株探米国株
英語
エドガーで原本を確認する
false 0001786248 0001786248 2023-11-02 2023-11-02 0001786248 nref:CommonStockParValue001PerShareCustomMember 2023-11-02 2023-11-02 0001786248 nref:SeriesACumulativeRedeemablePreferredStockParValue001PerShare850CustomMember 2023-11-02 2023-11-02
 
--12-31

 
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): November 2, 2023
 
NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.
(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Charter)
 
Maryland
 
001-39210
 
84-2178264
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
300 Crescent Court, Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75201
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (214) 276-6300
 

 
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
 
Trading
Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
NREF
NREF-PRA
 
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 
Emerging growth company ☒
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
 






Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
Dealer Manager Agreement
 
On November 2, 2023, NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), entered into a Dealer Manager Agreement (the “Dealer Manager Agreement”) with NexPoint Securities, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Dealer Manager”) and an affiliate of NexPoint Real Estate Advisors VII, L.P., the Company’s external manager, whereby the Dealer Manager will serve as the Company’s exclusive dealer manager in connection with the Company’s offering (the “Offering”) of up to 16,000,000 shares of the Company’s 9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series B Preferred Stock”), at a public offering price of $25.00 per share.
 
The Series B Preferred Stock is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-263300), as the same may be amended and/or supplemented (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and will be offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated November 2, 2023 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), and a base prospectus dated March 14, 2022 relating to the Registration Statement (together with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”).
 
Under the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Dealer Manager will use its reasonable best efforts to sell the shares of Series B Preferred Stock offered in the Offering, and the Company will pay the Dealer Manager, subject to the discounts and other special circumstances described or referenced therein, (i) selling commissions of 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds from sales of Series B Preferred Stock in the Offering (“Selling Commissions”) and (ii) a dealer manager fee of 3.0% of the gross proceeds from sales of Series B Preferred Stock in the Offering (the “Dealer Manager Fee”). The Dealer Manager Agreement provides that the Dealer Manager, subject to federal and state securities laws, will reallow all or any portion of the Selling Commissions and may reallow a portion of the Dealer Manager Fee to other securities dealers that the Dealer Manager may retain (collectively, the “Participating Broker-Dealers”) who sold the shares of Series B Preferred Stock as will be described more fully in the agreements between each of the Participating Broker-Dealers and the Dealer Manager.
 
Pursuant to the Dealer Manager Agreement, in no event shall the total aggregate underwriting compensation payable to the Dealer Manager and any Participating Broker-Dealers participating in the Offering, including, but not limited to, Selling Commissions, the Dealer Manager Fee and permissible forms of non-cash compensation, exceed 10.0% of gross offering proceeds from the Offering in the aggregate. The Dealer Manager agreed to repay to the Company any excess payments made to the Dealer Manager over this cap if the Offering is abruptly terminated before reaching the maximum amount of Offering proceeds.
 
In addition, the Company shall reimburse the Dealer Manager or any Participating Broker-Dealer for reasonable bona fide due diligence expenses incurred by the Dealer Manager or any Participating Broker-Dealer to the extent permitted pursuant to the rules of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., provided, however, that no due diligence expenses shall be reimbursed by the Company which would cause the aggregate of all of the Offering expenses paid by the Company and compensation to the Dealer Manager described above to exceed 15% of the gross proceeds from the Offering in the aggregate.
 
Pursuant to the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify the Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Dealer Manager has agreed to indemnify the Company, against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including but not limited to those arising out of (i) untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of a material fact contained in the Prospectus or Registration Statement relating to the Offering, and any amendments or supplements thereto relating to the Series B Preferred Stock, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Prospectus or Registration Statement.
 
The Dealer Manager Agreement will terminate automatically upon the termination of the Offering, upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or upon the revocation or suspension of the Dealer Manager’s license or registration to act as a broker-dealer if the same is not cured within ten days. In addition, the Dealer Manager Agreement may be terminated by the Company or the Dealer Manager upon ten calendar days’ written notice to the other party.
 
1

 
In compliance with the Company’s Related Party Transaction Policy, the Dealer Manager Agreement was reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
 
The foregoing description of the Dealer Manager Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Dealer Manager Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
 
Amendment to the Operating Partnership Agreement
 
On November 2, 2023, the General Partner of NexPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), entered into a First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (the “Amendment”) of the Operating Partnership. Substantially all of the Company’s business is conducted through the Operating Partnership and, as of June 30, 2023, the Company held approximately 83.41% of the common limited partnership units in the Operating Partnership. The Amendment provides for the designation of 9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units (the “Series B Preferred Units”) as a new series of preferred units of the Operating Partnership and the authorization for issuance of 16,000,000 Series B Preferred Units. The Company expects to contribute the net proceeds from the sale of the Series B Preferred Stock in the Offering to the Operating Partnership in exchange for the same number of Series B Preferred Units. The Series B Preferred Units have economic terms that mirror the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock. Any such issuance of the Series B Preferred Units will be exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
 
The foregoing description of the Amendment is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
 
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
 
On November 2, 2023, the Company filed Articles Supplementary (the “Articles Supplementary”) with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland (the “Department”) to classify and designate 16,000,000 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, as shares of Series B Preferred Stock, with the powers, designations, preferences and other rights as set forth therein. The Articles Supplementary became effective upon acceptance for record by the Department on November 2, 2023. A summary of the material terms of the Series B Preferred Stock is set forth under the caption “Description of Series B Preferred Stock” in the Prospectus Supplement, and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03. The summary of the Series B Preferred Stock in the Prospectus Supplement and the following description of the Series B Preferred Stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles Supplementary, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
 
The Series B Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), and pari passu with the Company’s 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), with respect to distribution rights and rights upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.
 
In addition to other preferential rights, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, before any distribution or payment will be made to holders of our Common Stock or any other class or series of capital stock ranking junior to our shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding will be entitled to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, after payment or provision for our debts and other liabilities, the liquidation preference equal to $25.00 per share, subject to appropriate adjustment in relation to any recapitalizations, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or other similar events which affect the Series B Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued but unpaid cash dividends thereon, if any, to but not including the date of payment, pari passu with the holders of shares of our Series A Preferred Stock and any other class or series of our capital stock ranking on parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to the liquidation preference and/or accrued but unpaid dividends they are entitled to receive.
 
2

 
Furthermore, the Company is restricted from declaring or paying any distributions, or setting aside any funds for the payment of distributions, on shares of Common Stock or, subject to certain exceptions, redeeming or otherwise acquiring shares of Common Stock unless full cumulative distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series A Preferred Stock have been declared and either paid or set aside for payment in full for all past distribution periods.
 
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
 
The information set forth above under Item 3.03 of this report is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
 
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
 
Press Release
 
On November 2, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the Offering.
 
A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01. This press release shall not be deemed “filed” for any purpose, including for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
 
Item 8.01. Other Events.
 
The shares of Series B Preferred Stock will be offered and sold in the Offering pursuant to the Registration Statement and Prospectus. A form of the Subscription Agreement for sales of shares of Series B Preferred Stock through Direct Registration System settlement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
 
3

 
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit Number
 
Exhibit Description
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
 
Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should” and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the best efforts of the Dealer Manager to sell shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the performance of the parties under the Dealer Manager Agreement, and the contribution of the net proceeds of the Offering to the Operating Partnership. They are not guarantees of future results and forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including those described in greater detail in our filings with the SEC, particularly those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review the Company’s other filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of risks and other factors that could affect any forward-looking statement. The statements made herein speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K and except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. 
 
4

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.
   
By:
/s/ Brian Mitts
Name:
Title:
Brian Mitts
Chief Financial Officer, Executive
VP-Finance, Secretary and Treasurer
 
Date: November 2, 2023
 
 
EX-1.1 2 ex_589645.htm EXHIBIT 1.1 ex_589645.htm

Exhibit 1.1

 

NEXPOINT SECURITIES, INC.

DEALER MANAGER AGREEMENT

 

November 2, 2023

 

NexPoint Securities, Inc.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

 

 

RE:

NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the “Company”) is a Maryland corporation that qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) for federal income tax purposes beginning with the taxable year ended December 31, 2020. The Company proposes to offer (the “Offering”) up to 16,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series B Preferred Stock”). The offering also covers the shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share that may be issuable upon redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock. Each Share will be sold at a public offering price of $25.00 per share.

 

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Dealer Manager Agreement (this “Agreement”), the Company hereby appoints NexPoint Securities, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Dealer Manager”), to act as the exclusive dealer manager for the Offering, and the Dealer Manager desires to accept such engagement, and the Company and the Dealer Manager agree as follows:

 

1.

Representations And Warranties Of The Company. The Company hereby represents, warrants and agrees, as of the date of this Agreement and on each Effective Date (as defined below) as follows:

 

 

(a)

Registration Statement and Prospectus. In connection with the Offering, the Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Registration Statement for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Rules and Regulations”); and one or more amendments to such Registration Statement have been or may be so prepared and filed. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein, as finally amended on the date the registration statement was declared effective by the Commission (the “Effective Date”), are respectively hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement” and the “Prospectus”, except that:

 

 

(i)

if the Company files a post-effective amendment to such registration statement, then the term “Registration Statement” shall, from and after the declaration of the effectiveness of such post-effective amendment by the Commission, refer to such registration statement as amended by such post-effective amendment, and the term “Prospectus” shall refer to the amended prospectus then on file with the Commission; and

 

 

(ii)

if the prospectus filed by the Company pursuant to either Rule 424(b) or 424(c) of the Securities Act Rules and Regulations shall differ from the prospectus on file at the time the Registration Statement or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto, if any, shall have become effective, then the term “Prospectus” shall refer to such prospectus filed pursuant to either Rule 424(b) or 424(c), as the case may be, from and after the date on which it shall have been filed.

 

As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein.

 

As used herein, the term “Effective Date” also shall refer to the effective date of each post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, unless the context otherwise requires.

 







 

As used in this Agreement, unless explicitly stated otherwise, (i) the term “Registration Statement” means, at any given time, the registration statement listed on Schedule 1, as such Schedule 1 may be amended from time to time, as such registration statement is finally amended and revised at the effective date of the registration statement (including at the effective date of any post-effective amendment thereto) and (ii) the term “Prospectus” means, at any given time, a prospectus contained in, or that supplements or amends, the registration statement listed on Schedule 1. 

 

 

(b)

Compliance With the Securities Act. As of each Effective Date or filing date, as applicable:

 

 

(i)

the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto have complied, and will comply, in all material respects with the Securities Act, the Securities Act Rules and Regulations, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Rules and Regulations”);

 

 

(ii)

the Registration Statement does not, and any amendment thereto will not, in each case as of the applicable Effective Date, include any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and the Prospectus does not, and any amendment or supplement thereto will not, as of the applicable filing date, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(b) will not extend to any statements contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are based upon written information furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager expressly for use in the “Plan of Distribution” section of Registration Statement or Prospectus; and

 

 

(iii)

the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time they are hereafter filed with the Commission, will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and as of the applicable Effective Date of each post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 

(c)

Securities Matters. There has not been:

 

 

(i)

any request by the Commission for any further amendment to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for any additional information;

 

 

(ii)

any issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or, to the Company’s knowledge, threat of any proceeding for that purpose; or

 

 

(iii)

any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or any initiation or, to the Company’s knowledge, threat of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations applicable to it and its activities with respect to the Offering and the sale of the Shares.

 

 

(d)

Corporate Status and Good Standing. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, with all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder.

 

 

(e)

Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement is duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Dealer Manager, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability and except that rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by applicable law and public policy.

 

2

 

 

(f)

Absence of Conflict or Default. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Company do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under:

 

 

(i)

the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ charter, bylaws, or other organizational documents, as the case may be;

 

 

(ii)

any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties is bound except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults that do not result in and could not reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Company MAE (as defined below in this Section 1(f)); or

 

 

(iii)

any statute, rule or regulation or order of any court or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults that do not result in and would not reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Company MAE.

 

No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or other governmental agency or body has been or is required for the performance of this Agreement or for the consummation by the Company of any of the transactions contemplated hereby (except as have been obtained under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or as may be required under the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or state securities or applicable blue sky laws in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares or under the laws of states in which the Company may own real properties in connection with its qualification to transact business in such states or as may be required by subsequent events which may occur). Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, bylaws or other organizational documents, as the case may be, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Company MAE.

 

As used in this Agreement, “Company MAE” means any event, circumstance, occurrence, fact, condition, change or effect, individually or in the aggregate, that has, or could reasonably be expected to, have a materially adverse effect on the condition, business, properties, assets, net worth, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (B) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Shares.

 

 

(g)

Actions or Proceedings. As of the initial Effective Date, except as disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission, there are no actions, suits or proceedings against, or investigations of, the Company or its subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, before any court, arbitrator, administrative agency or other tribunal:

 

 

(i)

asserting the invalidity of this Agreement;

 

 

(ii)

seeking to prevent the issuance of the Shares or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

 

(iii)

that would reasonably be expected to result in a Company MAE; or

 

 

(iv)

seeking to affect adversely the federal income tax attributes of the Shares except as described in the Prospectus.

 

The Company promptly will give notice to the Dealer Manager of the occurrence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation of the type referred to above arising or occurring on or after the initial Effective Date.

 

 

(h)

Escrow Agreement. The Company will enter into an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) with UMB Bank, National Association (the “Escrow Agent”).

 

3

 

 

(i)

Sales Literature. Any supplemental sales literature or advertisement (including, without limitation any “broker-dealer use only” or institutional material), regardless of how labeled or described, used in addition to the Prospectus in connection with the Offering which previously has been, or hereafter is, furnished or approved by the Company (collectively, “Approved Sales Literature”), shall, to the extent required, be filed with and approved by the appropriate securities agencies and bodies, provided that the Dealer Manager will make all FINRA filings, to the extent required. Any and all Approved Sales Literature, when used in connection with the Prospectus, did not or will not at the time provided for use include 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 

(j)

Authorization of Shares. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold as contemplated by the Prospectus and upon payment therefor as provided in this Agreement and the Prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform in all material aspects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

 

 

(k)

Taxes. Any taxes, fees and other governmental charges in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the execution, delivery and sale of the Shares have been or will be paid when due.

 

 

(l)

Investment Company. The Company is not, and neither the offer or sale of the Shares nor any of the activities of the Company will cause the Company to be, an “investment company” or under the control of an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

 

(m)

Tax Returns. The Company has filed or will file all material federal, state and foreign income tax returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the Company on or before the due dates therefor (taking into account all extensions of time to file) and has paid or provided for the payment of all such material taxes, except those being contested in good faith, indicated by such tax returns and all assessments received by the Company to the extent that such taxes or assessments have become due.

 

 

(n)

REIT Qualifications. The Company made a timely election to be subject to tax as a REIT pursuant to Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 2020. The Company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. The Company’s planned method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code.

 

 

(o)

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Financial Reporting. The accountants who have certified certain financial statements appearing in the Prospectus are an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Rules and Regulations. Such accountants have not been engaged by the Company to perform any “prohibited activities” (as defined in Section 10A of the Exchange Act).

 

The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States (“GAAP”), including, without limitation:

 

 

(i)

transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations;

   

 

 

(ii)

transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets;

   

 

 

(iii)

access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; and

 

4

 

 

(iv)

the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

Except as described in the Registration Statement, and the Company’s filings with the Commission, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated), and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, it being understood that the Company is not required as of the date hereof to comply with the auditor attestation requirements under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”).

 

The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

 

(p)

Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements, together with the notes thereto, filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or any applicable Prospectus.

 

 

(q)

Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as may otherwise be stated therein or contemplated thereby, or in the Company’s filings with the Commission, there has not occurred a Company MAE, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

(r)

Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus and except as would not result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Company MAE, the Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title.

 

2.

Representations and Warranties of the Dealer Manager. The Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company as of the date of this Agreement and on each Effective Date that:

 

 

(a)

Organization Status. The Dealer Manager is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder.

 

 

(b)

Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Dealer Manager, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Dealer Manager enforceable against the Dealer Manager in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability and except that rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by applicable law and public policy.

