Document:

Exhibit 10.4

 

SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

by and between

 

STARWOOD PROPERTY TRUST, INC.

 

and

 

STARWOOD WAYPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST

 

dated as of

 

                            , 2014

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I
    
	
 
    
	
DEFINITIONS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 1.1
    	
Definitions
    	
1
    
	
Section 1.2
    	
Interpretation
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II
    
	
 
    
	
THE SEPARATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 2.1
    	
Separation Transactions
    	
10
    
	
Section 2.2
    	
Transfers of Assets and   Assumptions of Liabilities
    	
10
    
	
Section 2.3
    	
Termination of Intercompany   Agreements
    	
12
    
	
Section 2.4
    	
Settlement of Intercompany   Account
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III
    
	
 
    
	
CERTAIN ACTIONS PRIOR TO THE DISTRIBUTION
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 3.1
    	
SEC and Other Securities   Filings
    	
13
    
	
Section 3.2
    	
NYSE Listing Application
    	
14
    
	
Section 3.3
    	
Distribution Agent   Agreement
    	
14
    
	
Section 3.4
    	
SWAY Management Agreements
    	
14
    
	
Section 3.5
    	
Governmental Approvals and   Consents
    	
14
    
	
Section 3.6
    	
Ancillary Agreements
    	
14
    
	
Section 3.7
    	
Governance Matters
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV
    
	
 
    
	
THE DISTRIBUTION
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 4.1
    	
Dividend to STWD
    	
15
    
	
Section 4.2
    	
Delivery to Distribution   Agent
    	
15
    
	
Section 4.3
    	
Mechanics of the   Distribution
    	
15
    
	
Section 4.4
    	
Restricted Share Units
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V
    
	
 
    
	
CONDITIONS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 5.1
    	
Conditions Precedent to   Consummation of the Distribution
    	
17
    
	
Section 5.2
    	
Right Not to Close
    	
18
    

 

i

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 (Continued)

 

	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI
    
	
 
    
	
NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 6.1
    	
Disclaimer of   Representations and Warranties
    	
18
    
	
Section 6.2
    	
As Is, Where Is
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII
    
	
 
    
	
CERTAIN COVENANTS AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 7.1
    	
Insurance Matters
    	
19
    
	
Section 7.2
    	
Tax Matters
    	
19
    
	
Section 7.3
    	
No Restrictions on   Post-Closing Competitive Activities; Corporate Opportunities
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII
    
	
 
    
	
ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY; PRIVILEGE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 8.1
    	
Agreement for Exchange of   Information
    	
22
    
	
Section 8.2
    	
Ownership of Information
    	
23
    
	
Section 8.3
    	
Compensation for Providing   Information
    	
23
    
	
Section 8.4
    	
Retention of Records
    	
23
    
	
Section 8.5
    	
Limitation of Liability
    	
23
    
	
Section 8.6
    	
Production of Witnesses
    	
23
    
	
Section 8.7
    	
Confidentiality
    	
24
    
	
Section 8.8
    	
Privileged Matters
    	
25
    
	
Section 8.9
    	
Financial Information   Certifications
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX
    
	
 
    
	
MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 9.1
    	
Release of Pre-Distribution   Claims
    	
27
    
	
Section 9.2
    	
Indemnification by SWAY
    	
28
    
	
Section 9.3
    	
Indemnification by STWD
    	
29
    
	
Section 9.4
    	
Procedures for   Indemnification
    	
30
    
	
Section 9.5
    	
Indemnification Obligations   Net of Insurance Proceeds
    	
32
    
	
Section 9.6
    	
Indemnification Obligations   Net of Taxes
    	
33
    
	
Section 9.7
    	
Contribution
    	
33
    
	
Section 9.8
    	
Remedies Cumulative
    	
34
    
	
Section 9.9
    	
Survival of Indemnities
    	
34
    
	
Section 9.10
    	
Limitation of Liability
    	
34
    

 

ii

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 (Continued)

 

	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    
	
ARTICLE X
    
	
 
    
	
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 10.1
    	
Appointed Representative
    	
34
    
	
Section 10.2
    	
Negotiation and Dispute   Resolution
    	
34
    
	
Section 10.3
    	
Arbitration
    	
35
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XI
    
	
 
    
	
TERMINATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 11.1
    	
Termination
    	
36
    
	
Section 11.2
    	
Effect of Termination
    	
36
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XII
    
	
 
    
	
MISCELLANEOUS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 12.1
    	
Further Assurances
    	
36
    
	
Section 12.2
    	
Payment of Expenses
    	
36
    
	
Section 12.3
    	
Amendments and Waivers
    	
36
    
	
Section 12.4
    	
Entire Agreement
    	
37
    
	
Section 12.5
    	
Survival of Agreements
    	
37
    
	
Section 12.6
    	
Third Party Beneficiaries
    	
37
    
	
Section 12.7
    	
Notices
    	
37
    
	
Section 12.8
    	
Counterparts; Electronic   Delivery
    	
38
    
	
Section 12.9
    	
Severability
    	
38
    
	
Section 12.10
    	
Assignability; Binding   Effect
    	
38
    
	
Section 12.11
    	
Governing Law
    	
38
    
	
Section 12.12
    	
Construction
    	
38
    
	
Section 12.13
    	
Performance
    	
39
    
	
Section 12.14
    	
Title and Headings
    	
39
    
	
Section 12.15
    	
Exhibits and Schedules
    	
39
    

 

Exhibit A — SWAY Subsidiaries

 

iii

 

SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of                      , 2014, by and between Starwood Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“STWD”), and Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of STWD (“SWAY”).  STWD and SWAY are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party,” and collectively as the “Parties.”  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.1.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, STWD, through SWAY, has invested in certain single-family homes and distressed and non-performing residential mortgage loans;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of STWD has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of STWD to establish SWAY as an independent publicly traded company; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Parties intend to effect the separation of STWD and SWAY by distributing to the holders of STWD’s outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“STWD Common Stock”), on a pro rata basis, all of the common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, of SWAY (“SWAY Common Shares”), owned by STWD as of the Distribution Date (which shall represent 100% of the issued and outstanding SWAY Common Shares).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants and agreements set forth below and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1            Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:

 

“Action” means any demand, claim, action, suit, countersuit, arbitration, litigation, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal or authority.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the specified Person.  For this purpose “control” of a Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and includes all Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto or delivered pursuant hereto.

 

“Agreement Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2(a).

 

“Ancillary Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

“Appointed Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

 

“Appropriate Member of the STWD Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.

 

“Appropriate Member of the SWAY Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.

 

“Asset” means all rights, properties or other assets, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, of any kind, nature and description, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise, and wheresoever situated and whether or not carried or reflected, or required to be carried or reflected, on the books of any Person.

 

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions located in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by applicable Law or executive order to close.

 

“Co-Investment and Allocation Agreement” means the Co-Investment and Allocation Agreement among SWAY, the SWAY Manager and Starwood Capital Group Global, L.P.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Confidential Information” means any and all information:

 

(a)                                 that is required to be maintained in confidence by any Law or under any Contract;

 

(b)                                 concerning market studies, business plans, computer hardware, computer software (including all versions, source and object codes and all related files and data), software and database technologies, systems, structures and architectures, and other similar technical or business information;

 

(c)                                  concerning any business and its affairs, which includes earnings reports and forecasts, macro-economic reports and forecasts, business and strategic plans, general market evaluations and surveys, litigation presentations and risk assessments, financing and credit-related information, financial projections, tax returns and accountants’ materials, historical, business plans, strategic plans, Contracts, however documented, and other similar financial or business information;

 

(d)                                 constituting communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memos and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), communications and materials otherwise related to or made or prepared in connection with or in preparation for any legal proceeding; or

 

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(e)                                  constituting notes, analyses, compilations, studies, summaries and other material that contain or are based, in whole or in part, upon any information included in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d).

 

“Consent” means any consent, waiver or approval from, or notification requirement to, any Person other than a member of either Group.

 

“Contract” means any written, oral, implied or other contract, agreement, covenant, lease, license, guaranty, indemnity, representation, warranty, assignment, sales order, purchase order, power of attorney, instrument or other commitment, assurance, undertaking or arrangement that is binding on any Person or entity or any part of its property under applicable Law.

 

“CPR” means The International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution.

 

“CPR Rules” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a).

 

“Distribution” means the transactions contemplated by Section 4.3.

 

“Distribution Agent” means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

“Distribution Date” means the date on which the Distribution occurs, such date to be determined by, or under the authority of, the board of directors of STWD, in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

“Distribution Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

“Effective Time” means the time at which the Distribution is effective on the Distribution Date.

 

“Escrow Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(h).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Expense Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(h).

 

“Expense Amount Accountant’s Letter” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(h).

 

“Expense Amount Tax Opinion” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(h).

 

“Governance Rights Agreement” means the Governance Rights Agreement among Starwood Capital Group Global, L.P., Waypoint Real Estate Group Holdco, LLC and SWAY.

 

“Governmental Approval” means any notice, report or other filing to be given to or made with, or any release, consent, substitution, approval, amendment, registration, permit or authorization from, any Governmental Authority.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other regulatory, administrative or governmental authority.

 

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“Group” means either the STWD Group or the SWAY Group, as the context requires.

 

“Guarantee” means any guarantee (including guarantees of performance or payment under Contracts, commitments, Liabilities and permits), letter of credit or other credit or credit support arrangement or similar assurance, including surety bonds, bid bonds, advance payment bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds, retention and/or warranty bonds or other bonds or similar instruments.

 

“Indebtedness” of any specified Person means (a) all obligations of such specified Person for borrowed money or arising out of any extension of credit to or for the account of such specified Person (including reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to surety bonds, letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and similar instruments), (b) all obligations of such specified Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such specified Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such specified Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to Assets purchased by such specified Person, (e) all obligations of such specified Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, (f) all Liabilities secured by (or for which any Person to which any such Liability is owed has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, lien, pledge or other encumbrance on property owned or acquired by such specified Person (or upon any revenues, income or profits of such specified Person therefrom), whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed by the specified Person or otherwise become Liabilities of the specified Person, (g) all capital lease obligations of such specified Person, (h) all securities or other similar instruments convertible or exchangeable into any of the foregoing, and (i) any Liability of others of a type described in any of the preceding clauses (a) through (h) in respect of which the specified Person has incurred, assumed or acquired a Liability by means of a Guarantee.

 

“Indemnifiable Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5.

 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(a).

 

“Indemnitee” means any STWD Indemnitee or any SWAY Indemnitee.

 

“Indemnity Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(h).

 

“Indemnity Loan Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(h).

 

“Indemnity Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5.

 

“Information Statement” means the information statement, attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and any related documentation to be provided to holders of STWD Common Stock in connection with the Distribution, including any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

“Insurance Policy” means any insurance policies and insurance Contracts, including, without limitation, general liability, property and casualty, workers’ compensation, automobile, directors and officers liability, errors and omissions, employee dishonesty and fiduciary liability

 

4

 

policies, whether, in each case, in the nature of primary, excess, umbrella or self-insurance overage, together with all rights, benefits and privileges thereunder.

 

“Insurance Proceeds” means those monies (in each case, net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof):

 

(a)                                 received by an insured Person from any insurer, insurance underwriter, mutual protection and indemnity club or other risk collective, excluding any proceeds received directly or indirectly (such as through reinsurance arrangements) from any captive insurance Subsidiary of the insured Person; or

 

(b)                                 paid on behalf of an insured Person by any insurer, insurance underwriter, mutual protection and indemnity club or other risk collective, excluding any such payment made directly or indirectly (such as through reinsurance arrangements) from any captive insurance Subsidiary of the insured Person, on behalf of the insured.

 

“Intercompany Account” means any receivable, payable or loan between any member of the STWD Group, on the one hand, and any member of the SWAY Group, on the other hand, that exists prior to the Effective Time and is reflected in the records of the relevant members of the STWD Group and the SWAY Group, except for any such receivable, payable or loan that arises pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

“Intercompany Agreement” means any Contract, whether or not in writing, between or among any member of the STWD Group, on the one hand, and any member of the SWAY Group, on the other hand, entered into prior to the Distribution Date, but excluding any Contract to which a Person other than any member of the STWD Group or the SWAY Group is also a party.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

“Law” means any law, statute, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, writ, proclamation, judgment, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority.

 

“Liabilities” means any and all Indebtedness, liabilities and obligations, whether accrued, fixed or contingent, mature or inchoate, known or unknown, reflected on a balance sheet or otherwise, including those arising under any Law, Action or any judgment of any Governmental Authority or any award of any arbitrator of any kind, and those arising under any Contract.

