EXHIBIT 10.24
EXCLUSIVE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
AND COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE
THIS EXCLUSIVE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE
(this "Agreement") is entered as of October 26, 1999 (the "Effective Date") by
and among (i) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ HOSPITALITY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (the "Partnership"), a
Virginia limited partnership, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ HOSPITALITY REIT TRUST ("HHREIT"), a
Maryland business trust and the general partner of the Partnership, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC. ("HHTI"), a Virginia corporation and the sole
shareholder of HHREIT (HHTI, HHREIT and the Partnership are collectively
referred to as the "Company") on the one hand, and (ii) ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, in his
individual capacity ("▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇"), on the other hand.
THE PARTIES ENTER THIS AGREEMENT on the basis of the following facts,
understandings and intentions:
A. Since 1978, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ has been continuously and actively engaged in
various aspects of hotel acquisition, development, management and operation,
personally, for companies and joint ventures controlled by ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and for
Supertel Hospitality, Inc. ("STH"), a Delaware corporation.
B. HHTI and STH have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant
to which STH shall be merged with and into HHTI (the "Merger") and the Company
will acquire, among other things, ownership of the Hotel Properties currently
owned by STH. Upon completion of the Merger, the separate existence of STH
shall cease and HHTI shall be the surviving entity in the Merger.
C. HHTI's primary objective is to maximize shareholder value through its
majority partnership interest in the Partnership by participating in increased
room revenues from hotels owned by the Partnership through percentage leases and
by acquiring operating hotels that meet the Partnership's investment criteria.
D. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the Company acknowledge that they are executing this
Agreement in connection with, and as an inducement to HHTI to enter into, the
Merger Agreement, and have determined that, in connection with the Merger, it is
desirable to set forth in this Agreement certain covenants and agreements with
respect to Hotel Development Activities, as hereinafter defined, of ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
personally and through the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliates.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants and promises of
the parties provided for in this Agreement and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. The following terms as used in this Agreement shall have
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the following meanings (applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined):
a. "Acquisition of Hotel Property" means engaging in the activity of
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soliciting, seeking to acquire (or obtaining an option or first right of refusal
to acquire) and/or acquiring, any interest in any Hotel Property.
b. "Affiliate" means (i) any person directly or indirectly owning,
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controlling, or holding, with power to vote ten percent or more of the
outstanding voting securities of such other person, (ii) any person ten percent
or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned,
controlled, or held, with power to vote, by such other person, (iii) any person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
such other person, (iv) any executive officer, director, trustee or general
partner of such other person, and (v) any legal entity for which such person
acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner. The term
"person" means and includes any natural person, corporation, partnership,
association, limited liability company or any other legal entity. An indirect
relationship shall include circumstances in which a person's spouse is
associated with a person.
c. "Hotel Construction" means the construction, renovation or repair
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of improvements on any Hotel Property by ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliate.
d. "Hotel Development Activity" means engaging in directly, through
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an Affiliate, or being employed as a developer, director, officer, manager,
consultant or advisor or in a similar capacity by any entity undertaking, or
otherwise undertaking to do any of the following: (i) Acquisition of Hotel
Property, (ii) Hotel Construction, (iii) Hotel Entitlements, (iv) Speculation,
or (v) Hotel Management and Operation.
e. "Hotel Entitlements" means engaging in the process by which a
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person with an interest in any Property obtains necessary or desirable
governmental approvals, licenses, permits, entitlement or agreements for the
commencement of Hotel Construction.
f. "Hotel Management and Operation" means engaging in or otherwise
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undertaking the day-to-day management and operation of Hotel Property, whether
pursuant to a master lease, management agreement or other arrangement.
g. "Hotel Property" means any Property that is used in whole or in
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part for hotel purposes, including, without limitation, motels, motor inns,
extended-stay hotels and the like, whether in fee or leasehold, together with
all improvements and fixtures now or hereafter located thereon, all rights,
privileges and easements appurtenant thereto, and all tangible and intangible
personal property owned and used in connection therewith.
h. "Independent Director" shall mean a member of the Board of
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Directors of HHTI who is defined as an "Independent Director" in the Articles of
Incorporation of HHTI.
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i. "Property" means any real property or any interest therein.
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j. "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliate" means any Affiliate of ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
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k. "Speculation" means engaging in the activity of soliciting,
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seeking to acquire (or obtaining an option or a first right of refusal to
acquire) and/or acquiring, any interest in a Hotel Property with the intention
at any time of acquiring (or obtaining an option or a first right of refusal to
acquire) or holding any Hotel Property for subsequent sale or other transfer to
any person for purposes of Hotel Development Activity.
2. Term. The rights granted to the Company hereunder, and the
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restrictions imposed on ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliates, shall commence
on the Effective Date and shall terminate two (2) years after the date on which
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ is no longer a director, officer, partner or employee of the
Company.