 

5

 

 

(c)

Absence of Conflict or Default. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Dealer Manager do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under: 

 

 

(i)

its organizational documents;

 

 

(ii)

any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or lease to which the Dealer Manager is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Dealer Manager is subject; or

 

 

(iii)

any statute, rule, regulation or order of any court or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Dealer Manager or its assets, properties or operations,

 

except in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) for such conflicts, breaches or defaults that would not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties or results of operations of the Dealer Manager.

 

 

(d)

Broker-Dealer Registration; FINRA Membership. The Dealer Manager is, and during the term of this Agreement will be, duly registered as a broker-dealer pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Act, a member in good standing of FINRA, and a broker or dealer duly registered as such in those states where the Dealer Manager is required to be registered in order to carry out the Offering as contemplated by this Agreement. Moreover, the Dealer Manager’s employees and representatives have all required licenses and registrations to act under this Agreement. There is no provision in the Dealer Manager’s FINRA membership agreement that would restrict the ability of the Dealer Manager to carry out the Offering as contemplated by this Agreement.

   

 

 

(e)

The information in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus insofar as it relates to the Dealer Manager, furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager in writing specifically for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

3.

Offering and Sale of the Shares. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby appoints the Dealer Manager as its agent and exclusive distributor to solicit and to retain the Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 3(a)) to solicit subscriptions for the Shares at the subscription price to be paid in cash. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Dealer Manager hereby accepts such agency and exclusive distributorship and agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to sell or cause to be sold the Shares in such quantities and to such persons in accordance with such terms as are set forth in this Agreement, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.

 

The Dealer Manager shall do so during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the earliest to occur of the following: (1) the acceptance by the Company of subscriptions for the amount offered in the Offering; (2) the termination of this Agreement; and (3) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

The number of Shares, if any, to be reserved for sale by each Participating Broker-Dealer may be determined by mutual agreement, from time to time, by the Dealer Manager and the Company. In the absence of such determination, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3(b), accept subscriptions based upon a first-come, first accepted reservation or other similar method. Under no circumstances will the Dealer Manager be obligated to underwrite or purchase any Shares for its own account and, in soliciting purchases of Shares, the Dealer Manager shall act solely as the Company’s agent and not as an underwriter or principal.

 

6

 

 

(a)

Participating Broker-Dealers. The Shares offered and sold through the Dealer Manager under this Agreement shall be offered and sold only by the Dealer Manager and other securities dealers the Dealer Manager may retain (collectively the “Participating Broker-Dealers”); provided, however, that:

 

 

(i)

the Dealer Manager reasonably believes that all Participating Broker-Dealers are registered with the Commission, members of FINRA and are duly licensed or registered by the regulatory authorities in the jurisdictions in which they will offer and sell Shares; and

 

 

(ii)

all such engagements are evidenced by written agreements, the terms and conditions of which substantially conform to the form of Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement”).

 

Shares may also be distributed through registered investment advisors pursuant to written agreements upon terms mutually agreed upon by the parties.

 

 

(b)

Subscription Documents. Each person desiring to purchase Shares through the Dealer Manager, or any other Participating Broker-Dealer, will be required to complete and execute the subscription documents described in the Prospectus.

 

In connection with Direct Registration System (“DRS”) Settlement, when a Participating Broker-Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures are conducted at the site at which the Subscription Agreement and check were initially received by the Participating Broker-Dealer from the subscriber, the Participating Broker-Dealer shall transmit the Subscription Agreement and check to the Escrow Agent by the end of the next business day following receipt of the check and Subscription Agreement. When, pursuant to the Participating Broker-Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures, the Participating Broker-Dealer’s final internal supervisory procedures are conducted at a different location (the “Final Review Office”), the Participating Broker-Dealer shall transmit the check and Subscription Agreement to the Final Review Office by the end of the next business day following the Participating Broker-Dealer’s receipt of the Subscription Agreement and check. The Final Review Office will, by the end of the next business day following its receipt of the Subscription Agreement and check, forward both the Subscription Agreement and check to the Escrow Agent. If any Subscription Agreement solicited by the Participating Broker-Dealer is rejected by the Dealer Manager or the Company, then the Subscription Agreement and check will be returned to the rejected subscriber within 10 business days from the date of rejection.

 

 

(c)

Completed Sale. The Company will sell Shares using two closing services. The first service is The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) closing (“DTC Settlement”), and the second service is Direct Registration Service (“DRS Settlement”). A sale of a Share shall be deemed by the Company to be completed if and only if (i) the Company has received payment of the full purchase price of each purchased Share, from an investor who satisfies the minimum purchase requirements set forth in the Registration Statement as determined by the Participating Broker-Dealer, or the Dealer Manager, as applicable, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Company has accepted such subscription, and, if using DRS Settlement, a properly completed and executed Subscription Agreement, and (iii) the Company has instructed the issuance of purchased Shares. In addition, no sale of Shares shall be completed until after the date on which the subscriber receives a copy of the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, may accept or reject any subscription, in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever or no reason, and no commission or Dealer Manager Fee will be paid to the Dealer Manager with respect to that portion of any subscription which is rejected.

 

The Company has the sole right to:

 

●        determine and change the number and timing of closings, including the right to change the number and timing of closings after communicating the anticipated closing timing to  Participating Broker-Dealers;

●         limit the total amount of Series B Preferred Stock sold by all Participating Broker-Dealers per closing;

●         limit the total amount of Series B Preferred Stock sold by any one Participating Broker-Dealer per closing; and

●         limit the total number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock sold by any one Participating Broker-Dealer.

 

As used in this Agreement, “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Texas are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

7

 

 

(d)

Dealer-Manager Compensation.

 

 

(i)

Subject to the discounts and other special circumstances described in or otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus or this Section 3(d), the Company agrees to pay the Dealer Manager selling commissions in the amount of seven percent (7.0%) of the aggregate gross offering proceeds from the Series B Preferred Stock offered in the Offering. The Company may pay reduced selling commissions or may eliminate commissions on certain sales, including the reduction or elimination of selling commissions in accordance with, and on the terms set forth in, the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager will re-allow all or any portion of the selling commissions, subject to federal and state securities laws, to the Participating Broker-Dealer who sold the Shares as described more fully in the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement.

 

 

(ii)

Subject to the special circumstances described in or otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus or this Section 3(d), as compensation for acting as the dealer manager, the Company will pay the Dealer Manager, a dealer manager fee in the amount of three percent (3.0%) of the gross offering price from the Series B Preferred Stock offered in the Offering (the “Dealer Manager Fee”).

 

The Dealer Manager may re-allow a portion of the Dealer Manager Fee, subject to federal and state securities laws, to the Participating Broker-Dealer who sold the Shares, as described more fully in the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement.

 

 

(iii)

All selling commissions and Dealer Manager Fees payable to the Dealer Manager will be paid at least within ten (10) business days after the sale of the Shares. The Dealer Manager acknowledges that no commissions, payments or amount will be paid to the Dealer Manager unless and until the gross proceeds of the Shares sold are disbursed to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.

 

 

(iv)

In no event shall the total aggregate underwriting compensation payable to the Dealer Manager and any Participating Broker-Dealers participating in the Offering, including, but not limited to, selling commissions, the Dealer Manager Fee and permissible forms of non-cash compensation, exceed ten percent (10.0%) of gross offering proceeds from the Offering in the aggregate. The Dealer Manager agrees to repay to the Company any excess payments made to the Dealer Manager over FINRA’s 10.0% cap if the Offering is abruptly terminated before reaching the maximum amount of Offering proceeds.

 

 

(v)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Company pays any selling commission to the Dealer Manager for sale by a Participating Broker-Dealer of one or more Shares and the subscription is rescinded as to one or more of the Shares covered by such subscription, then the Company shall decrease the next payment of selling commissions or other compensation otherwise payable to the Dealer Manager by the Company under this Agreement by an amount equal to the commission rate established in this Section 3(d), multiplied by the number of Shares as to which the subscription is rescinded. If no payment of selling commissions or other compensation is due to the Dealer Manager after such withdrawal occurs, then the Dealer Manager shall pay the amount specified in the preceding sentence to the Company within a reasonable period of time not to exceed 30 days following receipt of notice by the Dealer Manager from the Company stating the amount owed as a result of rescinded subscriptions.

 

 

(e)

Reasonable Bona Fide Due Diligence Expenses. In addition to any payments to the Dealer Manager pursuant to Section 3(d), the Company shall reimburse the Dealer Manager or any Participating Broker-Dealer for reasonable bona fide due diligence expenses incurred by the Dealer Manager or any Participating Broker-Dealer to the extent permitted pursuant to FINRA rules, provided, however, that no due diligence expenses shall be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to this Section 3(e) which would cause the aggregate of all of the Company’s expenses described in Section 3(f) and compensation paid pursuant to Section 3(d) to exceed 15% of the gross proceeds from the Offering in the aggregate (the “15% cap”). Also, the Company shall only reimburse the Dealer Manager or any Participating Broker-Dealer for such approved bona fide due diligence expenses to the extent such expenses have actually been incurred and are supported by detailed and itemized invoice(s) provided to the Company.

 

8

 

 

(f)

Company Expenses. Subject to the limitations described above, the Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the Offering, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including expenses, fees and taxes in connection with:

 

 

(i)

the registration fee, the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement (including without limitation financial statements, exhibits, schedules and consents), the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Dealer Manager and to Participating Broker-Dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment);

 

 

(ii)

the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates, if any, for the Shares, including any stock or other transfer taxes or duties payable upon the sale of the Shares;

 

 

(iii)

all fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors;

 

 

(iv)

the determination of the Shares eligibility for sale or an exemption under state law and the printing and furnishing of copies of blue sky surveys if any;

 

 

(v)

the filing fees in connection with filing for review by FINRA, if required, of all necessary documents and information relating to the Offering and the Shares;

 

 

(vi)

the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares and miscellaneous expenses referred to in the Registration Statement;

 

 

(vii)

all costs and expenses incident to the travel and accommodation of officers of the Company, in making road show presentations and presentations to Participating Broker-Dealers and other broker-dealers and financial advisors with respect to the offering of the Shares; and

 

 

(viii)

the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder.

 

4.

Conditions to the Dealer Manager’s Obligations. The Dealer Manager’s obligations hereunder shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

 

(a)

The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects and the Company shall have complied with its covenants, agreements and obligations contained in this Agreement in all material respects;

 

 

(b)

The Registration Statement shall have become effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued by the Commission and, to the best knowledge of the Company, no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted, threatened or contemplated by the Commission; and any request by the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Dealer Manager.

 

 

(c)

The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendment or any supplement thereto, shall not contain any untrue statement of material fact, or omit to state a material fact that is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

5.

Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Dealer Manager as follows:

 

 

(a)

Securities Laws. The Company will comply in all material respects with all federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations which are required to be complied with in order to permit the continuance of offers and sales of the Shares in accordance with the provisions hereof and of the Prospectus.

 

 

(b)

Commission Orders. If the Commission shall issue any stop order or any other order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus, or shall institute any proceedings for that purpose, then the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager and use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order and, if any such order is issued, to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the removal thereof as promptly as possible.

 

9

 

 

(c)

Blue Sky Qualifications. In the event the Company reasonably determines that the Shares are not “covered securities” under applicable blue sky laws, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Dealer Manager and the Company shall mutually agree upon and to make such applications, file such documents and furnish such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose. The Company will, at the Dealer Manager’s request, furnish the Dealer Manager with a copy of such papers filed by the Company in connection with any such qualification. The Company will promptly advise the Dealer Manager of the issuance by such securities administrators of any stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose, and will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order and if any such order is issued, to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the removal thereof as promptly as possible.

 

 

(d)

Amendments and Supplements. If, at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event shall have occurred to the knowledge of the Company, or the Company receives notice from the Dealer Manager that it believes such an event has occurred, as a result of which the Prospectus or any Approved Sales Literature as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus relating to the Shares to comply with the Securities Act, then the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager thereof (unless the information shall have been received from the Dealer Manager) and will prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or effect such compliance to the extent required, and shall make available to the Dealer Manager thereof sufficient copies for its own use and/or distribution to the Participating Broker-Dealers.

 

 

(e)

Requests from Commission. The Company will promptly advise the Dealer Manager of any request made by the Commission or a state securities administrator for amending the Registration Statement, supplementing the Prospectus or for additional information.

 

 

(f)

Copies of Prospectus. The Company will furnish the Dealer Manager with the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto, as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request for sale of the Shares.

 

 

(g)

Qualification to Transact Business. The Company will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that at all times the Company will validly exist as a Maryland corporation and will be qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification and where such qualification is required under local law.

 

 

(h)

Authority to Perform Agreements. The Company undertakes to obtain all consents, approvals, authorizations or orders of any court or governmental agency or body which are required for (i) the Company’s performance of this Agreement, or (ii) the conducting by the Company of the business described in the Prospectus, except for such consents, authorizations or orders which, if not obtained, do not result in and would not reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Company MAE.

 

 

(i)

Sales Literature. The Company will furnish to the Dealer Manager as promptly as practicable upon request any Approved Sales Literature (provided that the use of said material has been first approved for use to the extent required by all appropriate regulatory agencies). Any supplemental sales literature or advertisement, regardless of how labeled or described, used in addition to the Prospectus in connection with the Offering which is furnished or approved by the Company (including, without limitation, Approved Sales Literature) shall, to the extent required, be filed with and, to the extent required, approved by the appropriate securities agencies and bodies, provided that the Dealer Manager will make all FINRA filings, to the extent required. The Company will not (and will instruct its affiliates not to): show or give to any investor or prospective investor or reproduce any material or writing that is marked “broker-dealer use only,” institutional or otherwise bears a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public; or show or give to any investor or prospective investor in a particular jurisdiction any material or writing if such material bears a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public in such jurisdiction.

 

10

 

 

(j)

Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

 

(k)

Customer Information. The Dealer Manager and the Company shall, when applicable:

 

 

(i)

abide by and comply with (A) the privacy standards and requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the “GLB Act”) and applicable regulations promulgated thereunder, (B) the privacy standards and requirements of any other applicable federal or state law, including but not limited to, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), and (C) its own internal privacy policies and procedures, each as may be amended from time to time;

 

 

(ii)

refrain from the use or disclosure of nonpublic personal information (as defined under the GLB Act) of all customers who have opted out of such disclosures except as necessary to service the customers or as otherwise necessary or required by applicable law;

 

 

(iii)

except as expressly permitted under the FCRA, the Dealer Manager and the Company shall not disclose any information that would be considered a “consumer report” under the FCRA; and

 

 

(iv)

determine which customers have opted out of the disclosure of nonpublic personal information by periodically reviewing and, if necessary, retrieving an aggregated list of such customers from the Participating Broker-Dealers (the “List”) to identify customers that have exercised their opt-out rights.

 

If either party uses or discloses nonpublic personal information of any customer for purposes other than servicing the customer, or as otherwise required by applicable law, that party will consult the List to determine whether the affected customer has exercised his or her opt-out rights. Each party understands that it is prohibited from using or disclosing any nonpublic personal information of any customer that is identified on the List as having opted out of such disclosures.

 

 

(l)

Certain Payments. Without the prior consent of the Dealer Manager, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will make any payment (cash or non-cash) to any associated person or registered representative of the Dealer Manager.

 

6.

Covenants of the Dealer Manager. The Dealer Manager covenants and agrees with the Company as follows:

 

 

(a)

Compliance With Laws. With respect to the Dealer Manager’s participation and the participation by each Participating Broker-Dealer in the offer and sale of the Shares (including, without limitation, any resales and transfers of Shares), the Dealer Manager agrees, and each Participating Broker-Dealer in its Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement will agree, to comply in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations and all other federal regulations applicable to the Offering including Regulation Best Interest, the sale of Shares and with all applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and the Rules of FINRA applicable to the Offering, from time to time in effect, specifically including, but not in any way limited to, FINRA Rules 2040 (Payments to Unregistered Persons), 2111 (Suitability), 2231 (Customer Account Statements), 2310 (Direct Participation Programs), 5130 (Restrictions on the Purchase and Sale of Initial Equity Public Offerings), and 5141 (Sale of Securities in a Fixed Price Offering) therein. The Dealer Manager will not offer the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction unless and until it has been advised that the Shares are either registered in accordance with, or exempt from, the securities and other laws applicable thereto.

