ADVISORY AGREEMENT between PLYMOUTH OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC. and PLYMOUTH REAL ESTATE INVESTORS INC. ________, 2011
Exhibit 10.1
ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
PLYMOUTH OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC.
and
PLYMOUTH REAL ESTATE INVESTORS INC.
________, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS | 1 | |
| ARTICLE 2 APPOINTMENT | 9 | |
| ARTICLE 3 DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR | 9 | |
| 3.01 | Organizational and Offering Services | 9 |
| 3.02 | Acquisition Services. | 9 |
| 3.03 | Asset Management Services. | 10 |
| 3.04 | Stockholder Services. | 13 |
| 3.05 | Other Services | 13 |
| ARTICLE 4 AUTHORITY OF ADVISOR | 13 | |
| 4.01 | General | 13 |
| 4.02 | Powers of the Advisor | 13 |
| 4.03 | Approval by the Board | 13 |
| 4.04 | Modification or Revocation of Authority of Advisor | 14 |
| ARTICLE 5 BANK ACCOUNTS | 14 | |
| ARTICLE 6 RECORDS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 14 | |
| ARTICLE 7 LIMITATION ON ACTIVITIES | 14 | |
| ARTICLE 8 FEES | 15 | |
| 8.01 | Asset Management Fees. | 15 |
| 8.02 | Acquisition/Origination Fees | 16 |
| 8.03 | Disposition/Financing Fees. | 16 |
| 8.04 | Subscription Processing Fee | 17 |
| 8.05 | Changes to Fee Structure | 17 |
| ARTICLE 9 EXPENSES | 17 | |
| 9.01 | General | 17 |
| 9.02 | Timing of and Additional Limitations on Reimbursements. | 19 |
| ARTICLE 10 VOTING AGREEMENT | 20 | |
| ARTICLE 11 RELATIONSHIP OF ADVISOR AND COMPANY; OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISOR | 20 | |
| 11.01 | Relationship | 20 |
| 11.02 | Time Commitment | 20 |
| 11.03 | Investment Opportunities and Allocation | 20 |
| ARTICLE 12 TERM AND TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT | 21 | |
| 12.01 | Term | 21 |
| 12.02 | Termination by Either Party | 21 |
| 12.03 | Payments on Termination and Survival of Certain Rights and Obligations | 21 |
| ARTICLE 13 ASSIGNMENT | 22 | |
| ARTICLE 14 INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY | 22 | |
| 14.01 | Indemnification | 22 |
| 14.02 | Limitation on Indemnification | 22 |
| 14.03 | Limitation on Payment of Expenses | 23 |
| i |
| ARTICLE 15 MISCELLANEOUS | 23 | |
| 15.01 | Notices | 23 |
| 15.02 | Modification | 24 |
| 15.03 | Severability | 24 |
| 15.04 | Construction | 24 |
| 15.05 | Entire Agreement | 24 |
| 15.06 | Waiver | 24 |
| 15.07 | Gender | 24 |
| 15.08 | Titles Not to Affect Interpretation | 24 |
| 15.09 | Counterparts | 24 |
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This Advisory Agreement, dated as of ___________, 2011 (the "Agreement"), is between Plymouth Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and Plymouth Real Estate Investors Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the "Advisor").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company desires to avail itself of the knowledge, experience, sources of information, advice, assistance and certain facilities available to the Advisor and to have the Advisor undertake the duties and responsibilities hereinafter set forth, on behalf of, and subject to the supervision of, the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), all as provided herein; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor is willing to undertake to render such services, subject to the supervision of the Board, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified below:
"Acquisition Expenses" means any and all expenses incurred by the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of either in connection with the selection, acquisition or development of any property, loan or other potential investment, whether or not acquired or originated, as applicable, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, costs of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on properties or other investments not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance premiums and miscellaneous expenses related to the selection, acquisition or development of any property, loan or other potential investment.
"Acquisition Fees" means the fees and commissions, excluding Acquisition Expenses, paid by any Person to any Person in connection with making or investing in any Property or other Permitted Investment or the purchase, development or construction of any Property by the Company. Included in the computation of such fees or commissions shall be any real estate commission, selection fee, Development Fee, Construction Fee, nonrecurring management fee, loan fees or points or any fee of a similar nature, however designated. Excluded shall be Development Fees and Construction Fees paid to Persons not Affiliated with the Advisor in connection with the actual development and construction of a Property.
"Advisor" means (i) Plymouth Real Estate Investors Inc., a Maryland corporation, or (ii) any successor advisor to the Company.
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"Affiliate or Affiliated." An Affiliate of another Person includes any of the following: (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other Person; (ii) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling, or holding with the power to vote 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person; (iii) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee, or general partner; (iv) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held, with power to vote, by such other Person; and (v) any executive officer, director, trustee, or general partner of such other Person. An entity shall not be deemed to control or be under common control with an Advisor-sponsored program unless (i) the entity owns 10% or more of the voting equity interests of such program or (ii) a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such program is composed of Affiliates of the entity.
