Assignment or Subletting 25.1. Except as hereinafter provided, Tenant shall not, either voluntarily or by operation of Applicable Laws, directly or indirectly sell, hypothecate, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise transfer this Lease, or sublet the Premises or any part hereof (each, a “Transfer”), without Landlord’s prior written consent, which consent Landlord may not unreasonably withhold; provided, however, that Tenant shall have the right to assign all or any portion of its interest under this Lease or sublet all or any portion of the Premises without Landlord’s consent to any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of Tenant; or any party that results from a merger or consolidation of Tenant; or any party that acquires all or substantially all of the assets or stock of Tenant (an “Allowable Transfer”). Any Transfer other than an Allowable Transfer shall be referred to herein as a “Subject Transfer”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Tenant be released from any of its obligations under this Lease.
25.2. In the event Tenant desires to effect a Transfer, then, at least twenty (20) days with respect to a sublease and at least thirty (30) days with respect to any other Transfer, but not more than ninety (90) days in any event, prior to the date when Tenant desires the Transfer to be effective (the “Assignment Date”), Tenant shall provide written notice to Landlord (the “Assignment Notice”) containing information (including references) concerning the character of the proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee; the Assignment Date; any ownership or commercial relationship between Tenant and the proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee; and the consideration and all other material terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer, all in such detail as Landlord shall reasonably require. Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by Landlord in reviewing Tenant’s request for such Transfer.
25.3. Landlord, in determining whether consent should be given to a proposed Subject Transfer, may give consideration to the financial strength of such transferee, assignee or sublessee (notwithstanding Tenant remaining liable for Tenant’s performance), and any change in use that such transferee, assignee or sublessee proposes to make in the use of the Premises. In no event shall Landlord be deemed to be unreasonable for declining to consent to a Transfer to a transferee, assignee or sublessee of poor reputation, lacking financial qualifications, seeking a change in the Permitted Use, or jeopardizing directly or indirectly the status of Landlord or any of Landlord’s affiliates as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Code; provided that (a) Landlord agrees to reasonably evaluate any proposed transferee’s, assignee’s or sublessee’s financial qualifications and (b) Landlord may only consider such financial qualifications in the event that, were the transfer, assignment or sublease to occur, Tenant would no longer occupy any portion of the Premises.
25.4. As conditions precedent to Landlord’s consent to a Subject Transfer, Landlord may require any or all of the following:
(a) Tenant shall remain fully liable under this Lease during the unexpired Term;
(b) Tenant shall provide Landlord with evidence reasonably satisfactory to Landlord that the value of Landlord’s interest under this Lease shall not be diminished or reduced by the proposed Subject Transfer. Such evidence shall include, without limitation, evidence respecting the relevant business experience and financial responsibility and status of the proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee;
(c) Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for Landlord’s actual costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, charges and disbursements incurred in connection with the review, processing and documentation of such request;
(d) If a Transfer of the Premises provides for the receipt by, on behalf of or on account of Tenant of any consideration of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, a premium rental for a sublease or lump sum payment for an assignment, but excluding Tenant’s reasonable costs in marketing and subleasing the Premises) in excess of the rental and other charges due to Landlord under this Lease, Tenant shall pay twenty-five percent (25%) of all of such excess to Landlord, prior to deductions for any transaction costs incurred by Tenant, including marketing expenses, tenant improvement allowances, alterations, cash concessions, brokerage commissions, attorneys’ fees and free rent. If said consideration consists of cash paid to Tenant, payment to Landlord shall be made upon receipt by Tenant of such cash payment;
(e) The proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee shall agree that, in the event Landlord gives such proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee notice that Tenant is in Default under this Lease, such proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee shall thereafter make all payments otherwise due Tenant directly to Landlord, which payments shall be received by Landlord without any liability being incurred by Landlord, except to credit such payment against those due by Tenant under this Lease, and any such proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee shall agree to attorn to Landlord or its successors and assigns should this Lease be terminated for any reason; provided, however, that in no event shall Landlord or its Lenders, successors or assigns be obligated to accept such attornment;
(f) Any consent to such Transfer shall be effected on Landlord’s forms;
(g) There shall exist no uncured Default or Imminent Default hereunder of which Tenant has been given notice by Landlord.
