Essex Portfolio, L.P., as Issuer Essex Property Trust, Inc., as Guarantor U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee

Exhibit 4.1

Essex Portfolio, L.P., as Issuer

Essex Property Trust, Inc., as Guarantor

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee

Dated as of
February 11, 2020

2.650% Senior Notes due 2032

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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CROSS REFERENCE TABLE*

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N.A. means not applicable.

 

INDENTURE

 

INDENTURE dated as of February 11, 2020 among Essex Portfolio, L.P., a California limited partnership (hereinafter called the “Issuer”), Essex Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the “Guarantor” or, in its capacity as the sole general partner of the Issuer, the “General Partner”), each having its principal office at Essex Portfolio, L.P., ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee hereunder (hereinafter called the “Trustee”). Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Issuer’s 2.650% Senior Notes due 2032 (hereinafter called the “Notes”) guaranteed by the Guarantor.

 

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01.    Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act (as defined below) or which are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act (as defined below) (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this Indenture.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto:

 

“Acquired Debt” means Debt of a Person (i) existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Issuer or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case, other than Debt incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming such a Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Debt shall be deemed to be incurred on the date of the related acquisition of assets from any Person or the date the acquired Person becomes such a Subsidiary, as applicable.

 

“Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.04 and 2.11 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.

 

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Agent” means any Note Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent, additional paying agent or authentication agent.

 

“Annual Debt Service Charge” for any period means the maximum amount which is payable during such period for interest on, and original issue discount of, Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and the amount of any dividends which are payable during such period in respect of any Disqualified Stock.

 

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary.

 

“Authentication Order” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal, state, or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

“Benefited Party” has the meaning specified in Section 15.01.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the General Partner or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it hereunder.

 

“Business Day” means, with respect to any Note, any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

“Capital Stock” means any capital stock (including preferred stock), shares, interests, participations or other ownership interests (however designated) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for corporate stock), warrants or options to purchase any thereof.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming the Notes to be redeemed matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes (assuming such Notes to be redeemed matured on the Par Call Date).

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than six such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.

 

“Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service” for any period means Earnings from Operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries plus amounts which have been deducted, and minus amounts which have been added, for the following (without duplication): (i) interest on Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, (ii) provision for taxes of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries based on income, (iii) amortization of debt discount and other deferred financing costs, (iv) provisions for gains and losses on properties and property depreciation and amortization, (v) the effect of any noncash charge resulting from a change in accounting principles in determining Earnings from Operations for such period and (vi) amortization of deferred charges.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” or other similar term, means the designated office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business as it relates to this Indenture shall be administered, which office is, at the date as of which this Indenture is dated, located at the address set forth in Section 16.03.

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 12.03.

 

“CUSIP” means the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures.

 

“Custodian” means U.S. Bank National Association, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

“Debt” means, without duplication, any indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, whether or not contingent, in respect of (i) borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, (ii) indebtedness for borrowed money secured by any Encumbrance existing on property owned by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) the reimbursement obligations, contingent or otherwise, in connection with any letters of credit actually issued (other than letters of credit issued to provide credit enhancement or support with respect to other indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries otherwise reflected as Debt hereunder) or amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, or all conditional sale obligations or obligations under any title retention agreement, (iv) the principal amount of all obligations of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock, (v) any lease of property by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries as lessee which is reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as a financing lease in accordance with GAAP, or (vi) interest rate swaps, caps or similar agreements and foreign exchange contracts, currency swaps or similar agreements, to the extent, in the case of items of indebtedness under (i) through (iii) above, that any such items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise (other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business), Debt of another Person (other than the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) (it being understood that Debt shall be deemed to be incurred by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries whenever the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof).  In the case of items of indebtedness under clause (v) above, “Debt” excludes operating lease liabilities on the Issuer’s consolidated balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Default” means any event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03.

 

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

“Depositary” means the clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as the Depositary for the Global Notes. DTC shall be the initial Depositary, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries which by the terms of such Capital Stock (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or exercisable), upon the happening of any event or otherwise (i) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than Capital Stock which is redeemable solely in exchange for common stock), (ii) is convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Debt or Disqualified Stock or (iii) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than Capital Stock which is redeemable solely in exchange for Capital Stock which is not Disqualified Stock), in each case on or prior to the maturity of the Notes.