"Appraised Value" means the value according to an appraisal made by an Independent Appraiser.
"Articles of Incorporation" means the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company under Title 2 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Asset Management Fee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.
"Average Invested Assets" means, for a specified period, the average of the aggregate book value of the assets of the Company invested, directly or indirectly, in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments secured by real estate before reserves for depreciation or bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves, computed by taking the average of such values at the end of each month during such period.
"Board of Directors" or "Board" means the persons holding such office, as of any particular time, under the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, whether they be the Directors named therein or additional or successor Directors.
"Bylaws" means the bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time.
"Cash from Financings" means the net cash proceeds realized by the Company from the financing of Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments or from the refinancing of any Company indebtedness (after deduction of all expenses incurred in connection therewith).
"Cash from Sales and Settlements" means the net cash proceeds realized by the Company (i) from the sale, exchange or other disposition of any of its assets or any portion thereof after deduction of all expenses incurred in connection therewith including, without limitation, Disposition Fees and (ii) from the prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement of any Loan or Permitted Investment or portion thereof after deduction of all expenses incurred in connection therewith. In the case of a transaction described in clause (i) (C) of the definition of "Sale" and (i)(B) of the definition of "Settlement," Cash from Sales and Settlements means the proceeds of any such transaction actually distributed to the Company from the Joint Venture or partnership. Cash from Sales and Settlements shall not include Cash from Financings.
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"Cash from Sales, Settlements and Financings" means the total sum of Cash from Sales and Settlements and Cash from Financings.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto. Reference to any provision of the Code shall mean such provision as in effect from time to time, as the same may be amended, and any successor provision thereto, as interpreted by any applicable regulations as in effect from time to time.
"Company" means Plymouth Opportunity REIT, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland.
"Competitive Real Estate Commission" means a real estate or brokerage commission for the purchase or sale of property that is reasonable, customary, and competitive in light of the size, type, and location of the property.
"Construction Fee" means a fee or other remuneration for acting as general contractor and/or construction manager to construct improvements, supervise and coordinate projects or to provide major repairs or rehabilitation on a Property.
"Contract Sales Price" means the total consideration received by the Company for the sale of a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment.
"Corporate Governance Committee" shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation.
"Cost of Real Estate Investments" means the sum of (i) with respect to Properties wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, the amount actually paid or allocated to the purchase, development, construction or improvement of Properties, inclusive of fees and expenses related thereto, plus the amount of any outstanding debt attributable to such Properties and (ii) in the case of Properties owned by any Joint Venture or partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner, the portion of the amount actually paid or allocated to the purchase, development, construction or improvement of Properties, inclusive of fees and expenses related thereto, plus the amount of any outstanding debt associated with such Properties that is attributable to the Company’s investment in the Joint Venture or partnership.
"Cost of Loans and other Permitted Investments" means the sum of the cost of all Loans and Permitted Investments held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or the Partnership, calculated each month on an ongoing basis, and calculated as follows for each investment: the lesser of (i) the amount actually paid or allocated to acquire or fund the Loan or Permitted Investment (inclusive of fees and expenses related thereto and the amount of any debt associated with or used to acquire or fund such investment) and (ii) the outstanding principal amount of such Loan or Permitted Investment (plus the fees and expenses related to the acquisition or funding of such investment), as of the time of calculation. With respect to any Loan or Permitted Investment held by the Company or the Partnership through a Joint Venture or partnership of which it is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner, such amount shall be the Company’s proportionate share thereof.
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"Dealer Manager" means (i) Plymouth Real Estate Capital LLC, a [Delaware] limited liability company, or (ii) any successor dealer manager to the Company.
"Development Fee" means a fee for the packaging of a Property, including negotiating and approving plans, and undertaking to assist in obtaining zoning and necessary variances and necessary financing for the Property, either initially or at a later date.
"Director" means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Disposition Fee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.
"Distributions" means any distributions of money or other property by the Company to owners of Shares, including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes.
"GAAP" means accounting principals generally accepted in the United States.
"Gross Proceeds" means the aggregate purchase price of all Shares sold for the account of the Company through an Offering, without deduction for Organization and Offering Expenses.
"Independent Appraiser" means a person or entity with no material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor or the Directors, who is engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets of the type held by the Company, and who is a qualified appraiser of real estate as determined by the Board. Membership in a nationally recognized appraisal society such as the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers ("M.A.I.") or the Society of Real Estate Appraisers ("S.R.E.A.") shall be conclusive evidence of such qualification.
"Initial Public Offering" means the initial public offering of Shares registered on Registration Statement No. 333-_______ on Form S-11.
