RPI

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT Pursuant

to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 30, 2015

 

 

ACRE REALTY INVESTORS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Georgia

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

 

001-13183	58-2122873
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

c/o Avenue Capital Group
399 Park Avenue
New York, New York	10022
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

 

212-850-7534

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

Roberts Realty Investors, Inc.

375 Northridge Road, Suite 330, Atlanta, Georgia, 30350

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

	o	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
	o	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
	o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
	o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

On January 30, 2015, Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. (the “Company,” “we”, or “us”) closed the transactions contemplated by the previously announced Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), and A-III Investment Partners LLC (“A-III”), a joint venture between affiliates of Avenue Capital Group and C-III Capital Partners LLC, which is controlled by Island Capital Group LLC. The Stock Purchase Agreement was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 19, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference. After the closing, the Company amended its articles of incorporation to change its name to ACRE Realty Investors Inc.

 

Item 1.01  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a number of related agreements at the closing. Summaries of these agreements are provided below or are incorporated herein by reference as indicated below.

 

Management Agreement

 

At the closing, the Company, the Operating Partnership, and A-III Manager LLC (“A-III Manager” or the “Manager”) entered into a Management Agreement, among other things, to provide for the day-to-day management of the Company by the Manager, including investment activities and operations of the Company and its properties. The Management Agreement requires the Manager to manage and administer the business activities and day-to-day operations of the Company and all of its subsidiaries in conformity with the Company’s investment guidelines and other policies that are approved and monitored by the Company’s board of directors.

 

A description of the material terms of the Management Agreement was included in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 19, 2014 (the “November 19, 2014 Form 8-K”), and in the Company’s proxy statement filed with the SEC on December 23, 2014 (the “Proxy Statement”), and these descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. Such descriptions do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the Management Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Governance and Voting Agreement

 

At the closing, the Company, A-III, and Mr. Roberts entered into a Governance and Voting Agreement, among other things, to provide for the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors immediately following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement and certain other related matters. Under the terms of the Governance and Voting Agreement, the new board is now composed of a total of seven directors, including two directors designated by A-III, four new independent directors designated by A-III satisfying the independence requirements of the NYSE MKT exchange and SEC rules, and Mr. Roberts, who will continue as a director of the Company. Information regarding the newly appointed directors is set forth below under Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

A description of the material terms of the Governance and Voting Agreement was included in the November 19, 2014 Form 8-K and the Proxy Statement, and these descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. Such descriptions do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the Governance and Voting Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Employment Agreement

 

At the closing, the Company and Mr. Roberts entered into an Employment Agreement pursuant to which Mr. Roberts will serve as an Executive Vice President of the Company for a term of one year from the date of the agreement, or until the sale of all four land parcels (North Springs, Northridge, Highway 20, and Bradley Park) is completed, if earlier. Mr. Roberts will be responsible for the marketing process for these properties, including positioning the properties for sale, identifying buyers, and negotiating terms of sale that are customary for similarly situated properties. All sales will be subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors, including by a majority of the independent members of the Board.

 

A description of the material terms of the Employment Agreement was included in the November 19, 2014 Form 8-K and the Proxy Statement, and these descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. Such descriptions do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

At the closing, the Company and A-III entered into a Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to file on or before the date that is 180 days after the closing date a shelf registration statement on Form S-11 or such other form then available to the Company. The registration statement covers the resale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of shares of the Company’s common stock issued to A-III pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Warrant Agreement by the holders of such securities.

 

A description of the material terms of the Registration Rights Agreement was included in the November 19, 2014 Form 8-K and the Proxy Statement, and these descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. Such descriptions do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Tax Protection Agreement

 

As previously disclosed, in July 2013, the Operating Partnership privately offered to investors who held both units of the Operating Partnership and shares of Company common stock the opportunity to contribute shares of Company common stock to the Operating Partnership in exchange for units (provided that the investors were “accredited investors” under SEC Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended). This offering remains open to such investors during the term of the Tax Protection Agreement referenced below. At the closing, the Company, the Operating Partnership, A-III, and the Manager entered into a Tax Protection Agreement to provide that the parties to such agreement will take the actions necessary to cause the Operating Partnership to continue the offering to such investors and to retain the shares it has previously acquired in the offering and any shares it acquires in the future in the offering.

 

The foregoing description of the Tax Protection Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Tax Protection Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Warrant Agreement

 

At the closing, the Company and A-III entered into a Warrant Agreement pursuant to which the Company issued to A-III warrants to purchase up to 26,760,563 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.42 per share (for a total of $38.0 million), subject to post-closing adjustment under the applicable terms thereof.

 

A description of the material terms of the Warrant Agreement was included in the November 19, 2014 Form 8-K and the Proxy Statement, and these descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. Such descriptions do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the Warrant Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.02  Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

At the closing, the Company used $4,877,263.44 of the proceeds of the investment by A-III to pay-off in full the promissory note relating to the Company’s mortgage debt encumbered by its North Springs property. As a result of this payment, the Promissory Note dated July 18, 2013 by the Operating Partnership to the order of North Springs Financial LLC, the Deed to Secure Debt, Assignment of Rents, and Security Agreement dated July 18, 2013 by and between the Operating Partnership and North Springs Financial LLC, the Unconditional Guaranty to North Springs Financial LLC of Payment and Performance dated July 18, 2013 by the Company in favor of North Springs Financial LLC and all related agreements between the Company and its affiliates and North Springs Financial LLC were terminated.

 

At the closing, Roberts Properties, Inc. and Roberts Properties Construction, Inc. (the “Waiving Parties”), each of which is an affiliate of Charles S. Roberts, a director and officer of the Company, waived (a) any covenant binding on any of the Company’s properties and any special rights that entitle the Waiving Parties to receive any compensation or provide any right to participate in the development or construction of any property of the Company and any related reimbursement. The foregoing does not apply, however, to any rights of the Waiving Parties to receive compensation or reimbursements after the closing for work provided under Section 7.4 of the Stock Purchase Agreement and the new Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Charles S. Roberts. As a result of the foregoing waiver, the following related party contracts were terminated:

 

·

Construction Agreement between Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. and Roberts Properties Construction, Inc. relating to the Company’s Northridge property.

·

Restrictive Covenant by Roberts Properties Peachtree Dunwoody, LLC, assumed by Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. on January 20, 2005 relating to the Company’s North Springs property.

·

Design and Development Agreement between Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. and Roberts Properties, Inc., dated as of April 14, 2005 relating to the Company’s North Springs property.

·

Construction Contract between Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. and Roberts Properties Construction, Inc., dated as of April 14, 2005 relating to the Company’s North Springs property.

·

Design and Development Agreement between Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. and Roberts Properties, Inc., dated as of August 4, 2005 relating to the Company’s Bradley Park property.

·

Construction Contract between Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. and Roberts Properties Construction, Inc., dated as of August 4, 2005 relating to the Company’s Bradley Park property.

·

Design and Development Agreement between Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. and Roberts Properties, Inc., dated as of February 21, 2006 relating to the Company’s Highway 20 property.

·

Construction Contract between Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. and Roberts Properties Construction, Inc., dated as of February 21, 2006 relating to the Company’s Highway 20 property.

Item 3.02  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

At the closing, A-III purchased 8,450,704 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $1.42 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $12 million, and the Company issued to A-III warrants to purchase up to an additional 26,760,563 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.42 per share ($38 million in the aggregate). The purchase price per share and the exercise price of the warrants are subject to a potential post-closing adjustment upon completion of the sale of the Company’s four existing land parcels, which could result in the issuance of additional shares of common stock to A-III and an increase in the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants.

 

The Company sold the securities to A-III in reliance upon exemptions from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The Stock Purchase Agreement contains representations to support the Company’s reasonable belief that (a) A-III had access to information concerning the Company’s operations and financial condition, (b) A-III acquired the securities for its own account and not with a view to the distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act, and (c) A-III is sophisticated within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and is an “accredited investor” (as defined by Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act). In addition, the issuances of the shares at the closing, and the contemplated issuances in the future, did not and will not involve any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering. The Company made no solicitation in connection with the transaction other than communications with A-III and representatives of its principals; the Company obtained representations from A-III regarding its investment intent, experience and sophistication; and A-III either received or had access to adequate information about the Company in order to make an informed investment decision.

 

The securities are deemed to be restricted securities for purposes of the Securities Act. The shares issued at the closing were issued in book-entry form with the Company’s transfer agent and are subject to restrictions noted in the records of the transfer agent. The securities may not be resold or offered in the United States without registration or an exemption from registration.

 

At the closing, the Company and A-III entered into the Warrant Agreement described in Item 1.01 above, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03  Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

If and to the extent that the amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation to eliminate the ownership limits contained in the articles of incorporation constitutes a material modification of the rights of the holders of common stock, the information relating to such amendment set forth under Item 8.01 below is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.01  Change in Control of Registrant.

 

Upon the closing of A-III’s purchase of 8,450,704 shares of the Company’s common stock on January 30, 2015 pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, A-III became the largest shareholder of the Company, owning approximately 47% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, or approximately 40% on a diluted basis assuming conversion of the outstanding units of limited partnership interest of the Company’s operating partnership into Company common stock and assuming no exercise of the warrants.

 

A-III paid $1.42 per share, or $12.0 million, for the shares of common stock issued at the closing and for the warrants to purchase up to 26,760,563 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.42 per share. The source of the funds was cash on hand from capital contributions by A-III’s members.

 

At the closing, the Company, A-III and Charles S. Roberts entered into the Governance and Voting Agreement described in Item 1.01 above, which is incorporated herein by reference. Pursuant to the Governance and Voting Agreement, immediately following the closing, the Board of Directors was reconstituted and the executive officers were replaced as described in Item 5.02 below, which is incorporated herein by reference. These transactions resulted in a change in control of the Company.

 

Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Reconstitution of the Board of Directors

 

All five directors serving on the board immediately prior to the closing delivered letters of resignation and release as to all positions held at the Company, including, in the case of Charles Roberts, his positions as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. These resignation and release letters are filed as Exhibits 10.7 through 10.11 hereto and are incorporated herein by reference. Immediately following the closing, the Board of Directors was expanded from five to seven members, the resignations of Weldon R. Humphries and William Jarell Jones became effective, and the Board appointed Edward Gellert and Robert C. Leiber to fill two of the vacancies in the class of 2017. Immediately thereafter, the resignations of John L. Davis and Charles R. Elliott became effective, and the Board appointed Bruce D. Frank and Robert L. Loverd, each qualifying as an independent director, to fill two vacancies in the class of 2016. Immediately thereafter, the resignation of Charles S. Roberts became effective, and the Board appointed Robert G. Koen and Kyle Permut, each qualifying as an independent director, to fill the two newly created vacancies in the class of 2015 and Edward Gellert was appointed as Chairman. Charles S. Roberts was immediately thereafter re-appointed as a director (but not as chairman) in the Class of 2016. As a result of the foregoing actions, the Company’s Board was reconstituted with seven members: two of whom are affiliated with A-III, four of whom qualify as independent directors in accordance with the standards of the NYSE MKT exchange, and Mr. Roberts, who will continue to serve as a director of the Company for one year after the closing.

 

·

The two directors affiliated with A-III are: Edward Gellert and Robert C. Lieber.

·

The four independent directors are Bruce D. Frank, Robert G. Koen, Robert L. Loverd, and Kyle A. Permut.

·

The seventh director post-closing is Charles S. Roberts.

Information regarding the experience and background of each of these directors is set forth in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The reconstituted Board of Directors has not yet determined which of the new directors will be appointed to serve on the Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee of the Board. The Company will announce these committee appointments in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after such determination is made.

 

New Management and Management Team

 

At the closing, pursuant to the requirements of the Stock Purchase Agreement, Anthony Shurtz resigned as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company and from all positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. Mr. Shurtz received a cash severance payment of $70,000. A copy of this resignation and release letter is filed as Exhibit 10.12 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Pursuant to the Management Agreement between the Company, the Operating Partnership and A-III Manager that was executed at the closing, A-III Manager has designated the following persons as officers of the Company and the Board has approved such appointments. Edward Gellert is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President; Robert Gellert is Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer; Gregory Simon is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; and Mark Chertok is Chief Financial Officer. In addition, in accordance with the requirements of the Employment Agreement between the Company and Charles S. Roberts, the Board has appointed Mr. Roberts as an Executive Vice President of the Company. Mr. Roberts is responsible for overseeing the sale of the four land parcels currently owned by the Company. At the closing, the Company entered into a new Employment Agreement with Mr. Roberts pursuant to which the Company will pay Mr. Roberts an annual salary of $250,000. A description of the material terms of the Employment Agreement with Mr. Roberts is set forth in Item 1.01 of this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Information regarding the experience and background of Messrs. Edward Gellert, Robert Gellert, Gregory Simon and Mr. Roberts is set forth in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

On the closing date, A-III Manager LLC and the Company entered into an agreement for certain advisory services with FTI Consulting, Inc. In connection with this agreement, A-III Manager designated Mark Chertok to serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. As discussed above, the Board has approved the appointment of Mr. Chertok as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Chertok’s services to the Company are billed by FTI Consulting. He is not separately compensated by the Company or the Manager for his services as Chief Financial Officer. Set forth below is information about Mr. Chertok’s experience and background.

 

Mark E. Chertok (age 58) - Chief Financial Officer

 

Mark Chertok is a senior managing director of FTI Consulting, Inc., in the Real Estate Solutions practice, where he had directed the Financial Outsourcing group since 2008. Mr. Chertok has over 35 years of experience in the real estate and real estate finance industry. From January 2007 through August 2008 Mr. Chertok was an independent financial consultant. Previously, Mr. Chertok was the executive vice president and chief financial officer at The El-Ad Group Ltd, a fully-integrated real estate company that acquires, redevelops, converts, develops, and owns primarily residential properties for sale or rent in urban, high-density markets in the United States and Canada. Prior to El-Ad, Mr. Chertok was chief financial officer of NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NYSE: NRF), a mortgage real estate investment trust and NorthStar Capital Investment Corp. At Northstar, Mr. Chertok was instrumental in taking NRF public in 2004. Prior to Northstar, Mr. Chertok was chief financial officer and a principal of Emmes and Company LLC, an opportunistic real estate investment company specializing in acquiring under-performing real estate and ‘hard money’ lending. Mr. Chertok has extensive experience working-out complex defaulted real estate loans. Previously, Mr. Chertok was with two public accounting firms, as a partner at Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP and as a principal at Laventhol & Horwath and was involved in all aspects of client service including accounting, tax and management advisory services, with a specialization in providing services to the real estate industry.

 

Mr. Chertok graduated from New York University and holds a B.S. in Accounting and is a certified public accountant.

 

Except as described in this Current Report on Form 8-K, there are no plans, contracts, arrangements or understandings with or between any of the new directors or officers and any other person pursuant to which each was appointed as a member of the Board or as an officer. The Company will announce any such plan, contract, arrangement or understanding in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after such plan, contract, arrangement or understanding is made or approved. There have been no transactions between any of the new directors or officers and the Company required to be disclosed by Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

 

Amendment to Articles of Incorporation to Eliminate Ownership Limit

 

As described in Item 8.01, on January 30, 2015, prior to the closing, the Company filed an amendment to its articles of incorporation with the Georgia Secretary of State to eliminate the ownership limits contained in the articles of incorporation.

 

Amendment to Articles of Incorporation to Change Company Name

 

On January 30, 2015, after the closing, the Company’s Board of Directors unanimously approved an amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation to change the Company’s name from Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. to ACRE Realty Investors Inc. A copy of the amendment is filed as Exhibit 3.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Amendment to Bylaws

 

On January 30, 2015, after the closing, the Company’s Board of Directors unanimously approved an amendment to the Company’s bylaws to give the Board of Directors the authority to fix the number of Directors at five or any greater number. A copy of the amendment is filed as Exhibit 3.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

At the closing, the Company used $1,764,058.21 of the proceeds of the investment by A-III to pay-off in full the promissory note relating to the Company’s mortgage debt encumbered by its Highway 20 property. As a result of this payment, the promissory note payable to, and all related agreements with, Touchmark National Bank, the Highway 20 lender, were terminated.

 

At the closing, the Company used $759,446.02 of the proceeds of the investment by A-III to pay off a portion of the outstanding principal balance under the Company’s mortgage indebtedness relating to the Company’s Bradley Park property.

 

Amendment to Articles of Incorporation to Eliminate Ownership Limit

 

On January 30, 2015, prior to the closing, the Company filed an amendment to its articles of incorporation with the Georgia Secretary of State to eliminate the ownership limits contained in the articles of incorporation. This amendment was required in order to permit A-III to purchase the shares of Company common stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement and to exercise its warrants. The amendment was approved by the Company’s shareholders at a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders on January 22, 2015. The foregoing description of the amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)  Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.	Exhibit
3.1	Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. to eliminate ownership limit, effective January 30, 2015.
3.2	Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. to change company name, effective January 30, 2015.
3.3	Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws of Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. to give the Board of Directors the authority to fix the number of Directors at five or any greater number, effective January 30, 2015.
10.1	Management Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015 by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. and A-III Manager LLC.
10.2	Governance and Voting Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015 by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., A-III Investment Partners LLC and Charles S. Roberts.
10.3	Employment Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015 by and between Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. and Charles S. Roberts.
10.4	Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015 by and between Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. and A-III Investment Partners LLC.
10.5	Tax Protection Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015 by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., Roberts Properties Residential, L.P., A-III Investment Partners LLC and A-III Manager LLC.
10.6	Warrant Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015 by and between Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. and A-III Investment Partners LLC.
10.7	Resignation and Release Letter of John Davis, dated January 30, 2015.
10.8	Resignation and Release Letter of Charles Elliott, dated January 30, 2015.
10.9	Resignation and Release Letter of Weldon Humphries, dated January 30, 2015.
10.10	Resignation and Release Letter of Wm. Jarrell Jones, dated January 30, 2015.
10.11	Resignation and Release Letter of Charles S. Roberts, dated January 30, 2015.
10.12	Resignation and Release Letter of Anthony Shurtz, dated January 30, 2015.
99.1	Press release issued by Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. on January 30, 2015.

 

Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this report to be filed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

	ACRE REALTY INVESTORS INC.
Dated:  February 2, 2015	By:	/s/ Edward Gellert
		Edward Gellert
		President and Chief Executive Officer

 

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

AMENDED AND RESTATED

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC.

 

 

1.            Name

 

The name of the Corporation is Roberts Realty Investors, Inc.

 

2.            Amendment

 

The amended and restated articles of incorporation of the Corporation are hereby amended by:

 

A.      deleting the following defined term in Section 5.1 thereof:

 

“Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day on which the Corporation determines pursuant to Section 5.10 of these Articles of Incorporation that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt, or to continue, to qualify as a REIT.

 

B.      replacing such defined term in Section 5.1 thereof with the following defined term:

 

“Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the closing date of that certain Stock Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership, and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated as of November 19, 2014, if and as amended.

 

3.            Date of Adoption of the Amendment

 

The foregoing amendment was adopted on January 22, 2015.

 

4.            Approval of the Amendment by the Corporation’s Shareholders

 

The foregoing amendment was duly approved by the Corporation’s shareholders in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-2-1003 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned executes these Articles of Amendment on this 30^th day January, 2015.

 

 

	/s/ Charles S. Roberts
	Charles S. Roberts,
	Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Brian P. Kemp Secretary of State

OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE CORPORATIONS DIVISION 237 Coliseum Drive Macon, Georgia 31217-3858 (404) 656-2817 sos.georgia.gov/corporations

 

Articles of Amendment

of Articles of Incorporation

 

 

Email Address:

 

 

Form CD 100

(Rev. 9/2014)

 

AMENDMENT TO

 

Amended and Restated

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC.

 

 

1.                  Amendment

 

The amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”) of Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. (the “Corporation”) are hereby amended by:

 

A.      deleting the following Section 2 of Article II thereof:

 

Section 2.                 Number and Term of Directors. The number and terms of Directors shall be as prescribed by the Articles of Incorporation.

 

B.      and replacing such Section 2 of Article II thereof with the following Section 2 of Article II:

 

 

Section 2.                 Number and Term of Directors. The number and terms of Directors shall be as fixed by the Articles of Incorporation, provided that the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the number of Directors at five (5) or any greater number.

 

2.                  Date of Approval and Adoption of the Amendment by the Board of Directors

 

The foregoing amendment to the Bylaws was duly approved and adopted by the Board of Directors on January 30, 2015.

 

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

by and among

Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., Roberts Properties Residential, L.P.

and

A-III Manager LLC

Dated as of January 30, 2015

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of January 30, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), Roberts Properties Residential, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”) and A-III Manager LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, through the Operating Partnership and its other direct and indirect subsidiaries, the Company invests and intends to continue to invest in Target Assets (as defined below), and the Company intends to operate its business in a manner that will allow the Company to qualify as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) beginning in 2016, or such other year in which the Company first becomes eligible to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Code; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Operating Partnership, for themselves and on behalf of any current or future subsidiaries, desire to retain the Manager to manage and administer their business activities and day-to-day operations and to perform services for them in the manner and on the terms set forth herein, and the Manager wishes to be retained to provide such services.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions.

(a)           The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1(a):

“Acquisition Fee” means an acquisition fee, calculated and payable in cash within five Business Days after the closing of any Property or other investment acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, in an amount equal to 1% of the gross purchase price paid for each such Property or other investment, including the total equity invested by the Company or any Subsidiary, and any debt assumed or incurred to fund all or a portion of the gross purchase price paid for such Property or other investment; provided, however, that the Acquisition Fee shall not be applicable to (i) short-term temporary investments in money market funds, bank accounts and other money market instruments pending deployment of such capital in the Company’s operations or in other investments, (ii) investments in marketable securities purchased in an active secondary trading market and (iii) for any investment made through a joint venture with one or more partners that are not Affiliates of the Company, the pro rata portion of the gross purchase price for such investment attributable to any such joint venture partner’s equity investment based on the partner’s percentage equity interest in the joint venture; provided, however, that the Manager shall be entitled to be paid an acquisition fee and/or other economic benefit from such joint venture partner in respect of the partner’s pro rata share of the investment pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement between the Manager and the joint venture partner.  That arrangement shall be outside the scope of the joint venture agreement between the Company and the joint venture partner.  By way of example only, with respect to payments of an Acquisition Fee by the Company to the Manager, if the Company makes an investment through a joint venture with a partner where the Company and the joint venture partner each invests 50% of the equity in such investment, then the Manager will be entitled to receive a fee from the Company equal to 1% of one-half of the gross purchase price for such investment.

“Administration Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d) hereof.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such Person, (ii) any executive officer, general partner or managing member of such Person, (iii) any member of the board of directors or board of managers (or bodies performing similar functions) of such Person, and (iv) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, general partner or managing member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the Manager or its Affiliates for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Agreement” means this Management Agreement, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Automatic Renewal Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a) hereof.