 

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

“Earnings from Operations” for any period means net earnings excluding gains and losses on sales of investments, extraordinary items, and property valuation gains and losses, as reflected in the financial statements of the Issuer and any of its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Encumbrance” means any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, charge, pledge, security interest, security agreement or other encumbrance of any kind.

 

“Event of Default” means any event specified in Section 6.01 as an Event of Default.

 

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

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time, as used in the United States of America applied on a consistent basis.

 

“General Partner” means the corporation named as the “General Partner” in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and, subject to the provisions of Article 10, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with this Indenture.

 

“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

 

“Guarantee” means the full and unconditional guarantee provided by the Guarantor in respect of the Notes as made applicable to the Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.01 hereof.

 

“Guarantee Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 15.01.

 

“Guarantor” means the corporation named as the “Guarantor” in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and, subject to the provisions of Article 10, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented.

 

“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

 

“Initial Notes” means the first $500,000,000 of aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

 

“interest” means, when used with reference to the Notes, any interest payable under the terms of the Notes.

 

“Issuer” means the limited partnership named as the “Issuer” in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and, subject to the provisions of Article 10, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

“Legal Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 12.02.

 

“Maturity Date” means March 15, 2032.

 

“Note” or “Notes” means any Note or Notes, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, including the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and any Global Note.

 

“Note Register” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

 

“Note Registrar” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

 

“Noteholder” or “Holder” as applied to any Note, or other similar terms (but excluding the term “beneficial holder”), means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the Note Registrar’s books.

 

“Officer” means any person holding any of the following positions with the General Partner or the Issuer: the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or numbers or word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer and the Secretary.

 

“Officers’ Certificate,” when used with respect to the Issuer, means a certificate signed by any two Officers or by one such Officer and any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner or the Issuer.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer, or other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

“outstanding,” when used with reference to Notes and subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, means, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

 

“Par Call Date” means December 15, 2031.

 

“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

 

“Paying Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

 

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

 

“Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, mutilated, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, mutilated, destroyed or stolen Note that it replaces.

 

“premium” means any premium payable under the terms of the Notes.

 

“Prospectus” means collectively the prospectus supplement dated February 4, 2020 relating to the Notes and the related prospectus dated September 28, 2018, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Issuer.

 

“Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03.

 

“Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Note or portion thereof to be redeemed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 hereof, the date fixed for such redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 hereof.

 

“Redemption Price” has the meaning provided in Section 3.01 hereof.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of (1) ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC, and their respective successors or their respective affiliates who are Primary Treasury Dealers (as defined below), (2) a Primary Treasury Dealer selected by U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and its successors and (3) two other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Issuer; provided, however, that if any of the Reference Treasury Dealers ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer (“Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Issuer will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Issuer, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding the date on which notice of redemption is mailed to Holders of record of the Notes.

 

“Responsible Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of or familiarity with the particular subject.

 

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

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer in which the Issuer has invested at least $50,000,000 in capital.

 

“Stated Maturity,” with respect to any Note or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Note as the fixed date on which the principal of such Note or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other equity interest entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or managing general partner of which is such Person or a subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).

 

“Total Assets” as of any date means the sum of (without duplication) (i) Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and (ii) all other assets (excluding accounts receivable, intangibles and operating lease assets) of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as it was in force at the date of this Indenture; provided that if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date hereof, the term “Trust Indenture Act” shall mean, to the extent required by such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

“Trustee” means U.S. Bank National Association, and its successors and any corporation resulting from or surviving any consolidation or merger to which it or its successors may be a party and any successor trustee at the time serving as successor trustee hereunder.

 

“Undepreciated Real Estate Assets” means, as of any date, the cost (original cost plus capital improvements) of real estate assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on such date, right of use assets associated with financing leases in accordance with GAAP, before depreciation and amortization, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that Undepreciated Real Estate Assets shall not include right of use assets associated with operating leases in accordance with GAAP.

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(d)          Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(d), the Note Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes for a beneficial interest in a Global Note as provided herein. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Note Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Note Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. A Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note in accordance with the Applicable Procedures or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note in accordance with the Applicable Procedures at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of a Global Note.