"Invested Capital" means the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of Shares purchased by Stockholders by the issue price, reduced by any amounts paid by the Company to repurchase Shares pursuant to the Company’s plan for redemption of Shares.
"Joint Venture" means any joint venture, limited liability company or other Affiliate of the Company that owns, in whole or in part, on behalf of the Company any Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments.
"Listed" or "Listing" shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation.
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"Loans" means mortgage loans and other types of debt financing investments made by the Company or the Partnership, either directly or indirectly, including through ownership interests in a Joint Venture or partnership, and including, without limitation, mezzanine loans, B-notes, bridge loans, convertible mortgages, wraparound mortgage loans, construction mortgage loans, loans on leasehold interests, and participations in such loans.
"NASAA Guidelines" means the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts adopted by the North American Securities Administrators Association as in effect on the date hereof.
"Net Income" means, for any period, the total revenues applicable to such period, less the total expenses applicable to such period excluding additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves; provided, however, Net Income for purposes of calculating total allowable Operating Expenses (as defined herein) shall exclude the gain from the sale of the Company’s assets.
"Offering" means any offering of Shares that is registered with the SEC, excluding Shares offered under any employee benefit plan.
"Operating Cash Flow" means Operating Revenue Cash Flows minus the sum of (i) Operating Expenses, (ii) all principal and interest payments on indebtedness and other sums paid to lenders, (iii) the expenses of raising capital such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration, and other fees, printing and other such expenses and tax incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and Listing of the Shares, (iv) taxes, (v) incentive fees paid in compliance with Section IV.F. of the NASAA Guidelines and (vi) Acquisition Fees, Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on the resale of real property, and other expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (other than commissions on the sale of assets other than real property), such as the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property.
"Operating Expenses" means all costs and expenses incurred by the Company, as determined under GAAP, that in any way are related to the operation of the Company or to Company business, including fees paid to the Advisor, but excluding (i) the expenses of raising capital such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration, and other fees, printing and other such expenses and tax incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and Listing of the Shares, (ii) interest payments, (iii) taxes, (iv) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad loan reserves, (v) incentive fees paid in compliance with Section IV.F. of the NASAA Guidelines and (vi) Acquisition Fees, Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on the resale of real property, and other expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (other than commissions on the sale of assets other than real property), such as the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property.
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"Operating Revenue Cash Flows" means the Company’s cash flow from ownership and/or operation of (i) Properties, (ii) Loans, (iii) Permitted Investments, (iv) short-term investments, and (v) interests in Properties, Loans and Permitted Investments owned by any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner.
"Organization and Offering Expenses" means all expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company in connection with or in preparing the Company for registration of and subsequently offering and distributing its Shares to the public, whether incurred before or after the date of this Agreement, which may include but are not limited to, total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters’ attorneys); any expense allowance granted by the Company to the underwriter or any reimbursement of expenses of the underwriter by the Company; expenses for printing, engraving and mailing; compensation of employees while engaged in sales activity; charges of transfer agents, registrars, trustees, escrow holders, depositaries and experts; and expenses of qualification of the sale of the securities under Federal and State laws, including taxes and fees, accountants’ and attorneys’ fees.
"Origination Fees" means the fee payable to a third party pursuant to Section 8.02 plus all other fees and commissions, excluding Acquisition Expenses, paid by any Person to any Person in connection with making or investing in any Loan by the Company.
"Partnership" means Plymouth Opportunity OP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership formed to own and operate Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on behalf of the Company.
"Permitted Investments" means all investments (other than Properties, Loans and short-term investments acquired for purposes of cash management) in which the Company may acquire an interest, either directly or indirectly, including through ownership interests in a Joint Venture or partnership, pursuant to its Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and the investment objectives and policies adopted by the Board from time to time.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Section 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, or any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, 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.
"Property" or "Properties" means any real property or properties transferred or conveyed to the Company or the Partnership, either directly or indirectly, and/or any real property or properties transferred or conveyed to a Joint Venture or partnership in which the Company is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner.
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"Property Manager" means an entity that has been retained to perform and carry out at one or more of the Properties property-management services, excluding persons, entities or independent contractors retained or hired to perform facility management or other services or tasks at a particular Property, the costs for which are passed through to and ultimately paid by the tenant at such Property.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement filed by the Company with the SEC on Form S-11 (Reg. No. 333-______), as amended from time to time, in connection with the Initial Public Offering.
"REIT" means a "real estate investment trust" under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.