 

“Losses” means any and all damages, losses, deficiencies, Liabilities, obligations, penalties, judgments, settlements, claims, payments, interest costs, Taxes, fines and expenses (including the costs and expenses of any and all Actions and demands, assessments, judgments, settlements and compromises relating thereto and attorneys’, accountants’, consultants’ and other professionals’ fees and expenses incurred in the investigation or defense thereof or the enforcement of rights hereunder).

 

5

 

“Nonqualifying Income” means any amount that is treated as gross income for purposes of Section 856 of the Code and which is not Qualifying Income.

 

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

 

“NYSE Listing Application” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

 

“Party” or “Parties” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, a union, an unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Post-Distribution STWD Common Stock Price” means the five (5) day average closing price for STWD Common Stock subsequent to the Distribution Date.

 

“Post-Distribution SWAY Common Share Price” means the five (5) day average closing price for SWAY Common Shares subsequent to the Distribution Date.

 

“Protected REIT” means any entity that (i) has elected to be taxed as a REIT, and (ii) either (A) is an Indemnitee or (B) owns a direct or indirect equity interest in any Indemnitee and is treated for purposes of Section 856 of the Code as owning all or a portion of the assets of such Indemnitee or as receiving all or a portion of the Indemnitee’s income.

 

“Qualifying Income” means gross income that is described in Section 856(c)(3) of the Code.

 

“Record Date” means the close of business on the date, to be determined by the board of directors of STWD, as the record date for determining holders of STWD Common Stock entitled to receive SWAY Common Shares in the Distribution.

 

“Record Holders” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

 

“Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form 10 of SWAY with respect to the registration under the Exchange Act of the SWAY Common Shares to be distributed in the Distribution, including any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

“REIT” means a real estate investment trust, as defined under the Code.

 

“REIT Qualification Ruling” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(h).

 

“REIT Requirements” means the requirements imposed on REITs pursuant to Sections 856 through and including 860 of the Code.

 

“Release Document” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(h).

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

6

 

“Security Interests” means any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option, indenture, right to acquire, right of first refusal, deed of trust, licenses to third parties, leases to third parties, security agreements, voting or other restriction, covenant, condition, restriction, encroachment, restriction on transfer, restrictions or limitations on use of real or personal property or any other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever, imperfections in or failure of title or defect of title.

 

“Separation” means the transactions contemplated by Article II.

 

“Starwood Private Real Estate Funds Documents” means the fund documents of Starwood Global Opportunity Fund VIII, Starwood Global Opportunity Fund IX and Starwood Capital Hospitality Fund II Global

 

“STWD” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“STWD Assets” means all Assets owned, directly or indirectly, by STWD, other than any SWAY Assets.

 

“STWD Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

“STWD D&O Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

“STWD Group” means STWD and the Subsidiaries of STWD other than SWAY and the SWAY Subsidiaries.

 

“STWD Indemnitees” means each member of the STWD Group and its Affiliates (other than SWAY and the SWAY Subsidiaries) and each of their respective current or former stockholders, directors, officers, agents and employees (in each case, in such Person’s respective capacity as such) and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

“STWD Liabilities” means any Liabilities of STWD or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any SWAY Liabilities.

 

“STWD Management Agreement” means the Management Agreement, dated as of                        , 2014, by and between STWD and the SPT Manager.

 

“STWD Manager” means SPT Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“STWD RSUs” means restricted share units of STWD.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which at least a majority of the securities or interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such specified Person or by any one or more of its subsidiaries, or by such specified Person and one or more of its subsidiaries.

 

7

 

“SWAY” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“SWAY Assets” means all of the equity of the SWAY Subsidiaries and all of the other assets held by SWAY set forth on Section 1.1 of the Disclosure Schedule.  For the avoidance of doubt, the SWAY Assets shall include, but not be limited to, all Assets recorded on the consolidated balance sheet of SWAY as of the date of this Agreement.

 

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

 

“SWAY Group” means SWAY and the SWAY Subsidiaries.

 

“SWAY Indemnitees” means each member of the SWAY Group and their Affiliates and each of their respective current or former stockholders, trustees, directors, officers, agents and employees (in each case, in such Person’s respective capacity as such) and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

“SWAY Liabilities” means, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or one or more Ancillary Agreements:

 

(a)           all Liabilities relating to or arising out of the SWAY Assets whether arising prior to, at the time of, or after the Effective Time;

 

(b)           all Liabilities relating to or arising out of the Separation and the Distribution whether arising prior to, at the time of, or after the Effective Time;

 

(c)           all Liabilities arising out of claims made by SWAY’s trustees, officers and Affiliates after the Effective Time against STWD or SWAY, to the extent relating to the SWAY Assets; and

 

(d)           any potential liabilities with respect to matters identified on, and subject to the limitations set forth on, Section 1.2 of the Disclosure Schedule.

 

“SWAY Management Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.

 

“SWAY Manager” means SWAY Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“SWAY RSUs” means restricted share units of SWAY.

 

“SWAY Subsidiaries” means the Subsidiaries of SWAY as of the date of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the Subsidiaries of SWAY listed on Exhibit A hereto, and any Subsidiary of SWAY formed after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date.

 

“Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, duties, levies, imposts or other assessments imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign Taxing Authority, including, but not limited to, income, gross receipts, excise, property, sales, use, license, capital stock, transfer, franchise, payroll, withholding, social security, value added and other taxes, and any interest, penalties or additions attributable thereto.

 

8

 

“Taxing Authority” means any Governmental Authority or any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof or any quasi-governmental or private body having jurisdiction over the assessment, determination, collection or imposition of any Tax (including the IRS).

 

“Third-Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(b).

 

“Transactions” means the Separation, the Distribution and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

Section 1.2    Interpretation.  In this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

 

(a)           words used in the singular include the plural and words used in the plural include the singular;

 

(b)           the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(c)           the word “or” shall have the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or”;

 

(d)           relative to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including,” “to” means “to but excluding” and “through” means “through and including”;

 

(e)           accounting terms used herein shall have the meanings historically ascribed to them by STWD and its Subsidiaries in its and their internal accounting and financial policies and procedures in effect immediately prior to the date of this Agreement;

 

(f)            reference to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and by this Agreement;

 

(g)           reference to any Law means such Law (including any and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect at the time of determining compliance or applicability;

 

(h)           references to any Person include such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement; a reference to such Person’s “Affiliates” shall be deemed to mean such Person’s Affiliates following the Distribution and any reference to a third party shall be deemed to mean a Person who is not a Party or an Affiliate of a Party;

 

(i)            if there is any conflict between the provisions of the main body of this Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement and the Exhibits and Schedules hereto or thereto, the provisions of the main body of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreement, as applicable, shall control unless explicitly stated otherwise in such Schedule;

 

9

 

(j)            if there is any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, the provisions of such Ancillary Agreement shall control (but only with respect to the subject matter thereof) unless explicitly stated otherwise therein; and

 

(k)           any portion of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement obligating a Party to take any action or refrain from taking any action, as the case may be, shall mean that such Party shall also be obligated to cause its relevant Subsidiaries to take such action or refrain from taking such action, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE SEPARATION

 

Section 2.1    Separation Transactions.  On or prior to the Distribution Date, STWD shall, and shall cause SWAY and each other Subsidiary and controlled Affiliate of STWD to, effect each of the transactions set forth in Section 2.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, which transactions shall be accomplished substantially in the order described on and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, in each case, with such modifications, if any, as STWD shall determine are necessary or desirable for efficiency or similar purposes.

 

Section 2.2    Transfers of Assets and Assumptions of Liabilities.

 

(a)           Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities Prior to Effective Time.  Subject to Section 2.1 and Section 2.2(b), STWD and SWAY agree to take all actions necessary so that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, (i) the SWAY Group will own, to the extent it does not already own, all of the SWAY Assets and none of the STWD Assets, and (ii) the SWAY Group will assume, to the extent it is not already liable for, all SWAY Liabilities.

 

(b)           Deferred Transfers and Assumptions.

 

(i)            Nothing in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement will be deemed to require the transfer of any Assets or the assumption of any Liabilities that by their terms or by operation of Law cannot be transferred or assumed.

 

(ii)           To the extent that any transfer of Assets or assumption of Liabilities contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement is not consummated prior to the Effective Time as a result of an absence or non-satisfaction of any required Consent, Governmental Approval and/or other condition (such Assets or Liabilities, a “Deferred Asset” or a “Deferred Liability,” as applicable, and, collectively, a “Deferred Asset or Liability”), the Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such transfers or assumptions as promptly following the Effective Time as practicable.  If and when the Consents, Governmental Approvals and/or other conditions, the absence or non-satisfaction of which gave rise to the Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability, are obtained or satisfied, the transfer or assumption of the Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability will be effected in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreement, if any.

 

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(iii)          From and after the Effective Time until such time as the Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability is transferred or assumed, as applicable, (A) the Party retaining such Deferred Asset will thereafter hold such Deferred Asset for the use and benefit of the Party entitled thereto (at the expense of the Party entitled thereto) and (B) the Party intended to assume such Deferred Liability will pay or reimburse the Party retaining such Deferred Liability for all amounts paid or incurred in connection with the retention of such Deferred Liability; it being agreed that the Party retaining such Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability will not be obligated, in connection with the foregoing clause (A) and clause (B), to expend any money unless the necessary funds are advanced or agreed in writing to be reimbursed by the Party entitled to such Deferred Asset or intended to assume such Deferred Liability.  The Party retaining the Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability will use its commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Party entitled to or intended to assume such Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability of the need for such expenditure.  In addition, the Party retaining such Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability will, insofar as reasonably practicable and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (A) treat such Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (B) promptly take such other actions as may be requested by the Party entitled to such Deferred Asset or by the Party intended to assume such Deferred Liability in order to place such Party in the same position as if the Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability had been transferred or assumed, as applicable, as contemplated hereby, and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability, including possession, use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and control over such Deferred Asset or Deferred Liability, are to inure from and after the Effective Time to such Party entitled to such Deferred Asset or intended to assume such Deferred Liability and (C) hold itself out to third parties as agent or nominee on behalf of the Party entitled to such Deferred Asset or intended to assume such Deferred Liability.

 

(iv)          In furtherance of the foregoing, the Parties agree that, as of the Effective Time, each Party will be deemed to have acquired beneficial ownership of all of the Assets, together with all rights and privileges incident thereto, and will be deemed to have assumed all of the Liabilities, and all duties, obligations and responsibilities incident thereto, that such Party is entitled to acquire or intended to assume pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreement, if any.

 

(v)           The Parties agree to treat, for all tax purposes, any Asset or Liability that is not transferred or assumed prior to the Effective Time and which is subject to the provisions of this Section 2.2(b), as (A) owned by the Party to which such Asset was intended to be transferred or by the Party which was intended to assume such Liability, as the case may be, from and after the Effective Time, (B) having not been owned by the Party retaining such Asset or Liability, as the case may be, at any time from and after the Effective Time, and (C) having been held by the Party retaining such Asset or Liability, as the case may be, only as agent or nominee on behalf of the other Party from and after the Effective Time until the date such Asset or Liability, as the case may be, is transferred to or assumed by such other Party.  The Parties will not take any position inconsistent with the foregoing unless otherwise required by applicable Law (in which case, the Parties will provide indemnification for any Taxes attributable to the Asset or Liability during the period beginning on the Distribution Date and ending on the date of the actual transfer).

 

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(c)           Misallocated Assets and Liabilities.

 

(i)            In the event that, at any time from and after the Effective Time, either Party discovers that it or another member of its Group is the owner of, receives or otherwise comes to possess or benefit from any Asset (including the receipt of payments made pursuant to Contracts and proceeds from accounts receivable with respect to such Asset) that should have been allocated to a member of the other Group pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (except in the case of any deliberate acquisition of Assets from a member of the other Group for value subsequent to the Effective Time), such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Asset to such member of the other Group, and such member of the other Group shall accept such Asset for no further consideration other than that set forth in this Agreement and such Ancillary Agreement.  Prior to any such transfer, such Asset shall be held in accordance with Section 2.2(b).

 

(ii)           In the event that, at any time from and after the Effective Time, either Party discovers that it or another member of its Group is liable for any Liability that should have been allocated to a member of the other Group pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (except in the case of any deliberate assumption of Liabilities from a member of the other Group for value subsequent to the Effective Time), such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Liability to such member of the other Group and such member of the other Group shall assume such Liability for no further consideration than that set forth in this Agreement and such Ancillary Agreement.  Prior to any such assumption, such Liabilities shall be held in accordance with Section 2.2(b).