 

(e)          Transfer of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. If Definitive Notes have been issued in accordance with Section 2.06(a), upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Note Registrar will register the transfer of Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of Definitive Notes as provided herein. Prior to such registration of transfer, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Note Registrar the Definitive Notes to be transferred duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Note Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. Upon receipt of such a request to register such a transfer and such other documents, the Note Registrar shall register the Definitive Notes being transferred pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

(f)           Legends. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.09 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

 

(g)          Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.09 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

(h)          General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Participants in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Section 2.07.     Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes. In case any Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer in its discretion may execute, and upon its written request the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, a new Note, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case, the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Issuer, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless for any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Issuer, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

 

Following receipt by the Trustee or such authenticating agent, as the case may be, of satisfactory security or indemnity and evidence, as described in the preceding paragraph, the Trustee or such authenticating agent may authenticate any such substituted Note and make available for delivery such Note. Upon the issuance of any substituted Note, the Issuer may require the payment by the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Note which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption, as the case may be, shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer may, instead of issuing a substitute Note, pay or authorize the payment of such Note, as the case may be, if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Issuer, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless for any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or in connection with such payment, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Issuer, the Trustee and, if applicable, any Paying Agent evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

 

Every substitute Note issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.07 by virtue of the fact that any Note is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. To the extent permitted by law, all Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment or exchange or redemption of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment or redemption of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

Section 2.08.     Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of Notes in definitive form for issuance and delivery when provided for hereunder, the Issuer may execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall, upon the written request of the Issuer, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the Notes in definitive form, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Issuer. Every such temporary Note shall be executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee or such authenticating agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Notes in definitive form. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer will execute and deliver to the Trustee or such authenticating agent Notes in definitive form for issuance and delivery when provided for hereunder and thereupon any or all temporary Notes may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.02 and the Trustee or such authenticating agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Notes an equal aggregate principal amount of Notes in definitive form. Such exchange shall be made by the Issuer at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Notes in definitive form authenticated and delivered hereunder. Temporary Notes may be in global form.

 

Section 2.09.    Cancellation of Notes. The Issuer at any time permitted hereunder may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.  All Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Issuer or any Paying Agent, which shall initially be the Trustee, or any Note Registrar, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly canceled by it and no Notes shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of such canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures, with copies of such cancelled Notes and related documentation provided to the Issuer. If the Issuer shall acquire any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.10.    CUSIP Numbers . The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Noteholders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

Section 2.11.     Issuance of Additional Notes. The Issuer will be entitled, upon delivery of an Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel and Authentication Order, subject to its compliance with Section 4.09, to issue Additional Notes under the Indenture that will have identical terms to and the same CUSIP number as the Initial Notes issued on the date of this Indenture other than with respect to the date of issuance, public offering price, interest accrued prior to the issue date of the Additional Notes and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date; provided that such Additional Notes must be part of the same issue as and fungible with the Initial Notes for United States federal income tax purposes and provided further that no such Additional Notes may be issued if the Issuer has effected satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Notes pursuant to Article 11 or effected legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to the Notes pursuant to Article 12. The Initial Notes and any such Additional Notes will constitute a single series of debt securities, and in circumstances in which this Indenture provides for the Holders of Notes to vote or take any action, the Holders of Initial Notes and the Holders of any such Additional Notes will vote or take the action as a single class.

 

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuer will set forth in a resolution of its Board of Directors and an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of each of which will be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION OF NOTES

 

Section 3.01.    Optional Redemption of Notes,

(a)          The Issuer shall have the right to redeem the Notes at its option and in its sole discretion, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, for cash, at a redemption price with respect to the Notes to be redeemed on any Redemption Date (the “Redemption Price”) equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed and (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed that would be due if such Notes to be redeemed matured on the Par Call Date but for redemption thereof on such Redemption Date (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of such Redemption Date) discounted to such Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus twenty (20) basis points (0.20% or twenty one-hundredths of one percent), plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such Redemption Date; provided, however, that if such Redemption Date falls after the Record Date immediately preceding an interest payment date and on or prior to such interest payment date, the Issuer will pay the full amount of such accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, on such interest payment date to the Holder of record at the close of business on such Record Date (instead of the Holder surrendering its Notes for redemption). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Notes are redeemed on or after the Par Call Date, the Redemption Price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed to the Redemption Date for such redemption.

 

(b)          The Issuer shall not redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.01(a) on any date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such an acceleration has not been rescinded or cured on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by the Issuer in the payment of the Redemption Price with respect to the Notes to be redeemed).

