Form 8-K

 

 

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):

June 1, 2016

 

 

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   001-36834   47-2047728

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

2101 L Street NW, Suite 650, Washington, D.C.   20037
(Address of Principal Executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (202) 595-9500

 

 

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 Instructions A.2.):

 

¨ 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))

 

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Underwriting Agreement

On June 1, 2016, Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Easterly Government Properties LP (the “Operating Partnership”), the selling stockholders named therein (the “Selling Stockholders”), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as agent for one of its affiliates, and Jefferies LLC (in such capacity, collectively, the “Forward Sellers,”) and Citibank N.A. and Jefferies LLC (in such capacity, collectively, the “Forward Purchasers”), relating to the offer and sale of an aggregate of 6,126,967 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) to the Underwriters at a public offering price per share of $18.00 (the “Offering”), consisting of (i) 4,719,045 shares of Common Stock offered directly by the Company (including 919,045 shares issued pursuant to the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares exercised in full), (ii) 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock offered by the Forward Sellers in connection with certain forward sales agreements described below and (iii) 826,967 shares of Common Stock offered by the Selling Stockholders.

The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds it receives from the Offering to fund the acquisition price for a portfolio of four properties. The balance of the net proceeds, if any, may be used to repay borrowings outstanding under the Company’s senior unsecured revolving credit facility, to fund other potential acquisition opportunities, for general corporate purposes, or a combination of the foregoing. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of its Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders or the Forward Sellers (but may receive proceeds upon the settlement of the forward sales agreement as described below).

The closing of the Offering, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to occur on June 7, 2016. The foregoing is a summary description of certain terms of the Underwriting Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Underwriting Agreement attached as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Forward Sales Agreements

In connection with the Offering, on June 1, 2016, the Company also entered into separate forward sales agreements (the “Forward Sales Agreements”) with each of the Forward Purchasers. In connection with the execution of the Forward Sales Agreements and at the Company’s request, the Forward Sellers are borrowing from third parties and selling to the Underwriters an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock. The Company expects to physically settle the Forward Sales Agreements and receive proceeds, subject to certain adjustments, from the sale of those shares of Common Stock upon one or more such physical settlements within approximately six months from the closing of the Offering. Although the Company expects to settle the Forward Sales Agreements entirely by the physical delivery of shares of Common Stock for cash proceeds, the Company may also elect to cash or net-share settle all or a portion of its obligations under the Forward Sales Agreements, in which case the Company may receive, or may owe, cash or shares of Common Stock from or to the Forward Purchasers. The Forward Sales Agreements provide for an initial forward price of $17.235 per share, subject to certain adjustments pursuant to the terms of each of the Forward Sales Agreements. The Forward Sales Agreements are subject to early termination or settlement under certain circumstances.

The foregoing is a summary description of certain terms of the Forward Sales Agreements and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Forward Sales Agreements attached as Exhibits 1.2 and 1.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated June 1, 2016, by and among Easterly Government Properties, Inc., Easterly Government Properties L.P., the selling stockholders named therein, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (as agent for Citibank, N.A.) and Jefferies LLC, each in its capacity as a forward seller, and Citibank, N.A. and Jefferies LLC, each in its capacity as a forward counterparty


Exhibit Number

  

Description

  1.2    Confirmation of Issuer Share Forward Sale Transaction, dated June 1, 2016, by and between Easterly Government Properties, Inc. and Citibank, N.A.
  1.3    Confirmation of Issuer Share Forward Sale Transaction, dated June 1, 2016, by and between Easterly Government Properties, Inc. and Jefferies LLC
  5.1    Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP regarding the legality of shares offered
23.1    Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)


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.

 

EASTERLY GOVERNMENT

PROPERTIES, INC.

By:  

/s/ William C. Trimble, III

Name:   William C. Trimble, III
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

Date: June 6, 2016

EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

6,126,967 Shares

Common Stock

($ 0.01 par value)

Underwriting Agreement

New York, New York

June 1, 2016

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Easterly Government Properties, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland (the “Issuer”), Easterly Government Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), the persons named in Schedule II hereto (the “Selling Stockholders”) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citigroup”), in its capacity as agent for one of its affiliates, and Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies” and, together with Citigroup, in such capacities, the “Forward Sellers”), at the request of the Issuer in connection with the Forward Sales Agreements (as defined below), confirm their respective agreements with the several underwriters named in Schedule III hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives on the terms set forth herein, with respect to, (i) the Issuer’s proposal to sell to the several Underwriters the number of shares of common stock, $0.01 par value (“Common Stock”), of the Issuer set forth in Schedule III hereto under the heading “Number of Issuer Initial Securities To Be Purchased” (the “Issuer Initial Securities”), and the Selling Stockholders’ proposal to sell to the several Underwriters the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Schedule II hereto under the heading “Number of Selling Stockholders Initial Securities to be Sold” and in Schedule III hereto under the heading “Number of Selling Stockholders Initial Securities to be Purchased” (the “Selling Stockholders Initial Securities,” together with the Issuer Initial Securities, the “Underwritten Securities”), (ii) the proposal of the Issuer to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to the number of additional shares of Common Stock set forth in Schedule I (the “Option Securities”) and (iii) subject to Section 22 hereof, the sale by the Forward Sellers and the purchase by the


Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule III hereto under the heading “Number of Borrowed Initial Securities To Be Purchased” (such number of shares of Common Stock being equal to the “Borrowed Initial Securities” (which are the initial shares of Common Stock delivered to the Underwriters by the Forward Sellers) plus the Issuer Top-Up Initial Securities (as defined in Section 22 hereof)).

The Underwritten Securities, the Borrowed Initial Securities and any Issuer Top-Up Initial Securities are herein referred to collectively as the “Initial Securities.” The Underwritten Securities and the Issuer Top-Up Initial Securities are herein referred to collectively as the “Issuer Securities.” The Initial Securities and the Option Securities are herein referred to collectively as the “Securities.” As used herein, “Forward Sales Agreements” means the letter agreement, dated the date hereof, between the Issuer and Citibank, N.A. and the letter agreement, dated the date hereof, between the Issuer and Jefferies, relating to the forward sale by the Issuer of an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Initial Securities sold by the Forward Sellers to the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement, subject to the Issuer’s right to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement (as such terms are defined in the Forward Sales Agreements). The term “Forward Counterparties” as used herein shall mean Citibank, N.A. together with Jefferies.

The Issuer and Selling Stockholders understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities on the terms set forth herein as soon as the Underwriters deem advisable after this Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) has been executed and delivered. To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term “Representatives” as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires. In addition, to the extent that there is not more than one Selling Stockholder named in Schedule II, the term Selling Stockholder shall mean either the singular or plural. The use of the neuter in this Underwriting Agreement shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate. Any reference herein to the Registration Statements, the Base Prospectuses, any Preliminary Prospectus or Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”) on or before each date and time when the Registration Statements, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (as defined herein) relating to the offering covered by the Registration Statements (the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”) became or becomes effective (the “Effective Date”) or the issue date of the Base Prospectuses, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statements, the Base Prospectuses, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statements or the issue date of the Base Prospectuses, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

 

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The Issuer has filed with the SEC a registration statement (File No. 333-210049), including a prospectus, on Form S-3, relating to securities (the “Primary Shelf Securities”), including certain of the Securities, to be issued from time to time by the Issuer. Such registration statement, at the time it became effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Primary Registration Statement,” and the related prospectus covering the Primary Shelf Securities dated May 3, 2016 in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Issuer to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Primary Basic Prospectus.” The Issuer has also filed with the SEC a registration statement (File No. 333-210052), including a prospectus, on Form S-3, relating to shares of Common Stock (the “Secondary Shelf Securities”), including certain of the Securities, to be issued from time to time by the Selling Stockholders. Such registration statement, at the time it became effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “Secondary Registration Statement,” and the related prospectus covering the Secondary Shelf Securities dated May 3, 2016 in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Issuer to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Secondary Basic Prospectus.” The Primary Registration Statement and the Secondary Registration Statement together are hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statements.” The Primary Basic Prospectus and the Secondary Basic Prospectus together are hereinafter referred to as the “Base Prospectuses.”

1. Representations and Warranties. The Issuer and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to and agree with each Underwriter, each Forward Seller and each Forward Counterparty as set forth below:

 

  (a)

The Issuer meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and has prepared and filed with the SEC the Registration Statements on Form S-3, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein), shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be , including the Base Prospectuses. The Registration Statements, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the date and time that this agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”), have become effective. The Issuer may have filed with the SEC, as part of an amendment to one or both of the Registration Statements or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements to one or both of the Base Prospectuses relating to the Securities which is used prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectuses (the “Preliminary Prospectus”), each of

 

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  which has previously been furnished to you. The Issuer will file with the SEC a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Base Prospectuses (the “Final Prospectus”). As filed, such Final Prospectus shall contain, in all material respects, all information required by the Securities Act, and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectuses and any Preliminary Prospectus) as the Issuer has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration Statements, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The initial Effective Dates of the Registration Statements were not earlier than the date three years before the Execution Time;

 

  (b) On each Effective Date, the Registration Statements did, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and on the Closing Date and on any date on which Option Securities are purchased, if such date is not the Closing Date (a “settlement date”), the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; on each Effective Date, at the Execution Time and on the Closing Date, the Registration Statements did not and will 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 not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Issuer and the Operating Partnership make no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statements or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Issuer by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder, any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty or any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statements or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty or any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 11(c) hereof and the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of Selling Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2(f) hereof);

 

  (c)

The “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectuses, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Execution Time, (iii) the issuer free writing prospectuses, as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (the “Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses”), if any, identified in Schedule IV hereto, and

 

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  (iv) any other free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (“Free Writing Prospectus”), that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package. The (i) Disclosure Package and (ii) each electronic road show distributed by or on behalf of the Issuer, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder, any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty or any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty or of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 11(c) hereof and the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of Selling Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2(f) hereof);

 

  (d) (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statements that the Issuer or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Securities and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Issuer was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the SEC pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Issuer be considered an Ineligible Issuer;

 

  (e) From the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statements with the SEC through the Execution Time, the Issuer has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”);

 

  (f)

Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statements, Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus that has not been superseded or modified, and each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each as supplemented by and taken together with the Disclosure Package, as of the Execution Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder, any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty or any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty or any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 11(c) hereof

 

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  and the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of Selling Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2(f) hereof);

 

  (g) The interactive data in the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) included as an exhibit to each of the Registration Statements fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the SEC’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto;

 

  (h) The Issuer has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, (ii) the Operating Partnership has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (iii) each of the other subsidiaries of the Issuer listed on Annex A hereto (the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, (iv) each of the Issuer, the Operating Partnership and the Significant Subsidiaries has full power and authority (corporate or other) to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and (v) each of the Issuer, the Operating Partnership and the Significant Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or organization and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except in the cases of clauses (iii), (iv) and (v), where the failure to be so incorporated or organized or so validly existing and in good standing, to have such power or authority or to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or business prospects of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”);

 

  (i) As of the date hereof, there are 27,843,763 common units representing limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership (the “OP Units”) owned by the Issuer. All outstanding partnership interests of the Operating Partnership owned by the Issuer are free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances;

 

  (j) All outstanding shares of capital stock, partnership interests or membership units of the Operating Partnership’s subsidiaries are owned by the Operating Partnership either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries and, except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances;

 

  (k)

The Securities and all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Issuer have been duly authorized; the authorized equity capitalization of the Issuer is as set forth in

 

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  the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Issuer are, and, when the Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Underwriting Agreement on the Closing Date and any settlement date, such Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform, in all material respects, to the information in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and to the description of such Securities contained therein; the stockholders of the Issuer have no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Issuer have been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any security holder; the form of certificate used to represent the Common Stock, if any, complies in all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements and with any applicable requirements of the amended and restated articles of amendment and restatement of the Issuer, the amended and restated bylaws of the Issuer and with any requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no outstanding (A) securities or obligations of the Issuer convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Issuer, (B) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Issuer any such capital stock or any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations or (C) obligations of the Issuer to issue or sell any shares of capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or any such warrants, rights or options;

 

  (l) The shares of Common Stock issuable upon settlement of the Forward Sales Agreements, including as a result of an Early Valuation (as defined in the Forward Sales Agreements), have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon settlement of the Forward Sales Agreements, and when issued and delivered by the Issuer to the Forward Counterparties pursuant thereto, against payment of any consideration required to be paid by the Forward Counterparties pursuant to the terms of the Forward Sales Agreements, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform, in all material respects, to the information in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and to the description of such Securities contained therein;

 

  (m) There is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statements or the Final Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or filed as required (and the Preliminary Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters contained in the Prospectus); and the statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Description of Common Stock of Easterly Government Properties, Inc.,” “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws,” and “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings, in all material respects;

 

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  (n) This Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Issuer and the Operating Partnership;

 

  (o) The Forward Sales Agreements have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Forward Counterparties, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity, and except to the extent that any indemnification provisions thereof may be limited by public policy considerations in respect thereof;

 

  (p) None of the Issuer or its subsidiaries is, nor, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will any of them be, required to register as an “investment company,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

  (q) None of the Issuer or its subsidiaries is, nor, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will any of them be, required to register as an “investment adviser,” as defined in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;

 

  (r) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except (i) such as have been obtained or made under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) such as may be required under the NYSE and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA), (iii) such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, or (iv) such consents, approvals, authorizations, filings or orders that will be obtained or completed on or prior to the Closing Date or the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or delay, prohibit or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein;

 

  (s)

None of the issue and sale of the Securities, the execution, delivery and performance of the Forward Sales Agreements by the Issuer or the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Issuer or any

 

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  of its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership, pursuant to, (i) the organizational documents of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) only, for such conflicts, breaches, violations, liens, charges or encumbrances that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Underwriting Agreement, the Forward Sales Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

  (t) Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, no holders of securities of the Issuer or the Operating Partnership have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statements;

 

  (u) The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statements, together with the related notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Issuer as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply, in all material respects, as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared, in all material respects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein).The selected financial data incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and Registration Statements fairly present, in all material respects, on the basis stated in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statements, the information incorporated by reference therein;

 

  (v) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Issuer or the Operating Partnership, threatened that (i) would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Underwriting Agreement, the Forward Sales Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (w)

(A) Each of the Issuer or its subsidiaries has good and marketable title (fee or leasehold) to all of the real properties described in the Disclosure Package and the

 

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  Final Prospectus as owned by them and the improvements located thereon (individually, a “Property” and collectively, the “Properties”) and any other real property owned by them, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, claims, security interests, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind, except for such mortgages, pledges, liens, claims, security interests, restrictions or encumbrances as (1) are described in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or (2) are Permitted Encumbrances; (B) all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims or restrictions on or affecting any of the Properties or assets of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries that are required to be disclosed in the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus are disclosed therein; (C) each of the Properties complies with all applicable codes, laws and regulations (including, without limitation, building and zoning codes, laws and regulations and laws relating to access to the Properties), other than non-compliance that would not render a material portion of such Property unusable for its current, intended or permitted purpose; (D) the Issuer has not received written notice of any and, to the Issuer’s knowledge, there are no pending or threatened, condemnation proceedings, zoning change or other proceeding or action that will in any material manner affect the size of, use of, improvements on, construction on or access to the Properties; (E) the mortgages and deeds of trust that encumber the Properties are not convertible into equity securities of the entity owning such Property and said mortgages and deeds of trust are not cross-defaulted or cross-collateralized with any property other than other Properties; and (F) neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any tenant of any of the Properties, is in default under (x) any tenant lease (as lessor or lessee, as the case may be) relating to any of the Properties or (y) any of the mortgages or other security documents or other agreements encumbering or otherwise recorded against the Properties, whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default under any of such documents or agreements. “Permitted Encumbrances” shall mean each of the following: (i) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’, materialmen’s, warehousemen’s and other similar liens and encumbrances for construction in progress or which have otherwise arisen in the ordinary course of business; (ii) liens for taxes not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith and for which there are adequate reserves on the financial statements of the owner of the applicable Property; (iii) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected Property or interfere with the ordinary course business of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries; and (iv) liens arising under conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (x)

Neither the Issuer nor any subsidiary is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its organizational documents or bylaws, except in the case of subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, for such violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan

 

10


  agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Issuer or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) only, for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Underwriting Agreement, the Forward Sales Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

  (y) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Issuer within the meaning of the Securities Act;

 

  (z) There are no unpaid transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Underwriting Agreement or the issuance by the Issuer or sale by the Issuer of the Securities;

 

  (aa) Each of the Issuer and its subsidiaries has timely filed all U.S. federal income and other material federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed by applicable law or has requested extensions thereof, and all such tax returns were in all material respects true, correct and complete. No audit, administrative proceedings or court proceedings are presently pending with regard to any material potential federal, state, local or foreign tax of any nature, and the Issuer has no knowledge of any tax deficiencies which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Issuer and its subsidiaries has paid (within the time and in the manner prescribed by law) all taxes of any nature which are due (whether or not shown on any tax returns), in each case except for those not yet delinquent and those being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted for which the Issuer and/or each of the subsidiaries has established on its books and records adequate reserves in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or those that would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (bb)

Commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2015, the Issuer has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Issuer’s method of operation as set forth in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus enables it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. All statements regarding the Issuer’s qualification and taxation as a REIT