(h) Such proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee’s use of the Premises shall not require any change to the Permitted Use;
(i) Landlord shall not be bound by any provision of any agreement pertaining to the Transfer, except for Landlord’s written consent to the same;
(j) Tenant shall deliver to Landlord one executed copy of any and all written instruments evidencing or relating to the Transfer; and
(k) A list of Hazardous Materials (as defined in Section 39.7 below), certified by the proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee to be true and correct, that the proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee intends to use or store in the Premises. Additionally, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord, on or before the date any proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee takes occupancy of the Premises, all of the items relating to Hazardous Materials of such proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee as described in Section 39.2.
25.5. Any Transfer that is not in compliance with the provisions of this Section 25 shall be void.
25.6. The consent by Landlord to a Transfer shall not relieve Tenant or proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee from obtaining Landlord’s consent to any further Subject Transfer, nor shall it release Tenant or any proposed transferee, assignee or sublessee of Tenant from full and primary liability under this Lease.
25.7. Notwithstanding any Transfer, Tenant shall remain fully and primarily liable for the payment of all Rent and other sums due or to become due hereunder, and for the full performance of all other terms, conditions and covenants to be kept and performed by Tenant. The acceptance of Rent or any other sum due hereunder, or the acceptance of performance of any other term, covenant or condition thereof, from any person or entity other than Tenant shall not be deemed a waiver of any of the provisions of this Lease or a consent to any Transfer.
25.8. [Intentionally omitted]
25.9. If Tenant sublets the Premises or any potion thereof, Tenant hereby immediately and irrevocably assigns to Landlord, as security for Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, all rent from any such subletting, and appoints Landlord as assignee and attorney-in-fact for Tenant, and Landlord (or a receiver for Tenant appointed on Landlord’s application) may collect such rent and apply it toward Tenant’s obligations under this Lease; provided that, until the occurrence of a Default by Tenant, Tenant shall have the right to collect such rent.
Assignment or Sublease Lessee may not assign or transfer this Agreement or any interest therein, sublease any interest covered by this Agreement or encumber, hypothecate or otherwise give as security this Agreement or any interest therein without the prior written consent of Lessor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No assignment, transfer or sublease shall be effective as against Lessor for any purpose unless Lessor shall have consented thereto in writing prior to such assignment, transfer or sublease and unless all sums due from Lessee, together with any costs to Lessor to cover reasonable legal and other expenses of Lessor in connection with such assignment, transfer or sublease, shall have been paid to Lessor. Each and every attempt to assign, transfer, sublease, encumber or hypothecate this Agreement or any interest therein in a manner contrary to that set forth herein may be deemed a default by Lessee hereunder. Lessor's consent to one assignment, transfer or sublease by Lessee or acceptance of performance from an assignee, transferee or sublessee shall not be deemed a waiver by Lessor of the restrictions of this paragraph as to subsequent attempts to assign, transfer or sublease by Lessee or Lessee's heirs, successors, assigns, transfers or sublessees. As used herein, the terms Lessor and Lessee shall be deemed to include their respective heirs, successors, assigns, transferees and sublessees. The terms, conditions and covenants contained in this Agreement shall apply to, inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors. assigns, transferees and sublessees. Nothing contained herein shall limit Lessor's right to transfer and/or assign in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, all of its rights and obligations hereunder and in the Site, and in such event Lessor shall be released from any further obligations hereunder and the successor-in-interest of Lessor shall have all the rights and obligations hereunder and in the Site with respect to Lessee.
Assignment and Subletting by Tenant Tenant may not assign its interest in this Lease or sublet the whole or any part of the Premises without the prior consent of Landlord, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Tenant shall remain primarily liable and responsible under this Lease in the event of any such assignment or sublease and shall not be released from its obligations hereunder nor shall the guaranty of the Lease by Air Industries Group be terminated or released. Any assignment of this Lease or subletting of the Premises without notification to and consent by Landlord shall not be effective as to Landlord and Landlord shall not be bound thereby. Tenant agrees that it shall not be unreasonable for Landlord to withhold its consent to a proposed sublease or assignment if:
(a) The proposed assignee (“Proposed Assignee”) refuses to provide Landlord with financial statements covering a period of at least 12 months ending no earlier than six months and no later than three months prior to the effective date of the proposed assignment;
(b) The Proposed Assignee shall not agree in writing to assume all of the obligations of Tenant under this Lease from and after the date of assignment;
(c) Tenant or Proposed Assignee shall fail to pay to Landlord a processing fee of One Thousand Five Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars (increased by 2% each year commencing 1/1/17) in connection with the proposed sublet or assignment of this lease;
(d) Tenant shall fail to furnish Landlord with a true and correct copy of the sublease or assignment and assumption not less than thirty (30) days prior to execution for Landlord’s review and approval and a fully executed counterpart of the sublease or assignment and assumption of this Lease, as applicable, within ten (10) days after the date of the execution of same;
(e) The Proposed Assignee is not solvent or is generally held in disrepute;
(f) Without consent of Landlord, Tenant may assign this Lease to a corporation or other entity which is a direct or indirect subsidiary of Guarantor.