 

In addition, the Dealer Manager shall, in accordance with applicable law or as prescribed by any state securities administrator, provide, or require in the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement that the Participating Broker-Dealer shall provide, to any prospective investor copies of any prescribed document which is part of the Registration Statement and any supplements thereto during the course of the Offering and prior to the sale. The Company may provide the Dealer Manager with certain Approved Sales Literature to be used by the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealers in connection with the solicitation of purchasers of the Shares. The Dealer Manager agrees not to deliver the Approved Sales Literature to any person prior to the date of this Agreement. If the Dealer Manager elects to use such Approved Sales Literature after the date of this Agreement, then the Dealer Manager agrees that such material shall not be used by it in connection with the solicitation of purchasers of the Shares and that it will direct Participating Broker-Dealers not to make such use unless accompanied or preceded by the Prospectus, as then currently in effect, and as it may be amended or supplemented in the future.

 

11

 

The Dealer Manager agrees that it will not use any Approved Sales Literature other than those provided to the Dealer Manager by the Company for use in the Offering. The use of any other sales material is expressly prohibited. The Dealer Manager will not, and each Participating Broker-Dealer in its Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement shall agree not to: show or give to any investor or prospective investor or reproduce any material or writing that is marked “broker-dealer use only,” institutional or otherwise bears a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public; or show or give to any investor or prospective investor in a particular jurisdiction any material or writing if such material bears a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public in such jurisdiction.

 

 

(b)

No Additional Information. In offering the Shares for sale, the Dealer Manager shall not, and each Participating Broker-Dealer shall agree not to, give or provide any information or make any representation other than those contained in the Prospectus or the Approved Sales Literature.

 

 

(c)

Sales of Shares. The Dealer Manager shall, and each Participating Broker-Dealer shall agree to, solicit purchases of the Shares only in the jurisdictions in which the Dealer Manager and such Participating Broker-Dealer are legally qualified to so act and in which the Dealer Manager and each Participating Broker-Dealer have been advised by the Company or counsel to the Company that such solicitations can be made.

 

 

(d)

Subscription Agreement. The Dealer Manager will comply in all material respects with the subscription procedures and “Plan of Distribution” set forth in the Prospectus. Subscriptions using DRS Settlement will be submitted by the Dealer Manager and each Participating Broker-Dealer to the Company only on the subscription agreement, a form of which has been filed with the Commission by the Company. The Dealer Manager understands and acknowledges, and each Participating Broker-Dealer shall acknowledge if using DRS Settlement, that the Subscription Agreement must be executed and initialed by the subscriber as provided for by the Subscription Agreement.

 

 

(e)

Suitability. The Dealer Manager will offer Shares, and in its agreement with each Participating Broker-Dealer will require that the Participating Broker-Dealer offer Shares, only to persons that it has reasonable grounds to believe meet the financial qualifications set forth in the Prospectus or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent to it by the Company and will not make offers to persons in the states in which it is advised in writing by the Company that the Shares are not qualified for sale. In offering Shares, the Dealer Manager will comply, and in its agreements with the Participating Broker-Dealers, the Dealer Manager will require that the Participating Broker-Dealers comply, with the provisions of all applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors, including applicable FINRA Rules.

 

The Dealer Manager agrees that in recommending the purchase of the Shares in the Offering to an investor, the Dealer Manager and each person associated with the Dealer Manager that makes such recommendation shall have, and each Participating Broker-Dealer in its Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement shall agree with respect to investors to whom it makes a recommendation that it shall have, reasonable grounds to believe, on the basis of information obtained from the investor concerning the investor’s investment objectives, other investments, financial situation and needs, and any other information known by the Dealer Manager, the person associated with the Dealer Manager or the Participating Broker-Dealer that:

 

 

(i)

the investor is or will be in a financial position appropriate to enable the investor to realize to a significant extent the benefits described in the Prospectus, including the tax benefits where they are a significant aspect of the Company;

 

 

(ii)

the investor has a fair market net worth sufficient to sustain the risks inherent in the program, including loss of investment and lack of liquidity; and

 

 

(iii)

an investment in the Shares offered in the Offering is otherwise suitable for the investor.

 

12

 

The Dealer Manager agrees as to investors to whom it makes a recommendation with respect to the purchase of the Shares in the Offering (and each Participating Broker-Dealer in its Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement shall agree, with respect to investors to whom it makes such recommendations) it will rely on relevant information provided by the investor, including information as to the investor’s age, investment objectives, investment experience, investment time horizon, income, net worth, financial situation and needs, tax status, other investments, liquidity needs, risk tolerance and other pertinent information. The Dealer Manager agrees as to investors to whom it makes a recommendation with respect to the purchase of the Shares in the Offering (and each Participating Broker-Dealer in its Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement shall agree, with respect to Investors to whom it makes such recommendations) to maintain in the files of the Dealer Manager (or the Participating Broker-Dealer, as applicable) documents disclosing the basis upon which the determination of suitability was reached as to each investor.

 

In making the determinations as to financial qualifications and as to suitability, the Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers may rely on (A) representations from investment advisers who are not affiliated with a Participating Broker-Dealer, and banks acting as trustees or fiduciaries, and (B) information it has obtained from a prospective investor, including such information as the investment objectives, other investments, financial situation and needs of the person or any other information known by the Dealer Manager (or Participating Broker-Dealer, as applicable), after due inquiry. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Dealer Manager shall not, and each Participating Broker-Dealer shall agree not to, execute any transaction in the Company in a discretionary account without prior written approval of the transaction by the customer.

 

 

(f)

Participating Broker-Dealer Agreements. All engagements of the Participating Broker-Dealers will be evidenced by a Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement.

 

 

(g)

Electronic Delivery and Electronic Signatures. If the Dealer Manager uses electronic delivery to distribute the Prospectus to any person or allows the use of electronic signatures, it will comply with all applicable requirements of the Commission, the blue sky laws and/or FINRA and any other laws or regulations related to the electronic delivery of documents and the use of electronic signatures.

 

 

(h)

AML Compliance. The Dealer Manager represents to the Company that it has established and implemented an anti-money laundering compliance program (“AML Program”) in accordance with Section 352 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “PATRIOT Act”) and FINRA Rule 3310, that complies with applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the customer identification program requirements of Section 326 of the PATRIOT Act, and the suspicious activity reporting requirements of Section 356 of the PATRIOT Act, and the laws, regulations and Executive Orders administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury (collectively, “AML/OFAC Laws”). The Dealer Manager hereby covenants to remain in compliance with the AML/OFAC Laws and shall, upon request by the Company, provide a certification to the Company that, as of the date of such certification, its AML Program is compliant with the AML/OFAC Laws.

 

 

(i)

Customer Information. The Dealer Manager will use its best efforts to provide the Company with any and all subscriber information that the Company requests in order for the Company to satisfy its obligations under the AML/OFAC Laws and comply with the requirements under Section 5(k) above.

 

 

(j)

Recordkeeping. The Dealer Manager will comply, and will require each Participating Broker-Dealer to comply, with the record keeping requirements of the Exchange Act, including, but not limited to, Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and shall maintain, for at least six years or for a period of time not less than that required in order to comply with all applicable federal, state and other regulatory requirements, whichever is later, such records with respect to each investor who purchases Shares, information used to determine that the investor meets the suitability standards imposed on the offer and sale of the Shares, the amount of Shares sold, and a representation of the investor that the investor is investing for the investor’s own account or, in lieu of such representation, information indicating that the investor for whose account the investment was made met the suitability standards.

 

13

 

 

(k)

Suspension or Termination of Offering. The Dealer Manager agrees, and will require that each of the Participating Broker-Dealers agree, to suspend or terminate the offering and sale of the Shares upon request of the Company at any time and to resume the offering and sale of the Shares upon subsequent request of the Company.

 

 

7.

Indemnification.

 

 

(a)

Indemnified Parties Defined. For the purposes of this Agreement, an “Indemnified Party” shall mean an entity entitled to indemnification under this Section 7, as well as such entity’s officers, directors, employees, members, partners, affiliates, agents and representatives, and each person, if any, who controls such person or entity within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.

 

  (b)

 

Indemnification of the Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers. The Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealers, and their respective Indemnified Parties, from and against any losses, claims, expenses (including reasonable legal and other expenses incurred in investigating and defending such claims or liabilities), damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any such Participating Broker-Dealers or the Dealer Manager, or their respective Indemnified Parties, may become subject under the Securities Act, the Securities Act Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

 

 

(i)

in whole or in part, any material inaccuracy in a representation or warranty contained herein by the Company, any material breach of a covenant contained herein by the Company, or any material failure by the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or to comply with state or federal securities laws applicable to the Offering;

 

 

(ii)

any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (A) in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, (B) in any Approved Sales Literature or (C) in any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company or on its behalf specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Shares for sale under the securities laws of any jurisdiction or based upon written information furnished by the Company under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”); or

 

 

(iii)

the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

The Company will reimburse each Participating Broker-Dealer or the Dealer Manager, and their respective Indemnified Parties, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Participating Broker-Dealer or the Dealer Manager, and their respective Indemnified Parties, in connection with investigating or defending such loss, claim, expense, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, expense, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager expressly for use in the “Plan of Distribution” section of Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification and agreement to hold harmless provided in this Section 7(b) is further limited to the extent that no such indemnification by the Company of the Dealer Manager, the Participating Broker-Dealers or their respective Indemnified Parties, shall be permitted under this Agreement for, or arising out of, an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws, unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (a) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee; (b) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee; or (c) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the SEC and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which the securities were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.

 

14

 

 

(c)

Dealer Manager Indemnification of the Company. The Dealer Manager will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company and its Indemnified Parties and each person who has signed the Registration Statement, from and against any losses, claims, expenses (including the legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating and defending any such claims or liabilities), damages or liabilities to which any of the aforesaid parties may become subject under the Securities Act, the Securities Act Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

 

 

(i)

in whole or in part, any material inaccuracy in a representation or warranty contained herein by the Dealer Manager or any material breach of a covenant contained herein by the Dealer Manager;

 

 

(ii)

any untrue statement or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (A) in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in the Prospectus or any amendment thereto or supplement thereof, (B) in any Approved Sales Literature, or (C) any Blue Sky Application; or

 

 

(iii)

the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereof, or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Prospectus or any amendment thereto or supplement thereof to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that in each case described in clauses (ii) and (iii) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto;

 

 

(iv)

any use of sales literature, including “broker-dealer use only” materials, by the Dealer Manager that is not Approved Sales Literature; or

 

 

(v)

any untrue statement made by the Dealer Manager or its authorized registered representatives or omission to state a fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in connection with the Offering provided, however, this clause (v) shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in conformity with the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Approved Sales Literature or any other materials or information furnished by or on behalf of the Company.

 

The Dealer Manager will reimburse the aforesaid parties for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigation or defense of such loss, claim, expense, damage, liability or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Dealer Manager may otherwise have.

 

 

(d)

Participating Broker-Dealer Indemnification of the Company. By virtue of entering into the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement, each Participating Broker-Dealer severally will agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager, each of their respective Indemnified Parties, and each person who signs the Registration Statement, from and against any losses, claims, expenses, damages or liabilities to which the Company, the Dealer Manager, or any of their respective Indemnified Parties, or any person who signed the Registration Statement, may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, as more fully described in the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement.

 

15

 

 

(e)

Action Against Parties; Notification. Promptly after receipt by any Indemnified Party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 7, promptly notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder except to the extent it shall have been actually prejudiced by such failure. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to participate in the defense thereof, with separate counsel. Such participation shall not relieve such indemnifying party of the obligation to reimburse the Indemnified Party for legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in defending itself, except for such expenses incurred after the indemnifying party has deposited funds sufficient to effect the settlement, with prejudice, of, and unconditional release of all liabilities from, the claim in respect of which indemnity is sought. Any such indemnifying party shall not be liable to any such Indemnified Party on account of any settlement of any claim or action effected without the consent of such indemnifying party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

 

(f)

Reimbursement of Fees and Expenses. An indemnifying party under this Section 7 of this Agreement shall be obligated to reimburse an Indemnified Party for reasonable legal and other expenses as follows:

 

 

(i)

In the case of the Company indemnifying the Dealer Manager, the advancement of funds to the Dealer Manager for legal expenses and other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought shall be permissible only if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) the legal action relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company; (B) the legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a shareholder of the Company or the legal action is initiated by a shareholder of the Company acting in his or her capacity as such and a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement; and (C) the Dealer Manager undertakes to repay the advanced funds to the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, in cases in which the Dealer Manager is found not to be entitled to indemnification.

 

 

(ii)

In any case of indemnification other than that described in Section 7(f)(i) above, the indemnifying party shall pay all legal fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Party in the defense of such claims or actions; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be obligated to pay legal expenses and fees to more than one law firm in connection with the defense of similar claims arising out of the same alleged acts or omissions giving rise to such claims notwithstanding that such actions or claims are alleged or brought by one or more parties against more than one Indemnified Party. If such claims or actions are alleged or brought against more than one Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall only be obliged to reimburse the expenses and fees of the one law firm (in addition to local counsel) that has been participating by a majority of the indemnified parties against which such action is finally brought; and if a majority of such indemnified parties is unable to agree on which law firm for which expenses or fees will be reimbursable by the indemnifying party, then payment shall be made to the first law firm of record representing an Indemnified Party against the action or claim. Such law firm shall be paid only to the extent of services performed by such law firm and no reimbursement shall be payable to such law firm on account of legal services performed by another law firm.

 

8.

Contribution.

 

 

(a)

If Indemnification is Unavailable. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party, as incurred:

 

 

(i)

in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealer, respectively, from the proceeds received in the Offering pursuant to this Agreement and the relevant Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement; or

 

16

 

 

(ii)

if the allocation provided by clause (i) 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 Company, the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealer, respectively, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

 

 

(b)

Relative Benefits. The relative benefits received by the Company, the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealers, respectively, in connection with the proceeds received in the Offering pursuant to this Agreement and the relevant Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportion as the total net proceeds from the Offering pursuant to this Agreement and the relevant Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement (before deducting expenses), received by the Company, and the total selling commissions and dealer manager fees received by the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealer, respectively, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares sold in the Offering as set forth on such cover.

 

 

(c)

Relative Fault. The relative fault of the Company, the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealers, respectively, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact related to information supplied by the Company, by the Dealer Manager or by the Participating Broker-Dealer, respectively, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

 

(d)

Pro Rata is Unreasonable. The Company, the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealers (by virtue of entering into the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement) agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable contributions referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an Indemnified Party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

 

(e)

Limits. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealers, respectively, shall not be required to contribute any amount by which the aggregate dollar amount of selling commissions and Dealer Manager Fees received by the Dealer Manager or such Participating Broker-Dealer, respectively, exceeds the amount of any damages which the Dealer Manager and the Participating Broker-Dealers, respectively, have otherwise been required to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

 

(f)

Fraudulent Misrepresentation. No party guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any party who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

 

(g)

Benefits of Contribution. For the purposes of this Section 8, the Dealer Manager’s officers, directors, employees, members, partners, agents and representatives, and each person, if any, who controls the Dealer Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution of the Dealer Manager, and each officers, directors, employees, members, partners, agents and representatives of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution of the Company. The Participating Broker-Dealers’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the number of Shares sold by each Participating Broker-Dealer in the Offering and not joint.

 

9.

Termination of this Agreement.

 

 

(a)

Term; Termination.  Unless sooner terminated pursuant to this Section 9(a) or by operation of law, this Agreement shall automatically terminate at the first occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the date that the Company accepts subscriptions for the amount of Shares offered in the Offering, (ii) the date of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or (iii) the date of the Dealer Manager’s license or registration to act as a broker-dealer is revoked or suspended by any federal, self-regulatory or state agency and such revocation or suspension is not cured within ten days from the date of such occurrence (and this Agreement shall be deemed to be suspended during revocation or suspension period). In addition, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company or the Dealer Manager upon ten calendar days’ written notice to the other party.