"Sale or Sales" means (i) any transaction or series of transactions whereby: (A) the Company or the Partnership sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof, including the transfer of any Property that is the subject of a ground lease, and including any event with respect to any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment that gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards, and including the issuance by one of the Company’s subsidiaries of any asset-backed securities as part of a securitization transaction; (B) the Company or the Partnership sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of all or substantially all of the interest of the Company or the Partnership in any Joint Venture or partnership in which it is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner; or (C) any Joint Venture or partnership (in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment that gives rise to insurance claims or condemnation awards, and including the issuance by such Joint Venture or partnership or one of its subsidiaries of any asset-backed securities as part of a securitization transaction, but (ii) not including any transaction or series of transactions specified in clause (i) (A), (i) (B), or (i) (C) above in which the proceeds of such transaction or series of transactions are reinvested in one or more Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments within 180 days thereafter.
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Settlement" means (i) the prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement of any Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof owned, directly or indirectly, by (A) the Company or the Partnership or (B) any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner, but (ii) not including any transaction or series of transactions specified in clause (i) (A) or (i) (B) above in which the proceeds of such prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement are reinvested in one or more Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments within 180 days thereafter.
"Shares" means the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.
"Stockholders" means the registered holders of the Shares.
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"Stockholders’ 8% Return" means, as of any date, an aggregate amount equal to an 8% cumulative, non-compounded, annual return on Invested Capital (calculated like simple interest on a daily basis based on a three hundred sixty-five day year). For purposes of calculating the Stockholders’ 8% Return, Invested Capital shall be determined for each day during the period for which the Stockholders’ 8% Return is being calculated and shall be calculated net of (1) Distributions of Operating Cash Flow to the extent such Distributions of Operating Cash Flow provide a cumulative, non-compounded, annual return in excess of 8%, as such amounts are computed on a daily basis based on a three hundred sixty-five day year and (2) Distributions of Cash from Sales, Settlements and Financings, except to the extent such Distributions would be required to supplement Distributions of Operating Cash Flow in order to achieve a cumulative, non-compounded, annual return of 8%, as such amounts are computed on a daily basis based on a three hundred sixty-five day year.
"Subordinated Performance Fee Due Upon Termination" means a fee payable in the form of an interest bearing promissory note (the "Performance Fee Note") in a principal amount equal to 15% of the amount, if any, by which (a) the Appraised Value of the Company’s Properties at the Termination Date, less amounts of all indebtedness secured by the Company’s Properties, plus the fair market value of all other Loans and Permitted Investments of the Company at the Termination Date, less amounts of indebtedness related to such Loans and Permitted Investments, plus total Distributions (excluding any stock dividend) through the Termination Date exceeds (b) the sum of Invested Capital plus total Distributions required to be made to the stockholders in order to pay the Stockholders’ 8% Return from inception through the Termination Date. Interest on the Performance Fee Note will accrue beginning on the Termination Date at a rate deemed fair and reasonable by the Corporate Governance Committee. The Company shall repay the Performance Fee Note at such time as the Company completes the first Sale or Settlement after the Termination Date using Cash from Sales and Settlements. If the Cash from Sales and Settlements from the first Sale or Settlement after the Termination Date is insufficient to pay the Performance Fee Note in full, including accrued interest, then the Performance Fee Note shall be paid in part from the Cash from Sales and Settlements from the first Sale or Settlement, and in part from the Cash from Sales and Settlements from each successive Sale or Settlement until the Performance Fee Note is repaid in full, with interest. If the Performance Fee Note has not been paid in full within five years from the Termination Date, then the Advisor, its successors or assigns, may elect to convert the balance of the fee, including accrued but unpaid interest, into Shares at a price per Share equal to the average closing price of the Shares over the ten trading days immediately preceding the date of such election if the Shares are Listed at such time. If the Shares are not Listed at such time, the Advisor, its successors or assigns, may elect to convert the balance of the fee, including accrued but unpaid interest, into Shares at a price per Share equal to the fair market value for the Shares as determined by the Board of Directors based upon the Appraised Value of Company’s Properties on the date of election plus the fair market value of all other Loans and Permitted Investments of the Company on the date of election.
"Subscription Processing Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05.
"Termination Date" means the date of termination of the Agreement determined in accordance with Article 12 hereof.
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"2%/25% Guidelines" means the requirement pursuant to the NASAA Guidelines that, in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, total Operating Expenses not exceed the greater of 2% of the Company’s Average Invested Assets during such 12-month period or 25% of the Company’s Net Income over the same 12-month period.
ARTICLE
2
APPOINTMENT
The Company hereby appoints the Advisor to serve as its advisor and asset manager on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Advisor hereby accepts such appointment.