“Bankruptcy” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the filing by such Person of a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment, in any form, of its debts under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other U.S. federal or state or foreign insolvency law, or such Person’s filing an answer consenting to or acquiescing in any such petition, (b) the making by such Person of any assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (c) the expiration of 90 days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the Unites States Code, an application for the appointment of a receiver for a material portion of the assets of such Person, or an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of its debts under any other U.S. federal or state or foreign insolvency law, provided that the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such 90-day period or (d) the entry against such Person of a final and non-appealable order for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereinafter in effect.

“Base Management Fee” means the base management fee, calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, in an amount in cash equal to the product of: (i) the Equity of the Company as of the end of such fiscal quarter, and (ii) one-fourth of 1.50%. The Base Management Fee shall be pro rated for partial quarterly periods based on the number of days in such partial period compared to a 90 day quarter.

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are not required to be open.

“Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(c) hereof.

“Code” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company.

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals. When used in this Agreement with reference to the Company’s business, assets, Properties, investment activities and operations, the Company shall be deemed to mean the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a consolidated group, unless the context requires otherwise.

“Company Indemnified Party” has meaning set forth in Section 9(b) hereof.

“Conduct Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(l) hereof.

“Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 6 hereof.

“Disposition Fee” means a disposition fee, calculated and payable in cash within five Business Days after the closing of any sale or other disposition by the Company or any Subsidiary of any Property or other investment after the date hereof, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 50% of a market brokerage commission for such disposition and (ii) 1% of the sale price with respect to such disposition; provided, however, that no Disposition Fee shall be payable with respect to (a) the disposition of any Legacy Property, (b) any disposition of a Property investment to an Affiliate of the Manager or (c) any disposition of an investment (or a portion of an investment) with respect to which the Manager was not entitled to receive an Acquisition Fee from the Company when such investment was acquired.

“Effective Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.

 

“Equity” means (a) the sum of (1) the net proceeds from all issuances of the Company’s Common Stock and OP Units (without double counting) and other equity securities from the date hereof, which shall include the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement on the date hereof (allocated on a pro rata basis for such issuances during the fiscal quarter of any such issuance) and any issuances of Common Stock or OP Units in exchange for Property investments and other investments, plus (2) the product of (x) the sum of the (i) the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date hereof and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock for which the number of OP Units issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date hereof (excluding any OP Units held by the Company) may be redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement and (y) the Purchase Price Per Share (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) paid by the Purchaser for the shares of Common Stock issued by the Company to the Purchaser under the Stock Purchase Agreement, as such Purchase Price Per Share may be adjusted pursuant to the terms thereof, plus (3) the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s (without double counting) retained earnings calculated in accordance with GAAP at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter (without taking into account any non-cash equity compensation expense incurred in current or prior periods), less (b) any amount in cash that the Company or the Operating Partnership has paid to repurchase Common Stock, OP Units or other equity securities of the Company as of the date hereof. Equity excludes (1) any unrealized gains, losses or non-cash equity compensation expenses that have impacted stockholders’ equity as reported in the Company’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income, (2) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP, and certain non-cash items not otherwise described above in each case, after discussions between the Manager and the Company’s Independent Directors and approval by a majority of the Independent Directors and (3) the Company’s accumulated deficit as of the date hereof.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States on the date such principles are applied.

“Good Reason” means (a) a material breach or default by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or (b) any material amendment, modification or supplement to the Investment Guidelines by the Board, or any material modification or revocation by the Board of the Manager’s authority set forth in the Investment Guidelines, that is not approved, or is rejected, by the Manager.

“Governing Instruments” means, with regard to any entity, the articles of incorporation or certificate of incorporation and bylaws in the case of a corporation, the partnership agreement in the case of a general or limited partnership, the certificate of formation and operating agreement in the case of a limited liability company, the trust instrument or declaration of trust in the case of a trust, or similar governing documents in each case as amended.

“Incentive Fee” means an incentive fee, calculated and payable after each fiscal quarter, in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the product of (A) 20% and (B) the excess of (1) the Company’s Adjusted Net Income (described below) for such fiscal quarter and the immediately preceding three fiscal quarters over (2) the Hurdle Amount (described below) for such four fiscal quarters, less (ii) the sum of the Incentive Fees already paid or payable for each of the three fiscal quarters preceding such fiscal quarter. Any adjustment to the Incentive Fee calculation proposed by the Manager shall be subject to the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors.

For purposes of calculating the Incentive Fee, “Adjusted Net Income” for the preceding four fiscal quarters means the net income calculated in accordance with GAAP after all base management fees but before any acquisition expenses, expensed costs related to equity issuances, incentive fees, depreciation and amortization and any non-cash equity compensation expenses for such period. Adjusted Net Income will be adjusted to exclude one-time events pursuant to changes in U.S. GAAP, as well as other non-cash charges after discussion between the Manager and the Independent Directors and approval by a majority of the Independent Directors in the case of non-cash charges. For the avoidance of doubt, Adjusted Net Income includes net realized gains and losses, including realized gains and losses resulting from dispositions of Properties and other investments during the applicable measurement period.

For purposes of calculating the Incentive Fee, the “Hurdle Amount” is, with respect to any four fiscal quarter period, the product of (i) 7% and (ii) the weighted average gross proceeds per share of Common Stock or OP Unit of all of the Common Stock and OP Unit issuances (excluding issuances of Common Stock and OP Units, or equivalents thereof, as equity incentive awards), with each such issuance weighted by both the number of shares of Common Stock and OP Units issued in such issuance and the number of days that such issued shares of Common Stock and OP Units were outstanding during such four fiscal quarter period.

 

The first Incentive Fee calculation will not occur until after completion of four fiscal quarters (including the fiscal quarter in which the date of this Agreement falls) following the date hereof. The Incentive Fee shall be pro rated for partial quarterly periods based on the number of days in such partial period compared to a 90 day quarter.

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(b) hereof.

“Independent Director” means a member of the Board who is “independent” in accordance with the rules of the NYSE MKT or such other securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed.

“Initial Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a) hereof.

“Intellectual Property” means all work product, documents, code, works of authorship, programs, manuals, developments, processes, formulae, data, specifications, fixtures, tooling, equipment, supplies, processes, inventions, discoveries, improvements, trade secrets and know-how or similar rights.

“Intellectual Property Rights” means the worldwide right, title, and interest in any Intellectual Property and any goodwill appurtenant thereto, including, without limitation, all copyrights, copyright renewals or reversions, trademarks, trade names, trade dress rights, inventions, priority rights, patent rights, patents, and any other rights or protections in connection therewith or related thereto.

“Investment Advisors Act” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

“Investment Guidelines” means the investment guidelines approved by the Board, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, as the same may amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived pursuant to the approval of a majority of the entire Board (which must include a majority of the Independent Directors) and the Manager Investment Committee.

“Legacy Property” means the real properties that are owned by the Company on the date of this Agreement as described on Exhibit A.

“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a) hereof.

“Manager” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“Manager Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a) hereof.

“Manager Investment Committee” means the investment committee formed by the Manager, the members of which shall consist of employees of the Manager and its Affiliates and may change from time to time.

“Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 6 hereof.

“Notice of Proposal to Negotiate” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(c) hereof.

“NYSE MKT” means The NYSE MKT stock exchange.

“Operating Partnership” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, estate, trust, joint venture, any federal, state, county or municipal government or any bureau, department or agency thereof or any other legal entity and any fiduciary acting in such capacity on behalf of the foregoing.

 

“Property” or “Properties” means any real property which is owned or leased, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

“Property Management Fee” means a property management fee for services rendered in connection with the rental, leasing, operation and management of the Company’s real estate assets and the supervision of any non-Affiliates that are engaged by the Manager to provide such services, equal to 4% of the gross rental receipts received each month at the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ Properties.

“Regulation FD” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the SEC.

“REIT” means a “real estate investment trust” as defined under the Code.

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Sponsor” means A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

“Stock Purchase Agreement” means that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and A-III Investment Partners LLC.

“Subsidiary” means (i) the Operating Partnership, (ii) any subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any partnership the general partner of which is the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, and (iv) any limited liability company the managing member of which is the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.

“Target Assets” means the types of assets identified as Target Assets within the parameters set forth in the Investment Guidelines.

“Termination Fee” means four (4) times the sum of (i) the average annual Base Management Fee, (ii) the average annual Incentive Fee, and (iii) the average annual Acquisition Fees and Disposition Fees, in each case earned by the Manager in the most recently completed eight calendar quarters prior to the Effective Termination Date.

“Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.

“Termination Without Cause” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.

As used herein, accounting terms relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, not defined herein and accounting terms partly defined herein, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP. As used herein, “calendar quarters” shall mean the period from January 1 to March 31, April 1 to June 30, July 1 to September 30 and October 1 to December 31 of the applicable year.

The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”

Section 2. Appointment and Duties of the Manager.

(a)           The Company hereby appoints the Manager to manage the investment activities, Properties and day-to-day operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, subject at all times to the further terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Manager hereby agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to perform each of the duties set forth herein, provided that funds are made available by the Company for such purposes as set forth in Section 8 hereof. The appointment of the Manager shall be exclusive to the Manager, except to the extent that the Manager elects, in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to the terms of this Agreement, or is required hereby to cause the duties of the Manager as set forth herein to be provided by third parties.

 

(b)           The Manager, in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, at all times will be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board and will have only such functions and authority as the Board may delegate to it, including, without limitation, managing the Company’s business affairs and investment activities in conformity with the Investment Guidelines and other policies that are approved and monitored by the Board. The parties acknowledge that the Board has adopted the Investment Guidelines. The parties acknowledge that, during the term of this Agreement, any changes to the investment strategy proposed by the Manager that would require a change in the Investment Guidelines will be subject to approval by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors. The Company shall notify the Manager promptly of any amended, restated, supplemented or waived Investment Guidelines, including any modification or revocation of the Manager’s authority set forth in the Investment Guidelines; provided, however, that such modification or revocation shall not be applicable to investment transactions recommended by the Manager in respect of which the Company, or the Manager acting on its behalf, has, directly or indirectly, made a binding commitment or obligation prior to the date of receipt by the Manager of such notification. Further, if the Company, directly or indirectly, proposes to enter into any transaction in which the Manager, any Affiliate of the Manager or any of the Manager’s directors or officers has a direct or indirect interest, then such transaction shall be approved by a majority of the Board not otherwise interested in such transaction, including a majority of the Independent Directors.

(c)           The Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day business activities, investment activities and operations of the Company and will perform (or cause to be performed) such services and activities relating to the investments and operations of the Company as may be appropriate, which may include, without limitation:

(i)             serving as the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ advisor with respect to the periodic review (no less often than annually) of the Investment Guidelines and other parameters for the acquisition and disposition of Properties, financing activities and operations, any modifications to which shall be approved by a majority of the Independent Directors, and other policies for approval by the Board;

(ii)            advising the Board on strategic matters, including potential acquisitions, dispositions and financings;

(iii)           advising and acting on the Company’s behalf with respect to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ borrowing, issuances of securities and other capital raising requirements, including assistance in dealings with banks and other lenders, investment dealers and investors;

(iv)          administering the day-to-day operations and performing and supervising the performance of such other administrative functions necessary to the Company’s and each Subsidiary’s management in accordance with the Investment Guidelines, including, without limitation, entering into on behalf of the Company leases, service contracts, property management, leasing and development agreements and other third party agreements as may be necessary or advisable in connection with the operation of the Company’s business and properties, the collection of revenues and payment of the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ debts and obligations, maintenance of appropriate computer services to perform its administrative functions, and maintaining and administering separate bank accounts and books of account on behalf of the Company and the Subsidiaries as may be directed by the Board and in compliance in all material respects with applicable securities laws and regulations;

(v)           upon request by the Board (but not more frequently than quarterly), furnishing reports and statistical and economic research to the Company regarding the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ activities and services performed for the Company and any Subsidiaries by the Manager;

(vi)          assisting the Company in qualifying to do business in all applicable jurisdictions and to obtain and maintain all appropriate licenses;

(vii)         identifying, investigating, evaluating, selecting, conducting due diligence with respect to, and negotiating, structuring and closing, on the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ behalf, of acquisitions, dispositions, financings and other transactions consistent with the Investment Guidelines;

(viii)        with respect to prospective purchases, sales or exchanges of Properties, conducting negotiations on the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ behalf with sellers, purchasers and brokers, financing sources and, if applicable, their respective agents and representatives and closing such transactions on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(ix)          negotiating and causing the Company to enter into, subject to the Investment Guidelines, agreements relating to Company borrowings and other agreements and instruments required to conduct the business of the Company;

(x)           investigating, selecting, engaging and supervising, at the expense of the Company, independent contractors that provide advice to the Company including investment bankers, brokers, underwriters, legal and accounting services and all other services (including transfer agent and registrar services) as may be required relating to the Company’s operations and investments;

(xi)          coordinating and managing operations of any joint venture or co-investment interests of the Company and conducting all matters with the joint venture or co-investment partners;

(xii)         providing executive and administrative personnel, office space and office services required in rendering services to the Company;

(xiii)        providing portfolio management services to the Company;

(xiv)        arranging marketing materials, advertising, industry group activities and other promotional efforts designed to promote the Company and its business;

(xv)         causing the Company to retain qualified accountants to assist in developing appropriate accounting procedures and systems, internal controls and other compliance procedures and testing systems to enable the Company to comply in all material respects with its financial reporting obligations and applicable securities laws and regulations;

(xvi)        developing and implementing business plans and annual budgets and monitoring the Company’s financial performance;

(xvii)       advising with respect to investor relations strategies and activities, including performing investor relations services and shareholder communications for the Company;

(xviii)      advising with respect to regulatory compliance requirements, risk management policies and any litigation matters;

(xix)        supervising property managers and providing guidance to them with regards to operating expenses, lease negotiation terms and capital expenditures;

(xx)         making recommendations with respect to the payment of distributions, including dividends;

(xxi)        evaluating and recommending to the Board hedging strategies and engaging in hedging activities on the Company’s behalf, consistent with the Company’s intention to qualify as a REIT beginning in 2016, or such other year in which the Company first becomes eligible to qualify as a REIT under the Code, and with maintaining the Company’s REIT requirements thereafter and consistent with the Investment Guidelines;

(xxii)       supervising the Company’s efforts to qualify as a REIT beginning in 2016, or such other year in which the Company first becomes eligible to qualify as a REIT under the Code, and, thereafter, the Company’s compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code and the Company’s qualification and maintenance as a REIT, including soliciting required information from shareholders and complying with the applicable provisions of Company’s Governing Instruments; assisting the Company in taking all necessary action to enable the Company to make required tax filings and reports, including soliciting information from shareholders to the extent required by the Code applicable to REITs;

 

(xxiii)      assisting the Company with its public financial reporting and disclosure-related responsibilities, including preparing or causing to be prepared all financial statements and other reports and documentation required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the NYSE MKT Company Guide (or such rules and guidelines applicable to any securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed) and other applicable laws;

(xxiv)      counseling the Company and the Operating Partnership regarding the maintenance of their exemptions from the status of an investment company required to register under the Investment Company Act, and monitoring compliance with the requirements for maintaining such exemptions and causing them to maintain such exemptions from such status;

(xxv)       reporting directly to the audit committee of the Board with respect to all financial matters;

(xxvi)      supervising the Company’s disclosure policy and reviewing all news releases and other public announcements;

(xxvii)     assisting the Company on all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to accounting, budget management, cost benefit analysis, risk management and forecasting needs;

(xxviii)    providing guidance on the development of a financial and operational strategy, and the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems designed to preserve the Company’s Properties and reporting of accurate financial results;

(xxix)      providing the Company with all necessary cash management services;

(xxx)       handling and resolving all claims, disputes or controversies (including all litigation, arbitration, settlement or other proceedings or negotiations) in which the Company or the Subsidiaries may become subject arising out of the Company’s or the Subsidiaries’ day-to-day operations (other than with the Manager), subject to such limitations as may be imposed by the Board;

(xxxi)      using commercially reasonable efforts to cause expenses incurred by the Company or the Subsidiaries (or on their behalf) to be commercially reasonable or commercially customary and within any budgeted parameters or guidelines established by the Board from time to time;

(xxxii)     using commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to comply with all applicable laws;

(xxxiii)    maintaining the Company’s website;

(xxxiv)   investigating, selecting and, on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership, engaging and conducting business with and supervising the performance of, such Persons as the Manager deems necessary for the proper performance of its obligations hereunder, including consultants, accountants, correspondents, lenders, technical advisors, attorneys, brokers, underwriters, corporate fiduciaries, escrow agents, depositaries, custodians, agents for collection, insurers, insurance agents, banks, builders, developers, contractors, property owners, real estate management companies, real estate operating companies, securities investment advisors, mortgagors, mortgagees, the registrar and the transfer agent and any and all agents for any of the foregoing, including Affiliates of the Manager, and Persons acting in any other capacity deemed by the Manager necessary or desirable for the performance of any of the foregoing services, including, entering into contracts in the name of the Company and the Operating Partnership with any of the foregoing; and

(xxxv)    any additional services as may from time-to-time be agreed to in writing by Manager and the Company for which the Manager will be compensated on terms to be agreed upon between the Manager and the Independent Directors of the Company prior to the provision of such services.

(d)           The Manager will maintain an administration agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and between the Manager and the Sponsor (the “Administration Agreement”) pursuant to which the Sponsor will provide the Manager with the personnel, services and resources as needed by the Manager to enable the Manager to carry out its obligations and responsibilities under this Agreement, subject to Section 8(a)(xx) of this Agreement. The Company and the Operating Partnership shall be named third party beneficiaries of the Administration Agreement. If the Administration Agreement is terminated or materially amended, the Manager shall promptly notify the Board of such termination or provide a copy of such amendment.

 

(e)           Subject to oversight by the Board, the Manager may retain, for and on behalf, and at the sole cost and expense, of the Company, such services of the persons and firms referred to in Section 8(c) hereof as the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company and its Properties and other investments. In performing its duties under this Section 2, the Manager shall be entitled to rely reasonably on qualified experts and professionals (including, without limitation, accountants, legal counsel and other professional service providers) hired by the Manager at the Company’s sole cost and expense. In lieu of retaining non-Affiliate third service providers as described in the preceding sentence, the Manager shall have the right to retain, on behalf of and at the cost and expense of the Company, Affiliates of the Manager, or to direct officers or employees of the Manager or its Affiliates, to provide any services that the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company and its Properties and other investments, provided that the amounts paid by the Company for such services do not exceed the fees and expenses that a commercially reasonable third party service provider would have charged for such services and that any agreement between or among the Company and the Manager, on the one hand, and any Affiliate of the Manager, on the other hand, must be entered into on an arm’s-length basis with customary and market standard terms. If the Manager proposes to retain any Affiliate of the Manager, or to direct officers or employees of the Manager or its Affiliates, to provide any services that the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company and its Properties and other investments pursuant to the preceding sentence, then such arrangement shall be subject to the prior approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. Further, on a quarterly basis, the Manager shall provide the Board a summary of any such arrangements with the Manager’s Affiliates describing the terms of the relationship and any fees paid to such Affiliate.

(f)            For the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries hereby constitutes, appoints and authorizes the Manager as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, in its name, place and stead, to negotiate, execute, deliver and enter into such real estate purchase and sale agreements, joint venture agreements, property management agreements, leasing and development agreements, title insurance agreements, leases, finance agreements and arrangements, brokerage agreements, interest rate swap agreements, “to be announced” forward contracts, agreements relating to borrowings under programs established by the U.S. Government and/or any agencies thereunder and such other agreements, instruments and authorizations on their behalf, on such terms and conditions as the Manager, acting in its reasonable discretion (but subject to the terms of this Agreement), deems necessary or appropriate pursuant to the authority otherwise granted to the Manager under this Agreement. This power of attorney is deemed to be coupled with an interest. If any transaction requires approval by the Independent Directors, the Manager will deliver to the Independent Directors all documents and other information reasonably required by them to evaluate properly the proposed transaction.

(g)           The Manager shall refrain from any action that, in its reasonable judgment made in good faith, (i) is not in compliance with the Investment Guidelines, (ii) would adversely and materially affect the qualification of the Company as a REIT under the Code or the Company’s status as an entity excluded from investment company status under the Investment Company Act, or (iii) would violate any law, rule or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or of the NYSE MKT or such other securities exchange on which the securities of the Company may be listed or that would otherwise not be permitted by the applicable Governing Instruments. If the Manager is ordered to take any action by the Board, the Manager shall promptly notify the Board if it is the Manager’s judgment that such action would adversely and materially affect such status or violate any such law, rule or regulation or Governing Instruments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Manager nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable to the Company, the Board, or the Company’s stockholders for any act or omission by the Manager or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement.

(h)           The Company (including the Board) agrees to take all actions reasonably required to permit and enable the Manager to carry out its duties and obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, all steps reasonably necessary to allow the Manager to file any registration statement or other filing required to be made under the Securities Act, Exchange Act, the NYSE MKT Company Guide (or such equivalent guidelines applicable to any other securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed), Code or other applicable law, rule or regulation on behalf of the Company in a timely manner. The Company further agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the Manager all resources, information and materials reasonably requested by the Manager to enable the Manager to satisfy its obligations hereunder, including its obligations to deliver financial statements and any other information or reports with respect to the Company.

 

(i)             The Manager shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, all reports, financial or otherwise, with respect to the Company reasonably required by the Board in order for the Company to comply with its Governing Instruments, or any other materials required to be filed with any governmental body or agency, and shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, all materials and data necessary to complete such reports and other materials, including, without limitation, an annual audit of the Company’s books of account by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm.

(j)             The Manager shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, reports for the Board relating to any proposed or consummated investment in accordance with the Investment Guidelines.

(k)           Officers, employees and agents of the Manager and its Affiliates may serve as directors, officers, agents, nominees or signatories for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to the extent permitted by their Governing Instruments, by any resolutions duly adopted by the Board. When executing documents or otherwise acting in such capacities for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, such Persons shall indicate in what capacity they are executing on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing and subject to the provisions of Section 3(a), Section 8(a)(xx) and Section 8(b) hereof, while this Agreement is in effect, the Manager will provide the Company with a management team, including a Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and other appropriate officers of the Company to be approved and appointed by the Board, along with appropriate support personnel, to provide the services to be provided by the Manager to the Company hereunder, who shall devote such of their time to the management of the Company as necessary and appropriate, commensurate with the level of activity of the Company from time to time.

(l)             The Manager shall provide personnel for service on the Manager Investment Committee.

