EX-2.2 3 d34112dex22.htm EX-2.2 EX-2.2

Exhibit 2.2

EXECUTION VERSION

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND AMONG

CIM REAL ESTATE FINANCE TRUST, INC.,

THOR III MERGER SUB, LLC,

AND

COLE OFFICE & INDUSTRIAL REIT (CCIT III), INC.

DATED AS OF AUGUST 30, 2020

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.1

  Definitions      2  

Section 1.2

  Interpretation and Rules of Construction      12  

ARTICLE 2 THE MERGER

     13  

Section 2.1

  The Merger; Other Transactions      13  

Section 2.2

  Closing      14  

Section 2.3

  Effective Time      14  

Section 2.4

  Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity      14  

Section 2.5

  Tax Treatment of Merger      14  

ARTICLE 3 EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

     15  

Section 3.1

  Effects of the Merger      15  

Section 3.2

  CCIT III Restricted Share Awards      16  

Section 3.3

  Exchange Procedures      17  

Section 3.4

  Withholding Rights      17  

Section 3.5

  Dissenters Rights      17  

Section 3.6

  General Effects of the Merger      17  

ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CCIT III

     18  

Section 4.1

  Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries      18  

Section 4.2

  Authority; Approval Required      19  

Section 4.3

  No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents      20  

Section 4.4

  Capital Structure      21  

Section 4.5

  SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws      22  

Section 4.6

  Absence of Certain Changes or Events      25  

Section 4.7

  No Undisclosed Liabilities      25  

Section 4.8

  Permits; Compliance with Law      25  

Section 4.9

  Litigation      26  

Section 4.10

  Properties      26  

Section 4.11

  Environmental Matters      27  

Section 4.12

  Material Contracts      28  

 

-i-


Section 4.13

  Taxes      30  

Section 4.14

  Intellectual Property      33  

Section 4.15

  Insurance      34  

Section 4.16

  Benefit Plans      34  

Section 4.17

  Related Party Transactions      34  

Section 4.18

  Brokers      34  

Section 4.19

  Opinion of Financial Advisor      35  

Section 4.20

  Takeover Statutes; Appraisal Rights      35  

Section 4.21

  COVID-19      35  

Section 4.22

  No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance      35  

ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CMFT AND MERGER SUB

     36  

Section 5.1

  Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries      36  

Section 5.2

  Authority      37  

Section 5.3

  No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents      38  

Section 5.4

  Capital Structure      39  

Section 5.5

  SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off-Balance   
  Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws      40  

Section 5.6

  Absence of Certain Changes or Events      43  

Section 5.7

  No Undisclosed Liabilities      43  

Section 5.8

  Permits; Compliance with Law      43  

Section 5.9

  Litigation      44  

Section 5.10

  Properties      44  

Section 5.11

  Environmental Matters      45  

Section 5.12

  Material Contracts      45  

Section 5.13

  Taxes      47  

Section 5.14

  Insurance      50  

Section 5.15

  Benefit Plans      50  

Section 5.16

  Related Party Transactions      51  

Section 5.17

  Brokers      51  

Section 5.18

  Takeover Statutes; Appraisal Rights      51  

Section 5.19

  Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities      51  

Section 5.20

  COVID-19      52  

Section 5.21

  No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance      52  

 

-ii-


ARTICLE 6 COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

     52  

Section 6.1

  Conduct of Business by CCIT III      52  

Section 6.2

  Conduct of Business by CMFT      57  

Section 6.3

  No Control of Other Parties’ Business      60  

ARTICLE 7 ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

     60  

Section 7.1

  Preparation of the Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approval      60  

Section 7.2

  Access to Information; Confidentiality      63  

Section 7.3

  Go Shop; No Solicitation; Superior Proposals      64  

Section 7.4

  Public Announcements      70  

Section 7.5

  Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings      71  

Section 7.6

  Notification of Certain Matters; Transaction Litigation      72  

Section 7.7

  Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance      73  

Section 7.8

  Dividends      75  

Section 7.9

  Takeover Statutes      76  

Section 7.10

  Tax Matters      76  

Section 7.11

  Section 16 Matters      77  

Section 7.12

  Financing Cooperation      78  

Section 7.13

  Other Merger Agreements      78  

Section 7.14

  CMFT Board of Directors      78  

ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS

     79  

Section 8.1

  Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger      79  

Section 8.2

  Conditions to Obligations of CMFT and Merger Sub      79  

Section 8.3

  Conditions to Obligations of CCIT III      81  

ARTICLE 9 TERMINATION, FEES AND EXPENSES, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     82  

Section 9.1

  Termination      82  

Section 9.2

  Effect of Termination      84  

Section 9.3

  Fees and Expenses      84  

ARTICLE 10 GENERAL PROVISIONS

     87  

Section 10.1

  Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties and Certain Covenants      87  

Section 10.2

  Notices      88  

 

-iii-


Section 10.3

  Severability      89  

Section 10.4

  Counterparts      89  

Section 10.5

  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries      89  

Section 10.6

  Amendment; Extension; Waiver      89  

Section 10.7

  Governing Law; Venue      90  

Section 10.8

  Assignment      90  

Section 10.9

  Specific Performance      91  

Section 10.10

  Waiver of Jury Trial      91  

Section 10.11

  Authorship      91  

EXHIBIT

Exhibit A – Charter Amendment

DISCLOSURE LETTERS

CCIT III Disclosure Letter

CMFT Disclosure Letter

 

 

-iv-


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of August 30, 2020 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among CIM Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“CMFT”), Thor III Merger Sub, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of CMFT (“Merger Sub”), and Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT III), Inc., a Maryland corporation (“CCIT III”). Each of CMFT, Merger Sub and CCIT III is sometimes referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in Article 1.

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to effect a business combination in which CCIT III will be merged with and into Merger Sub (the “Merger”), with Merger Sub being the surviving entity, and each share of CCIT III Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time that is not cancelled and retired pursuant to this Agreement will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) and the Maryland Limited Liability Company Act (the “MLLCA”);

WHEREAS, on the recommendation of the special committee (the “CCIT III Special Committee”) of the board of directors of CCIT III (the “CCIT III Board”), the CCIT III Board has (a) determined that this Agreement, the Charter Amendment, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interest of, and, with respect to this Agreement and the Merger, are fair and reasonable to CCIT III and on terms and conditions no less favorable to CCIT III than those available from unaffiliated third parties, (b) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Charter Amendment, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (c) directed that the Merger and the Charter Amendment be submitted for consideration at the Stockholders Meeting, and (d) recommended the approval of the Merger and the Charter Amendment by the CCIT III stockholders;

WHEREAS, on the recommendation of the special committee (the “CMFT Special Committee”) of the board of directors of CMFT (the “CMFT Board”), the CMFT Board has (a) determined that this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of CMFT, and (b) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

WHEREAS, CMFT, in its capacity as the sole member of Merger Sub, has taken all actions required for the execution of this Agreement by Merger Sub and to approve this Agreement and the consummation by Merger Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” under, and within the meaning of, Section 368(a) of the Code, and this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for the Merger for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code;

 

-1-


WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, CCIT III and CCIT III Advisor have entered into a Termination Agreement, which sets forth the terms on which the CCIT III Advisory Agreement shall terminate effective as of the Merger Effective Time; and

WHEREAS, each of the Parties desires to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger, and to prescribe various conditions to the Merger.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1    Definitions.

(a)    For purposes of this Agreement:

Acceptable NDA” means a confidentiality agreement with a term of at least one year and terms (including a standstill provision substantially similar to the standstill provision contained in the Confidentiality Agreement) that are not materially less favorable in the aggregate to CCIT III than the Confidentiality Agreement.

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, suit, litigation, investigation, audit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation, interference, audit, assessment, hearing, or other legal proceeding (whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise, whether civil or criminal and whether brought, conducted, tried or heard by or before any Governmental Authority).

Affiliate” of a specified Person means a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) CMFT and Merger Sub shall not be deemed Affiliates of CCIT III and (ii) CCIT III and CCIT III Advisor and their respective subsidiaries, and Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT II), Inc. and Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc. and their respective advisors and subsidiaries, shall not be deemed Affiliates of CMFT or Merger Sub.

Alternative Acquisition Agreement” means any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other similar agreement (other than an Acceptable NDA) relating to any Acquisition Proposal.

 

-2-


Anti-Corruption Laws” means (i) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and (ii) any applicable anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption or similar Law of any other jurisdiction.

Benefit Plan” means, with respect to a Person, any benefit or compensation plan, program, policy, practice, Contract or other obligation, whether or not funded, that is sponsored or maintained by, or required to be contributed to, or with respect to which any potential liability is borne by such Person or any of its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, “employee benefit plans” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA), and any employment, consulting, termination, severance, change in control, separation, retention equity option, equity appreciation rights, restricted equity, phantom equity, equity-based compensation, profits interest unit, outperformance, equity purchase, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive compensation, fringe benefit, health, medical, dental, disability, accident, life insurance, welfare benefit, cafeteria, vacation, paid time off, perquisite, retirement, pension, or savings or any other compensation or employee benefit plan, agreement, program, policy, practice, understanding or other arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA.

Business Day” means any day ending at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which the SDAT or banks located in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

CCIT II Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 30, 2020, by and among CMFT, Thor II Merger Sub, LLC, and Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT II), Inc.

CCIT III Advisor” means Cole Corporate Income Management III, LLC (formerly known as Cole Corporate Income Advisors III, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company and the external investment advisor to CCIT III.

CCIT III Advisory Agreement” means the Advisory Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2016, by and between CCIT III and CCIT III Advisor, as amended by the First Amendment thereto, dated as of June 23, 2017, and as further amended by the Termination Agreement.

CCIT III Bylaws” means the Bylaws of CCIT III, in the form filed with the SEC on August 4, 2014, as amended August 30, 2020.

CCIT III Charter” means the charter of CCIT III.

CCIT III Common Stock” means the CCIT III Class A Common Stock and CCIT III Class T Common Stock.