(g) Without consent of Landlord Tenant may assign this Lease or the holders of the equity interests of Tenant may sell or assign such interests to a third party which acquires all or substantially all of the business then being conducted by Tenant at the Premises.
(h) Without consent of Landlord, Tenant may sell or transfer a minority of its equity interests or otherwise assign or sublease to an affiliate or subsidiary of Tenant or its parent company; up to forty-nine percent (49%) of the Premises, or transfer equity interests in connection with going public.
(i) Under no circumstances shall Tenant or Guarantor be released from any liability under this Lease or Guaranty.
No Assignment or Subletting Sublessee shall not assign, sell, mortgage, pledge or in any manner transfer this Sublease or any interest herein, or the term or estate granted hereby or the rentals hereunder, or sublet the Subleased Premises or any part thereof, or grant any concession or license or otherwise permit occupancy of all or any part of the Subleased Premises by any person, without the prior written consent of Sublessor and Prime Lessor; provided, however, Sublessor’s consent shall not be required in connection with an assignment or sublease pursuant to Article 16(B) of the Prime Lease). Neither the consent of Sublessor or Prime Lessor to an assignment, subletting, concession, or license, nor the references in this Sublease to assignees, subtenants, concessionaires or licensees, shall in any way be construed to relieve Sublessee of the requirement of obtaining the consent of Sublessor and Prime Lessor to any further assignment or subletting or to the making of any further assignment, subletting, concession or license for all or any part of the Subleased Premises. Notwithstanding any assignment or subletting, including, without limitation, any assignment or subletting permitted or consented to, the original Sublessee named herein and any other person(s) who at any time was or were Sublessee shall remain fully liable under this Sublease. If this Sublease is assigned, or if the Subleased Premises or any part thereof is underlet or occupied by any person or entity other than Sublessee, Sublessor may, after default by Sublessee beyond any applicable notice and cure periods, collect rent from the assignee, undertenant or occupant, and apply the net amount collected to the rents payable by Sublessee hereunder, but no assignment, underletting, occupancy or collection shall be deemed a waiver of the provisions hereof, the acceptance of the assignee, undertenant or occupant as tenant, or a release of Sublessee from the further performance by Sublessee of the covenants hereunder to be performed on the part of Sublessee. Any attempted assignment or subletting without the prior written consent of Sublessor and Prime Lessor shall be void.
Assignment/Subletting A. Lessor shall have the right to sell, convey or mortgage all, but not less than all, of the Properties or to assign its right, title and interest as Lessor under this Lease in whole, but not in part; provided, however, the prohibition on Lessor's right to sell, convey or mortgage less than all of the Properties shall not restrict Lessor's right to convey Properties to Lessee pursuant to the provisions of Sections 21.B, 23.A(ix), 57 or 58 hereof. In the event of any such sale or assignment other than a security assignment, provided Lessee receives written notice that such purchaser or assignee has assumed all of Lessor's obligations under this Lease, Lessee shall attorn to such purchaser or assignee and Lessor shall be relieved, from and after the date of such transfer or conveyance, of liability for the performance of any obligation of Lessor contained herein, except for obligations or liabilities accrued prior to such assignment or sale.