(m)          The Manager shall obtain, for the benefit of Company and its officers and directors, at the Company’s expense pursuant to Section 8 hereof, customary directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, commercial general liability insurance, property and casualty liability insurance, and such other insurance coverages as are customary and appropriate for the Company and its assets, and the Manager and its personnel shall be named as additional named insureds under such policies to the extent feasible and appropriate in the Manager’s reasonable discretion; provided, that the Manager will obtain its own employer liability insurance or will be added as an additional insured under the employer liability insurance of one of its Affiliates.

(n)           The Manager, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, shall provide such internal audit, compliance and control services as may be required for the Company to comply with applicable law (including the Securities Act and Exchange Act), regulation (including SEC regulations) and the rules and requirements of the NYSE MKT or such other securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed and as otherwise reasonably requested by the Company or its Board from time to time.

(o)           The Manager acknowledges receipt of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Policy on Insider Trading (collectively, the “Conduct Policies”) and agrees to require the persons who provide services to the Company to comply with such Conduct Policies in the performance of such services hereunder or such comparable policies as shall in substance hold such persons to at least the standards of conduct set forth in the Conduct Policies.

(p)           The Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to comply with its covenants and obligations under the Transaction Agreements, as such term is defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Section 3. Additional Activities of the Manager; Non-Solicitation; Restrictions; Other Agreements.

(a)           Devotion of Time.  The Manager, through the Sponsor and its Affiliates, will provide a management team (including a chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, secretary and such officers as the Manager deems appropriate, subject to approval and appointment of such officers by the Board) along with appropriate support personnel, to deliver the management services to the Company hereunder. The members of such management team shall devote such of their working time and efforts to the management of the Company as the Manager deems reasonably necessary and appropriate for the proper performance of all of the Manager’s duties hereunder, commensurate with the level of activity of the Company from time to time; provided, however, that the Manager shall have the right, but not the obligation, to provide a dedicated or partially dedicated chief financial officer, chief operating officer, controller, investor relations professional, or internal legal counsel. To the extent the Manager elects to provide the Company with any dedicated or partially dedicated chief financial officer, chief operating officer, controller, investor relations professional or internal legal counsel, each of whom will be an employee of the Manager or one of its Affiliates, such personnel are referred to herein as “Dedicated Employees.” The Company shall have the benefit of the Manager’s reasonable judgment and effort in rendering services and, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Manager shall not undertake activities which, in its reasonable judgment, will materially adversely affect the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)           Other Activities. Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 3(b), or the Investment Guidelines, nothing in this Agreement shall (i) prevent the Sponsor, the Manager or any of their Affiliates, members, officers, directors or employees, from engaging in other businesses or from rendering services of any kind to any other Person or entity, whether or not the investment objectives or policies of any such other Person or entity are similar to, or directly competitive with, those of the Company, (ii) in any way bind or restrict the Manager, the Sponsor or any of their Affiliates, members, officers, directors or employees from buying, selling or owning any real estate or real estate-related investments (equity or debt) or securities for their own accounts or for the account of others for whom the Manager, the Sponsor or any of their Affiliates, members, officers, directors or employees may be acting, or (iii) in any way prevent the Manager, the Sponsor or any of their Affiliates, members, officers, directors or employees from managing any other investment funds, accounts or other investment vehicles or complying with their obligations in connection therewith. While information and recommendations supplied to the Company shall, in the Manager’s reasonable and good faith judgment, be appropriate under the circumstances and in light of the investment objectives and policies of the Company, they may be different from the information and recommendations supplied by the Manager, the Sponsor or any Affiliate, member officer, director or employee of the Manager or the Sponsor to others. The Company shall have the benefit of the Manager’s judgment and commercially reasonable effort in rendering services hereunder and, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Manager shall not undertake activities that, in its sole judgment made in good faith, will adversely affect the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

(c)           In the event of a Termination Without Cause of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof or a Termination for Good Reason of this Agreement by the Manager pursuant to Section 13(b) hereof, for two (2) years after such termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the consent of the Manager, employ or otherwise retain any employee of the Manager or any of its Affiliates or any person who was employed by the Manager or any of its Affiliates on the date of termination. The Company acknowledges and agrees that, in addition to any damages, the Manager shall be entitled to equitable relief for any violation of this Section 3(c) by the Company, including injunctive relief.

(d)           The Manager shall use such names, trademarks and logos as may be adopted and designated by the Manager with respect to and in conjunction with the operation and management of the Company and other Properties managed by the Manager; provided, however, such names, trademarks and logos shall remain the exclusive property of the Manager. In the event this Agreement is terminated for any reason, or expires, all rights of the Company to use such names and such trademarks and logos shall be immediately terminated.

(e)           All Intellectual Property created or developed in connection with the Manager’s performance of this Agreement or otherwise and the Intellectual Property Rights associated therewith shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Manager. For the term of this Agreement, the Manager does hereby grant the Company a non-exclusive, worldwide, fully paid up, royalty free, non-sub-licensable, non-transferable license and right to use the Intellectual Property made or used in connection with the Manager’s performance of this Agreement for its business purposes. The Company will, upon request of the Manager, do execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be done, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further acts, deeds, assignments, transfers, conveyances, powers of attorney and assurances as may be requested by the Manager to carry out the intent of this Agreement or to otherwise perfect, record, confirm, or enforce the Manager’s rights in and to the Intellectual Property.

(f)            The Company, for itself and its Subsidiaries, shall take, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Board to take, all Necessary Actions reasonably required to enable the Manager to carry out its duties and obligations under, and as permitted by, this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Necessary Actions” shall mean, with respect to a specified result, all actions that are permitted by applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules as shall be necessary to cause such result. Such actions shall include, but not be limited to, adoption by the Board or committees of the Board of resolutions or other similar action by the Board or committees of the Board that are required to achieve such result.

 

Section 4. Agency.

The Manager shall act as agent of the Company and the Subsidiaries in making, acquiring, financing and disposing of investments of the Company, disbursing and collecting the funds of the Company and the Subsidiaries, paying the debts and fulfilling the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, supervising the performance of professionals engaged by or on behalf of the Company and the Subsidiaries and handling, prosecuting and settling any claims of or against the Company and the Subsidiaries, the Board, holders of the Company’s securities or representatives or assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

Section 5. Bank Accounts.

At the direction of the Board, the Manager may establish and maintain one or more bank accounts in the name of the Company or any Subsidiary, and may collect and deposit into any such account or accounts, and disburse funds from any such account or accounts, under such terms and conditions as the Board may approve; and the Manager shall from time to time render appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Board and, upon request, to the auditors of the Company or any Subsidiary.

Section 6. Records; Confidentiality.

The Manager shall maintain appropriate books of accounts and records relating to services performed hereunder, and such books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection by representatives of the Company (including the Board) or any Subsidiary at any time during normal business hours. The Manager shall keep confidential any and all non-public information, written or oral, obtained by it in connection with the services rendered hereunder (“Confidential Information”) and shall not disclose Confidential Information, in whole or in part, to any Person other than (i) to its Affiliates, members, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, legal counsel, accountants, or advisors who need to know such Confidential Information for the purpose of rendering services hereunder, (ii) to appraisers, financing sources and others in the ordinary course of the Company’s business ((i) and (ii) collectively, “Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties”), (iii) in connection with any governmental or regulatory filings of the Company or disclosure or presentations to Company investors (subject to compliance with Regulation FD), (iv) to governmental officials having jurisdiction over the Company, (v) as required by law or legal process, or (vi) with the consent of the Company upon approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. The Manager agrees to inform each of its Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties of the non-public nature of the Confidential Information and to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain agreement from such Persons to treat such Confidential Information in accordance with the terms hereof. Nothing herein shall prevent the Manager from disclosing Confidential Information (i) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (ii) upon the request or demand of, or pursuant to any law or regulation to, any regulatory agency or authority, (iii) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, or (iv) to its legal counsel or independent auditors; provided, however that with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), it is agreed that, so long as not legally prohibited, the Manager will provide the Company with prompt written notice of such order, request or demand so that the Company may seek, at its sole expense, an appropriate protective order and/or waive the Manager’s compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. If, failing the entry of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, the Manager is required to disclose Confidential Information, the Manager may disclose only that portion of such information that is legally required without liability hereunder; provided, that the Manager agrees to exercise its reasonable best efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the following shall be deemed to be excluded from the provisions hereof: any Confidential Information that (A) is available to the public from a source other than the Manager, (B) is released in writing by the Company to the public, (C) is obtained by the Manager from a third-party which, to the best of the Manager’s knowledge, does not constitute a breach by such third-party of an obligation of confidence with respect to the Confidential Information disclosed or (D) is disclosed in the ordinary course of business, which the Manager, acting prudently, deems in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with carrying out its duties and obligations under this Agreement, subject to compliance with the Company’s Regulation FD disclosure obligations. The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement for a period of two years.

 

Section 7. Compensation.

(a)           For the services rendered under this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Base Management Fee, Acquisition Fees, Disposition Fees, the Incentive Fee, and the Property Management Fee to the Manager. The Manager will not receive any compensation for the period prior to the date hereof.

(b)           The Base Management Fee shall be payable in arrears in cash, in quarterly installments commencing with the quarter in which this Agreement is executed. If applicable, the initial and final installments of the Base Management Fee shall be calculated and pro-rated based on the number of days during the initial and final quarter, respectively, that this Agreement is in effect. The Manager shall calculate each quarterly installment of the Base Management Fee, and deliver such calculation to the Company, together with reasonable supporting materials, within 30 days following the last day of each calendar quarter. The Company shall pay the Manager each installment of the Base Management Fee within five Business Days after the date of delivery to the Company of such calculations.

(c)           The Property Management Fee shall be payable in arrears in cash, in monthly installments commencing with the month in which this Agreement is executed. The Manager shall calculate each monthly installment of the Property Management Fee, and deliver such calculation to the Company promptly at the end of the month. The Company shall pay the Manager each installment of the Property Management Fee within five Business Days after the date of delivery to the Company of such calculations. The Manager may subcontract the performance of its property management and leasing services duties to third parties (including Affiliates) and pay all (or a portion) of the Property Management Fee to such persons with whom it contracts for these services. The Manager will be responsible for all fees payable to third parties (including Affiliates) in connection with subcontracted property management and leasing responsibilities.

(d)           The Acquisition Fees and Disposition Fees shall be payable in arrears in cash with respect to all acquisitions and dispositions of Property or other investments occurring after the date of this Agreement. The Manager shall calculate each Acquisition Fee and Disposition Fee, and deliver such calculation to the Company, within 10 days following each closing of an acquisition or disposition, as the case may be. The Company shall pay the Manager each Acquisition Fee and Disposition Fee within five Business Days after the date of delivery to the Company of such calculations.

(e)           The Incentive Fee will be calculated and payable in arrears in cash on a quarterly basis. The Manager shall calculate each quarterly Incentive Fee, and deliver such calculation to the Company, within 30 days following the last day of each calendar quarter; provided, that the first Incentive Fee calculation will not occur until after completion of four fiscal quarters (including the fiscal quarter in which the date of this Agreement falls) following the date hereof. The Incentive Fee shall be pro rated for partial quarterly periods based on the number of days in such partial period compared to a 90 day quarter. The Company shall pay the Manager each installment of the Incentive Fee within five Business Days after the date of delivery to the Company of such calculation.

Section 8. Expenses of the Company.

(a)           The Company shall bear all of its operating expenses, except those specifically required to be borne by the Manager under this Agreement. The Company shall pay directly all such expenses or, if and to the extent paid by the Manager or any of its Affiliates, shall reimburse the Manager or such Affiliate in accordance with this Section 8. The expenses required to be borne by the Company include, but are not limited to:

(i)             issuance and transaction costs incident to the acquisition, disposition and financing of Properties and other investments;

(ii)            legal, regulatory, compliance, tax, accounting, consulting, auditing, administrative fees and expenses and fees and expenses for other similar services rendered to the Company by third-party service providers retained by the Manager;

(iii)           the fees and other compensation payable to the Independent Directors and the cost of liability insurance to indemnify the Company’s directors and officers;

 

(iv)          the costs associated with the establishment and maintenance of any credit facilities and other indebtedness of the Company (including commitment fees, accounting fees, legal fees, closing costs, etc.);

(v)           expenses associated with securities offerings of the Company;

(vi)          expenses relating to the payment of distributions;

(vii)         expenses connected with communications to holders of the Company’s securities and in complying with the continuous reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act, the SEC and other governmental bodies;

(viii)        transfer agent, registrar and exchange listing fees;

(ix)          the costs of printing and mailing proxies, reports and other materials to the Company’s shareholders;

(x)           costs associated with any computer software or hardware, electronic equipment, or purchased information technology services from third party vendors that is used solely for the Company;

(xi)          reasonable costs and out of pocket expenses incurred by directors, officers, employees or other agents of the Company and the Manager for travel on the Company’s behalf;

(xii)         the portion of any costs and expenses incurred by the Manager or its Affiliates with respect to market information systems and publications, research publications and materials that are allocable to the Company in accordance with the expense allocation policies of the Manager or such Affiliates;

(xiii)        settlement, clearing, and custodial fees and expenses;

(xiv)        all taxes and license fees;

(xv)         all insurance costs incurred with respect to insurance policies obtained in connection with the operation of the Company’s business, including but not limited to errors and omissions insurance covering activities of the Manager, the Sponsor, their respective Affiliates and any of their employees relating to the performance of the Manager’s duties and obligations under this Agreement or of the Sponsor’s duties under the Administration Agreement, except that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be required to reimburse the insurance premiums incurred by the Manager for employer liability insurance;

(xvi)        all other actual out of pocket costs and expenses relating to the Company’s business and investment operations, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of originating, acquiring, owning, financing, operating, rehabilitating, protecting, maintaining, developing and disposing of investments, including appraisal, reporting, audit and legal fees;

(xvii)       any judgment or settlement of pending or threatened proceedings (whether civil, criminal or otherwise) against the Company or any Subsidiary, or against any trustee, director, officer, member, general partner, manager or employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary in his capacity as such for which the Company or any Subsidiary is required to indemnify such trustee, director, officer, member, general partner, manager or employee by any court or governmental agency, or settlement of pending or threatened proceedings;

(xviii)      the costs of maintaining compliance with all federal, state and local rules and regulations, including securities regulations, or any other regulatory agency, the cost of obtaining tax advice and the preparation of any tax returns, all taxes and license fees and all insurance costs incurred on the Company’s behalf;

(xix)        expenses relating to any office or office facilities, including disaster backup recovery sites and facilities, maintained expressly for the Company and separate from offices of the Manager;

 

(xx)         the costs of the wages, salaries and benefits incurred by the Manager with respect to any Dedicated Employees that the Manager elects to provide to the Company pursuant to Section 3(a) above; provided that (A) if any Dedicated Employee devotes less than 100% of his or her working time and efforts to matters related to the Company and its business, the Company shall be required to bear only a pro rata portion of the costs of the wages, salaries and benefits incurred by the Manager with respect to such Dedicated Employee based on the percentage of such employee’s working time and efforts spent on matters related to the Company, (B) the amount of such wages, salaries and benefits paid or reimbursed with respect to the Dedicated Employees shall be subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee of the Board and, if required by the Board, of the Board and (C) during the one (1) year period following the date of this Agreement, the aggregate amount of cash compensation paid to Dedicated Employees by the Company, or reimbursed by the Company to the Manager in respect thereof, shall not exceed $500,000;

(xxi)        any equity-based compensation that the Company, upon the approval of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board, elects to pay to any director, officer or employee of the Company or the Manager or any of the Manager’s Affiliates who provides services to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries; and

(xxii)       all other costs and expenses approved by the Board.

(b)           Other than as expressly provided above, the Company will not be required to pay any portion of the rent, telephone, utilities, office furniture, equipment, machinery and other office, internal and overhead expenses of the Manager and its Affiliates. In particular, the Manager is not entitled to be reimbursed for wages, salaries and benefits of its officers and employees, other than as described in Section 8(a)(xx) and Section 8(a)(xxi) above.

(c)           Subject to any required Board approval, the Manager may retain, for and on behalf, and at the sole cost and expense, of the Company, such services of non-Affiliate third party accountants, legal counsel, appraisers, insurers, brokers, transfer agents, registrars, developers, contractors, investment banks, financial advisors, banks and other lenders and others as the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company. In lieu of retaining non-Affiliate third service providers as described in the preceding sentence, the Manager shall have the right to retain, on behalf of and at the cost and expense of the Company, Affiliates of the Manager, or to direct officers or employees of the Manager or its Affiliates, to provide any services that the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company and its Properties and other investments, provided that the amounts paid by the Company for such services do not exceed the fees and expenses that a commercially reasonable third party service provider would have charged for such services. If the Manager proposes to retain any Affiliate of the Manager, or to direct officers or employees of the Manager or its Affiliates, to provide any services that the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company and its Properties and other investments pursuant to the preceding sentence, then such arrangement shall be subject to the prior approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. The provisions of this Section 8(c) shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement to the extent such expenses have previously been incurred or are incurred in connection with such expiration or termination.

(d)           Costs and expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company shall be reimbursed monthly to the Manager. The Manager shall prepare a written statement in reasonable detail documenting the costs and expenses of the Company and those incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company during each month, and shall deliver such written statement to the Company within thirty (30) days after the end of each month. The Company shall pay all amounts payable to the Manager pursuant to this Section 8(d) within five (5) Business Days after the receipt of the written statement without demand, deduction, offset or delay. Cost and expense reimbursement to the Manager shall be subject to adjustment in connection with the annual audit of the Company. The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement to the extent such expenses have previously been incurred or are incurred in connection with such expiration or termination.

Section 9. Limits of the Manager’s Responsibility.

(a)           The Manager assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder in good faith and shall not be responsible for any action of the Board in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendations of the Manager or, if applicable, the Sponsor, including as set forth in the Investment Guidelines. The Manager and its Affiliates and their respective controlling Persons, members, directors, officers, managers, employees, partners, owners and stockholders, will not be liable to the Company, any Subsidiary, the Board, the Company’s stockholders or any Subsidiary’s stockholders or any of their respective controlling Persons, directors, trustees, managers, officers, members, employees, partners or security holders for any acts or omissions by the Manager or any such Person performed in accordance with and pursuant to this Agreement, except by reason of acts or omissions found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment to be attributable to bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence of their respective duties under this Agreement. The Company shall, to the full extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its Affiliates and their respective controlling Persons, members, directors, officers, employees, managers, owners and stockholders (each, a “Manager Indemnified Party”), of and from any and all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (collectively “Losses”) in respect of or arising from any acts or omissions of such Manager Indemnified Party performed in good faith under this Agreement and not constituting fraud, bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence of duties of such Manager Indemnified Party under this Agreement. In addition, the Manager Indemnified Parties will not be liable for trade errors that may result from ordinary negligence, including, without limitation, errors in the investment decision making process or in the trade process.

 

(b)           The Manager shall, to the full extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and the directors, officers and stockholders of the Company and each Person, if any, controlling the Company (each, a “Company Indemnified Party”; a Manager Indemnified Party and a Company Indemnified Party are each sometimes hereinafter referred to as an “Indemnified Party”) of and from any and all Losses in respect of or arising from (i) any acts or omissions of the Manager found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment to be attributable to the gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith on the part of any such Person, and (ii) any claims by any of the Manager’s or its Affiliates’ employees relating to the terms and conditions of their employment by the Manager or any of its Affiliates, as applicable.

(c)           In case any such claim, suit, action or proceeding (a “Claim”) is brought against any Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnification may be sought by such Indemnified Party pursuant hereto, the Indemnified Party shall give prompt written notice thereof to the indemnifying party, which notice shall include all documents and information in the possession of or under the control of such Indemnified Party reasonably necessary for the evaluation and/or defense of such Claim and shall specifically state that indemnification for such Claim is being sought under this Section; provided, however, that the failure of the Indemnified Party to so notify the indemnifying party shall not limit or affect such Indemnified Party’s rights other than pursuant to this Section. Upon receipt of such notice of Claim (together with such documents and information from such Indemnified Party), the indemnifying party shall, at its sole cost and expense, in good faith defend any such Claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, which counsel may, without limiting the rights of such Indemnified Party pursuant to the next succeeding sentence of this Section, also represent the indemnifying party in such investigation, action or proceeding. In the alternative, such Indemnified Party may elect to conduct the defense of the Claim, if (i) such Indemnified Party reasonably determines that the conduct of its defense by the indemnifying party could be materially prejudicial to its interests, (ii) the indemnifying party refuses to assume such defense (or fails to give written notice to the Indemnified Party within ten (10) days of receipt of a notice of Claim that the indemnifying party assumes such defense), or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed, in such Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment, to defend the Claim in good faith. The indemnifying party may settle any Claim against such Indemnified Party without such Indemnified Party’s consent, provided (i) such settlement is without any Losses whatsoever to such Indemnified Party, (ii) the settlement does not include or require any admission of liability or culpability by such Indemnified Party and (iii) the indemnifying party obtains an effective written release of liability for such Indemnified Party from the party to the Claim with whom such settlement is being made, which release must be reasonably acceptable to such Indemnified Party, and a dismissal with prejudice with respect to all claims made by the party against such Indemnified Party in connection with such Claim. The applicable Indemnified Party shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party, at the indemnifying party’s sole cost and expense, in connection with the defense or settlement of any Claim in accordance with the terms hereof. If such Indemnified Party is entitled pursuant to this Section to elect to defend such Claim by counsel of its own choosing and so elects, then the indemnifying party shall be responsible for any good faith settlement of such Claim entered into by such Indemnified Party. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, no Indemnified Party may pay or settle any Claim and seek reimbursement therefor under this Section.

(d)           Reasonable expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by an Indemnitee in defense or settlement of a claim that may be subject to a right of indemnification hereunder may be advanced by the Company to such Indemnitee as such expenses are incurred prior to the final disposition of such claim; provided that, Indemnitee undertakes to repay such amounts if it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee was not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.

(e)           The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 10. No Joint Venture; Independent Contractor.

The Company and any Subsidiary on the one hand and the Manager or its Affiliates and members on the other hand are not partners or joint venturers with each other and nothing herein shall be construed to make them such partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on either of them. The parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that the Manager is at all times acting and performing under this Agreement as an independent contractor, retaining control over and responsibility for its own operations and personnel, and that no act or omission by either the Company or the Manager shall be construed to make or constitute the other its partner, member, principal, agent, joint venturer or associate and the parties agree to report the foregoing treatment of the Manager for tax purposes in any applicable tax filing.

Section 11. Term; Renewal; Termination Without Cause.

(a)           This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and shall continue in operation, unless terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, until the fifth anniversary of the date hereof (the “Initial Term”). After the Initial Term, this Agreement shall be deemed renewed automatically each year for an additional one-year period (an “Automatic Renewal Term”) unless the Company or the Manager elects not to renew this Agreement in accordance with Section 11(b) or Section 11(d), respectively.