 

Section 3.02.     Notice of Optional Redemption; Selection of Notes. In case the Issuer shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.01, it shall fix a date for redemption and it or, at its written request received by the Trustee not fewer than five (5) Business Days prior (or such shorter period of time as may be acceptable to the Trustee) to the date the notice of redemption is to be mailed (or sent by electronic transmission), the Trustee in the name of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall mail (or send by electronic transmission) or cause to be mailed (or sent by electronic transmission) a notice of such redemption not fewer than fifteen (15) calendar days nor more than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes so to be redeemed in whole or in part at its last address as the same appears on the Note Register; provided that if the Issuer makes such request of the Trustee, it shall, together with such request, also give written notice of the Redemption Date to the Trustee; provided further that the text of the notice shall be prepared by the Issuer. Such mailing shall be by first class mail (unless sent by electronic transmission). The notice, if mailed in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.

 

Each such notice of redemption shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (ii) the CUSIP number or numbers, if any, of the Notes being redeemed, (iii) the Redemption Date (which shall be a Business Day), (iv) the Redemption Price at which Notes are to be redeemed, (v) the place or places of payment and that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Notes and (vi) that interest accrued and unpaid to, but excluding, the Redemption Date will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portion thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers, if any). In case any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

 

Whenever any Notes are to be redeemed, the Issuer will give the Trustee written notice of the Redemption Date, together with an Officers’ Certificate as to the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed not fewer than forty-five (45) calendar days (or such shorter period of time as may be acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the Redemption Date.

 

On or prior to the Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section 3.02, the Issuer will deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or the Guarantor is acting as Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04) an amount of monies in immediately available funds sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date all the Notes (or portions thereof) so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price; provided that if such payment is made on the Redemption Date, it must be received by the Paying Agent, by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date. The Issuer shall be entitled to retain any interest, yield or gain on amounts deposited with the Paying Agent pursuant to this Section 3.02 in excess of amounts required hereunder to pay the Redemption Price.

 

If less than all of the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes or portions thereof of the Global Note or the Definitive Notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis or such other method the Trustee deems fair and appropriate or is required by the Depositary, provided that the unredeemed portion of any Note to be redeemed in part shall remain in a denomination authorized hereunder. The Notes (or portions thereof) so selected for redemption shall be deemed duly selected for redemption for all purposes hereof.

 

Section 3.03.     Payment of Notes Called for Redemption by the Issuer. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.02, the Notes or portion of Notes with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the Redemption Price, and so long as the Paying Agent holds funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Notes to be redeemed on the Redemption Date, then (a) such Notes will cease to be outstanding on and after the Redemption Date, (b) interest on the Notes or portion of Notes so called for redemption shall cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date, (c) except as provided in Section 7.05 and Section 11.02, such Notes will cease to be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture, and (d) the Holders of the Notes shall have no right in respect of such Notes except the right to receive the Redemption Price thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Notes at a place of payment in said notice specified, the said Notes or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Issuer at the Redemption Price.

 

Upon presentation of any Note redeemed in part only, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Issuer, a new Note or Notes, of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Notes so presented.

 

Section 3.04.     Sinking Fund. There shall be no sinking fund provided for the Notes.

 

ARTICLE 4
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

 

Section 4.01.     Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest . The Issuer covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid when due the principal of (including the Redemption Price upon redemption pursuant to Article 3), and premium, if any, and interest on each of the Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes; provided that, the Issuer or Paying Agent may withhold from payments of interest and upon redemption pursuant to Article 3, maturity or otherwise any amounts the Issuer or Paying Agent is required to withhold by law, including amounts required to be withheld in accordance with applicable tax laws. If any withholding tax is required to be imposed on any payment by the Issuer to a Holder under the Notes, such tax shall reduce the amount otherwise payable to such Holder, and any amounts so withheld shall be treated as having been paid to such Holder for all purposes of this Indenture. Failure of a Holder or a beneficial owner of a Note to provide the Issuer or Paying Agent or Depositary with appropriate tax certificates (including on an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or an applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8) may result in amounts being withheld from a payment to such Holder or for the account of such a beneficial owner. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall the consent of the Holders or any beneficial owner be required for any required withholding.

 

Section 4.02.     Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuer will maintain an office or agency, where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment or redemption and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer and the Guarantor in respect of the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture may be served. As of the date of this Indenture, such office shall be the Corporate Trust Office and, at any other time, at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Issuer. The Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency not designated or appointed by the Trustee. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

 

The Issuer may also from time to time designate co-registrars and one or more offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

The Issuer hereby initially designates the Trustee as Paying Agent, Note Registrar and Custodian, and the Corporate Trust Office shall be considered as one such office or agency of the Issuer for each of the aforesaid purposes.

 

So long as the Trustee is the Note Registrar, the Trustee agrees to mail (or send by electronic transmission), or cause to be mailed, the notices set forth in Section 7.10 and the third paragraph of Section 7.11. If co-registrars have been appointed in accordance with this Section, the Trustee shall mail such notices only to the Issuer and the Holders of Notes it can identify from its records.

 

Section 4.03.    Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Issuer, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 4.04.    Provisions as to Paying Agent.

 

(a)          If the Issuer shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, or if the Trustee shall appoint such a Paying Agent, the Issuer will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04:

 

The Issuer shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum (in funds which are immediately available on the due date for such payment) sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action; provided that if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit shall be received by the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on such date.

 

(b)          If the Issuer or the Guarantor shall act as Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, and interest so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Issuer (or any other obligor under the Notes) to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes when the same shall become due and payable.

 

(c)          Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Issuer may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Issuer or the Guarantor or any Paying Agent hereunder as required by this Section 4.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment by the Issuer, the Guarantor or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Issuer, the Guarantor or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

 

(d)          Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.04 is subject to Section 11.02 and Section 11.03.

 

The Trustee shall not be responsible for the actions of any other Paying Agents (including the Issuer or Guarantor if acting as Paying Agent) and shall have no control of any funds held by such other Paying Agents.

 

Section 4.05.    Existence. Subject to Article 10, each of the Issuer and the Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall be required to preserve any such right if the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Noteholders.

 

Section 4.06.     Reports. Whether or not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and for so long as any Notes are outstanding, within fifteen (15) days of the date on which such filing is made with the Commission (or would have been required to have been made with the Commission), each of the Issuer and the Guarantor will furnish to the Trustee:

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, during any period in which the Issuer is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer may satisfy its obligation to furnish the reports described above by furnishing reports for the Guarantor.

 

Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor shall comply with the provisions of Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s or Guarantor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

Section 4.07.     Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Issuer and the Guarantor each covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law which would prohibit or forgive the Issuer from paying all or any portion of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees endorsed on the Notes and the Issuer and the Guarantor each (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

Section 4.08.    Compliance Certificate. Within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by any of the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Issuer (or its General Partner) and the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating whether or not the signer has knowledge of any Default under this Indenture that has occurred and is continuing, and, if so, specifying each Default under this Indenture that has occurred and is continuing and the nature and the status thereof. The certificate shall state if the determination as to whether any Default has occurred and is continuing for purposes of such certificate has been made with regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

 

The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee, promptly upon becoming aware of (i) any default in the performance or observance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, or (ii) any Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying with particularity such default or Event of Default and further stating what action the Issuer has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Any notice required to be given under this Section 4.08 shall be delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 4.09.    Limitations on Incurrence of Debt.

 

(a)          Limitation on Total Outstanding Debt. The Issuer will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt (including, without limitation, Acquired Debt) if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) is greater than sixty five percent (65%) of the sum of (without duplication) (i) Total Assets as of the last day of the then most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available and (ii) the aggregate purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the aggregate amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt) in each case, by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such fiscal quarter, including the proceeds obtained from the incurrence of such additional Debt, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b)          Limitation on Secured Debt. The Issuer will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt (including, without limitation, Acquired Debt) secured by any Encumbrance on any property or assets of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, whether owned on the date of this Indenture or thereafter acquired, if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, the aggregate principal amount (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) of all outstanding Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries which is secured by any Encumbrance on any property or assets of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is greater than forty percent (40%) of the sum of (without duplication) (i) Total Assets as of the last day of the then most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available and (ii) the aggregate purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the aggregate amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such fiscal quarter, including the proceeds obtained from the incurrence of such additional Debt, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

(c)         Ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to the Annual Debt Service Charge. The Issuer will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt (including, without limitation, Acquired Debt) if the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to the Annual Debt Service Charge for the period consisting of the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date on which such additional Debt is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5:1.0 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom, and calculated on the assumption that (i) such Debt and any other Debt (including, without limitation, Acquired Debt) incurred by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four quarter period had been incurred, and the application of the proceeds therefrom (including to repay or retire other Debt) had occurred, on the first day of such period, (ii) the repayment or retirement of any other Debt of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four quarter period had occurred on the first day of such period (except that, in making such computation, the amount of Debt under any revolving credit facility, line of credit or similar facility shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Debt during such period), and (iii) in the case of any acquisition or disposition by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets, in any such case with a fair market value (determined in good faith by the Guarantor’s Board of Directors) in excess of $1,000,000, since the first day of such four quarter period, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale or asset purchase or sale or otherwise, such acquisition or disposition had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included in such pro forma calculation. If the Debt giving rise to the need to make the foregoing calculation or any other Debt incurred after the first day of the relevant four quarter period bears interest at a floating rate then, for purposes of calculating the Annual Debt Service Charge, the interest rate on such Debt shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the average rate which would have been in effect during the entire such four quarter period had been the applicable rate for the entire such period.

 

(d)         Maintenance of Unencumbered Total Asset Value. The Issuer, together with its Subsidiaries, will have at all times Total Unencumbered Assets of not less than one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Unsecured Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Section 4.10.    Insurance. The Issuer will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies against such risks and in such amounts as is customarily maintained by Persons engaged in similar businesses or as may be required by applicable law.

 

ARTICLE 5
NOTEHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY
THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 5.01.     Noteholders’ Lists. The Issuer covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee, semiannually, at least five Business Days before each March 15 and September 15 of each year beginning with September 15, 2020, and at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing, within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request (or such lesser time as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to enable it to timely provide any notice to be provided by it hereunder), a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes as of a date not more than fifteen (15) calendar days (or such other date as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to so provide any such notices) prior to the time such information is furnished, except that no such list need be furnished by the Issuer to the Trustee so long as the Trustee is acting as the sole Note Registrar.

 

Section 5.02.          Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.

 

(a)          The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 or maintained by the Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar or co-registrar in respect of the Notes, if so acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)          The rights of Noteholders to communicate with other Holders of Notes with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Notes, and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(c)          Every Noteholder agrees with the Issuer and the Trustee that neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders of Notes made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 5.03.     Reports by Trustee.

 

(a)          On or before May 15th of each year beginning with May 15, 2020, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders of Notes such reports dated as of May 15th of the year in which such reports are made concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. In the event that no events have occurred under the applicable sections of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall be under no duty or obligation to provide such reports.

 

(b)          A copy of such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders of Notes, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which the Notes are listed, with the Issuer, and with the Commission. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee in writing if the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or automated quotation system or delisted therefrom.

 

ARTICLE 6
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND NOTEHOLDERS
ON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

Section 6.01.    Events of Default. In case one or more of the following (each an “Event of Default”) (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body) shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

(a)          default for thirty (30) days in the payment of any installment of interest under the Notes; or

 

(b)          default in the payment of the principal amount or Redemption Price due with respect to the Notes, when the same becomes due and payable; or

 

(c)          the Issuer or the Guarantor fails to comply with any of its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture upon receipt by the Issuer or the Guarantor of notice of such default by the Trustee or by Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and the Issuer or the Guarantor fails to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within sixty (60) days after receiving such notice; or

 

(d)          failure to pay any recourse indebtedness for monies borrowed or guaranteed by the Issuer or the Guarantor in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable grace period, which indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within thirty (30) days after written notice to the Issuer from the Trustee (or to the Issuer and the Trustee from Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes); or

 

(e)          the Issuer, the Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or under or within meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(f)           an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Issuer, the Guarantor or any of the Issuer’s Significant Subsidiaries seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Issuer, the Guarantor or a Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Issuer, the Guarantor or a Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of the property of the Issuer, the Guarantor or a Significant Subsidiary, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of sixty (60) calendar days; or

 

(g)          a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

then, and in each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e), 6.01(f) and 6.01(g) with respect to the Issuer or the Guarantor), unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Issuer and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Noteholders), may declare the principal amount of and premium, if any, and interest accrued and unpaid on all the Notes to be immediately due and payable, and upon any such declaration the same shall be immediately due and payable.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e), 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) occurs with respect to the Issuer or the Guarantor, the principal amount of and premium, if any, and interest accrued and unpaid on all the Notes shall be immediately and automatically due and payable without necessity of further action.

 

If, at any time after the principal amount of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Issuer and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults or Events of Default and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, subject in all respects to Section 6.07, if: (a) all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal amount and any accrued and unpaid interest that have become due solely because of such acceleration, have been cured or waived and (b) the Issuer or the Guarantor has deposited with the Trustee all required payments of the principal of and interest on the Notes and paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances pursuant to Section 7.06. No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon. The Issuer shall notify in writing a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, promptly upon becoming aware thereof, of any Event of Default, as provided in Section 4.08.

 

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such waiver or rescission and annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Holders of Notes, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Holders of Notes, and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

 

Section 6.02.     Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor. The Issuer covenants that in the case of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b), upon demand of the Trustee, the Issuer will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, (i) the whole amount that then shall be due and payable on all such Notes for principal and premium, if any, or interest, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon the overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest at the rate borne by the Notes from the required payment date and, (ii) in addition thereto, any amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06. Until such demand by the Trustee, the Issuer may pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the registered Holders, whether or not the Notes are overdue.

 

In case the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Issuer, the Guarantor or any other obligor on the Notes and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes wherever situated the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable.

 

In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Issuer, Guarantor or any other obligor on the Notes under any Bankruptcy Law, or any other applicable law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Issuer, Guarantor or such other obligor, the property of the Issuer, Guarantor or such other obligor, or in the case of any other judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer, Guarantor or such other obligor upon the Notes, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer, Guarantor or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.02, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the Notes, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Noteholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer, Guarantor or any other obligor on the Notes, its or their creditors, or its or their property, and to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of any amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06, and to take any other action with respect to such claims, including participating as a member of any official committee of creditors, as it reasonably deems necessary or advisable, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, custodian or similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Noteholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Noteholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements, including counsel fees and expenses incurred by it up to the date of such distribution. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements out of the estate in any such proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, monies, securities and other property which the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Note any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the Guarantees or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of Notes in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of Notes, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and may be a member of the creditors’ committee.

 

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

 

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and in any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Notes, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of the Notes parties to any such proceedings.

 

Section 6.03.     Application of Monies Collected by Trustee. Any monies or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 6, shall be applied, in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such monies or property, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06;

 

SECOND: In case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes in default in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) as provided in Section 6.02 upon the overdue installments of interest, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

 

THIRD: In case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest, as provided in Section 6.02, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest; and

 FOURTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.

Section 6.04.     Proceedings by Noteholders. No Holder of any Note shall have any right by virtue of or by reference to any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, or for any other remedy hereunder, except in the case of a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, unless (a) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, (b) the Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable security or indemnity as it may require against the costs, liabilities or expenses to be incurred therein or thereby, (c) the Trustee for sixty (60) calendar days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (d) no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.07; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Note with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Notes shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of or by reference to any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder of Notes, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Notes (except as otherwise provided herein). For the protection and enforcement of this Section 6.04, each and every Noteholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture and any provision of any Note, the right of any Holder of any Note to receive payment of the principal of (including the Redemption Price upon redemption pursuant to Article 3) and premium, if any, and accrued interest on such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note or in the event of redemption, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates against the Issuer or the Guarantor shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.05.     Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default, the Trustee may, in its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as are necessary to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

Section 6.06.     Remedies Cumulative and Continuing . All powers and remedies given by this Article 6 to the Trustee or to the Noteholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any of the Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or any acquiescence therein, and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article 6 or by law to the Trustee or to the Noteholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Noteholders.

 

Section 6.07.     Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Noteholders. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee; provided that (a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, (b) the Trustee may take any other action which is not inconsistent with such direction, (c) the Trustee may decline to take any action that would benefit some Noteholders to the detriment of other Noteholders or otherwise be unduly prejudicial to the Noteholders not joining therein and (d) the Trustee may decline to take any action that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except (i) a default in the payment of the principal of (including the Redemption Price upon redemption pursuant to Article 3), premium, if any, or interest on the Notes or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provisions hereof which under Article 9 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holders of all Notes then outstanding or each Note affected thereby.

 

Upon any such waiver, the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.07, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.08.     Notice of Defaults. The Trustee shall, within ninety (90) calendar days after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of the occurrence of a Default, mail (or send by electronic transmission) to all Noteholders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear upon the Note Register, notice of all Defaults known to a Responsible Officer, unless such Defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided that except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of (including the Redemption Price upon redemption pursuant to Article 3), or interest on any of the Notes, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Noteholders.

 

Section 6.09.    Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in its discretion, require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided that the provisions of this Section 6.09 (to the extent permitted by law) shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Noteholder, or group of Noteholders, holding in the aggregate more than ten percent in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, or to any suit instituted by any Noteholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (including the Redemption Price upon redemption pursuant to Article 3), or interest on any Note on or after the due date expressed in such Note.

 

ARTICLE 7
THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01.     Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiver of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of its own affairs.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(a)          prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred:

 

(b)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(c)          the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined as provided in Section 8.04 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture;

 

(d)          whether or not therein provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section;

 

(e)          except for (i) a default under Sections 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) hereof, which occurs while the Trustee is acting as Paying Agent, or (ii) any other event of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has “actual knowledge” and which event constitutes or, with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless specifically notified in writing of such event by the Issuer or a Holder; as used herein, the term “actual knowledge” means the actual fact or statement of knowing, without any duty to make any investigation with regard thereto.

 

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

Except as explicitly specified otherwise herein, the Issuer will be responsible for making all calculations required under this Indenture and the Notes. The Issuer will make such calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Issuer’s calculations will be final and binding on Holders of the Notes. The Issuer will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee, and the Trustee is entitled to rely upon the accuracy of the Issuer’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will forward the Issuer’s calculations to any Holder of the Notes upon request.

 

Section 7.02.          Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

 

(a)          the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, Note, coupon or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(b)          any request, direction, order or demand of the Issuer mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer or the General Partner;

 

(c)          the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and any advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance on and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(d)          the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Noteholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Noteholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

 

(e)          the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, unless requested in writing so to do by the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes; provided that, if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to proceeding; the reasonable expenses of every such examination shall be paid by the Holders or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Holders upon demand. The Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer and the Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

(f)           the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder;

 

(g)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

(h)         the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

 

(i)          the Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded; and

 

(j)           any permissive right or authority granted to the Trustee shall not be construed as a mandatory duty.

 

Section 7.03.     No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes (except in the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuer of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 7.04.    Trustee, Paying Agents or Registrar May Own Notes. The Trustee, any Paying Agent or Note Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Issuer and the Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent or Note Registrar.

 

Section 7.05.    Monies to Be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, all monies received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received. Monies held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any monies received by it hereunder except as may be agreed in writing from time to time by the Issuer and the Trustee.

 

Section 7.06.    Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Issuer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in any capacity (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as mutually agreed to from time to time in writing between the Issuer and the Trustee, and the Issuer will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness or bad faith. The Issuer also covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (or any officer, director or employee of the Trustee), in any capacity under this Indenture and any authenticating agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or reasonable expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness or bad faith on the part of the Trustee or such officers, directors, employees or authenticating agent, as the case may be, and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or in any other capacity hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Holder or any other Person) of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 7.06 to compensate or indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Notes. The obligation of the Issuer under this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and any resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

When the Trustee and its agents and any authenticating agent incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e), 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute reasonable expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

 

Section 7.07.     Officers’ Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith, recklessness or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee.

 

Section 7.08.    Conflicting Interests of Trustee. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

 

Section 7.09.    Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 (or if such Person is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000). If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.09, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 7.10.     Resignation or Removal of Trustee.

 

(a)          The Trustee may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Issuer and to the Holders of Notes. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment thirty (30) calendar days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Noteholders, the resigning Trustee may, upon ten (10) Business Days’ notice to the Issuer and the Noteholders, appoint a successor identified in such notice or may petition, at the expense of the Issuer, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee or any Noteholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 6.09, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

 

(b)          In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

 

then, in any such case, the Issuer may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.09, any Noteholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee; provided that if no successor Trustee shall have been appointed and have accepted appointment thirty (30) calendar days after the Issuer has removed the Trustee, the Trustee so removed may petition, at the expense of the Issuer, any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee and such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

 

	ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.
	By:	Essex Property Trust, Inc.
		Its Sole General Partner
	By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Name:  ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Title:  General Counsel, Senior Vice President
	ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.,
	as Guarantor
	By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Name:  ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Title:  General Counsel, Senior Vice President
	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
	as Trustee
	By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
		Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
		Title: Vice President

	Dated:
				ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.
				By:	Essex Property Trust, Inc
					Its Sole General Partner
				By:
					Name:
					Title:

Dated:
			U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
			By:
				Authorized Signatory

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:

(Insert assignee’s legal name)

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint
to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:

Your Signature:
	(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:

Date of Exchange

Amount of decrease in Principal Amount at maturity of this Global Note

Amount of increase in Principal Amount at maturity of this Global Note

Principal Amount at maturity of this Global Note following such decrease (or increase)

Signature of authorized officer of Trustee or Custodian