 

(d)           Instruments of Transfer and Assumption.  The Parties agree that (i) transfers of Assets that may be required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be effected by delivery by the transferor to the transferee of (A) with respect to those Assets that constitute stock or other equity interests, certificates endorsed in blank or evidenced or accompanied by stock powers or other instruments of transfer endorsed in blank, against receipt and (B) with respect to all other Assets, such good and sufficient instruments of contribution, conveyance, assignment and transfer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parties, as shall be necessary, in each case, to vest in the designated transferee all of the title and ownership interest of the transferor in and to any such Asset, and (ii) the assumptions of Liabilities required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be effected by delivery by the transferee to the transferor of such good and sufficient instruments of assumption, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parties, as shall be necessary, in each case, for the assumption by the transferee of such Liabilities.

 

Section 2.3    Termination of Intercompany Agreements.

 

(a)           Except as set forth in Section 2.3(b), STWD, on behalf of itself and each of the other members of the STWD Group, and SWAY, on behalf of itself and each of the other members of the SWAY Group, hereby terminate, effective as of the Effective Time, any and all Intercompany Agreements.  No such terminated Intercompany Agreement will be of any further force or effect from and after the Effective Time and all Parties shall be released from all Liabilities thereunder other than the Liability to settle any Intercompany Accounts as provided in

 

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Section 2.4.  Each Party shall take, or cause to be taken, any and all actions as may be reasonably necessary to effect the foregoing.

 

(b)           The provisions of Section 2.3(a) shall not apply to any of the following agreements (which agreements shall continue to be outstanding after the Distribution Date and thereafter shall be deemed to be, for each relevant Party (or the member of such Party’s Group), an obligation to a third party and shall no longer be an Intercompany Agreement):

 

(i)            this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (and each other agreement or instrument expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement), if any;

 

(ii)           any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements among any members of either Group or employees of the SPT Manager or SWAY Manager; and

 

(iii)          any agreement listed or described on Section 2.3(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, if any.

 

Section 2.4    Settlement of Intercompany Account.  Each Intercompany Account outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution Date (other than those set forth on Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, if any), will be satisfied and/or settled in full in cash or otherwise cancelled and terminated or extinguished by the relevant members of the STWD Group and the SWAY Group prior to the Effective Time, in each case, in the manner agreed to by the Parties.  Each Intercompany Account outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution Date set forth on Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule shall continue to be outstanding after the Distribution Date (unless previously satisfied in accordance with its terms) and thereafter shall be deemed to be, for each Party (or the relevant member of such Party’s Group), an obligation to a third party and shall no longer be an Intercompany Account.

 

ARTICLE III

 

CERTAIN ACTIONS PRIOR TO THE DISTRIBUTION

 

Section 3.1    SEC and Other Securities Filings.

 

(a)           Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Parties caused the Registration Statement to be prepared and filed with the SEC.

 

(b)           The Parties shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)           As soon as practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective, STWD shall cause the Information Statement to be mailed to the Record Holders.

 

(d)           The Parties shall cooperate in preparing, filing with the SEC and causing to become effective any other registration statements or amendments or supplements thereto that

 

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are necessary or appropriate in order to effect the Transactions, or to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any employee benefit plans contemplated hereby.

 

(e)           The Parties shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate under state and foreign securities or “blue sky” Laws in connection with the Transactions.

 

Section 3.2    NYSE Listing Application.

 

(a)           Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Parties caused an application for the listing on the NYSE of SWAY Common Shares to be issued to the Record Holders in the Distribution (the “NYSE Listing Application”) to be prepared and filed.

 

(b)           The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the NYSE Listing Application approved, subject to official notice of issuance, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)           STWD shall give the NYSE notice of the Record Date in compliance with Rule 10b-17 under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 3.3    Distribution Agent Agreement.  On or prior to the date of this Agreement, STWD shall, if requested by the Distribution Agent, enter into a distribution agent agreement with the Distribution Agent.

 

Section 3.4    SWAY Management Agreements.  On or prior to the Distribution Date, SWAY shall enter into a management agreement with the SWAY Manager (the “SWAY Management Agreement”) substantially in the form filed by SWAY with the SEC as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

Section 3.5    Governmental Approvals and Consents.  To the extent that any of the Transactions require any Governmental Approval or Consent which has not been obtained prior to the date of this Agreement, the Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, such Governmental Approval or Consent prior to the Effective Time.

 

Section 3.6    Ancillary Agreements.  Prior to the Effective Time, each Party shall execute and deliver, and shall cause each applicable member of its Group to execute and deliver, as applicable, the SWAY Management Agreement, the Co-Investment and Allocation Agreement and the Governance Rights Agreement each substantially in the form filed by SWAY with the SEC as an exhibit to the Registration Statement such other written agreements, documents or instruments (collectively, the “Ancillary Agreements”) as the Parties may agree are reasonably necessary or desirable and to the effect the Transactions.

 

Section 3.7    Governance Matters.

 

(a)           Organizational Documents.  On or prior to the Distribution Date, the Parties shall take all necessary actions to adopt each of the amended and restated declaration of trust, the amended and restated bylaws of SWAY and the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Starwood Waypoint Residential Partnership, L.P., each substantially in the forms filed by SWAY with the SEC as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

 

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(b)           Officers and Trustees.  On or prior to the Distribution Date, the Parties shall take all necessary action so that, as of the Distribution Date, the officers and trustees of SWAY will be as set forth in the Information Statement.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

THE DISTRIBUTION

 

Section 4.1    Dividend to STWD.  Prior to the Distribution Date, SWAY shall issue to STWD as a stock dividend such number of SWAY Common Shares (or STWD and SWAY shall take or cause to be taken such other appropriate actions to ensure that STWD has the requisite number of SWAY Common Shares) as may be required to effect the Distribution.

 

Section 4.2    Delivery to Distribution Agent.  Subject to Section 5.1, on or prior to the Distribution Date, STWD will authorize the Distribution Agent, for the benefit of holders of record of STWD Common Stock at the close of business on the Record Date (the “Record Holders”), to effect the book-entry transfer of all outstanding SWAY Common Shares and will instruct the Distribution Agent to effect the Distribution at the Effective Time in the manner set forth in Section 4.3.

 

Section 4.3    Mechanics of the Distribution.

 

(a)           On the Distribution Date, STWD will direct the Distribution Agent to distribute, effective as of the Effective Time, to each Record Holder, one SWAY Common Share for every five shares of STWD Common Stock held by such Record Holder on the Record Date (the “Distribution Ratio”), subject to Section 5.01(c).  All such SWAY Common Shares to be so distributed shall be distributed as uncertificated shares registered in book-entry form through the direct registration system.  No certificates therefor shall be distributed.  Following the Distribution, STWD shall cause the Distribution Agent to deliver an account statement to each holder of SWAY Common Shares reflecting such holder’s ownership thereof (including the amount of cash in lieu of fractional shares as provided in Section 5.01(c)). All of the SWAY Common Shares distributed in the Distribution will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(b)           Record Holders who, after aggregating the number of SWAY Common Shares (or fractions thereof) to which such Record Holder would be entitled on the Record Date, would be entitled to receive a fraction of a SWAY Common Share in the Distribution, will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares. Fractional SWAY Common Shares will not be distributed in the Distribution nor credited to book-entry accounts. The Distribution Agent shall, as soon as practicable after the Distribution Date (i) determine the number of whole shares and fractional shares of SWAY Common Shares allocable to each Record Holder, (b) aggregate all such fractional shares into whole shares and sell the whole shares obtained thereby in open market transactions at then prevailing trading prices on behalf of holders who would otherwise

 

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be entitled to fractional share interests, and (c) distribute to each such holder, or for the benefit of each such beneficial owner, such holder’s or owner’s ratable share of the net proceeds of such sale, based upon the average gross selling price per share of SWAY Common Shares after making appropriate deductions for any amount required to be withheld for United States federal income tax purposes. STWD shall bear the cost of brokerage fees and transfer taxes incurred in connection with these sales of fractional shares, which such sales shall occur as soon after the Distribution Date as practicable and as determined by the Distribution Agent. None of STWD, SWAY or the applicable Distribution Agent will guarantee any minimum sale price for the fractional SWAY Common Shares. Neither STWD nor SWAY will pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional shares. The Distribution Agent will have the sole discretion to select the broker-dealers through which to sell the aggregated fractional shares and to determine when, how and at what price to sell such shares. Neither the Distribution Agent nor the selected broker-dealers will be Affiliates of STWD or SWAY. Any SWAY Common Shares or cash in lieu of fractional shares with respect to SWAY Common Shares that remains unclaimed by any holder of record one hundred-eighty (180) days after the Distribution Date shall be delivered to SWAY. SWAY shall hold such SWAY Common Shares and/or cash for the account of such holder of record and any such holder of record shall look only to SWAY for such SWAY Common Shares and/or cash, if any, in lieu of fractional share interests, subject in each case to applicable escheat or other abandoned property laws.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, STWD, the Distribution Agent, or any Person that is a withholding agent under applicable Law shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration distributable or payable hereunder the amounts required to be deducted and withheld under the Code, or any provision of any U.S. federal, state, local or foreign Tax Law.  Any amounts so withheld shall be paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority in the manner prescribed by Law.  To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Persons in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.  An applicable withholding agent may collect the deducted or withheld amounts by reducing to cash a sufficient portion of the SWAY Common Shares that a Person would otherwise receive, and may require that such Person bear the brokerage or other costs from this withholding procedure.

 

Section 4.4    Restricted Share Units.

 

(a)           Subsequent to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, but prior to the consummation of the Distribution, and subject to the consummation of the Distribution, each holder of STWD RSUs immediately prior to the Distribution will be entitled to a grant of one SWAY RSU for every five STWD RSUs held by such holder on the Record Date.  The terms and conditions applicable to the SWAY RSUs shall be substantially similar to the terms and conditions otherwise applicable to the corresponding STWD RSUs.

 

(b)           Each of STWD and SWAY intends that, subsequent to the Distribution, SWAY shall establish, or shall cause to be established, one or more equity incentive or similar plans that will allow or provide for the issuance of restricted shares, new restricted share units (or other equity-based awards) to acquire SWAY Common Shares, or other equity awards on such

 

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terms, and subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, as to eligibility, vesting and performance criteria), as SWAY may decide in its sole discretion.

 

ARTICLE V

 

CONDITIONS

 

Section 5.1            Conditions Precedent to Consummation of the Distribution.  The Distribution shall not be effected unless and until the following conditions have been satisfied or waived by STWD, in its sole and absolute discretion, at or before the Effective Time:

 

(a)                                 the board of directors of STWD shall have declared the Distribution, which declaration may be made or withheld at its sole and absolute discretion;

 

(b)                                 the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC, with no stop order in effect with respect thereto, and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before, or threatened by, the SEC;

 

(c)                                  STWD shall have mailed the Information Statement (and such other information concerning SWAY, the Distribution and such other matters as the Parties shall determine and as may otherwise be required by Law) to the Record Holders;

 

(d)                                 all other actions and filings necessary or appropriate under applicable federal or state securities Laws and state blue sky Laws in connection with the Transactions shall have been taken;

 

(e)                                  STWD shall have obtained an opinion from Sidley Austin LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to STWD, to the effect that, commencing with STWD’s initial taxable year that ended on December 31, 2009, STWD has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and its actual method of operation through the date of this letter has enabled, and its proposed method of operation will enable, it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT;

 

(f)                                   SWAY shall have obtained an opinion from Sidley Austin LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to SWAY, to the effect that, commencing with SWAY’s initial taxable year ending on December 31, 2014, SWAY will be organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and its proposed method of operation will enable it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT;

 

(g)                                  STWD shall not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act;

 

(h)                                 SWAY shall not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act;

 

(i)                                     the NYSE shall have approved the NYSE Listing Application, subject to official notice of issuance;

 

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(j)                                    SWAY and the SWAY Manager shall have executed and delivered the SWAY Management Agreement;

 

(k)                                 the Ancillary Agreements shall have been executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto and no party to any of the Ancillary Agreements will be in material breach of any such agreement;

 

(l)                                     any material Governmental Approvals and Consents necessary to consummate the Transactions or any portion thereof shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect;

 

(m)                             no preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree, or ruling issued by a Governmental Authority, and no statute (as interpreted through orders or rules of any Governmental Authority duly authorized to effectuate the statute), rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any Governmental Authority shall be in effect preventing the consummation of, or materially limiting the benefits of, the Transactions; and

 

(n)                                 no other event or development shall have occurred or failed to occur that, in the judgment of the board of directors of STWD, in its sole discretion, prevents the consummation of the Transactions or any portion thereof or makes the consummation of the Transactions inadvisable.