(b)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, upon the expiration of the Initial Term or any Automatic Renewal Term and upon 180 days’ prior written notice to the Manager (the “Termination Notice”), upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Independent Directors that (1) there has been unsatisfactory performance by the Manager that is materially detrimental to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (2) the Base Management Fee, Incentive Fees, Acquisition Fees, Disposition Fees and Property Management Fees, taken as a whole, payable to the Manager are unfair (determined after reasonable inquiry by the Independent Directors as to the market rates charged by similarly situated managers), subject to Section 11(c) below, the Company may, without cause, in connection with the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Automatic Renewal Term, decline to renew this Agreement (any such nonrenewal, a “Termination Without Cause”). In the event of a Termination Without Cause, the Company shall pay the Manager the Termination Fee before or on the last day of the Initial Term or such Automatic Renewal Term, as the case may be (the “Effective Termination Date”). The Company may terminate this Agreement for cause pursuant to Section 13 hereof even after a Termination Notice and, in such case, no Termination Fee shall be payable.

(c)           Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) above, if the reason for nonrenewal specified in the Company’s Termination Notice is that at least two-thirds of the Independent Directors have determined that the Base Management Fee, Incentive Fees, Acquisition Fees, Disposition Fees and Property Management Fees, taken as a whole, payable to the Manager are unfair in accordance with the paragraph above, the Company shall not have the foregoing nonrenewal right in the event the Manager agrees that it will continue to perform its duties hereunder during the Automatic Renewal Term that would commence upon the expiration of the Initial Term or then current Automatic Renewal Term under a fee arrangement that at least two-thirds of the Independent Directors determine to be fair; provided, however, the Manager shall have the right to renegotiate the Base Management Fee, Incentive Fees, Acquisition Fees, Disposition Fees and Property Management Fees, taken as a whole, payable to the Manager by delivering to the Company, not less than 120 days prior to the pending Effective Termination Date, written notice (a “Notice of Proposal to Negotiate”) of its intention to renegotiate such fees. Thereupon, the Company and the Manager shall endeavor to negotiate such fees in good faith. Provided that the Company and the Manager agree to a revised fee arrangement or other compensation structure within sixty (60) days following the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Proposal to Negotiate, the Termination Notice from the Company shall be deemed of no force and effect, and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect on the terms stated herein, except that the Base Management Fee, Incentive Fees, Acquisition Fees, Disposition Fees and Property Management Fees payable to the Manager or other compensation structure shall reflect the revised fee arrangement or other compensation structure as then agreed upon by the Company and the Manager. The Company and the Manager agree to execute and deliver an amendment to this Agreement setting forth such revised fee arrangement or other compensation structure promptly upon reaching an agreement regarding same. In the event that the Company and the Manager are unable to agree to a revised fee arrangement or other compensation structure during such sixty (60) day period, this Agreement shall terminate on the Effective Termination Date and the Company shall be obligated to pay the Manager the Termination Fee upon the Effective Termination Date.

 

(d)           No later than 180 days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Automatic Renewal Term, the Manager may deliver written notice to the Company informing it of the Manager’s intention to decline to renew this Agreement, whereupon this Agreement shall not be renewed and extended and this Agreement shall terminate effective on the anniversary date of this Agreement next following the delivery of such notice. The Company is not required to pay to the Manager the Termination Fee if the Manager terminates this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11(d).

(e)           Except as set forth in this Section 11, a termination or nonrenewal of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without any further liability or obligation of either party to the other, except as provided in Section 6, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 15 of this Agreement.

(f)            The Manager shall cooperate with the Company in executing an orderly transition of the management of the Company’s consolidated assets to a new manager.

Section 12. Assignments.

(a)           Assignments by the Manager. This Agreement shall terminate automatically without payment of the Termination Fee in the event of its assignment, in whole or in part, by the Manager, unless such assignment is consented to in writing by the Company with the consent of a majority of the Independent Directors. Any such permitted assignment shall bind the assignee under this Agreement in the same manner as the Manager is bound, and the Manager shall be liable to the Company for all acts or omissions of the assignee under any such assignment. In addition, the assignee shall execute and deliver to the Company a counterpart of this Agreement naming such assignee as the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may, without the approval of the Company’s Independent Directors, (i) assign this Agreement to an Affiliate of the Manager, conditioned on such Affiliate becoming a party to, or becoming subject to the rights and obligations of and the Services Agreement, (ii) delegate to one or more of its Affiliates the performance of any of its responsibilities hereunder so long as it remains liable for any such Affiliate’s performance, in each case so long as assignment or delegation does not require the Company’s approval under the Investment Advisors Act (but if such approval is required, the Company shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay its consent). Nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude any pledge, hypothecation or other transfer of any amounts payable to the Manager under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any change in control of any direct or indirect owner of equity interest in the Manager, or of any Affiliate thereof, shall not be deemed to constitute an assignment of this Agreement by the Manager and shall not be subject to the consent of the Company or the Board.

 

(b)           Assignments by the Company. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager, except in the case of assignment by the Company to another REIT or other organization which is a successor (by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets, or other transaction) to the Company, in which case such successor organization shall be bound under this Agreement and by the terms of such assignment in the same manner as the Company is bound under this Agreement.

Section 13. Termination for Cause; Termination for Good Reason.

(a)           The Company may terminate this Agreement effective upon at least 30 days’ prior written notice of termination from the Company to the Manager, without payment of any Termination Fee, if (i) the Manager, its agents or its assignees breaches any material provision of this Agreement and such breach shall continue for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof specifying such breach and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30-day period (or 45 days after written notice of such breach if the Manager takes steps to cure such breach within 30 days of the written notice), (ii) there is a commencement of any proceeding relating to the Manager’s Bankruptcy or insolvency, including an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case or the Manager authorizing or filing a voluntary bankruptcy petition, (iii) the dissolution of the Manager, or (iv) the Manager commits fraud against the Company, misappropriates or embezzles funds of the Company, or acts, or fails to act, in a manner constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that if any of the actions or omissions described in this clause (iv) are caused by an employee and/or officer of the Manager or one of its Affiliates and the Manager takes all necessary and appropriate action against such person and cures the damage caused by such actions or omissions within 30 days of the Manager actual knowledge of its commission or omission, the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13(a)(iv).

 

(b)           The Manager may terminate this Agreement effective upon 60 days’ prior written notice of termination to the Company in the event that the Manager determines that an event or circumstances constituting “Good Reason” shall have occurred, and the Company shall not have remedied such event or circumstances to the reasonable satisfaction of the Manager within 30 days after written notice thereof. The Company is required to pay to the Manager the Termination Fee if the termination of this Agreement is made pursuant to this Section 13(b).

(c)           The Manager may terminate this Agreement if the Company becomes required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, with such termination deemed to occur immediately before such event, in which case the Company shall not be required to pay the Termination Fee.

Section 14. Action Upon Termination.

From and after the effective date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Sections 11, 12, or 13 of this Agreement, the Manager shall not be entitled to compensation for further services hereunder, but shall be paid all compensation accruing to the date of termination and, if terminated pursuant to Section 13(b) hereof or not renewed pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof (subject to Section 11(c) hereof), the Termination Fee. Upon any such termination, the Manager shall forthwith:

(a)           after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses to which it is then entitled, pay over to the Company or a Subsidiary all money collected and held for the account of the Company or a Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement;

(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 with respect to the Company and any Subsidiaries;

(c)           deliver to the Board all property and documents of the Company and any Subsidiaries then in the custody of the Manager; and

(d)           use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company or any persons or entity designated by the Board to succeed the Manager as the manager of the Company (a “Successor Manager”) to accomplish an orderly transfer of the operation and management of the Company and its investment activities to such Successor Manager. For a period of thirty (30) days after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Manager shall make its officers reasonably available during normal business hours to answer questions from and consult with the Company or designated representatives of any Successor Manager with respect to the Company’s business, operations and investment activities during the period prior to the termination.

Section 15. Release of Money or Other Property Upon Written Request.

The Manager agrees that any money or other property of the Company (which such term, for the purposes of this Section 15, shall be deemed to include any and all of its Subsidiaries, if any) held by the Manager shall be held by the Manager as custodian for the Company, and the Manager’s records shall be appropriately and clearly marked to reflect the ownership of such money or other property by the Company. Upon the receipt by the Manager of a written request signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company requesting the Manager to release to the Company any money or other property then held by the Manager for the account of the Company under this Agreement, the Manager shall release such money or other property to the Company within a reasonable period of time, but in no event later than 60 days following such request. Upon delivery of such money or other property to the Company, the Manager shall not be liable to the Company, the Board, or the Company’s stockholders or partners for any acts or omissions by the Company in connection with the money or other property released to the Company in accordance with this Section. The Company shall indemnify the Manager, its Affiliates, members, directors, officers, stockholders, employees and agents against any and all Losses which arise in connection with the Manager’s proper release of such money or other property to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 15. Indemnification pursuant to this provision shall be in addition to any right of the Manager to indemnification under Section 9 of this Agreement.

 

Section 16. Representations and Warranties.

(a)           The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Manager as follows:

(i)             The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction, has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its assets, to lease any Property it may operate as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of Property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole.

(ii)            The Company has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize this Agreement on the terms and conditions hereof and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. No consent of any other Person, including stockholders and creditors of the Company, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by the Company in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, the legally valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

(iii)           The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on the Company or any Subsidiary, or the Governing Instruments of, or any securities issued by the Company or any Subsidiary or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien on any of its Property, assets or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

(b)           The Manager hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(i)             The Manager is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the limited liability company power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its assets, to lease the Property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of Property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Manager.

(ii)            The Manager has the limited liability company power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize this Agreement on the terms and conditions hereof and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. No consent of any other Person, including members and creditors of the Manager, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by the Manager in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Manager, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, the legally valid and binding obligation of the Manager enforceable against the Manager in accordance with its terms.

 

(iii)           The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on the Manager, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on the Manager, or the Governing Instruments of, or any securities issued by the Manager or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which the Manager is a party or by which the Manager or any of its assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Manager, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien or any of its Property, assets or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

Section 17. Miscellaneous.

(a)           Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by email), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered against receipt or upon actual receipt of (i) personal delivery, (ii) delivery by reputable overnight courier, (iii) delivery by email transmission or (iv) delivery by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set forth below (or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto in accordance with this Section 17):

	If to the Company and
	the Operating Partnership:	Roberts Realty Investors, Inc.
		c/o Avenue Capital Group
		399 Park Avenue
		New York, New York 10022
		Attention:  Edward Gellert
		Telephone:  212-850-7534
		Email:  egellert@avenuecapital.com
	With a copy to:	Hunton & Williams LLP
		River Front Plaza, East Tower
		951 East Byrd Street
		Richmond, Virginia 23219
		Attention:  Daniel M. LeBey, Esq.
		Telephone:  (804) 788-7366
		Email:  dlebey@hunton.com
	If to the Manager:	c/o Avenue Capital Group
		399 Park Avenue
		New York, New York 10022
		Attention:  Edward Gellert
		Telephone:  212-850-7534
		Email:  egellert@avenuecapital.com
	With a copy to:	Daniel LeBey
		Hunton & Williams LLP River Front Plaza, East Tower 951 East Byrd Street Richmond, VA 23219
		Attention:
		Telephone: (804) 788-7366
		Email: dlebey@hunton.com

 

(b)           Binding Nature of Agreement; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns as provided herein.

(c)           Integration. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.

 

(d)           Amendments. This Agreement and any terms hereof may not be amended, supplemented or modified except in an instrument in writing executed by the parties hereto.

(e)           GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR ANY DISTRICT WITHIN SUCH STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY ACTION OR JUDGMENT RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN SUCH COURT.

(f)            WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

(g)           Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

(h)           No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of a party hereto, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

(i)             Costs and Expenses. Each party hereto shall bear its own costs and expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel and accountants) incurred in connection with the negotiations and preparation of and the closing under this Agreement, and all matter incident thereto.

(j)             Section Headings. The section and subsection headings in this Agreement are for convenience in reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the interpretation of any provisions hereof.

(k)           Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by email in .pdf form), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

(l)             Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Management Agreement as of the date first written above.

Roberts Realty Investors, Inc.

	By:	/s/ Charles S. Roberts
	Name:	Charles S. Roberts
	Title:	CEO and President

 

 

Roberts Properties Residential, L.P.

By:  Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., its general partner

 

 

	By:	/s/ Charles S. Roberts
	Name:	Charles S. Roberts
	Title:	President

 

 

A-III MANAGER LLC

 

 

	By:	/s/ Edward Gellert
	Name:	Edward Gellert
	Title:	Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature page to Management Agreement]

 

Exhibit A

Investment Guidelines

(a)           No investment shall be made that would cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code following the requalification of the Company as a REIT (which is anticipated to be January 1, 2015 or 2016).

(b)           A priority of the Company initially will be to dispose of the four legacy properties.

(c)           Target Assets:	Multifamily, office, mixed use office (i.e., properties that are primarily office, including commercial office properties with a retail, parking, self-storage or other component), retail, industrial, healthcare and lodging properties, as well as preferred equity or debt instruments secured by mortgages on these types of properties, B pieces or mezzanine loans secured by pledges of equity interests in entities that own these types of properties or other forms of subordinate debt in connection with these types of properties.
(d)           Excluded Assets:	For-sale condominium conversion or condominium development projects.
(e)           Investment Policy:	The Company will generally target wholly-owned Target Assets; however, the Company may make majority or minority investments alongside partners, so long as the Company maintains full or shared control over day-to-day management and major decisions.  While the Company is not prohibited from engaging in development of Target Assets, it is not anticipated that the Company would undertake significant ground-up development projects until later in its lifecycle.
(f)            Investment Structures:	Acquisitions may take the form of simple purchase contracts but may also take the form of forward purchase contracts and purchase option agreements for properties and as such transactions may involve structured investments, including mezzanine or preferred structures.

 

(g)           Prior to completion of the disposition of the Company’s legacy assets and completion of one or more capital raising transactions in which the Company raises an aggregate of at least $100 million of new equity capital, the Manager will not be subject to any specific quantitative investment parameters, but the Manager will obtain the approval of the Board of Directors with respect to any single investment in which more than 25% of the Company’s total equity is invested.

(h)           Following completion of the disposition of the Company’s legacy assets and completion of one or more capital raising transactions in which the Company raises an aggregate of at least $100 million of new equity capital, the quantitative investment parameters for capital deployment shall be as follows:

·

No more than 33% of the Company’s total assets can be invested in any one single asset, except as approved by the Board of Directors;

·

No more than 33% of the Company’s total assets may be invested in any one MSA, except as approved by the Board of Directors; and

·

The Company’s aggregate borrowings (for the Company’s assets as a whole) cannot exceed 75% of the aggregate cost of its tangible assets at the time of the next new borrowing, except as approved by the Board of Directors.

(h)           Target unleveraged IRRs of 9% or greater or leveraged IRRs of 12% or greater.

(i)            Pending investment of the Company’s capital in the Target Assets or other assets permitted under these guidelines, as described above, the Manager may invest any cash or excess cash reserves of the Company, including cash from operations, capital transactions and the proceeds of any future offerings of the Company’s securities, in short-term investments, subject to the requirements for the Company’s qualification as a REIT under the Code following the requalification of the Company as a REIT.

 

These Investment Guidelines may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived by the Board (which must include a majority of the Independent Directors) without the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

 

GOVERNANCE AND VOTING AGREEMENT

 

THIS GOVERNANCE AND VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 30^th day of January, 2015 by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”), and Charles S. Roberts, an individual (“Roberts” and, together with the Company and the Purchaser, the “Parties” and each a “Party”).

WHEREAS, the Company, Roberts Properties Residential, L.P, a Georgia limited partnership, and the Purchaser have entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), dated the 19th day of November, 2014, pursuant to which, among other things, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase from the Company, and the Company has agreed to issue and sell to the Purchaser, 8,450,704 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement; and

WHEREAS, upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Closing”), the Purchaser and Roberts will each beneficially own and have the power to direct the voting or disposition of certain shares of the Company’s capital stock; and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) immediately following the Closing and to provide for certain other rights and obligations of the Purchaser, the Company and Roberts with respect to certain shares of the Company’s capital stock beneficially owned by the Purchaser and Roberts, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

1.                  Initial Board Composition and Representation. In connection with the Closing, the Company agrees to take all Necessary Actions (as defined below) to effectuate the following results:

(a)                At the Closing, the existing Board shall take all Necessary Actions to increase the number of directors on the Board from five to seven effective upon the Closing, thereby creating two vacancies on the Board. In accordance with the provisions of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, the increase or decrease in the number of directors shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as possible. In that regard, the class of 2015 shall have two directors, the class of 2016 shall have three directors and the class of 2017 shall have two directors. Each of the seven directors shall be appointed into a particular class as described in Sections 1(b) through 1(f) below.

(b)               Prior to the Closing, all five directors serving on the Board immediately prior to the Closing (including Roberts, subject to Section 1(f) below) shall deliver letters of resignation and release to the Company, and the Company shall deliver copies of such letters to the Purchaser in accordance with the requirements of the Stock Purchase Agreement. Such resignations shall be effective only if the Closing occurs and otherwise at the times and in the sequence described in Sections 1(c) through 1(f) below.

 

(c)                At or immediately following the Closing, the resignations of Weldon R. Humphries and Wm. Jarell Jones shall become effective, and the members of the Board at that time shall appoint Weldon R. Humphries and Wm. Jarell Jones (the “Purchaser Directors”) to fill two of the vacancies in the class of 2017. Neither of the Purchaser Directors (or any replacement) shall be required to qualify as an Independent Director (as defined below).

(d)               Immediately after the events described in the preceding Section 1(c), the resignations of John L. Davis and Charles R. Elliott shall become effective, and the members of the Board at that time shall appoint Bruce D. Frank and Robert L. Loverd, each qualifying as an “Independent Director” as defined below as of the Closing Date (each a “New Independent Director”), to fill the two vacancies in the class of 2016. If either such person is unable or unwilling to serve, another person designated in writing by the Purchaser and qualifying as an “Independent Director” as defined below shall be appointed to the class of 2016.

(e)                Immediately after the events described in the preceding Sections 1(c) and 1(d) above, the resignation of Roberts (in which he shall resign as a director and as an officer of the Company and its Affiliates (as defined below)) shall become effective, and the members of the Board at that time shall appoint Robert G. Koen and Kyle Permut, each qualifying as an “Independent Director” as defined below as of the Closing Date (each a “New Independent Director”), to fill the two newly created vacancies in the class of 2015. If either such person is unable or unwilling to serve, another person designated in writing by the Purchaser and qualifying as an “Independent Director” as defined below shall be appointed to the class of 2015. The two (2) New Independent Directors in the class of 2015, together with the two (2) New Independent Directors in the class of 2016, shall, collectively, be the “New Independent Directors.”

(f)                Immediately after the events described in the preceding Sections 1(c), 1(d) and 1(e) above, Roberts shall immediately thereafter be re-appointed as a director of the Company (but not as the Chairman of the Board) in the Class of 2016 and re-appointed and employed as an officer of the Company in accordance with that certain Employment Agreement between the Company and Roberts dated as of the Closing Date (the “Employment Agreement”).

(g)               For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be an “Independent Director” if he or she satisfies the independence standards of both (1) the Company’s articles of incorporation and bylaws, as in effect on the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, and (2) the NYSE MKT or such other national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Company’s securities may become listed for trading or quotation (each an “Independent Director”). Each New Independent Director must qualify as an Independent Director throughout his or her term as a director. If at any time, the Board determines that any Company director (other than Roberts and the Purchaser Directors), does not qualify as an Independent Director, the Company shall give prompt written notice to the Parties of such determination and the basis therefor. Upon making such determination, or receiving notice thereof, the Purchaser shall designate a replacement director, and the Company shall take such actions as are necessary to cause such existing director to resign from the Board, and the qualifying replacement director to be appointed or elected to the Board, as soon as reasonably practical. To effectuate such requirement, each of the New Independent Directors shall execute and deliver to the Company on the Closing Date, and any replacement director therefor shall execute and deliver to the Company on the date of his or her designation, a letter of resignation, in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, which resignation shall automatically take effect upon a determination by the Board that such director has ceased to qualify as an “Independent Director.”

 

(h)               For purposes of this Agreement, “Necessary Actions” shall mean, with respect to a specified result, all actions that are permitted by applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules as shall be necessary to cause such result. Such actions shall include, but are not limited to: (i) adoption by the Board of resolutions or other similar action by the Board as shall be required in order to increase the number of directors on the Board as described in this Agreement, including but not limited to approving an amendment to the Company’s bylaws; (ii) appointment by the Board of the individuals identified under this Agreement to fill vacancies on the Board; (iii) including individuals identified under this Agreement in the slate of nominees to the Board recommended to the shareholders of the Company for election as directors; (iv) soliciting proxies or consents in favor of the election of individuals nominated for election to the Board; (v) voting (whether at an annual or special meeting) or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to shares of Common Stock; (vi) calling or attending meetings in person or by proxy for the purposes of obtaining a quorum and causing the adoption of shareholders’ resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Company; (vii) causing members of the Board to act in a certain manner or causing them to be removed if they do not act in such a manner; (viii) executing agreements and instruments; and (ix) making or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

(i)                 For purposes of this Agreement, “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any specified person, any other person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such person, including, without limitation, any general partner, managing member, officer or director of such person.

2.                  Continuing Board Composition and Representation.

(a)                Purchaser Directors. Subject to Section 2(c) below, the Company agrees to take all Necessary Actions to nominate each of the two Purchaser Directors (or any replacement thereof designated by the Purchaser) for re-election to the Board at each subsequent meeting of the shareholders of the Company held to consider a vote on the election of directors of the class in which such Purchaser Director serves, and not to take any action that is designed to interfere with such election or re-election of each such Purchaser Director to the Board. Only such individuals designated in accordance with Section 1(c) above, or in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2, shall be eligible for nomination or election as successors to the Purchaser Directors. Subject to Section 2(c), if at any time a vacancy occurs on the Board with respect to the directorship of either of the Purchaser Directors (by reason of such director’s death, disability, resignation, removal or otherwise), the Company agrees to take all Necessary Actions to cause a replacement director, designated by the Purchaser (or its permitted assignees), to be appointed to fill such vacancy promptly following his or her designation by the Purchaser (or permitted assignees) hereunder. If the Purchaser fails to designate a replacement director to be appointed to fill such vacancy, the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be permitted to designate a nominee (who shall qualify as an Independent Director) for election to the Board to fill such vacancy at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders of the Company. If the Purchaser fails to designate a replacement director to be appointed to fill such vacancy and the Nominating and Governance Committee designates a nominee for election to the Board to fill such vacancy as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, the Purchaser’s rights under Sections 1 and 2 hereof shall not be terminated and shall apply at the next succeeding meeting of shareholders of the Company at which an election of directors occurs.