ARTICLE
3
DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR
The Advisor is responsible for managing, operating, directing and supervising the operations and administration of the Company and its assets. The Advisor undertakes to use its best efforts to present to the Company potential investment opportunities and to provide the Company with a continuing and suitable investment program consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company as determined and adopted from time to time by the Board. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, including Article 4 hereof, and the continuing and exclusive authority of the Board over the management of the Company, the Advisor shall, either directly or by engaging an Affiliate or third party, perform the following duties:
(i) Serve as the Company’s investment and financial advisor and provide relevant market research and economic and statistical data in connection with the Company’s assets and investment objectives and policies;
(ii) Subject to Article 4 hereof and the investment objectives and policies of the Company: (a) locate, analyze and select potential investments; (b) structure and negotiate the terms and conditions of transactions pursuant to which investments in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments will be made; (c) acquire, originate and dispose of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on behalf of the Company; (d) arrange for financing and refinancing and make other changes in the asset or capital structure of investments in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments; and (e) enter into leases, service contracts and other agreements for Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments;
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(iii) Perform due diligence on prospective investments and create due diligence reports summarizing the results of such work;
(iv) Prepare reports regarding prospective investments that include recommendations and supporting documentation necessary for the Directors to evaluate the proposed investments;
(v) Obtain reports (which may be prepared by the Advisor or its Affiliates), where appropriate, concerning the value of contemplated investments of the Company;
(vi) Deliver to or maintain on behalf of the Company copies of all appraisals obtained in connection with the Company’s investments; and
(vii) Negotiate and execute approved investments and other transactions, including prepayments, maturities, workouts and other settlements of Loans and other Permitted Investments.
3.03 Asset Management Services.
(i) Real Estate and Related Services:
(a) Investigate, select and, on behalf of the Company, engage and conduct business with (including enter contracts with) such Persons as the Advisor deems necessary to the proper performance of its obligations as set forth in this Agreement, including, without limitation, consultants, accountants, lenders, technical advisors, attorneys, brokers, underwriters, corporate fiduciaries, escrow agents, depositaries, custodians, agents for collection, insurers, insurance agents, developers, construction companies, Property Managers and any and all Persons acting in any other capacity deemed by the Advisor necessary or desirable for the performance of any of the foregoing services;
(b) Negotiate and service the Company’s debt facilities and other financings;
(c) Monitor applicable markets and obtain reports (which may be prepared by the Advisor or its Affiliates), where appropriate, concerning the value of investments of the Company;
(d) Monitor and evaluate the performance of each asset of the Company and the Company’s overall portfolio of assets, provide daily management services to the Company and perform and supervise the various management and operational functions related to the Company’s investments;
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(e) Formulate and oversee the implementation of strategies for the administration, promotion, management, operation, maintenance, improvement, financing and refinancing, marketing, leasing and disposition of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on an overall portfolio basis;
(f) Consult with the Company’s officers and the Board and assist the Board in the formulation and implementation of the Company’s financial policies, and, as necessary, furnish the Board with advice and recommendations with respect to the making of investments consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company and in connection with any borrowings proposed to be undertaken by the Company;
(g) Oversee the performance by the Property Managers of their duties, including collection and proper deposits of rental payments and payment of Property expenses and maintenance;
(h) Conduct periodic on-site property visits to some or all (as the Advisor deems reasonably necessary) of the Properties to inspect the physical condition of the Properties and to evaluate the performance of the Property Managers;
(i) Review, analyze and comment upon the operating budgets, capital budgets and leasing plans prepared and submitted by each Property Manager and aggregate these property budgets into the Company’s overall budget;
(j) Coordinate and manage relationships between the Company and any co-venturers or partners; and
(k) Consult with the Company’s officers and the Board and provide assistance with the evaluation and approval of potential asset dispositions, sales and refinancings.
(ii) Accounting and Other Administrative Services:
(a) Provide the day-to-day management of the Company and perform and supervise the various administrative functions reasonably necessary for the management of the Company;
(b) From time to time, or at any time reasonably requested by the Board, make reports to the Board on the Advisor’s performance of services to the Company under this Agreement;
(c) Make reports to the Corporate Governance Committee each quarter of the investments that have been made by other programs sponsored by the Advisor or any of its Affiliates, as well as any investments that have been made by the Advisor or any of its Affiliates directly;
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(d) Provide or arrange for any administrative services and items, legal and other services, office space, office furnishings, personnel and other overhead items necessary and incidental to the Company’s business and operations;
(e) Provide financial and operational planning services;
(f) Maintain accounting and other record-keeping functions at the Company level and the investment levels, including information concerning the activities of the Company as shall be required to prepare and to file all periodic financial reports, tax returns and any other information required to be filed with the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service and any other regulatory agency;
(g) Maintain and preserve all appropriate books and records of the Company;
(h) Provide tax and compliance services and coordinate with appropriate third parties, including the Company’s independent auditors and other consultants, on related tax matters;
(i) Provide the Company with all necessary cash management services;
(j) Manage and coordinate with the transfer agent the dividend process and payments to Stockholders;
(k) Consult with the Company’s officers and the Board and assist the Board in evaluating and obtaining adequate insurance coverage based upon risk management determinations;
(l) Provide the Company’s officers and the Board with timely updates related to the overall regulatory environment affecting the Company, as well as managing compliance with such matters, including but not limited to compliance with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002;
(m) Consult with the Company’s officers and the Board relating to the corporate governance structure and appropriate policies and procedures related thereto;
(n) Perform all reporting, record keeping, internal controls and similar matters in a manner to allow the Company to comply with applicable law, including federal and state securities laws and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002;
(o) Notify the Board of all proposed material transactions before they are completed; and
(p) Do all things necessary to assure its ability to render the services described in this Agreement.