 

Section 5.2            Right Not to Close.  Each of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 is for the benefit of STWD, and the board of directors of STWD may, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine whether to waive any condition, in whole or in part.  Any determination made by the board of directors of STWD concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or all of the conditions in Section 5.1 will be conclusive and binding on the Parties.  The satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 will not create any obligation on the part of STWD to any other Person to effect any of the Transactions or in any way limit STWD’s right to terminate this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements as set forth in Section 11.1 or alter the consequences of any termination from those specified in Section 11.2.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES

 

Section 6.1            Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties.  EACH PARTY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH OTHER MEMBER OF ITS GROUP) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, NO PARTY IS REPRESENTING OR WARRANTING IN ANY WAY AS TO (A) THE ASSETS, BUSINESSES OR LIABILITIES CONTRIBUTED, TRANSFERRED, DISTRIBUTED OR ASSUMED AS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, (B) ANY CONSENTS OR GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH, (C) THE VALUE OR FREEDOM FROM ANY SECURITY INTERESTS OF, OR ANY OTHER MATTER CONCERNING, ANY ASSETS OF ANY PARTY, (D) THE

 

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ABSENCE OF ANY DEFENSES OR RIGHT OF SETOFF OR FREEDOM FROM COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR OTHER ASSET, INCLUDING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OF ANY PARTY, OR (E) THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF ANY CONTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTION, ASSIGNMENT, DOCUMENT, CERTIFICATE OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER TO CONVEY TITLE TO ANY ASSET UPON THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND FILING HEREOF OR THEREOF.

 

Section 6.2            As Is, Where Is.  EACH PARTY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH OTHER MEMBER OF ITS GROUP) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT ALL ASSETS TRANSFERRED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT ARE BEING TRANSFERRED “AS IS, WHERE IS.”

 

ARTICLE VII

 

CERTAIN COVENANTS AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

Section 7.1            Insurance Matters.  Following the Distribution Date, STWD shall maintain its currently existing Insurance Policies related to director and officer liability (the “STWD D&O Policies”).  Prior to the Distribution Date, STWD and SWAY shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain separate Insurance Policies for SWAY on commercially reasonable terms (it being understood that SWAY shall be responsible for all premiums, costs and fees associated with any new insurance policies placed for the benefit of SWAY pursuant to this Section 7.1, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any premiums, costs and fees associated with any run-off Insurance Policy obtained by STWD in connection with the Separation).

 

Section 7.2            Tax Matters.

 

(a)                                 Taxability of Distribution.  The Parties acknowledge that the Distribution is a taxable distribution under Section 301 of the Code, and the Parties shall not take any position on any U.S. federal, state, local or foreign Tax return that is inconsistent with such treatment.

 

(b)                                 STWD and SWAY REIT Status.

 

(i)                                     STWD has no knowledge of any fact or circumstance that would cause SWAY to fail to qualify as a REIT, including a failure to qualify as a REIT due to STWD’s failure to maintain REIT status.

 

(ii)                                  Subject to Section 7.2(b)(iii), STWD shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with SWAY as necessary to enable SWAY to qualify for taxation as a REIT and receive customary legal opinions concerning SWAY’s qualification and taxation as a REIT, including by providing information and representations to SWAY and its tax counsel with respect to the composition of STWD’s income and Assets, the composition of the holders of stock of STWD and STWD’s organization, operation, and qualification as a REIT.

 

(iii)                               STWD shall use reasonable best efforts to maintain its REIT status for each of its taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2014, unless STWD obtains an

 

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opinion from a nationally recognized tax counsel or a private letter ruling from the IRS, on which SWAY can rely, substantially to the effect that STWD’s failure to maintain its REIT status will not prevent SWAY from making a valid REIT election for any taxable year, or otherwise cause SWAY to fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT for any taxable year, pursuant to Section 856(g)(3) of the Code.

 

(iv)                              SWAY shall use its reasonable best efforts to qualify for taxation as a REIT for its taxable year ending December 31, 2014.

 

Section 7.3            No Restrictions on Post-Closing Competitive Activities; Corporate Opportunities.

 

(a)                                 Each of the Parties agrees that this Agreement shall not include any non-competition or other similar restrictive arrangements with respect to the range of business activities that may be conducted, or investments that may be made, by the Groups.  Accordingly, each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that nothing set forth in this Agreement shall be construed to create any explicit or implied restriction or other limitation on the ability of any Group to engage in any business or other activity that overlaps or competes with the business of the other Group.  Except as expressly provided herein, or in the Ancillary Agreements or the Starwood Private Real Estate Funds Documents, each Group shall have the right to, and shall have no duty to abstain from exercising such right to, (i) engage or invest, directly or indirectly, in the same, similar or related business activities or lines of business as the other Group, (ii) make investments in the same or similar types of investments as the other Group, (iii) do business with any client, customer, vendor or lessor of any of the other Group or (iv) employ or otherwise engage any officer, trustee, director or employee of the other Group.  Neither Party or Group, nor any officer, trustee or director thereof, shall be liable to the other Party or Group or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of any such activities of such Party or Group or of any such Person’s participation therein.

 

(b)                                 Except as expressly provided herein, or in the Ancillary Agreements or the Starwood Private Real Estate Funds Documents and except as STWD and each other member of the STWD Group, on the one hand, and SWAY and each other member of the SWAY Group, on the other hand, may otherwise agree in writing, the Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that if any Person that is a member of a Group, including any officer, trustee or director thereof, acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity for either or both Groups, neither the other Group nor its stockholder shall have an interest in, or expectation that, such corporate opportunity be offered to it or that it be offered an opportunity to participate therein, and any such interest, expectation, offer or opportunity to participate, and any other interest or expectation otherwise due to such Group with respect to such corporate opportunity, is hereby renounced by such Group on its behalf and on behalf of its stockholders.  Accordingly, subject to Section 7.3(c) and except as expressly provided herein, or in the Ancillary Agreements or the Starwood Private Real Estate Funds Documents, (i) neither Group nor any officer, trustee or director thereof will be under any obligation to present, communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the other Group and (ii) each Group has the right to hold any such corporate opportunity for their own account, or to direct, recommend, sell, assign or otherwise transfer such corporate opportunity to any Person or Persons other than the other Group, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, neither Group nor the officers, trustees or

 

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directors thereof shall have or be under any fiduciary duty, duty of loyalty or duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of the other Group and its stockholders and shall not be liable to the other Group and its stockholders for any breach or alleged breach thereof or for any derivation of personal economic gain by reason of the fact that such Group or any of its officers, trustees or directors pursues or acquires the corporate opportunity for itself, or directs, recommends, sells, assigns or otherwise transfers the corporate opportunity to another Person, or such Group and its officers, trustees or directors does not present, offer or communicate information regarding the corporate opportunity to the other Group.

 

(c)                                  Except as STWD and each other member of the STWD Group, on the one hand, and SWAY and each other member of the SWAY Group, on the other hand, may otherwise agree in writing, the Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that in the event that a trustee, director or officer of either Group who is also a trustee, director or officer of the other Group acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity or is offered a corporate opportunity, if (i) such Person acts in good faith and (ii) such knowledge of such potential transaction or matter was not obtained solely in connection with, or such corporate opportunity was not offered to such Person solely in, such Person’s capacity as trustee, director or officer of either Group, then (A) such trustee, director or officer, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, (1) shall be deemed to have fully satisfied and fulfilled such Person’s fiduciary duty to each Group and their stockholders with respect to such corporate opportunity, (2) shall not have or be under any fiduciary duty to either Group or their stockholders and shall not be liable to either Group or their stockholders for any breach or alleged breach thereof by reason of the fact that the other Group pursues or acquires the corporate opportunity for itself, or directs, recommends, sells, assigns or otherwise transfers the corporate opportunity to another Person, or either Group or such trustee, director or officer does not present, offer or communicate information regarding the corporate opportunity to the other Group, (3) shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believes to be in, and not opposed to, the best interests of each Group and its stockholders and (4) shall not have any duty of loyalty to the other Group and its stockholders or any duty not to derive any personal benefit therefrom and shall not be liable to the other Group or its stockholders for any breach or alleged breach thereof and (B) such potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity, or the corporate opportunity, shall belong to the applicable Group (and not to the other Group).

 

(d)                                 Except as expressly provided herein, or in the STWD Management Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Starwood Private Real Estate Funds Documents, if the SPT Manager or SWAY Manager acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity for either or both Groups, neither the SPT Manager or SWAY Manager, as applicable, nor any agent or advisor thereof, shall have any duty to communicate or present such corporate opportunity to either Group and shall not be liable to either Group or to their stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that the SPT Manager or SWAY Manager, as applicable, pursues or acquires the corporate opportunity for itself, or directs, recommends, sells, assigns or otherwise transfers the corporate opportunity to either Group or another Person, or does not present such corporate opportunity to either Group.

 

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(e)                                  For the purposes of this Section 7.3, “corporate opportunities” of a Group shall include business opportunities that such Group are financially able to undertake, that are, by their nature, in a line of business of such Group, are of practical advantage to it and are ones in which any member of the Group has an interest or a reasonable expectancy, and in which, by embracing the opportunities, the self-interest of a Person or any of its officers, trustees or directors will be brought into conflict with that of such Group.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY; PRIVILEGE

 

Section 8.1            Agreement for Exchange of Information.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 8.1(b), for a period of three (3) years (the “Period”) following the Distribution Date, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request:  (i) STWD shall afford to any member of the SWAY Group and their authorized accountants, counsel and other designated representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to, or, at the SWAY Group’s expense, provide copies of, all books, records, Contracts, instruments, data, documents and other information in the possession or under the control of any member of the STWD Group immediately following the Distribution Date that relates to any member of the SWAY Group or the SWAY Assets and (ii) SWAY shall afford to any member of the STWD Group and their authorized accountants, counsel and other designated representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to, or, at the STWD Group’s expense, provide copies of, all books, records, Contracts, instruments, data, documents and other information in the possession or under the control of any member of the SWAY Group immediately following the Distribution Date that relates to any member of the STWD Group or the STWD Assets; provided, however, that in the event that SWAY or STWD, as applicable, determine that any such provision of or access to any information in response to a request under this Section 8.1(a) would be commercially detrimental in any material respect, violate any Law or agreement or waive any attorney-client privilege, the work product doctrine or other applicable privilege, the Parties shall take all reasonable measures to permit compliance with such request in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence; provided, further, that to the extent specific information—or knowledge-sharing provisions are contained in any of the Ancillary Agreements, such other provisions (and not this Section 8.1(a)) shall govern; provided, further, that the Period shall be extended with respect to requests related to any third party litigation or other dispute filed prior to the end of such period until such litigation or dispute is finally resolved.

 

(b)                                 A request for information under Section 8.1(a) may be made:  (i) to comply with reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements imposed on the requesting party (including under applicable securities laws) by a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such requesting party, (ii) for use in any other judicial, regulatory, administrative or other proceeding or in order to satisfy audit, accounting, claims defense, regulatory filings, litigation or other similar requirements (other than in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which any member of a Group is adverse to any member of the other Group), (iii) for use in compensation, benefit or welfare plan administration or other bona fide business purposes, or (iv) to comply with any obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

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(c)                                  Without limiting the generality of Section 8.1(a), until the end of the first full fiscal year following the Distribution Date (and for a reasonable period of time thereafter as required for any party to prepare consolidated financial statements or complete a financial statement audit for the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs), SWAY shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with any requests from any member of the STWD Group pursuant to Section 8.1(a) and STWD shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with any requests from any member of the SWAY Group pursuant to Section 8.1(a), in each case to enable the requesting Party to meet its timetable for dissemination of its earnings releases and financial statements and to enable such requesting party’s auditors to timely complete their audit of the annual financial statements and review of the quarterly financial statements.

 

Section 8.2            Ownership of Information.  Any information owned by any Person that is provided pursuant to Section 8.1(a) shall be deemed to remain the property of the providing Person.  Unless specifically set forth herein, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to grant or confer rights of license or otherwise to the requesting Person with respect to any such information.

 

Section 8.3            Compensation for Providing Information.  A Person requesting information pursuant to Section 8.1(a) agrees to reimburse the providing Person for the reasonable expenses, if any, of gathering and copying such information, to the extent that such expenses are incurred for the benefit of the requesting Person.

 

Section 8.4            Retention of Records.  To facilitate the exchange of information pursuant to this Article VIII after the Distribution Date, for a period of three (3) years following the Distribution Date, except as otherwise required or agreed in writing, the Parties agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to retain, or cause to be retained, all information in their, or any member of their Group’s, respective possession or control on the Distribution Date in accordance with the policies and procedures of STWD as in effect on the Distribution Date.

 

Section 8.5            Limitation of Liability.  No Person required to provide information under this Article VIII shall have any Liability (a) if any historical information provided pursuant to this Article VIII is found to be inaccurate, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct by such Person, or (b) if any information is lost or destroyed despite using commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of Section 8.4.

 

Section 8.6            Production of Witnesses.  At all times from and after the Distribution Date, upon reasonable request:

 

(a)                                 SWAY shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make available, or cause to be made available, to any member of the STWD Group, the trustees, the directors, officers, employees and agents of any member of the SWAY Group as witnesses to the extent that the same may reasonably be required by the requesting party (giving consideration to business demands of such trustees, directors, officers, employees and agents) in connection with any legal, administrative or other proceeding in which the requesting party may from time to time be involved, except in the case of any action, suit or proceeding in which any member of the SWAY Group is adverse to any member of the STWD Group; and

 

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(b)                                 STWD shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make available, or cause to be made available, to any member of the SWAY Group, the trustees, the directors, officers, employees and agents of any member of the STWD Group as witnesses to the extent that the same may reasonably be required by the requesting party (giving consideration to business demands of such trustees, directors, officers, employees and agents) in connection with any legal, administrative or other proceeding in which the requesting party may from time to time be involved, except in the case of any action, suit or proceeding in which any member of the STWD Group is adverse to any member of the SWAY Group.

 

Section 8.7            Confidentiality.

 

(a)                                 SWAY (on behalf of itself and each other member of its Group) and STWD (on behalf of itself and each other member of its Group) shall hold, and shall cause each of their respective Affiliates to hold, and each of the foregoing shall cause their respective trustees, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors to hold, in strict confidence, and not to disclose or release or use, for any purpose other than as expressly permitted pursuant to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, any and all Confidential Information concerning any member of the other Group without the prior written consent of such member of the other Group; provided, that each Party and the members of its Group may disclose, or may permit disclosure of, such Confidential Information (i) to other members of their Group and their respective auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, bankers and other appropriate consultants and advisors (including the SPT Manager or SWAY Manager, as applicable) who have a need to know such information for purposes of performing services for a member of such Group and who are informed of their obligation to hold such information confidential to the same extent as is applicable to the Parties and in respect of whose failure to comply with such obligations, such Party will be responsible, (ii) if it or any of its Affiliates are required or compelled to disclose any such Confidential Information by judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of Law or stock exchange rule, or (iii) as necessary in order to permit such Party to prepare and disclose its financial statements, or other disclosures required by Law or such applicable stock exchange.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any demand or request for disclosure of Confidential Information is made pursuant to the foregoing clause (ii) above, the Party requested to disclose Confidential Information concerning a member of the other Group, shall promptly notify such member of the other Group of the existence of such request or demand and, to the extent commercially practicable, shall provide such member of the other Group thirty (30) days (or such lesser period as is commercially practicable) to seek an appropriate protective order or other remedy, which the Parties will cooperate in obtaining.  In the event that such appropriate protective order or other remedy is not obtained, the Party that is required to disclose Confidential Information about a member of the Group shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, only that portion of the Confidential Information that is legally required to be disclosed and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that confidential treatment is accorded such information.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Parties shall be deemed to have satisfied their obligations hereunder with respect to Confidential Information of any member of the other Group if they exercise the same degree of care (but no less than a reasonable degree of care) as they exercise to preserve confidentiality for their own similar Confidential Information.

 

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(c)                                  Upon the written request of a Party or a member of its Group, the other Party shall take, and shall cause the applicable members of its Group to take, reasonable steps to promptly (i) deliver to the requesting Person all original copies of Confidential Information (whether written or electronic) concerning the requesting Person or any member of its Group that is in the possession of the other Party or any member of its Group and (ii) if specifically requested by the requesting Person, destroy any copies of such Confidential Information (including any extracts therefrom), unless such delivery or destruction would violate any Law; provided, that the other Party shall not be obligated to destroy Confidential Information that is required by or relates to the business of the other Party or any member of its Group.  Upon the written request of the requesting Person, the other Party shall, or shall cause another member of its Group to cause, its duly authorized officers to certify in writing to the requesting party that the requirements of the preceding sentence have been satisfied in full.

 

Section 8.8            Privileged Matters.

 

(a)                                 Pre-Distribution Services.  The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services that have been and will be provided prior to the Effective Time have been and will be rendered for the collective benefit of the Parties and their Affiliates, and that each of the Parties should be deemed to be the client with respect to such pre-Distribution services for the purposes of asserting all privileges that may be asserted under applicable Law.

 

(b)                                 Post-Distribution Services.  The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services will be provided following the Effective Time that will be rendered solely for the benefit of SWAY and its Affiliates or STWD and its Affiliates, as the case may be.  With respect to such post-Distribution services, the Parties agree as follows:

 

(i)                                     STWD shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges in connection with privileged information that relates solely to the STWD Assets, whether or not the privileged information is in the possession of or under the control of STWD or SWAY.  STWD shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges in connection with privileged information that relates solely to the subject matter of any claims constituting STWD Liabilities, now pending or which may be asserted in the future, in any lawsuits or other proceedings initiated by or against any member of the STWD Group, whether or not the privileged information is in the possession of or under the control of STWD or SWAY; and

 

(ii)                                  SWAY shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges in connection with privileged information that relates solely to the SWAY Assets, whether or not the privileged information is in the possession of or under the control of STWD or SWAY.  SWAY shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges in connection with privileged information that relates solely to the subject matter of any claims constituting SWAY Liabilities, now pending or which may be asserted in the future, in any lawsuits or other proceedings initiated by or against any member of the SWAY Group, whether or not the privileged information is in the possession of or under the control of STWD or SWAY.

 

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(c)                                  The Parties agree that they shall have a shared privilege, with equal right to assert or waive, subject to the restrictions in this Section 8.8, with respect to all privileges not allocated pursuant to the terms of Section 8.8(b).  SWAY may not waive, and shall cause each other member of the SWAY Group not to waive, any privilege that could be asserted by a member of the STWD Group under any applicable Law, and in which a member of the STWD Group has a shared privilege, without the consent of STWD, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed or as provided in Section 8.8(d) or Section 8.8(e) below.  STWD may not waive, and shall cause each other member of the STWD Group not to waive, any privilege that could be asserted by a member of the SWAY Group under any applicable Law, and in which a member of the SWAY Group has a shared privilege, without the consent of SWAY, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed or as provided in Section 8.8(d) or Section 8.8(e) below.

 

(d)                                 In the event of any litigation or dispute between or among SWAY and STWD, or any members of their respective Groups, the Parties may waive a privilege in which a member of the other Group has a shared privilege, without obtaining the consent from any other party; provided, that such waiver of a shared privilege shall be effective only as to the use of information with respect to the litigation or dispute between the relevant Parties and/or the applicable members of their respective Groups, and shall not operate as a waiver of the shared privilege with respect to third parties.

 

(e)                                  If a dispute arises between or among SWAY and STWD, or any members of their respective Groups, regarding whether a privilege should be waived to protect or advance the interest of a party, each Party agrees that it shall negotiate in good faith, shall endeavor to minimize any prejudice to the rights of such party and shall not unreasonably withhold consent to any request for waiver by such party.  Each Party agrees that it will not withhold consent to waiver for any purpose except to protect its own legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of any other member of its Group.

 

(f)                                   Upon receipt by either Party, or by any member of its Group, of any subpoena, discovery or other request which requires the production or disclosure of information which such Party knows is subject to a shared privilege or as to which a member of the other Group has the sole right hereunder to assert or waive a privilege, or if either Party obtains knowledge that any of its or any other member of its Group’s current or former trustees, directors, officers, agents or employees have received any subpoena, discovery or other requests which requires the production or disclosure of such privileged information, such Party shall promptly notify the other Party of the existence of the request and shall provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review the information and to assert any rights it or they may have under this Section 8.8 or otherwise to prevent the production or disclosure of such privileged information.

 

(g)                                  The access to information being granted pursuant to Section 8.1, the agreement to provide witnesses and individuals pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof, and the transfer of privileged information between and among the Parties and the members of their respective Groups pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any privilege that has been or may be asserted under this Agreement, any of the Ancillary Agreements or otherwise.

 

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Section 8.9            Financial Information Certifications.  The Parties agree to cooperate with each other in such manner as is necessary to enable the principal executive officer or officers, principal financial officer or officers and controller or controllers of each of the Parties to make the certifications required of them under Sections 302, 404 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 9.1            Release of Pre-Distribution Claims.

 

(a)                                 Except as provided in Section 9.1(d), effective as of the Effective Time, SWAY does hereby, for itself and each other member of the SWAY Group, release and forever discharge each STWD Indemnitee, from any and all Liabilities whatsoever to any member of the SWAY Group, whether at law or in equity (including any right of contribution), whether arising under any Contract, by operation of Law or otherwise, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged to have existed at or before the Effective Time, including in connection with the Transactions.

 

(b)                                 Except as provided in Section 9.1(d), effective as of the Effective Time, STWD does hereby, for itself and each other member of the STWD Group, release and forever discharge each SWAY Indemnitee from any and all Liabilities whatsoever to any member of the STWD Group, whether at law or in equity (including any right of contribution), whether arising under any Contract, by operation of Law or otherwise, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged to have existed at or before the Effective Time, including in connection with the Transactions.

 

(c)                                  The Parties expressly understand and acknowledge that it is possible that unknown losses or claims exist or might come to exist or that present losses may have been underestimated in amount, severity, or both.  Accordingly, the Parties are deemed expressly to understand provisions and principles of law such as Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California (as well as any and all provisions, rights and benefits conferred by any law of any state or territory of the United States, or principle of common law, which is similar or comparable to Section 1542), which Section provides:  A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.  The Parties are hereby deemed to agree that the provisions of Section 1542 and all similar federal or state laws, rights, rules, or legal principles of California or any other jurisdiction that may be applicable herein, are hereby knowingly and voluntarily waived and relinquished with respect to the releases in Section 9.1(a) and Section 9.1(b).

 

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(d)                                 Nothing contained in Section 9.1(a) or Section 9.1(b) shall impair any right of any Person to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that are specified in, or contemplated to continue pursuant to, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.  Without limiting the foregoing, nothing contained in Section 9.1(a) or Section 9.1(b) shall release any Person from:

 

(i)                                     any Liability, contingent or otherwise, assumed by, or allocated to, such Person in accordance with this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;

 

(ii)                                  any Liability that such Person may have with respect to indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement for claims brought by third Persons, which Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this Article IX and, if applicable, the appropriate provisions of the Ancillary Agreements;

 

(iii)                               any unpaid accounts payable or receivable arising from or relating to the sale, provision, or receipt of goods, payment for goods, property or services purchased, obtained or used in the ordinary course of business by any member of the STWD Group from any member of the SWAY Group, or by any member of the SWAY Group from any member of the STWD Group from and after the Effective Time; or

 

(iv)                              any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other than an Indemnitee; provided, that the Parties agree not to bring suit, or permit any other member of their respective Group to bring suit, against any Indemnitee with respect to such Liability.

 

(e)                                  SWAY shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the SWAY Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or indemnification, against any STWD Indemnitee with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 9.1(a).  STWD shall not make, and shall not permit any member of the STWD Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against any SWAY Indemnitee with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 9.1(b).