CCIT III Equity Incentive Plan” means CCIT III’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

CCIT III Governing Documents” means the CCIT III Bylaws, the CCIT III Charter, the certificate of limited partnership of CCIT III Operating Partnership, dated May 21, 2014, and the CCIT III Partnership Agreement.

 

-3-


CCIT III Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of CCIT III to consummate the Merger before the Outside Date; provided, however, that the following shall not be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining, whether a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect has occurred: (A) any failure of CCIT III to meet any projections or forecasts or any estimates of earnings, revenues or other metrics for any period (provided, that any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence giving rise to such failure may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect), (B) any changes that generally affect the office and industrial real estate industries in which CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries operate, (C) any changes in the United States or global economy or capital, financial or securities markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, (D) any changes in the regulatory or political conditions in the United States or in any other country or region of the world, (E) the commencement, escalation or worsening of a war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage occurring after the date hereof, (F) the taking of any action expressly required by this Agreement, (G) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters, (H) any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including COVID-19 or any quarantine, shelter in place, stay at home, workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or any other Law, directive, policy, guideline or recommendation by any Governmental Authority in connection with, or in response to, COVID-19 (“COVID-19 Measures”)) and any material worsening of any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak threatened or existing as of the date hereof or any shutdown or material limiting of certain United States or foreign federal, state or local government services, declaration of martial law, quarantine or similar directive, guidance, policy or other similar action by any Governmental Authority in connection with any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak, or (I) changes or prospective changes in GAAP or in any Law of general applicability unrelated to the Merger (or the interpretation or enforcement of the foregoing), provided, further, that if any event described in any of clauses (B), (C), (D), (E), (G), (H) and (I) has had a disproportionate adverse impact on CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to others in the office and industrial real estate industries in the geographic regions in which CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries operate, then the incremental impact of such event shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect has occurred.

CCIT III Operating Partnership” means Cole Corporate Income Operating Partnership III, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of CCIT III.

CCIT III Partnership Agreement” means the Agreement of Limited Partnership of CCIT III Operating Partnership, dated as of September 22, 2016.

CCIT III Properties” means each real property, or interest therein, owned, or leased (including ground leased) as lessee or sublessee, by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (including all of CCIT III’s or any CCIT III Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under such real property and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such real property).

 

-4-


CCIT III Subsidiary” means (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities is, directly or indirectly, owned by CCIT III, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the total equity interest is, directly or indirectly, owned by CCIT III or of which CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary is a general partner, manager, managing member or the equivalent, including the CCIT III Operating Partnership.

CCPT V Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 30, 2020, by and among CMFT, Thor V Merger Sub, LLC, and Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc.

Charter Amendment” means that amendment to the CCIT III Charter, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

CMFT Charter” means the charter of CMFT.

CMFT Equity Incentive Plan” means CMFT’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended.

CMFT Governing Documents” means (i) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of CMFT, adopted effective as of August 14, 2019, (ii) the CMFT Charter, (iii) the Certificate of Limited Partnership, dated as of July 27, 2010, as amended on September 21, 2010, May 19, 2011 and August 15, 2019, of the CMFT Operating Partnership and (iv) the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the CMFT Operating Partnership, dated as of January 20, 2012, as amended by the First Amendment thereto, dated as of August 15, 2019.

CMFT Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of CMFT to consummate the Merger before the Outside Date; provided, however, that the following shall not be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining, whether a CMFT Material Adverse Effect has occurred: (A) any failure of CMFT to meet any projections or forecasts or any estimates of earnings, revenues or other metrics for any period (provided, that any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence giving rise to such failure may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a CMFT Material Adverse Effect), (B) any changes that generally affect the retail real estate industry in which CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries operate, (C) any changes in the United States or global economy or capital, financial or securities markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, (D) any changes in the regulatory or political conditions in the United States or in any other country or region of the world, (E) the commencement, escalation or worsening of a war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage occurring after the date hereof, (F) the taking of any action expressly required by this Agreement, (G) earthquakes,

 

-5-


hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters, (H) any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including COVID-19 or any COVID-19 Measures), and any material worsening of any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak threatened or existing as of the date hereof, or any shutdown or material limiting of certain United States or foreign federal, state or local government services, declaration of martial law, quarantine or similar directive, guidance, policy or other similar action by any Governmental Authority in connection with any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak, or (I) changes or prospective changes in GAAP or in any Law of general applicability unrelated to the Merger (or the interpretation or enforcement of the foregoing), provided, further, that if any event described in any of clauses (B), (C), (D), (E), (G), (H) and (I) has had a disproportionate adverse impact on CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to others in the retail real estate industry in the geographic regions in which CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries operate, then the incremental impact of such event shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a CMFT Material Adverse Effect has occurred.

CMFT Operating Partnership” means CIM Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of CMFT.

CMFT Properties” means each real property, or interest therein, owned, or leased (including ground leased) as lessee or sublessee, by CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (including all of CMFT’s or any CMFT Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under such real property and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such real property).

CMFT Subsidiary” means (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities is directly or indirectly owned by CMFT and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the total equity interest is directly or indirectly owned by CMFT or of which CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary is a general partner, manager, managing member or the equivalent, including the CMFT Operating Partnership.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Confidentiality Agreement” means the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of July 17, 2020, as may be amended, by and between CMFT and CCIT III.

Contract” means any written or oral contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, instrument, lease, conditional sales contract, mortgage, license, guaranty, binding commitment or other obligation.

Eligible Shares” means each share of CCIT III Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, other than Excluded Shares and the CCIT III Restricted Share Awards.

Environmental Law” means any Law (including common law) relating to the investigation, pollution (or cleanup or other remediation thereof), restoration or protection of the natural resources, endangered or threatened species, or environment (including ambient air, soil,

 

-6-


surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface land), or human health or safety (as such matters relate to Hazardous Substances), including Laws relating to (i) the use, handling, presence, transportation, treatment, generation, processing, recycling, remediation, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Substances and (ii) any noise, odor, indoor air, employee exposure, wetlands, pollution, contamination or any injury or threat of injury to persons or property relating to any Hazardous Substance.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, license, exemption, action, consent or other authorization issued, granted, given, authorized by or required under any applicable Environmental Law.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to an entity (the “Referenced Entity”), any other entity, which, together with the Referenced Entity, would be treated as a single employer under Code Section 414 or ERISA Section 4001.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Exchange Ratio” means 1.093 shares of CMFT Common Stock for each share of CCIT III Common Stock, as such ratio may be adjusted in accordance with Section 3.1(b).

Excluded Shares” means all shares of CCIT III Common Stock held, as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, by any Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiary, CMFT or any Wholly Owned CMFT Subsidiary.

Expenses” means all expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a Party and its Affiliates) incurred by a Party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the other agreements and documents contemplated hereby, the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Proxy Statement, the preparation, printing and filing of the Form S-4 and all SEC and other regulatory filing fees incurred in connection with the Proxy Statement, the solicitation of stockholder approval, obtaining any third party consents, making any other filings with the SEC and all other matters related to the closing of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.1 (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries); Section 4.2 (Authority; Approval Required); Section 4.3(a)(i) (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents); Section 4.4 (Capital Structure); Section 4.5(h) (Investment Company Act); Section 4.13(b)(i) (Taxes); Section 4.18 (Brokers); Section 4.19 (Opinion of Financial Advisor); Section 4.20 (Takeover Statutes; Appraisal Rights); Section 5.1 (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries); Section 5.2 (Authority); Section 5.3(a)(i) (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents); Section 5.4 (Capital Structure); Section 5.5(h) (Investment Company Act); Section 5.13(b)(i) (Taxes); Section 5.17 (Brokers); and Section 5.18 (Takeover Statutes; Appraisal Rights).

 

-7-


GAAP” means the United States generally accepted accounting principles.

Governmental Authority” means the United States (federal, state or local) government or any foreign government, or any other governmental or quasi-governmental regulatory, judicial or administrative authority, instrumentality, board, bureau, agency, commission, body, department, self-regulatory organization, arbitration panel or similar entity or subdivision thereof.

Hazardous Substances” means (i) those materials, substances, chemicals, wastes, products, compounds, solid, liquid, gas, minerals in each case, whether naturally occurred or man-made, that is listed, designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Law; (ii) petroleum and petroleum-derived products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof, and lead-containing paint or plumbing; and (iii) polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, mold, methane, asbestos in any form, radioactive materials or wastes and radon.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person and without duplication, (i) the principal of and premium (if any) of all indebtedness, notes payable, accrued interest payable or other obligations for borrowed money, whether secured or unsecured, (ii) all obligations under conditional sale or other title retention agreements, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to property acquired by such Person, (iii) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price for any property or assets, (iv) all obligations under capital leases, (v) all obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or letters of credit, (vi) net cash payment obligations under interest rate cap, swap, collar or similar transaction or currency hedging transactions (valued at the termination value thereof), (vii) any guarantee of any of the foregoing, whether or not evidenced by a note, mortgage, bond, indenture or similar instrument and (viii) any agreement to provide any of the foregoing.

Intellectual Property” means all United States and foreign (i) patents, patent applications and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof, (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, corporate names, Internet domain names, design rights and other source identifiers, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, (iii) registered and unregistered copyrights and rights in copyrightable works, (iv) rights in confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, know-how, ideas, formulae, invention disclosure, models, algorithms and methodologies, (v) all rights in the foregoing and in other similar intangible assets, and (vi) all applications and registrations for the foregoing.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor agency.

Knowledge” means (i) with respect to CCIT III, the actual knowledge of the persons named in Section 1.1(a) of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter and (ii) with respect to CMFT, the actual knowledge of the persons named in Section 1.1(a) of the CMFT Disclosure Letter.

 

-8-


Law” means any and all domestic (federal, state or local) or foreign laws, statutes, common laws, rules, ordinances, codes, regulations and Orders promulgated by any Governmental Authority.