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(i) Manage services for and communications with Stockholders, including answering phone calls, preparing and sending written and electronic reports and other communications;
(ii) Oversee the performance of the transfer agent and registrar;
(iii) Establish technology infrastructure to assist in providing Stockholder support and service; and
(iv) Consistent with Section 3.01 hereof, the Advisor shall perform the various subscription processing services reasonably necessary for the admission of new Stockholders.
ARTICLE
4
AUTHORITY OF ADVISOR
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ARTICLE
5
BANK ACCOUNTS
The Advisor may establish and maintain one or more bank accounts in its own name for the account of the Company or in the name of the Company and may collect and deposit into any such account or accounts, and disburse from any such account or accounts, any money on behalf of the Company, under such terms and conditions as the Board may approve, provided that no funds shall be commingled with the funds of the Advisor. The Advisor shall from time to time render appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Board and the independent auditors of the Company.
ARTICLE
6
RECORDS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Advisor, in the conduct of its responsibilities to the Company, shall maintain adequate and separate books and records for the Company’s operations in accordance with GAAP, which shall be supported by sufficient documentation to ascertain that such books and records are properly and accurately recorded. Such books and records shall be the property of the Company and shall be available for inspection by the Board and by counsel, auditors and other authorized agents of the Company, at any time or from time to time during normal business hours. Such books and records shall include all information necessary to calculate and audit the fees or reimbursements paid under this Agreement. The Advisor shall utilize procedures to attempt to ensure such control over accounting and financial transactions as is reasonably required to protect the Company’s assets from theft, error or fraudulent activity. All financial statements that the Advisor delivers to the Company shall be prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, except for special financial reports that by their nature require a deviation from GAAP. The Advisor shall liaise with the Company’s officers and independent auditors and shall provide such officers and auditors with the reports and other information that the Company so requests.
ARTICLE
7
LIMITATION ON ACTIVITIES
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Advisor shall not take any action that, in its sole judgment made in good faith, would (i) adversely affect the ability of the Company to qualify or continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code, (ii) subject the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
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(iii) violate any law, rule, regulation or statement of policy of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, its Shares or its other securities, (iv) require the Advisor to register as a broker-dealer with the SEC or any state, or (v) violate the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws. In the event an action that would violate (i) through (v) of the preceding sentence has been ordered by the Board, the Advisor shall notify the Board of the Advisor’s judgment of the potential impact of such action and shall refrain from taking such action until it receives further clarification or instructions from the Board. In such event, the Advisor shall have no liability for acting in accordance with the specific instructions of the Board so given.
ARTICLE
8
FEES
(i) Except as provided in Section 8.01(ii) hereof, the Company shall pay the Advisor as compensation for the services described in Section 3.03 hereof a monthly fee (the "Asset Management Fee") in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.0% of the sum of the Cost of Real Estate Investments and the Cost of Loans and other Permitted Investments. The Advisor shall submit a monthly invoice to the Company, accompanied by a computation of the Asset Management Fee for the applicable period. The Asset Management Fee shall be payable on the last day of such month, or the first business day following the last day of such month. The Asset Management Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any period in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Asset Management Fees not taken as to any period shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other fiscal period as the Advisor shall determine.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 8.03(i) hereof to the contrary, a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment that has suffered an impairment in value, reduction in cash flow or other negative circumstances may either be excluded from the calculation of the Cost of Real Estate Investments or the Cost of Loans and other Permitted Investments or included in such calculation at a reduced value that is recommended by the Advisor and the Company’s management and then approved by a majority of the Company’s independent directors, and the resulting change in the Asset Management Fee with respect to such investment will be applicable upon the earlier to occur of the date on which (a) such investment is sold, (b) such investment is surrendered to a Person other than the Company, its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary or a Joint Venture or partnership in which the Company has an interest, (c) the Advisor determines that it will no longer pursue collection or other remedies related to such investment, or (d) the Advisor recommends a revised fee arrangement with respect to such investment.
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8.03 Disposition/Financing Fees.