 

Section 9.2            Indemnification by SWAY.  Except as provided in Section 9.4 and Section 9.5, SWAY shall, and, in the case of Section 9.2(a) or Section 9.2(b), shall in addition cause each Appropriate Member of the SWAY Group to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless, the STWD Indemnitees from and against any and all Losses of the STWD Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from any of the following (without duplication):

 

(a)                                 any SWAY Liability, including the failure of any member of the SWAY Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any SWAY Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms, whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time;

 

(b)                                 any breach by any member of the SWAY Group of any provision of this Agreement or of any of the Ancillary Agreements, subject to any limitations of liability provisions and other provisions applicable to any such breach set forth therein; and

 

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(c)                                  any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to all information contained in the Registration Statement or the Information Statement other than information that relates solely to the STWD Assets;

 

in each case, regardless of when or where the loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to the Loss took place, or whether any such loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening is known or unknown, or reported or unreported and regardless of whether such loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to the Loss existed prior to, on or after the Distribution Date or relates to, arises out of or results from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to, on or after the Distribution Date.  As used in this Section 9.2, “Appropriate Member of the SWAY Group” means the member or members of the SWAY Group, if any, whose acts, conduct or omissions or failures to act caused, gave rise to or resulted in the Loss from and against which indemnity is provided.

 

Section 9.3            Indemnification by STWD.  Except as provided in Section 9.4 and Section 9.5, STWD shall, and, in the case of Section 9.3(a) or Section 9.3(b), shall in addition cause each Appropriate Member of the STWD Group to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SWAY Indemnitees from and against any and all Losses of the SWAY Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from any of the following (without duplication):

 

(a)                                 any STWD Liability, including the failure of any member of the STWD Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any STWD Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms, whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time;

 

(b)                                 any breach by any member of the STWD Group of any provision of this Agreement or of any of the Ancillary Agreements, subject to any limitations of liability provisions and other provisions applicable to any such breach set forth therein; and

 

(c)                                  any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, solely with respect to information contained in the Registration Statement or the Information Statement that relates solely to the STWD Assets;

 

in each case, regardless of when or where the loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to the Loss took place, or whether any such loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening is known or unknown, or reported or unreported and regardless of whether such loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to the Loss existed prior to, on or after the Distribution Date or relates to, arises out of or results from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to, on or after the Distribution Date.  As used in this Section 9.3, “Appropriate Member of the STWD Group” means the member or members of the STWD Group, if any, whose acts, conduct or omissions or failures to act caused, gave rise to or resulted in the Loss from and against which indemnity is provided.

 

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Section 9.4            Procedures for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 An Indemnitee shall give notice of any matter that such Indemnitee has determined has given or would reasonably be expected to give rise to a right of indemnification under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (other than a Third-Party Claim which shall be governed by Section 9.4(b)) to any Party that is or may be required pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to make such indemnification (the “Indemnifying Party”) promptly (and in any event within fifteen (15) days) after making such a determination.  Such notice shall state the amount of the Loss claimed, if known, and method of computation thereof, and containing a reference to the provisions of this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreement in respect of which such right of indemnification is claimed by such Indemnitee; provided, however, that the failure to provide such notice shall not release the Indemnifying Party from any of its obligations except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party shall have been materially prejudiced as a result of such failure.

 

(b)                                 If a claim or demand is made against an Indemnitee by any Person who is not a Party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a Party (a “Third-Party Claim”) as to which such Indemnitee is or reasonably expects to be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, such Indemnitee shall notify the Indemnifying Party in writing, and in reasonable detail, of the Third-Party Claim promptly (and in any event within thirty (30) days) after receipt by such Indemnitee of written notice of the Third-Party Claim; provided, however, that the failure to provide notice of any such Third-Party Claim pursuant to this sentence shall not release the Indemnifying Party from any of its obligations except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party shall have been materially prejudiced as a result of such failure (except that the Indemnifying Party or Parties shall not be liable for any expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in defending such Third-Party Claim during the period in which the Indemnitee failed to give such notice).  Thereafter, the Indemnitee shall deliver to the Indemnifying Party, promptly (and in any event within ten (10) days) after the Indemnitee’s receipt thereof, copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third-Party Claim.

 

(c)                                  An Indemnifying Party shall be entitled (but shall not be required) to assume, control the defense of, and settle any Third-Party Claim, at such Indemnifying Party’s own cost and expense and by such Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, which counsel must be reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee, if it gives written notice of its intention to do so (including a statement that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Article IX) to the applicable Indemnitees within thirty (30) days of the receipt of notice from such Indemnitees of the Third-Party Claim (failure of the Indemnifying Party to respond within such thirty (30) day period shall be deemed to be an election by the Indemnifying Party not to assume the defense for such Third-Party Claim).  After a notice from an Indemnifying Party to an Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim, such Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise or settlement thereof, at its own expense and, in any event, shall reasonably cooperate with the Indemnifying Party in such defense and make available to the Indemnifying Party all witnesses and information in such Indemnitee’s possession or under such Indemnitee’s control relating thereto as are reasonably required by the Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that such access shall not require the Indemnitee to disclose any information the disclosure of

 

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which would, in the good faith judgment of the Indemnitee, result in the loss of any existing privilege with respect to such information or violate any applicable Law.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.4, in the event that (i) an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim, (ii) there exists a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnitee, (iii) any Third-Party Claim seeks an order, injunction or other equitable relief or relief for other than money damages against the Indemnitee, (iv) the Indemnitee’s exposure to Liability in connection with such Third-Party Claim is reasonably expected to exceed the Indemnifying Party’s exposure in respect of such Third-Party Claim taking into account the indemnification obligations hereunder, or (v) the Person making such Third-Party Claim is a Governmental Authority with regulatory authority over the Indemnitee or any of its material Assets, such Indemnitee shall be entitled to control the defense of such Third-Party Claim, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, with counsel of such Indemnitee’s choosing (such counsel to be reasonably acceptable to the Indemnifying Party).  If the Indemnitee is conducting the defense against any such Third-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall reasonably cooperate with the Indemnitee in such defense and make available to the Indemnitee all witnesses and information in such Indemnifying Party’s possession or under such Indemnifying Party’s control relating thereto as are reasonably required by the Indemnitee; provided, however, that such access shall not require the Indemnifying Party to disclose any information the disclosure of which would, in the good faith judgment of the Indemnifying Party, result in the loss of any existing privilege with respect to such information or violate any applicable Law.

 

(e)                                  Unless the Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense of the Third-Party Claim in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, no Indemnitee may settle or compromise any Third-Party Claim without the consent of the Indemnifying Party (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).  If an Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense of the Third-Party Claim, it shall not be a defense to any obligation to pay any amount in respect of such Third-Party Claim that the Indemnifying Party was not consulted in the defense thereof, that such Indemnifying Party’s views or opinions as to the conduct of such defense were not accepted or adopted, that such Indemnifying Party does not approve of the quality or manner of the defense thereof or that such Third-Party Claim was incurred by reason of a settlement rather than by a judgment or other determination of liability.

 

(f)                                   In the case of a Third-Party Claim, no Indemnifying Party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement of the Third-Party Claim without the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of the Indemnitee if the effect thereof is to permit any injunction, declaratory judgment, other order or other non-monetary relief to be entered, directly or indirectly, against any Indemnitee, does not release the Indemnitee from all liabilities and obligations with respect to such Third-Party Claim or includes an admission of guilt or liability on behalf of the Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                  Absent fraud or intentional misconduct by an Indemnifying Party, the indemnification provisions of this Article IX shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of an Indemnitee for any monetary or compensatory damages or Losses resulting from any breach of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and each Indemnitee expressly waives and

 

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relinquishes any and all rights, claims or remedies such Person may have with respect to the foregoing other than under this Article IX against any Indemnifying Party.

 

(h)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event that counsel or independent accountants for a Protected REIT determine that there exists a material risk that any indemnification payments due under this Agreement would be treated as Nonqualifying Income upon the payment of such amounts to the relevant Indemnitee, the amount paid to the Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement in any tax year shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be paid to the Indemnitee in such year without causing the Protected REIT to fail to meet the REIT Requirements for any tax year, determined as if the payment of such amount were Nonqualifying Income as determined by such counsel or independent accountants to the Protected REIT.  If the amount payable for any tax year under the preceding sentence is less than the amount which the relevant Indemnifying Party would otherwise be obligated to pay to the relevant Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement (the “Expense Amount”), then:  (1) the Indemnifying Party shall place the Expense Amount into an escrow account (the “Escrow Account”) using an escrow agent and agreement reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee and shall not release any portion thereof to the Indemnitee, and the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to any such amount, unless and until the Indemnitee delivers to the Indemnifying Party, at the sole option of the relevant Protected REIT, (i) an opinion (an “Expense Amount Tax Opinion”) of the Protected REIT’s tax counsel to the effect that such amount, if and to the extent paid, would not constitute Nonqualifying Income, (ii) a letter (an “Expense Amount Accountant’s Letter”) from the Protected REIT’s independent accountants indicating the maximum amount that can be paid at that time to the Indemnitee without causing the Protected REIT to fail to meet the REIT Requirements for any relevant taxable year, or (iii) a private letter ruling issued by the IRS to the Protected REIT indicating that the receipt of any Expense Amount hereunder will not cause the Protected REIT to fail to satisfy the REIT Requirements (a “REIT Qualification Ruling” and, collectively with an Expense Amount Tax Opinion and an Expense Amount Accountant’s Letter, a “Release Document”); and (2) pending the delivery of a Release Document by the Indemnitee to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnitee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to borrow the Expense Amount from the Escrow Account pursuant to a loan agreement (an “Indemnity Loan Agreement”) reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee that (i) requires the Indemnifying Party to lend the Indemnitee immediately available cash proceeds in an amount equal to the Expense Amount (an “Indemnity Loan”), and (ii) provides for (A) a commercially reasonable interest rate and commercially reasonable covenants, taking into account the credit standing and profile of the Indemnitee or any guarantor of the Indemnitee, including the Protected REIT, at the time of such loan, and (B) a 15 year maturity with no periodic amortization.

 

Section 9.5            Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds.  The Parties intend that any Loss subject to indemnification or reimbursement pursuant to this Article IX (an “Indemnifiable Loss”) will be net of Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of the Loss.  Accordingly, the amount which an Indemnifying Party is required to pay to any Indemnitee will be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds actually recovered by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in reduction of the related Loss.  If an Indemnitee receives a payment (an “Indemnity Payment”) required by this Agreement from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Loss and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds, the Indemnitee will pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payments received over the amount of the Indemnity Payments that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds recovery had been

 

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received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payments were made.  The Indemnitee shall use and cause its Affiliates to use commercially reasonable efforts to recover any Insurance Proceeds to which the Indemnitee is entitled with respect to any Indemnifiable Loss.  The existence of a claim by an Indemnitee for insurance or against a third party in respect of any Indemnifiable Loss shall not, however, delay any payment pursuant to the indemnification provisions contained in this Article IX and otherwise determined to be due and owing by an Indemnifying Party; rather, the Indemnifying Party shall make payment in full of such amount so determined to be due and owing by it against a concurrent written assignment by the Indemnitee to the Indemnifying Party of the portion of the claim of the Indemnitee for such insurance or against such third party equal to the amount of such payment.  The Indemnitee shall use and cause its Affiliates to use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Indemnifying Party in recovering or to recover on behalf of the Indemnifying Party, any Insurance Proceeds to which the Indemnifying Party is entitled with respect to any Indemnifiable Loss as a result of such assignment.  The Indemnitee shall make available to the Indemnifying Party and its counsel all employees, books and records, communications, documents, items or matters within its knowledge, possession or control that are necessary, appropriate or reasonably deemed relevant by the Indemnifying Party with respect to the recovery of such Insurance Proceeds; provided, however, that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed to require a Party to make available books and records, communications, documents or items which (i) in such Party’s good faith judgment could result in a waiver of any privilege even if the Parties cooperated to protect such privilege as contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) such Party is not permitted to make available because of any Law or any confidentiality obligation to a third party, in which case such Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to seek a waiver of or other relief from such confidentiality restriction.  Unless the Indemnifying Party has made payment in full of any Indemnifiable Loss, such Indemnifying Party shall use and cause its Affiliates to use commercially reasonable efforts to recover any Insurance Proceeds to which it or such Affiliate is entitled with respect to any Indemnifiable Loss.

 

Section 9.6            Indemnification Obligations Net of Taxes.  The Parties intend that any Indemnifiable Loss will be net of Taxes.  Accordingly, the amount which an Indemnifying Party is required to pay to an Indemnitee will be adjusted to reflect any tax benefit to the Indemnitee from the underlying Loss and to reflect any Taxes imposed upon the Indemnitee as a result of the receipt of such payment.  Such an adjustment will first be made at the time that the Indemnity Payment is made and will further be made, as appropriate, to take into account any change in the liability of the Indemnitee for Taxes that occurs in connection with the final resolution of an audit by a Taxing Authority.  To the extent permitted by Law, for purposes of all Taxes imposed on or measured by net or taxable income, the Parties will treat any Indemnity Payment made pursuant to this Agreement as an additional capital contribution made (or as a return of the capital contribution made) by STWD to SWAY, as the case may be, on the date of this Agreement prior to the Distribution.

 

Section 9.7            Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Article IX is unavailable to an Indemnitee in respect of any Indemnifiable Loss, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnitee, shall contribute to the Losses paid or payable by such Indemnitee as a result of such Indemnifiable Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of SWAY and each other member of the SWAY Group, on the one hand, and

 

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STWD and each other member of the STWD Group, on the other hand, in connection with the circumstances which resulted in such Indemnifiable Loss.

 

Section 9.8            Remedies Cumulative.  The remedies provided in this Article IX shall be cumulative and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall not preclude assertion by any Indemnitee of any other rights or the seeking of any and all other remedies against any Indemnifying Party.

 

Section 9.9            Survival of Indemnities.  The rights and obligations of each of the Parties and their respective Indemnitees under this Article IX shall survive the Distribution Date indefinitely, unless a specific survival or other applicable period is expressly set forth herein, and shall survive the sale or other transfer by any Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Assets or businesses or the assignment by it of any Liabilities.

 

Section 9.10     Limitation of Liability.  EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, REMOTE OR SPECULATIVE DAMAGES (INCLUDING IN RESPECT OF LOST PROFITS OR REVENUES), HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

ARTICLE X

 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

Section 10.1     Appointed Representative.  Each Party shall appoint a representative who shall be responsible for administering the dispute resolution provisions in Section 10.2 (each, an “Appointed Representative”).  Each Appointed Representative shall have the authority to resolve any Agreement Disputes on behalf of the Party appointing such representative.

 

Section 10.2     Negotiation and Dispute Resolution.

 

(a)                                 Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, in the event of a controversy, dispute or claim arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to the interpretation, performance, nonperformance, validity, termination or breach of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise arising out of, or in any way related to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (each, an “Agreement Dispute”), the Appointed Representatives shall negotiate in good faith for thirty (30) days to settle any such Agreement Dispute.

 

(b)                                 Nothing said or disclosed, nor any document produced, in the course of any negotiations, conferences and discussions in connection with efforts to settle an Agreement Dispute that is not otherwise independently discoverable shall be offered or received as evidence or used for impeachment or for any other purpose, but shall be considered as to have been disclosed for settlement purposes.

 

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(c)                                  If a satisfactory resolution of any Agreement Dispute is not achieved by the Appointed Representatives within thirty (30) days, each Party will be entitled to refer the dispute to arbitration in accordance with Section 10.3.

 

Section 10.3     Arbitration.

 

(a)                                 If a satisfactory resolution of any Agreement Dispute is not achieved by the Appointed Representatives within thirty (30) days, such Agreement Dispute shall be resolved, at the request of either Party, by arbitration administered by the CPR under its Arbitration Rules (the “CPR Rules”), conducted in New York, New York.  There shall be three arbitrators.  Each Party shall appoint one arbitrator.  The two Party-appointed arbitrators shall agree on a third arbitrator who will chair the arbitral tribunal.  Any arbitrator not appointed within a reasonable time shall be appointed in accordance with the CPR Rules.  Any controversy concerning whether an Agreement Dispute is an arbitrable Agreement Dispute, whether arbitration has been waived, whether an assignee of this Agreement is bound to arbitrate, or as to the interpretation or enforceability of this Section 10.3 will be determined by the arbitrators.  In resolving any Agreement Dispute, the Parties intend that the arbitrators apply the substantive laws of the State of New York, without regard to any choice of law principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.  The Parties intend that the provisions to arbitrate set forth herein be valid, enforceable and irrevocable, and any award rendered by the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the Parties.  The Parties agree to comply with any award made in any such arbitration proceedings and agree to enforcement of or entry of judgment upon such award, in any court of competent jurisdiction, including any New York State or federal court.  The arbitrators shall be entitled, if appropriate, to award monetary damages and other remedies, subject to the provisions of Section 9.10.  The Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to encourage the arbitrators to resolve any arbitration related to any Agreement Dispute as promptly as practicable.  Except as required by applicable Law, including disclosure or reporting requirements, the arbitrators and the Parties shall maintain the confidentiality of all information, records, reports, or other documents obtained in the course of the arbitration, and of all awards, orders, or other arbitral decisions rendered by the arbitrators.

 

(b)                                 The arbitrators may consolidate arbitration under this Agreement with any arbitration arising under or relating to any of the Ancillary Agreements if the subjects of the Agreement Disputes thereunder arise out of or relate essentially to the same set of facts or transactions.  Such consolidated arbitration will be determined by the arbitrators appointed for the arbitration proceeding that was commenced first in time.

 

(c)                                  Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Parties will continue to provide service and honor all other commitments under this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Article X with respect to all matters not subject to such dispute resolution.

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

TERMINATION

 

Section 11.1     Termination.  Upon written notice, this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements, may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by and in the sole discretion of STWD without the approval of any other Party.

 

Section 11.2     Effect of Termination.  In the event of termination pursuant to Section 11.1, neither Party shall have any Liability of any kind to the other Party.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.1     Further Assurances.  Subject to the limitations or other provisions of this Agreement, (a) each Party shall, and shall cause the other members of its Group to, use commercially reasonable efforts (subject to, and in accordance with applicable Law) to take promptly, or cause to be taken promptly, all actions, and to do promptly, or cause to be done promptly, and to assist and cooperate with the other Party in doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the Transactions and to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement, including using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain satisfaction of the conditions precedent in Article V within its reasonable control and to perform all covenants and agreements herein applicable to such Party or any member of its Group and (b) neither Party will, nor will either Party allow any other member of its Group to, without the prior written consent of the other Party, take any action which would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede, interfere with or delay any of the Transactions.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, where the cooperation of third parties, such as insurers or trustees, would be necessary in order for a Party to completely fulfill its obligations under this Agreement, such Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such third parties to provide such cooperation.

 

Section 12.2     Payment of Expenses.  All costs and expenses incurred and directly related to the Transactions shall: (a) to the extent incurred and payable on or prior to the Distribution Date, be paid by STWD, it being understood that (i) SWAY shall reimburse STWD for any reasonable costs and expenses directly relating to the Transactions, including any accounting, legal, financial advisory, NYSE or third-party market study fees incurred in connection with the Transactions, and (ii) the amount required to be reimbursed by SWAY pursuant to clause (i) shall be decreased by any amount by which STWD elects to decrease the amount of cash to be contributed by STWD to SWAY pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Disclosure Schedule; and (b) to the extent arising and payable following the Distribution Date, be paid by the Party incurring such cost or expense.

 

Section 12.3     Amendments and Waivers.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 11.1, this Agreement may not be amended except by an agreement in writing signed by both Parties.

 

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(b)                                 Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived, or the time for its performance may be extended, by the Party entitled to the benefit thereof and any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently given for the purposes of this Agreement if it is in writing signed by an authorized representative of such Party.  No delay or failure in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall affect or operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power or remedy preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or remedy.  The rights and remedies hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies that either Party would otherwise have.

 

Section 12.4                                                     Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, and the Exhibits and Schedules referenced herein and therein and attached hereto or thereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior negotiations, agreements, commitments, writings, courses of dealing and understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

Section 12.5                                                     Survival of Agreements.  Except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, all covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their applicable terms.

 

Section 12.6                                                     Third Party Beneficiaries.  Except (a) as provided in Article IX relating to Indemnitees and for the release of any Person provided under Section 9.1, (b) as provided in Section 7.1 relating to insured persons and (c) as provided in Section 8.1(a), this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and should not be deemed to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, cause of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.

 

Section 12.7                                                     Notices.  All notices, requests, permissions, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) five (5) Business Days following sending by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (b) when sent, if sent by facsimile, (c) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, and (d) one (1) Business Day following sending by overnight delivery via a national courier service and, in each case, addressed to a Party at the following address for such Party:

 

(a)                                 If to STWD:

 

Starwood Property Trust, Inc.

c/o Starwood Capital Group

591 West Putnam Avenue

Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile No.: (203) 422-7873

 

(b)                                 If to SWAY:

 

Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust

c/o Starwood Capital Group

 

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591 West Putnam Avenue

Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile No.: (203) 422-7873

 

Section 12.8                                                     Counterparts; Electronic Delivery.  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other documents pursuant to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic means shall be deemed to be, and shall have the same legal effect as, execution by an original signature and delivery in person.

 

Section 12.9                                                     Severability.  If any term or other provision of this Agreement or the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto or thereto is determined by a nonappealable decision by a court, administrative agency or arbitrator to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either Party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the court, administrative agency or arbitrator shall interpret this Agreement so as to affect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the Transactions are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.  If any sentence in this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only as broad as is enforceable.

 

Section 12.10                                              Assignability; Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that the rights and obligations of each Party under this Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, whether by operation of law or otherwise, by such Party without the prior written consent of the other Party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations under this Agreement without such consent shall be null and void.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Party may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of their respective Affiliates provided that no such assignment shall release such assigning Party from any liability or obligation under this Agreement.

 

Section 12.11                                              Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of New York, without regard to any conflicts of law provisions thereof that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 12.12                                              Construction.  This Agreement shall be construed as if jointly drafted by the Parties and no rule of construction or strict interpretation shall be applied against either Party.  The Parties represent that this Agreement is entered into with full consideration of any and all rights which the Parties may have.  The Parties have relied upon their own knowledge and judgment.  The Parties have had access to independent legal advice, have conducted such investigations they thought appropriate, and have consulted with such other

 

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independent advisors as they deemed appropriate regarding this Agreement and their rights and asserted rights in connection therewith.  The Parties are not relying upon any representations or statements made by the other Party, or such other Party’s employees, agents, representatives or attorneys, regarding this Agreement, except to the extent such representations are expressly set forth or incorporated in this Agreement.  The Parties are not relying upon a legal duty, if one exists, on the part of the other Party (or such other Party’s employees, agents, representatives or attorneys) to disclose any information in connection with the execution of this Agreement or their preparation, it being expressly understood that neither Party shall ever assert any failure to disclose information on the part of the other Party as a ground for challenging this Agreement.

 

Section 12.13                                              Performance.  Each Party shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Party.

 

Section 12.14                                              Title and Headings.  Titles and headings to Sections and Articles are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Section 12.15                                              Exhibits and Schedules.  The Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference and shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers as of the date first set forth above.

 

	
 
    	
STARWOOD   PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
STARWOOD   WAYPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[Signature Page to Separation and Distribution Agreement]

 

 

SWAY Subsidiaries

 

	
Subsidiary
    	
 
    	
State/Country of Incorporation/Formation
    
	
PrimeStar Fund I GP, L.L.C.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
PrimeStar Fund I TRS, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
PrimeStar Fund I TRS, L.L.C.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
PrimeStar Fund I, L.P.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
PrimeStar-F Fund I, L.L.C.   (Series L.L.C.)
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
PrimeStar-F Fund I Trust
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
PrimeStar-H Fund I Trust
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
PrimeStar-H Fund I, L.L.C.   (Series L.L.C.)
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SRP 643 Sub II TRS, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SRP 643 Sub II, LLC
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SRP 643 Sub TRS, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SRP 643 Sub, LLC
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SRP PrimeStar, L.L.C.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SRP Sub, LLC
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SRP TRS Sub, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SRP TRS Sub, LLC
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Starwood Waypoint Residential GP, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Starwood Waypoint Residential Partnership,   L.P.
    	
 
    	
DelawareExhibit 10.5

 

STARWOOD WAYPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST

NON-EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE SHARE PLAN

 

1.                                      Purpose; Types of Awards.

 

The purposes of the Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust Non-Executive Trustee Share Plan (the “Plan”) are to afford an incentive to the non-executive trustees of Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust (the “Company”) to continue as trustees, to increase their efforts on behalf of the Company and to promote the success of the Company’s business. The Plan provides for the grant of restricted common shares, restricted share units and other equity-based awards. The Plan is also intended to implement the Company’s non-executive trustee program for the payment of fees in Shares.

 

2.                                      Definitions.

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a)                                 “Affiliate” means (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other Person, (ii) any executive officer or general partner of such other Person and (iii) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer or general partner.

 

(b)                                 “Award” means any Restricted Share, Restricted Share Unit or any Other Share-Based Award granted under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

 

(d)                                 “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Company.