 

11


  and descriptions of the Issuer’s organization and proposed method of operation (to the extent they relate to the availability of the Issuer’s qualification and taxation as a REIT) set forth in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus are true, complete and correct in all material respects;

 

  (cc) The Operating Partnership has been properly classified as a partnership or disregarded entity, and not as a corporation or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes throughout the period from its formation through the date hereof; and each of the subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership that is a partnership or a limited liability company (other than an entity for which a taxable REIT subsidiary election has been made) has been properly classified either as a disregarded entity or as a partnership, and not as a corporation or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes;

 

  (dd) No labor dispute with the employees of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, is threatened or imminent, and the Issuer is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or tenants except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (ee) The Issuer and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) used in the operation of the business as now operated, except where the failure to so own or possess such rights would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Issuer and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with the asserted rights of others in connection with its patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how;

 

  (ff) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, neither the Issuer nor the Operating Partnership (i) has any material lending or other relationship with any Underwriter or, to its knowledge, any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter, and (ii) intends to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any Underwriter or, to its knowledge, any affiliate of any Underwriter;

 

  (gg)

The Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance, and fidelity or surety bonds, if any, insuring the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, Properties,

 

12


  employees, officers and directors are, to the knowledge of the Issuer, in full force and effect; the Issuer and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Issuer nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Issuer nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (hh) No subsidiary of the Issuer is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Issuer, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Issuer any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Issuer or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Issuer or any other subsidiary of the Issuer, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus;

 

  (ii) The Issuer and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by all applicable federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such license, certificate, permit or other authorization would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the applicable Property, and neither the Issuer nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would be expected to have a material adverse effect on the applicable Property;

 

  (jj) The Issuer and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (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 generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Issuer and its subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting are effective and the Issuer and its subsidiaries are not aware of any material weakness in their internal controls over financial reporting;

 

  (kk) The Issuer and its subsidiaries have taken all necessary actions to ensure that, within the time period required, the Issuer and its subsidiaries will maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective;

 

13


  (ll) None of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuer or the Operating Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities;

 

  (mm) The Issuer and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), other than non-compliance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to own the Properties and to conduct their respective businesses, other than non-compliance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law from any federal, state or local governmental authority. Neither the Issuer nor any of the subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended. Costs and liabilities currently expected to be undertaken by the Issuer in response to Environmental Laws would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (nn)

None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Issuer and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Issuer and its subsidiaries; (ii) a material increase in the “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) of the Issuer and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such obligations in the most recently

 

14


  completed fiscal year of the Issuer and its subsidiaries; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the Plan; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries related to their employment. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries may have any liability;

 

  (oo) As of the date hereof, the Issuer and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules and regulations promulgated applicable to them thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof that are in effect and with which the Issuer and its subsidiaries are required to comply;

 

  (pp) None of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any director, officer, agent acting on behalf of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, employee or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action in connection with the Issuer’s business, directly or indirectly, that could result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 or similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction; and none of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any director, officer, agent acting on behalf of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, employee or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action in connection with the Issuer’s business, directly or indirectly, that could result in a sanction for violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 or similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction; and prohibition of noncompliance therewith is covered by the codes of conduct or other procedures instituted and maintained by the Issuer and its subsidiaries;

 

  (qq) The operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer and the Operating Partnership, threatened;

 

  (rr)

None of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any director, officer, agent acting on behalf of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, employee or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries (i) is currently subject to any sanctions administered or imposed by the United States (including any administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, the U.S. Department of State, or the Bureau of Industry and

 

15


  Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or the United Kingdom (including sanctions administered or controlled by Her Majesty’s Treasury) (collectively, “Sanctions” and such persons, “Sanction Persons”) or (ii) will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of this offering or of the settlement of the Forward Sales Agreements, as the case may be, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person in any manner that will result in a violation of any economic Sanctions by, or could result in the imposition of Sanctions against, any person (including any person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise);

 

  (ss) None of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any director, officer, agent acting on behalf of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, employee or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, is a person that is, or is 50% or more owned or otherwise controlled by a person that is: (i) the subject of any Sanctions; or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (currently, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria) (collectively, “Sanctioned Countries” and each, a “Sanctioned Country”);

 

  (tt) None of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country, in the preceding three years, nor does the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries have any plans to increase its dealings or transactions with Sanctioned Persons, or with or in Sanctioned Countries;

 

  (uu) Exhibit 21.1 to the Issuer’s most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K includes the significant subsidiaries of the Issuer as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X as of the date of the Issuer’s most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K; and

 

  (vv) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Issuer or the Operating Partnership and delivered to the Representatives, counsel for the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Issuer or the Operating Partnership, respectively, as to matters covered thereby, to each Forward Seller, each Forward Counterparty and each Underwriter.

2. Each Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants solely with respect to such Selling Stockholder to, and agrees with, each Underwriter, each Forward Seller and each Forward Counterparty that:

 

  (a)

Such Selling Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities to be sold by it hereunder free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims and has duly endorsed such Selling Stockholders Initial Securities in blank, and has full power and authority to sell its

 

16


  interest in the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities, and, assuming that each Underwriter acquires its interest in the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities it has purchased from such Selling Stockholder without notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”)), each Underwriter that has purchased such Selling Stockholders Initial Securities delivered on the Closing Date to The Depository Trust Company or other securities intermediary by making payment therefor as provided herein, and that has had such Selling Stockholders Initial Securities credited to the securities account or accounts of such Underwriters maintained with The Depository Trust Company or such other securities intermediary will have acquired a security entitlement (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(17) of the UCC) to such Selling Stockholders Initial Securities purchased by such Underwriter, and no action based on an adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC) may be asserted against such Underwriter with respect to such Selling Stockholders Initial Securities;

 

  (b) Such Selling Stockholder has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuer to facilitate the sale or resale of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities;

 

  (c) Such Selling Stockholder’s Selling Stockholders Initial Securities have been placed in custody as book-entry security entitlements, for delivery pursuant to the terms of this Underwriting Agreement, under a Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney duly authorized (if applicable) executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder, in the form heretofore furnished to you (the “Custody Agreement”) with the Company, as custodian (the “Custodian”); the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities so held in custody for each Selling Stockholder are subject to the interests hereunder of the Underwriters; the arrangements for custody and delivery of such certificates, made by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and under the Custody Agreement, are not subject to termination by any acts of such Selling Stockholder, or by operation of law, whether by the death or incapacity of such Selling Stockholder or the occurrence of any other event; and if any such death, incapacity or any other such event shall occur before the delivery of such Securities hereunder, the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities will be delivered by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Underwriting Agreement and the Custody Agreement as if such death, incapacity or other event had not occurred, regardless of whether or not the Custodian shall have received notice of such death, incapacity or other event;

 

  (d)

No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated herein, except (i) such as may have been obtained under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities by the Underwriters and

 

17


  such other approvals as have been obtained, (ii) such as may be required under FINRA and (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, filings or orders that will be obtained or completed on or prior to the Closing Date or the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability or delay the ability of such Selling Stockholder to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

  (e) In the case of an entity, neither the sale of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities being sold by such Selling Stockholder nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated by such Selling Stockholder or the fulfillment of the terms hereof by such Selling Stockholder will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any law or the organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder or the terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or bound, or any judgment, order or decree applicable to such Selling Stockholder of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder.

 

  (f) The Disclosure Package, at the Execution Time, and the Final Prospectus, as of the Closing Date, did not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that such Selling Stockholder’s representations and warranties under this Section 2(f) shall only apply to any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by such Selling Stockholder, to the Issuer, relating to such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in such Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that for purposes of this Underwriting Agreement the only information so furnished by such Selling Stockholder consists of (i) the legal name, address and the number of shares of Common Stock and partnership units in the Operating Partnership owned by such Selling Stockholder, (ii) the other information (excluding percentages) with respect to such Selling Stockholder which appear in the table (and corresponding footnotes) under the caption “Selling Stockholders” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, in each case, any information about beneficial ownership, voting power and investment control of such shares) (collectively, the “Selling Stockholder Information”).

 

  (g) The sale of the Securities by such Selling Stockholder is not and will not be prompted by any material information concerning the Issuer which is not set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus.

 

  (h) Any certificate signed by any officer of any Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

 

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3. Each of the Forward Sellers and each of the Forward Counterparties, severally and not jointly, hereby represents, warrants and agrees with, the Issuer, the Operating Partnership and each Underwriter that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

  (a) this Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Forward Sellers and each of the Forward Counterparties and, at the Closing Date, each of Forward Sellers and each of the Forward Counterparties will have full right, power and authority to sell, transfer and deliver the number of Borrowed Initial Securities to the extent that it is required to sell, transfer and deliver such Borrowed Initial Securities hereunder;

 

  (b) each Forward Sale Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the applicable Forward Counterparty and constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Forward Counterparty, enforceable against the Forward Counterparty in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles; and

 

  (c) each of the Forward Sellers will at the Closing Date have the free and unqualified right to transfer the number of Borrowed Initial Securities that it is required to deliver to the extent that it is required to transfer such Borrowed Initial Securities hereunder, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, charge, lien, encumbrance, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party; and upon delivery of such Borrowed Initial Securities and payment of the purchase price therefor, as herein contemplated, assuming each of the Underwriters has no notice of any adverse claim, each of the Underwriters will have the free and unqualified right to transfer any such Borrowed Initial Securities purchased by it from a Forward Seller, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

4. Purchase and Sale.

 

  (a)

Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, (i) the Issuer and the Selling Stockholders agree, severally and not jointly, to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Issuer and the Selling Stockholders, the number of Underwritten Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto under the heading “Number of Selling Stockholders Initial Securities To Be Purchased” and Schedule III hereto under the headings “Number of Issuer Initial Securities To Be Purchased” and “Number of Selling Stockholders Initial Securities to be Sold,” and (ii) each of the Forward Sellers (in equal share with respect to the Borrowed Initial Securities) and the Issuer (with respect to any Issuer Top-Up Initial Securities), severally and not jointly, agrees to sell to the Underwriters, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Forward Sellers (with respect to the

 

19


  Borrowed Initial Securities) and the Issuer (with respect to any Issuer Top-Up Initial Securities) that number of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule III hereto under the heading “Number of Borrowed Initial Securities To Be Purchased” plus, in each case, any additional number of Initial Securities that such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 hereof, subject in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares, in each case, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto;

 

  (b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, the Issuer hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to the number of Option Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto at the same purchase price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Issuer and payable on the Underwritten Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of the Final Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Issuer setting forth the number of shares of the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date. The number of Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of shares of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Initial Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in your absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.

 

  (c) If (i) any of the conditions to effectiveness of the either of the Forward Sales Agreements set forth therein have not been satisfied at the Closing Date; (ii) the Issuer has not performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under this Underwriting Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date; or (iii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 9 hereof have not been satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date; (clauses (i) through (iii), together, the “Conditions”), each Forward Counterparty, in its sole discretion, may elect not to borrow, and may cause the applicable Forward Seller not to deliver for sale to the Underwriters the Borrowed Initial Securities deliverable by the applicable Forward Seller hereunder.

5. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in Section 4(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date) shall be made at 10:00 AM, Eastern Daylight Time, on June 7, 2016, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement among the Representatives, the Issuer, the Forward Sellers and the Selling Stockholders (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). For purposes herein, “Business Day” shall have the meaning of any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on

 

20


which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York, New York. Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Securities being sold by the Issuer (with respect to the Issuer Securities and the Option Securities, if exercised) and each of the Selling Stockholders (with respect to the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities) or the Forward Sellers (with respect to the Borrowed Initial Securities), as the case may be, to or upon the order of the Issuer (with respect to the Issuer Securities and the Option Securities, if exercised) and the Selling Stockholders (with respect to the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities) or the Forward Sellers (with respect to the Borrowed Initial Securities), as the case may be, by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the accounts specified by the Issuer (with respect to the Issuer Securities and the Option Securities, if exercised) and the Selling Stockholders (with respect to the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities) or the Forward Sellers (with respect to the Borrowed Initial Securities), as the case may be. Delivery of the Issuer Securities, the Borrowed Initial Securities and the Option Securities (if exercised) shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

The Issuer agrees to have the Securities available for inspection, checking and packaging by the Representatives in New York, New York, not later than 1:00 PM on the Business Day prior to the Closing Date.

Each Selling Stockholder will pay all applicable state transfer taxes, if any, involved in the transfer to the several Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them from such Selling Stockholder and the respective Underwriters will pay any additional stock transfer taxes involved in further transfers.

If the option provided for in Section 4(b) hereof is exercised after the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Issuer will deliver the Option Securities (at the expense of the Issuer) to the Representatives, at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of said option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Issuer by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the accounts specified by the Issuer. If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Issuer will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 9 hereof.

6. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

7. Agreements of the Issuer. The Issuer agrees with the Forward Sellers, Forward Counterparties and several Underwriters that:

 

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  (a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Issuer will not file any amendment of one or both of the Registration Statements or supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to one or both of the Base Prospectuses or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (excluding any documents incorporated by reference therein or any supplement to the Secondary Basic Prospectus that the Issuer is contractually obligated to file) unless the Issuer has furnished you a copy of such amendment or supplement for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object. The Issuer will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Forward Sellers and the Representatives with the SEC pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Issuer will promptly advise the Forward Sellers and the Representatives (i) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the SEC, (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to one or both of the Registration Statements shall have been filed or become effective (other than any documents incorporated by reference therein), (iii) of any request by the SEC or its staff for any amendment of one or both of the Registration Statements, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of one or both of the Registration Statements or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Issuer of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Issuer will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of one or both of the Registration Statements and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable;

 

  (b) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Issuer will (i) notify promptly the Forward Sellers and the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request;

 

22


  (c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend one or both of the Registration Statements, file a new registration statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, including in connection with use or delivery of the Final Prospectus, the Issuer promptly will (i) notify the Forward Sellers and the Representatives of any such event, (ii) prepare and file with the SEC, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 9, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statements, or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Final Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request;

 

  (d) As soon as practicable, the Issuer will make generally available to its security holders, the Forward Sellers and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Issuer and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 under the Securities Act;

 

  (e) The Issuer will furnish to the Forward Sellers, counsel to the Forward Sellers, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statements (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statements (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by a Forward Seller, Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Forward Sellers and the Representatives may reasonably request. The Issuer will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering;

 

  (f)

The Issuer will use its commercially reasonable efforts to arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of any U.S. jurisdiction that the Representatives may designate and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Issuer be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits,

 

23


  other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, or subject it or its subsidiaries to taxation, in each case, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

 

  (g) The Issuer will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer or any person in privity with the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the SEC in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 60 days after the date of this Underwriting Agreement, provided, however, that (i) the Operating Partnership may issue OP Units as consideration in the acquisition of one or more properties; (ii) the Issuer may issues shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock pursuant to any director or employee equity incentive plan of the Issuer described in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; (iii) the Issuer may file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 with respect to any director or employee equity incentive plan of the Issuer referred to in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; (iv) the Issuer may enter into and issue and deliver Common Stock pursuant to the Forward Sales Agreements; (v) the Issuer may file prospectus supplements (including any amendments or supplements thereto) in connection with existing contractual agreements, provided that the black-out periods indicated in such contractual agreements shall be in effect; and (vi) the Issuer may issue (x) Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock in the aggregate not to exceed 10% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, on a non-diluted basis in connection with other acquisitions of real property or real property companies and (y) Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of any securities issued pursuant to (i) or (vi)(x) above or pursuant to Section 8.05 of the Operating Partnership’s amended and restated agreement of limited partnership; provided that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (vi), the securities issued are subject to the terms of a lock-up or similar agreement restricting their sale or transfer consistent with the terms of Exhibit A hereto, for the remainder of the 60-day period referred to above.

 

  (h) Neither the Issuer nor the Operating Partnership will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuer to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities;

 

24


  (i) The Issuer will use its best efforts to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code unless the Board of Directors of the Issuer determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Issuer to qualify as a REIT;

 

  (j) The Issuer and the Operating Partnership agree to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the SEC of the Registration Statements (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statements, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities (but excluding any stock or transfer taxes and any stamp, capital or other duties payable by the Selling Stockholders upon the sale or delivery of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities to the Underwriters) in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Underwriting Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Securities on the NYSE; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification, up to an aggregate $10,000); (vii) any filings required to be made with the FINRA (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters (up to $10,000) relating to such filings; (viii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Issuer representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities (except that the cost of any aircraft chartered for use in such presentations shall be split evenly between the Issuer, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand); (ix) the fees and expenses of the Issuer’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Issuer; (x) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or register for the Securities; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Issuer of its obligations hereunder and, except as set forth in Section 8(e) hereof, the Selling Stockholders’ obligations hereunder.

 

  (k)

The Issuer agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Forward Sellers and the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Issuer that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Issuer, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free

 

25


  Writing Prospectus required to be filed by the Issuer with the SEC or retained by the Issuer under Rule 433 under the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule IV hereto and any electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Securities . Any such Free Writing Prospectus consented to by the Forward Sellers, the Representatives or the Issuer is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Issuer agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the SEC, legending and record keeping; and

 

  (l) The Issuer will notify promptly the Forward Sellers and the Representatives if the Issuer ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (b) completion of the 60-day restricted period referred to in Section 7(g) hereof.

8. Each Selling Stockholder agrees with the several Underwriters that:

 

  (a)

Such Selling Stockholder will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Selling Stockholder or any affiliate of the Selling Stockholder or any person in privity with the Selling Stockholder or any affiliate of the Selling Stockholder) directly or indirectly, or file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the SEC in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any shares of Common Stock of the Issuer or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, until 60 days after the date of this Underwriting Agreement, provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions of this Section 8(a) shall not prohibit such Selling Stockholder from (1) tendering units of the Operating Partnership for redemption and receiving cash or shares of Common Stock in exchange therefor (provided that any shares issued upon such exchange shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 8(a), (2) any transfers that do not involve a disposition for value or do not require a filing of any form under Section 16 under the Exchange Act (other than a Form 5 when or if required), or (3) transfers or dispositions (i) as bona fide gifts, (ii) distributions of shares of Common Stock or OP Units to limited partners, members or securityholders of the Selling Stockholder or (iii) transfers of shares of Common Stock or OP Units to the Selling Stockholder’s affiliates or to any fund or other entity controlled (directly or indirectly) or managed by the

 

26


  Selling Stockholder (provided that any such transferee agrees in writing to the same restrictions applicable to the Selling Stockholder in this Section 8(a). Such Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuer to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

  (b) Such Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuer to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

  (c) Such Selling Stockholder will advise you promptly, and if requested by you, will confirm such advice in writing, so long as delivery of a prospectus relating to the Securities by an underwriter or dealer may be required under the Securities Act, of (i) any change in the Selling Stockholder Information or (ii) any new material information relating to the Issuer or relating to any matter stated in the Final Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus which comes to the attention of such Selling Stockholder.

 

  (d) Such Selling Stockholder represents that it has not prepared or had prepared on its behalf or used or referred to, and agrees that it will not prepare or have prepared on its behalf or use or refer to, any Free Writing Prospectus, and has not distributed and will not distribute any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

 

  (e) Such Selling Stockholder (in proportion to the number of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities being offered by such Selling Stockholder) agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses related to the performance of such Selling Stockholders’ obligations under, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement, including (i) any stamp duties, capital duties and stock transfer taxes, if any, payable upon the sale of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters, (ii) all underwriting discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities by such Selling Stockholder and (iii) the fees and disbursements of their counsel and other advisors.

 

  (f) Such Selling Stockholder will comply with the agreement contained in Section 9(j) hereof.

9. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, as the case may be, and the obligations of each Forward Seller to deliver and sell the Borrowed Initial Securities under the terms set forth herein, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Issuer and the Operating Partnership and the Selling Stockholders contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section 4 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Issuer, the Operating Partnership and

 

27


the Selling Stockholders made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Issuer, the Operating Partnership and the Selling Stockholders of their respective obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

  (a) The Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; any material required to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, shall have been filed with the SEC within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of one or both of the Registration Statements or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

 

  (b) (i) The Issuer shall have requested and Goodwin Procter LLP, counsel for the Issuer, shall have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B; and (ii) the Issuer shall have requested and Goodwin Procter LLP, tax counsel for the Issuer, shall have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

  (c) The Selling Stockholders shall have requested and Goulston & Storrs PC, counsel for U.S. Government Properties Income & Growth Fund, L.P., U.S. Government Properties Income & Growth Fund II, LP and USGP I REIT Holdings, LP, and Eric Colandrea, counsel for Easterly GSA I LLC, shall have furnished to the Representatives their opinion dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D:

 

  (d) The Representatives shall have received from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Issuer, the Operating Partnership and each Selling Stockholder shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

  (e)

The Issuer shall have furnished to the Forward Sellers, Forward Counterparties and the Representatives a certificate of the Issuer and the Operating Partnership, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Issuer and the general partner of the Operating Partnership, dated the Closing Date or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration

 

28


  Statements, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Underwriting Agreement and that:

 

  (i) the representations and warranties of the Issuer and the Operating Partnership in this Underwriting Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be, (except those related to a specific date) with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date, and each of the Issuer and the Operating Partnership has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be;

 

  (ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of one or both of the Registration Statements or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Issuer or the Operating Partnership, threatened; and

 

  (iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

  (f) The Representatives shall have received a certificate from each of the Selling Stockholders, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the Selling Stockholders have carefully examined the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Underwriting Agreement, and that the representations and warranties of such Selling Stockholder in this Underwriting Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date to the same effect as if made on the Closing Date.

 

  (g) The Issuer shall have requested and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties and the Representatives, at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be, letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties or one or more of the Representatives), dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties and the Representatives, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder and containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statements, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

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References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (g) include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.

 

  (h) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statements (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (g) of this Section 9 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Issuer and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statements (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

  (i) Prior to the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Issuer shall have furnished to the Representatives, certificates of the Chief Financial Officer of the Issuer, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto.

 

  (j) Prior to the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Issuer and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to the Forward Sellers and the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

  (k) The Securities shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representatives.

 

  (l) FINRA, upon review of the terms of the public offering, of the Securities shall not have objected to such offering, such terms or the participation of the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties in the same.

 

  (m) At or prior to the Execution Time, the Issuer shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each executive officer and director of the Issuer set forth in Exhibit A addressed to the Representatives.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 9 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Underwriting Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Underwriting Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form

 

30


and substance to the Forward Sellers and the Representatives and counsel for the Forward Sellers and the Underwriters, this Underwriting Agreement and all obligations of the Forward Sellers and the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Issuer and each Selling Stockholder in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 9 shall be delivered at the office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 4 Times Square, New York, New York, 10036, Attn: David J. Goldschmidt, on the Closing Date or the applicable settlement date, as the case may be.

10. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 9 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 13 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Issuer, the Operating Partnership or any Selling Stockholder to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Issuer will reimburse the Underwriters severally through Citigroup on demand for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities. If the Issuer is required to make any payments to the Underwriters under this Section 10 because of any Selling Stockholder’s refusal, inability or failure to satisfy any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 9, such refusing Selling Stockholders shall reimburse the Issuer on demand for all amounts so paid.

11. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

  (a)

The Issuer and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties and each person, if any, who controls any Forward Seller or Forward Counterparty within the meaning of either Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in one or both of the Base Prospectuses, any Preliminary Prospectus or any other preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or

 

31


  other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that none of the Issuer or the Operating Partnership will be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Issuer by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder, any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty or any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Issuer or the Operating Partnership may otherwise have.

 

  (b) Each of the Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, in proportion to the number of Selling Stockholders Initial Securities to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, if any, and the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties and each person who controls any Forward Seller or Forward Counterparty within the meaning of either Securities Act or the Exchange Act, if any, and (ii) the Company, the Operating Partnership, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statements, and each person who controls the Issuer or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, if any, to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with reference to written information relating to such Selling Stockholder furnished to the Issuer specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity, it being understood and agreed that for the purposes of this Underwriting Agreement, the only information so furnished by such Selling Stockholder consists of such Selling Stockholder’s Selling Stockholder Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the liability of any Selling Stockholder pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be limited in the aggregate to an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price (less underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) of the Selling Stockholders Initial Securities sold by such Selling Stockholder under this Underwriting Agreement (the “Selling Stockholder Net Proceeds”).

 

  (c)

Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Issuer, the Operating Partnership, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statements, and each person who controls the Issuer or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, (ii) each of the Selling Stockholders and each person who controls any Selling Stockholder within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, if any, and (iii) each Forward Seller and Forward Counterparty and each person who controls any Forward Seller or any Forward Counterparty within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, if any, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity set forth in paragraph (a)

 

32


  above, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Issuer by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Issuer and the Selling Stockholders acknowledge that the statements set forth (i) in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and, under the heading “Underwriting,” (ii) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (iii) the sentences in the third paragraph related to concessions and reallowances, (iv) the tenth, eleventh and twelfth paragraphs related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids and (v) the thirteenth paragraph related to electronic delivery in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that no information has been furnished by the Forward Sellers or the Forward Counterparties for such inclusion.

 

  (d)

Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 11 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 11, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of

 

33


  the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that the Issuer shall, in connection with any action or related actions in the same jurisdiction, bear the fees, costs and expenses of only one such separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) for all the Underwriters, Forward Sellers and Forward Counterparties and the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriters, Forward Sellers and Forward Counterparties and each person who controls any Underwriter, Forward Seller or Forward Counterparty within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Specified Indemnified Parties”), provided, however, the Issuer shall bear the fees, costs and expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) if the use of only one separate counsel for all the Specified Indemnified Parties would present such counsel with a conflict of interest with respect to one or more of the Specified Indemnified Parties. It is understood and agreed that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties. Except as expressly provided in this Section 11, the indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify each indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment; provided, however, that if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 11(d), the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (1) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request; (2) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 45 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (3) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent: includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

 

  (e)

In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 11 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Issuer and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, the Selling Stockholders, severally, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties, severally, and the Underwriters, severally, agree to contribute to

 

34


  the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Issuer, the Operating Partnership, the Selling Stockholders, the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the parties from the offering of the Securities. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Issuer and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, the Selling Stockholders, the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties and the Underwriters, each severally, shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the parties in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the parties shall be deemed to be the same respective proportions as (1) in the case of the Issuer and the Operating Partnership, the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Issuer (which proceeds shall include the proceeds that would be received by the Issuer pursuant to the Forward Sales Agreements, assuming Physical Settlement (as defined in the Forward Sales Agreements) of the Forward Sales Agreements on the Effective Date (as such term is defined in the Forward Sales Agreements), (2) in the case of each of the Selling Stockholders, the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by such Selling Stockholder, (3) in the case of the Underwriters, the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus and (4) in the case of the Forward Sellers, the Spread (as such term is defined in the Forward Sales Agreements) retained by the Forward Counterparties under the Forward Sales Agreements, net of any costs associated therewith, as reasonably determined by the Forward Sellers, in each case as set forth in the applicable Forward Sale Agreement. Relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Issuer, Operating Partnership, the Selling Stockholders, the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Issuer, the Operating Partnership, the Selling Stockholders, the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (e), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

35


  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (e), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 11, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each person, if any who controls a Forward Seller or a Forward Counterparty within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee, affiliate and agent of an Underwriter, Forward Seller or Forward Counterparty shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, Forward Seller or Forward Counterparty, and each person who controls the Issuer or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Issuer who shall have signed the Registration Statements and each director of the Issuer shall have the same rights to contribution as the Issuer and the Operating Partnership, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (e).

 

  (f) The liability of each Selling Stockholder under such Selling Stockholder’s representations and warranties contained in Section 2 hereof and under the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 11 shall be limited to the Selling Stockholder Net Proceeds of such Selling Stockholder. The Issuer and the Selling Stockholders may agree, as among themselves and without limiting the rights of the Underwriters under this Underwriting Agreement, as to the respective amounts of such liability for which they each shall be responsible. The Selling Stockholder’s obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 11 are several and not joint.

12. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such non-defaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Underwriting Agreement will terminate without liability to any non-defaulting Underwriter, any Selling Stockholder, any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty, the Issuer or the Operating Partnership. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 12, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statements and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Underwriting Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Issuer, the Operating Partnership, the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties, the Selling Stockholders and any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

36


13. Termination. This Underwriting Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Issuer, the Selling Stockholders, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such payment and delivery (i) trading in the Issuer’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the SEC or the NYSE or trading in securities generally on the NYSE shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by federal or New York State authorities, (iii) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

14. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Issuer or its officers or of the Operating Partnership, of each Selling Stockholder, each Forward Seller, each Forward Counterparty and each of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any Selling Stockholder, any Forward Seller, any Forward Counterparty, the Issuer or the Operating Partnership or any of the officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 11 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 10 and 11 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Underwriting Agreement.

15. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to (i) the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel, facsimile number: +1 (646) 291-1469 and Jefferies LLC at 520 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: General Counsel with a copy to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 4 Times Square, New York, New York, 10036, Attn: David J. Goldschmidt; (ii) the Forward Sellers or Forward Counterparties, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Citibank, N.A., 390 Greenwich Street, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10013 Attention: James Heathcote (with a copy to Dustin Sheppard at dustin.c.sheppard@citi.com) and Jefferies LLC at 520 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: General Counsel; (iii) the Issuer or the Operating Partnership, will be mailed to Easterly Government Properties, Inc., 2101 L Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20037 or telefaxed to (617) 581-1440, Attention: William C. Trimble, III, with a copy to Goodwin Procter LLP, on or prior to June 24, 2016: 53 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109; effective after June 24, 2016: 100 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02210, Attention: Mark S. Opper (facsimile (617) 523-1231); or (iv) the Selling Stockholders, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to (x) Easterly Funds Administration, LLC, 138 Conant Street, Beverly, Massachusetts 01915, with a copy to Goulston & Storrs PC, 400 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attn: David L. Coombs and; (y) Easterly GSA I LLC, One Central Park South, New York, NY Attention: Sole Member, with a copy to Eric Colandrea, 375 Park Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10152.

 

37


16. Successors. This Underwriting Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 11 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

17. No Fiduciary Duty. Each of the Issuer, the Operating Partnership and the Selling Stockholders hereby acknowledge that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement and the Forward Sales Agreements is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Issuer and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) each of the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Issuer, the Operating Partnership or the Selling Stockholders and (c) the engagement of the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties by the Issuer and the Selling Stockholders, as the case may be, in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Issuer, the Operating Partnership and the Selling Stockholders agree that they are solely responsible for making their own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Counterparties has advised or is currently advising the Issuer, the Operating Partnership or the Selling Stockholders on related or other matters). The Issuer, the Operating Partnership and the Selling Stockholders agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Counterparties have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to them, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

18. Integration. This Underwriting Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Issuer, the Operating Partnership, the Selling Stockholders, the Forward Sellers, the Forward Counterparties and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

19. Applicable Law. This Underwriting Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

20. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Issuer, the Operating Partnership, the Selling Stockholders, the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties each hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Underwriting Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

21. Counterparts. This Underwriting Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

38


22. Issuance and Sale by the Issuer.

 

  (a) In the event that a Forward Counterparty elects not to borrow Securities, pursuant to Section 4(c) hereof, or the Forward Counterparty is unable to borrow and cause the applicable Forward Seller to deliver for sale under this Underwriting Agreement a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters at the Closing Date from such Forward Seller hereunder, or such Forward Counterparty determines in good faith, in its commercially reasonable judgment, that the Forward Counterparty would incur a stock loan fee, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the federal funds rate component payable by the relevant stock lender to such Forward Counterparty (such stock loan fee, a “Stock Loan Fee”), of more than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum to do so, then, upon notice by the Forward Seller to the Issuer (which notice shall be delivered no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Issuer shall issue and sell to the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, in whole but not in part, an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Initial Securities deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder that such Forward Seller does not so deliver and sell to the Underwriters. In connection with any such issuance and sale by the Issuer, the Issuer or the Representatives shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for one business day in order to effect any required changes in any documents or arrangements. Any shares of Common Stock sold by the Issuer to the Underwriters pursuant to this Section 22(a) in lieu of any Borrowed Initial Securities are referred to herein as the “Issuer Top-Up Initial Securities.”

 

  (b) A Forward Counterparty and the applicable Forward Seller shall not have any liability whatsoever for any Borrowed Initial Securities that such Forward Seller does not deliver and sell to the Underwriters or any other party if (i) all of the Conditions with respect to such Forward Counterparty and such Forward Seller are not satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date and the Forward Seller elects pursuant to Section 4(c) hereof not to deliver and sell to the Underwriters the Borrowed Initial Securities deliverable by the Forward Seller hereunder, or (ii) such Forward Counterparty is unable to borrow and cause such Forward Seller to deliver for sale under this Underwriting Agreement at the Date a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Initial Securities deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder or (iii) the Forward Counterparty determines in good faith, in its commercially reasonable judgment, that such Forward Counterparty would incur a Stock Loan Fee of more than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum to do so (it being understood that the foregoing exclusion of liability shall not apply in the case of fraud and/or any intentional misconduct).

23. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

39


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter agreement and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Issuer, the Selling Stockholders, the several Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Counterparties.

 

Very truly yours,
Easterly Government Properties, Inc.
By:  

/s/ William C. Trimble, III

  Name: William C. Trimble, III
  Title:   CEO
Easterly Government Properties LP
By: Easterly Government Properties, Inc.
By:  

/s/ William C. Trimble, III

  Name: William C. Trimble, III
  Title:   CEO
U.S. Government Properties Income & Growth Fund, L.P.
By: Federal Properties GP, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Mark H. Rowe

  Name: Mark H. Rowe
  Title:   Managing Director


U.S. Government Properties Income & Growth Fund II, LP
By: USGP II GP, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Mark H. Rowe

  Name: Mark H. Rowe
  Title:   Managing Director

 

USGP I REIT Holdings, LP
By: USGP I REIT Holdings GP, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Mark H. Rowe

  Name: Mark H. Rowe
  Title:   Managing Director
Easterly GSA I LLC
By:  

/s/ Amy McFarland

  Name: Amy McFarland
  Title:   Sole Member


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Jefferies LLC
By: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:  

/s/ Scott Eisen

  Name: Scott Eisen
  Title:   Managing Director
By: Jefferies LLC
By:  

/s/ Mike Judlowe

  Name: Mike Judlowe
  Title:   MD - ECM
For themselves and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule III to the foregoing Underwriting Agreement.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Citibank, N.A.
By: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Acting in its capacity as Forward Seller and as agent for Citibank, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Scott Eisen

  Name: Scott Eisen
  Title:   Managing Director


By: Citibank, N.A.
Acting in its capacity as Forward Counterparty
By:  

/s/ Paul Abrahimzadeh

  Name: Paul Abrahimzadeh
  Title:   Managing Director

 

Jefferies LLC
By: Jefferies LLC
Acting in its capacity as Forward Seller
By:  

/s/ Mike Judlowe

  Name: Mike Judlowe
  Title:   MD - ECM
By: Jefferies LLC
Acting in its capacity as Forward Counterparty
By:  

/s/ Mike Judlowe

  Name: Mike Judlowe
  Title:   MD - ECM


ANNEX A – LIST OF SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES

USGP Fresno IRS, LLC


SCHEDULE I

Underwriting Agreement dated June 1, 2016

Registration Statement Nos. 333-210049 and 333-210052

 

Representative(s):        Citigroup Global Markets Inc
   Jefferies LLC

Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

Title: Common Stock

Number of Underwritten Securities to be sold by the Issuer: 3,800,000

Number of Underwritten Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholders: 826,967

Number of Option Securities to be sold by the Issuer: 919,045

Number of Borrowed Initial Securities to be sold by the Forward Sellers: 1,500,000

Price per Share to Public: $18.000

Price per Share to the Underwriters: $17.2350

Closing Date, Time and Location: June 7, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 4 Times Square, New York, New York 11306.

Type of Offering: Non-Delayed

Date referred to in Section 7(g) and 8(a) after which the Issuer and the Selling Stockholders, respectively, may offer or sell securities issued by the Issuer without the consent of the Representative(s): 60 days from the date of this Agreement

Modification of items to be covered by the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP delivered pursuant to Section 9(g) at the Execution Time: None


SCHEDULE II

 

Selling Stockholders:

   Number of Selling Stockholders
Initial

Securities to be Sold
 

U.S. Government Properties Income & Growth Fund, L.P.

138 Conant Street, Beverly, MA 01915

     164,156   

U.S. Government Properties Income & Growth Fund II, LP

138 Conant Street, Beverly, MA 01915

     291,878   

Easterly GSA I LLC

One Central Park South, New York, NY

     299,975   

USGP I REIT Holdings, LP

138 Conant Street, Beverly, MA 01915

     70,958   
  

 

 

 

Total

     826,967   
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE III

 

Underwriters

   Number of
Issuer Initial
Securities to be
Purchased
     Number of
Borrowed Initial
Securities to be
Purchased
     Number of
Selling
Stockholders
Initial Securities
to be Purchased
 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     950,000         375,000         206,742   

Jefferies LLC

     836,000         330,000         181,933   

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

     684,000         270,000         148,854   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     684,000         270,000         148,854   

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc

     456,000         180,000         99,236   

BTIG, LLC.

     190,000         75,000         41,348   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,800,000         1,500,000         826,967   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 


SCHEDULE IV

None.

EX-1.2

Exhibit 1.2

Opening Transaction

 

To:    Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (“Party B”)
   
A/C:     
   
From:   

Citibank, N.A. (“Party A”)

390 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10013

Telephone: 212-723-7452

   
Re:    Issuer Share Forward Sale Transaction
   
Ref. No:     
   
Date:    June 1, 2016

Dear Sir(s):

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between Citibank, N.A. (“Party A”) and Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (“Party B”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below. This Confirmation is a confirmation for purposes of Rule 10b-10 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). For purposes of the Equity Definitions, the Transaction will be deemed to be a Share Forward Transaction.

This Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of and be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the 1992 ISDA Master Agreement (Multicurrency—Cross Border) (the “ISDA Form”), as published by ISDA, as if Party A and Party B had executed the ISDA Form on the date hereof (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of Loss and Second Method, New York law (without regard to New York’s choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law) as the governing law and US Dollars (“USD”) as the Termination Currency, and (ii) the replacement of the word “third” in the last line of Section 5(a)(i) with the word “second”. All provisions contained in the Agreement are incorporated into and shall govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified below. This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Party A and Party B as to the terms of the Transaction and replaces any previous agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

The Transaction hereunder shall be the sole Transaction under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Party A or any of its Affiliates and Party B or any confirmation or other agreement between Party A or any of its Affiliates and Party B pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Party A or any of its Affiliates and Party B, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Party A or any of its Affiliates and Party B are parties, the Transaction shall not be considered a Transaction under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency among the Agreement, this Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail in the order of precedence indicated: (i) this Confirmation; (ii) the Equity Definitions; and (iii) the Agreement.

2. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:


General Terms:

 

Trade Date:

June 2, 2016

 

Effective Date:

June 7, 2016 (the “Scheduled Effective Date”), or such later date on which the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Confirmation shall have been satisfied.

 

Buyer:

Party A

 

Seller:

Party B

 

Maturity Date:

December 7, 2016 (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day)

 

Shares:

The common stock (“Shares”), par value $0.01 per Share, of Party B (Ticker: “DEA”)

 

Number of Shares:

Initially, (x) if no Initial Hedging Disruption (as defined below) occurs, 750,000 Shares (the “Full Number of Shares”) or (y) if an Initial Hedging Disruption occurs, the Reduced Number of Shares (as defined below), in each case, as reduced on each Relevant Settlement Date (as defined under “Settlement Terms” below) by the number of Settlement Shares to which the related Valuation Date relates.

 

Settlement Currency:

USD

 

Exchange:

The New York Stock Exchange

 

Related Exchange:

All Exchanges

 

Prepayment:

Not Applicable

 

Variable Obligation:

Not Applicable

 

Forward Price:

On the Effective Date, USD17.235, and on any day thereafter, the product of the Forward Price on the immediately preceding calendar day and

 

  1 + the Daily Rate * (1/365);

 

  provided that the Forward Price on each Forward Price Reduction Date shall be the Forward Price otherwise in effect on such date minus the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.

 

Daily Rate:

For any day, the USD-Federal Funds Rate minus the Spread.

 

Spread:

1.00%

 

USD-Federal Funds Rate:

For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Federal funds” as displayed on the page “FedsOpen <Index> <GO>” on the BLOOMBERG Professional Service, or any successor page; provided that if no such rate appears for such day on such page, USD-Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate for the immediately preceding day for which such a rate appears.

 

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Forward Price Reduction Dates:

As set forth on Annex B.

 

Forward Price Reduction Amount:

For each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date on Annex B.

Valuation:

 

Valuation Date:

For any Settlement (as defined below), if Physical Settlement is applicable, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice (as defined below); or if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement is applicable, the last Unwind Date for such Settlement. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the last Unwind Date shall be determined by Party A based on the completion of the unwinding of its commercially reasonable hedge position.

 

Unwind Dates:

For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, each day on which Party A (or its agent or affiliate) purchases Shares in the market in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement.

 

First Unwind Date:

For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice.

 

Unwind Period:

For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, the period starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement and ending on the Valuation Date for such Settlement.

 

Cash Settlement Valuation Disruption:

If Cash Settlement is applicable and any Unwind Date during an Unwind Period is a Disrupted Day, then the 10b-18 VWAP for such Disrupted Day shall not be included in the calculation of the Settlement Price.

 

Market Disruption Event:

The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” and inserting the words “at any time on any Exchange Business Day during the Valuation Period” after the word “material,” in the third line thereof.

 

  Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

Settlement Terms:

 

Settlement:

Any Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of all or any portion of the Transaction.

 

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Settlement Notice:

Subject to “Early Valuation” below, Party B may elect to effect a Settlement of all or any portion of the Transaction by designating one or more Scheduled Trading Days following the Effective Date and on or prior to the Maturity Date to be Valuation Dates (or, with respect to Cash Settlements or Net Share Settlements, First Unwind Dates, each of which First Unwind Dates shall occur no later than the 60th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date) in a written notice to Party A (a “Settlement Notice”) delivered no later than the applicable Settlement Method Election Date, which notice shall also specify (i) the number of Shares (the “Settlement Shares”) for such Settlement (not to exceed the number of Undesignated Shares as of the date of such Settlement Notice) and (ii) the Settlement Method applicable to such Settlement; provided that (A) Party B may not designate a First Unwind Date for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement if, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, any Shares have been designated as Settlement Shares for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred; and (B) if the number of Undesignated Shares as of the Maturity Date is not zero, then the Maturity Date shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Undesignated Shares as of the Maturity Date (provided that if the Maturity Date occurs during the period from the time any Settlement Notice is given for a Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement until the related Relevant Settlement Date, inclusive, then the provisions set forth below opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply as if the Maturity Date were the Early Valuation Date).

 

Undesignated Shares:

As of any date, the Number of Shares minus the number of Shares designated as Settlement Shares for Settlements for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred.

 

Settlement Method Election:

Applicable; provided that:

 

  (i) Net Share Settlement shall be deemed to be included as an additional settlement method under Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions;

 

 

(ii) Party B may elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement only if Party B represents and warrants to Party A in the Settlement Notice containing such election that, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, (A) Party B is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares, (B) Party B is electing the settlement method and designating the First Unwind Date specified in such Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-5”) or any other provision of the federal securities laws, (C) Party B is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)), (D) Party B would be able to purchase a number of Shares equal to the greater of (x) the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice and (y) a number of Shares with a value as of the date of such Settlement Notice equal to the product of (I) such number of Settlement Shares and (II) the applicable Relevant Forward Price for such Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in compliance with the laws of Party B’s jurisdiction

 

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of organization and (E) such election, and settlement in accordance therewith, does not and will not violate or conflict with any law or regulation applicable to Party B, or any order or judgment of any court or other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets, and any governmental consents that are required to have been obtained by Party B with respect to such election or settlement have been obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been complied with; and

 

  (iii) Notwithstanding any election to the contrary in any Settlement Notice, Physical Settlement shall be applicable:

 

  (A) to all of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, at any time from the date such Settlement Notice is received by Party A until the related First Unwind Date, inclusive, (I) the trading price per Share on the Exchange (as determined by Party A in a commercially reasonable manner) is below USD8.6175 (the “Threshold Price”) or (II) Party A determines, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, that it would, after using commercially reasonable efforts, be unable to purchase a number of Shares in the market sufficient to unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of the portion of the Transaction represented by such Settlement Shares and satisfy its delivery obligation hereunder, if any, by the Maturity Date (x) in a manner that (A) would, if Party A were Party B or an affiliated purchaser of Party B, be subject to the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18(b) under the Exchange Act and (B) based on advice of counsel, would not raise material risks under applicable securities laws or (y) due to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares (each, a “Trading Condition”); or

 

  (B) to all or a portion of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, on any day during the relevant Unwind Period, (I) the trading price per Share on the Exchange (as determined by Party A in a commercially reasonable manner) is below the Threshold Price or (II) Party A determines, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment or based on advice of counsel, as applicable, that a Trading Condition has occurred, in which case the provisions set forth below in the fourth paragraph opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply as if such day were the Early Valuation Date and (x) for purposes of clause (i) of such paragraph, such day shall be the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period and the “Unwound Shares” shall be calculated to, and including, such day and (y) for purposes of clause (ii) of such paragraph, the “Remaining Shares” shall be equal to the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice minus the Unwound Shares determined in accordance with clause (x) of this sentence.

 

Electing Party:

Party B

 

Settlement Method Election Date:

With respect to any Settlement, the 5th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding (x) the Valuation Date, in the case of Physical Settlement, or (y) the First Unwind Date, in the case of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement.

 

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Default Settlement Method:

Physical Settlement

 

Physical Settlement:

Notwithstanding Section 9.2(a)(i) of the Equity Definitions, on the Settlement Date, Party A shall pay to Party B an amount equal to the Forward Price on the relevant Valuation Date multiplied by the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement, and Party B shall deliver to Party A such Settlement Shares.

 

Settlement Date:

The Valuation Date.

 

Net Share Settlement:

On the Net Share Settlement Date, if the Net Share Settlement Amount is greater than zero, Party B shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Party A, and if the Net Share Settlement Amount is less than zero, Party A shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the absolute value of the Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Party B, in either case, in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with the Net Share Settlement Date deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4, and, in either case, plus cash in lieu of any fractional Shares included in the Net Share Settlement Amount but not delivered due to rounding required hereby, valued at the Settlement Price.

 

Net Share Settlement Date:

The date that follows the Valuation Date by one Settlement Cycle.

 

Net Share Settlement Amount:

For any Net Share Settlement, an amount equal to the Forward Cash Settlement Amount divided by the Settlement Price.

 

Forward Cash Settlement Amount:

Notwithstanding Section 8.5(c) of the Equity Definitions, the Forward Cash Settlement Amount for any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement shall be equal to (i) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement multiplied by (ii) an amount equal to (A) the Settlement Price minus (B) the Relevant Forward Price.

 

Relevant Forward Price:

For any Cash Settlement, the arithmetic average of the Forward Prices on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement.

 

  For any Net Share Settlement, the weighted average of the Forward Prices on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement (weighted based on the number of Shares purchased by Party A or its agent or affiliate on each such Unwind Date in connection with unwinding Party A’s commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent).

 

Settlement Price:

For any Cash Settlement, the arithmetic average of the 10b-18 VWAP on each Unwind Date relating to such settlement, plus commercially reasonable commissions not to exceed USD0.03 per Share.

 

 

For any Net Share Settlement, the weighted average price of the purchases of Shares made by Party A (or its agent or affiliate) during the Unwind Period in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position relating to such Settlement (weighted based

 

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on the number of Shares purchased by Party A or its agent or affiliate on each Unwind Date in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent), plus commercially reasonable commissions not to exceed USD0.03 per Share.

 

10b-18 VWAP:

For any Exchange Business Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent based on the 10b-18 Volume Weighted Average Price per Share for the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof) of the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day (without regard to pre-open or after hours trading outside of such regular trading session for such Exchange Business Day), as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m. New York time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session) on such Exchange Business Day, on Bloomberg page “DEA <Equity> AQR_SEC” (or any successor thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such Exchange Business Day for any reason or is, in the Calculation Agent’s reasonable determination, erroneous, such 10b-18 VWAP shall be as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent. For purposes of calculating the 10b-18 VWAP for such Exchange Business Day, the Calculation Agent will include only those trades that are reported during the period of time during which Party B could purchase its own shares under Rule 10b-18(b)(2) and are effected pursuant to the conditions of Rule 10b-18(b)(3), each under the Exchange Act (such trades, “Rule 10b-18 eligible transactions”).

 

Unwind Activities:

The times and prices at which Party A (or its agent or affiliate) purchases any Shares during any Unwind Period in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position shall be determined by Party A in a commercially reasonable manner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Party A concludes, in its reasonable discretion based on advice of counsel, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Party A) (a “Regulatory Disruption”), for it to refrain from purchasing Shares in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position on any Scheduled Trading Day that would have been an Unwind Date but for the occurrence of a Regulatory Disruption, Party A may (but shall not be required to) notify Party B in writing that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred on such Scheduled Trading Day, in which case Party A shall, to the extent practicable in its good faith discretion, specify the nature of such Regulatory Disruption, and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Scheduled Trading Day shall not be an Unwind Date and such Regulatory Disruption shall be deemed to be a Market Disruption Event; provided that Party A may exercise its right to suspend under this sentence only in good faith in relation to events or circumstances that are not the result of actions of it or any of its Affiliates that are taken with the intent to avoid its obligations under the Transaction.

 

Relevant Settlement Date:

For any Settlement, the Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date, as the case may be.

 

Other Applicable Provisions:

To the extent Party A is obligated to deliver Shares hereunder, the provisions of Sections 9.2 (last sentence only), 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 and

 

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9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction; provided that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws that exist as a result of the fact that Party B is the issuer of the Shares.

Share Adjustments:

 

Potential Adjustment Events:

An Extraordinary Dividend shall not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event. For the avoidance of doubt, a cash dividend on the Shares that differs from expected dividends as of the Trade Date shall not be a Potential Adjustment Event under Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions.

 

Extraordinary Dividend:

Any dividend or distribution on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring on any day following the Trade Date (other than (i) any dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions or (ii) a regular, quarterly cash dividend in an amount equal to or less than the Regular Dividend Amount for such calendar quarter that has an ex-dividend date no earlier than the Forward Price Reduction Date occurring in the relevant quarter).

 

Regular Dividend Amount:

For each calendar quarter, as set forth on Annex B.

 

Method of Adjustment:

Calculation Agent Adjustment

Extraordinary Events:

 

Extraordinary Events:

The consequences that would otherwise apply under Article 12 of the Equity Definitions to any applicable Extraordinary Event (excluding any Failure to Deliver, Increased Cost of Hedging, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow or any Extraordinary Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, but including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other applicable Additional Disruption Event) shall not apply.

 

Tender Offer:

Applicable; provided that Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing the reference therein to “10%” with a reference to “20%”.

 

Delisting:

In addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange.