 

(b)               New Independent Directors. Subject to Sections 2(c) below, the Company agrees to take all Necessary Actions to nominate each of the four New Independent Directors (or any replacement thereof designated by the Purchaser) for re-election to the Board at each subsequent meeting of the shareholders of the Company held to consider a vote on the election of the class in which each such New Independent Director serves, and not to take any action that is designed to interfere with such election or re-election of each such director to the Board. Only such individuals designated in accordance with Section 1(d) and 1(e) above, or in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2, shall be eligible for nomination or election as successors to the New Independent Directors. Subject to Section 2(c), if at any time a vacancy occurs on the Board with respect to the directorship of any of the New Independent Directors (by reason of such director’s death, disability, resignation, removal or otherwise), the Company and the Purchaser agree to take all Necessary Actions to cause a replacement director, designated by the Purchaser (or its permitted assignees), to be appointed to fill such vacancy promptly following his or her designation by the Purchaser (or permitted assignees) hereunder. If the Purchaser fails to designate a replacement director to be appointed to fill such vacancy, the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be permitted to designate a nominee (who shall qualify as an Independent Director) for election to the Board to fill such vacancy at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders of the Company. If the Purchaser fails to designate a replacement director to be appointed to fill such vacancy and the Nominating and Governance Committee designates a nominee for election to the Board to fill such vacancy as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, the Purchaser’s rights under Sections 1 and 2 hereof shall not be terminated and shall apply at the next succeeding meeting of shareholders of the Company at which an election of directors occurs.

(c)                Termination of Purchaser Board Designation Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision in Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) above:

(i)                 The obligations of the Company under this Agreement to take all Necessary Actions to appoint, or to nominate for election, the Purchaser Directors, or to appoint or nominate replacements thereto, and to take all Necessary Actions to appoint any Purchaser Director to serve on the Committees (as defined below), in each case as designated by the Purchaser in accordance with this Agreement, shall only apply if the Purchaser and its members, and their respective Affiliates, collectively maintain continuous beneficial ownership of an aggregate of at least 100% of the shares of Common Stock initially acquired at the Closing (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and other similar adjustments to the shares of Common Stock). “Beneficial ownership” shall have the meaning provided in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(ii)               The obligations of the Company under this Agreement to take all Necessary Actions to nominate the New Independent Directors, or to take all Necessary Actions to appoint or nominate replacements thereto, and to take all Necessary Actions to appoint any new Independent Director to serve on the Committees (as defined below), in each case as designated by the Purchaser in accordance with this Agreement, shall only apply if the Purchaser and its members, and their respective Affiliates, collectively maintain continuous beneficial ownership of at least 100% of the shares of Common Stock initially acquired at the Closing (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and other similar adjustments to the shares of Common Stock).

(d)               Designation of Nominees. The Company shall give the Purchaser written notice (the “Company Designation Request”) (i) requesting that the Purchaser designate directors pursuant to the terms of Sections 2(a) and 2(b), (ii) stating the Company’s intention to take all Necessary Actions to include such designees in its upcoming proxy statement to shareholders, and (iii) providing the date on which the proxy statement is to be mailed (the “Mailing Date”), such Company Designation Request to be delivered not less than 45 days prior to the Mailing Date. To designate a director pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2(a) and 2(b), the Purchaser shall be required to have given the Company written notice of the Purchaser’s designees, together with all information relating to such designee or designees required to be included by the Company in such proxy statement under applicable laws, including the federal proxy rules (the “Designation Notice”), on or before the tenth day prior to the Mailing Date (the “Designation Date”). If the Purchaser shall have failed to designate nominees for election to fill any of the Purchaser Director or New Independent Director slots on the Board as provided in this Section 2 by the Designation Date, such director nominees shall instead be designated by the Nominating and Governance Committee not later than two days before the Mailing Date (the “Final Designation Date”), and such director shall, if elected, (i) serve until the end of such director’s term and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies, (ii) be an Independent Director (if not an Purchaser Director), (iii) assume all Committee positions previously held by the prior Purchaser Director or New Independent Director, as applicable, and (iv) otherwise be deemed the Purchaser Director or New Independent Director, as applicable, for purposes of this Agreement, until the next meeting of Company shareholders at which the shareholders vote for the election of directors of the class in which such Purchaser Director or New Independent Director serves.

(e)                Vacancies. If a vacancy shall have occurred in the position of either Purchaser Director or any New Independent Director during any period during which the Purchaser (or any permitted assignee thereof) has the right to designate a replacement director to be appointed to fill such vacancy, yet the Purchaser fails to designate a replacement director pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), as applicable, for a period of more than 45 days after the vacancy in such position has occurred, then and until such replacement is so named, the replacement director for the Purchaser Director and/or New Independent Director shall be designated by the Nominating and Governance Committee (i) to serve until the end of such director’s term and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies, (ii) be an Independent Director (if not an Purchaser Director), (iii) assume all Committee positions previously held by the prior Purchaser Director or New Independent Director, as applicable, and (iv) otherwise be deemed the Purchaser Director or New Independent Director, as applicable, for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(f)                Chairman of the Board. At all times during which the Purchaser has the right to designate the Purchaser Directors for election to the Board, the Company agrees to take all Necessary Actions so that one of the Purchaser Directors identified by the Purchaser shall be appointed to serve as the Chairman of the Board.

(g)               Roberts Board Right. So long as Roberts continuously maintains beneficial ownership of at least 1,100,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and other similar adjustments to the shares of Common Stock) during the one year period after the Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser agree to take all Necessary Actions to nominate Roberts for re-election to the Board at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company held after the Closing and before the first anniversary of the Closing Date to consider a vote on the election of directors of the class in which Roberts serves (or, to the extent the Company has de-classified the Board, which the parties acknowledge is the Company’s intent, to consider a vote on the election of all directors), and not to take any action that is designed to interfere with the election or re-election of Roberts to the Board during such one-year period. Roberts agrees to resign from the Board immediately upon the first to occur of the following two events: (i) in the event he fails to continuously maintain beneficial ownership of at least 1,100,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and other similar adjustments to the shares of Common Stock) and (ii) the first anniversary of the Closing Date. While he serves as a director, Roberts shall be authorized to incur, and shall be reimbursed for, all reasonable travel expenses incurred in carrying out his duties as a director. “Reasonable” is defined as that which enables Roberts to perform his duties as a director (including meals and travel) comfortably but not extravagantly. Roberts shall provide to the Company receipts or other reasonable documentation of such expenses for any individual expenditure over $25, and the Company shall reimburse Roberts for such expenses promptly and in any event not later than 30 days after Roberts provides such documentation to the Company.

3.                  Committee Representation.

(a)                At or immediately following the Closing, the Company agrees to take all Necessary Actions to set the number of directors on the Board’s (i) Audit Committee, (ii) Compensation Committee, and (iii) Nominating and Governance Committee (each a “Committee” and collectively, the “Committees”) at three (3) directors per Committee.

(b)               At or immediately following the Closing, the Company agrees to take all Necessary Actions to cause three of the New Independent Directors designated by the Purchaser to be appointed, and thereafter to be re-appointed, to serve on each of the Committees. The members of each Committee shall designate a Committee Chairman from among such Committee members. If, at any time, the Board determines that a director serving on a Committee does not qualify as an Independent Director, the Company shall give prompt written notice of such determination and the basis therefor to the director in question and the Purchaser. Upon making such determination, or receiving notice thereof, the director whom the Board has determined does not qualify as an Independent Director shall resign from all Committees as soon as reasonably practical, and the Purchaser shall designate a replacement director who qualifies as an Independent Director to fill the vacancy created by such resignation.

 

4.                  Voting. From and after the Closing,

(a)                The Purchaser agrees to vote all shares of Common Stock (and any other shares of the Company’s capital stock held by Purchaser and entitled to vote) beneficially owned by it and entitled to vote, and Roberts agrees to vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by him and entitled to vote, in favor of the election or re-election, as the case may be, of the directors designated by the Parties as provided in this Agreement at any meeting (or written consent in lieu of a meeting) of the Company’s shareholders held to consider the election of any such designated director; provided, however, that (i) the Purchaser’s foregoing obligations with respect to the election of Roberts as a director shall only apply while Roberts has the right to be nominated for election as a director pursuant to Section 2(g) and (ii) Roberts’ foregoing obligations with respect to the election of the Purchaser Directors and the New Independent Directors designated by the Purchaser for election as directors shall terminate upon the first to occur of the termination of Roberts’ right to be nominated for election as a director pursuant to Section 2(g) and Roberts’ resignation from the Board.

(b)               Roberts agrees to vote all shares of the Company’s capital stock beneficially owned by him and entitled to vote in favor of any resolution or proposal approved by a majority of the Independent Directors and recommended by the Board for approval by shareholders of the Company; provided, however, that Roberts’ voting obligations shall expire upon the first to occur of the termination of Roberts’ right to be nominated for election as a director pursuant to Section 2(g) and Roberts’ resignation from the Board. Such matters may include, but are not limited to, any of the following matters, which the Company and the Purchaser have stated that they intend to effectuate as soon as is practicable after the Closing:

(i)                 Any proposal to reincorporate the Company as a Maryland corporation, whether through an affiliated merger or otherwise;

(ii)               Any proposal to de-classify the Board of Directors of the Company;

(iii)             Any proposal to effectuate a reverse split of the Company’s common stock;

(iv)             Any proposal to amend the Company’s charter or bylaws to waive the application of the corporate opportunity doctrine to the Purchaser Directors with respect to investment opportunities identified by them or their Affiliates for the benefit of the other investment funds and accounts managed by them or their Affiliates; and

(v)               Any proposal to adopt an amended or restated charter of the Company in furtherance of any of the foregoing matters that requires such an amendment or restatement.

 

(c)                So long as the Purchaser and its members, and their respective Affiliates, collectively maintain continuous beneficial ownership of an aggregate of at least 100% of the shares of Common Stock initially acquired at the Closing (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and other similar adjustments to the shares of Common Stock), Roberts shall maintain beneficial ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock that will allow the Purchaser and Roberts to collectively maintain beneficial ownership of a majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding upon completion of the Closing; provided, however, that Roberts’ obligations under this Section 4(c) (i) shall expire upon the first to occur of the termination of Roberts’ right to be nominated for election as a director pursuant to Section 2(g) and Roberts’ resignation from the Board and (ii) shall never require that Roberts purchase additional shares of Common Stock.

5.                  Right of First Offer.

(a)                Grant. For a period of three (3) years following the Closing (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement), subject to the terms of Section 5(d), Roberts hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Purchaser and any of its Affiliates, collectively referred to as the Purchaser for this Section 5, the right (the “Right of First Offer”), but not the obligation, to purchase some or all of the Common Stock beneficially owned by Roberts (“Transfer Stock”) with respect to any proposed assignment, sale, offer to sell, disposition of or any other like transfer of the Transfer Stock (a “Proposed Transfer”), at the price and on the same terms and conditions as those specified in any Proposed Transfer Notice (as defined below).

(b)               Notice. In the event of a Proposed Transfer, Roberts must deliver to the Purchaser a written notice setting forth the terms and conditions of a Proposed Transfer (a “Proposed Transfer Notice”) not later than five (5) business days prior to the consummation of such Proposed Transfer. Such Proposed Transfer Notice shall contain the material terms and conditions (including price) of the Proposed Transfer. To exercise its Right of First Offer, the Purchaser must deliver a written notice notifying Roberts that the Purchaser intends to exercise its Right of First Offer as to some or all of the Transfer Stock with respect to any Proposed Transfer within five (5) business days after Purchaser’s receipt of the Proposed Transfer Notice (“Purchaser Notice”).

(c)                Periods of Sale and Sale Price. If the Purchaser has not delivered a Purchaser Notice and the five (5) business day period for the Purchaser to deliver the Purchaser Notice has ended (“Refusal Date”), Roberts may consummate a Proposed Transfer directly related to the Proposed Transfer Notice only if the following conditions have been met: (i) for a sale price that is 95% or more of the sale price specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice and (ii) (a) within a period of ninety (90) days from the Refusal Date in the event of a private, unregistered sale of Transfer Stock or (b) within a period of fifteen (15) business days from the Refusal Date in the event of a publicly registered sale of Transfer Stock. Any Proposed Transfer not consummated at the price or within the timeframe referenced above will be subject to the requirements referenced in Section 5(b).

 

(d)               Exempted Transfers. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the provisions of Section 5(a) and 5(b) shall not apply to: (i) bona fide gifts of Common Stock beneficially owned by Roberts to the immediate family members of Roberts or (ii) sales of Common Stock beneficially owned by Roberts sold under Roberts’ 10b5-1 plan which plan currently allows Roberts to sell up to 100,000 shares of Common Stock on a quarterly basis at a price per share of at least $1.40. Roberts shall have the irrevocable right to continue to have a 10b5-1 plan in accordance with applicable securities laws and any sales under such 10b5-1 plan shall continue to be Exempted Transfers. The Company shall take all Necessary Actions to enable Roberts to exercise his right to continue to have a 10b5-1 plan for so long as Roberts is a director or officer of the Company.

(e)                Closing. The closing of the purchase of Transfer Stock by the Purchaser shall take place, and all payments from the Purchaser shall have been delivered to Roberts, by the fifteenth (15^th) day following the delivery of the Purchaser Notice. Upon Purchaser’s payment of the purchase price to Roberts as set forth in the Purchase Notice for the applicable number of shares of Common Stock being purchased by Purchaser, Roberts shall deliver to Purchaser good, valid and marketable title to such Transfer Stock being purchased, free and clear of any and all liens, encumbrances, charges, claims, restrictions, pledges, security interests or impositions, and shall execute and deliver to the Purchaser an irrevocable stock power providing for the sale and assignment of such Transfer Stock.

(f)                Effect of Failure to Comply.              (i) Transfer Void; Equitable Relief. Any Proposed Transfer not made in compliance with the requirements of this Section 5 shall be null and void ab initio, shall not be recorded on the books of the Company or its transfer agent and shall not be recognized by the Company. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Section 5 would result in substantial harm to the other parties hereto for which monetary damages alone could not adequately compensate. Therefore, the parties hereto unconditionally and irrevocably agree that any non-breaching party hereto shall be entitled to seek protective orders, injunctive relief and other remedies available at law or in equity (including, without limitation, seeking specific performance or the rescission of sales and other transfers of Transfer Stock not made in accordance with this Section 5), and the Company acknowledges and agrees to enforce the provisions of this Section 5(f).

6.                  Severalty of Obligations. The obligations under this Agreement of each Party and the separate and several obligations of that Party and are not joint obligations with respect to any other person. No Party shall be responsible or liable for the obligations of or any action taken or omitted to be taken by any other Party hereunder.

7.                  Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a)                Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each Party and delivered to each other Party. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy, telefax or other electronic means shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section, provided that receipt of copies of such counterparts is confirmed.

 

(b)               Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or: (a) personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent, if sent by electronic mail during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next business day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their address or email address as set forth on the signature page hereof, or to such other address or email address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 7(b).

(c)                Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Georgia without regard, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to the conflicts of law provisions thereof which might result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

(d)               Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including its exhibits, appendices and schedules) and the other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement constitute a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between the Parties with respect to its subject matter, and supersede all other prior agreements, arrangements or understandings by or between the Parties, written or oral, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement is not intended to confer upon any Person who is not a Party (or their successors and assigns) any rights or remedies hereunder.

(e)                Specific Performance. The Parties acknowledge and agree that a breach or threatened breach, of any agreement contained herein will cause irreparable damage, and the other Parties will have no adequate remedy at law or in equity. Accordingly, each Party agrees that injunctive relief or other equitable remedy, in addition to remedies at law or in damages, is the appropriate remedy for any such failure and will not oppose the granting of such relief.

(f)                Assignment and Successors. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties. This Agreement and all the provisions hereof are personal to each of the Parties, and except as otherwise provided in the next succeeding sentence, shall not inure to a Party’s respective successors and may not be assigned by a Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Any assignment in violation of the foregoing shall be void and of no effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, the Purchaser may assign its rights, benefits and obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to its rights to designate the Purchaser Directors or New Independent Directors (or replacements thereto) and its rights, benefits and obligations under Section 4 hereof, to any Qualified Institutional Buyer that purchases all but not less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchased by the Purchaser at the Closing.

(g)               Headings. The Section, Article and other headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and will not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(h)               Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument or instruments in writing signed by (i) the Company and (ii) each Party then entitled to designate a director of the Company pursuant to the provisions hereof (each Party described in this clause (ii) being an “Amending Party,” it being understood, for purposes of this Section 7(h), that no Party entitled at any time to designate a director hereunder shall cease to be an Amending Party unless and until such Party shall have expressly and permanently surrendered, forfeited or assigned any and all of such designation rights). Any Party may, only by an instrument in writing, waive compliance by any other Party with any term or provision hereof on the part of such other Party to be performed or complied with. The waiver by any Party of a breach of any term or provision hereof shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

(i)                 Interpretation; Absence of Presumption.

(i)                 For the purposes hereof, (A) words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires; (B) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Article, Section and paragraph references are to the Articles, Sections and paragraphs to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (C) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified; (D) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; and (E) provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and transactions.

(ii)               This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.

(iii)             Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

(j)                 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstances shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision or application shall be unenforceable only to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability, and the remainder of the provision held invalid or unenforceable and the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances, other than the Party as to which it is held invalid, and the remainder of this Agreement, shall not be affected.

(k)               Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7(k).

 

(l)                 Further Assurances. The Parties agree that, from time to time, each of them will, and will cause their respective Affiliates to, execute and deliver such further instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and intents hereof.

(m)             Share Adjustments. All references to numbers of shares in this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, split, combination or other recapitalization affecting such shares occurring after the date of this Agreement.

[Signature pages follow.]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed the day and year first above written.

 

	COMPANY:
	ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC.

 

 

	By:	/s/ Charles S. Roberts
	Name:	Charles S. Roberts
	Title:	CEO and President

 

 

	Address: c/o Avenue Capital Group 399 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Edward Gellert Telephone: 212-850-7534 Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com
	THE PURCHASER:
	A-III INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC

 

 

	By:	/s/ Edward Gellert
	Name:	Edward Gellert
	Title:	Authorized Signatory

 

 

	Address: c/o Avenue Capital Group 399 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Edward Gellert Telephone: 212-850-7534 Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com
	ROBERTS:
	/s/ Charles S. Roberts
	Signature
	Address: 375 Northridge Road Suite 330 Atlanta, GA 30350 Attention: Charles S. Roberts Telephone: 770-394-6000 Email: cr@robertsproperties.com

 

 

Signature Page to Governance and Voting Agreement

 

 

Exhibit A

 

[________________] [__], 20[__]

 

Board of Directors

Roberts Realty Investors, Inc.

 

 

To the Board of Directors:

 

I hereby tender my conditional resignation, as a member of the board of directors of Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. (the “Company”), and as a member of any and all committees thereof, upon the terms set forth herein. I acknowledge that (i) my execution and delivery of this letter is a condition to my eligibility to serve in such capacity, (ii) this letter shall be deemed reaffirmed, upon each and every subsequent instance of my election or re-election to the board of directors of the Company, by my acceptance of such position (whether or not in writing) without the requirement of re-execution or re-delivery of a letter of like tenor, and (iii) other than with respect to the conditions set forth herein, this letter shall be irrevocable.

 

My resignation herein tendered shall be effective upon, and only upon, a determination by the board of directors of the Company that I do not satisfy the independence standards of both (1) the Company’s charter and bylaws, as in effect on the date hereof, and (2) the NYSE MKT or such other exchange as the Company’s shares of Common Stock are then listed.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

[INSERT NAME OF DIRECTOR]

 

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and effective as of the 30^th day of January, 2015, by and between ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”) and CHARLES S. ROBERTS (“Employee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company, Roberts Properties Residential, L.P, a Georgia limited partnership (together with the Company, the “Seller Parties”) and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”) have entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2014, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) on the date hereof, the Purchaser has purchased from the Company, and the Company has issued and sold to the Purchaser, 8,450,704 shares (the “Closing Shares”) of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company, (ii) the Company has agreed, in general terms and subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement (including Section 1.3 thereof), to issue additional shares of Common Stock to the Purchaser if, as a result of a post-closing true-up that takes into account, among other things, the actual aggregate net sale proceeds received by the Company for its four Legacy Properties, the adjusted net asset value of the Company is less than the estimated aggregate net asset value determined as of the Closing Date (the “True-up”), and (iii) the Company will grant to Purchaser a warrant to purchase up to $38 million of additional shares of Common Stock at a purchase price per share that is determined after giving effect to the True-Up; and

WHEREAS, as an essential element of the willingness of the Seller Parties to agree to the True-up, the Stock Purchase Agreement provides that the Company and Employee shall enter into this Agreement to provide that Employee shall supervise the disposition by the Seller Parties of the Legacy Properties, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Employee is willing to assume the duties provided below to achieve the business goals of the Seller Parties and the Purchaser as reflected in the True-up if and only if he has the broad authority described below;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Condition of Employment; Title, Duties and Authority.

(a)

The Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee accepts such employment, subject to the terms and condition of this Agreement. Employee shall be an officer of the Company and shall have the title of Executive Vice President. Employee shall conduct a marketing process (which may, but shall not be required in all cases to, include the use of third party commercial real estate brokers) with respect to the sale of the following properties that are currently owned by the Company (the “Legacy Properties”): North Springs, Northridge, Highway 20 and Bradley Park. Employee shall be responsible for the marketing process, including positioning the properties for sale, identifying buyers, and negotiating terms of sale that are customary for similarly situated properties. All sales shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors of the Company, including by a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, subject to their fiduciary duties. The Company acknowledges that Employee shall not be required to, and in fact will not, devote his full-time business attention to his duties and responsibilities hereunder.

(b)

Employee shall keep the Company’s Chief Executive Officer informed, through telephone calls and emails, on a regular basis (and in any event no less frequently than bi-weekly), of the status of the marketing process with respect to the Legacy Properties. Employee shall provide copies to the Chief Executive Officer (and any other officer of the Company designated by the Chief Executive Officer) of the following written communications to the extent that Employee deems them to be material: term sheets, letters of intent, indications of interest, offers, due diligence requests, responses to due diligence requests and other material written communications with potential purchasers.

(c)

Without the express prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer and, if applicable, the prior approval of the Board of Directors, which consent or approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, subject to their fiduciary duties, Employee shall not be authorized to enter into, on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates, any agreement, contract, term sheet, letter of intent, indication of interest or other binding or non-binding agreement with a potential buyer of a Legacy Property with respect to any potential sale of a Legacy Property, and Employee shall promptly provide the Chief Executive Officer copies of all such documents once they are signed by Employee on behalf of the Company.