 

17

 

 

(b)

Delivery of Records Upon Termination. Upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Dealer Manager shall:

 

 

(i)

promptly deposit any and all funds, if any, in its possession which were received from investors for the sale of Shares into the appropriate account designated by the Company for the deposit of investor funds;

 

 

(ii)

to the extent not previously provided to the Company, provide to the Company a list of all investors who have subscribed for or purchased Shares and all broker-dealers with whom the Dealer Manager has entered into a Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement;

 

 

(iii)

notify Participating Broker-Dealers of such termination; and

 

 

(iv)

promptly deliver to the Company all records and documents in its possession which relate to the Offering and are not designated as dealer copies, including copies of any sales literature designed for use specifically for the Offering that it is then in the process of preparing.

 

Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Dealer Manager all (i) earned but unpaid compensation and (ii) reimbursement for all incurred, accountable expenses to which the Dealer Manager is or becomes entitled under Section 3(d) or Section 3(f), respectively, at such time as such compensation becomes payable.

 

10.

Miscellaneous

 

 

(a)

Survival. The following provisions of the Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement: Section 3(d) (Dealer-Manager Compensation); Section 3(e) (Reasonable Bona Fide Due Diligence Expenses); Section 6(h) (AML Compliance); Section 7 (Indemnification); Section 8 (Contribution); Section 9 (Termination of this Agreement) and this Section 10 (Miscellaneous). Notwithstanding anything else that may be to the contrary herein, the expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not relieve a party for liability for any breach occurring prior to such expiration or termination. In no event shall the Dealer Manager be entitled to payment of any compensation in connection with the Offering that is not completed according to this Agreement; provided, however, that the reimbursement of out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred by the Dealer Manager or person associated with the Dealer Manager shall not be presumed to be unfair or unreasonable and shall be payable under normal circumstances.

 

 

(b)

Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or delivered:

 

 

(i)

when delivered personally or by commercial messenger;

 

 

(ii)

one business day following deposit with a recognized overnight courier service, provided such deposit occurs prior to the deadline imposed by such service for overnight delivery; or

 

 

(iii)

when transmitted, if sent by email;

 

in each case above provided such communication is addressed to the intended recipient thereof as set forth below:

 

If to the Company:

 

NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc.

300 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attention: Brian Mitts

Email: bmitts@nexpoint.com

 

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

Winston & Strawn LLP

2121 N. Pearl Street, Suite 900

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attention: Charles Haag and Justin Reinus If to the Dealer Manager:

Email: chaag@winston.com; jreinus@winston.com

 

18

 

 

NexPoint Securities, Inc.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attention: Eric Holt

Email: eholt@nexpoint.com

 

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

Kunzman & Bollinger, Inc.

5100 N. Brookline Avenue, Suite 600

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112

Attention: Wallace W. Kunzman, Jr.

Email: wkunzman@kunzboll.net

 

Any party may change its address specified above by giving each party notice of such change in accordance with this Section 10(b).

 

 

(c)

Successors and Assigns. No party shall assign (voluntarily, by operation of law or otherwise) this Agreement or any right, interest or benefit under this Agreement without the prior written consent of each other party. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be fully binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

 

(d)

Invalid Provision. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

 

 

(e)

Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws.

 

 

(f)

Waiver. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT. The parties hereto each hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Texas and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in Dallas County, Texas, for purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising from this Agreement and the Offering, and each hereby waives, and agrees not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or thereof, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such related document may not be enforced in or by such courts. The parties hereto each hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties and over the subject matter of any such dispute.

 

 

(g)

No Partnership. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or interpreted to constitute the Dealer Manager or the Participating Broker-Dealers as being in association with or in partnership with the Company or one another, and instead, this Agreement only shall constitute the Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers as brokers authorized by the Company to sell and to manage the sale by others of the Shares according to the terms set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall render the Dealer Manager or the Company liable for the obligations of any of the Participating Broker-Dealers or one another.

 

19

 

 

(h)

Third Party Beneficiaries. Except for the persons and entities referred to in Section 7 (Indemnification) and Section 8 (Contribution), there shall be no third party beneficiaries of this Agreement, and no provision of this Agreement is intended to be for the benefit of any person or entity not a party to this Agreement, and no third party shall be deemed to be a beneficiary of any provision of this Agreement. Except for the persons and entities referred to in Section 7 and Section 8, no third party shall by virtue of any provision of this Agreement have a right of action or an enforceable remedy against any party to this Agreement. Each of the persons and entities referred to in Section 7 and Section 8 shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

 

(i)

Entire Agreement. 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. This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than by written agreement of the Dealer Manager and the Company.

 

 

(j)

Nonwaiver. The failure of any party to insist upon or enforce strict performance by any other party of any provision of this Agreement or to exercise any right under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment to any extent of such party’s right to assert or rely upon any such provision or right in that or any other instance; rather, such provision or right shall be and remain in full force and effect.

 

 

(k)

Access to Information. The Company may authorize the Company’s transfer agent to provide information to the Dealer Manager and each Participating Broker-Dealer regarding recordholder information about the clients of such Participating Broker-Dealer who have invested with the Company on an on-going basis for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer has a relationship with such clients. The Dealer Manager shall require in the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement that Participating Broker-Dealers not disclose any password for a restricted website or portion of website provided to such Participating Broker-Dealer in connection with the Offering and not disclose to any person, other than an officer, director, employee or agent of such Participating Broker-Dealers, any material downloaded from such a restricted website or portion of a restricted website.

 

 

(l)

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed (including by facsimile transmission) with counterpart signature pages or in counterpart copies, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument comprising this Agreement.

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return it to us, whereupon this instrument will become a binding agreement between you and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

20

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have each duly executed this Dealer Manager Agreement as of the day and year set forth above.

 

 

 

THE COMPANY:

 

NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.

   
   
 

By:

/s/ Brian Mitts

   

Name:

Brian Mitts

   

Title:

Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Secretary and Treasurer

   
   
   
   

Accepted as of the date first above written:

 
   
 

THE DEALER MANAGER:

 

NEXPOINT SECURITIES, INC.

   
   
 

By:

/s/ Dustin Norris

   

Name:

Title:

Dustin Norris

President

 

[Signature Page to Dealer Manager Agreement]


 

SCHEDULE 1

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

1.

Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-263300

 

 
EX-3.1 3 ex_589646.htm EXHIBIT 3.1 ex_589646.htm

Exhibit 3.1

 

NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.

 

ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

 

9.00% SERIES B CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK

 

NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) that:

 

FIRST: Pursuant to authority expressly vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) by Article VI of the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Corporation (which, as amended and supplemented from time to time, together with these Articles Supplementary, is referred to herein as the “Charter”) and Section 2-208 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, has duly classified and designated, and authorized the issuance of, 16,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”) as “9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock,” with such preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as appear below, which, upon any restatement of the Charter, shall become a part of Article VI of the Charter, with any appropriate renumbering or relettering of the sections or subsections thereof.

 

SECOND: Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Charter.

 

9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

1.

Designation and Number. A series of Preferred Stock, designated the “9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock” (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), is hereby established. The par value of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be $0.01 per share. The initial number of authorized shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be 16,000,000.

 

2.

Definitions. In addition to the capitalized terms elsewhere defined herein, the following terms, when used herein, shall have the meanings indicated:

 

 

(a)

“Business Day” shall mean each day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in Texas or New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

 

(b)

A “Change of Control” is when, after the original issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock, the following have occurred and are continuing:

 

 

(i)

the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, other than a Permitted Holder, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of capital stock of the Corporation entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in elections of directors (except that such person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all capital stock of the Corporation that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

 

 

(ii)

following the closing of any transaction referred to in (i) above, neither the Corporation nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or American Depositary Receipts representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE American LLC or the Nasdaq Stock Market, or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE American LLC or the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 







 

 

 

(iii)

For purposes of the definition of Change of Control, a Permitted Holder includes NexPoint Real Estate Advisors VII, L.P. and its affiliates.

 

 

(c)

“liquidation preference” shall mean $25.00 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, subject to appropriate adjustment in relation to any recapitalizations, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or other similar events which affect the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

 

(d)

“NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange or any successor exchange or automated quotation service upon which the Common Stock is listed.

 

 

(e)

“Series A Preferred Stock” shall means the Corporation’s 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

 

(f)

“Trading Day” shall mean, (i) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, a day on which the NYSE is open for the transaction of business, (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE but is listed or admitted to trading on another national securities exchange or automated quotation system, a day on which the principal national securities exchange or automated quotation system, as the case may be, on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system, any Business Day.

 

3.

Rank. The Series B Preferred Stock, with respect to priority of payment of dividends and other distributions and rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, shall rank (a) senior to all classes or series of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (“Common Stock”), and to any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation issued in the future (together with the Common Stock, the “Junior Stock”), unless the terms of such stock expressly provide that it ranks senior to, or on parity with, the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to priority of payment of dividends and other distributions or rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation; (b) on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks on parity with the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to priority of payment of dividends and other distributions or rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation (collectively, the “Parity Stock”); and (c) junior to any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks senior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to priority of payment of dividends and other distributions or rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. The term “capital stock” does not include convertible or exchangeable debt securities, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities which rank senior to the Series B Preferred Stock prior to conversion or exchange. The Series B Preferred Stock shall also rank junior in right to payment to the Corporation’s other existing and future indebtedness.

 

4.

Dividends.

 

 

(a)

Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to priority of dividend payments, holders of each share of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by the Board and declared by the Corporation, out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends on such share of Series B Preferred Stock at the rate of 9.0% per annum of the liquidation preference (each, a “Cash Dividend”). If a share of the Series B Preferred Stock has a date of original issuance (the “Original Issue Date”) prior to the Dividend Record Date (defined below) for the Dividend Period (defined below) in which such share is issued, the Cash Dividends payable on such share shall begin accruing on, and be cumulative from and including, the first day of the Dividend Period in which such share is issued. If a share of the Series B Preferred Stock has an Original Issue Date after the Dividend Record Date for the Dividend Period in which such share is issued, the Cash Dividends payable on such share shall begin accruing on, and be cumulative from and including, the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing after its issuance. Cash Dividends shall be payable monthly in arrears on or about the fifth day of each calendar month or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if paid on such date (each, a “Dividend Payment Date”), and no interest or additional distributions or other sums shall accrue on the amount so payable from such Dividend Payment Date to such next succeeding Business Day. A “Dividend Period” is the respective period commencing on and including the first day of each calendar month and ending on and including the day preceding the first day of the next succeeding Dividend Period. Cash Dividends shall be payable to holders of record of the Series B Preferred Stock as they appear in the stock records of the Corporation at the close of business on the 25th day of the calendar month preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the immediately preceding Business Day (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any dividend payable on the Series B Preferred Stock for any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

2

 

 

(b)

No dividends on shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be authorized by the Board or declared or paid or set apart for payment by the Corporation at such time as the terms and provisions of any agreement of the Corporation, including any agreement relating to its indebtedness, prohibits such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provides that such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.

 

 

(c)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock shall accrue whether or not the restrictions referred to in Section 4(b) exist, whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there are assets legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are authorized by the Board or declared by the Corporation. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series B Preferred Stock which may be in arrears. When cumulative dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series B Preferred Stock and the shares of any class or series of Parity Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series B Preferred Stock and any class or series of Parity Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series B Preferred Stock and such class or series of Parity Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated dividends per share on the Series B Preferred Stock and such class or series of Parity Stock (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such Parity Stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other.

 

 

(d)

Except as provided in the foregoing Section 4(c), unless full cumulative dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof in full is set apart for payment for all past Dividend Periods that have ended, no dividends or other distributions of cash or other property may be declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment, directly or indirectly, on or with respect to the Junior Stock or the Parity Stock (other than dividends or other distributions in shares of Junior Stock or in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of Junior Stock), nor shall any shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired (other than a redemption, purchase or other acquisition of Common Stock made for purposes of and in compliance with requirements of any incentive, benefit or stock purchase plan of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof, or a redemption, purchase or acquisition of Parity Stock or Junior Stock as permitted under Article VII of the Charter) for any consideration (or any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock), directly or indirectly, by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of Junior Stock, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of Junior Stock, and except for purchases or exchanges pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of Series B Preferred Stock and all holders of shares of Parity Stock).

 

 

(e)

If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes and series of shares (the “Total Dividends”), then the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall be the amount that the total dividends (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) paid or made available to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock for the year bears to the Total Dividends. The Corporation may elect to retain and pay income tax on its net long-term capital gains. In such a case, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock would include in income their appropriate share of the Corporation’s undistributed long-term capital gains, as designated by the Corporation.

 

3

 

 

(f)

Holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend or distribution, whether payable in cash, property or shares of capital stock of the Corporation, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock as described above. Any dividend payment made on the Series B Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividends due with respect to such shares which remain payable. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock shall accumulate as of the Dividend Payment Date on which they first become payable or on the date of redemption, as the case may be.

 

 

(g)

“Set apart for payment” shall be deemed to include (without limitation): the recording by the Corporation in its accounting ledgers of any accounting or bookkeeping entry which indicates, pursuant to an authorization by the Board and a declaration of dividends or other distribution by the Corporation, the allocation of funds to be so paid on any series or class of shares of stock of the Corporation; provided, however, that if any funds for any class or series of Junior Stock or Parity Stock are placed in a separate account of the Corporation or delivered to a disbursing, paying or other similar agent, then “set apart for payment” with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock shall mean placing such funds in a separate account or delivering such funds to a disbursing, paying or other similar agent.

 

 

(h)

In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation), by distribution, redemption or other acquisition of the Corporation’s equity securities is permitted under Maryland law, no effect shall be given to amounts that would be needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of stockholders whose preferential rights on dissolution are superior to those receiving the distribution.

 

5.

Liquidation Preference.

 

(a)

Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding are entitled to be paid, or have the Corporation declare and set apart for payment, out of the assets of the Corporation legally available for distribution to its stockholders, after payment of or provision for payment of the Corporation’s debts and other liabilities, the liquidation preference per share, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid Cash Dividends (whether or not authorized or declared) thereon to but not including the date of payment or the date the amount for payment is set apart (collectively, the “Liquidating Distributions”), before any distribution or payment of assets is made to holders of Junior Stock. If the assets of the Corporation legally available for distribution to stockholders are insufficient to pay in full the Liquidating Distributions on all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all outstanding shares of any class or series of Parity Stock, then all assets distributed to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and any class or series of Parity Stock shall be distributed pro rata so that the amount of assets distributed per share of Series B Preferred Stock and such class or series of Parity Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that the Liquidating Distributions per share on the Series B Preferred Stock and such class or series of Parity Stock bear to each other. Written notice of the effective date of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class mail, postage pre-paid, not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.

 

(b)

After payment of the full amount of the Liquidating Distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

 

(c)

For the avoidance of doubt, the consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into another entity, a consolidation or merger of another entity with or into the Corporation, a statutory share exchange by the Corporation or a sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets or business shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

4

 

6.

Redemption at Option of Holders.

 

 

(a)

Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the Original Issue Date, each holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have the right (the “Holder Redemption Right”), at such holder’s option, to require the Corporation to redeem any or all of such holder’s shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a redemption price per share of Series B Preferred Stock (the “Holder Redemption Price”) equal to the liquidation preference, minus the Redemption Fee (defined below), plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid Cash Dividends, if any, to but not including the date fixed for redemption (the “Holder Redemption Date”), which shall be a date selected by the Corporation in its discretion that is within 45 days of the date the Corporation receives the Holder Redemption Notice (defined below). The Redemption Fee shall be an amount equal to: (i) 12.0% of the liquidation preference beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the Original Issue Date of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (ii) 9.0% of the liquidation preference beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the first anniversary of the Original Issue Date of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) 6.0% of the liquidation preference beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the second anniversary of the Original Issue Date of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iv) 3.0% of the liquidation preference beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed; and (v) 0% of the liquidation preference beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the fourth anniversary of the Original Issue Date of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed (the “Redemption Fee”).

 

 

(b)

If a Holder Redemption Date falls after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, each holder of record of Series B Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date, and each holder of Series B Preferred Stock that shall be redeemed pursuant to the Holder Redemption Right shall be entitled to an amount equal to the dividends accruing after the end of the Dividend Period to which such Dividend Payment Date relates, up to but not including, the Holder Redemption Date.

