to have acted as an agent on our behalf in acquiring the excess shares and to hold the excess shares on our behalf. 
In addition to the foregoing transfer restrictions, we will have the right, for a period of 90 days during the time any excess shares are held by us in trust, to purchase all or any portion of the excess shares from the original transferee-shareholder for the lesser of the price paid for the equity shares by the original transferee-shareholder or the market price (as determined in the manner set forth in our Declaration of Trust) on the date we exercise our option to purchase. The 90-day period begins on the later of the date of the transfer that resulted in excess stock or the date on which our board of trustees determines in good faith that a transfer resulting in excess shares has occurred, if we do not receive written notice of the transfer or other event resulting in the exchange of equity shares for excess shares.
Any person who acquires or attempts to acquire equity shares in violation of the foregoing restrictions, or any person who is a transferee such that excess shares resulted from such transfer, will be required to give written notice immediately to us of such event and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such transfer, or attempted transfer, on our status as a REIT.
All persons who own, directly or indirectly, (i) more than 5% of the outstanding equity shares, (ii) more than 1% of the outstanding equity shares during any period in which the number of beneficial or constructive owners is fewer than 2,000 or (iii) such lower percentages as required pursuant to regulations under the Code must, within 30 days after January 1 of each year, provide to us a written statement or affidavit stating the name and address of such direct or indirect owner, the number of equity shares owned directly or indirectly, and a description of how such shares are held. In addition, each direct or indirect shareholder shall provide to us such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limitation.

This Ownership Limit may have the effect of precluding an acquisition of control unless our board of trustees determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in our best interests.
Authorized Capital
Under our Declaration of Trust, we have authority to issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 400,000,000 shares are classified as common shares, 500,000,000 shares are classified as excess stock and 100,000,000 shares are classified as preferred shares. We may issue such shares from time to time in the discretion of our board of trustees to raise additional capital, acquire assets, including additional real properties, redeem or retire debt or for any other business purpose. In addition, the undesignated preferred shares may be issued in one or more additional classes or series with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights including, without limitation, preferential dividend or voting rights, and rights upon liquidation, as will be fixed by our board of trustees. Our board of trustees is authorized to classify and reclassify any of our unissued shares of beneficial interest by setting or changing, in any one or more respects, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of such shares. This authority includes, without limitation, subject to the provisions of our Declaration of Trust, authority to classify or reclassify any unissued shares into a class or classes of preferred shares, preference shares, special shares or other shares, and to divide and reclassify shares of any class into one or more series of that class. 
In some circumstances, the issuance of preferred shares, or the exercise by our board of trustees of its right to classify or reclassify shares, could have the effect of deterring individuals or entities from making tender offers for our common shares or seeking to change incumbent management.
Maryland Law
Our Board of Trustees. Our Declaration of Trust and By-laws provide that the number of our trustees may be established, increased or decreased only by a majority of the entire board of trustees.
Removal of Trustees. Our Declaration of Trust provides that, subject to the rights of the holders of any class separately entitled to elect one or more trustees, a trustee may be removed, but only for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of trustees. 
Extraordinary Actions, Amendment of Declaration of Trust. Under the Maryland REIT Law, a Maryland real estate investment trust generally cannot amend its declaration of trust or merge with, or convert into, another entity unless advised by its board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a different percentage (but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in its declaration of trust. Our Declaration of Trust provides that those actions, with the exception of certain amendments to our Declaration of Trust 