 

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Additional Disruption Events:

 

Change in Law:

Applicable; provided that (A) any determination as to whether (i) the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any tax law) or (ii) the promulgation of or any change in or public announcement of the formal or informal interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in each case, constitutes a “Change in Law” shall be made without regard to Section 739 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (B) Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended (i) by adding the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof and (ii) by replacing the words “the interpretation” with the words “or public announcement of any formal or informal interpretation” in the third line thereof and (C) the words “, unless the illegality is due to an act or omission of the party seeking to elect termination of the Transaction with the intent to avoid its obligations under the terms of the Transaction” are added immediately following the word “Transaction” in the fifth line thereof; and provided further that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the phrase “and/or Hedge Position” after the word “Shares” in clause (X) thereof and (iii) by immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date”.

 

Failure to Deliver:

Applicable if Party A is required to deliver Shares hereunder; otherwise, Not Applicable.

 

Hedging Disruption:

Applicable

 

Increased Cost of Hedging:

Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof and (ii) deleting the third and fourth sentences thereof.

 

Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:

Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof and (ii) deleting the third, fourth and fifth sentences thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the announcement of any event that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event or Tender Offer, the term “rate to borrow Shares” as used in Section 12.9(a)(viii) of the Equity Definitions shall include any commercially reasonable cost borne or amount payable by the Hedging Party in respect of maintaining or reestablishing its hedge position, including, but not limited to, any assessment or other amount payable by the Hedging Party to a lender of Shares in respect of any merger or tender offer premium, as applicable.

 

Initial Stock Loan Rate:

50 basis points per annum

 

Loss of Stock Borrow:

Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (A) of the first sentence thereof

 

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in its entirety and (ii) deleting the words “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares or” in the second sentence thereof.

 

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

200 basis points per annum

 

Hedging Party:

For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Party A

 

Determining Party:

For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Party A

Early Valuation:

 

Early Valuation:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement or in the Equity Definitions, at any time (x) following the occurrence of a Hedging Event, the declaration by Issuer of an Extraordinary Dividend, or an ISDA Event or (y) if an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position exists, Party A (or, in the case of an ISDA Event that is an Event of Default or Termination Event, the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date in respect of such event pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) shall have the right to designate any Scheduled Trading Day to be the “Early Valuation Date”, in which case the provisions set forth in this “Early Valuation” section shall apply, in the case of an Event of Default or Termination Event, in lieu of Section 6 of the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any amount calculated pursuant to this “Early Valuation” section as a result of an Extraordinary Dividend shall not be adjusted by the value associated with such Extraordinary Dividend.

 

  Party A represents and warrants to and agrees with Party B that (i) based upon advice of counsel, Party A (A) does not know of the existence on the Trade Date of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (B) based on reasonable internal inquiry in the ordinary course of Party A’s business does not know on the Trade Date of any event or circumstance that will cause the occurrence of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of the Transaction; and (ii) Party A will not knowingly cause the occurrence of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of the Transaction for the purpose, in whole or in part, of causing the occurrence of an Early Valuation Date.

 

  If the Early Valuation Date occurs on a date that is not during an Unwind Period, then the Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement, and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the Number of Shares on the Early Valuation Date; provided that Party A may in its sole discretion permit Party B to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement.

 

 

If the Early Valuation Date occurs during an Unwind Period, then (i) (A) the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period shall be deemed to be the Early Valuation Date, (B) a Settlement shall occur in respect of such Unwind Period, and the Settlement Method elected by Party B in

 

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respect of such Settlement shall apply, and (C) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Unwound Shares for such Unwind Period on the Early Valuation Date, and (ii) (A) the Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for an additional Physical Settlement (provided that Party A may in its sole discretion elect that the Settlement Method elected by Party B for the Settlement described in clause (i) of this sentence shall apply) and (B) the number of Settlement Shares for such additional Settlement shall be the number of Remaining Shares on the Early Valuation Date.

 

  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Nationalization or Merger Event, if at the time of the related Relevant Settlement Date the Shares have changed into cash or any other property or the right to receive cash or any other property, the Calculation Agent shall adjust the nature of the Shares as it determines appropriate to account for such change such that the nature of the Shares is consistent with what shareholders receive in such event.

 

ISDA Event:

(i) Any Event of Default or Termination Event, other than an Event of Default or Termination Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, that gives rise to the right of either party to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement or (ii) the announcement of any event or transaction that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Delisting or Change in Law, in each case, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

Amendment to Merger Event:

Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of such Section beginning with the words “in each case if the Merger Date is on or before” in the fourth to last line thereof.

 

Hedging Event:

(i) (x) A Loss of Stock Borrow in connection with which Party B does not refer the Hedging Party to a satisfactory Lending Party within the required time period as provided in Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions or (y) a Hedging Disruption, (ii) (A) an Increased Cost of Stock Borrow or (B) an Increased Cost of Hedging in connection with which, in the case of sub-clause (A) or (B), Party B does not elect, and so notify the Hedging Party of its election, in each case, within the required time period to either amend the Transaction pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(A) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(A) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or pay an amount determined by the Calculation Agent that corresponds to the relevant Price Adjustment pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(B) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(B) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or (iii) the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event during an Unwind Period and the continuance of such Market Disruption Event for at least eight Scheduled Trading Days.

 

Remaining Shares:

On any day, the Number of Shares as of such day (or, if such day occurs during an Unwind Period, the Number of Shares as of such day minus the Unwound Shares for such Unwind Period on such day).

 

Unwound Shares:

For any Unwind Period on any day, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Party A has unwound its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of the Transaction in connection with the related Settlement as of such day.

 

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Acknowledgements:

 

Non-Reliance:

Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgements

Regarding Hedging Activities:

Applicable

 

Additional Acknowledgements:

Applicable

 

Transfer:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, Party A may assign, transfer and set over all rights, title and interest, powers, privileges and remedies of Party A under the Transaction, in whole or in part, to an affiliate of Party A without the consent of Party B; provided that (x) Party B will neither (1) be required to pay, nor is there a material likelihood that it would be required to pay, an additional amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement, nor (2) receive a payment, nor is there a material likelihood that it would receive a payment, from which an amount has been deducted or withheld for or on account of any Indemnifiable Tax in respect of which the other party is not required to pay an additional amount, in either case as a result of such transfer or assignment, (y) such transferee is a “dealer” within the meaning of section 1.1001-4(b)(1) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations and (z) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred with respect to either party solely as a result of such transfer and assignment.

 

  Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Party A to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Party B, Party A may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Party A obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Party A shall be discharged of its obligations to Party B only to the extent of any such performance.

 

Calculation Agent:

Party A; provided that, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Party A is the sole Defaulting Party, Party B shall have the right to select a leading dealer in the market for U.S. corporate equity derivatives reasonably acceptable to Party A to replace Party A as Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a written request by Party B, the Calculation Agent will, within a commercially reasonable period of time following such request, provide to Party B by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Party B in such written request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be; provided that Party A shall not be required to disclose any proprietary or confidential models of Party A or any information that is proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information.

 

Party B Payment Instructions:

To be provided by Party B

 

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Party A Payment Instructions:

To be provided by Party A

Party B’s Contact Details

for Purpose of Giving Notice:

To be provided by Party B

Party A’s Contact Details

for Purpose of Giving Notice:

Citibank, N.A.

390 Greenwich Street, 1st Floor

New York, NY 10013

Attention: James Heathcote

Telephone: 212-723-7452

Email: james.heathcote@citi.com

 

  With a copy to:

 

  Attention: Dustin Sheppard

Telephone: 212-723-5757

Email: dustin.c.sheppard@citi.com

3. Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Confirmation and the Transaction shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) the representations and warranties of Party B contained in the Underwriting Agreement dated the date hereof between Party B, Easterly Government Properties LP (the “Partnership”) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies LLC, as representatives of the Underwriters party thereto (the “Underwriting Agreement”), and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Party B or the Partnership shall be true and correct on the Effective Date as if made as of the Effective Date;

(b) each of Party B and the Partnership shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Underwriting Agreement on or prior to the Effective Date;

(c) all of the conditions set forth in Section 9 of the Underwriting Agreement shall have been satisfied;

(d) the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) shall have occurred as provided in the Underwriting Agreement;

(e) all of the representations and warranties of Party B hereunder and under the Agreement shall be true and correct on the Effective Date as if made as of the Effective Date;

(f) Party B shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it hereunder and under the Agreement on or prior to the Effective Date, including without limitation its obligations under Section 6 hereof; and

(g) Party B shall have delivered to Party A an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Party A, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement and that the maximum number of Shares initially issuable hereunder have been duly authorized and, upon issuance pursuant to the terms of the Transaction, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Confirmation, if (x) on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) is scheduled to occur, in connection with establishing its commercially reasonable hedge position Party A, in its sole judgment, is unable, after using commercially reasonable efforts, to borrow and deliver for sale the Full Number of Shares or (y) in Party A’s sole judgment, it would incur a stock loan cost of more than 200 basis points per annum with respect to all or any portion of the Full Number of Shares (in each case, an “Initial Hedging Disruption”), the effectiveness of this Confirmation and the Transaction shall be limited to the number of Shares Party A is so able to borrow in

 

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connection with establishing its commercially reasonable hedge position at a cost of not more than 200 basis points per annum (such number of Shares, the “Reduced Number of Shares”), which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be zero.

4. Additional Mutual Representations and Warranties. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement, each party represents and warrants to the other party that it is an “eligible contract participant”, as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (as amended), and an “accredited investor” as defined in Section 2(a)(15)(ii) of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the “Securities Act”), and is entering into the Transaction hereunder as principal and not for the benefit of any third party.

5. Additional Representations and Warranties of Party B. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Party B represents and warrants to Party A, and agrees with Party A, that:

(a) without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, it acknowledges that Party A is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of the Transaction, including without limitation ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Liabilities & Equity Project;

(b) it shall not take any action to reduce or decrease the number of authorized and unissued Shares below the sum of (i) the Number of Shares plus (ii) the total number of Shares issuable upon settlement (whether by net share settlement or otherwise) of any other transaction or agreement to which it is a party;

(c) it will not repurchase any Shares if, immediately following such repurchase, the Number of Shares would be equal to or greater than 9.0% of the number of then-outstanding Shares and it will notify Party A immediately upon the announcement or consummation of any repurchase of Shares in an amount that, taken together with the amount of all repurchases since the date of the last such notice (or, if no such notice has been given, since the Trade Date), exceeds 0.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares;

(d) it is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares), or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) by others;

(e) neither it nor any of its officers, directors, managers or similar persons is aware of any material non-public information regarding itself or the Shares; it is entering into this Confirmation and will provide any Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 or any other provision of the federal securities laws; it has not entered into or altered any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting the Transaction; and it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Confirmation under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b5-1”);

(f) no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Party A or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares; provided that Party B makes no such representation or warranty regarding any such requirement that is applicable generally to the ownership of equity securities by Party A;

(g) as of the Trade Date and as of the date of any payment or delivery by Party B or Party A hereunder, it is not and will not be “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code);

(h) it is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

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(i) it: (i) is an “institutional account” as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c); and (ii) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, and will exercise independent judgment in evaluating any recommendations of Party A or its associated persons;

(j) ownership positions held by Party A or any of its affiliates solely in its capacity as a nominee or fiduciary do not constitute “ownership” by Party A, and Party A shall not be deemed or treated as the “owner” of such positions for purposes of the Issuer’s Articles of Incorporation; and

(k) IT UNDERSTANDS THAT THE TRANSACTION IS SUBJECT TO COMPLEX RISKS WHICH MAY ARISE WITHOUT WARNING AND MAY AT TIMES BE VOLATILE AND THAT LOSSES MAY OCCUR QUICKLY AND IN UNANTICIPATED MAGNITUDE AND IS WILLING TO ACCEPT SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND ASSUME (FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE) SUCH RISKS.

6. Additional Covenants of Party B.

(a) Party B acknowledges and agrees that any Shares delivered by Party B to Party A on any Settlement Date or Net Share Settlement Date will be (i) newly issued, (ii) approved for listing or quotation on the Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and (iii) registered under the Exchange Act, and, when delivered by Party A (or an affiliate of Party A) to securities lenders from whom Party A (or an affiliate of Party A) borrowed Shares in connection with hedging its exposure to the Transaction, will be freely saleable without further registration or other restrictions under the Securities Act in the hands of those securities lenders, irrespective of whether any such stock loan is effected by Party A or an affiliate of Party A Accordingly, Party B agrees that any Shares so delivered will not bear a restrictive legend and will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System. In addition, Party B represents and agrees that any such Shares shall be, upon such delivery, duly and validly authorized, issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free of any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance.

(b) Party B agrees that Party B shall not enter into or alter any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting the Transaction. Without limiting the generality of the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Unwind Activities” in Section 2 of this Confirmation, Party B acknowledges that it has no right to, and agrees that it will not seek to, control or influence Party A’s decision to make any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B)(3)) under or in connection with the Transaction, including, without limitation, Party A’s decision to enter into any hedging transactions.

(c) Party B acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Party B or any officer, director, manager or similar person of Party B is aware of any material non-public information regarding Party B or the Shares.

(d) Party B shall promptly provide notice thereof to Party A (i) upon the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Termination Event in respect of which Party B is a Defaulting Party or an Affected Party, as the case may be, and (ii) upon announcement of any event that, if consummated, would constitute an Extraordinary Event or Potential Adjustment Event.

(e) Neither Party B nor any of its “affiliated purchasers” (as defined by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall take any action that would cause any purchases of Shares by Party A or any of its Affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 if such purchases were made by Party B. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during any Unwind Period, except with the prior written consent of Party A, Party B will not, and will cause its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Rule 10b-18) not to, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of a derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or announce or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares.

 

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(f) Party B will not be subject to any “restricted period” (as such term is defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) in respect of Shares or any security with respect to which the Shares are a “reference security” (as such term is defined in Regulation M) during any Unwind Period.

(g) Party B shall: (i) prior to the opening of trading in the Shares on any day on which Party B makes, or expects to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any Merger Transaction, notify Party A of such public announcement; (ii) promptly notify Party A following any such announcement that such announcement has been made; (iii) promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) provide Party A with written notice specifying (A) Party B’s average daily Rule 10b-18 Purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months immediately preceding the announcement date for the Merger Transaction that were not effected through Party A or its affiliates and (B) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding such announcement date. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Party B to Party A that such information is true and correct. In addition, Party B shall promptly notify Party A of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders. Party B acknowledges that any such notice may result in a Regulatory Disruption, a Trading Condition or, if such notice relates to an event that is also an ISDA Event, an Early Valuation, or may affect the length of any ongoing Unwind Period; accordingly, Party B acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 6(c) above. “Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act. For the avoidance of doubt, a Merger Transaction or the announcement thereof shall not give either party the right to designate an Early Valuation Date and/or to accelerate or preclude an election by Party B of Physical Settlement, unless such Merger Transaction or the announcement thereof is also an ISDA Event.

7. Termination on Bankruptcy. The parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or the Equity Definitions, the Transaction constitutes a contract to issue a security of Party B as contemplated by Section 365(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code and that the Transaction and the obligations and rights of Party B and Party A (except for any liability as a result of breach of any of the representations or warranties provided by Party B in Section 4 or Section 5 above) shall immediately terminate, without the necessity of any notice, payment (whether directly, by netting or otherwise) or other action by Party B or Party A, if, on or prior to the final Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date, an Insolvency Filing occurs or any other proceeding commences with respect to Party B under the Bankruptcy Code (a “Bankruptcy Termination Event”).

8. Additional Provisions.

(a) Party A acknowledges and agrees that Party B’s obligations under the Transaction are not secured by any collateral and that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to Party A rights with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Party B; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Party B of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Confirmation or the Agreement; provided further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s rights in respect of any transaction other than the Transaction.

(b) [Reserved]

(c) The parties hereto intend for:

(i) the Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(j), 555 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

16


(ii) the rights given to Party A pursuant to “Early Valuation” in Section 2 above to constitute “contractual rights” to cause the liquidation of a “securities contract” and to set off mutual debts and claims in connection with a “securities contract”, as such terms are used in Sections 555 and 362(b)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code;

(iii) any cash, securities or other property provided as performance assurance, credit support or collateral with respect to the Transaction to constitute “margin payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code;

(iv) all payments for, under or in connection with the Transaction, all payments for Shares and the transfer of Shares to constitute “settlement payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; and

(v) any or all obligations that either party has with respect to this Confirmation or the Agreement to constitute property held by or due from such party to margin, guaranty or settle obligations of the other party with respect to the transactions under the Agreement (including the Transaction) or any other agreement between such parties.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement or this Confirmation, in no event will Party B be required to deliver in the aggregate in respect of all Settlement Dates, Net Share Settlement Dates or other dates on which Shares are delivered in respect of any amount owed under this Agreement a number of Shares greater than 1,500,000 (the “Capped Number”). The Capped Number shall be subject to adjustment only on account of (x) Potential Adjustment Events of the type specified in (1) Sections 11.2(e)(i) through (vi) of the Equity Definitions or (2) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions so long as, in the case of this sub-clause (2), such event is within Issuer’s control, (y) Merger Events requiring trust action of Issuer (or any surviving entity of the Issuer hereunder in connection with any such Merger Event) and (z) Announcement Events that are not outside Issuer’s control. Party B represents and warrants to Party A (which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that the Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transaction) on the date of the determination of the Capped Number (such Shares, the “Available Shares”). In the event Party B shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable as a result of this Section 8(c) (the resulting deficit, the “Deficit Shares”), Party B shall be continually obligated to deliver Shares, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, when, and to the extent that, (A) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Party B or any of its subsidiaries after the Trade Date (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (B) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved and (C) Party B additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions (such events as set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, collectively, the “Share Issuance Events”). Party B shall promptly notify Party A of the occurrence of any of the Share Issuance Events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (A), (B) or (C) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered) and, as promptly as reasonably practicable, deliver such Shares thereafter. Party B shall not, until Party B’s obligations under the Transaction have been satisfied in full, use any Shares that become available for potential delivery to Party A as a result of any Share Issuance Event for the settlement or satisfaction of any transaction or obligation other than the Transaction or reserve any such Shares for future issuance for any purpose other than to satisfy Party B’s obligations to Party A under the Transaction.