(a) If the Advisor retains third parties to provide "substantial assistance" (as defined below) to the Advisor in connection with a Sale, the Company shall pay, or shall reimburse the Advisor for the payment of, a fee to such third parties at the closing (the "Disposition Fee") in an amount not to exceed 1.0% of the Contract Sales Price; provided, however, that no Disposition Fee shall be payable to the Advisor for any Sale. The payment of any Disposition Fees by the Company shall be subject to the limitations contained in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation. Any Disposition Fee payable under this Section 8.03 may be paid in addition to other commissions paid to non-Affiliates, provided that the total commissions (including such Disposition Fee) paid to all Persons by the Company for each Sale shall not exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 6.0% of the aggregate Contract Sales Price of each Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or (ii) the Competitive Real Estate Commission for each Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment. "Substantial assistance" in connection with the Sale of a Property includes the preparation of an investment package for the Property (including a new investment analysis, rent rolls, tenant information regarding credit, a property title report, an environmental report, a structural report and exhibits) or such other substantial services performed by such third party in connection with a Sale. Generally, the Disposition Fee payable by the Advisor to such third parties shall be paid at the closing of the transaction upon receipt of the invoice by the Company.
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(b) If the Advisor retains third parties to provide "substantial assistance" with respect to obtaining any debt financing obtained by or for the Company (including any refinancing of debt), the Company shall pay, or shall reimburse the Advisor for the payment of, a fee to such third parties at the closing (the "Debt Financing Fee") in an amount not to exceed 1% of the amount available under the financing; provided, however, that no Debt Financing Fee shall be payable to the Advisor.
ARTICLE
9
EXPENSES
(i) All Organization and Offering Expenses; provided, however, that the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor to the extent such reimbursement would cause the total amount spent by the Company on Organization and Offering Expenses to exceed 15% of the Gross Proceeds raised as of the date of the reimbursement and provided further that within 60 days after the end of the month in which an Offering terminates, the Advisor shall reimburse the Company to the extent the Company incurred Organization and Offering Expenses exceeding 15% of the Gross Proceeds raised in the completed Offering; the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor for any Organization and Offering Expenses that are not fair and commercially reasonable to the Company, and the Advisor shall reimburse the Company for any Organization and Offering Expenses that are not fair and commercially reasonable to the Company;
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(ii) Acquisition Fees, Origination Fees and Acquisition Expenses incurred in connection with the selection and acquisition of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments, including such expenses incurred related to assets pursued or considered but not ultimately acquired by the Company, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment of Acquisition Fees, Origination Fees and Acquisition Expenses by the Company shall be subject to the limitations contained in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation;
(iii) The actual out-of-pocket cost of goods and services used by the Company and obtained from entities not Affiliated with the Advisor;
(iv) Interest and other costs for borrowed money, including discounts, points and other similar fees;
(v) Taxes and assessments on income or Properties, taxes as an expense of doing business and any other taxes otherwise imposed on the Company and its business, assets or income;
(vi) Out-of-pocket costs associated with insurance required in connection with the business of the Company or by its officers and Directors;
(vii) Expenses of managing, improving, developing, operating and selling Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, as well as expenses of other transactions relating to such Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments, including but not limited to prepayments, maturities, workouts and other settlements of Loans and other Permitted Investments;
(viii) All out-of-pocket expenses in connection with payments to the Board and meetings of the Board and Stockholders;
(ix) Personnel and related employment costs incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in performing the services described in Article 3 hereof, including but not limited to reasonable salaries and wages, benefits and overhead of all employees directly involved in the performance of such services;
(x) Out-of-pocket expenses of providing services for and maintaining communications with Stockholders, including the cost of preparation, printing, and mailing annual reports and other Stockholder reports, proxy statements and other reports required by governmental entities;
(xi) Audit, accounting and legal fees, and other fees for professional services relating to the operations of the Company and all such fees incurred at the request, or on behalf of, the Board, the Corporate Governance Committee or any other committee of the Board;
(xii) Out-of-pocket costs for the Company to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances;
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(xiii) Expenses connected with payments of Distributions made or caused to be made by the Company to the Stockholders;
(xiv) Expenses of organizing, redomesticating, merging, liquidating or dissolving the Company or of amending the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws; and
(xv) All other out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Advisor in performing its duties hereunder.
9.02 Timing of and Additional Limitations on Reimbursements.
(i) Expenses incurred by the Advisor on behalf of the Company and reimbursable pursuant to this Article 9 shall be reimbursed no less than monthly to the Advisor. The Advisor shall prepare a statement documenting the expenses of the Company during each quarter and shall deliver such statement to the Company within 45 days after the end of each quarter.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything else in this Article 9 to the contrary, the expenses enumerated in this Article 9 shall not become reimbursable to the Advisor unless and until the Company has raised $2.5 million in the Initial Public Offering.