3. Negative Covenants. During the term of this Agreement:
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a. Radius Restriction. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, personally or through any
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliate, shall not conduct any Hotel Development Activity within
twenty (20) miles of any Hotel Property which the Company either currently owns,
is acquiring in connection with the Merger or has the written contractual right
to acquire, whether in fee, by ground lease or otherwise, unless a majority of
HHTI's Board of Directors, which majority must include a majority of the
Independent Directors, have determined that such Hotel Development Activity
within the twenty (20) mile radius will not have a material adverse effect on
the operations of any Hotel Property which the Company either owns or has a
right to acquire; provided, however, that ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ vote shall not be
counted for such purposes.
b. Limited Hotel Management and Operations. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, personally
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or through any ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliate, shall not engage in any Hotel Management and
Operation within the radius restriction set out in Section 3(a), except with
respect to any Hotel Property managed by ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or any ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliate as
a result of any permitted Hotel Development Activity.
c. No Beneficial Ownership. Except as expressly permitted by this
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Section 3, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, personally or through any ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliate, shall not
hold directly or indirectly any beneficial interest in any entity engaged in any
Hotel Development Activity within the radius restriction set out in Section
3(a), except for any interest in a company traded on a nationally recognized
public securities exchange (including The Nasdaq National Market), provided such
interest does not exceed five percent (5%).
d. Loans. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not directly or indirectly make any loan
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to, or hold any note evidencing a loan from, any entity engaged in any Hotel
Development Activity within the radius restriction set out in Section 3(a).
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e. Competitive Entity. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not be a director or
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trustee, officer, or employee of, or consultant to (whether for compensation or
not) any entity engaged in any Hotel Development Activity within the radius
restriction set out in Section 3(a), other than a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliate engaged in
any Hotel Development Activity permitted by this Section 3.
f. Company Hotel Development Activity. Notwithstanding anything to
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the contrary contained in this Section 3, from and after the date that the
Company notifies ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in writing that the Company has elected to
undertake any additional Hotel Development Activity, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, personally or
through any ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Affiliate, shall not undertake any Hotel Development
Activity within the radius restriction set out in Section 3(a) applicable to
such additional Hotel Development Activity without the prior consent of a
majority of HHTI's Board of Directors, which majority must include a majority of
the Independent Directors, provided, however, that ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ vote shall not
be counted for such purposes, and provided further that this restriction shall
terminate if the Company fails to undertake such Hotel Development Activity
within 90 days or abandons such activity.
4. Notification to Independent Directors. If ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or any ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Affiliate desires to engage in any Hotel Development Activity within the radius
restriction set out in Section 3(a), ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall be obligated to describe
fully the proposed activity in a written notice (the "Disclosure Notice") to the
Company and the Independent Directors. A Disclosure Notice shall only pertain
to a specific proposed project and the referenced proposed project shall be
described therein with specificity as to timing, location, scope and the extent
of involvement by ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ financially and in terms of his time commitment.
A Disclosure Notice may not request approval for any conceptual or non-project
specific activity or of any activity which is prohibited by this Agreement.
5. Miscellaneous.
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a. Complete Agreement; Construction. This Agreement, and the other
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agreements and documents referred to herein, shall constitute the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments and writings
with respect to such subject matter.
b. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
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in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction of the State of Nebraska without
regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
c. Consent to Jurisdiction. Any dispute and/or controversy of
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whatever nature arising out of or relating to this Agreement by and among the
Parties hereto shall only be brought in a local, state or federal court situated
within the State of Nebraska and the parties consent to personal jurisdiction in
such state for these purposes.
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d. Notices. All notices and other communications required or
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permitted hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed duly given upon actual
receipt, and shall be delivered (i) in person, (ii) by registered or certified
mail (by air mail if addressed to an address outside of the country in which
mailed), postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (iii) by facsimile or
other generally accepted means of electronic transmission (provided that a copy
of any notice delivered pursuant to this clause (iii) shall also be sent
pursuant to clause (ii), addressed as follows (or to such other addresses as may
be specified by like notice to the other parties):
To ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇:
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Supertel Hospitality Management, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇/▇▇/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
To the Company: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Hospitality Trust, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
e. Amendments. No amendment, modification or supplement to this
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Agreement shall be binding on any of the parties hereto unless it is in writing
and signed by the parties in interest at the time of the modification, and
further provided any such modification is approved by a majority of the
Independent Directors.
f. Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or
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obligations hereunder shall be assignable by a party to this Agreement without
the prior, express written consent of the other party. This Agreement and all
of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
g. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the
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benefit of the parties to this Agreement and should not be deemed to confer upon
third parties any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, claims or action or
other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
h. Titles and Headings. Titles and headings to paragraphs and
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sections in this Agreement are inserted for the convenience of reference only
and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement.
i. Maximum Legal Enforceability; Time of Essence. The parties agree
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that a breach of the provisions of this Agreement by ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ could not be
compensated adequately
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by money damages; therefore, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any
other right and remedy available to it, to seek an injunction restraining such
breach and the Company shall not be required to post a bond in any proceeding
brought for such purpose. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ agrees that the provisions of this
Agreement are necessary and reasonable to protect the Company in the conduct of
its business. If any restriction contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to
be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by reason of the extent, duration, or
geographical scope thereof, or otherwise, then the court making such
determination shall have the right to reduce such extent, duration, geographical
scope, or other provisions hereof, and in its reduced form such restriction
shall then be enforceable in the manner contemplated hereby. Nothing herein
shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies,
at law or in equity, for such breach or threatened breach. Time shall be of the
essence as to each and every provision of this Agreement.
j. Further Assurances. The parties to this Agreement will execute
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and deliver or cause the execution and delivery of such further instruments and
documents, and will take such other actions, as any other party to the Agreement
may reasonably request in order to effectuate the purpose of this Agreement and
to carry out the terms hereof.
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first written above.
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ HOSPITALITY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Hospitality REIT Trust
Its: General Partner
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
President and Chief Executive Officer
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ HOSPITALITY REIT TRUST
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
President and Chief Executive Officer
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
President and Chief Executive Officer
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