 

 

(c)

For so long as the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or another national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Corporation has the right, in its sole discretion, to pay the Holder Redemption Price in cash or in equal value of shares of Common Stock, calculated based on the closing price per share of the Common Stock for the single Trading Day prior to the Holder Redemption Date.

 

 

(d)

Redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be made pursuant to the Holder Redemption Right upon:

 

 

(i)

delivery by such holder of a duly complete notice to the Corporation’s transfer agent, in its capacity as redemption and paying agent (the “Redemption and Paying Agent”) or through the procedures of the Depository Trust Company (the “Holder Redemption Notice”), which shall be irrevocable, except upon written consent of the Corporation, in compliance with the required procedures including those of the Redemption and Paying Agent and of The Depository Trust Company (the “Stated Transfer Procedures”), and specifying the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed that are held by such holder as of the date of such Holder Redemption Notice; and

 

 

(ii)

transfer of the Series B Preferred Stock in compliance with the Stated Transfer Procedures.

 

5

 

 

(e)

If (i) a Holder Redemption Notice has been received by the Corporation, (ii) (1) if the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed in cash, the funds necessary for such redemption have been set apart by the Corporation in trust for the benefit of the holder of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed or (2) if the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed with shares of Common Stock, the Redemption and Paying Agent has been instructed in writing that the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed in shares of Common Stock and (iii) irrevocable instructions have been given to pay or issue the Holder Redemption Price, then from and after the Holder Redemption Date, dividends shall cease to accrue on such shares of Series B Preferred Stock, such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights of the holders of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall terminate, except the right to receive the Holder Redemption Price in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as applicable, without interest, upon transfer of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

 

(f)

Limitations on Holder Redemption.

 

 

(i)

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 6, the Corporation’s obligation to redeem shares of the Series B Preferred Stock at the option of the holders pursuant to the Holder Redemption Right shall be subject to the following aggregate redemption limits (collectively, the “Redemption Limits”):

 

 

1.

no more than 2.0% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed per calendar month;

 

 

2.

no more than 5.0% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed per fiscal quarter; and

 

 

3.

no more than 20.0% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed per fiscal year.

 

 

(ii)

Redemptions at the option of the Corporation pursuant to the Corporation Redemption Right and the Change of Control Redemption Right (each as defined below) below shall not count towards the Redemption Limits. Redemptions at the option of the holder following the death or disability of a holder pursuant to the Estate Redemption Right (defined below) shall count towards the Redemption Limits, but shall not be subject to such limits.

 

 

(iii)

If, after applying the Redemption Limits, a holder would own less than one share of Series B Preferred Stock, all of such holder’s shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed. Otherwise, all redemption amounts shall be rounded down such that after giving effect to any redemption, no holder is left owning a fractional share. If, after applying the Redemption Limits, the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed is less than the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock submitted for redemption by a holder, the excess shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall remain subject to redemption in future periods until the earlier of (i) all shares of Series B Preferred Stock submitted by such holder for redemption have been redeemed, or (ii) such holder delivers to us a written notice of withdrawal stating the number of withdrawn shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, if any, which remain subject to redemption.

 

 

(iv)

The foregoing provisions of this Section 6(f) shall not prevent any other action by the Corporation pursuant to the Charter or otherwise in order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

 

(g)

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 6, no redemptions of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be made by the Corporation if such redemption shall be restricted or prohibited by law. Further, no redemptions of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be made by the Corporation at such time as the terms and provisions of any agreement of the Corporation prohibits such redemption or provides that such redemption would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder.

 

6

 

7.

Optional Redemption by the Corporation.

 

 

(a)

The Series B Preferred Stock is not redeemable by the Corporation prior to the first day of the calendar month following the second anniversary of each Original Issue Date of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, except as permitted by Article VII of the Charter and as otherwise provided in this Section 7 and Section 9 below. Beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the second anniversary of each Original Issue Date of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemable by the Corporation, at the Corporation’s option, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time (the “Corporation Redemption Right”), at a redemption price per share of Series B Preferred Stock (the “Corporation Redemption Price”) equal to the liquidation preference plus an amount equal to any accrued but unpaid Cash Dividends, if any, to but not including the date fixed for redemption (the “Corporation Redemption Date”).

 

 

(b)

If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to the Corporation Redemption Right, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be redeemed pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares), by lot or by any other equitable method that the Corporation determines. If such redemption is to be by lot and, as a result of such redemption, any holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, other than a holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock that has received an exemption, would become a holder of a number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit because such holder’s shares of Series B Preferred Stock were not redeemed, or were only redeemed in part, then, except as otherwise provided in Article VII of the Charter, the Corporation shall redeem the requisite number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock of such holder such that no holder shall hold a number of shares in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit subsequent to such redemption.

 

 

(c)

Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series B Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods that have ended shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid in cash or shares of Common Stock or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment, (i) no shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed pursuant to the Corporation Redemption Right unless all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed, and (ii) the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly for any consideration, nor shall any monies be paid to or be made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of, any shares of Series B Preferred Stock (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of, or options, warrants or rights to purchase or subscribe for shares of, Junior Stock); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the redemption or purchase by the Corporation of shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Article VII of the Charter or otherwise in order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes or the purchase or acquisition of shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

 

(d)

If a Corporation Redemption Date falls after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, each holder of record of Series B Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date, and each holder of Series B Preferred Stock that shall be redeemed pursuant to the Corporation Redemption Right shall be entitled to an amount equal to the dividends accruing after the end of the Dividend Period to which such Dividend Payment Date relates, up to but not including, the Corporation Redemption Date.

 

 

(e)

For so long as the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or another national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Corporation has the right, in its sole discretion, to pay the Corporation Redemption Price in cash or in equal value of shares of Common Stock, calculated based on the closing price per share of the Common Stock for the single Trading Day prior to the Corporation Redemption Date.

 

 

(f)

Notice of redemption pursuant to the Corporation Redemption Right (a “Corporation Redemption Notice”) shall be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, no less than seven days prior to the Corporation Redemption Date, addressed to the respective holders of record of all, but not less than all, of the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the transfer records maintained by the Corporation’s transfer agent. No failure to give such notice or defect therein shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Series B Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom such notice was defective or not given; provided that notice given to the last address of record shall be deemed to be valid notice. In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which the Series B Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, each Corporation Redemption Notice shall state: (i) the Corporation Redemption Date; (ii) the Corporation Redemption Price on a per share basis; (iii) the CUSIP number(s) of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iv) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, if fewer than all, or the method for determining such number; (v) that dividends on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on the Corporation Redemption Date; (vi) that the Series B Preferred Stock is being redeemed at the Corporation’s option pursuant to the Corporation Redemption Right; and (vii) any conditions to the redemption. Any such redemption may be made conditional on such factors as may be determined by the Board and as set forth in the Corporation Redemption Notice.

 

7

 

 

(g)

If (i) a Corporation Redemption Notice has been given by the Corporation with respect to any shares of Series B Preferred Stock, (ii) (1) if the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed in cash, the funds necessary for such redemption have been set apart by the Corporation in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock so called for redemption or (2) if the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed with shares of Common Stock, the Redemption and Paying Agent has been instructed in writing that the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed in shares of Common Stock, and (iii) irrevocable instructions have been given to pay or issue the Corporation Redemption Price, then from and after the Corporation Redemption Date, dividends shall cease to accrue on such shares of Series B Preferred Stock, such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights of the holders of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall terminate, except the right to receive the Corporation Redemption Price in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as applicable, without interest, upon transfer of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

 

(h)

If the Corporation calls for redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to and in accordance with Article VII of the Charter, including through a purchase from a Trust (as defined in the Charter), then the redemption price shall be an amount equal to the liquidation preference per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) on the Series B Preferred Stock to but not including, the redemption date, subject to any restrictions, limitations or requirements contained in Article VII of the Charter. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the Corporation shall not be required to provide advanced notice to the holder of Series B Preferred Stock in the event such holder’s Series B Preferred Stock is redeemed in order for the Corporation to qualify or maintain the qualification of the Corporation as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

 

(i)

Subject to applicable law and the limitation on purchases when distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock are in arrears, the Corporation may, at any time and from time to time, purchase any shares of Series B Preferred Stock by tender or by private agreement.

 

8.

Optional Redemption Following Death or Qualifying Disability of a Holder.

 

 

(a)

Subject to the terms of this Section 8, the Corporation shall redeem upon receipt of an Estate Redemption Notice (defined below) from the holder any shares of Series B Preferred Stock, beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the first anniversary of the Original Issue Date of such shares, held by a natural person upon his or her death or upon his or her suffering a qualifying disability (the right to redemption arising thereupon, the “Estate Redemption Right”), including shares of Series B Preferred Stock held through a revocable grantor trust, or an individual retirement account or other retirement or profit-sharing plan, where the Estate Redemption Notice is from (i) in the case of the death of a holder, the holder’s estate, the recipient of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock through bequest or inheritance, or, with respect to shares of Series B Preferred Stock held through a revocable grantor trust, the trustee of such trust, who shall have the sole ability to give the Estate Redemption Notice on behalf of the trust, or (ii) in the case of the qualifying disability of a holder, the holder or the holder’s legal representative. If spouses are joint registered holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the Estate Redemption Notice may be made upon the death or qualifying disability of either spouse. If the holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock is not a natural person, such as a trust (other than a revocable grantor trust) or a partnership, corporation or similar legal entity, the right of redemption upon death or qualifying disability of a beneficiary of such trust or the holder of an ownership interest in such partnership, corporation or similar legal entity shall be subject to the approval of the Board in its sole discretion. Shares of Series B Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to the Estate Redemption Right shall be redeemed at a redemption price per share of Series B Preferred Stock (the “Estate Redemption Price”) equal to (A) beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the first anniversary of the Original Issue Date of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, 95% of the liquidation preference and (B) beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the second anniversary of the Original Issue Date of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, 100% of the liquidation preference, in each case plus an amount equal to accrued but unpaid Cash Dividends thereon, if any, to but not including the date fixed for redemption (the “Estate Redemption Date”), which shall be a date selected by the Corporation in its discretion that is within 45 days of the date the Corporation receives the Estate Redemption Notice.

 

8

 

 

(b)

If an Estate Redemption Date falls after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, each holder of record of Series B Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date, and each holder of Series B Preferred Stock that shall be redeemed pursuant to the Estate Redemption Right shall be entitled to an amount equal to the dividends accruing after the end of the Dividend Period to which such Dividend Payment Date relates, up to but not including, the Estate Redemption Date.

 

 

(c)

For so long as the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or another national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Corporation has the right, in its sole discretion, to pay the Estate Redemption Price in cash or in equal value of shares of Common Stock, calculated based on the closing price per share of the Common Stock for the single Trading Day prior to the Estate Redemption Date.

 

 

(d)

Redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be made pursuant to the Estate Redemption Right upon:

 

 

(i)

delivery by such holder of a duly complete notice to the Redemption and Paying Agent or through the procedures of the Depository Trust Company (the “Estate Redemption Notice”), which shall be irrevocable, except upon written consent of the Corporation, in compliance with the Stated Transfer Procedures, and specifying the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed that are held by such holder as of the date of such Estate Redemption Notice;

 

 

(ii)

transfer of the Series B Preferred Stock in compliance with the Stated Transfer Procedures; and

 

 

(iii)

compliance with the other requirements of this Section 8.

 

 

(e)

If (i) an Estate Redemption Notice has been received by the Corporation, (ii) (1) if the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed in cash, the funds necessary for such redemption have been set apart by the Corporation in trust for the benefit of the holder of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed or (2) if the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed with shares of Common Stock, the Redemption and Paying Agent has been instructed in writing that the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed in shares of Common Stock and (iii) irrevocable instructions have been given to pay or issue the Estate Redemption Price, then from and after the Estate Redemption Date, dividends shall cease to accrue on such shares of Series B Preferred Stock, such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights of the holders of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall terminate, except the right to receive the Estate Redemption Price in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as applicable, without interest, upon transfer of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

9

 

 

(f)

In order for the Corporation to redeem shares of Series B Preferred Stock upon the death or qualifying disability of a holder thereof, the following conditions must be met: (i) the deceased or disabled holder must be the sole holder of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed or the beneficiary of a trust or an individual retirement account or other retirement or profit-sharing plan that is a holder or, in the case of shares of Series B Preferred Stock owned by spouses who are joint registered holders (or holders by tenants in the entirety), one of the joint holders; (ii) the Estate Redemption Notice must be received by the Corporation within one year after the death or qualifying disability of the holder but no sooner than the first day of the calendar month following the first anniversary of the Original Issue Date of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the Estate Redemption Notice must be given by (A) in the case of the death of a holder, a recipient of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock through bequest or inheritance, (B) in the case of the death of a beneficiary of a trust, the trustee of the trust, or (C) in the case of the death of a holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock owned by spouses who are joint registered holders (or holders by tenants in the entirety), the surviving spouse; and (iv) in the case of the qualifying disability of a holder, (A) such disability must meet the requirements of Section 72(m)(7) of the Code (i.e., the individual must be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to be of a long continued and indefinite duration), (B) a determination of disability must be made by the U.S. governmental agency responsible for reviewing the disability retirement benefits that the holder could be eligible to receive, (C) the condition causing the disability shall have occurred after the date that the holder became a holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and (D) the condition causing the disability shall have occurred before the holder reached full retirement age, which is the age at which workers can claim full Social Security retired-worker benefits. The Corporation may in its discretion request from the holder, and the holder must promptly provide, reasonable documentation supporting the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions.

 

 

(g)

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 8, no redemptions of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be made by the Corporation if such redemption shall be restricted or prohibited by law. Further, no redemptions of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be made by the Corporation at such time as the terms and provisions of any agreement of the Corporation prohibits such redemption or provides that such redemption would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder.

 

9.

Optional Redemption by Corporation Upon a Change of Control.

 

 

(a)

If a Change of Control occurs at any time the Series B Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Corporation shall have the right (the “Change of Control Redemption Right”), but not the obligation, to redeem in cash all or some portion of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, on a date (the “Change of Control Redemption Date”) specified by the Corporation no later than 120 calendar days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid Cash Dividends thereon (whether or not authorized or declared) to but not including the Change of Control Redemption Date (such price, the “Change of Control Redemption Price”).

 

 

(b)

If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to the Change of Control Redemption Right, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be redeemed pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares), by lot or by any other equitable method that the Corporation determines. If such redemption is to be by lot and, as a result of such redemption, any holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, other than a holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock that has received an exemption, would become a holder of a number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit because such holder’s shares of Series B Preferred Stock were not redeemed, or were only redeemed in part, then, except as otherwise provided in Article VII of the Charter, the Corporation shall redeem the requisite number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock of such holder such that no holder shall hold a number of shares in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit subsequent to such redemption.

 

 

(c)

Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series B Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods that have ended shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid in cash or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment, (i) no shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed pursuant to the Change of Control Redemption Right unless all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed, and (ii) the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly for any consideration, nor shall any monies be paid to or be made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of, any shares of Series B Preferred Stock (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of, or options, warrants or rights to purchase or subscribe for shares of, Junior Stock); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the redemption or purchase by the Corporation of shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Article VII of the Charter or otherwise in order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes or the purchase or acquisition of shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

10

 

 

(d)

If a Change of Control Redemption Date falls after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, each holder of record of Series B Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date, and each holder of Series B Preferred Stock that shall be redeemed pursuant to the Change of Control Redemption Right shall be entitled to an amount equal to the dividends accruing after the end of the Dividend Period to which such Dividend Payment Date relates, up to but not including, the Change of Control Redemption Date.

 

 

(e)

Notice of redemption pursuant to a Change of Control (the “Change of Control Redemption Notice”) shall be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, no fewer than seven days prior to the Change of Control Redemption Date, addressed to the respective holders of record of all, but not less than all, of the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the transfer records maintained by the Corporation’s transfer agent. No failure to give such notice or defect therein shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Series B Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom such notice was defective or not given; provided, that notice given to the last address of record shall be deemed to be valid notice. In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which the Series B Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, each Change of Control Redemption Notice shall state: (i) the Change of Control Redemption Date; (ii) the Change of Control Redemption Price on a per share basis; (iii) the CUSIP number(s) of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iv) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, if fewer than all, or the method for determining such number; (v) that dividends on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on the Change of Control Redemption Date; (vi) that the Series B Preferred Stock is being redeemed at the Corporation’s option pursuant to the Change of Control Redemption Right and a brief description of the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control; and (vii) any conditions to the redemption. Any such redemption may be made conditional on such factors as may be determined by the Board and as set forth in the Change of Control Redemption Notice.