(iii) Commencing upon the earlier to occur of four fiscal quarters after (a) the Company makes its first real estate or real estate-related investment or (b) six months after commencement of the Initial Public Offering, the following limitation on Operating Expenses shall apply: The Company shall not reimburse the Advisor at the end of any fiscal quarter for Operating Expenses that in the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended (the "Expense Year") exceed (the "Excess Amount") the greater of 2% of Average Invested Assets or 25% of Net Income (the "2%/25% Guidelines") for such year unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that such excess was justified, based on unusual and nonrecurring factors that the Corporate Governance Committee deems sufficient. Reimbursement of all or any portion of the Operating Expenses that exceed the limitation set forth in the preceding sentence may, at the option of the Advisor, be deferred without interest and may be reimbursed in any subsequent year where such limitation would permit such reimbursement if the Operating Expense were incurred during such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Corporate Governance Committee does not approve such excess as being so justified, any Excess Amount paid to the Advisor during a fiscal quarter shall be repaid to the Company. If the Corporate Governance Committee determines such excess was justified, then, within 60 days after the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company for which total reimbursed Operating Expenses for the Expense Year exceed the 2%/25% Guidelines, the Advisor, at the direction of the Corporate Governance Committee, shall cause such fact to be disclosed to the Stockholders in writing (or the Company shall disclose such fact to the Stockholders in the next quarterly report of the Company or by filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC within 60 days of such quarter end), together with an explanation of the factors the Corporate Governance Committee considered in determining that such excess expenses were justified. The Company will ensure that such determination will be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board. All figures used in the foregoing computation shall be determined in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.
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ARTICLE
10
VOTING AGREEMENT
The Advisor agrees that, with respect to any Shares now or hereinafter owned by it, the Advisor will not vote or consent on matters submitted to the stockholders of the Company regarding (i) the removal of the Advisor, a director or any of their Affiliates or (ii) any transaction between the Company and the Advisor, a director or any of their Affiliates. This voting restriction shall survive until such time that the Advisor is both no longer serving as such and is no longer an Affiliate of the Company.
ARTICLE
11
RELATIONSHIP OF ADVISOR AND COMPANY;
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISOR
11.01 Relationship. The Company and the Advisor are not partners or joint venturers with each other, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to make them such partners or joint venturers. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Advisor from engaging in other activities, including, without limitation, the rendering of advice to other Persons (including other REITs) and the management of other programs advised, sponsored or organized by the Advisor or its Affiliates. This Agreement shall not limit or restrict the right of any manager, director, officer, employee or equityholder of the Advisor or its Affiliates to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other Person. The Advisor may, with respect to any investment in which the Company is a participant, also render advice and service to each and every other participant therein. The Advisor shall promptly disclose to the Board the existence of any condition or circumstance, existing or anticipated, of which it has knowledge, that creates or could create a conflict of interest between the Advisor’s obligations to the Company and its obligations to or its interest in any other Person.
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ARTICLE
12
TERM AND TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT
(i) After the Termination Date, the Advisor shall not be entitled to compensation for further services hereunder except it shall be entitled to receive from the Company within 30 days after the effective date of such termination (a) all unpaid reimbursements of expenses and all earned but unpaid fees payable to the Advisor prior to termination of this Agreement and (b) the Subordinated Performance Fee Due Upon Termination.
(ii) The Advisor shall promptly upon termination:
(a) pay over to the Company all money collected pursuant to this Agreement, if any, after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses to which it is then entitled;
(b) deliver to the Board a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board;
(c) deliver to the Board all assets and documents of the Company then in the custody of the Advisor; and
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(d) cooperate with the Company to provide an orderly transition of advisory functions.
ARTICLE
13
ASSIGNMENT
This Agreement may be assigned by the Advisor to an Affiliate with the consent of the Corporate Governance Committee. The Advisor may assign any rights to receive fees or other payments under this Agreement without obtaining the approval of the Board or the Corporate Governance Committee. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company without the consent of the Advisor, except in the case of an assignment by the Company to a corporation or other organization that is a successor to all of the assets, rights and obligations of the Company, in which case such successor organization shall be bound hereunder and by the terms of said assignment in the same manner as the Company is bound by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
14
INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not indemnify the Advisor or its Affiliates for any loss, liability or expense arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by such party unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged material securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the SEC and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.
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(i) The Advisor or its Affiliates have determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company.
(ii) The Advisor or its Affiliates were acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company.
(iii) Such liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the Advisor or its Affiliates.
ARTICLE
15
MISCELLANEOUS
15.01 Notices. Any notice, report or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing unless some other method of giving such notice, report or other communication is required by the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws or is accepted by the party to whom it is given, and shall be given by being delivered by hand or by overnight mail or other overnight delivery service to the addresses set forth herein:
To the Company or the Board:
Plymouth Opportunity REIT, Inc.
Two ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
To the Advisor:
Plymouth Real Estate Investors Inc.
Two ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Either party may at any time give notice in writing to the other party of a change in its address for the purposes of this Section 15.01.
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15.04 Construction. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally
left blank.
Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
| PLYMOUTH OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
| PLYMOUTH REAL ESTATE INVESTORS INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
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