Lien” means with respect to any asset (including any security), any mortgage, deed of trust, claim, condition, covenant, lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preferential arrangement, option or other third party right (including right of first refusal or first offer), restriction, right of way, easement, or title defect or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, including any restriction on the use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or other exercise of any attributes of ownership; other than transfer restrictions arising under applicable securities Laws.

Order” means a judgment, writ, stipulation, injunction, order or decree of any Governmental Authority.

Permitted Liens” means any of the following: (i) Liens for current Taxes or governmental assessments, charges or claims of payment not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established as of the date of this Agreement; (ii) Liens that are carriers’, suppliers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business if the underlying obligations are not delinquent, or are being contested in good faith; (iii) with respect to any real property, Liens that are zoning, building or other regulations, requirements, entitlements or other land use or environmental regulations by any Governmental Authority that do not materially impact the use of the real property as currently conducted; (iv) with respect to CCIT III, Liens that are disclosed on Section 4.10 of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter, and with respect to CMFT, Liens that are disclosed on Section 5.10 of the CMFT Disclosure Letter; (v) with respect to CCIT III or CMFT, as applicable, Liens that are disclosed in the most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by such Person; (vi) with respect to CCIT III, Liens arising pursuant to any CCIT III Material Contract or, with respect to CMFT, Liens arising pursuant to any CMFT Material Contract; (vii) with respect to any real property of CCIT III or CMFT, Liens that are recorded in a public record or disclosed on existing title policies made available to the other Party prior to the date hereof and any unrecorded easements (including reciprocal easement agreements), rights of way and other similar restrictions; and (viii) with respect to CCIT III or CMFT, as applicable, Liens that were incurred in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2019 and that do not materially interfere with the use, operation or transfer of, or any of the benefits of ownership of, the property of such Party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Person” or “person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, group (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or other entity or organization (including any Governmental Authority or a political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a Governmental Authority).

Proxy Statement” means the proxy statement relating to the Stockholders Meeting together with any amendment or supplements thereto.

 

-9-


REIT” means a “real estate investment trust” within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code.

REIT Opinion Counsel” means Morris, Manning & Martin LLP.

Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, advisors (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, investment bankers, and financial advisors), agents and other representatives.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including the staff thereof).

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

Stockholder Approval” means the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of CCIT III Common Stock entitled to vote at the Stockholders Meeting on the Merger and Charter Amendment; provided, however, that, for purposes of approving the Merger, the outstanding shares of CCIT III Common Stock entitled to vote shall exclude any shares of CCIT III Common Stock that are owned by (i) CCIT III Advisor, (ii) any director of CCIT III, (iii) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with the power to vote, ten percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of CCIT III Advisor, (iv) any Person of which CCIT III Advisor or any director of CCIT III directly or indirectly owns, controls or holds, with the power to vote, ten percent or more of the outstanding voting securities, (v) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with CCIT III Advisor, (vi) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of CCIT III Advisor or (vii) any legal entity for which CCIT III Advisor or any director of CCIT III acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.

Stockholders Meeting” means the meeting of the holders of shares of CCIT III Common Stock exclusively for the purpose of seeking the Stockholder Approval, including any postponement or adjournment thereof.

Tax” or “Taxes” means any federal, state, local and foreign income, gross receipts, capital gains, withholding, property, recording, stamp, transfer, sales, use, abandoned property, escheat, franchise, employment, payroll, excise, environmental and any other taxes, duties, assessments or similar governmental charges, together with penalties, interest or additions imposed with respect to such amounts by the U.S. or any Governmental Authority, whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or any other basis.

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes filed or required to be filed with a Governmental Authority, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

Termination Payment” means $710,000.

Transaction Opinion Counsel” means Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

 

-10-


Wholly Owned CMFT Subsidiary” means CMFT Operating Partnership and any wholly owned subsidiary of CMFT or the CMFT Operating Partnership.

Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiary” means the CCIT III Operating Partnership and any wholly owned subsidiary of CCIT III or the CCIT III Operating Partnership.

(b)    In addition to the terms defined in Section 1.1(a), the following terms have the respective meanings set forth in the sections set forth below opposite such term:

 

Defined Term

  

Location of Definition

Acquisition Proposal

  

Section 7.3(k)(i)

Adverse Recommendation Change

  

Section 7.3(e)

Additional Indemnification Agreements

  

Section 7.7(a)

Agreement

  

Preamble

Articles of Merger

  

Section 2.3

CCIT III

  

Preamble

CCIT III Board

  

Recitals

CCIT III Board Recommendation

  

Section 4.2(c)

CCIT III Change Notice

  

Section 7.3(f)(i)

CCIT III Class A Common Stock

  

Section 4.4(a)

CCIT III Class T Common Stock

  

Section 4.4(a)

CCIT III Disclosure Letter

  

Article 4

CCIT III Financial Advisor

  

Section 4.19

CCIT III Insurance Policies

  

Section 4.15

CCIT III Material Contracts

  

Section 4.12(a)

CCIT III Permits

  

Section 4.8(a)

CCIT III Preferred Stock

  

Section 4.4(a)

CCIT III Restricted Share Award

  

Section 3.2(a)

CCIT III SEC Documents

  

Section 4.5(a)

CCIT III Special Committee

  

Recitals

CCIT III Subsidiary Partnership

  

Section 4.13(g)

CCIT III Tax Protection Agreements

  

Section 4.13(g)

CCIT III Terminating Breach

  

Section 9.1(d)(i)

CCIT III Voting Debt

  

Section 4.4(c)

Closing

  

Section 2.2

Closing Date

  

Section 2.2

CMFT

  

Preamble

CMFT Board

  

Recitals

CMFT Common Stock

  

Section 5.4(a)

CMFT Disclosure Letter

  

Article 5

CMFT Insurance Policies

  

Section 5.14

CMFT Material Contract

  

Section 5.12

CMFT Permits

  

Section 5.8(a)

CMFT Preferred Stock

  

Section 5.4(a)

CMFT SEC Documents

  

Section 5.5(a)

 

-11-


Defined Term

  

Location of Definition

CMFT Special Committee

  

Recitals

CMFT Subsidiary Partnership

  

Section 5.13(f)

CMFT Tax Protection Agreement

  

Section 5.13(f)

CMFT Terminating Breach

  

Section 9.1(c)(i)

CMFT Voting Debt

  

Section 5.4(c)

Escrow Agreement

  

Section 9.3(f)

Form S-4

  

Section 7.1(a)

Go Shop Bidder

  

Section 7.3(a)

Go Shop Period End Time

  

Section 7.3(a)

Indemnified Parties

  

Section 7.7(a)

Interim Period

  

Section 6.1(a)

Intervening Event

  

Section 7.3(k)(ii)

Merger

  

Recitals

Merger Consideration

  

Section 3.1(a)(i)

Merger Effective Time

  

Section 2.3

Merger Sub

  

Preamble

MGCL

  

Recitals

MLLCA

  

Recitals

Other Merger Agreements

  

Section 7.3(b)

Outside Date

  

Section 9.1(b)(i)

Party(ies)

  

Preamble

Permits

  

Section 4.8(a)

Qualified REIT Subsidiary

  

Section 4.1(c)

Qualifying REIT Income

  

Section 9.3(f)(i)

Registered Securities

  

Section 7.1(a)

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

  

Section 4.5(a)

SDAT

  

Section 2.3

Superior Proposal

  

Section 7.3(k)(iii)

Surviving Entity

  

Section 2.1

Takeover Statutes

  

Section 4.20

Taxable REIT Subsidiary

  

Section 4.1(c)

Termination Payee

  

Section 9.3(e)

Termination Payor

  

Section 9.3(e)

Transfer Agent

  

Section 3.3(a)

Transfer Taxes

  

Section 7.10(d)

Section 1.2    Interpretation and Rules of Construction. In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

(a)    when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

 

-12-


(b)    the table of contents and headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;

(c)    whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limiting the generality of the foregoing” unless expressly provided otherwise;

(d)    “or” shall be construed in the inclusive sense of “and/or”;

(e)    the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise specified;

(f)    all references herein to “$” or dollars shall refer to United States dollars;

(g)    no specific provision, representation or warranty shall limit the applicability of a more general provision, representation or warranty;

(h)    it is the intent of the Parties that each representation, warranty, covenant, condition and agreement contained in this Agreement shall be given full, separate, and independent effect and that such provisions are cumulative;

(i)    the phrase “ordinary course of business” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “consistent with past practice” and shall refer to business similar in nature and magnitude to actions customarily taken without any authorization by the board of directors in the course of normal day-to-day operations, subject to any commercially reasonable modifications to past practice made in good faith to respond to the actual or anticipated effects of COVID-19 or any COVID-19 Measures;

(j)    references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns;

(k)    except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all references in this Agreement to any statute include the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as amended, re-enacted, consolidated or replaced from time to time and shall also include, unless the context otherwise requires, all applicable guidelines, bulletins or policies made in connection therewith; and

(l)    the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

ARTICLE 2

THE MERGER

Section 2.1    The Merger; Other Transactions. Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the MGCL and MLLCA, at the Merger Effective Time, CCIT III shall be merged with and into

 

-13-


Merger Sub, whereupon the separate existence of CCIT III will cease, with Merger Sub surviving the Merger (Merger Sub, as the surviving entity upon consummation of the Merger, the “Surviving Entity”), such that following the Merger, the Surviving Entity will be a wholly owned subsidiary of CMFT. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in the applicable provisions of the MGCL, the MLLCA and this Agreement.