 

 

(f)

If (i) a Change of Control Redemption Notice has been given by the Corporation, (ii) the funds necessary for such redemption have been set apart by the Corporation in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock so called for redemption and (iii) irrevocable instructions have been given to pay the Change of Control Redemption Price, then from and after the Change of Control Redemption Date, dividends shall cease to accrue on such shares of Series B Preferred Stock, such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights of the holders of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall terminate, except the right to receive the Change of Control Redemption Price in cash, without interest, upon transfer of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

10.

Voting Rights.

 

 

(a)

Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below.

 

 

(a)

So long as any shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not:

 

 

(i)

authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or reclassify any authorized shares of capital stock of the Corporation into any such senior shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such senior equity securities, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the holders of any outstanding shares of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (“Voting Parity Stock”) (voting together as a single class); or

 

11

 

 

(ii)

amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Charter (including these Articles Supplementary), whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise (in any case, an “Event”), so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting powers of the Series B Preferred Stock or the holders thereof, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock (voting as a separate class); provided, however, that with respect to the occurrence of any Event set forth above, so long as shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged or the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock receive shares of, or options, warrants or rights to purchase or subscribe for shares of, capital stock or other securities with rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers substantially similar, taken as a whole, to the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series B Preferred Stock, the occurrence of any such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series B Preferred Stock or the holders thereof; and provided further that any increase in the amount of the authorized shares of Series B Preferred Stock or the creation or issuance, or increase in the amounts authorized, of any other classes or series of Parity Stock or Junior Stock shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or the holders thereof. 

 

 

(b)

In any matter in which the holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to vote separately as a single class, each such holder shall have the right to one vote for each share of Series B Preferred Stock held by such holder. If the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the holders of outstanding shares of Voting Parity Stock, including our Series A Preferred Stock, are entitled to vote together as a single class on any matter, such holders shall each have one vote for each $25.00 of liquidation preference.

 

 

(c)

The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed.

 

11.

Conversion. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible into any other property or securities of the Corporation.

 

12.

Term. The Series B Preferred Stock has no stated maturity date and shall not be subject to any sinking fund and, except as otherwise set forth herein, is not subject to mandatory redemption. The Corporation shall not be required to set aside funds to redeem the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

13.

Status of Redeemed or Repurchased Series B Preferred Stock. All shares of Series B Preferred Stock redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired in any manner by the Corporation shall constitute authorized but unissued shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

14.

Application of Article VII. The Series B Preferred Stock constitutes Capital Stock (as defined in Article VII of the Charter) and, as such, is subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter applicable to Capital Stock.

 

THIRD: The shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been classified and designated by the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, under the authority contained in the Charter.

 

FOURTH: These Articles Supplementary have been approved by the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, in the manner and by the vote required by law.

 

FIFTH: These Articles Supplementary shall be effective at the time the SDAT accepts these Articles Supplementary for record.

 

SIXTH: The undersigned President acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned President acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

 

12

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC. has caused these Articles Supplementary to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and witnessed by its Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Secretary and Treasurer on November 2, 2023.

 

WITNESS:

 

NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.:

     
     

/s/ Brian Mitts

 

By:

/s/ James Dondero

Name: Brian Mitts

 

Name:

James Dondero

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Secretary and Treasurer

 

Title:

President

 

13
EX-5.1 4 ex_589647.htm EXHIBIT 5.1 ex_589647.htm

Exhibit 5.1

 bs01.jpg

 

 

bs02.jpg

 

    November 2, 2023

 

NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc.

300 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

 

 

Re:

NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) -- Issuance and sale of up to 16,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of 9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), of the Company pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-263300) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about March 4, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement. You have requested our opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.

 

In our capacity as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company and for the purposes of this opinion, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (collectively, the “Documents”):

 

(i)    the corporate charter of the Company (the “Charter”) represented by Articles of Incorporation filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “Department”) on June 7, 2019, Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on June 20, 2019, Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on July 12, 2019, Articles of Amendment and Restatement filed with the Department on February 3, 2020, Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on July 20, 2020, Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on March 31, 2021 and Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on November 2, 2023 (the “Series B Articles Supplementary”);

 

(ii)    the Bylaws of the Company, adopted on or as of June 10, 2019 (the “2019 Bylaws”), the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, adopted on or as of February 3, 2020 (the “2020 Bylaws”), the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, adopted on or as of May 4, 2021 (the “2021 Bylaws”), and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, adopted on or as of February 22, 2023 (the “2023 Bylaws”, and together with the 2019 Bylaws, the 2020 Bylaws and the 2021 Bylaws, collectively, the “Bylaws”);

 

(iii)    Written Consent of Sole Director in Lieu of Organization Meeting, dated as of June 10, 2019 (the “Organizational Resolutions”);

 

 

 

(iv)    certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) relating to, among other things, the authorization of the issuance of the Shares (the “Directors’ Resolutions”);

 

(v)    the Registration Statement and the related base prospectus, dated March 14, 2022, and the related prospectus supplement, dated November 2, 2023, each in the form filed or to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Act;

 

(vi)    a certificate of one or more officers of the Company, dated as of a recent date (the “Officers’ Certificate”), to the effect that, among other things, the Charter, the Bylaws, the Organizational Resolutions and the Directors’ Resolutions are true, correct and complete, have not been rescinded or modified and are in full force and effect on the date of the Officers’ Certificate, and as to the manner of adoption of the Directors’ Resolutions and the form of the Series B Articles Supplementary;

 

(vii)    a status certificate of the Department, dated as of a recent date, to the effect that the Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is duly authorized to transact business in the State of Maryland; and

 

(viii)    such other laws, records, documents, certificates, opinions and instruments as we have deemed necessary to render this opinion, subject to the limitations, assumptions and qualifications noted below.

 

In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the following:

 

(a)    each person executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so;

 

(b)    each natural person executing any of the Documents is legally competent to do so;

 

(c)    any of the Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic; any of the Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents; all signatures on all of the Documents are genuine; all public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete; all statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete; there has been no modification of, or amendment to, any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents by action or omission of the parties or otherwise;

 

(d)    the Officers’ Certificate and all other certificates submitted to us are true and correct both when made and as of the date hereof;

 

(e)    the Company has not, and is not required to be, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

 

 

(f)    none of the Shares will be issued or transferred in violation of the provisions of Article VII of the Charter or Section 14 of the Series B Articles Supplementary relating to restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of stock of the Company;

 

(g)    none of the Shares will be issued or sold to an Interested Stockholder of the Company or an Affiliate thereof, all as defined in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), in violation of Section 3-602 of the MGCL;

 

(h)    the Series B Articles Supplementary, in the form filed with the Department, have been accepted for record by the Department; and

 

(i)    upon each issuance of any of the Shares subsequent to the date hereof, the total number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding on the date subsequent to the date hereof on which such Shares are issued, after giving effect to the issuance of such Shares, will not exceed the total number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock that the Company is authorized to issue under the Charter.

 

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date of this letter:

 

1.    The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

2.    The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company in exchange for payment therefor in accordance with the Directors’ Resolutions, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The foregoing opinions are limited to the substantive laws of the State of Maryland, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinions are expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter.

 

This opinion letter is issued as of the date hereof and is necessarily limited to laws now in effect and facts and circumstances presently existing and brought to our attention. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion letter if any applicable laws change after the date hereof, or if we become aware of any facts or circumstances that now exist or that occur or arise in the future and may change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.

 

We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Shares, which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the applications to securities commissioners for the various states of the United States for registration of the Shares. We also consent to the identification of our firm as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company in the section of the Registration Statement entitled “Legal Matters”. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Ballard Spahr LLP

 

 
EX-8.1 5 ex_589648.htm EXHIBIT 8.1 ex_589648.htm

Exhibit 8.1

 

 wands01.jpg

 

November 2, 2023

 

 

NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc.

300 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale of a maximum of 16,000,000 shares of the Company’s 9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a public offering price of $25.00 per share (the “Shares”). The Shares are included in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-263300), in the form originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on March 4, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the prospectus supplement, dated November 2, 2023 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement (together with the documents incorporated by reference therein, the “Base Prospectus” and together with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”), with the Prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Prospectus.

 

In connection with our opinion, we have reviewed and are relying upon:

 

 

(i)

the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, dated as of February 3, 2020, as amended (the “Charter”);

 

 

(ii)

the articles supplementary to the Charter, dated July 20, 2020, March 31, 2021 and November 2, 2023;

 

 

(iii)

the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the NexPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “OP”), dated March 31, 2021, as amended by the first amendment thereto, dated November 2, 2023, and in effect as of the date hereof;

 

 

(iv)

the Contribution and Assignment of Interests Agreement, by and among SFR WLIF, LLC, Series I, a Delaware series limited liability company, NexPoint Real Estate Strategies Fund, a continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, Highland Global Allocation Fund, a diversified, closed-end management investment company, NREF OP I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“NREF OP I”), NREF OP I Holdco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NREF OP I SubHoldco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, SFR WLIF, LLC, Series II, a Delaware series limited liability company, Highland Income Fund, a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, NexPoint Capital, Inc., a Delaware corporation, NREF OP II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“NREF OP II”), NREF OP II Holdco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NREF OP II SubHoldco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NREC TRS, Inc., a Texas corporation, NexPoint Real Estate Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NRESF REIT Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NexPoint Capital REIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund, a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, NREF OP IV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“NREF OP IV”), NREF OP IV REIT Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NREF OP IV REIT Sub”), and NREF OP IV REIT Sub TRS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NREF OP IV REIT Sub TRS”);

 

 

 

 

(v)

the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of NREF OP I in effect as of the date hereof;

 

 

(vi)

the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of NREF OP II in effect as of the date hereof;

 

 

(vii)

the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of NREF OP IV in effect as of the date hereof;

 

 

(viii)

the Limited Liability Company Agreement of NREF OP IV REIT Sub, dated October 8, 2019, as amended by the first amendment thereto, dated March 9, 2021;

 

 

(ix)

the Limited Liability Company Agreement of NREF OP IV REIT Sub TRS, dated October 8, 2019;

 

 

(x)

the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and

 

 

(xi)

an executed copy of the Dealer Manager Agreement, dated November 2, 2023, by and between the Company and NexPoint Securities, Inc.,

 

together with such other documents, records and instruments that we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of our opinion, and have assumed their accuracy as of the date hereof. For purposes of our review we have also assumed the authenticity of all documents we have examined as well as the genuineness of signatures and the validity of the indicated capacity of each party executing a document. In addition, we have assumed that the articles supplementary to the Charter, dated November 2, 2023, in the form filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland, have been accepted for record by the same. This opinion is based on various facts and assumptions. In addition, we have relied upon (i) certain representations made by the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to certain factual matters set forth in a certificate of an authorized and knowledgeable (with respect to the matters therein) officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof (the “Company Officer’s Certificate”) and (ii) certain representations made by NREF OP IV REIT Sub with respect to certain factual matters set forth in a certificate of an authorized and knowledgeable (with respect to the matters therein) officer of NREF OP IV REIT Sub, dated as of the date hereof (the “NREF OP IV REIT Sub Officer’s Certificate”).

 

 

 

In our capacity as counsel to the Company we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. For purposes of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above referenced documents or in the Company Officer’s Certificate or the NREF OP IV REIT Sub Officer’s Certificate. In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification. In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

 

Our opinion is based upon the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative rulings, judicial decisions, and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the date hereof. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change or new interpretation, both prospectively and retroactively, and such changes or interpretation, as well as changes in the facts as they have been represented to us or assumed by us, could affect our opinion. Our opinion is rendered only as of the date hereof and we undertake no responsibility to update this opinion after this date. Our opinion does not foreclose the possibility of a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or by a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a contrary position by the IRS or Treasury Department in regulations or rulings issued in the future.

 

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

 

(1)

commencing with the Company’s taxable year ended December 31, 2020, the Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and the Company’s current and proposed method of operation will enable it to satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2023 and subsequent taxable years; and

 

 

(2)

the statements set forth in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” insofar as such statements purport to summarize United States federal income tax laws or provisions of documents referred to therein, present fair summaries of such laws and documents in all material respects.

 

 

 

The Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon the Company’s ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating and other results, the various requirements under the Code with regard to, among other things, the sources of gross income, the composition of assets, the level of distributions to stockholders, and the diversity of its stock ownership. Winston & Strawn LLP undertakes no responsibility to review, and will not review, the Company’s compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations, the nature of its assets, the amount and types of its gross income, the level of its distributions to stockholders and the diversity of its stock ownership for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements under the Code for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

 

Other than as expressly stated above, we express no opinion on any issue relating to the Company, the OP, the Manager or any of the Company’s subsidiaries or to any investment therein.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 8.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Shares, which is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement, and to the reference to us under the captions “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Winston & Strawn LLP

 

 
EX-10.1 6 ex_589649.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 ex_589649.htm
 

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

FIRST AMENDMENT

 

TO

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

a Delaware limited partnership

 

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT (this “Amendment”) to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of NexPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Partnership”), dated as of November 2, 2023, is entered into by NexPoint Real Estate Finance OP GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”) on behalf of the Partnership pursuant to its agreement of limited partnership (as now or hereafter amended, restated, modified, supplemented, or replaced, the “Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require.

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed on June 7, 2019 and the original agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership (the “Original Agreement”) was entered into as of June 10, 2019;

 

WHEREAS, the Original Agreement was amended and restated as of February 11, 2020 and subsequently amended on July 20, 2020, July 24, 2020, September 30, 2020, October 26, 2020 and March 31, 2021, and further amended and restated on September 8, 2021;

 

WHEREAS, Section 4.2 of the Agreement authorizes the General Partner, following the direction and approval of the Board of Directors, to cause the Partnership from time to time to issue Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests, in each case in exchange for the contribution by such Person of property or other assets, in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, or otherwise with such designations, preferences, redemption and conversion rights and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to Limited Partner Interests, all as shall be determined by the General Partner (following the direction and approval of the Board of Directors) subject to Delaware law, including, without limitation, (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Interests; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share in Partnership distributions; and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; WHEREAS, the General Partner desires to (a) set forth the designations, rights, powers, preferences and duties and other terms of the Series B Preferred Units (as hereinafter defined in Annex A attached hereto); and (b) cause the Partnership to issue to NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), the Series B Preferred Units from time to time in exchange for contribution by the Company of the net proceeds from its offering of Series B Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined in Annex A attached hereto) of the Company; and

 

1

 

 

WHEREAS, in accordance with Sections 4.2, 7.1, 14.1 and any other applicable sections of the Agreement, the General Partner has authorized the issuance of the Series B Preferred Units as set forth above and prepared and approved this Amendment, in each case following the direction and approval of the Board of Directors.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the General Partner, following the direction and approval of the Board of Directors, amends the Agreement as follows:

 

AGREEMENTS

 

Section 1. Terms and Conditions of Series B Preferred Units. The Agreement is hereby amended by the addition of a new annex thereto, entitled Annex A, in the form attached hereto, which sets forth the designations, allocations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications or terms and conditions of redemption, and any other special rights, powers and duties and other terms of the Series B Preferred Units and which shall be made a part of the Agreement.

 

Section 2. Construction. The Series B Preferred Units have been created and are being issued in conjunction with the Company’s issuance and sale of Series B Preferred Stock, and as such, the Series B Preferred Units are intended to have designations, preferences and other rights and terms that are substantially the same as those of the Series B Preferred Stock, all such that the economic interests of the Series B Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Stock are substantially identical, and the provisions, terms and conditions of this Amendment, including without limitation the attached Annex A, shall be interpreted in a fashion consistent with this intent.

 

Section 3. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Effect of Amendment. This Amendment is limited as specified and shall not constitute a modification, amendment or waiver of any other provision of the Agreement. Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, all other provisions of the Agreement are hereby ratified and remain in full force and effect.