(e) The parties intend for this Confirmation to constitute a “Contract” as described in the letter dated October 6, 2003 submitted on behalf of Goldman, Sachs & Co. to Paula Dubberly of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Staff”) to which the Staff responded in an interpretive letter dated October 9, 2003.

(f) The parties intend for this Transaction (taking into account purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement) to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(A) under the Exchange Act and for this Confirmation to constitute a binding contract or instruction satisfying the requirements of 10b5-1(c) and to be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).

 

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(g) Notwithstanding any provisions of the Agreement, all communications relating to the Transaction or the Agreement shall be transmitted exclusively through Party A at 390 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, Telephone No. 212-723-7452.

(h) Party B acknowledges that:

(i) during the term of the Transaction, Party A and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to the Transaction;

(ii) Party A and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and derivatives linked to the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction, including acting as agent or as principal and for its own account or on behalf of customers;

(iii) Party A shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Party B’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the Settlement Price;

(iv) any market activities of Party A and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price and the Settlement Price, each in a manner that may be adverse to Party B; and

(v) the Transaction is a derivatives transaction; Party A may purchase or sell shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the price received by Party B under the terms of the Transaction.

9. Indemnification. Party B agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Party A, its affiliates and its assignees and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Party A and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, financial losses resulting from the economic terms of the Transaction), claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to, the execution or delivery of this Confirmation, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations under the Transaction, any breach of any covenant or representation made by Party B in this Confirmation or the Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Party B will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Party A’s willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in performing the services that are subject of the Transaction. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Party B shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Party B will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Party B. Party B also agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to Party B or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of Party B in connection with or as a result of any matter referred to in this Confirmation except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by Party B result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Indemnified Party. The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and/or delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to the Agreement or this Confirmation shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Party A For the avoidance of doubt, any payments due as a result of this provision may not be used to set off any obligation of Party A upon settlement of the Transaction.

10. Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or this Confirmation, in no event shall Party A be entitled to receive, or be deemed to receive, or have the “right to acquire” (within the

 

18


meaning of NYSE Rule 312.04(g)) Shares to the extent that, upon such receipt of such Shares, (i) the “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Shares by Party A, any of its affiliates’ business units subject to aggregation with Party A for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and all persons who may form a “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) with Party A with respect to “beneficial ownership” of any Shares (collectively, the “Party Group”) would be equal to or greater than the lesser of (x) 9.0% of the outstanding Shares (such condition, an “Excess Section 13 Ownership Position”), and (y) 2,246,707 (such number of Shares, the “Threshold Number of Shares” and such condition, the “Excess NYSE Ownership Position”) or (ii) Party A, Party A Group or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Party A or Party A Group (Party A, Party A Group or any such person, a “Party A Person”) under Sections 3-601 through 3-603 of the Maryland Code (Corporations and Associations) or any state or federal bank holding company or banking laws, or any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), would own, beneficially own, constructively own, control, hold the power to vote or otherwise meet a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the lesser of (A) the maximum number of Shares that would be permitted under Applicable Laws and (B) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Party A Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received or that would give rise to any consequences under the constitutive documents of Party B) or any contract or agreement to which Party B is a party, in each case minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (such condition described in clause (ii), an “Excess Regulatory Ownership Position”). If any delivery owed to Party A hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, (i) Party B’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Party B shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Party A gives notice to Party B that such delivery would not result in (x) Party A Group directly or indirectly so beneficially owning in excess of the lesser of (A) 9.0% of the outstanding Shares and (B) the Threshold Number of Shares or (y) the occurrence of an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (ii) if such delivery relates to a Physical Settlement, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Party A shall not be obligated to satisfy the portion of its payment obligation corresponding to any Shares required to be so delivered until the date Party B makes such delivery.

11. Non-Confidentiality. The parties hereby agree that (i) effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Party B and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind, including opinions or other tax analyses, provided by Party A and its affiliates to Party B relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that the foregoing does not constitute an authorization to disclose the identity of Party A or its affiliates, agents or advisers, or, except to the extent relating to such tax structure or tax treatment, any specific pricing terms or commercial or financial information, and (ii) Party A does not assert any claim of proprietary ownership in respect of any description contained herein or therein relating to the use of any entities, plans or arrangements to give rise to a particular United States federal income tax treatment for Party B.

12. Restricted Shares. If Party B is unable to comply with the covenant of Party B contained in Section 6 above or Party A otherwise determines in its reasonable opinion that any Shares to be delivered to Party A by Party B may not be freely returned by Party A to securities lenders as described in the covenant of Party B contained in Section 6 above, then delivery of any such Settlement Shares (the “Unregistered Settlement Shares”) shall be effected pursuant to Annex A hereto, unless waived by Party A

13. Use of Shares. Party A acknowledges and agrees that, except in the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Party A shall use any Shares delivered by Party B to Party A on any Settlement Date to return to securities lenders to close out borrowings created by Party A in connection with its hedging activities related to exposure under this Transaction or otherwise in compliance with applicable law.

14. Rule 10b-18. In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Net Share Settlement or Cash Settlement of the Transaction, Party A shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its activities, or cause its affiliates to conduct their activities, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, as if such provisions were applicable to such purchases and

 

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taking into account any applicable Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters as appropriate, and subject to any delays between the execution and reporting of a trade of the Shares on the Exchange and other circumstances beyond Party A’s control.

15. Governing Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the Agreement, this Confirmation and all matters arising in connection with the Agreement and this Confirmation shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without reference to its choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law).

16. Set-Off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set-off delivery or payment obligations it owes to the other party under the Transaction against any delivery or payment obligations owed to it by the other party, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise.

17. Staggered Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Party A may, by prior notice to Party B, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.

18. Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. EACH OF PARTY A AND PARTY B HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON SUCH PARTY’S OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF SUCH PARTY’S STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS CONFIRMATION OR THE ACTIONS OF PARTY A, PARTY B OR THEIR AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

19. Jurisdiction. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

20. Counterparts. This Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

21. Delivery of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Party B to deliver cash or other assets in respect of the settlement of the Transaction, except in circumstances where the required cash or other asset settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, as in effect on the Trade Date.

22. Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party, as applicable, shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party, assuming that the Hedging Party maintains a commercially reasonable hedge position at the time of the event.

23. HIRE Act Protocols. The parties agree that the definitions and provisions contained in the 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol as published by ISDA are incorporated into and apply to the Agreement solely for purposes of this Confirmation as if set forth in full herein.

 

20


Party B hereby agrees (a) to check this Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Party A) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Party A and Party B with respect to the Transaction, by manually signing this Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to us.

 

Yours faithfully,
CITIBANK, N.A.
By:  

/s/ James Heathcote

  Name: James Heathcote
  Title:   Authorized Representative

 

Agreed and accepted by:
EASTERLY GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Meghan G. Baivier

  Name:   Meghan G. Baivier
  Title:   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operating Officer

 

21


ANNEX A

PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

If Party B delivers Unregistered Settlement Shares pursuant to Section 12 above (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then:

(a) all Unregistered Settlement Shares shall be delivered to Party A (or any affiliate of Party A designated by Party A) pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof;

(b) as of or prior to the date of delivery, Party A and any potential purchaser of any such shares from Party A (or any affiliate of Party A designated by Party A) identified by Party A shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Party B customary in scope for private placements of equity securities of similar size (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent trust documents and other information reasonably requested by them);

(c) as of the date of delivery, Party B shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) with Party A (or any affiliate of Party A designated by Party A) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Party B to Party A (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Party A (or any such affiliate), substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Party A, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Party A and its affiliates and obligations to use best efforts to obtain customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters, and shall provide for the payment by Party B of all commercially reasonable fees and expenses in connection with such resale, including all commercially reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Party A, and shall contain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Party B reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales; and

(d) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Party B to Party A (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Party A (or any such affiliate), Party B shall, if so requested by Party A, prepare, in cooperation with Party A, a private placement memorandum in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Party A.

In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Party A shall, in its good faith discretion, adjust the amount of Unregistered Settlement Shares to be delivered to Party A hereunder in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Unregistered Settlement Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Party A and may only be saleable by Party A at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Unregistered Settlement Shares.

If Party B delivers any Unregistered Settlement Shares in respect of the Transaction, Party B agrees that (i) such Shares may be transferred by and among Party A and its affiliates and (ii) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed after the applicable Settlement Date (or earlier, if applicable), Party B shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for the Shares to remove, any legends referring to any transfer restrictions from such Shares upon delivery by Party A (or such affiliate of Party A) to Party B or such transfer agent of seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Party A or its affiliates in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Party A (or such affiliate of Party A).


ANNEX B

FORWARD PRICE REDUCTION AMOUNTS

REGULAR DIVIDEND AMOUNTS

EX-1.3

Exhibit 1.3

Opening Transaction

 

To:    Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (“Party B”)
   
A/C:     
   
From:    Jefferies LLC (“Party A”)
   
Re:    Issuer Share Forward Sale Transaction
   
Ref. No:     
   
Date:    June 1, 2016

Dear Sir(s):

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between Jefferies LLC (“Party A”) and Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (“Party B”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below. This Confirmation is a confirmation for purposes of Rule 10b-10 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). For purposes of the Equity Definitions, the Transaction will be deemed to be a Share Forward Transaction.

This Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of and be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the 1992 ISDA Master Agreement (Multicurrency—Cross Border) (the “ISDA Form”), as published by ISDA, as if Party A and Party B had executed the ISDA Form on the date hereof (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of Loss and Second Method, New York law (without regard to New York’s choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law) as the governing law and US Dollars (“USD”) as the Termination Currency, and (ii) the replacement of the word “third” in the last line of Section 5(a)(i) with the word “second”. All provisions contained in the Agreement are incorporated into and shall govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified below. This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Party A and Party B as to the terms of the Transaction and replaces any previous agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

The Transaction hereunder shall be the sole Transaction under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Party A or any of its Affiliates and Party B or any confirmation or other agreement between Party A or any of its Affiliates and Party B pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Party A or any of its Affiliates and Party B, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Party A or any of its Affiliates and Party B are parties, the Transaction shall not be considered a Transaction under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency among the Agreement, this Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail in the order of precedence indicated: (i) this Confirmation; (ii) the Equity Definitions; and (iii) the Agreement.

2. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:

 

Trade Date:

June 2, 2016

 

Effective Date:

June 7, 2016 (the “Scheduled Effective Date”), or such later date on which the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Confirmation shall have been satisfied.


Buyer:

Party A

 

Seller:

Party B

 

Maturity Date:

December 7, 2016 (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day)

 

Shares:

The common stock (“Shares”), par value $0.01 per Share, of Party B (Ticker: “DEA”)

 

Number of Shares:

Initially, (x) if no Initial Hedging Disruption (as defined below) occurs, 750,000 Shares (the “Full Number of Shares”) or (y) if an Initial Hedging Disruption occurs, the Reduced Number of Shares (as defined below), in each case, as reduced on each Relevant Settlement Date (as defined under “Settlement Terms” below) by the number of Settlement Shares to which the related Valuation Date relates.

 

Settlement Currency:

USD

 

Exchange:

The New York Stock Exchange

 

Related Exchange:

All Exchanges

 

Prepayment:

Not Applicable

 

Variable Obligation:

Not Applicable

 

Forward Price:

On the Effective Date, USD17.235, and on any day thereafter, the product of the Forward Price on the immediately preceding calendar day and

 

  1 + the Daily Rate * (1/365);

 

  provided that the Forward Price on each Forward Price Reduction Date shall be the Forward Price otherwise in effect on such date minus the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.

 

Daily Rate:

For any day, the USD-Federal Funds Rate minus the Spread.

 

Spread:

1.00%

 

USD-Federal Funds Rate:

For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Federal funds” as displayed on the page “FedsOpen <Index> <GO>” on the BLOOMBERG Professional Service, or any successor page; provided that if no such rate appears for such day on such page, USD-Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate for the immediately preceding day for which such a rate appears.

 

Forward Price Reduction Dates:

As set forth on Annex B.

 

Forward Price Reduction Amount:

For each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date on Annex B.

 

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Valuation:

 

Valuation Date:

For any Settlement (as defined below), if Physical Settlement is applicable, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice (as defined below); or if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement is applicable, the last Unwind Date for such Settlement. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the last Unwind Date shall be determined by Party A based on the completion of the unwinding of its commercially reasonable hedge position.

 

Unwind Dates:

For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, each day on which Party A (or its agent or affiliate) purchases Shares in the market in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement.

 

First Unwind Date:

For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice.

 

Unwind Period:

For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, the period starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement and ending on the Valuation Date for such Settlement.

 

Cash Settlement Valuation Disruption:

If Cash Settlement is applicable and any Unwind Date during an Unwind Period is a Disrupted Day, then the 10b-18 VWAP for such Disrupted Day shall not be included in the calculation of the Settlement Price.

 

Market Disruption Event:

The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” and inserting the words “at any time on any Exchange Business Day during the Valuation Period” after the word “material,” in the third line thereof.

 

  Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

Settlement Terms:

 

Settlement:

Any Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of all or any portion of the Transaction.

 

Settlement Notice:

Subject to “Early Valuation” below, Party B may elect to effect a Settlement of all or any portion of the Transaction by designating one or more Scheduled Trading Days following the Effective Date and on or prior to the Maturity Date to be Valuation Dates (or, with respect to Cash Settlements or Net Share Settlements, First Unwind Dates, each of which First Unwind Dates shall occur no later than the 60th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date) in a written notice to Party A (a “Settlement Notice”) delivered no later than the applicable Settlement Method Election Date, which notice

 

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shall also specify (i) the number of Shares (the “Settlement Shares”) for such Settlement (not to exceed the number of Undesignated Shares as of the date of such Settlement Notice) and (ii) the Settlement Method applicable to such Settlement; provided that (A) Party B may not designate a First Unwind Date for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement if, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, any Shares have been designated as Settlement Shares for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred; and (B) if the number of Undesignated Shares as of the Maturity Date is not zero, then the Maturity Date shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Undesignated Shares as of the Maturity Date (provided that if the Maturity Date occurs during the period from the time any Settlement Notice is given for a Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement until the related Relevant Settlement Date, inclusive, then the provisions set forth below opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply as if the Maturity Date were the Early Valuation Date).

 

Undesignated Shares:

As of any date, the Number of Shares minus the number of Shares designated as Settlement Shares for Settlements for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred.

 

Settlement Method Election:

Applicable; provided that:

 

  (i) Net Share Settlement shall be deemed to be included as an additional settlement method under Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions;

 

  (ii) Party B may elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement only if Party B represents and warrants to Party A in the Settlement Notice containing such election that, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, (A) Party B is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares, (B) Party B is electing the settlement method and designating the First Unwind Date specified in such Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-5”) or any other provision of the federal securities laws, (C) Party B is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)), (D) Party B would be able to purchase a number of Shares equal to the greater of (x) the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice and (y) a number of Shares with a value as of the date of such Settlement Notice equal to the product of (I) such number of Settlement Shares and (II) the applicable Relevant Forward Price for such Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in compliance with the laws of Party B’s jurisdiction of organization and (E) such election, and settlement in accordance therewith, does not and will not violate or conflict with any law or regulation applicable to Party B, or any order or judgment of any court or other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets, and any governmental consents that are required to have been obtained by Party B with respect to such election or settlement have been obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been complied with; and

 

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  (iii) Notwithstanding any election to the contrary in any Settlement Notice, Physical Settlement shall be applicable:

 

  (A) to all of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, at any time from the date such Settlement Notice is received by Party A until the related First Unwind Date, inclusive, (I) the trading price per Share on the Exchange (as determined by Party A in a commercially reasonable manner) is below USD8.6175 (the “Threshold Price”) or (II) Party A determines, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, that it would, after using commercially reasonable efforts, be unable to purchase a number of Shares in the market sufficient to unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of the portion of the Transaction represented by such Settlement Shares and satisfy its delivery obligation hereunder, if any, by the Maturity Date (x) in a manner that (A) would, if Party A were Party B or an affiliated purchaser of Party B, be subject to the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18(b) under the Exchange Act and (B) based on advice of counsel, would not raise material risks under applicable securities laws or (y) due to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares (each, a “Trading Condition”); or

 

  (B) to all or a portion of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, on any day during the relevant Unwind Period, (I) the trading price per Share on the Exchange (as determined by Party A in a commercially reasonable manner) is below the Threshold Price or (II) Party A determines, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment or based on advice of counsel, as applicable, that a Trading Condition has occurred, in which case the provisions set forth below in the fourth paragraph opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply as if such day were the Early Valuation Date and (x) for purposes of clause (i) of such paragraph, such day shall be the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period and the “Unwound Shares” shall be calculated to, and including, such day and (y) for purposes of clause (ii) of such paragraph, the “Remaining Shares” shall be equal to the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice minus the Unwound Shares determined in accordance with clause (x) of this sentence.