(d)

Employee is expressly authorized, without the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer or the prior approval of the Board of Directors, to engage, on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates, any service provider, vendor, legal counsel, consultant, civil engineer, environmental consultant, architect, land planner, broker, surveyor, photographer, marketing firm, website designer or developer or other third party as Employee deems appropriate, necessary or helpful in selling the Legacy Properties, so long as such engagements are on terms that are commercially reasonable and do not, when taken together with all other Selling Costs (as such term is defined on Exhibit A hereto), cause the aggregate Selling Costs to exceed $810,362 (the “Budgeted Selling Costs”). In that regard, Employee is authorized to retain, on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates, without the need for any further approval by the Chief Executive Officer, the services of employees of Roberts Properties, Inc. and Roberts Properties Construction, Inc. (the “Roberts Companies”) to assist with the sale of the Legacy Properties, including assisting Employee in negotiating letters of intent and sales contracts in that regard, providing potential buyers with due diligence materials, responding to requests by potential buyers, reviewing the closing documents, closing the sales and other related matters. The Company shall pay for such services of employees of the Roberts Companies in accordance with the Company’s current reimbursement arrangement with the Roberts Companies, and such reimbursements shall be part of the Selling Costs. Employee shall promptly provide the Chief Executive Officer copies of all agreements engaging third parties as described in this Section 1(d) once they are signed by Employee on behalf of the Company.

(e)

Employee shall provide to the Company monthly statements of payment and reimbursement obligations and other Selling Costs incurred by Employee on behalf of the Company in accordance with this Agreement, together with copies of invoices, receipts and other reasonable documentation, and the Company shall pay or reimburse such amounts within 30 days after Employee provides such documentation to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not have the right to bind the Company under any of the contractual arrangements referenced in Section 1(d) above or otherwise, to incur any costs or to obligate the Company to pay any amounts if and to the extent that any such contractual arrangements, costs or amounts, when taken together with all other Selling Costs, cause the aggregate Selling Costs to exceed the Budgeted Selling Costs.

(f)

The Company acknowledges that Employee’s business location shall be metropolitan Atlanta and, although Employee may be required to travel from time to time in the course of performing his duties for the Company, Employee shall not be required to relocate his residence or his place of business outside of the metropolitan Atlanta area.

2.

Term and Termination.

(a)

Term; Termination. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided, shall continue until the first (1st) anniversary of the date hereof (the “Term”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall terminate earlier than the first (1st) anniversary of the date hereof in the event any of the following occurs prior to such first (1st) anniversary: (i) the death of Employee or long-term disability of Employee; (ii) termination of this Agreement by the Company for Cause in accordance with Section 2(b) below; or (iii) the closing of the sale of all of the Legacy Properties. Even if all of the Legacy Properties have not been sold by the first (1st) anniversary of the date hereof, this Agreement and Employee’s employment with the Company shall nonetheless terminate on the first (1st) anniversary of the date hereof, and the Company’s other officers shall immediately assume responsibility for the disposition of any remaining Legacy Properties.

 

(b)

Termination for Cause. The Company shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment at any time prior to expiration of the Term upon delivery of written notice of termination for Cause (as defined below) to Employee (which notice shall specify in reasonable detail the basis upon which such termination is made), such employment to terminate immediately upon delivery of such notice (provided that Employee has received any prior notice and opportunity to cure required by this Section 2(b)), unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors of the Company, if a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors determines that Employee’s employment hereunder shall be terminated for Cause. “Cause” shall be deemed to have occurred if Employee: (i) has misappropriated, stolen or embezzled funds or property from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, (ii) has been convicted of or entered a plea of “nolo contendere” for a felony which, in the reasonable opinion of a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors, brings Employee or the Company into disrepute or is likely to cause material harm to the Company’s (or any affiliate of the Company) business, financial condition or prospects, (iii) has materially violated or breached any material provision of this Agreement and failed to cure such breach or violation to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Directors within 30 days after receipt of written notice of such breach or violation, or (iv) has violated any material law or regulation.

 

(c)

Effects of Termination. Upon the expiration of the Term or the earlier termination of Employee’s employment hereunder, all rights and obligations of the parties arising under this Agreement shall immediately cease, except as follows:

 

(i)

if this Agreement is terminated prior to expiration of the one-year Term because of (1) the death of Employee or long-term disability of Employee; or (2) the earlier closing of the sale of all of the Legacy Properties, the Company shall (A) remain obligated to continue to pay the remaining amount of Employee’s Base Salary (as defined in Section 3(a) below) to Employee or Employee’s estate, as applicable, as if he had been employed through the first (1st) anniversary of the date hereof, which amount shall be paid to Employee or his estate, as applicable, in a lump sum not later than thirty (30) days after the termination of this Agreement, (B) promptly reimburse Employee under Section 3(b) below for all reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination of this Agreement and (C) promptly reimburse the Roberts Companies for all amounts that were incurred under, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, Section 1(d) above through the date of termination of this Agreement; and

 

(ii)

Sections 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement shall survive its termination or expiration.

 

3.

Compensation and Expenses.

(a)

Base Salary. During the Term, the Company shall pay Employee a base salary at the rate of $250,000 per annum (the “Base Salary”), payable on a monthly basis in equal monthly installments in accordance with customary payroll policies and procedures, including withholding requirements.

(b)

Business Expenses. During the Term, Employee shall be authorized to incur, and shall be reimbursed for, all reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by Employee in connection with the performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. “Reasonable” is defined as that which enables Employee to perform his duties for the Company (including meals and travel) comfortably but not extravagantly. Employee shall provide to the Company receipts or other reasonable documentation of such expenses for any individual expenditure over $25, and the Company shall reimburse Employee for such expenses promptly and in any event not later than 30 days after Employee provides such documentation to the Company. Employee shall provide the Chief Executive Officer with a monthly written summary of all reimbursable business expenses incurred by Employee.

(c)

Employee Compensation and Related Expenses Not Part of Budgeted Selling Costs. Employee and the Company acknowledge that the Base Salary and related employment expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the employment of the Employee under this Agreement, and all business expenses incurred personally by Employee that are payable or reimbursable by the Company under this Agreement, shall not be Selling Costs that count towards the aggregate Budgeted Selling Costs under this Agreement, but such costs and expenses shall be deemed to be Selling Costs for purposes of the True-Up under the Stock Purchase Agreement. (Payments to the Roberts Companies shall not be deemed to be business expenses incurred personally by Employee.)

4. Severability. In the event that any portion of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such determination shall in no way affect the enforceability of other portions of the Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. To the extent that a court or other body construing this Agreement can render it enforceable by modifying any clause, while continuing to preserve the intent of the parties to protect their legitimate business interests, then the parties intend that the court or other body shall do so.
5. Assignment. The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Company. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to any successor in connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, stock, or business, whether by merger, share exchange, asset sale, consolidation or otherwise.
6. Governing Law. The validity and effect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be construed and determined in accordance with Georgia law excluding the “conflicts of law” rules thereof. Each party hereby expressly consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Atlanta, Georgia for any lawsuit filed by either party arising from or relating to this Agreement.
7. Waiver of Jury Trial. The parties waive any right to a trial by jury in any action or proceeding to enforce or defend any rights under this Agreement or under any instrument, document or agreement delivered in connection herewith or hereafter and agree that any such action or proceeding shall be tried before a court and not before a jury.

8. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and merges all prior agreements and discussions between the parties in that regard. This Agreement may not be changed or amended orally but only by an agreement in writing signed by both the parties.
9. Opportunity to Consult Counsel. Employee acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Agreement prior to the date hereof and also acknowledges having had ample time to consult counsel of Employee’s choice concerning the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy, telefax or other electronic means shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section, provided that receipt of copies of such counterparts is confirmed.

[Signatures are on the following page]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

THE COMPANY:

 

ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles S. Roberts

Name: Charles S. Roberts

Title: CEO and President

 

Address for Notices:

c/o Avenue Capital Group

399 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Edward Gellert

Telephone: 212-850-7534

Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com

 

 

EMPLOYEE:

 

CHARLES S. ROBERTS

 

 

 

/s/ Charles S. Roberts

 Signature

 

 

Address for Notices:

Charles S. Roberts

375 Northridge Road

Suite 330

Atlanta, Georgia 30350

Telephone: (770) 394-6000

Email: cr@robertsproperties.com

 

[Signature page to Employment Agreement]

 

Exhibit A

SELLING COSTS

 

Defined terms used in this Exhibit A and not defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement to which it is attached.

For purposes of this Exhibit A and the Employment Agreement, “Selling Costs” means (i) sales commissions, and (ii) all costs incurred by the Company or by Employee on behalf of the Company in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties under the Employment Agreement and the marketing and sale of the Legacy Properties (excluding Base Salary, reimbursable business expenses incurred by Employee, and other employment expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the employment of Employee), including but not limited to (A) costs incurred in connection with the engagement of any service provider, vendor, legal counsel, consultant, civil engineer, environmental consultant, architect, land planner, broker, surveyor, photographer, marketing firm, website designer or developer or other third party, (B) transfer taxes, (C) all costs incurred by the Company in connection with the services of employees of the Roberts Companies to assist with the sale of the Legacy Properties and (D) miscellaneous sales and closing costs.

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of January 30, 2015 (this “Agreement”), between ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”) and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”).

WHEREAS, the Purchaser has acquired on the date hereof an aggregate of 8,450,704 shares (the “Initial Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”) pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of November 19, 2014 between the Company and the Purchaser (the “Purchase Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed, under certain circumstances, to issue additional shares of Common Stock (the “True-Up Shares”) to Purchaser in a Post-Closing Issuance (as defined in the Purchase Agreement); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company has granted to the Purchaser a warrant to purchase additional shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares” and, together with the Initial Shares and the True-Up Shares, the “Shares”) pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of the date hereof between the Company and the Purchaser (the “Warrant Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to grant certain registration rights, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, with respect to the Shares;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchaser wish to set forth their agreement with respect to certain rights and obligations regarding the registration of the Shares.

In consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual agreements contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:

1.

DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, (i) each Person that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls, whether beneficially or as a trustee, guardian or other fiduciary, 25% or more of the capital stock having ordinary voting power in the election of directors of such Person, (ii) each Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or any Affiliate of such Person, or (iii) each of such Person’s executive officers and directors. For the purpose of this definition, “control” of a Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of its management or policies, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company from time to time.

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Stock” means the shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share.

“Company” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Controlling Person” has the meaning specified in Section 7(a).

“End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 6(b).

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Fully Diluted Basis” means at any date as of which the number of shares of Common Stock is to be determined, on a basis including all shares of Common Stock outstanding at such date and the maximum shares of Common Stock issuable in respect of Common Stock Equivalents (giving effect to the then current respective conversion prices) and other rights to purchase (directly or indirectly) shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, outstanding on such date, to the extent such rights to convert, exchange or exercise thereunder are presently exercisable. For purposes of this definition, “Common Stock Equivalents” means any security or obligation which is by its terms convertible into or redeemable for shares of Common Stock (including any units of limited partnership interest in Roberts Properties Residential, L.P.) and any option, warrant or other subscription or purchase right with respect to Common Stock.

“Holder” shall mean each owner of any Registrable Securities from time to time.

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning specified in Section 7(c).

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning specified in Section 7(c).

“Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 7(a).

“Material Adverse Change” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, circumstance, change or effect that would reasonably be likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, operations, earnings, properties or condition (financial or otherwise), of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute or shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect: any event, circumstance, change or effect arising out of or attributable to (a) changes in the economy or financial markets, including, prevailing interest rates and market conditions, generally in the United States or that are the result of acts of war or terrorism, or (b) changes that are caused by factors generally affecting the industry in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, fund, unincorporated association or organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Piggyback Registrations” has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).

“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

“Purchaser Indemnitee” has the meaning specified in Section 7(a).

“Registrable Securities” means the Initial Shares purchased by the Purchaser in connection with the Purchase Agreement, any True-Up Shares issued by the Company to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Warrant Shares issued or issuable to the Purchaser pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, in each case including upon the transfer thereof by the original Holder or any subsequent Holder, and any shares or other securities issued in respect of such shares of Common Stock by reason of or in connection with any stock dividend, stock distribution, stock split, purchase in any rights offering or in connection with any exchange for or replacement of such shares of Common Stock or any combination of shares, recapitalization, merger or consolidation, or any other equity securities issued pursuant to any other pro rata distribution with respect to such shares of Common Stock. Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security when: (a) a registration statement covering such Registrable Security has been declared effective by the Commission and the Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement, (b) the Registrable Security is sold under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act are met or (c) the Registrable Security has been otherwise transferred, the Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for the Registrable Security not bearing a legend restricting further transfer, and the Registrable Security may be resold without subsequent registration under the Securities Act.

“Registration Expenses” means all expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including without limitation all Commission and stock exchange or NYSE registration and filing fees and expenses, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including without limitation reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for all underwriters or holders as a group in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities), rating agency fees, printing expenses, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on each securities exchange or national market system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of any annual audit, special audit and “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance), securities laws liability insurance (if the Company so desires), the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” that is required to be retained by any holder of Registrable Securities pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities (but not including any underwriting discounts or commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities by the sellers of Registrable Securities) and the reasonable fees of counsel selected pursuant to Section 6 hereof by the Holders in connection with each such registration.

 

“Registration Statement” means a registration statement of the Company that covers the resale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including any prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in such registration statement.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).

“Suspension Event” has the meaning specified in Section 6(b).

“Suspension Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 6(b).

“Underwritten Offering” means a sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.

2.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

2.1              MANDATORY REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

(a)    As set forth in Section 5 hereof, the Company agrees to file on or before the 180^th day after the date of this Agreement a shelf Registration Statement on Form S-11 or such other form under the Securities Act then available to the Company providing for the resale of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 from time to time by the Holders (a “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable thereafter, and, for this purpose, the Company shall be entitled to consider the advice of the managing underwriter(s) of a public offering of the Company’s Common Stock which is then pending as to the effect that the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement could reasonably be expected to have on the marketing of the public offering. Any Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for the resale from time to time, and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available (including, without limitation, an Underwritten Offering, a direct sale to purchasers or a sale through brokers or agents, which may include sales over the internet) by the Holders of any and all Registrable Securities.

(b)   PRIORITY ON SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Company will not include in any Shelf Registration Statement any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Holders of at least 66.66% of the Registrable Securities. If the managing underwriters of an underwritten offering under the Shelf Registration Statement advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, which can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, the Company will include in such registration, (i) first, the Registrable Securities; and (ii) second, other securities, if any, requested to be included in such registration, pro rata among the holders of such other securities, on the basis of the number of shares of other securities owned by each such holder and requested to be included therein.

 

(c)    SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS. Subject to an engagement agreement to which the Company is a party, the Company shall have the right to select the investment banker or bankers, underwriters and managers to administer any Underwritten Offering under a Shelf Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such investment banker or bankers, underwriters and managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders of at least 66.66% of the Registrable Securities. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such Underwritten Offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriters selected for such underwriting and furnish to the Company such information in writing as the Company may reasonably request for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the managing underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements as are customary and reasonably requested by the managing underwriters. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of such Underwritten Offering, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter delivered at least ten (10) business days prior to the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such Underwritten Offering shall be excluded and withdrawn from the Shelf Registration Statement.

2.2              DEMAND REGISTRATION ON FORM S-3

(a)    If (i) the Company shall receive a written request (specifying that it is being made pursuant to this subsection) from one or more Holders that the Company file a registration statement on Form S-3 (or any successor form to Form S-3 regardless of its designation) for a public offering of Registrable Securities the reasonably anticipated aggregate price to the public of which would equal or exceed $5,000,000, and (ii) the Company is a registrant entitled to use Form S-3 (or any successor form to Form S-3) to register such securities, then the Company shall promptly notify all other Holders of such request and shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities that Holders have requested be registered to be registered on Form S-3 (or any successor form to Form S-3).

 

(b)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not be obligated to effect a registration pursuant to this subsection during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s estimated date of filing of, and ending on a date six (6) months following the effective date of, a registration statement pertaining to an underwritten public offering of securities for the account of the Company; provided, that the Company is actively employing in good faith its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and that the Company’s estimate of the date of filing such registration statement is made in good faith; (ii) the Company shall not be obligated to effect a registration pursuant to this subsection within six (6) months after the effective date of a prior registration under this Section; and (iii) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the President of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors it would be seriously detrimental to the Company or its shareholders for a registration statement to be filed in the near future, then the Company’s obligation to use its best efforts to file a registration statement shall be deferred for a period not to exceed 90 days; provided, however, that the Company shall not be permitted to so defer its obligation more than once in any 12-month period.

(c)    The Holders’ rights to registration under this Section 2.2 are in addition to, and not in lieu of, their rights to registration under any other section of this Agreement.

2.3              RIGHT TO PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION.

(a)    If at any time following the date of this Agreement and prior to the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, the Company proposes for any reason to register any shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (or a similar or successor form)) with respect to an offering of Common Stock by the Company for its own account or for the account of any of its stockholders, it shall at each such time promptly give written notice to the Holders of its intention to do so (but in no event less than 30 days before the anticipated filing date) and include in such registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 15 days after receipt of the Company’s notice (a “Piggyback Registration”). Such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to register such number of shares of Registrable Securities as each Holder may request and shall indicate the intended method of distribution of such Registrable Securities.

(b)   The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the shares of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Registration Statement for such offering to be included (on the same terms and conditions as the Common Stock of the Company included therein to the extent appropriate). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if in the reasonable judgment of the managing underwriter or underwriters due to the size of the offering which the Company or such other persons or entities intends to make, the success of the offering would be adversely affected by inclusion of the Registrable Securities requested to be included, then, if the offering is by the Company for its own account or is an offering by other holders registering shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to demand registration rights, then the number of shares of Common Stock to be offered for the accounts of Holders and other holders registering shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to similar piggyback registration rights shall be reduced pro rata based on the relative percentage ownership of all shares of Common Stock then outstanding owned by the Holders and such other holders to the extent necessary to reduce the total number of shares of Common Stock to be included in such offering to the amount recommended by such managing underwriter or underwriters.

 

 

3.

HOLDBACK AGREEMENTS.

(a)    The Holders agree not to effect any public sale or distribution (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of equity securities, including, without limitation, the Shares, of the Company, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, during the seven days prior to and the 90-day period beginning on the effective date of any Shelf Registration Statement or Piggyback Registration for a public offering to be underwritten on a firm commitment basis (except as part of such underwritten registration), unless the investment bankers or underwriters managing the public offering otherwise agree.

(b)   The Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause each of its directors and executive officers and each holder of at least 5% (on a Fully Diluted Basis) of the Company’s equity securities, including, without limitation, Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, purchased from the Company at any time after the date of this Agreement (other than in a registered public offering or distribution or securities issued pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Restricted Stock Plan, as amended) to agree not to effect any public sale or distribution (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of any such securities during the period described in clause (a) above (except as part of such underwritten registration), unless the underwriters managing the public offering or distribution otherwise agree.

4.

Rule 144 and 144a reporting.

With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to, so long as any Holder owns any Registrable Securities:

(a)    use its commercially reasonable best efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144(c) under the Securities Act;

(b)   use its commercially reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and

(c)    furnish to any Holder promptly upon request (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents of the Company and (iii) such other information as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such Registrable Securities without registration or pursuant to such form.

 

5.                  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:

(a)    Prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective (provided that before filing a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company will furnish to counsel selected by the Holders copies of all such documents proposed to be filed);

(b)   Subject to Section 7, prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for a period of not less than one year and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;

(c)    Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of such Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus) and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities;

(d)   Use its commercially reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions of the United States of America as the Holders reasonably request and shall maintain such qualification in effect so long as required; (provided that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subsection, (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (iii) consent to general service of process (i.e., service of process which is not limited solely to securities law violations) in any such jurisdiction);

(e)    notify each Holder promptly and, if requested by any Holder, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement registering the Registrable Securities has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal, state or foreign governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or for additional information, and (iv) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective as a result of which such Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities or the related prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (which information shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made);

 

(f)    Use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on the same securities exchange on which securities of the same class are then listed;

(g)   Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

(h)   Enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other reasonable actions as the Holders or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(i)     Use its commercially reasonable best efforts to make available, subject to any confidentiality agreements reasonably requested by the Company, for inspection by one representative appointed by the Holders any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such representative of the Holders or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any Holder, such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such Registration Statement;

(j)     Otherwise use its commercially reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and, if required, make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

(k)   use its commercially reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any equity securities, including, without limitation, the Common Stock, included in such Registration Statement for sale in any jurisdiction; in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any equity securities, including, without limitation, the Common Stock, included in such Registration Statement for sale in any jurisdiction, the Company will use its commercially reasonable best efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

(l)     Use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be reasonably necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(m) Except as provided in Section 7, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(e)(iv) of this Agreement, use its commercially reasonable best efforts to promptly prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, upon request, promptly furnish to each requesting Holder a reasonable number of copies each such supplement or post-effective amendment;

(n)   if requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any, or any Holders of Registrable Securities (i) as promptly as practicable incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment relating to the Registrable Securities such material information as the managing underwriter(s), if any, or such Holders indicate in writing relates to them or that they reasonably request be included therein and (ii) use its commercially reasonable best efforts to make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received written notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(o)   in the case of an Underwritten Offering, use its commercially reasonable best efforts to furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and the underwriters a signed counterpart, addressed to each such Holder and the underwriters, of: (i) an opinion of counsel for the Company, dated the date of each closing under the underwriting agreement, reasonably satisfactory to such Holder and the underwriters; and (ii) a “comfort” letter, dated the effective date of such Registration Statement and the date of each closing under the underwriting agreement, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements included in such Registration Statement, covering substantially the same matters with respect to such Registration Statement (and the prospectus included therein) and with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial statements, as are customarily covered in accountants’ letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities and such other financial matters as such Holder and the underwriters may reasonably request;

(p)   provide a CUSIP number, if necessary, for all Registrable Securities, not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement; and

(q)   if requested by any holder of Registrable Securities, obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the Purchaser reasonably requests.

 

It shall be a condition precedent to the obligation of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Agreement in respect of the securities which are to be registered at the request of the Holders that the Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding the Registrable Securities held by the Holders and the intended method of disposition thereof as the Company shall reasonably request in connection with such registration.

6.

REGISTRATION EXPENSES.

(a)    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all Registration Expenses will be borne by the Company. To the extent Registration Expenses are not required to be paid by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, each holder of securities included in any registration or qualification hereunder will pay those Registration Expenses allocable to the registration or qualification of such holders’ securities so included, and any Registration Expenses not so allocable will be borne by all sellers of securities included in such registration in proportion to the aggregate selling price of the securities to be so registered or qualified.