Section 2.2    Closing. The closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) will take place (a) by electronic exchange of documents and signatures at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, no later than the third (3rd) Business Day after all the conditions set forth in Article 8 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing (so long as those conditions are reasonably capable of being satisfied), but subject to the satisfaction or valid waiver of such conditions) shall have been satisfied or validly waived by the Party entitled to the benefit of such condition (subject to applicable Law), or (b) such physical location or other date as may be agreed in writing by CCIT III and CMFT. The date on which Closing actually takes place is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

Section 2.3    Effective Time. On the Closing Date, CCIT III, CMFT and Merger Sub shall (a) cause articles of merger with respect to the Merger to be duly executed and filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) in accordance with the MGCL and the MLLCA (the “Articles of Merger”) and (b) make any other filings, recordings or publications required to be made by CCIT III, CMFT or the Surviving Entity under the MGCL or MLLCA in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT or on such other date and time (not to exceed thirty (30) days after the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT) as specified in the Articles of Merger (such date and time, the “Merger Effective Time”), it being understood and agreed that the Parties shall cause the Merger Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date.

Section 2.4    Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity.

(a)    At the Merger Effective Time, the CMFT Charter shall remain in effect as the charter of CMFT until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of the CMFT Charter.

(b)    At the Merger Effective Time and by virtue of the Merger, (i) the articles of organization of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be the articles of organization of the Surviving Entity, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of such articles of organization, and (ii) the operating agreement of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be the operating agreement of the Surviving Entity, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of the Surviving Entity’s articles of organization and operating agreement.

Section 2.5    Tax Treatment of Merger. The Parties intend that, for United States federal income tax purposes (and, where applicable, state and local income tax purposes) the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and that this Agreement shall be, and is hereby adopted as, a plan of reorganization for purposes of

 

-14-


Section 354 and 361 of the Code. Unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state of local Law), all Parties shall file all United States federal, state and local Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the intended tax treatment of the Merger described in this Section 2.5, and no Party shall take a position inconsistent with such treatment.

ARTICLE 3

EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

Section 3.1    Effects of the Merger.

(a)    The Merger. At the Merger Effective Time and by virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part of CCIT III, CMFT or Merger Sub or the holders of any securities of CCIT III, CMFT or Merger Sub:

(i)    Subject to Section 3.1(b) and Section 3.4, each Eligible Share will be converted into the right to receive from CMFT the number of shares of CMFT Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio, subject to the treatment of fractional shares of CMFT Common Stock in accordance with Section 3.1(d) (the “Merger Consideration”);

(ii)    All Eligible Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each holder thereof shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except for the right to receive the Merger Consideration therefor in accordance with this Agreement;

(iii)    All Excluded Shares shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and no Merger Consideration shall be paid, nor shall any other payment or right inure or be made with respect thereto, in connection with or as a consequence of the Merger; and

(iv)    Each membership interest of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall remain outstanding and, collectively, shall constitute the only issued and outstanding membership interests of the Surviving Entity.

(b)    Adjustment of the Merger Consideration. Between the date of this Agreement and the Merger Effective Time, if the issued and outstanding shares of CCIT III Common Stock, securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for shares of CCIT III Common Stock, shares of CMFT Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for shares of CMFT Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or other securities or a different class by reason of any stock split (whether forward or reverse), combination, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, distribution, merger or exchange or other similar transaction, or a stock dividend having a record date within such period shall have been declared, then (without limiting any other rights of the Parties hereunder), the Exchange Ratio shall be ratably adjusted to reflect fully the effect of any such

 

-15-


change, and thereafter all references to the Exchange Ratio shall be deemed to be the Exchange Ratio as so adjusted. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) for any shares of CMFT Common Stock issued pursuant to CMFT’s distribution reinvestment plan and (ii) nothing in this Section 3.1(b) shall be construed to permit the Parties to take any action except to the extent consistent with, and not otherwise prohibited by, the terms of this Agreement.

(c)    Transfer Books. From and after the Merger Effective Time, the share transfer books of CCIT III shall be closed, and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of CCIT III Common Stock. From and after the Merger Effective Time, Persons who held outstanding shares of CCIT III Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall cease to have rights with respect to such shares, except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement or by applicable Law.

(d)    Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no fractional shares of CMFT Common Stock less than 1/1,000th of a share shall be issued pursuant to this Agreement and, in lieu thereof, such fractional shares a Person would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement, but for this Section 3.1(d), shall be aggregated and rounded up to the nearest 1/1,000th of a share.

Section 3.2    CCIT III Restricted Share Awards.

(a)    As of the Merger Effective Time, each restricted share of CCIT III Class A Common Stock granted under the CCIT III Equity Incentive Plan, whether vested or unvested, issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (a “CCIT III Restricted Share Award”) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part of CCIT III, CMFT or Merger Sub or the holder of any such securities, cease to represent a restricted share of CCIT III Class A Common Stock, and each holder thereof shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except for the right to receive the Merger Consideration, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 3.1(a)(i), as if the shares of CCIT III Class A Common Stock subject to such CCIT III Restricted Share Award were Eligible Shares; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts deductible pursuant to and in accordance with Section 3.4 shall include such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld under the Code and any applicable state or local Tax laws with respect to the lapsing of any restrictions on CCIT III Restricted Share Awards.

(b)    Prior to or at the Merger Effective Time, CCIT III, the CCIT III Board, CMFT, and the CMFT Board shall adopt any resolutions and take any actions necessary to (i) effectuate the provisions of this Section 3.2 and (ii) with respect to CCIT III, to terminate the CCIT III Equity Incentive Plan effective as of the Merger Effective Time and ensure that from and after the Merger Effective Time neither CMFT nor the Surviving Entity will be required to deliver shares of CCIT III Common Stock or other capital stock of CCIT III to any Person pursuant to or in settlement of any equity awards of CCIT III.

 

-16-


Section 3.3    Exchange Procedures.

(a)    As soon as reasonably practicable after the Merger Effective Time, CMFT shall cause DST Systems, Inc., or any successor transfer agent of CMFT (the “Transfer Agent”), to record on the stock records of CMFT the issuance of shares of CMFT Common Stock (including any fractional shares thereof) equal to the Merger Consideration that is issuable to each holder of Eligible Shares pursuant to Section 3.1 and each holder of CCIT III Restricted Share Awards pursuant to Section 3.2. For the avoidance of doubt, payment of the Merger Consideration shall only be made to the Person in whose name the relevant Eligible Shares are registered in the stock transfer books of CCIT III as of the Merger Effective Time.

(b)    None of CMFT, CCIT III, the Surviving Entity, the Transfer Agent, or any employee, officer, director, agent or Affiliate of such entities, shall be liable to any Person in respect of any Merger Consideration (or the appropriate portion thereof) that has been delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. Any amounts so delivered that remain unclaimed by holders of Eligible Shares immediately prior to the time at which such amounts would otherwise escheat to, or become property of, any Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of CMFT free and clear of any claims or interest of such holders or their successors, assigns or personal representatives previously entitled thereto.

(c)    No interest shall be paid or accrued on the Merger Consideration (or any amounts in respect thereof, including any dividends payable on shares of CMFT Common Stock) for the benefit of holders of Eligible Shares or CCIT III Restricted Share Awards.

Section 3.4    Withholding Rights. Each and any of CMFT, CCIT III, the Surviving Entity or the Transfer Agent, or any of their agents, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Merger Consideration and any other amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of CCIT III Common Stock such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to such payments under the Code or any other provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. Any such amounts so deducted and withheld shall be timely paid to the applicable Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

Section 3.5    Dissenters Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 3.6    General Effects of the Merger. At the Merger Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as set forth in this Agreement and the Articles of Merger and as provided in the applicable provisions of the MGCL and the MLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Merger Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of CCIT III and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities and duties of CCIT III and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Entity.

 

-17-


ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CCIT III

Except as set forth in (a) the disclosure letter prepared by CCIT III and delivered by CCIT III to CMFT and Merger Sub prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “CCIT III Disclosure Letter”), it being acknowledged and agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds and any other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent the applicability of such disclosure is reasonably apparent on its face, or (b) the CCIT III SEC Documents publicly filed with or publicly furnished to the SEC on or after December 31, 2019 and prior to the date of this Agreement, excluding any information or documents incorporated by reference therein or filed as exhibits thereto and any disclosures set forth or referenced in any risk factor section, forward-looking statements section or in any other section therein to the extent they are forward-looking statements or cautionary, non-specific, predictive or forward-looking in nature (and then only to the extent that the relevance of any disclosed event, item or occurrence in such filings to a matter covered by a representation or warranty set forth in this Article 4 is reasonably apparent on its face), CCIT III hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date, in which case as of such other date) to CMFT and Merger Sub that:

Section 4.1    Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

(a)    CCIT III is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. CCIT III is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(b)    Each CCIT III Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has the requisite organizational power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each CCIT III Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(c)    Section 4.1(c) of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the CCIT III Subsidiaries and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or

 

-18-


organization, as the case may be, the jurisdictions in which CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries are qualified or licensed to do business, and the percentage of interest held, directly or indirectly, by CCIT III in each CCIT III Subsidiary, including a list of each CCIT III Subsidiary that is (i) a “qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(i)(2) of the Code (each a “Qualified REIT Subsidiary”), (ii) a “taxable REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(1) of the Code (each a “Taxable REIT Subsidiary”) and (iii) an entity taxable as a corporation under the Code that is neither a Qualified REIT Subsidiary nor a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.

(d)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns any equity interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any Person (other than in the CCIT III Subsidiaries and investments in short-term investment securities).

(e)    CCIT III has made available to CMFT complete and correct copies of the CCIT III Governing Documents, which are in full force and effect as of the date of this Agreement. Each of CCIT III and the CCIT III Operating Partnership is in compliance with the terms of its CCIT III Governing Documents. True and complete copies of CCIT III’s and the CCIT III Operating Partnership’s minute books, as applicable, since January 1, 2017 have been made available by CCIT III to CMFT.

(f)    CCIT III has not exempted any “Person” from the “Aggregate Share Ownership Limit” or the “Common Share Ownership Limit” or established or increased an “Excepted Holder Limit,” as such terms are defined in the CCIT III Charter, which exemption or Excepted Holder Limit is currently in effect.

Section 4.2    Authority; Approval Required.