 

Electing Party:

Party B

 

Settlement Method Election Date:

With respect to any Settlement, the 5th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding (x) the Valuation Date, in the case of Physical Settlement, or (y) the First Unwind Date, in the case of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement.

 

Default Settlement Method:

Physical Settlement

 

Physical Settlement:

Notwithstanding Section 9.2(a)(i) of the Equity Definitions, on the Settlement Date, Party A shall pay to Party B an amount equal to the Forward Price on the relevant Valuation Date multiplied by the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement, and Party B shall deliver to Party A such Settlement Shares.

 

5


Settlement Date:

The Valuation Date.

 

Net Share Settlement:

On the Net Share Settlement Date, if the Net Share Settlement Amount is greater than zero, Party B shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Party A, and if the Net Share Settlement Amount is less than zero, Party A shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the absolute value of the Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Party B, in either case, in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with the Net Share Settlement Date deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4, and, in either case, plus cash in lieu of any fractional Shares included in the Net Share Settlement Amount but not delivered due to rounding required hereby, valued at the Settlement Price.

 

Net Share Settlement Date:

The date that follows the Valuation Date by one Settlement Cycle.

 

Net Share Settlement Amount:

For any Net Share Settlement, an amount equal to the Forward Cash Settlement Amount divided by the Settlement Price.

 

Forward Cash Settlement Amount:

Notwithstanding Section 8.5(c) of the Equity Definitions, the Forward Cash Settlement Amount for any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement shall be equal to (i) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement multiplied by (ii) an amount equal to (A) the Settlement Price minus (B) the Relevant Forward Price.

 

Relevant Forward Price:

For any Cash Settlement, the arithmetic average of the Forward Prices on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement.

 

  For any Net Share Settlement, the weighted average of the Forward Prices on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement (weighted based on the number of Shares purchased by Party A or its agent or affiliate on each such Unwind Date in connection with unwinding Party A’s commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent).

 

Settlement Price:

For any Cash Settlement, the arithmetic average of the 10b-18 VWAP on each Unwind Date relating to such settlement, plus commercially reasonable commissions not to exceed USD0.03 per Share.

 

  For any Net Share Settlement, the weighted average price of the purchases of Shares made by Party A (or its agent or affiliate) during the Unwind Period in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position relating to such Settlement (weighted based on the number of Shares purchased by Party A or its agent or affiliate on each Unwind Date in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent), plus commercially reasonable commissions not to exceed USD0.03 per Share.

 

10b-18 VWAP:

For any Exchange Business Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent based on the 10b-18 Volume Weighted Average Price per Share for the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof) of the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day (without regard to pre-open or after hours trading outside of such regular trading session for such

 

6


 

Exchange Business Day), as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m. New York time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session) on such Exchange Business Day, on Bloomberg page “DEA <Equity> AQR_SEC” (or any successor thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such Exchange Business Day for any reason or is, in the Calculation Agent’s reasonable determination, erroneous, such 10b-18 VWAP shall be as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent. For purposes of calculating the 10b-18 VWAP for such Exchange Business Day, the Calculation Agent will include only those trades that are reported during the period of time during which Party B could purchase its own shares under Rule 10b-18(b)(2) and are effected pursuant to the conditions of Rule 10b-18(b)(3), each under the Exchange Act (such trades, “Rule 10b-18 eligible transactions”).

 

Unwind Activities:

The times and prices at which Party A (or its agent or affiliate) purchases any Shares during any Unwind Period in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position shall be determined by Party A in a commercially reasonable manner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Party A concludes, in its reasonable discretion based on advice of counsel, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Party A) (a “Regulatory Disruption”), for it to refrain from purchasing Shares in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position on any Scheduled Trading Day that would have been an Unwind Date but for the occurrence of a Regulatory Disruption, Party A may (but shall not be required to) notify Party B in writing that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred on such Scheduled Trading Day, in which case Party A shall, to the extent practicable in its good faith discretion, specify the nature of such Regulatory Disruption, and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Scheduled Trading Day shall not be an Unwind Date and such Regulatory Disruption shall be deemed to be a Market Disruption Event; provided that Party A may exercise its right to suspend under this sentence only in good faith in relation to events or circumstances that are not the result of actions of it or any of its Affiliates that are taken with the intent to avoid its obligations under the Transaction.

 

Relevant Settlement Date:

For any Settlement, the Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date, as the case may be.

 

Other Applicable Provisions:

To the extent Party A is obligated to deliver Shares hereunder, the provisions of Sections 9.2 (last sentence only), 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction; provided that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws that exist as a result of the fact that Party B is the issuer of the Shares.

 

7


Share Adjustments:

 

Potential Adjustment Events:

An Extraordinary Dividend shall not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event. For the avoidance of doubt, a cash dividend on the Shares that differs from expected dividends as of the Trade Date shall not be a Potential Adjustment Event under Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions.

 

Extraordinary Dividend:

Any dividend or distribution on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring on any day following the Trade Date (other than (i) any dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions or (ii) a regular, quarterly cash dividend in an amount equal to or less than the Regular Dividend Amount for such calendar quarter that has an ex-dividend date no earlier than the Forward Price Reduction Date occurring in the relevant quarter).

 

Regular Dividend Amount:

For each calendar quarter, as set forth on Annex B.

 

Method of Adjustment:

Calculation Agent Adjustment

Extraordinary Events:

 

Extraordinary Events:

The consequences that would otherwise apply under Article 12 of the Equity Definitions to any applicable Extraordinary Event (excluding any Failure to Deliver, Increased Cost of Hedging, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow or any Extraordinary Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, but including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other applicable Additional Disruption Event) shall not apply.

 

Tender Offer:

Applicable; provided that Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing the reference therein to “10%” with a reference to “20%”.

 

Delisting:

In addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange.

Additional Disruption Events:

 

Change in Law:

Applicable; provided that (A) any determination as to whether (i) the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any tax law) or (ii) the promulgation of or any change in or public announcement of the formal or informal interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in each case, constitutes a “Change in Law” shall be made without regard to Section 739 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010

 

8


 

or any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (B) Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended (i) by adding the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof and (ii) by replacing the words “the interpretation” with the words “or public announcement of any formal or informal interpretation” in the third line thereof and (C) the words “, unless the illegality is due to an act or omission of the party seeking to elect termination of the Transaction with the intent to avoid its obligations under the terms of the Transaction” are added immediately following the word “Transaction” in the fifth line thereof; and provided further that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the phrase “and/or Hedge Position” after the word “Shares” in clause (X) thereof and (iii) by immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date”.

 

Failure to Deliver:

Applicable if Party A is required to deliver Shares hereunder; otherwise, Not Applicable.

 

Hedging Disruption:

Applicable

 

Increased Cost of Hedging:

Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof and (ii) deleting the third and fourth sentences thereof.

 

Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:

Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof and (ii) deleting the third, fourth and fifth sentences thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the announcement of any event that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event or Tender Offer, the term “rate to borrow Shares” as used in Section 12.9(a)(viii) of the Equity Definitions shall include any commercially reasonable cost borne or amount payable by the Hedging Party in respect of maintaining or reestablishing its hedge position, including, but not limited to, any assessment or other amount payable by the Hedging Party to a lender of Shares in respect of any merger or tender offer premium, as applicable.

 

Initial Stock Loan Rate:

50 basis points per annum

 

Loss of Stock Borrow:

Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (A) of the first sentence thereof in its entirety and (ii) deleting the words “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares or” in the second sentence thereof.

 

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

200 basis points per annum

 

Hedging Party:

For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Party A

 

Determining Party:

For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Party A

 

9


Early Valuation:

 

Early Valuation:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement or in the Equity Definitions, at any time (x) following the occurrence of a Hedging Event, the declaration by Issuer of an Extraordinary Dividend, or an ISDA Event or (y) if an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position exists, Party A (or, in the case of an ISDA Event that is an Event of Default or Termination Event, the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date in respect of such event pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) shall have the right to designate any Scheduled Trading Day to be the “Early Valuation Date”, in which case the provisions set forth in this “Early Valuation” section shall apply, in the case of an Event of Default or Termination Event, in lieu of Section 6 of the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any amount calculated pursuant to this “Early Valuation” section as a result of an Extraordinary Dividend shall not be adjusted by the value associated with such Extraordinary Dividend.

 

  Party A represents and warrants to and agrees with Party B that (i) based upon advice of counsel, Party A (A) does not know of the existence on the Trade Date of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (B) based on reasonable internal inquiry in the ordinary course of Party A’s business does not know on the Trade Date of any event or circumstance that will cause the occurrence of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of the Transaction; and (ii) Party A will not knowingly cause the occurrence of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of the Transaction for the purpose, in whole or in part, of causing the occurrence of an Early Valuation Date.

 

  If the Early Valuation Date occurs on a date that is not during an Unwind Period, then the Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement, and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the Number of Shares on the Early Valuation Date; provided that Party A may in its sole discretion permit Party B to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement.

 

  If the Early Valuation Date occurs during an Unwind Period, then (i) (A) the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period shall be deemed to be the Early Valuation Date, (B) a Settlement shall occur in respect of such Unwind Period, and the Settlement Method elected by Party B in respect of such Settlement shall apply, and (C) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Unwound Shares for such Unwind Period on the Early Valuation Date, and (ii) (A) the Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for an additional Physical Settlement (provided that Party A may in its sole discretion elect that the Settlement Method elected by Party B for the Settlement described in clause (i) of this sentence shall apply) and (B) the number of Settlement Shares for such additional Settlement shall be the number of Remaining Shares on the Early Valuation Date.

 

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  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Nationalization or Merger Event, if at the time of the related Relevant Settlement Date the Shares have changed into cash or any other property or the right to receive cash or any other property, the Calculation Agent shall adjust the nature of the Shares as it determines appropriate to account for such change such that the nature of the Shares is consistent with what shareholders receive in such event.

 

ISDA Event:

(i) Any Event of Default or Termination Event, other than an Event of Default or Termination Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, that gives rise to the right of either party to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement or (ii) the announcement of any event or transaction that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Delisting or Change in Law, in each case, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

Amendment to Merger Event:

Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of such Section beginning with the words “in each case if the Merger Date is on or before” in the fourth to last line thereof.

 

Hedging Event:

(i) (x) A Loss of Stock Borrow in connection with which Party B does not refer the Hedging Party to a satisfactory Lending Party within the required time period as provided in Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions or (y) a Hedging Disruption, (ii) (A) an Increased Cost of Stock Borrow or (B) an Increased Cost of Hedging in connection with which, in the case of sub-clause (A) or (B), Party B does not elect, and so notify the Hedging Party of its election, in each case, within the required time period to either amend the Transaction pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(A) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(A) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or pay an amount determined by the Calculation Agent that corresponds to the relevant Price Adjustment pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(B) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(B) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or (iii) the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event during an Unwind Period and the continuance of such Market Disruption Event for at least eight Scheduled Trading Days.

 

Remaining Shares:

On any day, the Number of Shares as of such day (or, if such day occurs during an Unwind Period, the Number of Shares as of such day minus the Unwound Shares for such Unwind Period on such day).

 

Unwound Shares:

For any Unwind Period on any day, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Party A has unwound its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of the Transaction in connection with the related Settlement as of such day.

Acknowledgements:

 

Non-Reliance:

Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgements

Regarding Hedging Activities:

Applicable

 

Additional Acknowledgements:

Applicable

 

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Transfer:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, Party A may assign, transfer and set over all rights, title and interest, powers, privileges and remedies of Party A under the Transaction, in whole or in part, to an affiliate of Party A without the consent of Party B; provided that (x) Party B will neither (1) be required to pay, nor is there a material likelihood that it would be required to pay, an additional amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement, nor (2) receive a payment, nor is there a material likelihood that it would receive a payment, from which an amount has been deducted or withheld for or on account of any Indemnifiable Tax in respect of which the other party is not required to pay an additional amount, in either case as a result of such transfer or assignment, (y) such transferee is a “dealer” within the meaning of section 1.1001-4(b)(1) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations and (z) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred with respect to either party solely as a result of such transfer and assignment.

 

  Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Party A to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Party B, Party A may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Party A obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Party A shall be discharged of its obligations to Party B only to the extent of any such performance.

 

Calculation Agent:

Party A; provided that, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Party A is the sole Defaulting Party, Party B shall have the right to select a leading dealer in the market for U.S. corporate equity derivatives reasonably acceptable to Party A to replace Party A as Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a written request by Party B, the Calculation Agent will, within a commercially reasonable period of time following such request, provide to Party B by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Party B in such written request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be; provided that Party A shall not be required to disclose any proprietary or confidential models of Party A or any information that is proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information.

 

Party B Payment Instructions:

To be provided by Party B

 

Party A Payment Instructions:

To be provided by Party A

Party B’s Contact Details

for Purpose of Giving Notice:

To be provided by Party B

Party A’s Contact Details

for Purpose of Giving Notice:

Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

 

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  New York, NY 10022

Attention: Manager of Central Credit Administration

Email: central_credit_admin@jefferies.com

Tel: 212-284-2300

Fax: 646-417-5820

 

  With a copy to:

 

  Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention: General Counsel

Tel: 212-284-2300

Fax: 646-786-5691

 

  And email notification to the following address:

CorpEqDeriv@jefferies.com

3. Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Confirmation and the Transaction shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) the representations and warranties of Party B contained in the Underwriting Agreement dated the date hereof between Party B, Easterly Government Properties LP (the “Partnership”) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies LLC, as representatives of the Underwriters party thereto (the “Underwriting Agreement”), and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Party B or the Partnership shall be true and correct on the Effective Date as if made as of the Effective Date;

(b) each of Party B and the Partnership shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Underwriting Agreement on or prior to the Effective Date;

(c) all of the conditions set forth in Section 9 of the Underwriting Agreement shall have been satisfied;

(d) the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) shall have occurred as provided in the Underwriting Agreement;

(e) all of the representations and warranties of Party B hereunder and under the Agreement shall be true and correct on the Effective Date as if made as of the Effective Date;

(f) Party B shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it hereunder and under the Agreement on or prior to the Effective Date, including without limitation its obligations under Section 6 hereof; and

(g) Party B shall have delivered to Party A an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Party A, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement and that the maximum number of Shares initially issuable hereunder have been duly authorized and, upon issuance pursuant to the terms of the Transaction, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Confirmation, if (x) on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) is scheduled to occur, in connection with establishing its commercially reasonable hedge position Party A, in its sole judgment, is unable, after using commercially reasonable efforts, to borrow and deliver for sale the Full Number of Shares or (y) in Party A’s sole judgment, it would incur a stock loan cost of more than 200 basis points per annum with respect to all or any portion of the Full Number of Shares (in each case, an “Initial Hedging Disruption”), the effectiveness of this Confirmation and the Transaction shall be limited to the number of Shares Party A is so able to borrow in connection with establishing its commercially reasonable hedge position at a cost of not more than 200 basis points per annum (such number of Shares, the “Reduced Number of Shares”), which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be zero.

 

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4. Additional Mutual Representations and Warranties. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement, each party represents and warrants to the other party that it is an “eligible contract participant”, as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (as amended), and an “accredited investor” as defined in Section 2(a)(15)(ii) of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the “Securities Act”), and is entering into the Transaction hereunder as principal and not for the benefit of any third party.

5. Additional Representations and Warranties of Party B. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Party B represents and warrants to Party A, and agrees with Party A, that:

(a) without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, it acknowledges that Party A is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of the Transaction, including without limitation ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Liabilities & Equity Project;

(b) it shall not take any action to reduce or decrease the number of authorized and unissued Shares below the sum of (i) the Number of Shares plus (ii) the total number of Shares issuable upon settlement (whether by net share settlement or otherwise) of any other transaction or agreement to which it is a party;

(c) it will not repurchase any Shares if, immediately following such repurchase, the Number of Shares would be equal to or greater than 9.0% of the number of then-outstanding Shares and it will notify Party A immediately upon the announcement or consummation of any repurchase of Shares in an amount that, taken together with the amount of all repurchases since the date of the last such notice (or, if no such notice has been given, since the Trade Date), exceeds 0.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares;

(d) it is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares), or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) by others;

(e) neither it nor any of its officers, directors, managers or similar persons is aware of any material non-public information regarding itself or the Shares; it is entering into this Confirmation and will provide any Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 or any other provision of the federal securities laws; it has not entered into or altered any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting the Transaction; and it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Confirmation under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b5-1”);

(f) no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Party A or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares; provided that Party B makes no such representation or warranty regarding any such requirement that is applicable generally to the ownership of equity securities by Party A;

(g) as of the Trade Date and as of the date of any payment or delivery by Party B or Party A hereunder, it is not and will not be “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code);

(h) it is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

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(i) it: (i) is an “institutional account” as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c); and (ii) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, and will exercise independent judgment in evaluating any recommendations of Party A or its associated persons;

(j) ownership positions held by Party A or any of its affiliates solely in its capacity as a nominee or fiduciary do not constitute “ownership” by Party A, and Party A shall not be deemed or treated as the “owner” of such positions for purposes of the Issuer’s Articles of Incorporation; and

(k) IT UNDERSTANDS THAT THE TRANSACTION IS SUBJECT TO COMPLEX RISKS WHICH MAY ARISE WITHOUT WARNING AND MAY AT TIMES BE VOLATILE AND THAT LOSSES MAY OCCUR QUICKLY AND IN UNANTICIPATED MAGNITUDE AND IS WILLING TO ACCEPT SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND ASSUME (FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE) SUCH RISKS.