for which a higher vote requirement has been set, will be valid and effective if authorized by holders of a majority of the total number of shares of all classes outstanding and entitled to vote thereon. Under our Declaration of Trust, our dissolution and termination requires the affirmation of shareholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Amendment to Our By-laws. Our By-laws may be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded (a) by our shareholders only by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of trustees or (b) by vote of two-thirds of our board of trustees. 
Meetings of Shareholders. Under our By-laws, annual meetings of shareholders are held on the first day of May in each year, or at such other time on such other day falling on or before the 30th day thereafter as shall be set by our board of trustees. Special meetings of shareholders may be called only by the chairman of our board of trustees, our president or a majority of our board of trustees. Subject to the provisions of our By-laws, a special meeting of our shareholders to act on any matter that may properly be considered by our shareholders will also be called by our secretary upon the written request of the shareholders entitled to cast not less than 25% of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting.
Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business. Our By-laws provide that in order to make nominations of individuals for election as trustees or proposals of business to be considered by shareholders at any annual meeting, shareholders generally must provide notice to our secretary not less than 120 days in advance of the release date of our proxy statement to shareholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting. A shareholder’s notice must contain certain information specified by our By-laws about the shareholder and any proposed business or nominee for election as a trustee, including information about the economic interest of the shareholder and any proposed nominee.
Proxy Access Procedures for Qualifying Shareholders. Our By-laws permit a shareholder, or a group of up to 20 shareholders, that owns 3% or more of the our common shares continuously for at least three years to nominate and include in our proxy materials candidates for election as trustees, subject to certain terms and conditions. Such shareholder(s) or group(s) of shareholders may nominate trustee candidates constituting up to the greater of two persons or 20% of our board of trustees, provided that the shareholder(s) and the trustee nominee(s) satisfy the eligibility, notice and other requirements specified in the By-laws. 
Business Combinations. Under Maryland law, certain “business combinations” between a Maryland real estate investment trust and an “interested shareholder” or an affiliate of an interested shareholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested shareholder is defined as:
•any person who beneficially owns ten percent or more of the voting power of the trust’s shares; or 

•    an affiliate or associate of the trust who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of ten percent or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of the trust.
A person is not an interested shareholder under the statute if the board of trustees approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested shareholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of trustees may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms or conditions determined by the board of trustees. 
After the five-year prohibition, any such business combination between the Maryland real estate investment trust and an interested shareholder generally must be recommended by the board of trustees of the trust and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
•    eighty percent of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of the trust; and
•    two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares of the trust other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder.
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the trust’s common shareholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares. 
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of trustees prior to the time that the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. 
Our board of trustees has exempted Vornado Realty Trust and its affiliates, to a limited extent, from these restrictions. 
The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer. 
Control Share Acquisitions. Maryland law provides that holders of “control shares” of a Maryland real estate investment trust acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror, by officers or by employees who are trustees of the trust are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares which, if aggregated with all other shares owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing trustees within one of the following ranges of voting power:
•    one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

•    one-third or more but less than a majority; or
•    a majority or more of all voting power.
Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions. 
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of trustees of the trust to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the trust may itself present the question at any shareholders meeting. 
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the trust may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the trust to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of shareholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other shareholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition. 
The control share acquisition statute does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the trust is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the declaration of trust or bylaws of the trust. 
Our By-Laws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of our shares. There can be no assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.
Certain Elective Provisions of Maryland Law. Maryland law provides that a Maryland real estate investment trust with a class of equity securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that has at least three independent trustees, may elect by provision of its declaration or bylaws or by resolution adopted by its board of trustees to be subject to all or any of the following provisions, notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained in its existing declaration of trust or bylaws and without shareholder approval:
•    a classified board; 
•    a two-thirds vote of outstanding shares to remove a trustee; 

•    a requirement that the number of trustees be fixed only by vote of the board of trustees; 
•    a requirement that a vacancy on the board of trustees be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining trustees and that such trustee filling the vacancy serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of trustees in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies; and 
•    a provision that a special meeting of shareholders must be called upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.
We have not elected to be governed by any of these specific provisions. However, our Declaration of Trust and/or By-Laws, as applicable, already provide for an 80% shareholder vote to remove trustees and then only for cause, and that the number of trustees may be determined by a resolution of our Board, subject to a minimum number. In addition, we can elect to be governed by any or all of the foregoing provisions of Maryland law at any time in the future.

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