(a)    CCIT III has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject only to receipt of the Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by CCIT III and the consummation by CCIT III of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of CCIT III are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Merger or to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject to receipt of the Stockholder Approval, the filing of Articles of Amendment relating to the Charter Amendment with, and acceptance for record of such Articles of Amendment, by the SDAT and the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and acceptance for record of such Articles of Merger by, the SDAT.

(b)    This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by CCIT III and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by CMFT and Merger Sub, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of CCIT III, enforceable against CCIT III in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

-19-


(c)    On the recommendation of the CCIT III Special Committee, the CCIT III Board (including a majority of “Independent Directors” (as such term is defined in the CCIT III Charter)) not otherwise interested in the Merger has (i) determined that the terms of this Agreement, the Merger, the Charter Amendment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interest of CCIT III and, with respect to this Agreement and the Merger, are fair and reasonable to CCIT III, and on terms and conditions no less favorable to CCIT III than those available from unaffiliated third parties, (ii) approved and authorized this Agreement, the Merger, the Charter Amendment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) directed that the Merger and the Charter Amendment be submitted to a vote of the holders of CCIT III Common Stock and (iv) except as may be permitted pursuant to Section 7.3, resolved to include the CCIT III Board recommendation to holders of CCIT III Common Stock to vote in favor of approval of the Merger and the Charter Amendment (such recommendation, the “CCIT III Board Recommendation”), which resolutions remain in full force and effect and have not been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way, except as may be permitted after the date hereof by Section 7.3.

(d)    The Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of securities of CCIT III or the CCIT III Operating Partnership required to approve the Merger, the Charter Amendment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.3    No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement by CCIT III does not, and the performance of this Agreement and its obligations hereunder will not, (i) assuming receipt of the Stockholder Approval, conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the CCIT III Governing Documents or (B) any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other CCIT III Subsidiary, (ii) assuming (solely with respect to performance of this Agreement) compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.3(b), conflict with or violate any Law or Environmental Permit applicable to CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary is bound, or (iii) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, constitute or result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, or give rise to any Lien, acceleration of remedies, right of termination, purchase, first offer or forced sale under, any Contract of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or related to any of their respective properties, except, as to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(b)    No filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations are required to be made by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary with, nor are any required to be made or obtained by, CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary with or from any Governmental Authority in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries and the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby, or in connection with the continuing operation of the business of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries following the Merger Effective Time, except (i) the filing of the Proxy Statement and Form S-4 and the declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4 and such other reports under or compliance with the Exchange Act and the Securities

 

-20-


Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Amendment relating to the Charter Amendment with, and the acceptance for record of such Articles of Amendment by, the SDAT, (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of such Articles of Merger by, the SDAT pursuant to the MGCL and the MLLCA, (iv) the filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws and (v) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings, notifications or reports, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, there is no reason why the necessary approvals referenced in clause (v) of the preceding sentence will not be received in order to permit consummation of the Merger on a timely basis.

Section 4.4    Capital Structure.

(a)    The authorized capital stock of CCIT III consists of 500,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 245,000,000 shares are designated as Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“CCIT III Class A Common Stock”), and 245,000,000 shares are designated as Class T common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“CCIT III Class T Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (“CCIT III Preferred Stock”). At the close of business on August 28, 2020, (i) 2,509,336 shares of CCIT III Class A Common Stock (inclusive of 18,659 CCIT III Restricted Share Awards) and 709,477 shares of CCIT III Class T Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of CCIT III Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii) 400,000 shares of CCIT III Class A Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the CCIT III Equity Incentive Plan and (iv) 381,341 shares of CCIT III Class A Common Stock remained available for grant under the CCIT III Equity Incentive Plan. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of CCIT III are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws. Except as set forth in this Section 4.4(a), there is no other outstanding capital stock of CCIT III.

(b)    All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the CCIT III Subsidiaries that is a corporation are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All equity interests in each of the CCIT III Subsidiaries that is a partnership or limited liability company are duly authorized and validly issued and holders thereof have no obligation to make any further payments solely by reason of their ownership thereof. All shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) each of the CCIT III Subsidiaries which may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options or exchange rights are duly authorized and, upon issuance will be validly issued, fully paid and, to the extent applicable, nonassessable. CCIT III owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the CCIT III Subsidiaries, including the CCIT III Operating Partnership, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens, and free of preemptive rights. All of the units of interest in the CCIT III Operating Partnership are duly authorized and validly issued and were issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws.

(c)    There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights (or convertible into securities having such rights) of CCIT III or any

 

-21-


CCIT III Subsidiary issued and outstanding (“CCIT III Voting Debt”). There are no outstanding subscriptions, securities options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities, preemptive rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments of any kind to which CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound obligating CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries to (i) issue, transfer or sell or create, or cause to be issued, transferred or sold or created any additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests or phantom stock or other contractual rights the value of which is determined in whole or in part by the value of any equity security of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or other equity interests, (ii) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments or (iii) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock, CCIT III Voting Debt or other equity interests.

(d)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Contracts concerning the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) of any capital stock of CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has granted any registration rights on any of its capital stock. No CCIT III Common Stock is owned by any CCIT III Subsidiary.

(e)    CCIT III does not have a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan.

(f)    All dividends or other distributions on the shares of CCIT III Common Stock or units of interest of the CCIT III Operating Partnership and any material dividends or other distributions on any securities of any CCIT III Subsidiary which have been authorized or declared prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends or other distributions have been publicly announced and are not yet due and payable).

Section 4.5    SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a)    CCIT III has timely filed with, or furnished (on a publicly available basis) to the SEC, all forms, documents, certifications, statements, schedules and reports required to be filed or furnished by CCIT III under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (together with all certifications required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”)) since January 1, 2018 (the forms, documents, certifications, statements, schedules, reports (including the financial statements referenced in Section 4.5(e)) filed with the SEC since January 1, 2018, including those filed with the SEC since the date of this Agreement, if any, including any amendments thereto, the “CCIT III SEC Documents”).

(b)    As of their respective filing dates, the CCIT III SEC Documents (i) complied, or with respect to CCIT III SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will comply, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and (ii) did not, or with respect to CCIT III SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or

 

-22-


omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the CCIT III SEC Documents is, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, the subject of ongoing SEC review or threatened review, and CCIT III does not have any outstanding and unresolved comments from the SEC with respect to any CCIT III SEC Documents. None of the CCIT III SEC Documents is the subject of any confidential treatment request by CCIT III.

(c)    CCIT III has made available to CMFT complete and correct copies of all written correspondence between the SEC, on the one hand, and CCIT III, on the other hand, since December 31, 2018. No CCIT III Subsidiary is separately subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(d)    At all applicable times, CCIT III has complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(e)    The consolidated audited and unaudited financial statements of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries included, or incorporated by reference, in the CCIT III SEC Documents, including the related notes and schedules, (i) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared from the books and records of CCIT III and CCIT III Subsidiaries in all material respects, (ii) complied or will comply, as the case may be, as of their respective dates in all material respects with the then-applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (iii) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto, or, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments and as may be permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q or any successor form under the Exchange Act, which such adjustments are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to CCIT III) and (iv) fairly present, or will fairly present, as the case may be, in all material respects (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments, none of which is material, individually or in the aggregate), the consolidated financial position of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as of their respective dates and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein.

(f)    (A) CCIT III maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by CCIT III in the reports that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to CCIT III’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CCIT III required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports, and (B) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting CCIT III’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in CCIT III’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. CCIT III and CCIT III Subsidiaries have designed and maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and

 

-23-


15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) reasonably designed to provide reasonable assurances (i) regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (ii) that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (iii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements and to maintain asset accountability, (iv) that access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (v) that the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (vi) that accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis. CCIT III has disclosed to CCIT III’s auditors and audit committee (and made summaries of such disclosures available to CMFT), based on the most recent evaluation by its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer prior to the date of this Agreement, (A) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect CCIT III’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal control over financial reporting.

(g)    CCIT III is not, and none of the CCIT III Subsidiaries is, a party to, and neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract or arrangement, including any Contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among CCIT III and any CCIT III Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC), where the result, purpose or effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, CCIT III, any CCIT III Subsidiary or CCIT III’s or such CCIT III Subsidiary’s audited financial statements or other CCIT III SEC Documents.

(h)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(i)    CCIT III and CCIT III Subsidiaries (including in each case any of their officers and directors) have complied and are in compliance with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, any director, officer or Representative of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to political activity, (ii) made, taken or will take any action in furtherance of any direct or indirect unlawful payment, promise to pay or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property or gifts of anything of value, directly or indirectly to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, (iii) made, offered or taken an act in furtherance of any direct or indirect unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, (iv) made any payment to any customer, supplier or tenant, or to any officer, director, partner, employee or agent of any such customer, supplier or

 

-24-


tenant, for the unlawful sharing of fees to any such customer, supplier or tenant or any such officer, director, partner, employee or agent for the unlawful rebating of charges, (v) engaged in any other unlawful reciprocal practice, or made any other unlawful payment or given any other unlawful consideration to any such customer, supplier or tenant or any such officer, director, partner, employee or agent of such customer, officer or tenant, or (vi) taken any action or made any omission in violation of any applicable Law governing imports into or exports from the United States or any foreign country, or relating to economic sanctions or embargoes, corrupt practices, money laundering, or compliance with unsanctioned foreign boycotts, in each case, in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has received any written communication that alleges that CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, or any of their respective Representatives, is, or may be, in violation of, or has, or may have, any liability under, any Anti-Corruption Law.

Section 4.6    Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2019 through the date of this Agreement, (a) CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary have conducted their respective business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (b) neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has taken any action that would have been prohibited by Section 6.1(b) (Conduct of the Business of CCIT III) if taken from and after the date of this Agreement and (c) there has not been any CCIT III Material Adverse Effect or any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with all other events, circumstances, changes, effects, developments, conditions or occurrences, would reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.7    No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (a) as disclosed, reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of CCIT III dated as of December 31, 2019 (including the notes thereto), (b) for liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (c) for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2019, neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has any liability or obligation (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above, has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.8    Permits; Compliance with Law.

(a)    Except for the authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances that are the subject of Section 4.11, which are addressed solely in that Section, CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary is in possession of all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances of any Governmental Authority (“Permits”) necessary for CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted as of the date hereof (the “CCIT III Permits”), and all such CCIT III Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the CCIT III Permits, individually, or in the

 

-25-


aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect. CCIT III has paid all fees and assessments due and payable, in each case, in connection with all such Permits except where failure to pay, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred with respect to any of the CCIT III Permits which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such CCIT III Permits. Neither CCIT III nor any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries has received any notice indicating, nor to the Knowledge of CCIT III, is there any pending applicable petition, objection or other pleading with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction or authority over the operations of CCIT III or the CCIT III Subsidiaries or the CCIT III Properties that impairs the validity of any CCIT III Permit or which would reasonably be expected, if accepted or granted, to result in the revocation of any CCIT III Permit, except where the impairment or revocation of any such CCIT III Permits, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(b)    Since January 1, 2018, neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has been in conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i) any Law applicable to CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary is bound (except for compliance with Laws addressed in Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.13 and Section 4.16 which are solely addressed in those Sections) or (ii) any CCIT III Permits (except for the CCIT III Permits addressed in Section 4.11, which are solely addressed in that Section), except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.9    Litigation. There is no material Action to which CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary is a party (either as plaintiff or defendant) pending or, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, threatened before any Governmental Authority and, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, there is no basis for any such Action. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by any Order from engaging in or continuing to conduct the business of CCIT III or the CCIT III Subsidiaries. No Order has been issued in any proceeding to which CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries is or was a party, or, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, in any other proceeding, that enjoins or requires CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries to take action of any kind with respect to its businesses, assets or properties.

Section 4.10    Properties.

(a)    CCIT III has made available to CMFT a list of each parcel of real property currently owned or ground leased by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, together with the applicable CCIT III Subsidiary owning or leasing such property. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to CCIT III or the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, CCIT III or a CCIT III Subsidiary has good, marketable and insurable indefeasible fee simple title or valid leasehold interest to each of the owned CCIT III Properties, free and clear of Liens, except for Permitted Liens. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has received written notice of any uncured violation of any Law affecting any portion of any of the CCIT III Properties issued by any Governmental Authority and (ii) neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III

 

-26-


Subsidiary has received written notice to the effect that there is any (A) condemnation or rezoning proceeding that is pending or, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, threatened with respect to any of the CCIT III Properties or (B) zoning, building or similar Law that is or will be violated by the continued maintenance, operation or use of any buildings or other improvements on any of the CCIT III Properties or by the continued maintenance, operation or use of the parking areas associated with the CCIT III Properties.

(b)    CCIT III has not received written notice of, nor does CCIT III have any Knowledge of, any latent defects or adverse physical conditions affecting any of the CCIT III Properties or the improvements thereon, except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(c)    CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries have good title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all personal assets owned, used or held for use by them except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to CCIT III or the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to CCIT III or the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, neither CCIT III’s nor the CCIT III Subsidiaries’ ownership of any such personal property is subject to any Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

(d)     A policy of title insurance has been issued for each CCIT III Property insuring, as of the effective date of such insurance policy, (i)(A) fee simple title interest held by CCIT III or the applicable CCIT III Subsidiary with respect to CCIT III Properties that are not subject to ground leases and (B) a valid leasehold estate held by CCIT III or the applicable CCIT III Subsidiary that are subject to ground leases and (ii) to the Knowledge of CCIT III, such insurance policies are in full force and effect.

Section 4.11    Environmental Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect: (a) no written notification, demand, request for information, citation, summons, notice of violation or order has been received, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been assessed and no investigation, action, suit or proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, is threatened, in each case relating to CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, and relating to or arising out of any Environmental Law or Hazardous Substance; (b) CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries are, and for the past year, have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws and all applicable Environmental Permits; (c) CCIT III and each of the CCIT III Subsidiaries is in possession of all Environmental Permits necessary for CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted as of the date hereof, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect; (d) any and all Hazardous Substances disposed of by CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary since January 1, 2015 were disposed in accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (e) CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries are not subject to any Order, determination or award by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Laws, any Environmental Permit or with respect to any Hazardous Substance; and (f) there are no liabilities or obligations of CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise arising under or relating to any Environmental Law or any Hazardous Substance, and there is no condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liability or obligation.

 

-27-


Section 4.12    Material Contracts.

(a)    Each Contract required to be filed (or incorporated by reference) as an exhibit to any CCIT III SEC Document filed on or after January 1, 2020 pursuant to Item 601(b)(1), (2), (4), (9) or (10) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act has been so filed (or incorporated by reference) (such Contracts, together with those Contracts described in Section 4.12(b), “CCIT III Material Contracts”).

(b)    Other than the Contracts described in Section 4.12(a) and except for this Agreement, Section 4.12(b) of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list, as of the date hereof, of each Contract (or the accurate description of principal terms in case of oral Contracts), including all amendments, supplements and side letters thereto, to which CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound or to which any CCIT III Property or other material asset is subject, that:

(i)    obligates CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary to make non-contingent aggregate annual expenditures (other than principal and/or interest payments or the deposit of other reserves with respect to debt obligations) in excess of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) and is not cancelable within ninety (90) days without material penalty to CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary;

(ii)    contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any line of business or geographic area that materially restricts the business of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, including upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or that otherwise restricts the lines of business conducted by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or the geographic area in which CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary may conduct business;

(iii)    obligates CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary to indemnify any past or present directors, officers, or employees of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, other than the CCIT III Governing Documents or any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other CCIT III Subsidiary;

(iv)    constitutes (A) an Indebtedness obligation of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary with a principal amount as of the date hereof greater than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) or (B) a Contract (including any so called take-or-pay or keepwell agreements) under which (1) any Person (including CCIT III or a CCIT III Subsidiary) has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of CCIT III or a CCIT III Subsidiary or (2) CCIT III or a CCIT III Subsidiary has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of any Person (other than CCIT III or another CCIT III Subsidiary);

(v)    provides for the pending purchase or sale, option to purchase or sell or other right to purchase, sell, dispose of or ground lease (by merger, by purchase or

 

-28-


sale of assets or stock, by lease or otherwise) (other than any right of first refusal or right of first offer) of (A) any real property (including any CCIT III Property or any portion thereof) or (B) any other asset of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or equity interests of any Person, in the case of (A) and (B) with a purchase or sale price greater than two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000);

(vi)    constitutes an interest rate cap, interest rate collar, interest rate swap or other Contract relating to a swap or other hedging transaction of any type;

(vii)    constitutes a loan to any Person (other than a Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiary) by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary;

(viii)    sets forth the operational or economic terms of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company or strategic alliance of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary with a third party;

(ix)    prohibits the pledging of the capital stock of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or prohibits the issuance of guarantees by any CCIT III Subsidiary;

(x)    contains covenants limiting the ability of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise, dispose of any material assets or business of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary;

(xi)    contains restrictions on the ability of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions, other than the CCIT III Governing Documents or any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other CCIT III Subsidiary;

(xii)    has continuing “earn-out” or other similar contingent purchase price payment obligations, in each case that could result in payments, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000);

(xiii)    provides for the management or operation of any of the CCIT III Properties on behalf of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary by any third party;

(xiv)    is a lease, sublease, license or other rental agreement or occupancy agreement (written or verbal) which grants any possessory interest in and to any space situated on or in the CCIT III Properties or that otherwise gives rights with regard to the use of the CCIT III Properties pursuant to which CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary expects to receive annualized rental income per year in excess of one million one hundred eighty thousand dollars ($1,180,000) as of June 30, 2020;

(xv)    is a ground lease under which CCIT III or a CCIT III Subsidiary holds a leasehold interest in the CCIT III Properties or any portion thereof;

(xvi)    provides a right of first refusal or right of first offer of any real property (including any CCIT III Property or any portion thereof) having annualized straight-line rents as of June 30, 2020 representing greater than 1.0% of CCIT III’s rental revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019; or

 

-29-


(xvii)    is both (A) not made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) material to CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(c)    Each CCIT III Material Contract is legal, valid, binding on and enforceable against CCIT III or the CCIT III Subsidiary that is a party thereto and, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under each CCIT III Material Contract and, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, each other party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under such CCIT III Material Contract. None of CCIT III, any CCIT III Subsidiary or, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, any other party thereto, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any CCIT III Material Contract, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a violation, breach or default under any CCIT III Material Contract, except where in each case such breach, violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to be material to CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has received written notice of any violation or default under, or currently owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages with respect to, any CCIT III Material Contract, except for violations, defaults, fees or damages that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(d)    Since December 31, 2019, (i) neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has received any written notice of the intention of any party to cancel, terminate, materially change the scope of rights under or fail to renew any CCIT III Material Contract, (ii) no party has exercised, or threatened to exercise, any force majeure or similar provision under any CCIT III Material Contract and (iii) no party has sought to, or threatened to, withhold or otherwise delay amounts payable to CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary under any CCIT III Material Contract as a result of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Measures (whether or not CCIT III or such CCIT III Subsidiary granted any forgiveness or deferral).

(e)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages to any third party manager or operator.

Section 4.13    Taxes.

(a)    CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary has timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority all U.S. federal and state income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file such

 

-30-


Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns are complete and correct in all material respects. CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary has duly paid (or there has been paid on their behalf), or made adequate provisions in accordance with GAAP for, all material Taxes required to be paid by them, whether or not shown on any Tax Return. True and complete copies of all United States federal income Tax Returns that have been filed with the IRS by CCIT III and each CCIT III Subsidiary with respect to the taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2017 have been made available to CMFT. No written claim has been proposed by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary do not file Tax Returns that CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction.

(b)    Beginning with CCIT III’s taxable year ending on December 31, 2017, (i) CCIT III has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements to qualify as a REIT under the Code, (ii) the current and proposed method of operation for CCIT III is expected to enable CCIT III to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT through and including CCIT III’s final taxable year ending with the Merger Effective Time (assuming the Closing of the Merger in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), and (iii) CCIT III has not taken any action that would, or omitted to take any action the omission of which would, reasonably be expected to result in CCIT III’s failure to qualify as a REIT, and no challenge to CCIT III’s status as a REIT is pending or threatened in writing.

(c)    (i) There are no audits, investigations by any Governmental Authority or other proceedings pending or threatened in writing with regard to any material Taxes or material Tax Returns of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary; (ii) no deficiency for any material Taxes of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary has been claimed, proposed or assessed, in each case, in writing by any Governmental Authority, which deficiency has not yet been settled except for such deficiencies which are being contested in good faith; (iii) neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has waived any statute of limitations with respect to the assessment of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to any material Tax assessment or deficiency for any open tax year; (iv) neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return, other than automatic extensions; and (v) neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has entered into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law).

(d)    Each CCIT III Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company and that has not elected to be a Taxable REIT Subsidiary has been, since it became a CCIT III Subsidiary, treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a partnership, disregarded entity, or Qualified REIT Subsidiary, as the case may be, and not as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation whose separate existence is respected for United States federal income tax purposes, or a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 7704(a) of the Code. No CCIT III Subsidiary is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, other than a corporation that qualifies as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.

 

-31-


(e)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7, nor has it disposed of any such asset during its current taxable year.

(f)    CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries have complied, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any state and foreign Laws) and have duly and timely withheld and, in each case, have paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.

(g)    There are no CCIT III Tax Protection Agreements (as hereinafter defined) in force at the date of this Agreement (other than customary Tax indemnification provisions in commercial Contracts not primarily relating to Taxes), and, as of the date of this Agreement, no person has raised in writing, or to the Knowledge of CCIT III threatened to raise, a material claim against CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary for any breach of any CCIT III Tax Protection Agreements. As used herein, “CCIT III Tax Protection Agreements” means any written agreement to which CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (i) any liability to holders of limited partnership interests in a CCIT III Subsidiary Partnership (as hereinafter defined) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (ii) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a holder of limited partnership interests or limited liability company interests in a CCIT III Subsidiary Partnership, CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary has agreed to (A) maintain a minimum level of debt, continue a particular debt or provide rights to guarantee debt, (B) retain or not dispose of assets, (C) make or refrain from making Tax elections, or (D) only dispose of assets in a particular manner. As used herein, “CCIT III Subsidiary Partnership” means a CCIT III Subsidiary that is a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

(h)    There are no Tax Liens upon any property or assets of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary except Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

(i)    There are no Tax allocation or sharing agreements or similar arrangements (other than customary Tax indemnification provisions in commercial Contracts not primarily relating to Taxes or any such agreement between or among solely CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries) with respect to or involving CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, and after the Closing Date neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary shall be bound by any such Tax allocation agreements or similar arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date.

(j)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has requested or received any private letter ruling or other similar written ruling of a Governmental Authority or entered into any written agreement with a Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, and neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary is subject to any such private letter ruling or other similar written ruling of a Governmental Authority.

 

-32-


(k)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any CCIT III Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract (other than customary Tax indemnification provisions in commercial Contracts not primarily relating to Taxes), or otherwise.

(l)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has participated in any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(m)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement.

(n)    No written power of attorney that has been granted by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary (other than to CCIT III or a CCIT III Subsidiary) currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to material Taxes.

(o)    CCIT III does not own a direct or indirect interest in any entity that is treated as a REIT for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

(p)    CCIT III’s dividends paid deduction, within the meaning of Section 561 of the Code, for each taxable year, taking into account any dividends subject to Sections 857(b)(9) or 858 of the Code, has not been less than the sum of (I) CCIT III’s REIT taxable income, as defined in Section 857(b)(2) of the Code, determined without regard to any dividends paid deduction for such year and (II) CCIT III’s net capital gain for such year.

(q)    The CCIT III Operating Partnership is properly classified as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

Section 4.14    Intellectual Property. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary: (a) owns any registered trademarks, patents or copyrights, (b) has any pending applications, registrations or recordings for any trademarks, patents or copyrights or (c) is a party to any Contracts with respect to use by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary of any trademarks or patents. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect, (i) no Intellectual Property used by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary infringes or is alleged to infringe any Intellectual Property rights of any third party, (ii) to CCIT III’s Knowledge, no Person is misappropriating, infringing or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, and (iii) CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries own or are licensed to use, or otherwise possess valid rights to use, all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted. Since January 1, 2018, neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has received any written or, to the Knowledge of CCIT III, verbal complaint, claim or notice alleging misappropriation, infringement or violation of any Intellectual Property rights of any third party.

 

-33-


Section 4.15    Insurance. Section 4.15 of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter sets forth, for all material insurance policies and all material fidelity bonds of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, the general type of insurance, insurer, policy number and aggregate limit (the “CCIT III Insurance Policies”). All such insurance policies are in full force and effect and no written notice of cancellation or termination has been received by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation. Except as, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to be material to CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (a) there is no existing default or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default under any CCIT III Insurance Policy, or permit termination or modification thereof, (b) all premiums currently due and payable under all CCIT III Insurance Policies have been paid, and (c) CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries have otherwise complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all CCIT III Insurance Policies.

Section 4.16    Benefit Plans.

(a)    Other than the CCIT III Equity Incentive Plan, CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries do not and are not required to, and have not and have never been required to, maintain, sponsor or contribute to any Benefit Plans. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has any contract, plan or commitment, whether or not legally binding, to create any Benefit Plan.

(b)    None of CCIT III, any CCIT III Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has ever maintained, contributed to, or participated in, or otherwise has any obligation or liability in connection with: (i) a “pension plan” under Section 3(2) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code, (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), or (iv) a “multiple employer plan” (as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code).

(c)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has, or has ever had, any employees.

Section 4.17    Related Party Transactions. Except as described in the publicly available CCIT III SEC Documents filed with or furnished to the SEC on or after January 1, 2018 and prior to the date hereof, no agreements, arrangements or understandings between CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary (or binding on any of their respective properties or assets), on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other hand (other than those exclusively among CCIT III and CCIT III Subsidiaries), are in existence that are not, but are required to be, disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Section 4.18    Brokers. No broker, investment banker or other Person (other than the Persons listed in Section 4.18 of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter, pursuant to the terms of the

 

-34-


engagement letter between CCIT III and such Person, true, correct and complete copies of which have been provided to CMFT prior to the date hereof) is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary.

Section 4.19    Opinion of Financial Advisor. The CCIT III Special Committee has received the oral opinion (which opinion has been or will be confirmed in writing) of Robert A. Stanger & Co., Inc. (the “CCIT III Financial Advisor”) to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement and based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and conditions set forth in its written opinion, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of the CCIT III Common Stock. CCIT III will deliver to CMFT a complete and correct copy of such opinion promptly after receipt thereof by the CCIT III Special Committee solely for informational purposes (though such delivery need not be prior to entering into this Agreement).

Section 4.20    Takeover Statutes; Appraisal Rights. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last two (2) years was, an “interested stockholder” of CMFT as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL. The CCIT III Board has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to the Merger the restrictions on business combinations contained in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL. The restrictions on control share acquisitions contained in Subtitle 7 of Title 3 of the MGCL are not applicable to the Merger and no other “business combination,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium” or other takeover or anti-takeover statute or similar federal or state Law (collectively, “Takeover Statutes”) are applicable to this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Pursuant to the CCIT III Charter, no dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights are available to the holders of CCIT III Common Stock with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.21    COVID-19.

(a)    Each of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries has complied with all applicable mandatory public health mandates announced by Governmental Authorities to address COVID-19, including the COVID-19 Measures, in all material respects.

(b)    Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary has incurred any Indebtedness or received any funding (regardless of whether constituting Indebtedness), or applied for any such Indebtedness or funding, pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or any other economic relief or stimulus legislation or program, in each case related to COVID-19.

Section 4.22    No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance.

(a)    Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in this Article 4, or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated by this Agreement, neither CCIT III nor any Person on behalf of CCIT III has made any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to CCIT III, any CCIT III Subsidiary, including

 

-35-


their respective businesses, operations, assets (including the CCIT III Properties), liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, future operating or financial results, estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects), or the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary.

(b)    Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, CCIT III acknowledges and agrees with the representation of CMFT and Merger Sub in Section 5.21(a), and hereby acknowledges and confirms that, other than the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 5, or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated by this Agreement, (i) none of CMFT, Merger Sub or any other Person has made or is making, and (ii) CCIT III and its Representatives are not relying on, any representations or warranties relating to the CMFT or Merger Sub whatsoever, express or implied, by operation of law or otherwise, including any implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information furnished or made available to CCIT III or any of its Representatives by CMFT, Merger Sub or their Representatives.

ARTICLE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CMFT AND MERGER SUB

Except as set forth in (a) the disclosure letter prepared by CMFT and Merger Sub and delivered by CMFT to CCIT III prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “CMFT Disclosure Letter”), it being acknowledged and agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the CMFT Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds and any other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent the applicability of such disclosure is reasonably apparent on its face, or (b) the CMFT SEC Documents publicly filed with or publicly furnished to the SEC on or after December 31, 2019 and prior to the date of this Agreement, excluding any information or documents incorporated by reference therein or filed as exhibits thereto and any disclosures set forth or referenced in any risk factor section, forward-looking statements section or in any other section therein to the extent they are forward-looking statements or cautionary, non-specific, predictive or forward-looking in nature (and then only to the extent that the relevance of any disclosed event, item or occurrence in such filings to a matter covered by a representation or warranty set forth in this Article 5 is reasonably apparent on its face), CMFT and Merger Sub hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant as of the date hereof (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date, in which case as of such other date) to CCIT III that:

Section 5.1    Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

(a)    CMFT is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite limited liability

 

-36-


company power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each of CMFT and Merger Sub is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

(b)    Each CMFT Subsidiary (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, (ii) has the requisite organizational power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

(c)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns any equity interest in any Person (other than in the CMFT Subsidiaries) and investments in short-term investment securities).