6. Additional Covenants of Party B.

(a) Party B acknowledges and agrees that any Shares delivered by Party B to Party A on any Settlement Date or Net Share Settlement Date will be (i) newly issued, (ii) approved for listing or quotation on the Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and (iii) registered under the Exchange Act, and, when delivered by Party A (or an affiliate of Party A) to securities lenders from whom Party A (or an affiliate of Party A) borrowed Shares in connection with hedging its exposure to the Transaction, will be freely saleable without further registration or other restrictions under the Securities Act in the hands of those securities lenders, irrespective of whether any such stock loan is effected by Party A or an affiliate of Party A Accordingly, Party B agrees that any Shares so delivered will not bear a restrictive legend and will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System. In addition, Party B represents and agrees that any such Shares shall be, upon such delivery, duly and validly authorized, issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free of any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance.

(b) Party B agrees that Party B shall not enter into or alter any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting the Transaction. Without limiting the generality of the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Unwind Activities” in Section 2 of this Confirmation, Party B acknowledges that it has no right to, and agrees that it will not seek to, control or influence Party A’s decision to make any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B)(3)) under or in connection with the Transaction, including, without limitation, Party A’s decision to enter into any hedging transactions.

(c) Party B acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Party B or any officer, director, manager or similar person of Party B is aware of any material non-public information regarding Party B or the Shares.

(d) Party B shall promptly provide notice thereof to Party A (i) upon the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Termination Event in respect of which Party B is a Defaulting Party or an Affected Party, as the case may be, and (ii) upon announcement of any event that, if consummated, would constitute an Extraordinary Event or Potential Adjustment Event.

(e) Neither Party B nor any of its “affiliated purchasers” (as defined by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall take any action that would cause any purchases of Shares by Party A or any of its Affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 if such purchases were made by Party B. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during any Unwind Period, except with the prior written consent of Party A, Party B will not, and will cause its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Rule 10b-18) not to, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of a derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or announce or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares.

 

15


(f) Party B will not be subject to any “restricted period” (as such term is defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) in respect of Shares or any security with respect to which the Shares are a “reference security” (as such term is defined in Regulation M) during any Unwind Period.

(g) Party B shall: (i) prior to the opening of trading in the Shares on any day on which Party B makes, or expects to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any Merger Transaction, notify Party A of such public announcement; (ii) promptly notify Party A following any such announcement that such announcement has been made; (iii) promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) provide Party A with written notice specifying (A) Party B’s average daily Rule 10b-18 Purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months immediately preceding the announcement date for the Merger Transaction that were not effected through Party A or its affiliates and (B) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding such announcement date. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Party B to Party A that such information is true and correct. In addition, Party B shall promptly notify Party A of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders. Party B acknowledges that any such notice may result in a Regulatory Disruption, a Trading Condition or, if such notice relates to an event that is also an ISDA Event, an Early Valuation, or may affect the length of any ongoing Unwind Period; accordingly, Party B acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 6(c) above. “Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act. For the avoidance of doubt, a Merger Transaction or the announcement thereof shall not give either party the right to designate an Early Valuation Date and/or to accelerate or preclude an election by Party B of Physical Settlement, unless such Merger Transaction or the announcement thereof is also an ISDA Event.

7. Termination on Bankruptcy. The parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or the Equity Definitions, the Transaction constitutes a contract to issue a security of Party B as contemplated by Section 365(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code and that the Transaction and the obligations and rights of Party B and Party A (except for any liability as a result of breach of any of the representations or warranties provided by Party B in Section 4 or Section 5 above) shall immediately terminate, without the necessity of any notice, payment (whether directly, by netting or otherwise) or other action by Party B or Party A, if, on or prior to the final Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date, an Insolvency Filing occurs or any other proceeding commences with respect to Party B under the Bankruptcy Code (a “Bankruptcy Termination Event”).

8. Additional Provisions.

(a) Party A acknowledges and agrees that Party B’s obligations under the Transaction are not secured by any collateral and that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to Party A rights with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Party B; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Party B of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Confirmation or the Agreement; provided further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s rights in respect of any transaction other than the Transaction.

(b) [Reserved]

(c) The parties hereto intend for:

(i) the Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(j), 555 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

16


(ii) the rights given to Party A pursuant to “Early Valuation” in Section 2 above to constitute “contractual rights” to cause the liquidation of a “securities contract” and to set off mutual debts and claims in connection with a “securities contract”, as such terms are used in Sections 555 and 362(b)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code;

(iii) any cash, securities or other property provided as performance assurance, credit support or collateral with respect to the Transaction to constitute “margin payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code;

(iv) all payments for, under or in connection with the Transaction, all payments for Shares and the transfer of Shares to constitute “settlement payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; and

(v) any or all obligations that either party has with respect to this Confirmation or the Agreement to constitute property held by or due from such party to margin, guaranty or settle obligations of the other party with respect to the transactions under the Agreement (including the Transaction) or any other agreement between such parties.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement or this Confirmation, in no event will Party B be required to deliver in the aggregate in respect of all Settlement Dates, Net Share Settlement Dates or other dates on which Shares are delivered in respect of any amount owed under this Agreement a number of Shares greater than 1,500,000 (the “Capped Number”). The Capped Number shall be subject to adjustment only on account of (x) Potential Adjustment Events of the type specified in (1) Sections 11.2(e)(i) through (vi) of the Equity Definitions or (2) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions so long as, in the case of this sub-clause (2), such event is within Issuer’s control, (y) Merger Events requiring trust action of Issuer (or any surviving entity of the Issuer hereunder in connection with any such Merger Event) and (z) Announcement Events that are not outside Issuer’s control. Party B represents and warrants to Party A (which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that the Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transaction) on the date of the determination of the Capped Number (such Shares, the “Available Shares”). In the event Party B shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable as a result of this Section 8(c) (the resulting deficit, the “Deficit Shares”), Party B shall be continually obligated to deliver Shares, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, when, and to the extent that, (A) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Party B or any of its subsidiaries after the Trade Date (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (B) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved and (C) Party B additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions (such events as set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, collectively, the “Share Issuance Events”). Party B shall promptly notify Party A of the occurrence of any of the Share Issuance Events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (A), (B) or (C) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered) and, as promptly as reasonably practicable, deliver such Shares thereafter. Party B shall not, until Party B’s obligations under the Transaction have been satisfied in full, use any Shares that become available for potential delivery to Party A as a result of any Share Issuance Event for the settlement or satisfaction of any transaction or obligation other than the Transaction or reserve any such Shares for future issuance for any purpose other than to satisfy Party B’s obligations to Party A under the Transaction.

(e) The parties intend for this Confirmation to constitute a “Contract” as described in the letter dated October 6, 2003 submitted on behalf of Goldman, Sachs & Co. to Paula Dubberly of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Staff”) to which the Staff responded in an interpretive letter dated October 9, 2003.

(f) The parties intend for this Transaction (taking into account purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement) to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(A) under the Exchange Act and for this Confirmation to constitute a binding contract or instruction satisfying the requirements of 10b5-1(c) and to be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).

 

17


(g) [Reserved]

(h) Party B acknowledges that:

(i) during the term of the Transaction, Party A and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to the Transaction;

(ii) Party A and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and derivatives linked to the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction, including acting as agent or as principal and for its own account or on behalf of customers;

(iii) Party A shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Party B’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the Settlement Price;

(iv) any market activities of Party A and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price and the Settlement Price, each in a manner that may be adverse to Party B; and

(v) the Transaction is a derivatives transaction; Party A may purchase or sell shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the price received by Party B under the terms of the Transaction.

9. Indemnification. Party B agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Party A, its affiliates and its assignees and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Party A and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, financial losses resulting from the economic terms of the Transaction), claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to, the execution or delivery of this Confirmation, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations under the Transaction, any breach of any covenant or representation made by Party B in this Confirmation or the Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Party B will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Party A’s willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in performing the services that are subject of the Transaction. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Party B shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Party B will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Party B. Party B also agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to Party B or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of Party B in connection with or as a result of any matter referred to in this Confirmation except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by Party B result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Indemnified Party. The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and/or delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to the Agreement or this Confirmation shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Party A For the avoidance of doubt, any payments due as a result of this provision may not be used to set off any obligation of Party A upon settlement of the Transaction.

10. Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or this Confirmation, in no event shall Party A be entitled to receive, or be deemed to receive, or have the “right to acquire” (within the meaning of NYSE Rule 312.04(g)) Shares to the extent that, upon such receipt of such Shares, (i) the “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Shares

 

18


by Party A, any of its affiliates’ business units subject to aggregation with Party A for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and all persons who may form a “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) with Party A with respect to “beneficial ownership” of any Shares (collectively, the “Party Group”) would be equal to or greater than the lesser of (x) 9.0% of the outstanding Shares (such condition, an “Excess Section 13 Ownership Position”), and (y) 2,246,707 (such number of Shares, the “Threshold Number of Shares” and such condition, the “Excess NYSE Ownership Position”) or (ii) Party A, Party A Group or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Party A or Party A Group (Party A, Party A Group or any such person, a “Party A Person”) under Sections 3-601 through 3-603 of the Maryland Code (Corporations and Associations) or any state or federal bank holding company or banking laws, or any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), would own, beneficially own, constructively own, control, hold the power to vote or otherwise meet a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the lesser of (A) the maximum number of Shares that would be permitted under Applicable Laws and (B) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Party A Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received or that would give rise to any consequences under the constitutive documents of Party B) or any contract or agreement to which Party B is a party, in each case minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (such condition described in clause (ii), an “Excess Regulatory Ownership Position”). If any delivery owed to Party A hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, (i) Party B’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Party B shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Party A gives notice to Party B that such delivery would not result in (x) Party A Group directly or indirectly so beneficially owning in excess of the lesser of (A) 9.0% of the outstanding Shares and (B) the Threshold Number of Shares or (y) the occurrence of an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (ii) if such delivery relates to a Physical Settlement, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Party A shall not be obligated to satisfy the portion of its payment obligation corresponding to any Shares required to be so delivered until the date Party B makes such delivery.

11. Non-Confidentiality. The parties hereby agree that (i) effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Party B and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind, including opinions or other tax analyses, provided by Party A and its affiliates to Party B relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that the foregoing does not constitute an authorization to disclose the identity of Party A or its affiliates, agents or advisers, or, except to the extent relating to such tax structure or tax treatment, any specific pricing terms or commercial or financial information, and (ii) Party A does not assert any claim of proprietary ownership in respect of any description contained herein or therein relating to the use of any entities, plans or arrangements to give rise to a particular United States federal income tax treatment for Party B.

12. Restricted Shares. If Party B is unable to comply with the covenant of Party B contained in Section 6 above or Party A otherwise determines in its reasonable opinion that any Shares to be delivered to Party A by Party B may not be freely returned by Party A to securities lenders as described in the covenant of Party B contained in Section 6 above, then delivery of any such Settlement Shares (the “Unregistered Settlement Shares”) shall be effected pursuant to Annex A hereto, unless waived by Party A

13. Use of Shares. Party A acknowledges and agrees that, except in the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Party A shall use any Shares delivered by Party B to Party A on any Settlement Date to return to securities lenders to close out borrowings created by Party A in connection with its hedging activities related to exposure under this Transaction or otherwise in compliance with applicable law.

14. Rule 10b-18. In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Net Share Settlement or Cash Settlement of the Transaction, Party A shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its activities, or cause its affiliates to conduct their activities, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, as if such provisions were applicable to such purchases and taking into account any applicable Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters as appropriate, and subject to any delays between the execution and reporting of a trade of the Shares on the Exchange and other circumstances beyond Party A’s control.

 

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15. Governing Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the Agreement, this Confirmation and all matters arising in connection with the Agreement and this Confirmation shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without reference to its choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law).

16. Set-Off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set-off delivery or payment obligations it owes to the other party under the Transaction against any delivery or payment obligations owed to it by the other party, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise.

17. Staggered Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Party A may, by prior notice to Party B, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.

18. Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. EACH OF PARTY A AND PARTY B HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON SUCH PARTY’S OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF SUCH PARTY’S STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS CONFIRMATION OR THE ACTIONS OF PARTY A, PARTY B OR THEIR AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

19. Jurisdiction. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

20. Counterparts. This Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

21. Delivery of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Party B to deliver cash or other assets in respect of the settlement of the Transaction, except in circumstances where the required cash or other asset settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, as in effect on the Trade Date.

22. Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party, as applicable, shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party, assuming that the Hedging Party maintains a commercially reasonable hedge position at the time of the event.

23. HIRE Act Protocols. The parties agree that the definitions and provisions contained in the 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol as published by ISDA are incorporated into and apply to the Agreement solely for purposes of this Confirmation as if set forth in full herein.

 

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Party B hereby agrees (a) to check this Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Party A) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Party A and Party B with respect to the Transaction, by manually signing this Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to us.

 

Yours faithfully,
JEFFERIES LLC
By:  

/s/ John Noonan

  Name:   John Noonan
  Title:   Managing Director
    COO Americas Equities

 

Agreed and accepted by:
EASTERLY GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Meghan G. Baivier

  Name:   Meghan G. Baivier
  Title:   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operating Officer

 

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ANNEX A

PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

If Party B delivers Unregistered Settlement Shares pursuant to Section 12 above (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then:

(a) all Unregistered Settlement Shares shall be delivered to Party A (or any affiliate of Party A designated by Party A) pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof;

(b) as of or prior to the date of delivery, Party A and any potential purchaser of any such shares from Party A (or any affiliate of Party A designated by Party A) identified by Party A shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Party B customary in scope for private placements of equity securities of similar size (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent trust documents and other information reasonably requested by them);

(c) as of the date of delivery, Party B shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) with Party A (or any affiliate of Party A designated by Party A) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Party B to Party A (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Party A (or any such affiliate), substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Party A, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Party A and its affiliates and obligations to use best efforts to obtain customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters, and shall provide for the payment by Party B of all commercially reasonable fees and expenses in connection with such resale, including all commercially reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Party A, and shall contain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Party B reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales; and

(d) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Party B to Party A (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Party A (or any such affiliate), Party B shall, if so requested by Party A, prepare, in cooperation with Party A, a private placement memorandum in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Party A.

In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Party A shall, in its good faith discretion, adjust the amount of Unregistered Settlement Shares to be delivered to Party A hereunder in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Unregistered Settlement Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Party A and may only be saleable by Party A at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Unregistered Settlement Shares.

If Party B delivers any Unregistered Settlement Shares in respect of the Transaction, Party B agrees that (i) such Shares may be transferred by and among Party A and its affiliates and (ii) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed after the applicable Settlement Date (or earlier, if applicable), Party B shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for the Shares to remove, any legends referring to any transfer restrictions from such Shares upon delivery by Party A (or such affiliate of Party A) to Party B or such transfer agent of seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Party A or its affiliates in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Party A (or such affiliate of Party A).


ANNEX B

FORWARD PRICE REDUCTION AMOUNTS

REGULAR DIVIDEND AMOUNTS

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

June 6, 2016

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

2101 L Street NW, Suite 650

Washington, DC 20037

 

Re: Securities Registered Under Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion letter is furnished to you in our capacity as counsel for Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-210049) (as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the prospectus supplement, dated June 1, 2016, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act relating to the offering and/or sale of up to 6,126,967 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), which includes (i) the sale of 3,800,000 newly issued shares of Common Stock by the Company (the “Primary Shares”) to the underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named in an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the Company, certain forward sellers (the “Forward Sellers”) and certain selling stockholders (the “Selling Stockholders”), (ii) the sale to the Underwriters by the Forward Sellers of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock (together with the Primary Shares, the “Company Shares”), (iii) the sale to the Underwriters by the Selling Stockholders of 826,967 shares of Common Stock and (iv) the issuance and sale to certain forward counterparties (the “Forward Counterparties”) pursuant to letter agreements between the Company and the Forward Counterparties (the “Forward Sales Agreements”) (subject to the Company’s right to elect cash settlement or net share settlement in accordance with the terms of the Forward Sale Agreements) of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate, subject to adjustment (the “Forward Shares”). The Company Shares also include up to 919,045 shares of Common Stock purchasable by the Underwriters upon their exercise of an option granted to the Underwriters by the Company. The Company Shares and the Forward Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “Shares.”

We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinions set forth below. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company.

The opinion set forth below is limited to the Maryland General Corporation Law (which includes reported judicial decisions interpreting the Maryland General Corporation Law).


Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

June 6, 2016

Page 2

 

For purposes of the opinion set forth below, we have assumed that a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock will be available for issuance when the Forward Shares are issued.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that (i) the Company Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and (ii) the Forward Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Forward Sales Agreement, the Forward Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Shares (the “Current Report”), which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report and the said incorporation by reference and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ GOODWIN PROCTER LLP

GOODWIN PROCTER LLP