 

(e)                                  “Change of Control” means a change in ownership or effective control of the Company, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, in any case, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code; provided, however, that a transaction or series of transactions effected with the Manager and/or any Affiliate of the Manager, through the acquisition of Shares or other Company securities (regardless of the form of such transaction or series of transactions), changes to the membership of the Board or otherwise, shall not constitute a Change of Control for purposes of the Plan or any Award.

 

(f)                                   “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(g)                                  “Committee” means the committee established by the Board to administer the Plan, the composition of which shall at all times consist of “non-employee trustees” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

(h)                                 “Company” means Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or any successor trust.

 

 

(i)                                     “Effective Date” means            , 2013, the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board, subject to obtaining the approval of the Company’s shareholders.

 

(j)                                    “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(k)                                 “Manager” means SWAY Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

(l)                                     “Other Share-Based Award” means a right or other interest granted to a Participant that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, including but not limited to unrestricted Shares or dividend equivalent rights.

 

(m)                             “Participant” means an eligible person who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

 

(n)                                 “Person” means any natural person, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, estate, trust, joint venture, any federal, state or municipal government or any bureau, department or agency thereof or any other legal entity and any fiduciary acting in such capacity on behalf of the foregoing.

 

(o)                                 “Plan” means this Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust Non-Executive Trustee Share Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

(p)                                 “Restricted Share” means an Award of Shares to a Participant under Section 6(b)(i) that may be subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

 

(q)                                 “Restricted Share Unit” or “RSU” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(b)(ii) to receive Shares, cash or other property at the end of a specified period, which right may be conditioned on the satisfaction of specified performance or other criteria.

 

(r)                                    “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(s)                                   “Share” means a common share, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

3.                                      Administration.

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Board. Except with respect to the amendment, modification, suspension or early termination of the Plan, the Board may appoint a Committee to administer all or a portion of the Plan. To the extent that the Board so delegates its authority, references herein to the Board shall be deemed references to the Committee. The Board may delegate to one or more agents such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any other person to whom the Board has delegated duties as aforesaid may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Board or such Committee or person may have under the Plan. No member of the Board or Committee shall be

 

2

 

liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted hereunder.

 

The Board shall have the authority in its discretion, subject to and not inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan, to administer the Plan and to exercise all the powers and authorities either specifically granted to it under the Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, the authority to: (i) grant Awards; (ii) determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which Awards shall be granted; (iii) determine the type and number of Awards to be granted, the number of Shares to which an Award may relate and the terms, conditions, restrictions and performance criteria relating to any Award; (iv) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled, cancelled, forfeited, exchanged, or surrendered; (v) make adjustments in the terms and conditions of Awards; (vi) construe and interpret the Plan and any Award; (vii) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (viii) determine the terms and provisions of the Award Agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant); and (ix) make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on all persons, including but not limited to the Company, any parent or subsidiary of the Company, any Participant (or any person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant) and any shareholder. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, except as provided in the second paragraph of Section 5, neither the Board nor the Committee may take any action which would have the effect of reducing the aggregate exercise, base or purchase price of any Award without obtaining the approval of the Company’s shareholders other than in connection with a Change of Control.

 

4.                                      Eligibility.

 

Awards may be granted, in the discretion of the Board, to trustees of the Company who are not officers of the Company. In determining the persons to whom Awards shall be granted and the type of any Award (including the number of Shares to be covered by such Award), the Board shall take into account such factors as the Board shall deem relevant in connection with accomplishing the purposes of the Plan.

 

5.                                      Shares Subject to the Plan.

 

The maximum number of Shares reserved for the grant of Awards under the Plan on or after           , 2013 shall be equal to             , subject to adjustment as provided herein. Shares issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award terminates or expires without a distribution of Shares to the Participant, or if Shares are surrendered or withheld by the Company as payment of either the purchase price of an Award and/or withholding taxes in respect of an Award, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, withholding, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan.

 

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In the event that the Board shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, or other property), recapitalization, Share split, reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or share exchange, or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the Shares such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan, then the Board shall make equitable changes or adjustments to any or all of: (i) the number and kind of Shares or other property (including cash) that may thereafter be issued in connection with Awards; (ii) the number and kind of Shares or other property (including cash) issued or issuable in respect of outstanding Awards; and (iii) the performance goals, if any, applicable to outstanding Awards. In addition, the Board may determine that any such equitable adjustment may be accomplished by making a payment to the Award holder, in the form of cash or other property (including but not limited to Shares).

 

6.                                      Terms of Awards.

 

(a)                                 General. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company upon the grant, vesting or delivery of an Award may be made in such forms as the Board shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, including, without limitation, cash, Shares or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis. The Board may make rules relating to installment or deferred payments with respect to Awards, including the rate of interest to be credited with respect to such payments. In addition to the foregoing, the Board may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter, such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Board shall determine.

 

(b)                                 Terms of Specified Awards. The Board is authorized to grant the Awards described in this Section 6(b), under such terms and conditions as deemed by the Board to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Such Awards may be granted with vesting, value and/or payment contingent upon attainment of one or more performance goals. Except as otherwise set forth herein or as may be determined by the Board, each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and conditions applicable to such Award as the Board shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter.

 

(i)                                     Restricted Shares. The Board is authorized to grant Restricted Shares to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(A)                               Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Shares shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions, if any, as the Board may impose at the date of grant or thereafter, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Board may determine. The Board may place restrictions on Restricted Shares that shall lapse, in whole or in part, only upon the attainment of one or more performance goals. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, a Participant granted Restricted Shares shall have all of the rights of a

 

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shareholder including, without limitation, the right to vote Restricted Shares and the right to receive dividends thereon.

 

(B)                               Forfeiture. Subject to Section 7, upon termination of service to the Company during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Shares shall be forfeited; provided, that the Board may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Shares will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Shares.

 

(C)                               Certificates for Shares. Restricted Shares granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Board shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the Participant, such certificates shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, and the Company shall retain physical possession of the certificate.

 

(D)                               Dividends/Distributions. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, except as provided in the immediately following sentence, dividends or distributions paid on Restricted Shares shall be paid at the dividend or distribution payment date in the same form as dividends and distributions are paid to other Company shareholders. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, Shares distributed in connection with a share split or share dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend or distribution, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Shares with respect to which such Shares or other property has been distributed.

 

(ii)                                  Restricted Share Units. The Board is authorized to grant RSUs to Participants, subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(A)                               Award and Restrictions. Delivery of Shares, cash or other property, as determined by the Board, will occur upon expiration of the period specified for RSUs by the Board during which forfeiture conditions apply, or such later date as the Board shall determine. The Board may place restrictions on RSUs that shall lapse, in whole or in part, only upon the attainment of one or more performance goals.

 

(B)                               Forfeiture. Subject to Section 7, upon termination of service to the Company prior to the vesting of RSUs, or upon failure to satisfy any other conditions precedent to the delivery of Shares or cash to which such RSUs relate, all RSUs and any accrued but unpaid dividend equivalents that are then subject to deferral or restriction shall be forfeited; provided, that the Board may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that

 

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restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to RSUs will be waived in whole or in part in the event of termination resulting from specified causes, and the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of RSUs.

 

(C)                               Dividend/Distribution Equivalents. The Board is authorized to grant to Participants the right to receive dividend equivalent payments and/or distribution equivalent payments for the period prior to settlement of the RSU. Dividend equivalents or distribution equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, and may be settled in cash or Shares, as determined by the Board. Any such settlements, and any such crediting of dividend equivalents or distribution equivalents or reinvestment in Shares, may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Board shall establish, including the reinvestment of such credited amounts in Share equivalents. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, any such dividend equivalents or distribution equivalents shall be paid or credited, as applicable, on the dividend payment date to the Participant as though each RSU held by such Participant were an outstanding Share.

 

(iii)                               Other Share-Based Awards. The Board is authorized to grant Awards to Participants in the form of Other Share-Based Awards (including, without limitation, unrestricted Shares), as deemed by the Board to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Awards granted pursuant to this paragraph may be granted with vesting, value and/or payment contingent upon the attainment of one or more performance goals. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards at the date of grant or thereafter. Without limiting the generality of this paragraph, Other Share-Based Awards may include grants of Shares that are not subject to any restrictions or a substantial risk of forfeiture. Subject to Section 7, upon termination of service to the Company prior to the vesting of an Other Share-Based Award, or upon failure to satisfy any other conditions precedent to the delivery of Shares or cash to which such Other Share-Based Award relates, all Other Share-Based Awards that are then subject to deferral or restriction shall be forfeited; provided, that the Board may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to such Other Share-Based Award will be waived in whole or in part in the event of termination resulting from specified causes, and the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of such Other Share-Based Award.

 

7.                                      Change of Control.

 

In the event of a Change of Control, any Award that was not previously vested will become fully vested and/or payable, and any performance conditions imposed with respect to the Award will be deemed to be fully achieved; provided, however, that for any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, no payment may be made to the holder of such Award unless the transaction constituting a Change of Control also constitutes, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company.

 

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8.                                      General Provisions.

 

(a)                                 Nontransferability. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Awards shall not be transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Participant only by such Participant or his guardian or legal representative.

 

(b)                                 No Right to Continued Service, Etc. Nothing in the Plan or in any Award, any Award Agreement or other agreement entered into pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue as a trustee of, or continue to provide services to, the Company or any parent, subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company or the Manager or to be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan or such Award Agreement or other agreement or to interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate such Participant’s service.

 

(c)                                  Taxes. The Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares, or any other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Board may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations. The Board may provide in the Award Agreement that in the event that a Participant is required to pay any amount to be withheld in connection with the issuance of Shares in settlement or exercise of an Award, the Participant may satisfy such obligation (in whole or in part) by electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares to be received upon settlement or exercise of such Award that is equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld.

 

(d)                                 Effective Date; Amendment and Termination.

 

(i)                                     The Plan shall take effect upon the Effective Date, subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders.

 

(ii)                                  The Board may at any time and from time to time terminate, amend, modify or suspend the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that unless otherwise determined by the Board, an amendment that requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to comply with any law, regulation or securities exchange requirement shall not be effective unless approved by the requisite vote of shareholders. The Board may at any time and from time to time amend any outstanding Award in whole or in part. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence of this clause (ii), no amendment or modification to or suspension or termination of the Plan or amendment of any Award shall affect adversely any of the rights of any Participant, without such Participant’s consent, under any Award theretofore granted under the Plan.

 

(e)                                  Expiration of Plan. Unless earlier terminated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. No

 

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Awards shall be granted under the Plan after such expiration date. The expiration of the Plan shall not affect adversely any of the rights of any Participant, without such Participant’s consent, under any Award theretofore granted.

 

(f)                                   Deferrals. Subject to applicable law, the Board shall have the authority to establish such procedures and programs that it deems appropriate to provide Participants with the ability to defer receipt of cash, Shares or other property payable with respect to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

(g)                                  No Rights to Awards; No Shareholder Rights. No Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment among Participants. Except as provided specifically herein, a Participant or a transferee of an Award shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by the Award until the date of the issuance of a share certificate to him for such Shares.

 

(h)                                 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.

 

(i)                                     No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Board shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

(j)                                    Regulations and Other Approvals.

 

(i)                                     The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with respect to any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board.

 

(ii)                                  Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Board determines, in its absolute discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Shares, no such Award shall be granted or payment made or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Board.

 

(iii)                               In the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then-current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act or regulations thereunder, and the Board may require a Participant receiving Shares pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to

 

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receipt of such Shares, to represent to the Company in writing that the Shares acquired by such Participant is acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution.

 

(iv)                              The Board may require a Participant receiving Shares pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Shares, to enter into a shareholder agreement or “lock-up” agreement in such form as the Board shall determine is necessary or desirable to further the Company’s interests.

 

(k)                                 Registration on Form S-8. The Company shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-8 with respect to the securities to be offered to Participants under the Plan and shall during the term of the Plan keep such registration statement effective.

 

(l)                                     Governing Law. The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the laws of Maryland without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

(m)                             Section 409A. It is intended that the payments and benefits under the Plan comply with, or as applicable, constitute a short-term deferral or otherwise be exempt from, the provisions of Section 409A of the Code. The Plan will be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause the Plan or any Award to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code will have no force and effect until amended to comply therewith (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code). To the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to this Plan during the six-month period immediately following Participant’s termination of employment shall instead be paid on the first business day after the date that is six months following Participant’s termination of employment (or upon Participant’s death, if earlier).

 

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