(b)   Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, in connection with each Shelf Registration Statement and any Piggyback Registration, the Company will reimburse the Holders covered by such Registration Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one United States legal counsel, which counsel shall be selected (i) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement by the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities, and (ii) in all other cases, by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, and in each case in consultation with the Company.

7.

Black out period.

(a)    Subject to the provisions of this Section 7, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, from time to time to suspend the use of the Registration Statement, following the effectiveness of a Registration Statement (and the filings with any international, federal or state securities commissions), the Company, by written notice to the Holders, may direct the Holders to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement for such times as the Company reasonably may determine is necessary and advisable if a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith, after the advice of counsel, that the Company is required by law, rule or regulation, or that it is in the best interests of the Company, to (i) supplement the prospectus or (ii) file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement in the case of (i) or (ii) to incorporate information into the Registration Statement for the purpose of (1) including in the Registration Statement any prospectus required under Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (2) reflecting in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or of the most-recent post-effective amendment) that, individually or in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change in the information set forth therein; or (3) including in the prospectus any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information. In no event may a suspension in the case of (i) last for more than five (5) business days in any singular instance and in the case of (i) and (ii) cumulatively last for more than an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any rolling twelve (12) month period commencing on the Closing Date or for more than an aggregate of sixty (60) days in any rolling ninety (90) day period, except as a result of a refusal by the Commission to declare any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement effective after the Company shall have used all commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared effective, in which case the suspension shall be terminated immediately following the effective date of the post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement. Upon the occurrence of any such suspension, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement on a post-effective basis or to take such action as is necessary to make resumed use of the Registration Statement compatible with the Company’s best interests, as applicable, so as to permit the Holders to resume sales of the Registrable Securities as soon as possible.

 

(b)   In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Registration Statement (a “Suspension Event”), the Company shall give written notice (a “Suspension Notice”) to the Holders to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing and the Company is using its commercially reasonable best efforts and taking all reasonable steps to terminate suspension of the use of the Registration Statement as promptly as possible. No Holder shall effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below). Each Holder agrees to keep confidential the fact that the Company has issued a Suspension Notice and the contents thereof. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (or such filings) following further notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Holders in the manner described above promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event.

(c)    Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company shall give a Suspension Notice pursuant to this Section 7, the Company agrees that it shall extend the period of time during which the applicable Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice and copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales; PROVIDED that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date that securities are no longer Registrable Securities.

 

 

8.

INDEMNIFICATION and contribution.

(a)    The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and any underwriter (as determined in the Securities Act) for such Holder, (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act), any such Person described in clause (i) (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a “Controlling Person”), and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives, affiliates and agents of any such Person or any Controlling Person (any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as a “Purchaser Indemnitee”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, actions, out-of-pocket expenses, and other liabilities (the “Liabilities”), including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any Purchaser Indemnitee, joint or several, directly or indirectly related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or prospectus included in such Registration Statement (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished to such Purchaser Indemnitee any amendments or supplements thereto), or any preliminary prospectus or any other document used to sell the Registrable Securities, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such Liabilities arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Purchaser Indemnitee furnished to the Company or any underwriter in writing by such Purchaser Indemnitee expressly for use therein, or (ii) any untrue statement contained in or omission from a preliminary prospectus if a copy of the prospectus (as then amended or supplemented, if the Company shall have furnished to or on behalf of the Holder participating in the distribution relating to the relevant Registration Statement any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Holder to the Person asserting any such Liabilities who purchased Registrable Securities, if such prospectus (or prospectus as amended or supplemented) is required by law to be sent or given at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Securities to such Person and the untrue statement contained in or omission from such preliminary prospectus was corrected in the prospectus (or the prospectus as amended or supplemented), or (iii) any use of any Registration Statement or prospectus included therein during a period when a stop order has been issued in respect thereof or any action or proceedings for that purpose have been initiated, or use of a Registration Statement or a prospectus included therein (including any preliminary prospectus) that has been suspended pursuant to Sections 5(e)(ii), 5(e)(iii), or 5(e)(iv) of this Agreement; provided that, with respect to this subsection (iii), the Holder using such Registration Statement or prospectus (including any preliminary Prospectus) received the notice required by Section 5(e) hereof in advance of such use. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any claim, proceeding (including any governmental investigation), or litigation of which it shall have become aware in connection with the matters addressed by this Agreement which involves the Company or a Purchaser Indemnitee. The indemnity provided for herein shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Purchaser Indemnitee.

 

(b)   In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities participating, and as a condition to such participation, such Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Person who signs the Registration Statement, each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and the respective partners, directors, officers, members, representatives, employees and agents of the Company, such Person or Controlling Person to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Purchaser Indemnitee, but only with reference to untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information relating to such Purchaser Indemnitee furnished to the Company in writing by such Purchaser Indemnitee expressly for use in any Registration Statement or related prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any related preliminary prospectus. The liability of any Purchaser Indemnitee pursuant to this paragraph shall in no event exceed the net proceeds received by such Purchaser Indemnitee from sales of Registrable Securities giving rise to such obligations.

(c)    If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”), in writing, of the commencement thereof (but the failure to so notify an Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 8, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by the failure to give notice), and the Indemnifying Party, upon request of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party and any others the Indemnifying Party may reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall assume the defense of such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party, unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Party failed within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, (iii) the Indemnifying Party and its counsel do not actively and vigorously pursue the defense of such action or (iv) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties), include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, or any Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been reasonably advised by counsel that, either (x) there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party or such Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party or (y) a conflict may exist between such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party or such Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party (in which case the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume nor direct the defense of such action on behalf of such Indemnified Party, it being understood, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel), for all such Indemnified Parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by those Indemnified Parties who sold a majority of the Registrable Securities sold by all such Indemnified Parties and any such separate firm for the Company, the directors, the officers and such control Persons of the Company as shall be designated in writing by the Company). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

 

(d)   If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any Liabilities referred to therein (other than by reason of the exceptions provided therein) or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified thereunder, then each Indemnifying Party under such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits of the Indemnified Party on the one hand and the Indemnifying Party(ies) on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Liabilities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party(ies) and the Indemnified Party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and any Purchaser Indemnitees on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by such Purchaser Indemnitees and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e)    The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if such Indemnified Parties were treated as one entity for such purpose), or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph 8(d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any Liabilities referred to in paragraph 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, in no event shall a Purchaser Indemnitee be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which proceeds received by such Purchaser Indemnitee from sales of Registrable Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Purchaser Indemnitee has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. For purposes of this Section 8, each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) a Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder and each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) the Company, and each officer, director, partner, employee, representative, agent or manager of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties, notify each party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have under this Section 8 or otherwise, except to the extent that any party is materially prejudiced by the failure to give notice. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act), shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(f)    The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Parties may otherwise have to the Indemnified Parties referred to above. The Purchaser Indemnitee’s obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of Registrable Securities sold by each of the Purchaser Indemnitees hereunder and not joint.

9.                  PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. No Person may participate in any registration hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (a) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

10.

MISCELLANEOUS.

(a)    NOTICES. All notices or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, telecopied or sent by certified, registered or express mail, postage prepaid. Any such notice shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, telecopied or sent by certified, registered or express mail or, if mailed, five days after the date of deposit in the United States mail, as follows:

 

If to the Company:

Roberts Realty Investors, Inc.

375 Northridge Road

Suite 330

Atlanta, GA 30350

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

 

With a copy to:

A-III Manager LLC

c/o Avenue Capital Group

399 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Edward Gellert

Telephone: 212-850-7534

Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com

 

If to the Purchaser:

A-III Investment Partners

c/o Avenue Capital Group

399 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Edward Gellert

Telephone: 212-850-7534

Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com

 

With a copy to:

Hunton & Williams LLP

951 East Byrd Street, Riverfront Plaza

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Attention: Daniel M. LeBey, Esq.

 

Any party may by notice given in accordance with this Section 9(a) designate another address or person for receipt of notices hereunder.

(b)   AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

(i)                 No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to the parties hereto at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

(ii)               Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and any consent to any departure by any party from the terms of any provision of this Agreement, shall be effective, (a) only if it is made or given in writing and signed by the Company and by the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the Registrable Securities and (b) only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which made or given.

(c)    SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto intend that each of the parties have the right to seek damages or specific performance in the event that any other party hereto fails to perform such party’s obligations hereunder. Therefore, if any party shall institute any action or proceeding to enforce the provisions hereof, any party against whom such action or proceeding is brought hereby waives any claim or defense therein that the plaintiff party has an adequate remedy at law.

(d)   HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(e)    SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired, unless the provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall substantially impair the benefits of the remaining provisions hereof.

(f)    ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

(g)   TERM OF AGREEMENT. The provisions of this Agreement shall become effective upon the execution hereof and shall terminate as provided herein.

(h)   VARIATIONS IN PRONOUNS. All pronouns and any variations thereof refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the context may require.

(i)     GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF.

 

(j)     FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each of the parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, execute such instruments and take such action as may be reasonably required or desirable to carry out the provisions hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(k)   SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, heirs, legatees and legal representatives. This Agreement is not assignable except in connection with a transfer of Shares in accordance with this Agreement.

(l)     COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signatures on next page]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY:	ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
	/s/ Charles S. Roberts
	Name: Charles S. Roberts
	Title: CEO and President
PURCHASER:	A-III Investment Partners LLC
	/s/ Edward Gellert
	Name: Edward Gellert
	Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

tax protection agreement

 

 

THIS TAX PROTECTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 30^th day of January, 2015 by and between Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and Roberts Properties Residential, L.P, a Georgia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership,” and, together with the Company, the “Seller Parties”), A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”) and A-III Manager LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager” and, together with the Purchaser, the “Purchaser Parties” and, together with the Purchaser and the Seller Parties, the “Parties” and each a “Party”), for the benefit of the Eligible Investors (as defined in this Agreement below) who shall be designated third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Seller Parties and the Purchaser have entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2014, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) on the date hereof (the “Closing Date”) the Purchaser has purchased from the Company, and the Company has issued and sold to the Purchaser, 8,450,704 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), (ii) the Company has agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement, to issue additional shares of Common Stock to the Purchaser in a Post-Closing Issuance (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement), and (iii) the Company has granted to the Purchaser a warrant to purchase additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of the date hereof between the Company and the Purchaser; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, on the date hereof, the Seller Parties and the Manager have entered into that certain Management Agreement pursuant to which, among other things, the Seller Parties have engaged the Manager, and the Manager has agreed, to provide certain management services for the Seller Parties; and

WHEREAS, under the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Parties and the Purchaser have agreed that the Parties shall enter into this Agreement on the Closing Date.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

1.      Definitions.

“Eligible Investors” means persons who own both units and shares.

“Offering” means the offering by the Operating Partnership pursuant to the Memorandum to Eligible Investors.

“Memorandum” means that certain Confidential Private Offering Memorandum dated July 8, 2013, a copy of which has been provided to the Purchaser.

“Necessary Actions” means, with respect to a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are permitted by applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules and, in the case of any action by the Company that requires a vote or other action on the part of the Board, to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties that the Company’s directors may have in such capacity) necessary to cause such result, including: (i) causing members of the Board to act in a certain manner; (ii) executing agreements and instruments; and (iii) making or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

 

“Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement of the Operating Partnership, as amended.

“shares” means shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock purchased in the future on the NYSE MKT stock exchange (or other exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed).

“units” means units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership.

2.      Agreement by the Parties.

Each Party agrees to take all Necessary Actions within its reasonable control (a) to cause the Offering to continue to be available to Eligible Investors and (b) to cause the Operating Partnership to retain the shares it has previously acquired in the Offering and any shares it acquires in the future in the Offering.

3.      Term of Agreement.

(a)      This Agreement shall continue in effect until the earlier of:

(i)      the date on which the Company has purchased, pursuant to Section 6.7(f) of the Partnership Agreement, all (but not less than all) outstanding units held by limited partners (other than the Company as the general partner of the Operating Partnership);

(ii)      the dissolution of the Operating Partnership;

(iii)      the date on which all of the units issued in the Offering have been exchanged for shares or otherwise sold or transferred by the Eligible Investor who participated in the Offering, including via bankruptcy or death;

(iv)      the date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 4(g);

(v)      the date on which all of the shares held by the Operating Partnership are converted into or exchanged for cash in connection with a merger, sale of assets, or other extraordinary transaction involving the Company; or

(vi)      the dissolution of the Company.

(b)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Board designation rights (the “Board Designation Rights”) granted to the Purchaser under Section 2 of that certain Governance and Voting Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Company, the Purchaser and Charles S. Roberts, (the “Governance and Voting Agreement”) are terminated in accordance with the terms thereof sooner than the date on which this Agreement is terminated under Section 3(a) above, the obligations of the Purchaser and the Manager under this Agreement shall automatically terminate on the date that the Purchaser’s Board Designation Rights terminate under the Governance and Voting Agreement.

 

4.      Miscellaneous.

(a)                Successors and Assigns. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Party other than the Parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

(b)               Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia.

(c)               Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

(d)               Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

(e)                Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or: (i) personal delivery to the Party to be notified, (ii) one (1) business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next business day delivery, with written verification of receipt, or (iii) delivery via email. All communications shall be sent to the respective Parties at their address or email address, as applicable, as set forth on the signature page hereto, or to such address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 4(e). Notices and other communications to Eligible Investors shall be delivered, using any of the same means described above, to the attention of Charles S. Roberts c/o Roberts Properties, Inc., 375 Northridge Road, Suite 330 Atlanta, GA 30350; Email: cr@robertsproperties.com.

(f)                Attorneys’ Fees. If any action at law or in equity (including arbitration) is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.

 

(g)               Amendments and Waivers. It is expressly agreed that the purchasers of units in the Offering, but not their successors and assigns, shall be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement for as long as they hold the units they purchased in the Offering and that each of them may enforce the provisions of this Agreement. Accordingly, any term of this Agreement may be amended, terminated or waived only with the written consent of (i) each of the Parties hereto and (ii) each of the original purchasers of units in the Offering if and only if they hold at the time of such amendment, termination or waiver any of the units they purchased in the Offering. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 4(g) shall be binding upon the Parties.

(h)               Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

(i)                 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any Party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

(j)                 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the Parties (including the purchasers of units in the Offering) shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

[Signatures are on the following page.]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Tax Protection Agreement as of the date first written above.

ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC.   By:    /s/ Charles S. Roberts                               Name: Charles S. Roberts Title: CEO and President	Address: 399 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Edward Gellert Telephone: 212-850-7534 Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com
ROBERTS PROPERTIES RESIDENTIAL, L.P. By: Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., its general partner       By:   /s/ Charles S. Roberts                                Name: Charles S. Roberts Title: President	Address: 399 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Edward Gellert Telephone: 212-850-7534 Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com
A-III INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC       By:   /s/ Edward Gellert                                       Name: Edward Gellert Title: Authorized Signatory	Address: c/o Avenue Capital Group 399 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Edward Gellert Telephone: 212-850-7534 Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com
A-III MANAGER LLC       By:   /s/ Edward Gellert                                       Name: Edward Gellert Title: Authorized Signatory	Address: c/o Avenue Capital Group 399 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Edward Gellert Telephone: 212-850-7534 Email: egellert@avenuecapital.com

 

[Signature page to Tax Protection Agreement]

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, AND EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 5 OF THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT, THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR, IN THE OPINION OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES LAW COUNSEL, SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.

WARRANT AGREEMENT

This Warrant Agreement (“Agreement”) is executed as of this 30^th day of January, 2015, by Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“Company”), in favor of A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Initial Holder”), in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Initial Holder has undertaken substantial financial risk in connection with the investment (“Share Purchase”) in the Company pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement between Initial Holder and the Company, dated November 19, 2014 (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Share Purchase by the Initial Holder, the Company desires to grant to Initial Holder warrants (each, a “Warrant” and, collectively, the “Warrants”) to purchase shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”); and

WHEREAS, the execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements hereinafter set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and, by acceptance of a Warrant, the Initial Holder, on its behalf and on behalf of all subsequent registered holders of the Warrants (each, a “Holder” and, collectively, the “Holders”), agrees as follows:

1.                  Definitions. All capitalized terms that are not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

2.                  Grant of Warrants. Subject to the terms, restrictions, limitations and conditions stated in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby grants to the Initial Holder the number of Warrants set forth on Exhibit A. Each Warrant initially shall be exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock (a “Warrant Share” and, collectively, the “Warrant Shares”), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13 of this Agreement. The Initial Holder and all subsequent Holders shall have the rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement. The Warrants issued hereby are being issued to the Initial Holder in recognition of the financial risk undertaken by the Initial Holder in connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement and the other terms and conditions thereof.

3.                  Warrant Certificates. The Warrants shall be evidenced by one or more warrant certificates, which shall be substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B (“Warrant Certificates”). The Warrant Certificates shall have such marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements thereon as the Company deems appropriate, so long as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as are required to comply with any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares. The Warrant Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the manual, facsimile or imprinted signature of its Chief Executive Officer, President or any Senior Vice President and shall be attested by the manual, facsimile or imprinted signature of its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary.

 

4.                  Term of Warrants. The term for the exercise of the Warrants shall begin at the closing of the Share Purchase (the “Issue Date”) and expire at 5:00 p.m. New York, New York time on the third (3^rd) anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Expiration Time”).

5.                  Securities Law Representations and Related Provisions.

(a)                Purchase Entirely for Own Account. This Agreement is made with the Initial Holder in reliance upon the Initial Holder’s representation to the Company, which by the Initial Holder’s execution of this Agreement, the Initial Holder hereby confirms, that the Warrants to be acquired by the Initial Holder will be acquired for investment for the Initial Holder’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Initial Holder has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Initial Holder further represents that the Initial Holder does not presently have any Contract or undertaking with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Warrants or Warrant Shares.

(b)               Initial Holder Is an Accredited Investor. The Initial Holder is, or each beneficial owner of equity interests in the Purchaser is, an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

(c)                Conditions to Transfer and Exercise of the Warrants and Warrant Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Warrants may be transferred unless at the time a Holder seeks to transfer such Warrants, either (a) a prospectus or registration statement relating to the Warrants is in effect under applicable laws and rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and applicable state blue sky laws, or (b) the transfer of Warrants is made pursuant to an available exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the United States and applicable state blue sky laws in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s securities counsel. Further, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Warrants will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue Warrant Shares upon the exercise of Warrants unless at the time a Holder seeks to exercise such Warrants, either (a) a prospectus or registration statement relating to the Warrant Shares is in effect under applicable laws and rules of the SEC and applicable state blue sky laws, or (b) the issuance of the Warrant Shares is made pursuant to an available exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the United States and applicable state blue sky laws in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s securities counsel. Except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Initial Holder dated January 30, 2015, the Initial Holder acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Warrants or the Warrant Shares and has no obligation to register or qualify the Warrants or the Warrant Shares for resale. The Initial Holder further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements that include the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Warrants and the Warrant Shares, whether the Holder is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, and on requirements relating to the Company that are outside the Holder’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy.

 

(d)               Legends. This Agreement has the legend set forth on page one above. Certificates evidencing the Warrant Shares shall be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form unless a prospectus or registration statement relating to the Warrant Shares is in effect under applicable laws and rules of the SEC and applicable state blue sky laws:

THESE SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, AND EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 5 OF THE WARRANT UNDER WHICH THESE SHARES WERE ISSUED (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE COMPANY), THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR, IN THE OPINION OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES LAW COUNSEL, SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.

6.                  Exercise of Warrants.

(a)                The purchase price per Warrant Share to be paid by a Holder for Warrant Shares subject to the Warrants shall be equal (a) initially, to the Purchase Price Per Share in cash, as adjusted pursuant to Section 6.2(c) of the Stock Purchase Agreement and (b) after the post-Closing adjustment pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Adjustment Date Purchase Price Per Share, subject in each case to further adjustment as set forth in Section 13 of this Agreement (the “Exercise Price”). In no event shall this Agreement be amended to provide for the payment of the Exercise Price other than in cash (including by exchange of securities, including Warrants, or by other forms of “cashless exercise”), and the parties hereby acknowledge that the Company would not have otherwise entered into this Agreement.

(b)               Subject to Section 5, a Holder may exercise Warrants evidenced by a Warrant Certificate in whole or in part at any time prior to the Expiration Time by delivering to the secretary of the Company (i) the Warrant Certificate; (ii) a written notice to the Company specifying the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which Warrants are being exercised; and (iii) payment either by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company or by certified or official bank check or bank cashier’s check payable to the order of the Company, in each case for the full amount of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Warrant Shares being acquired.

7.                  Delivery of Warrant Shares; Partial Exercise. Upon receipt of the items set forth in Section 6(b), and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly deliver to, and register in the name of, the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the number of Warrant Shares acquired by exercise of a Warrant. In the event of a partial exercise of Warrant(s), a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrant Shares that remain subject to the Warrant shall be issued by the Company to such Holder or to his duly authorized assigns.

 

8.                  Registration of Transfer and Exchange. Subject to Section 5:

(a)                The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its principal place of business or at such other location designated by the Company, a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe, the registrar and transfer agent (the “Securities Registrar”) shall register the Warrant Certificates and the transfers thereof as provided herein (“Securities Register”). The initial Securities Registrar shall be the secretary or assistant secretary of the Company, and thereafter, the Securities Registrar may be removed and/or appointed as authorized by the Company.

(b)               Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Warrant Certificate, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Holder or his duly authorized assigns, one or more new Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount.

(c)                At the option of the Holder, Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for other Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount upon surrender of the Warrant Certificates to be exchanged. Upon such surrender, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Holder or his duly authorized assigns, one or more new Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount.

(d)               Every Warrant Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Securities Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Securities Registrar, duly executed by the registered Holder or by such Holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.

9.                  Replacement of Warrant Certificates.

(a)                Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Warrant Certificate and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and amount to the Company or, in the case of mutilation, surrender and cancellation of such Warrant Certificate, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Holder or his duly authorized assigns after compliance with Section 5, one or more new Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount. In the case of loss, theft or destruction of a Warrant Certificate, prior to the issuance of a replacement Warrant Certificate, the Company may also require that a bond be posted in such amount as the Company may determine is necessary as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Warrant Certificate.

(b)               All Warrants shall be held and owned under the express condition that the provisions of this Section are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificates and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

(c)                Upon the issuance of any new Warrant Certificate under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Company and its agents and counsel) connected therewith.

(d)               Every new Warrant Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly issued hereunder.

10.              Persons Deemed Holders. Prior to the due presentment of a Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, any Securities Registrar and any other agent of the Company may treat the person in whose name such Warrant Certificate is registered in the Securities Register as the sole Holder of such Warrant Certificate and of the Warrant represented by such Warrant Certificate for all purposes whatsoever, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Warrant Certificate or in the Warrant represented by such Warrant Certificate on the part of any person and shall be unaffected by any notice to the contrary.

11.              Cancellation. All Warrant Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, exchange or registration of transfer shall be cancelled by the Securities Registrar, and no Warrant Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof, except as expressly permitted by the provisions of this Agreement.

12.              Fractional Warrant Shares. A Warrant Certificate exercisable for fractional Warrant Shares shall receive, upon surrender of the Warrant Certificate, a check in the amount equal to any cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock to which such Holder may be otherwise entitled.

13.              Stock Dividends, Splits, Etc.

(a)                If, prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or declare and pay a dividend on its outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in additional shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Price, as then in effect, shall be proportionately reduced, and the Company shall proportionately increase the number of Warrant Shares then subject to exercise under this Warrant (and not previously exercised.)

(b)               If, prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall combine its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a lesser number of shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Price, as then in effect, shall be proportionately increased, and the Company shall proportionately reduce the number of Warrant Shares then subject to exercise under this Warrant (and not previously exercised.)

 

14.              Reorganization, Reclassifications, Consolidation or Merger. If, prior to the Expiration Time, there shall be a reorganization or reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than as provided in Section 13 of this Agreement), or any consolidation or merger of the Company with another entity, the Holder shall be entitled to receive, during the remainder of the term of this Agreement and upon payment of the Exercise Price, the number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Company or of the successor entity (or its parent company) resulting from such consolidation or merger, as the case may be, to which a holder of Warrant Shares, deliverable upon the exercise of a Warrant, would have been entitled upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation or merger; and, in any case, the Company shall make appropriate adjustments (as determined by the board of directors of the Company in its sole discretion) in the application of the provisions with respect to the rights and interests of the Holders so that the provisions set forth in this Agreement (including the adjustment to the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants) shall be applicable, as nearly as may be practicable, to any shares or other property thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant.

15.              Certificate as to Adjustments; Issuance of New Warrant Certificates. Within thirty (30) days following any adjustment provided for in Section 13 or 14 of this Agreement, the Company shall give written notice of the adjustment to the Holders. The notice shall state the Exercise Price as adjusted and the increased or decreased number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants and shall set forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation for each. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in the Warrant Certificates, the Company may, at its option, issue new Warrant Certificates evidencing the Warrants, in such form as may be approved by the Company, to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price and the number or kind of stock or other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants.

16.              Miscellaneous.

(a)                Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be made hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice or communication and shall be deemed delivered and effective when given personally or mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid as follows (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice): (i) if given to the Company, at its principal place of business; and (ii) if given to a Holder, at the address set forth for the Holder on the books and records of the Company. A notice given to the Company by a Holder with respect to the exercise of a Warrant shall not be effective until received by the Company.

(b)               The Company shall, at all times, reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or out of any shares of Common Stock held in treasury that number of shares of Common Stock that will from time to time be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants. The Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Warrant Shares delivered upon exercise of any Warrants shall, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Certificates for such Warrant Shares, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(c)                The Company shall pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges (other than any applicable income taxes) that may be payable in respect of the issuance and delivery of Warrant Certificates (excluding the Warrant Certificate issued to the Initial Holder) or of certificates for Warrant Shares receivable upon the exercise of any Warrants; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of the issuance and delivery (i) of any Warrant Certificate or stock certificate registered in a name other than that of the Holder of the Warrant Certificate that has been surrendered, or (ii) of any Warrant Certificate under Section 9.

 

(d)               No Holder, in his capacity as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or shall be deemed for any other purpose the holder of the Warrant Shares or other securities which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of such Warrant. Nothing contained herein or in any Warrant Certificate shall be construed to confer upon any Holder, in his capacity as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders of the Company at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notices of meeting or other actions affecting shareholders.

(e)                Each Holder, by accepting a Warrant Certificate, accepts and agrees to the terms of this Agreement. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, the Initial Holder and the subsequent Holders and their respective heirs, successors, representatives and permitted assigns. Nothing expressed or referred to herein is intended or will be construed to give any person other than the Company or the Holders any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provision herein contained, it being the intention of the Company and the Holders that this Agreement, the assumption of obligations and statements of responsibilities hereunder, and all other conditions and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of the Company and the Holders and for the benefit of no other person.

(f)                This Agreement constitutes the full understanding of the Company and the Holders, a complete allocation of risks between them and a complete and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions of their agreement relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements, whether written or oral, that may exist between the Company and any Holder with respect thereto. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no conditions, usage of trade, course of dealing or performance, understanding or agreement purporting to modify, vary, explain or supplement the terms or conditions of this Agreement will be binding unless hereafter or contemporaneously herewith made in writing and signed by the party to be bound, and no modification will be effected by the acknowledgment or acceptance of documents containing terms or conditions at variance with or in addition to those set forth in this Agreement.

(g)                The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement will refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision in this Agreement. Each use herein of the masculine, neuter or feminine gender will be deemed to include the other genders. Each use herein of the plural will include the singular and vice versa, in each case as the context requires or as is otherwise appropriate. The word “or” is used in the inclusive sense. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” References to a person are also to its permitted successors or assigns. No provision of this Agreement is to be construed to require, directly or indirectly, any person to take any action, or omit to take any action, which action or omission would violate applicable law (whether statutory or common law), rule or regulation.

 

(h)               THIS AGREEMENT, EACH WARRANT AND EACH WARRANT CERTIFICATE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE INVOLVING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT VENUE FOR SUCH DISPUTE SHALL LIE EXCLUSIVELY IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

********

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer as of the date first above written.

 

	ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
	By:	/s/ Charles S. Roberts
	Name:	Charles S. Roberts
	Title:	CEO and President

 

 

Acknowledged and Agreed as of the date first above written:

A-III Investment Partners LLC

 

By:	/s/ Edward Gellert
Name:	Edward Gellert
Title:	Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature page to Warrant Agreement]

 

EXHIBIT A

WARRANTS GRANTED

 

Name		Number of Warrants
A-III Investment Partners LLC		The number of Warrants equal to $38,000,000 divided by the Purchase Price Per Share as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement, as adjusted pursuant to Section 6.2(c) of the Stock Purchase Agreement and the post-closing adjustment pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to further adjustment pursuant to Section 13 of the Warrant Agreement.
		26,760,563

 

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE

THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THAT CERTAIN WARRANT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF __________, 20__ BY ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC., A GEORGIA CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), IN FAVOR OF THE INITIAL HOLDER, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE “AGREEMENT”), HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, AND EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 5 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT, THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR, IN THE OPINION OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES LAW COUNSEL, SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION. A COPY OF THE AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AND MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE COMPANY DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE, BY ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT.

No. W-001

Number of Warrants: _______

 

 

WARRANT CERTIFICATE

This Warrant Certificate certifies that A-III Investment Partners LLC, or registered assigns, is the registered holder of a warrant to purchase the number of fully-paid and non-assessable shares of common stock, $0.01 par value of the Company (“Warrant Shares”) set forth above, at the Exercise Price set forth in Section 6 of the Agreement (the “Warrant”).

The Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate is part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants issued pursuant to the Agreement, which is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company and the Holder. All terms used, but not otherwise defined, in this Warrant Certificate shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Agreement. If any provision of this Warrant Certificate conflicts with a provision of the Agreement, the provision of the Agreement shall supersede.

This Warrant may not be exercised after 5:00 p.m., New York, New York time, on the third (3^rd) anniversary of the Issue Date, as provided in Section 4 of the Agreement.

The Holder may exercise the Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate in whole or in part at any time prior to the Expiration Time by delivering to the secretary or assistant secretary of the Company (i) the Warrant Certificate; (ii) a written notice to the Company specifying the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which Warrants are being exercised; and (iii) a check for the full amount of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Warrant Shares being acquired.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding and notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the contrary, this Warrant may not be transferred unless at the time the Holder seeks to transfer such Warrant, either (a) a prospectus or registration statement relating to the Warrant is in effect under applicable laws and rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and applicable state blue sky laws, or (b) the transfer of the Warrant is made pursuant to an available exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the United States and applicable state blue sky laws in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s securities counsel. Further, notwithstanding the preceding and anything in the Agreement to the contrary, this Warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue Warrant Shares upon the exercise of Warrants unless at the time the Holder seeks to exercise such Warrant, either (a) a prospectus or registration statement relating to the Warrant Shares is in effect under applicable laws and rules of the SEC and applicable state blue sky laws, or (b) the issuance of the Warrant Shares is made pursuant to an available exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the United States and applicable state blue sky laws in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s securities counsel. Except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Initial Holder dated                , 20   , the Holder acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify this Warrant or the Warrant Shares and has no obligation to register or qualify this Warrant or the Warrant Shares for resale. The Holder further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements that include the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Warrant and the Warrant Shares, whether the Holder is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, and on requirements relating to the Company that are outside the Holder’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy.

Upon receipt of the items set forth above, and subject to the terms of the Agreement, the Company shall promptly deliver to, and register in the name of, the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the number of Warrant Shares acquired by exercise of this Warrant. In the event of a partial exercise of this Warrant, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrant Shares that remain subject to this Warrant shall be issued by the Company to such Holder or to his duly authorized assigns.

The Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the Exercise Price and the type and/or number of the Company’s securities issuable thereupon may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. In such event, the Company may, at its option, issue a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number and/or type of securities issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate, subject to the terms of the Agreement, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Holder or his duly authorized assigns, one or more new Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount.

Prior to the due presentment of this Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, any Securities Registrar and any other agent of the Company may treat the person in whose name this Warrant Certificate is registered in the Securities Register as the sole Holder of this Warrant Certificate and of the Warrant represented by this Warrant Certificate for all purposes whatsoever, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in this Warrant Certificate or in the Warrant represented by this Warrant Certificate on the part of any person and shall be unaffected by any notice to the contrary.

The Holder, in his capacity as such, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or shall be deemed from any other purpose the holder of the Warrant Shares or other securities which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant. Nothing contained in this Warrant Certificate shall be construed to confer upon the Holder, in his capacity as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders of the Company at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notices of meeting or other actions affecting shareholders.

 

Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be made by the Holder to the Company shall be in writing, duly signed by the Holder and shall be deemed delivered and effective when given personally or mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid to the Company, at its principal place of business (or such other address as designated in writing to the Holder by the Company). A notice given to the Company by a Holder with respect to the exercise of this Warrant shall not be effective until received by the Company.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant Certificate to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated as of _________, 20__

 

	ROBERTS REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

RESIGNATION AND RELEASE

 

Reference is made to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), Roberts Properties Residential, L.P., a Georgia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”), a condition of which is the delivery by the Company to the Purchaser of resignations and releases from each of the directors, officers and employees of the Company. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Resignation and Release shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges that delivery of this Resignation and Release is a material inducement to Purchaser’s willingness to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and that Purchaser would not do so without the benefit of the provisions of this Resignation and Release.

 

Effective as of the Closing Date, the undersigned hereby resigns from any and all positions that he may hold as a director, officer or employee of the Company.

 

In exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby releases and forever discharges, and covenants not to assert or file any claim against, the Company, the Purchaser and each of their respective affiliates, and the respective shareholders, members, partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, benefit plans, successors and assigns thereof (the “Released Parties”) from or with respect to any and all promises, liabilities, amounts due or payable, indebtedness, losses, claims, litigation, demands and causes of action, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, including, but not limited to, any actions brought in tort or for breach of contract, or under any federal or state statute, law or regulation, which the undersigned has, had or purports to have against any of the Released Parties as of or prior to the Closing Date; provided however that the undersigned retains all rights as an Indemnified Party under the Purchase Agreement to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by the Company as provided in the Organizational Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and pursuant to Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements between the Company and the undersigned.

 

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Resignation and Release as of the date first written above.

 

 

	/s/ John Davis
	John Davis

 

[Signature page to Resignation and Release]

 

RESIGNATION AND RELEASE

 

Reference is made to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), Roberts Properties Residential, L.P., a Georgia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”), a condition of which is the delivery by the Company to the Purchaser of resignations and releases from each of the directors, officers and employees of the Company. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Resignation and Release shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges that delivery of this Resignation and Release is a material inducement to Purchaser’s willingness to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and that Purchaser would not do so without the benefit of the provisions of this Resignation and Release.

 

Effective as of the Closing Date, the undersigned hereby resigns from any and all positions that he may hold as a director, officer or employee of the Company.

 

In exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby releases and forever discharges, and covenants not to assert or file any claim against, the Company, the Purchaser and each of their respective affiliates, and the respective shareholders, members, partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, benefit plans, successors and assigns thereof (the “Released Parties”) from or with respect to any and all promises, liabilities, amounts due or payable, indebtedness, losses, claims, litigation, demands and causes of action, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, including, but not limited to, any actions brought in tort or for breach of contract, or under any federal or state statute, law or regulation, which the undersigned has, had or purports to have against any of the Released Parties as of or prior to the Closing Date; provided however that the undersigned retains all rights as an Indemnified Party under the Purchase Agreement to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by the Company as provided in the Organizational Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and pursuant to Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements between the Company and the undersigned.

 

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Resignation and Release as of the date first written above.

 

 

	/s/ Charles R. Elliot
	Charles R. Elliot

 

[Signature page to Resignation and Release]

 

RESIGNATION AND RELEASE

 

Reference is made to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), Roberts Properties Residential, L.P., a Georgia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”), a condition of which is the delivery by the Company to the Purchaser of resignations and releases from each of the directors, officers and employees of the Company. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Resignation and Release shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges that delivery of this Resignation and Release is a material inducement to Purchaser’s willingness to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and that Purchaser would not do so without the benefit of the provisions of this Resignation and Release.

 

Effective as of the Closing Date, the undersigned hereby resigns from any and all positions that he may hold as a director, officer or employee of the Company.

 

In exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby releases and forever discharges, and covenants not to assert or file any claim against, the Company, the Purchaser and each of their respective affiliates, and the respective shareholders, members, partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, benefit plans, successors and assigns thereof (the “Released Parties”) from or with respect to any and all promises, liabilities, amounts due or payable, indebtedness, losses, claims, litigation, demands and causes of action, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, including, but not limited to, any actions brought in tort or for breach of contract, or under any federal or state statute, law or regulation, which the undersigned has, had or purports to have against any of the Released Parties as of or prior to the Closing Date; provided however that the undersigned retains all rights as an Indemnified Party under the Purchase Agreement to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by the Company as provided in the Organizational Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and pursuant to Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements between the Company and the undersigned.

 

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Resignation and Release as of the date first written above.

 

 

	/s/ Weldon Humphries
	Weldon Humphries

 

[Signature page to Resignation and Release]

 

RESIGNATION AND RELEASE

 

Reference is made to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), Roberts Properties Residential, L.P., a Georgia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”), a condition of which is the delivery by the Company to the Purchaser of resignations and releases from each of the directors, officers and employees of the Company. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Resignation and Release shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges that delivery of this Resignation and Release is a material inducement to Purchaser’s willingness to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and that Purchaser would not do so without the benefit of the provisions of this Resignation and Release.

 

Effective as of the Closing Date, the undersigned hereby resigns from any and all positions that he may hold as a director, officer or employee of the Company.

 

In exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby releases and forever discharges, and covenants not to assert or file any claim against, the Company, the Purchaser and each of their respective affiliates, and the respective shareholders, members, partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, benefit plans, successors and assigns thereof (the “Released Parties”) from or with respect to any and all promises, liabilities, amounts due or payable, indebtedness, losses, claims, litigation, demands and causes of action, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, including, but not limited to, any actions brought in tort or for breach of contract, or under any federal or state statute, law or regulation, which the undersigned has, had or purports to have against any of the Released Parties as of or prior to the Closing Date; provided however that the undersigned retains all rights as an Indemnified Party under the Purchase Agreement to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by the Company as provided in the Organizational Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and pursuant to Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements between the Company and the undersigned.

 

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Resignation and Release as of the date first written above.

 

 

	/s/ Wm. Jarrell Jones
	Wm. Jarrell Jones

 

[Signature page to Resignation and Release]

 

RESIGNATION AND RELEASE

 

Reference is made to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), Roberts Properties Residential, L.P., a Georgia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”), a condition of which is the delivery by the Company to the Purchaser of resignations and releases from each of the directors, officers and employees of the Company. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Resignation and Release shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The undersigned, Charles S. Roberts, acknowledges that delivery of this Resignation and Release is a material inducement to Purchaser’s willingness to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and that Purchaser would not do so without the benefit of the provisions of this Resignation and Release. This Resignation and Release is conditioned upon the execution of the Employment Agreement.

 

Effective as of the Closing Date, the undersigned, Charles S. Roberts, hereby resigns from his positions as Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, as a director of the Company (subject to the right to be appointed as a director pursuant to the Governance and Voting Agreement), and from any and all positions that he may hold as a director, officer, employee or manager of any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

In exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby releases and forever discharges, and covenants not to assert or file any claim against, the Company, the Purchaser and each of their respective affiliates and the respective shareholders, members, partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, benefit plans, successors and assigns thereof (the “Released Parties”) from or with respect to any and all promises, liabilities, amounts due or payable, indebtedness, losses, claims, litigation, demands and causes of action, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, including, but not limited to, any actions brought in tort or for breach of contract, or under any federal or state statute, law or regulation, which the undersigned has, had or purports to have against any of the Released Parties, as of or prior to the Closing Date; provided, however, that the undersigned retains all rights as an Indemnified Party under the Purchase Agreement to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by the Company as provided in the Organizational Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and pursuant to the Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement between the Company and the undersigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Resignation and Release, the provisions of this Resignation and Release shall not constitute a release by the undersigned of any rights he has under the Employment Agreement to be executed and delivered by the Company and the undersigned as of the date hereof.

 

 

[Signature page follows]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Resignation and Release as of the date first written above.

 

 

	/s/ Charles S. Roberts
	Charles S. Roberts

 

[Signature page to Resignation and Release]

 

RESIGNATION AND RELEASE

 

Reference is made to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among Roberts Realty Investors, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), Roberts Properties Residential, L.P., a Georgia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and A-III Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”), a condition of which is the delivery by the Company to the Purchaser of resignations and releases from each of the directors, officers and employees of the Company. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Resignation and Release shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges that delivery of this Resignation and Release is a material inducement to Purchaser’s willingness to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and that Purchaser would not do so without the benefit of the provisions of this Resignation and Release.

 

Effective as of the Closing Date, the undersigned hereby resigns from any and all positions that he may hold as a director, officer or employee of the Company.

 

In exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby releases and forever discharges, and covenants not to assert or file any claim against, the Company, the Purchaser and each of their respective affiliates, and the respective shareholders, members, partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, benefit plans, successors and assigns thereof (the “Released Parties”) from or with respect to any and all promises, liabilities, amounts due or payable, indebtedness, losses, claims, litigation, demands and causes of action, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, including, but not limited to, any actions brought in tort or for breach of contract, or under any federal or state statute, law or regulation, which the undersigned has, had or purports to have against any of the Released Parties as of or prior to the Closing Date; provided however that the undersigned retains all rights as an Indemnified Party under the Purchase Agreement to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by the Company as provided in the Organizational Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and pursuant to Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements between the Company and the undersigned.

 

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Resignation and Release as of the date first written above.

 

 

	/s/ Anthony Shurtz
	Anthony Shurtz

 

[Signature page to Resignation and Release]

 

Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. Closes Investment by Affiliate of
Avenue Capital Group and Island Capital Group

 

Company Renamed ACRE Realty Investors Inc.

 

Will Commence Trading Under New Ticker Symbol “AIII” on Monday, February 2, 2015

 

ATLANTA, Jan. 30, 2015 / PRNewswire/ – Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. (NYSE MKT: RPI) (the “Company”) announces that today it closed the transactions contemplated by the previously announced stock purchase agreement with A-III Investment Partners LLC (“A-III”), a joint venture between affiliates of Avenue Capital Group and C-III Capital Partners LLC, which is controlled by Island Capital Group LLC.

 

In conjunction with the closing, the Company’s name is being changed to ACRE Realty Investors Inc., and the name of the Company’s operating partnership is being changed to ACRE Realty LP. On Monday, February 2, 2015, the Company’s common stock will commence trading under the new ticker symbol “AIII” (NYSE MKT: AIII). The principal office of the Company has been moved to 399 Park Avenue, 6^th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

 

At the closing, A-III purchased 8,450,704 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $1.42 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $12 million, and the Company issued to A-III warrants to purchase up to an additional 26,760,563 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.42 per share ($38 million in the aggregate). The purchase price per share and the exercise price of the warrants are subject to a potential post-closing adjustment upon completion of the sale of the Company’s four existing land parcels, which could result in the issuance of additional shares of common stock to A-III and an increase in the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants.

 

The transaction was approved by the Company’s shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders on January 22, 2015. As a result of the transaction, A-III is now the largest shareholder of the Company, owning approximately 47% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, or approximately 40% on a diluted basis assuming conversion of the outstanding units of limited partnership interest in the Company’s operating partnership into Company common stock and assuming no exercise of the warrants.

 

Immediately following the closing, the Company’s Board of Directors was expanded from five to seven members, and its composition was changed as a result of the resignations of Weldon R. Humphries, William Jarell Jones, John L. Davis and Charles R. Elliott and the appointments of Edward Gellert, Robert C. Lieber, Bruce D. Frank, Robert G. Koen, Robert L. Loverd and Kyle Permut to fill the vacancies. Charles S. Roberts, who is continuing on the Board, resigned as Chairman, and Edward Gellert was appointed as the new Chairman. Messrs. Gellert and Lieber are affiliated with A-III, and Messrs. Frank, Koen, Loverd and Permut are independent directors.

 

The Company is now externally managed by A-III Manager LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of A-III, pursuant to a management agreement between the Company and A-III Manager that was executed at the closing. A-III Manager has appointed the following persons as the new executive officers of the Company: Edward Gellert is Chief Executive Officer and President; Robert Gellert is Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer; Gregory Simon is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; Mark Chertok is Chief Financial Officer; and Mr. Roberts is now Executive Vice President. Mr. Roberts will be responsible for overseeing the sale of the four land parcels currently owned by the Company.

 

A-III’s financial advisor was The CenterCap Group, LLC. A-III was represented by Hunton & Williams LLP. The Company was represented by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and Alston & Bird LLP.

 

The above description of the closing and related matters is only a summary, and you are encouraged to read the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company intends to file shortly after this press release is issued and which will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The management agreement and the other agreements entered into at closing will be filed as exhibits to that Form 8-K.

 

Additional information about the Company, including links to SEC filings, will be available on the Company’s new website at www.acrerealtyinvestors.com, which is expected to go live the week of February 2, 2015. In addition, you may now contact the Company at 212-878-3504.

 

Source: Roberts Realty Investors, Inc.