 

(b) Single Document. From and after the date hereof, all references to the Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

 

(c) Severability. In the event that any provision of this Amendment or the application of any provision of this Amendment is declared to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Amendment shall not be affected.

 

2

 

(d) Binding Effect. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

(e) Headings. The headings in this Amendment are for convenience only. They shall not be deemed part of this Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

3

 

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

 

 

GENERAL PARTNER

 

NexPoint Real Estate Finance OP GP, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

By:  /s/ Brian Mitts                                                       

Name: Brian Mitts

Title: President, Secretary and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to First Amendment

to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement

of NexPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P.]


 

 

ANNEX A

 

DESIGNATION OF THE SERIES B PREFERRED UNITS

 

OF

 

NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

 

Section 1. Designation and Number. A series of Preferred Units (as defined below) of NexPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), designated the “9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units” (the “Series B Preferred Units”), is hereby established in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. The number of authorized Series B Preferred Units shall be 16,000,000.

 

Section 2. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, dated as of September 8, 2021 (as now or hereafter amended, restated, modified, supplemented, or replaced, the “Agreement”). In addition to the capitalized terms elsewhere defined herein, the following defined terms used herein shall have the meanings specified below:

 

“Business Day” shall mean each day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in Texas or New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

“liquidation preference” shall mean $25.00 per Series B Preferred Units, subject to appropriate adjustment in relation to any recapitalizations, unit distributions, unit splits, unit combinations, statutory unit exchanges, reclassifications or other similar events which affect the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

“Series B Preferred Stock” shall mean the 9.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

Section 3. Maturity. The Series B Preferred Units have no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption.

 

Section 4. Rank. The Series B Preferred Units, with respect to priority of payment of distributions and rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership, shall rank (a) senior to all classes or series of Common Units, and to any other class or series of Partnership Units issued in the future (together with the Common Units, the “Junior Units”), unless the terms of such Partnership Units expressly provide that it ranks senior to, or on parity with, the Series B Preferred Units with respect to priority of payment of distributions or rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; (b) on parity with the Series A Preferred Units and any other class or series of Partnership Units the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks on parity with the Series B Preferred Units with respect to priority of payment of distributions or rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership (collectively, the “Parity Units”); and (c) junior to any class or series of Partnership Units, the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks senior to the Series B Preferred Units with respect to priority of payment of distributions or rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership. The term “Partnership Units” as used in this Section does not include convertible or exchangeable debt securities, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities which rank senior to the Series B Preferred Units prior to conversion or exchange. The Series B Preferred Units shall also rank junior in right to payment to the Partnership’s other existing and future indebtedness.

 

1

 

Section 5. Distributions.

 

A.    Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of Partnership Units ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Units with respect to priority of distributions, holders of the Series B Preferred Units are entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by the General Partner in accordance with the Agreement and declared by the Partnership, out of assets legally available for the payment of distributions, cumulative cash distributions on such Series B Preferred Unit at the rate of 9.0% per annum of the liquidation preference (each, a “Cash Distribution”). If a Series B Preferred Unit has a date of original issuance (the “Original Issue Date”) prior to the Distribution Record Date (defined below) for the Distribution Period (defined below) in which such Series B Preferred Unit is issued, the Cash Distributions payable on such Series B Preferred Unit shall begin accruing on, and be cumulative from and including, the first day of the Distribution Period in which such Series B Preferred Unit is issued. If a Series B Preferred Unit has an Original Issue Date after the Distribution Record Date for the Distribution Period in which such Series B Preferred Unit is issued, the Cash Distributions payable on such Series B Preferred Unit shall begin accruing on, and be cumulative from and including, the first day of the first Distribution Period commencing after its issuance. Cash Distributions shall be payable monthly in arrears on or about the fifth day of each calendar month or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if paid on such date (each, a “Distribution Payment Date”), and no interest or additional distributions or other sums shall accrue on the amount so payable from such Distribution Payment Date to such next succeeding Business Day. A “Distribution Period” is the respective period commencing on and including the first day of each calendar month and ending on and including the day preceding the first day of the next succeeding Distribution Period. Cash Distributions shall be payable to holders of record of the Series B Preferred Units as they appear in the records of the Partnership at the close of business on the 25th day of the calendar month preceding the applicable Distribution Payment Date or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the immediately preceding Business Day (each, a “Distribution Record Date”). Any distribution payable on the Series B Preferred Units for any Distribution Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

2

 

B.    No distributions on Series B Preferred Units shall be authorized by the General Partner or declared, paid or set apart for payment by the Partnership at such time as the terms and provisions of any agreement of the Company or the Partnership, including any agreement relating to the indebtedness of any of them, prohibits such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provides that such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.

 

C.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, distributions on the Series B Preferred Units shall accrue whether or not the restrictions referred to in Section 5(B) exist, whether or not the Partnership has earnings, whether or not there are assets legally available for the payment of such distributions and whether or not such distributions are authorized or declared. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment or payments on the Series B Preferred Units which may be in arrears. When cumulative distributions are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series B Preferred Units and the Parity Units, all distributions declared upon the Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Units shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of distributions declared per Series B Preferred Unit and Parity Units shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated distributions per Partnership Unit (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid distributions for prior Distribution Periods if such Parity Stock does not have a cumulative distribution) bear to each other.

 

D.    Except as provided in the foregoing Section 5(C), unless full cumulative distributions on the Series B Preferred Units have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof in full is set apart for payment for all past Distribution Periods that have ended, no distributions of cash or other property may be declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment, directly or indirectly, on or with respect to the Junior Units or the Parity Units (other than distributions in Junior Units or in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase Junior Units), nor shall any Junior Units or Parity Units be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired (other than a redemption, purchase or other acquisition of Common Units made for purposes of and in compliance with requirements of any incentive, benefit or equity purchase plan of the Partnership or the Company or any subsidiary thereof) for any consideration (or any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Partnership Units), directly or indirectly, by the Partnership (except by conversion into or exchange for Junior Units, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase Junior Units, and except for purchases or exchanges pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of Series B Preferred Units and all holders of Parity Units).

 

E.    Holders of Series B Preferred Units shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or Partnership Units, in excess of full cumulative distributions on the Series B Preferred Units as described above. Any distribution made on the Series B Preferred Units shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid distributions due with respect to such Series B Preferred Units which remain payable. Accrued but unpaid distributions on the Series B Preferred Units shall accumulate as of the Distribution Payment Date on which they first become payable or on the date of redemption, as the case may be.

 

3

 

F.    “Set apart for payment” shall be deemed to include (without limitation): the recording by the Partnership in its accounting ledgers of any accounting or bookkeeping entry which indicates, in accordance with the Agreement, the allocation of funds to be so paid on any series or class of Partnership Units; provided, however, that if any funds for any class or series of Junior Units or Parity Units are placed in a separate account of the Partnership or delivered to a disbursing, paying or other similar agent, then “set apart for payment” with respect to the Series B Preferred Units shall mean placing such funds in a separate account or delivering such funds to a disbursing, paying or other similar agent.

 

Section 6. Liquidation Preference.

 

A.    Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership, the holders of Series B Preferred Units then outstanding are entitled to be paid, or have the Partnership declare and set apart for payment, out of the assets of the Partnership legally available for distribution to its holders of Partnership Units, after payment of or provision for payment of the Partnership’s debts and other liabilities, the liquidation preference per Series B Preferred Unit, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid Cash Distributions (whether or not authorized or declared) thereon to but not including the date of payment or the date the amount for payment is set apart (collectively, the “Liquidating Distributions”), before any distribution or payment of assets is made to holders of Junior Units. If the assets of the Partnership legally available for distribution to holders of Partnership Units are insufficient to pay in full the Liquidating Distributions on all outstanding Series B Preferred Units and the corresponding amounts payable on all outstanding Parity Units, then all assets distributed to the holders of the Series B Preferred Units and any class or series of Parity Units shall be distributed pro rata so that the amount of assets distributed per Series B Preferred Unit and such class or series of Parity Units shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that the Liquidating Distributions per Series B Preferred Unit and such class or series of Parity Units bear to each other. Written notice of the effective date of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class mail, postage pre-paid, not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the Series B Preferred Units at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the transfer records of the Partnership.

 

B.    After payment of the full amount of the Liquidating Distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series B Preferred Units shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Partnership.

 

4

 

C.    For the avoidance of doubt, the consolidation, merger or conversion of the Partnership with or into another entity, the merger of another entity with or into the Partnership, a statutory unit exchange by the Partnership or the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Partnership shall not be considered a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership.

 

Section 7. Redemptions.

 

A.    The Partnership shall redeem a number of Series B Preferred Units equal to the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock redeemed by the Company, on such dates as the Company may from time to time redeem such shares of Series B Preferred Stock. The redemption price per Series B Preferred Unit shall be equal to the redemption price paid by the Company per share of Series B Preferred Stock. If the Company pays the redemption price for the redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock by issuing shares of Common Stock, the Partnership shall pay the redemption price for the redemption of the same number of Series B Preferred Units by issuing Common Units in an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock the Company issues in connection with the redemption. The Partnership shall issue Class A Common Units in such case, if the Series B Preferred Units are held by the Company. Each holder of Series B Preferred Units that shall be redeemed by the Partnership shall be entitled to an amount equal to the distributions accruing after the end of the Distribution Period to which such Distribution Payment Date relates, up to but not including, the redemption date. To the extent the redemption price paid by the Company to redeem shares of Series B Preferred Stock constitutes a payment of accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares, the redemption price paid by the Partnership to redeem Series B Preferred Units shall to the same extent constitute a payment of accrued and unpaid distributions on such Series B Preferred Units. Distributions on Series B Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accrue when dividends shall cease to accrue on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed by the Company in connection with the redemption of such Series B Preferred Units.

 

Section 8. Voting Rights.

 

A.    Holders of the Series B Preferred Units shall not have any voting or consent rights.

 

B.    When reference is made to Percentage Interest or holdings of Partnership Units as a threshold for voting, consent, approval or any similar requirement in the Agreement, such reference shall not include Series B Preferred Units, except as required by applicable law.

 

Section 9. Conversion. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Series B Preferred Units are not convertible for any other property or securities of the Partnership.

 

Section 10. Term. The Series B Preferred Units have no stated maturity date and shall not be subject to any sinking fund and, except as otherwise set forth herein, is not subject to mandatory redemption. The Partnership shall not be required to set aside funds to redeem the Series B Preferred Units.

 

5

 

Section 11. Status of Redeemed or Repurchased Series B Preferred Units. All Series B Preferred Units redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired in any manner by the Partnership shall constitute authorized but unissued Series B Preferred Units.

 

Section 12. Allocation of Net Income and Net Loss.

 

Article 6, Sections 6.1(A) and (B) of the Agreement are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced by sections A and B, below:

 

“A. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit B attached hereto for the applicable taxable year or other allocation period, and subject to Section 4 of Exhibit A attached hereto, Net Income for each taxable year or other allocation period shall be allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in the following order of priority:

 

(1)    First, to the General Partner until the cumulative Net Income allocated to the General Partner under this Section 6.1(A)(1) equals the cumulative Net Loss allocated to the General Partner under Section 6.1(B)(3);

 

(2)    Second, to the holders of Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests in the Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, until the cumulative Net Income allocated to such holders under this Section 6.1(A)(2) equals the cumulative Net Loss allocated to such holders under Section 6.1(B)(2) (pro rata in accordance with the excess of such Net Loss over such Net Income for each such holder);

 

(3)    Third, to the holders of Common Units and LTIP Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests in the Common Units and LTIP Units, until the cumulative Net Income allocated to such holders under this Section 6.1(A)(3) equals the cumulative Net Loss allocated to such holders under Section 6.1(B)(1) (pro rata in accordance with the excess of such Net Loss over such Net Income for each such holder);

 

(4)    Fourth, 100% to the holders of Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests in the Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, until the cumulative Net Income allocated to such holders under this Section 6.1(A)(4) is equal to the excess of (x) the cumulative amount of distributions such holders have received with respect to the Series A Preferred Units (other than distributions of Base Liquidation Preference or liquidation preference, as applicable) for all Partnership Years or other applicable period or to the date of redemption, to the extent such Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units are redeemed during such period, over (y) the cumulative Net Income allocated to such holders with respect to the Series A Preferred Units, pursuant to this Section 6.1(A)(4) for all prior Partnership Years or other applicable periods; and

 

6

 

(5)    Thereafter, to the holders of Common Units and LTIP Units pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests in the Common Units and LTIP Units.

 

B.    After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit B attached hereto for the applicable taxable year or other allocation period, and subject to Section 4 of Exhibit A attached hereto, Net Loss for each taxable year or other allocation period shall be allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in the following order of priority:

 

(1)    First, to the holders of Common Units and LTIP Units with positive balances in their Economic Capital Account Balances attributable to the Common Units and LTIP Units in accordance with such balances until their Economic Capital Account Balances attributable to the Common Units and LTIP Units are reduced to zero;

 

(2)    Second, to the holders of the Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests in the Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, until the Adjusted Capital Account of such holders is reduced to zero; and

 

(3)    Thereafter, to the General Partner.

 

For purposes of determining allocations of Net Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(B)(1), a holder of a Profits LTIP Unit shall be treated as having a separate Economic Capital Account Balance, and for this purpose a separate Capital Account with an appropriate share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Minimum Gain shall be maintained, for each tranche of Profits LTIP Units with a different issuance date that it holds and a separate Capital Account for its Common Units or Capital LTIP Units, if applicable, and the Economic Capital Account Balance of each holder of Common Units or Capital LTIP Units shall not include any Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to other series or classes of Partnership Units.”

 

Article 6, Section 6.1(C) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced by section C, below:

 

“C. It is the intention of the parties hereunder that the aggregate Capital Account balance of any holder of Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units in respect of its Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units at any date shall not exceed the amount of the original Capital Contributions made in respect of its Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units plus all accrued and unpaid distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the extent not previously distributed. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership or the interest of a holder of Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, and prior to making any other allocations of Net Income or Net Loss, items of income and gain or deduction and loss shall first be allocated to each holder of Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units in respect of its Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units in such amounts as is required to cause the Adjusted Capital Account of such holders with respect to such Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units (taking into account any amounts such Partner is obligated to contribute to the capital of the Partnership or is deemed obligated to contribute pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(2)) to equal the amount such Partner is entitled to receive pursuant to the provisions of Section 6 hereof.”

 

Section 13.     Except as modified herein, all terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

7
EX-99.1 7 ex_589652.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 ex_589652.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. Launches $400 Million Continuous Offering of 9.0% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

Dallas, TX, November 2, 2023, – NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: NREF) ("NREF" or the "Company") announced today the launch of a continuous public offering of up to 16,000,000 shares of its new designated 9.0% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock") at a price to the public of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $400 million.1

 

NREF is a commercial mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that is primarily focused on investments in real estate sectors where its senior management team has operating expertise, including in the multifamily, single-family rental, self-storage, and life sciences sectors, predominantly in the top 50 metropolitan statistical areas. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include funding investments and repaying amounts outstanding under our debt obligations.

 

NexPoint Securities, Inc., an affiliate of NexPoint Real Estate Advisors VII, L.P., who acts as NREF’s external manager, will serve as the Company’s dealer manager in connection with the offering. The Series B Preferred Stock is being offered by NexPoint Securities on a “reasonable best efforts” basis. There is no public market for the Series B Preferred Stock and the Company does not intend to apply for a listing of the Series B Preferred Stock on any national securities exchange.

 

The Company expects that the offering will terminate on the earlier of the date the Company sells all 16,000,000 shares of the Series B Preferred Stock in the offering or March 14, 2025 (which is the third anniversary of the effective date of the Company’s registration statement), which may be extended by the Company’s board of directors in its sole discretion. The board of directors may elect to terminate this offering at any time.

 

The offering is being conducted as a public offering under the Company’s effective shelf registration statement, filed with the SEC (File No. 333-263300), which became effective on March 14, 2022. To obtain a copy of the final prospectus supplement and the related base prospectus for this offering, please contact by mail, telephone or email: NexPoint Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, 200 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas, 75201, Attn: Investor Relations, telephone: (833) 697-7253, or email: ir@nexpoint.com. You may also get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

 


1 Gross proceeds calculated before deducting dealer manager fees and selling commissions and other estimated offering expenses.