B. Lessee acknowledges that Lessor has relied both on the business experience and creditworthiness of Lessee and upon the particular purposes for which Lessee intends to use the Properties in entering into this Lease. Without the prior written consent of Lessor and except as provided below: (i) Lessee shall not assign, transfer or convey this Lease or any interest therein, whether by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) no Subject Transfer shall occur; (iii) no interest in Lessee or any of the Guarantors shall be pledged, encumbered, hypothecated or assigned as collateral for any obligation of any of the Lessee Entities; and (iv) Lessee shall not sublet all or any part of any of the Properties. It is expressly agreed that Lessor may withhold or condition such consent based upon such matters as Lessor may in its reasonable discretion determine, including, without limitation, the experience and creditworthiness of any assignee, the assumption by any assignee of all of Lessee's obligations hereunder by undertakings enforceable by Lessor, the transfer to any assignee of all necessary licenses and franchises to continue operating the Properties for the purposes herein provided, receipt of such representations and warranties from any assignee as Lessor may request, including such matters as its organization, existence, good standing and finances and other matters, whether or not similar in kind. At the time of any assignment of this Lease which is approved by Lessor, the assignee shall assume all of the obligations of Lessee under this Lease pursuant to Lessor's standard form of assumption agreement. No such assignment nor any subletting of any of the Properties shall relieve Lessee of its obligations respecting this Lease or Guarantors of any of their obligations respecting the Guaranty. Any rentals owing under a sublease which are in excess of the rentals owing hereunder may be retained by Lessee unless an Event of Default has occurred, in which case, Lessor shall be entitled to receive such excess rentals applicable to the period during which such Event of Default is continuing. Any assignment, transfer, conveyance, pledge, mortgage or subletting in violation of this Section shall be voidable at the sole option of Lessor.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 26.B, Lessor's consent to a Subject Transfer shall not be required if each of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under this Lease as of the date on which Lessee gives the Subject Transfer Notice (as hereinafter defined) and as of the date on which such Subject Transfer is consummated;
(ii) after giving effect to such Subject Transfer, whether as a single transaction or as a series of transactions, the Lessee Entities, including any surviving entity as a result of such Subject Transfer and/or successor of Lessee or any of the Guarantors, shall have a consolidated net worth determined in accordance with GAAP of not less than the sum of (1) $29,690,500.00, plus (2) fifty (50%) percent of Net Income, if positive, for each fiscal quarter of the Lessee Entities ending after the Effective Date (i.e., exclusive of any negative Net Income for any such fiscal quarter) determined on a cumulative basis subsequent to the Effective Date, plus (3) seventy-five (75%) percent of the proceeds of any issuance of equity securities of any of the Lessee Entities or other contributions to the capital of any of the Lessee Entities subsequent to the Effective Date (the "Net Worth Condition");
(iii) Lessee and Guarantors, including any surviving entity as a result of such Subject Transfer and/or successor of Lessee or any of the Guarantors, shall not be released from any of their respective obligations under this Lease and the Guaranty, and any such surviving entity or successor entity, as applicable, has assumed in writing or by operation of law (provided Lessor has received a satisfactory opinion of counsel confirming that such assumption will occur by operation of law) all obligations of Lessee under this Lease or Guarantors under the Guaranty, as applicable;
(iv) after giving effect to such Subject Transfer, whether as a single transaction or as a series of transactions, the Lessee Entities shall have a Corporate Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as hereinafter defined) determined as of the end of Lessee's most recently closed fiscal quarter on a proforma basis after giving effect to such Subject Transfer of at least equal to 1.50:1 (the "Corporate Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Condition")
(v) after such Subject Transfer, the Properties will be operated as a Permitted Facility or such other nationally or regionally recognized casual dining concepts reasonably acceptable to Lessor;
(vi) the Lessee Entities, including any surviving entity as a result of such Subject Transfer and/or successor of Lessee or any of the Guarantors, shall have at least 5 years' experience operating a multi-unit casual dining restaurant concept with the same or greater number of units as are operated by the Lessee Entities immediately prior to the consummation of such Subject Transfer;
(vii) if and to the extent that the loans contemplated by the Loan Documents have been subject to a Securitization, Lender shall have received a notice or confirmation of the rating agencies which have issued ratings in connection with such Securitization that such Subject Transfer will not cause any of such rating agencies to downgrade, modify, withdraw or qualify any of such ratings (the "Rating Agency Condition"); and
(viii) Lessee shall have delivered to Lessor a certification that all of the conditions to such Subject Transfer set forth in this Section 26.C have been satisfied. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Lessee is unable to satisfy the Net Worth Condition, the Corporate Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Condition and/or the Rating Agency Condition, such conditions shall be deemed satisfied if Lessee shall (1) pay to Lessor the Subject Transfer Rent Prepayment Amount (as hereinafter defined), and (2) pay to Lessor the Prepayment Charges payable by Lessor to Lender as a result of the payment of the Subject Transfer Rent Prepayment Amount. Upon Lessee's payment of the Subject Transfer Rent Prepayment Amount and Prepayment Charges as contemplated by the preceding sentence, Lessor agrees that the Base Monthly Rental beginning with the calendar month immediately following the month in which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made on the first day of a calendar month, beginning with the calendar month in which such payment is made) shall be equal to the Base Monthly Rental then in effect reduced by the Subject Transfer Rent Reduction Amount (as hereinafter defined) For purposes of this Section 26.C, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below: