EX-3.1 2 dhc063020exhibit31.htm EXHIBIT 3.1
Exhibit 3.1
DIVERSIFIED HEALTHCARE TRUST
COMPOSITE DECLARATION OF TRUST
INCORPORATING:
Declaration of Trust filed December 16, 1998
Articles of Amendment and Restatement filed September 20, 1999
Articles of Amendment filed February 13, 2002
Articles of Amendment filed January 21, 2004
Articles of Amendment filed February 7, 2007
Articles of Amendment filed June 1, 2007
Articles of Amendment filed December 12, 2007
Articles of Amendment filed February 21, 2008
Articles of Amendment filed June 3, 2008
Articles of Amendment filed June 28, 2011
Articles of Amendment filed July 10, 2012
Articles of Amendment filed April 17, 2014
Articles of Amendment filed June 5, 2014
Articles of Amendment filed February 4, 2015
Articles Supplementary filed June 30, 2017
Articles of Amendment filed December 31, 2019 1
Articles Supplementary filed May 19, 2020
Articles of Amendment filed May 19, 2020
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1 This Composite Declaration of Trust does not incorporate the Articles Supplementary filed May 11, 2000, which Articles relate to the provisions of the Bylaws of the Trust, or the Articles Supplementary filed March 15, 2004, as corrected by the Articles of Correction filed March 30, 2004 and thereafter superseded by the Articles Supplementary filed April 17, 2014, which Articles collectively relate to the establishment of Junior Participating Preferred Shares and subsequent reclassification thereof as Common Shares of the Trust.
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DIVERSIFIED HEALTHCARE TRUST
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
FIRST: Diversified Healthcare Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Trust”) formed under Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (as amended and in effect from time to time, and including any successor title thereto, “Title 8”), desires to amend and restate its Declaration of Trust as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended. All references in the Declaration of Trust to specific sections of Title 8 shall include applicable successor provisions.
SECOND: The following provisions are all the provisions of the Declaration of Trust currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:
ARTICLE I
FORMATION
The Trust is a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Title 8. It is also intended that the Trust shall carry on a business as a “qualified REIT subsidiary” as described in the REIT provisions of the Code (as defined in Article VII below), for so long as it is wholly owned by HRPT Properties Trust and thereafter shall qualify and carry on business as a “real estate investment trust” as described therein. The Trust shall not be deemed to be a general partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, joint stock company or a corporation, but nothing herein shall preclude the Trust from being treated for tax purposes as an association under the Code; nor shall the Trustees or shareholders or any of them for any purpose be, nor be deemed to be, nor be treated in any way whatsoever as, liable or responsible hereunder as partners or joint venturers.
ARTICLE II
NAME
The name of the Trust is:
Diversified Healthcare Trust
Under circumstances in which the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees” or “Board”) determines that the use of the name of the Trust is not practicable, the Trust may use any other designation or name for the Trust. To the extent permitted by Maryland law, the Board of Trustees may amend the Declaration of Trust to change the name of the Trust without any action by the shareholders.2
ARTICLE III
PURPOSES AND POWERS
Section 3.1 Purposes. The purposes for which the Trust is formed are to invest in and to acquire, hold, manage, administer, control and dispose of property and interests in property, including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust under the Code.
Section 3.2 Powers. The Trust shall have all of the powers granted to real estate investment trusts by Title 8 and all other powers set forth in the Declaration of Trust which are not inconsistent with law and are appropriate to promote and attain the purposes set forth in the Declaration of Trust.
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2 This provision has been revised to reflect changes effectuated by the Articles of Amendment filed December 31, 2019.
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ARTICLE IV
RESIDENT AGENT
The name of the resident agent of the Trust in the State of Maryland is CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, whose post office address is7 St. Paul Street, Suite 820, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The resident agent is a citizen of and resides in the State of Maryland. The Trust may change such resident agent from time to time as the Board of Trustees shall determine. The Trust may have such offices or places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine. 3
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 5.1 Powers. Subject to any express limitations contained in the Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws, (a) the business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees and (b) the Board shall have full, exclusive and absolute power, control and authority over any and all property of the Trust. The Board may take any action as in its sole judgment and discretion is necessary or appropriate to conduct the business and affairs of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust shall be construed with the presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Board. Any construction of the Declaration of Trust or determination made in good faith by the Board concerning its powers and authority hereunder shall be conclusive. The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Trustees included in the Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws shall in no way be construed or deemed by inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit the powers conferred upon the Board or the Trustees under the general laws of the State of Maryland or any other applicable laws.
The Board, without any action by the shareholders of the Trust, shall have and may exercise, on behalf of the Trust, without limitation, the power to terminate the status of the Trust as a real estate investment trust under the Code; to determine that compliance with any restriction or limitations on ownership and transfers of shares of the Trust’s beneficial interest set forth in Article VII of the Declaration of Trust is no longer required in order for the Trust to qualify as a real estate investment trust; to adopt, amend and repeal Bylaws not inconsistent with law or this Declaration of Trust; to elect officers in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws; to solicit proxies from holders of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust; and to do any other acts and deliver any other documents necessary or appropriate to the foregoing powers.
Section 5.2 Number and Classification.
Section 5.2.1 The number of trustees of the Trust (hereinafter the “Trustees”) initially shall be two (2). On the first date on which the Trust shall have more than one shareholder of record, the number of the Trustees shall automatically and without further action by the Board of Trustees increase to five (5), which number may thereafter be increased or decreased pursuant to the Bylaws of the Trust; provided, however, that no such increase or decrease shall result in the Trust having fewer than three (3) or more than seven (7) Trustees. Any vacancies in the Board of Trustees shall be filled by a majority of the Trustees then in office, except that a majority of the entire Board of Trustees must fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of Trustees.
Section 5.2.2 4 The Trustees are and shall remain divided into three classes until the Trust’s annual meeting of shareholders of the Trust held in calendar year 2023 (the “2023 Annual Meeting”). The terms of the Trustees shall be determined as follows: (i) at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Trust that is held in calendar year 2020 (the “2020 Annual Meeting”), the Trustee whose term expires at the 2020 Annual Meeting (or such Trustee’s successor) shall be elected to hold office for a three-year term expiring at the 2023 Annual Meeting; (ii) at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Trust that is held in calendar year 2021 (the “2021 Annual Meeting”), the Trustees whose terms expire at the 2021 Annual Meeting (or such Trustees’ successors) shall be elected to hold office for one-year terms expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Trust that is held in calendar year 2022 (the “2022 Annual Meeting”); (iii) at the 2022 Annual Meeting, the Trustees whose terms expire at the 2022 Annual Meeting (or such Trustees’ successors) shall be elected to hold office for one-year terms
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3 This provision has been revised to reflect the Resolution filed February 5, 2004, as superseded by the Resident Agent’s Notice of Change of Address filed June 5, 2008, as superseded by the Resolution filed September 8, 2011, as superseded by the Resident Agent’s Notice of Change of Address filed December 4, 2014.
4 This provision has been revised to reflect changes effectuated by the Articles of Amendment filed June 5, 2014, as superseded by the Articles Supplementary filed June 30, 2017; and as further superseded by the Articles Supplementary filed May 19, 2020 and the Articles of Amendment filed May 19, 2020.
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expiring at the 2023 Annual Meeting; and (iv) at the 2023 Annual Meeting, and at each annual meeting of shareholders of the Trust thereafter, all Trustees shall be elected to hold office for one-year terms expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders following his or her election. For the avoidance of doubt, each Trustee elected or appointed to the Board of Trustees to serve a term that commenced before the 2021 Annual Meeting (an “Existing Trustee”), and each Trustee elected or appointed to the Board of Trustees to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of an Existing Trustee, shall serve for the full term to which the Existing Trustee was elected or appointed.
Section 5.2.3 The names and business addresses of the initial Trustees who shall serve as Trustees are as follows:

Name |  | Address
Gerard M. Martin |  | c/o Reit Management & Research, Inc.
|  | 400 Centre Street
|  | Newton, Massachusetts 02458
Barry M. Portnoy |  | c/o Reit Management & Research, Inc.
|  | 400 Centre Street
|  | Newton, Massachusetts 02458

Section 5.2.4 The Trustees may fill any vacancy, whether resulting from an increase in the number of Trustees or otherwise, on the Board in the manner provided in the Bylaws. It shall not be necessary to list in the Declaration of Trust the names and addresses of any Trustees hereinafter elected. No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his or her term. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.3 each Trustee shall hold office until the election and qualification of his or her successor. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.
Section 5.3 Resignation or Removal.5 Any Trustee may resign by written notice to the Board, effective upon execution and delivery to the Trust of such written notice or upon any future date specified in the notice. A Trustee may be removed at any time with cause, at a meeting of the shareholders, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the Shares (as defined in Section 6.1 below) then outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of Trustees. A Trustee judged incompetent or for whom a guardian or conservator has been appointed shall be deemed to have resigned as of the date of such adjudication or appointment.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 6.1 Authorized Shares.6 The beneficial interest of the Trust shall be divided into shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”). The Trust has authority to issue 300,000,000 Shares, consisting of 300,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share (“Common Shares”). If shares of one class are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of shares pursuant to this Article VI, the number of authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest of all classes that the Trust has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of beneficial interest set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph. The
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5 This provision has been revised to reflect changes effectuated by the Articles Supplementary filed June 30, 2017.
6 This provision has been revised to reflect changes effectuated by the following Articles of Amendment, each of which supersede the immediately preceding Articles of Amendment: (i) Articles of Amendment filed February 13, 2002; (ii) the Articles of Amendment filed January 21, 2004; (iii) Articles of Amendment filed February 7, 2007; (iv) Articles of Amendment filed December 12, 2007; (v) Articles of Amendment filed February 21, 2008; (vi) Articles of Amendment filed June 3, 2008; (vii) Articles of Amendment filed June 28, 2011; (viii) Articles of Amendment filed July 10, 2012; (ix) Articles of Amendment filed April 17, 2014; and (x) Articles of Amendment filed February 4, 2015.
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Board of Trustees, without any action by the shareholders of the Trust, may amend the Declaration of Trust from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of Shares or the number of Shares of any class or series, including preferred shares of beneficial interest (“Preferred Shares”), that the Trust has authority to issue.
Section 6.2 Common Shares. Subject to the provisions of Article VII, each Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter upon which holders of Common Shares are entitled to vote. The Board of Trustees may reclassify any unissued Common Shares from time to time in one or more classes or series of Shares.
Section 6.3 Preferred Shares. The Board of Trustees may classify any unissued Preferred Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Preferred Shares of any series from time to time, in one or more series of Shares.
Section 6.4 Classified or Reclassified Shares. Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified Shares of any class or series, the Board of Trustees by resolution shall (a) designate that class or series; (b) specify the number of Shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set, subject to the provisions of Article VII, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Trust to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”). Any of the terms of any class or series of Shares set pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 6.4 may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the Declaration of Trust (including the occurrence of any event, determination or action by the Trust or any other person or body) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of Shares is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary filed with the SDAT.
Section 6.5 Authorization by Board of Share Issuance. The Board of Trustees may authorize the issuance from time to time of Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration (whether in cash, property, past or future services, obligation for future payment or otherwise) as the Board of Trustees may deem advisable (or without consideration), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws of the Trust.
Section 6.6 Dividends and Distributions. The Board of Trustees may from time to time authorize and declare to shareholders such dividends or distributions, in cash or other assets of the Trust or in securities of the Trust or from any other source as the Board of Trustees in its discretion shall determine. Shareholders shall have no right to any dividend or distribution unless and until authorized and declared by the Board. The exercise of the powers and rights of the Board of Trustees pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall be subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding.
Section 6.7 General Nature of Shares. All Shares shall be personal property entitling the shareholders only to those rights provided in the Declaration of Trust. The shareholders shall have no interest in the property of the Trust and shall have no right to compel any partition, division, dividend or distribution of the Trust or of the property of the Trust. The death of a shareholder shall not terminate the Trust or affect its continuity nor give his or her legal representative any rights whatsoever, whether against or in respect of other shareholders, the Trustees or the trust estate or otherwise, except the sole right to demand and, subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws and any requirements of law, to receive a new certificate for Shares registered in the name of such legal representative, in exchange for the certificate held by such shareholder. The Trust is entitled to treat as shareholders only those persons in whose names Shares are registered as holders of Shares on the beneficial interest ledger of the Trust.
Section 6.8 Fractional Shares. The Trust may, without the consent or approval of any shareholder, issue fractional Shares, eliminate a fraction of a Share by rounding up or down to a full Share, arrange for the disposition of a fraction of a Share by the person entitled to it or pay cash for the fair value of a fraction of a Share.
Section 6.9 Declaration and Bylaws. All shareholders are subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws of the Trust.
Section 6.10 Divisions and Combinations of Shares. Subject to an express provision to the contrary in the terms of any class or series of beneficial interest hereafter authorized, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to divide or combine the outstanding shares of any class or series of beneficial interest, without a vote of shareholders.
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ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
Section 7.1 Definitions. For the purpose of this Article VII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Affiliate. The term “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, another Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person.
Aggregate Share Ownership Limit. The term “Aggregate Share Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8 percent in value or in number of the aggregate of the outstanding Equity Shares. The value of the outstanding Equity Shares shall be determined by the Board of Trustees in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.
Beneficial Ownership. The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Equity Shares by a Person, whether the interest in Equity Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include, but not be limited to, interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.
Business Day. The term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Charitable Beneficiary. The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Charitable Trust as determined pursuant to Section 7.3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code. If the Code shall cease to define a charitable organization, “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean an entity organized to do work for charitable purposes and not for profit.
Charitable Trust. The term “Charitable Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 7.3.1.
Code. The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. All references to specific sections of the Code shall include applicable successor provisions.
Common Share Ownership Limit. The term “Common Share Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8 percent (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate outstanding Common Shares. The number and value of outstanding Common Shares shall be determined by the Board of Trustees in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes.
Constructive Ownership. The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Equity Shares by a Person, whether the interest in Equity Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include, but not be limited to, interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.
Declaration of Trust. The term “Declaration of Trust” shall mean these Articles of Amendment and Restatement as accepted for record by the SDAT, and any amendments thereto.
Equity Shares. The term “Equity Shares” shall mean Shares of all classes or series, including, without limitation, Common Shares and Preferred Shares.
Excepted Holder. The term “Excepted Holder” shall mean a shareholder of the Trust for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by this Article VII or by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 7.2.7.
Excepted Holder Limit. The term “Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 7.2.7, and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7.2.8, the percentage limit established by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 7.2.7.
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HRPT. The term “HRPT” shall mean HRPT Properties Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or any successor thereto by merger or consolidation, or any transferee of all or substantially all of its assets.
Initial Date. The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date upon which these Articles of Amendment and Restatement containing this Article VII is accepted for record by the SDAT.
Market Price. The term “Market Price” on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding Equity Shares, the Closing Price for such Equity Shares on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Equity Shares, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Equity Shares, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if such Equity Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such Equity Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Equity Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Equity Shares are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Equity Shares selected by the Board of Trustees or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Equity Shares, the fair market value of Equity Shares, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees.
NYSE. The term “NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.
Person. The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including, but not limited to, a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit applies.
Prohibited Owner. The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 7.2.1, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of Equity Shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.
REIT. The term “REIT” shall mean a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code.
Restriction Termination Date. The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust for the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of Equity Shares set forth herein to apply.
RMR. The term “RMR” shall mean REIT Management & Research, Inc., the Trust’s investment advisor, or any successor investment advisor to the Trust.
SDAT. The term “SDAT” shall mean the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.
Transfer. The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Equity Shares or the right to vote or receive dividends on Equity Shares, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares or any interest in Equity Shares or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.
Trustee. The term “Trustee” shall mean the Person unaffiliated with the Trust and a Prohibited Owner, that is appointed by the Trust to serve as trustee of the Charitable Trust.
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Section 7.2 Equity Shares.
Section 7.2.1 Ownership Limitations. During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(a) Basic Restrictions.
(i) (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder and other than HRPT, RMR and their affiliates, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder and other than HRPT, RMR and their affiliates, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit and (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.
(ii) No Person shall Beneficially or Constructively Own Equity Shares to the extent that such Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares would result in the Trust being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Trust owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Trust from such tenant would cause the Trust to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).
(iii) Subject to Section 7.4, notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, any Transfer of Equity Shares (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system) that, if effective, would result in Equity Shares being beneficially owned by less than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void abinitio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares.
(b) Transfer in Trust. If any Transfer of Equity Shares occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning Equity Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii),
(i) then that number of Equity Shares the Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 7.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares; or
(ii) if the transfer to the Charitable Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii), then the Transfer of that number of Equity Shares that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 7.2.2 or (ii) shall be void abinitio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares.
Section 7.2.2 Remedies for Breach. If the Board of Trustees or any duly authorized committee thereof shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 7.2.1 or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of any Equity Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Trustees or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Trust to redeem Equity Shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Trust or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided, however, that any Transfers or attempted Transfers or other events in violation of Section 7.2.1 shall automatically result in the transfer to the Charitable Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void abinitio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Trustees or a committee thereof.
Section 7.2.3 Notice of Restricted Transfer. Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares that will or may violate Section 7.2.1(a), or any Person who would have owned Equity Shares that resulted in a transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.2.1(b), shall immediately give written notice to the Trust of such event, or in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Trust such other information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer.
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Section 7.2.4 Owners Required To Provide Information. From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(a) every owner of more than five percent (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding Equity Shares, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Trust stating the name and address of such owner, the number of Equity Shares and other Equity Shares Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall provide to the Trust such additional information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Trust’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit.
(b) each Person who is a Beneficial or Constructive Owner of Equity Shares and each Person (including the shareholder of record) who is holding Equity Shares for a Beneficial or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Trust such information as the Trust may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Trust’s status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
Section 7.2.5 Remedies Not Limited. Subject to Section 5.1 of the Declaration of Trust, nothing contained in this Section 7.2 shall limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Trust and the interests of its shareholders in preserving the Trust’s status as a REIT.
Section 7.2.6 Ambiguity. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or any definition contained in Section 7.1, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 7.2 or 7.3 requires an action by the Board of Trustees and the Declaration of Trust fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3.
Section 7.2.7 Exceptions.
(a) Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii), the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, may exempt a Person from the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Common Share Ownership Limit, as the case may be, and may (but is not required to) establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if:
(i) the Board of Trustees obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individual’s Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of such Equity Shares will violate Section 7.2.1(a)(ii);
(ii) such Person does not and represents that it will not own, actually or Constructively, an interest in a tenant of the Trust (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Trust) that would cause the Trust to own, actually or Constructively, more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant and the Board of Trustees obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (for this purpose, a tenant from whom the Trust (or an entity owned or controlled by the Trust) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue such that, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, rent from such tenant would not adversely affect the Trust’s ability to qualify as a REIT, shall not be treated as a tenant of the Trust); and
(iii) such Person agrees that any violation or attempted violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Sections 7.2.1 through 7.2.6) will result in such Equity Shares being automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust in accordance with Sections 7.2.1(b) and 7.3.
(b) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 7.2.7(a), the Board of Trustees may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Trust’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Trustees may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.
(c) In determining whether to grant any exemption pursuant to Section 7.2.7(a), the Board of Trustees may consider, among other factors, (i) the general reputation and moral character of the person requesting an exemption, (ii) whether ownership of shares would be direct or through ownership attribution, (iii) whether the person’s ownership of shares would adversely affect the Trust’s ability to acquire additional properties or engage in other business and
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(iv) whether granting an exemption for the person requesting an exemption would adversely affect any of the Trust’s existing contractual arrangements.
(d) Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter which participates in a public offering or a private placement of Equity Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares) in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, the Common Share Ownership Limit or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.
(e) The Board of Trustees may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Common Share Ownership Limit for an Excepted Holder without the written consent of such Excepted Holder.
Section 7.2.8 Increase in Aggregate Share Ownership and Common Share Ownership Limits. The Board of Trustees may from time to time increase the Common Share Ownership Limit and the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit.
Section 7.2.9 Legend. Each certificate for Equity Shares shall bear substantially the following legend:
The shares evidenced by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the Trust’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, (i) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own Common Shares of the Trust in excess of 9.8 percent (in value or number of shares) of the outstanding Common Shares of the Trust unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own Equity Shares of the Trust in excess of 9.8 percent of the value of the total outstanding Equity Shares of the Trust, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own Equity Shares that would result in the Trust being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Trust to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iv) no Person may Transfer Equity Shares if such Transfer would result in Equity Shares of the Trust being owned by fewer than 100 Persons. Any Person who Beneficially or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially or Constructively Own Equity Shares which cause or will cause a Person to Beneficially or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Trust. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership are violated, the Equity Shares represented hereby will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Charitable Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void abin itio. All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Equity Shares of the Trust on request and without charge.
Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate may state that the Trust will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a shareholder on request and without charge.
Section 7.3 Transfer of Equity Shares in Trust.
Section 7.3.1 Ownership in Trust. Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 7.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer of Equity Shares to a Charitable Trust, such Equity Shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Charitable Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 7.2.1(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Trust and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Trust and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Trust as provided in Section 7.3.6.
Section 7.3.2 Status of Shares Held by the Trustee. Equity Shares held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding Equity Shares of the Trust. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights
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to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the Charitable Trust.
Section 7.3.3 Dividend and Voting Rights. The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to Equity Shares held in the Charitable Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid with respect to such Equity Shares to the Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividends or distributions so paid over to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to shares held in the Charitable Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Trust has already taken irreversible trust action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, until the Trust has received notification that Equity Shares have been transferred into a Charitable Trust, the Trust shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other shareholder records for purposes of preparing lists of shareholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of shareholders.
Section 7.3.4 Sale of Shares by Trustee. Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trust, the Trustee of the Charitable Trust shall sell the shares held in the Charitable Trust to a person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 7.2.1(a). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 7.3.4. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Charitable Trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Charitable Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Charitable Trust. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Charitable Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 7.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.
Section 7.3.5 Purchase Right in Shares Transferred to the Trustee. Equity Shares transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Trust, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Charitable Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Trust, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Trust shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the shares held in the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 7.3.4. Upon such a sale to the Trust, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.
Section 7.3.6 Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries. By written notice to the Trustee, the Trust shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Charitable Trust such that Equity Shares held in the Charitable Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary.
Section 7.4 NYSE Transactions. Nothing in this Article VII shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VII and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VII.
Section 7.5 Enforcement. The Trust is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VII.
Section 7.6 Non-Waiver. No delay or failure on the part of the Trust or the Board of Trustees in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Trust or the Board of Trustees, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.
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ARTICLE VIII
SHAREHOLDERS
Section 8.1 Meetings. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders, to be held on proper notice at such time (after the delivery of the annual report) and convenient location as shall be determined by or in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws, for the election of the Trustees, if required, and for the transaction of any other business within the powers of the Trust. Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust, special meetings of shareholders may be called in the manner provided in the Bylaws. Shareholders meetings, including the annual meeting and any special meetings, may be called only by the Board of Trustees. If there are no Trustees, the officers of the Trust shall promptly call a special meeting of the shareholders entitled to vote for the election of successor Trustees. Any meeting may be adjourned and reconvened as the Trustees determine or as provided in the Bylaws.
Section 8.2 Voting Rights. Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares then outstanding, the shareholders shall be entitled to vote only on the following matters: (a) election of Trustees as provided in Section 5.2 and the removal of Trustees as provided in Section 5.3; (b) amendment of the Declaration of Trust as provided in Article X; (c) termination of the Trust as provided in Section 12.2; (d) merger or consolidation of the Trust to the extent required by Title 8, or the sale or disposition of substantially all of the Trust Property, as provided in Article XI; and (e) such other matters with respect to which the Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution declaring that a proposed action is advisable and directing that the matter be submitted to the shareholders for approval or ratification. Except with respect to the foregoing matters, no action taken by the shareholders at any meeting shall in any way bind the Board of Trustees.
Section 8.3 Preemptive and Appraisal Rights. Except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the terms of classified or reclassified Shares pursuant to Section 6.4, or as may otherwise be provided by contract, no holder of Shares shall, as such holder, (a) have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares of the Trust or any other security of the Trust which it may issue or sell or (b) have any right to require the Trust to pay him the fair value of his Shares in an appraisal or similar proceeding.
Section 8.4 Extraordinary Actions. Except as specifically provided in Section 5.3 (relating to removal of Trustees) and subject to Section 8.5, notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if taken or approved by (i) the affirmative vote of holders of Shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, or (ii) if Maryland law hereafter permits the effectiveness of a vote described in this clause (ii), the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter.
Section 8.5 Board Approval. The submission of any action to the shareholders for their consideration shall first be approved or advised by the Board of Trustees, and the shareholders shall not otherwise be entitled to act thereon.
Section 8.6 Action By Shareholders Without a Meeting. To the extent, if any, permitted by the Bylaws of the Trust, any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders may be taken without a meeting by the written consent of the shareholders entitled to cast a sufficient number of votes to approve the matter as required by statute, the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws of the Trust, as the case may be.
Section 8.7 Indemnification of the Trust.7 Each shareholder will indemnify and hold harmless the Trust from and against all costs, expenses, penalties, fines and other amounts, including, without limitation, attorneys’ and other professional fees, whether third party or internal, arising from such shareholder’s violation of any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, including, without limitation, Article VII, and shall pay such sums to the Trust upon demand, together with interest on such amounts, which interest will accrue at the lesser of 15% per annum and the maximum amount permitted by law, from the date such costs or the like are incurred until the receipt of repayment by the Trust. Nothing in this Section shall create or increase the liability of any shareholders, trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust for actions taken on behalf of the Trust.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7 This provision was added by the Articles of Amendment filed June 1, 2007.
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ARTICLE IX
LIABILITY LIMITATION, INDEMNIFICATION
AND TRANSACTIONS WITH THE TRUST
Section 9.1 Limitation of Shareholder Liability. No shareholder shall be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Trust by reason of his being a shareholder, nor shall any shareholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any person in connection with the property or the affairs of the Trust by reason of his being a shareholder.
Section 9.2 Limitation of Trustee and Officer Liability. To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of trustees and officers of a real estate investment trust, no current or former Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any shareholder for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 9.2, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust inconsistent with this Section 9.2, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption. In the absence of any Maryland statute limiting the liability of trustees and officers of a Maryland real estate investment trust for money damages in a suit by or on behalf of the Trust or by any shareholder, or arising by reason of his or her action on behalf of the Trust, no Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any shareholder for money damages except to the extent that (a) the Trustee or officer actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services, for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property or services actually received, or (b) a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the Trustee or officer is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the Trustee’s or officer’s action or failure to act was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding.
Section 9.3 Express Exculpatory Clauses and Instruments. Any written instrument creating an obligation of the Trust shall, to the extent practicable, include a reference to this Declaration and provide that neither the shareholders nor the Trustees nor any officers, employees or agents (including the Trust’s advisor, the “Advisor”) of the Trust shall be liable thereunder and that all persons shall look solely to the trust estate for the payment of any claim thereunder or for the performance thereof; however, the omission of such provision from any such instrument shall not render the shareholders, any Trustee, or any officer, employee or agent (including the Advisor) of the Trust liable, nor shall the shareholders, any Trustee or any officer, employee or agent (including the Advisor) of the Trust be liable to anyone for such omission.
Section 9.4 Indemnification. The Trust shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, indemnify, and pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any individual who is a present or former shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust or (b) any individual who, while a Trustee of the Trust and at the request of the Trust, serves or has served as a trustee, director, officer, partner, employee or agent of another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his status as a present or former shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust. The Trust shall have the power, with the approval of its Board of Trustees, to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Trust in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust.
Section 9.5 Transactions Between the Trust and its Trustees, Officers, Employees and Agents. (a) Subject to any express restrictions adopted by the Trustees in the Bylaws or by resolution, the Trust may enter into any contract or transaction of any kind, whether or not any of its Trustees, officers, employees or agents has a financial interest in such transaction, with any person, including any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or any person affiliated with a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or in which a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust has a material financial interest.
(b) To the extent permitted by Maryland law, a contract or other transaction between the Trust and any Trustee or between the Trust and RMR or any other corporation, trust, firm, or other entity in which any Trustee is a director or trustee or has a material financial interest shall not be void or voidable if:
(i) The fact of the common directorship, trusteeship or interest is disclosed or known to:
(A) The Board of Trustees or a proper committee thereof, and the Board of Trustees or such Committee authorizes, approves or ratifies the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested Trustees, even if the disinterested Trustees constitute less than a quorum; or
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(B) The shareholders entitled to vote, and the contract or transaction is authorized, approved, or ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote other than the votes of shares owned of record or beneficially by the interested trustee, corporation, trust, firm or other entity; or
(C) The contract or transaction is fair and reasonable to the Trust.
(ii) Common or interested trustees or the shares owned by them or by an interested corporation, trust, firm or other entity may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Trustees or a committee thereof or at a meeting of the shareholders, as the case may be, at which the contract or transaction is authorized, approved or ratified.
(c) The failure of a contract or other transaction between the Trust and any Trustee or between the Trust and RMR or any other corporation, trust, firm, or other entity in which any Trustee is a director or trustee or has a material financial interest to satisfy the criteria set forth in Section 9.5(b) shall not create any presumption that such contract or other transaction is void, voidable or otherwise invalid, and any such contract or other transaction shall be valid to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law. To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law, (i) the fixing by the Board of Trustees of compensation for a Trustee (whether as a Trustee or in any other capacity) and (ii) Section 9.4 of this Declaration of Trust or any provision of the Bylaws or any contract or transaction requiring or permitting indemnification (including advancing of expenses) in accordance with terms and procedures not materially less favorable to the Trust than those described in Section 2-418 (or any successor section thereto) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (as in effect at the time such provision was adopted or such contract or transaction was entered into or as it may thereafter be in effect) shall be deemed to have satisfied the criteria set forth in Section 9.5(b).
Section 9.6 Right of Trustees, Officers, Employees and Agents to Own Shares or Other Property and to Engage in Other Business. Subject to any restrictions which may be adopted by the Trustees in the Bylaws or otherwise: Any Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Shares in the Trust, for his or her individual account, and may exercise all rights of a shareholder to the same extent and in the same manner as if he or she were not a Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust. Any Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust may, in his or her personal capacity or in the capacity of trustee, officer, director, stockholder, partner, member, advisor or employee of any Person or otherwise, have business interests and engage in business activities similar to or in addition to those relating to the Trust, which interests and activities may be similar to and competitive with those of the Trust and may include the acquisition, syndication, holding, management, development, operation or disposition, for his own account, or for the account of such Person or others, of interests in mortgages, interests in real property, or interests in Persons engaged in the real estate business. Each Trustee, officer, employee and agent of the Trust shall be free of any obligation to present to the Trust any investment opportunity which comes to him or her in any capacity other than solely as Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust. Any Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust may be interested as trustee, officer, director, stockholder, partner, member, advisor or employee of, or otherwise have a direct or indirect interest in, any Person who may be engaged to render advice or services to the Trust, and may receive compensation from such Person as well as compensation as Trustee, officer, employee or agent or otherwise hereunder. None of these activities shall be deemed to conflict with his or her duties and powers as Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust.
Section 9.7 Persons Dealing with Trustees, Officers, Employees or Agents. Any act of the Trustees or of the officers, employees or agents of the Trust purporting to be done in their capacity as such, shall, as to any Persons dealing with such Trustees, officers, employees or agents, be conclusively deemed to be within the purposes of this Trust and within the powers of such Trustees or officers, employees or agents. No Person dealing with the Board or any of the Trustees or with the officers, employees or agents of the Trust shall be bound to see to the application of any funds or property passing into their hands or control. The receipt of the Board or any of the Trustees, or of authorized officers, employees or agents of the Trust, for moneys or other consideration, shall be binding upon the Trust.
Section 9.8 Reliance. The Trustees and the officers, employees and agents of the Trust may consult with counsel and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete personal protection to all the Trustees and the officers, employees and agents of the Trust in respect of any action taken or suffered by them in good faith and in reliance on or in accordance with such advice or opinion. In discharging their duties, Trustees or officers, employees or agents of the Trust, when acting in good faith, may rely upon financial statements of the Trust represented to them to fairly present the financial position or results of operations of the Trust by the chief financial officer of the Trust or the officer of the Trust having charge of its books of account, or stated in a written report by an independent certified public accountant fairly to present the financial
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position or results of operations of the Trust. The Trustees and the officers, employees and agents of the Trust may rely, and shall be personally protected in acting, upon any instrument or other document believed by them to be genuine.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
Section 10.1 General. The Trust reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Declaration of Trust, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Declaration of Trust, of any Shares, except that the provisions governing the personal liability of the shareholders, Trustees and of the officers, employees and agents of the Trust and the prohibition of assessments upon shareholders may not be amended in any respect that could increase the personal liability of such shareholders, Trustees or officers, employees and agents of the Trust. All rights and powers conferred by the Declaration of Trust on shareholders, Trustees and officers are granted subject to this reservation. An amendment to the Declaration of Trust (a) shall be signed and acknowledged by at least a majority of the Trustees, or an officer duly authorized by at least a majority of the Trustees, (b) shall be filed for record as provided in Section 13.5 and (c) shall become effective as of the later of the time the SDAT accepts the amendment for record or the time established in the amendment, not to exceed thirty (30) days after the amendment is accepted for record. All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include all amendments thereto.
Section 10.2 By Trustees. The Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust from time to time, in the manner provided by Title 8, without any action by the shareholders, to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Code or under Title 8 and as otherwise provided in Section 8-501(e) of Title 8 and the Declaration of Trust. If permitted by Maryland law as in effect from time to time, the Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust from time to time in any other respect, in accordance with such law, without any action by the shareholders.
Section 10.3 By Shareholders. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2 and subject to the following sentence, any amendment to this Declaration of Trust must first be advised by the Board of Trustees and then shall be valid only if approved by (i) the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter or (ii) if Maryland law hereafter permits the effectiveness of a vote described in this clause (ii), the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. Any amendment to Section 5.2.2 or 5.3 or to this sentence of the Declaration of Trust shall be valid only if approved by the Board of Trustees and then by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
ARTICLE XI
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF TRUST PROPERTY
Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding, the Trust may (a) merge with or into another entity, (b) consolidate with one or more other entities into a new entity or (c) sell, lease, exchange or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the trust property. Any such action must first be approved by the Board of Trustees and, after notice to all shareholders entitled to vote on the matter, by (i) the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter or (ii) if Maryland law hereafter permits the effectiveness of a vote described in this clause (ii), the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter.
ARTICLE XII
DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST
Section 12.1 Duration. The Trust shall continue perpetually unless terminated pursuant to Section 12.2.
Section 12.2 Termination.
(a) Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding, after approval by a majority of the entire Board of Trustees, the Trust may be terminated at any meeting of shareholders by (i) the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter or (ii) or if hereafter expressly authorized by Title 8, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. Upon the termination of the Trust:
(i) The Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.
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(ii) The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees under the Declaration of Trust shall continue, including the powers to fulfill or discharge the Trust’s contracts, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining property of the Trust to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business.
(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trust may distribute the remaining property of the Trust among the shareholders so that after payment in full or the setting apart for payment of such preferential amounts, if any, to which the holders of any Shares at the time outstanding shall be entitled, the remaining property of the Trust shall, subject to any participating or similar rights of Shares at the time outstanding, be distributed ratably among the holders of Common Shares at the time outstanding.
(b) After termination of the Trust, the liquidation of its business and the distribution to the shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and file with the Trust’s records a document certifying that the Trust has been duly terminated and the Trustees shall be discharged from all liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all shareholders shall cease.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.1 Governing Law. The Declaration of Trust is executed and delivered with reference to the laws of the State of Maryland, and the rights of all parties and the validity, construction and effect of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws of the State of Maryland.
Section 13.2 Reliance by Third Parties. Any certificate shall be final and conclusive as to any person dealing with the Trust if executed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust or a Trustee, and if certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees, officers of the Trust or shareholders; (b) the due authorization of the execution of any document; (c) the action or vote taken, and the existence of a quorum, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees or shareholders; (d) a copy of the Declaration of Trust or of the Bylaws as a true and complete copy as then in force; (e) an amendment to the Declaration of Trust; (f) the termination of the Trust; or (g) the existence of any fact relating to the affairs of the Trust. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trust on its behalf or by any officer, employee or agent of the Trust.
Section 13.3 Severability.
(a) The provisions of the Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Board of Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any one or more of such provisions (the “Conflicting Provisions”) are in conflict with the Code, Title 8 or other applicable federal or state laws, the Conflicting Provisions, to the extent of the conflict, shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of the Declaration of Trust, even without any amendment of the Declaration of Trust pursuant to Article X and without affecting or impairing any of the remaining provisions of the Declaration of Trust or rendering invalid or improper any action taken or omitted (including but not limited to the election of Trustees) prior to such determination. No Trustee shall be liable for making or failing to make such a determination. In the event of any such determination by the Board of Trustees, the Board shall amend the Declaration of Trust in the manner provided in Section 10.2.
(b) If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such holding shall apply only to the extent of any such invalidity or unenforceability and shall not in any manner affect, impair or render invalid or unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.
Section 13.4 Construction. In the Declaration of Trust, unless the context otherwise requires, words used in the singular or in the plural include both the plural and singular and words denoting any gender include all genders. The title and headings of different parts are inserted for convenience and shall not affect the meaning, construction or effect of the Declaration of Trust. In defining or interpreting the powers and duties of the Trust and its Trustees and officers, reference may be made by the Trustees or officers, to the extent appropriate and not inconsistent with the Code or Title 8, to Titles 1 through 3 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, in accordance with the provisions of Title 3, Subtitles 6 and 7, of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Trust shall be included within the definition of “corporation” for purposes of such provisions.
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Section 13.5 Recordation. The Declaration of Trust and any amendment hereto shall be filed for record with the SDAT and may also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate, but failure to file for record the Declaration of Trust or any amendment hereto in any office other than in the State of Maryland shall not affect or impair the validity or effectiveness of the Declaration of Trust or any amendment hereto. A restated Declaration of Trust shall, upon filing, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration of Trust and the various amendments thereto.
THIRD: The amendment to and restatement of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Trustees and approved by the shareholders of the Trust as required by law.
FOURTH: The total number of shares of beneficial interest which the Trust has authority to issue has not been amended by this amendment and restatement.
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