 







 

About NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc.

 

NREF. is a publicly traded REIT with its common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NREF." NREF is primarily focused on originating, structuring and investing in first-lien mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, convertible notes, multifamily properties and common stock investments, as well as multifamily commercial mortgage-backed securities securitizations, multifamily structured credit risk notes and mortgage-backed securities.

 

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

 

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the termination of the offering, the Company’s intent not to list the Series B Preferred Stock and other statements identified by words such as "expect," "intend," the negative version of these words and similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements are based on NREF's current expectations and assumptions regarding capital market conditions, NREF's business, the economy and other future conditions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and may be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond NREF's control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, and those described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's other filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of risks and other factors that could affect any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. NREF undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

CONTACTS:

 

Investor Relations

Kristen Thomas

Ir@nexpoint.com

 

Media Relations

Prosek Partners for NexPoint

pro-nexpoint@prosek.com

 

 
EX-99.2 8 ex_589905.htm EXHIBIT 99.2 ex_589905.htm

Exhibit 99.2

 

nref01.jpg
Subscription Agreement

We, NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), are selling up to a maximum of 16,000,000 shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Share(s)”) in connection with this offering (the “Offering”). Each Share will be sold at a public offering price of $25.00 per Share and will not be certificated.

 

This subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) is to be completed by the individual who will be signing the Subscription Agreement. Please complete all applicable sections in their entirety.

 

The undersigned hereby tenders this Subscription Agreement and applies for the purchase of the dollar amount and Shares set forth below.

 

1.

INVESTMENT

 

Purchase Price Per Share (minimum initial purchase of at least $5,000) $   

 

Number of Shares to Purchase (no fractional shares will be issued)   

 

Aggregate Purchase Amount $  

 

☐ Check here if additional purchase and provide the investor information in Section 4

 

Account # (if applicable)  

 

☐ Check here if the investor qualifies for the Company’s “friends and family” program as described in the prospectus and any supplements thereto.

 

2.

OWNERSHIP (select only one)

 

Individual      
         
Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship   Non-Profit Organization
        ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:
Community Property         ☐  Tenants in Common     Formation document or other document evidencing authorized signers
         
Trust   Profit Sharing Plan     ☐  KEOGH Plan
  ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:     ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:
  Trustee Certification of Investment Powers form     Pages of plan document that list plan name, date, trustee name(s) and signatures
         
Estate   Other (please specify)                                                               
  ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:      
  Documents evidencing individuals authorized to act on behalf of the estate   CUSTODIAL QUALIFIED ACCOUNT
         
Partnership   Traditional IRA ☐  SEP IRA
  ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:   Rollover IRA ☐  Roth IRA
  Partnership Certification of Powers or Certificate of Limited Partnership   SIMPLE IRA ☐  Defined Benefit Plan
           
UGMA: State of                                                                       
         
UTMA: State of                                                                     
         
Corporation         ☐ C Corp         ☐ S Corp      
  ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:      
  Articles of Incorporation or Corporate Resolution      
         
Limited Liability Company   For Inherited IRA indicate Decedent's name:                                                               
         
Inherited/Beneficial IRA      
 

Enter Tax Classification below

(C= C Corp, S=S Corp, P=Partnership): ______

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:         

LLC Operating Agreement or Resolution

Partnership Certification of Powers or

Certificate of Limited Partnership

     

 


For help completing this form, please call Investor Services at 833-697-7253 1

nref01.jpg
Subscription Agreement

 

3.

CUSTODIAN ARRANGEMENT (if applicable)

 

Name of Custodian

 

Custodian Tax ID #

   
         

Custodian Account #

 

Custodian Phone #

   
         

Mailing Address

       

 

(street)

(city)

(state)

(zip)

         

Custodian Authorization:

       

 

 

4.

INVESTOR INFORMATION (please print name(s) in which Shares are to be registered)

 

A.

INDIVIDUAL OWNER/BENEFICIAL OWNER/TRUSTEE

 

Name

 

Date of Birth    

 

(first, middle, last)

  (mm/dd/yyyy)
       

Tax ID or SS#

 

If non-U.S. Citizen, specify country of Citizenship    
       

Street Address

     

(must include a permanent U.S. street address even if mailing address is a P.O. Box)

(city)

(state)

(zip)
       

Mailing Address

     

(leave blank if your U.S. street address and mailing address are the same)

(city)

(state)

(zip)
       

Daytime Phone #

 

Email address

   

 

B.

JOINT OWNER/BENEFICIAL OWNER/TRUSTEE

 

Name

 

Date of Birth    

 

(first, middle, last)

  (mm/dd/yyyy)
       

Tax ID or SS#

 

If non-U.S. Citizen, specify country of Citizenship    
       

Street Address

     

(must include a permanent U.S. street address even if mailing address is a P.O. Box)

(city)

(state)

(zip)
       

Mailing Address

     

(leave blank if your U.S. street address and mailing address are the same)

(city)

(state)

(zip)
       

Daytime Phone #

 

Email address

   

 

C.

TRUST/CORPORATION/PARTNERSHIP/OTHER (Trustee(s)/Authorized Person(s) information must be provided in Sections 4A and 4B)

 

Entity Name/Title of Trust

       
         

Date of formation

 

Tax ID #    

 

(mm/dd/yyyy)      

Street Address

       

(must include a permanent U.S. street address even if mailing address is a P.O. Box)

(city)

(state)

(zip)
         

Mailing Address

       

(leave blank if your U.S. street address and mailing address are the same)

(city)

(state)

(zip)
         

Officer Name and Title                                                                          Email                                                  Phone                             

 

 


For help completing this form, please call Investor Services at 833-697-7253 2

nref01.jpg
Subscription Agreement

 

5.

DISTRIBUTIONS (select only one)

 

COMPLETE THIS SECTION TO ELECT HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTIONS. If this section is not completed, the Company will default to sending the investor’s cash distributions out by check to his or her address of record provided in Section 4 or to the custodian indicated in Section 3, as applicable.

 

PLEASE SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS/PAYMENT METHODS

 

Payment by check or electronic deposit

 

I (We) choose to have distributions paid using the payment method selected below. If no payment method is selected, the Company will mail a check to the address or custodian of record.

 

Mail Check to the address of record.

 

For custodial accounts, funds will be sent to custodian of record.

 

I (We) choose to have distributions electronically deposited in a checking, savings or brokerage account.

 

In order to receive distributions electronically, you must also complete the direct deposit enrollment form found on the Company’s website and return it to the address set forth in the form.

 

I (We) authorize the Company or its agent to deposit my distribution/dividend to my brokerage, checking or savings account. This authority will remain in force until I notify the Company in writing to cancel. If the Company deposits funds erroneously into my account, they are authorized to debit my account for an amount not to exceed the amount of the erroneous deposit.

 

6.

TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY INFORMATION

 

(Individual or Joint Account with rights of survivorship only.) (Not available for Louisiana and North Carolina Residents.) (Beneficiary Date of Birth required. Whole percentages only; must equal 100%.) ** Please note that such transfer is still subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Company’s charter.

 

 


First Name         (MI)         Last Name SSN Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)

☐ Primary

☐ Secondary       %

                       

 


First Name         (MI)         Last Name SSN Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)

☐ Primary

☐ Secondary       %

 

 


First Name         (MI)         Last Name SSN Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)

☐ Primary

☐ Secondary       %

 

 


First Name         (MI)         Last Name SSN Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)

☐ Primary

☐ Secondary       %

 


For help completing this form, please call Investor Services at 833-697-7253 3

nref01.jpg
Subscription Agreement

 

7.

SUBSCRIBER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND SIGNATURES

 

The Company is required by law to obtain, verify and record certain personal information from you or persons on your behalf in order to establish the account. Required information includes name, date of birth, permanent residential address and social security/taxpayer identification number. We may also ask to see other identifying documents. If you do not provide the information (to the extent not already provided in this Subscription Agreement), the Company may not be able to open your account. By signing the Subscription Agreement, you agree to provide this information and confirm that this information is and will be true and correct. If we are unable to verify your identity, or that of another person(s) authorized to act on your behalf, or if we believe we have identified potentially criminal activity, we reserve the right to take action as we deem appropriate which may include closing your account.

 

Please carefully read and separately initial each of the representations below (a)-(g). The undersigned hereby confirms this Subscription Agreement to purchase the Shares on the terms and conditions set forth herein and acknowledges and/or represents (or in the case of fiduciary accounts, the person authorized to sign on the subscriber's behalf) the following:

 

All Items in this Section Must be Read and Initialed

Owner

Co-Owner

(a) I (We) have received and read the prospectus and any supplements thereto (which incorporates by reference various Securities and Exchange Commission-filed documents) wherein the terms and risks of the offering are described.

   

(b) I am (We are) purchasing Shares for my (our) own account.

   

(c) I am (We are) in compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and not on any governmental authority watch list.

   

(d) I (We) acknowledge that the Shares are not liquid, there is no public market for the Shares, and I (we) may not be able to sell the Shares.

   

(e) My (Our) purchasing and holding of the Shares hereto is not in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit contained in, and as defined in, the Company’s charter.

   

(f) I (We) am (are) either (i) a “U.S. person(s)” for U.S. federal income tax purposes and represent that I (we) have completed, signed, dated and returned to the Company either (1) an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 “Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification” in accordance with the instructions accompanying such form, or (2) the Substitute IRS Form W-9 Certification below, or (ii) not a “U.S. person(s)” for U.S. federal income tax purposes and represent that I (we) have completed, signed, dated and returned to the Company an applicable IRS Form W-8 (either a W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8IMY, W-8EXP, or a W-8ECI) in accordance with the instructions accompanying such form, and to the extent I (we) have provided an IRS Form W-8IMY, I (we) further have provided to the Company properly completed and executed withholding certificates for my (our) beneficial owners, as well as a withholding statement prepared in accordance with the instructions to the IRS Form W-8IMY (which such withholding statement shall describe, among other things, how items of income shall be allocated among such beneficial owners).

   

(g) To the extent applicable, I (we) agree to provide and periodically update any information the Company deems necessary to comply with any requirement imposed by Sections 1471 – 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury regulations and other guidance thereunder, and take any other actions required by such provisions, in order to reduce withholding taxes. I (We) acknowledge that if I (we) fail to comply with the preceding requirement on a timely basis, I (we) may be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on (1) U.S. source dividends, interest and certain other income and (2) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of U.S. stocks, debt instruments and certain other assets.

   

 

Substitute Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 Certification

 

I (We) declare that the information supplied in this Subscription Agreement is true and correct and may be relied upon by the Company in connection with my (our) investment in the Company. I hereby certify, under penalty of perjury, that (i) the taxpayer identification number shown on the Subscription Agreement is correct; (ii) that I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the IRS that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; (iii) I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien); and (iv) the FATCA code I have entered below (if applicable) exempting me from FATCA withholding is correct.

 


For help completing this form, please call Investor Services at 833-697-7253 4

nref01.jpg
Subscription Agreement

 

Definition of a U.S. person – For U.S. federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:

 

 

(1)

an individual citizen or resident of the United States,

 

 

(2)

a partnership or any entity taxable as a partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof or the District of Columbia,

 

 

(3)

a corporation or any entity taxable as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof or the District of Columbia,

 

 

(4)

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or

 

 

(5)

a trust (a) if it is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (b) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U. S. person.

 

Certification instructions: You must cross out item (ii) above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. A list of exempt payee codes and exemption from FATCA reporting codes can be found in the instructions to the Form W-9, located at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9.

         

Exempt Payee Code (If Any): _________ Exemption from FATCA Reporting Code (If Any): _________

 

We have the right to accept or reject this subscription in whole or in part. As used above, the singular includes the plural in all respects if Shares are being acquired by more than one person. This Subscription Agreement and all rights hereunder shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.

 

By executing this Subscription Agreement, the subscriber is not waiving any rights under federal or state law.

 

The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.

 

   
Owner (or fiduciary authorized to sign for subscriber) Signature   Date
   
   
Co-Owner Signature  Date
   
   

 

 


For help completing this form, please call Investor Services at 833-697-7253 5

nref01.jpg
Subscription Agreement

 

8.

FINANCIAL REPRESENTATIVE (all fields must be completed)

 

The undersigned confirm(s) on behalf of the broker-dealer, financial institution or Registered Investment Advisor (collectively, the “Firm”) that they (i) are registered and/or properly licensed in the state in which the sale of the Shares to the investor executing this Subscription Agreement will be made and that the offering of the Shares is registered for sale, or exempt from registration, in such state; (ii) have reasonable grounds to believe that the information and representations concerning the investor identified herein are true, correct and complete in all respects; (iii) have discussed such investor's prospective purchase of Shares with such investor; (iv) have advised such investor of all pertinent facts with regard to the fundamental risks of the investment, including the lack of liquidity and marketability of the Shares; (v) have delivered a current prospectus and related supplements, if any, to such investor; (vi) have reasonable grounds to believe that the investor is purchasing these Shares for his or her own account; (vii) have reasonable grounds to believe that the purchase of Shares is a suitable investment for such investor; (vii) have reasonable grounds to believe that the undersigned will obtain and retain records relating to such investor's suitability for a period of six years; (ix) have reasonable grounds to believe that such investor meets the suitability standards applicable to such investor set forth in the Prospectus and related supplements, if any; (x) have reasonable grounds to believe that such investor is in a financial position to enable such investor to realize the benefits of such an investment and to suffer any loss that may occur with respect thereto and that such investor has an understanding of the fundamental risks of the investment, the background and qualifications of the persons managing the Company and the tax consequences of purchasing and owning Shares. The undersigned represents and certifies that, if the investor is a “retail customer” as defined in Regulation Best Interest, (i) the undersigned has a reasonable basis to believe that (a) a purchase of Shares would be in the best interest of the investor based upon the investor's investment profile and the potential risks, rewards, and costs associated with such an investment and (b) the undersigned has not placed his or her interests or those of the Firm ahead of the interest of the investor in recommending such investment and (ii) the undersigned and the Firm have complied with any applicable enhanced standard of conduct, including, but not limited to, the other requirements of Regulation Best Interest, including providing Form CRS to the investor, in relation to the proposed purchase of Shares. The undersigned financial representative further represents and certifies that in connection with this subscription for Shares, he or she has complied with and has followed all applicable policies and procedures under his or her firm's existing Anti-Money Laundering Program and Customer Identification Program.

 

Broker-Dealer or RIA Firm Name

       
         

Financial Representative Name

       

 

Mailing Address

       

 

(street)

(city)

(state)

(zip)
         

Email Address

 

Business Phone #

 

Fax#  
         

Broker-Dealer CRD #

 

Branch #

 

Advisor CRD #  

 

Check this box to indicate that the subscription is made through the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in its capacity as the RIA and not in its capacity as a Registered Representative of a Broker-Dealer, and if applicable, whose agreement with the subscriber includes a fixed or “wrap” fee feature for advisory and related brokerage services. I understand that by checking the above box, I will not receive a selling commission.

 

   
Financial Representative Signature   Date
   
   
Principal Signature (if applicable)  Date

 

 


For help completing this form, please call Investor Services at 833-697-7253 6

nref01.jpg
Subscription Agreement

 

9.

INVESTMENT INSTRUCTIONS

 

BY WIRE TRANSFER

 

UMB Bank, N.A., Escrow Agent for NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc.

 

928 Grand Blvd

 

Kansas City, MO 64106

ABA Routing No: 101000695

Account Number: 9800006823

Account Name: Trust Clearance

Ref: NexPoint RE Finance Escrow 161610.1

 

Attn: Lara Stevens

For Further Credit: Investor Name

 

Note: All wires must be received by the escrow agent no later than 2 business days before closing.

FOR CUSTODIAN ACCOUNTS:

 

Forward Subscription Agreement to the Custodian

 

PLEASE SEND ALL PAPERWORK ELECTRONICALLY OR BY MAIL TO THE ESCROW AGENT:

UMB Bank, National Association
928 Grand Blvd, 12th Floor

Corporate Trust & Escrow Services
Kansas City, MO 64106
Attention: Lara L. Stevens
Telephone: 816-860-3017
Fax: 816-860-3029
Email: escrows@umb.com

 


For help completing this form, please call Investor Services at 833-697-7253 7