(d)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns any equity interest or equity investment in any Person (other than the CMFT Subsidiaries and investments in short-term investment securities).

(e)    CMFT has made available to CCIT III complete and correct copies of the CMFT Governing Documents, which are in full force and effect as of the date of this Agreement. Each of CMFT and the CMFT Operating Partnership is in compliance with the terms of its CMFT Governing Documents. True and complete copies of CMFT’s and the CMFT Operating Partnership’s minute books, as applicable, since January 1, 2017 have been made available by CMFT to CCIT III.

(f)    CMFT has not exempted any “Person” from the “Aggregate Share Ownership Limit” or the “Common Share Ownership Limit” or established or increased an “Excepted Holder Limit,” as such terms are defined in the CMFT Charter, which exemption or Excepted Holder Limit is currently in effect.

Section 5.2    Authority.

(a)    Each of CMFT and Merger Sub has the requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of CMFT and Merger Sub and the consummation by CMFT and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action, as applicable, and no other corporate or limited

 

-37-


liability company proceedings on the part of CMFT or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Merger or to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject, to the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and acceptance for record of such Articles of Merger by, the SDAT.

(b)    This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by CMFT and Merger Sub and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by CCIT III, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of each of CMFT and Merger Sub enforceable against CMFT and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c)    On the recommendation of the CMFT Special Committee, the CMFT Board (including a majority of directors and independent directors not otherwise interested in the Merger) has (i) determined that the terms of this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interest of CMFT, and (ii) approved and authorized this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which resolutions remain in full force and effect and have not been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way, except as may be permitted after the date hereof by Section 7.3.

(d)    CMFT, as the sole member of Merger Sub, has approved this Agreement and the Merger.

Section 5.3    No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of CMFT and Merger Sub do not, and the performance of this Agreement and its obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the CMFT Governing Documents or (B) any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other CMFT Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 5.3(b) have been obtained, all filings and notifications described in Section 5.3(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law or Environmental Permit applicable to CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary is bound, or (iii) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, constitute or result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, or give rise to any Lien, acceleration of remedies, right of termination, purchase, first offer or forced sale under, any Contract of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary or related to any of their respective properties, except, as to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

(b)    No filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations are required to be made by CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary with, nor are any required to be made or obtained by CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary with or from any Governmental Authority, in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this

 

-38-


Agreement by CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries and the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby, or in connection with the continuing operation of the business of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries following the Merger Effective Time, except (i) the filing of the Form S-4 and the declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4 and such other reports under or compliance with the Exchange Act and the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT pursuant to the MGCL and the MLLCA, (iii) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws and (iv) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings, notifications or reports which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof, to the Knowledge of CMFT, there is no reason why the necessary approvals referenced in clause (v) of the preceding sentence will not be received in order to permit consummation of the Merger on a timely basis.

Section 5.4    Capital Structure.

(a)    The authorized capital stock of CMFT consists of 500,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 490,000,000 shares are designated as common stock with a par value of $0.01 per share (“CMFT Common Stock”) and 10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock with a par value of $0.01 per share (“CMFT Preferred Stock”). At the close of business on August 28, 2020, (i) 309,404,647 shares of CMFT Common Stock (inclusive of 32,507 restricted shares of CMFT Common Stock granted under the CMFT Equity Incentive Plan) were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of CMFT Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii) 400,000 shares of CMFT Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the CMFT Equity Incentive Plan and (iv) 367,493 shares of CMFT Common Stock remained available for grant under the CMFT Equity Incentive Plan. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of CMFT are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws. Except as set forth in this Section 5.4, there is no other outstanding capital stock of CMFT. All shares to be issued by CMFT as Merger Consideration, when issued in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(b)    All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the CMFT Subsidiaries that is a corporation are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All equity interests in each of the CMFT Subsidiaries that is a partnership or limited liability company are duly authorized and validly issued and holders thereof have no obligation to make any further payments solely by reason of their ownership thereof. All shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) each of the CMFT Subsidiaries which may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options or exchange rights are duly authorized and, upon issuance will be validly issued, fully paid and, to the extent applicable, nonassessable. CMFT owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the CMFT Subsidiaries, including the CMFT Operating Partnership, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens, and free of preemptive rights. All of the units of interest in the CMFT Operating Partnership are duly authorized and validly issued and were issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws.

 

-39-


(c)    There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights (or convertible into securities having such rights) of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary issued and outstanding (“CMFT Voting Debt”). There are no outstanding subscriptions, securities options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities, preemptive rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments of any kind to which CMFT is a party or by which any of them is bound obligating CMFT to (i) issue, transfer or sell or create, or cause to be issued, transferred or sold or created any additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests or phantom stock or other contractual rights the value of which is determined in whole or in part by the value of any equity security of CMFT or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or other equity interests, (ii) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments or (iii) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock or CMFT Voting Debt or other equity interests.

(d)    CMFT is not a party to or bound by any Contracts concerning the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) of any capital stock of CMFT. CMFT has not granted any registration rights on any of its capital stock. No CMFT Common Stock is owned by any CMFT Subsidiary.

(e)    CMFT does not have a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan.

(f)    All dividends or other distributions on the shares of CMFT Common Stock or units of interest of the CMFT Operating Partnership and any material dividends or other distributions on any securities of any CMFT Subsidiary which have been authorized or declared prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends or other distributions have been publicly announced and are not yet due and payable).

Section 5.5    SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a)    CMFT has timely filed with, or furnished (on a publicly available basis) to the SEC, all forms, documents, certifications, statements, schedules and reports required to be filed or furnished by CMFT under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (together with all certifications required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) since January 1, 2018 (the forms, documents, certifications, statements, schedules, reports (including the financial statements referenced in Section 5.5(e)) filed with the SEC since January 1, 2018, including those filed with the SEC since the date of this Agreement, if any, including any amendments thereto, the “CMFT SEC Documents”).

(b)    As of their respective filing dates, the CMFT SEC Documents (i) complied, or with respect to CMFT SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will comply, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and (ii) did not, or with respect to CMFT SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made

 

-40-


therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the CMFT SEC Documents is, to the Knowledge of CMFT, the subject of ongoing SEC review or threatened review, and CMFT does not have any outstanding and unresolved comments from the SEC with respect to any CMFT SEC Documents. None of the CMFT SEC Documents is the subject of any confidential treatment request by CMFT.

(c)    CMFT has made available to CCIT III complete and correct copies of all written correspondence between the SEC, on the one hand, and CMFT, on the other hand, since December 31, 2018. No CMFT Subsidiary is separately subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(d)    At all applicable times, CMFT has complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(e)    The consolidated audited and unaudited financial statements of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries included, or incorporated by reference, in the CMFT SEC Documents, including the related notes and schedules, (i) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared from, are in accordance with, and accurately reflect the books and records of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries in all material respects, (ii) complied or will comply, as the case may be, as of their respective dates in all material respects with the then-applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (iii) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto, or, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments and as may be permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q or any successor form under the Exchange Act, which such adjustments are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to CMFT) and (iv) fairly present, or will fairly present, as the case may be, in all material respects (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments, none of which is material, individually or in the aggregate), the consolidated financial position of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as of their respective dates and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein.

(f)    (A) CMFT maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by CMFT in the reports that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to CMFT’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CMFT required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports, and (B) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting CMFT’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in CMFT’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. CMFT and CMFT Subsidiaries have designed and maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) reasonably designed to provide reasonable assurances (i) regarding the reliability

 

-41-


of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (ii) that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (iii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements and to maintain asset accountability, (iv) that access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (v) that the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (vi) that accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis. CMFT has disclosed to CMFT’s auditors and audit committee (and made summaries of such disclosures available to CCIT III), based on the most recent evaluation of its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer prior to the date of this Agreement, (A) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect CMFT’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal control over financial reporting.

(g)    CMFT is not, and none of the CMFT Subsidiaries is, a party to, and neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract or arrangement, including any Contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among CMFT and any CMFT Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC), where the result, purpose or effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, CMFT, any CMFT Subsidiary or CMFT’s or such CMFT Subsidiary’s audited financial statements or other CMFT SEC Documents.

(h)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(i)    CMFT and CMFT Subsidiaries (including in each case any of their officers and directors) have complied and are in compliance with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws. Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of CMFT, any director, officer or Representative of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to political activity, (ii) made, taken or will take any action in furtherance of any direct or indirect unlawful payment, promise to pay or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property or gifts of anything of value, directly or indirectly to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, (iii) made, offered or taken an act in furtherance of any direct or indirect unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, (iv) made any payment to any customer, supplier or tenant, or to any officer, director, partner, employee or agent of any such customer, supplier or tenant, for the unlawful sharing of fees to any such customer, supplier or tenant or any such

 

-42-


officer, director, partner, employee or agent for the unlawful rebating of charges, (v) engaged in any other unlawful reciprocal practice, or made any other unlawful payment or given any other unlawful consideration to any such customer, supplier or tenant or any such officer, director, partner, employee or agent of such customer, officer or tenant, or (vi) taken any action or made any omission in violation of any applicable Law governing imports into or exports from the United States or any foreign country, or relating to economic sanctions or embargoes, corrupt practices, money laundering, or compliance with unsanctioned foreign boycotts, in each case, in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law. Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has received any written communication that alleges that CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary, or any of their respective Representatives, is, or may be, in violation of, or has, or may have, any liability under, any Anti-Corruption Law.

Section 5.6    Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2019, (a) CMFT and each CMFT Subsidiary have conducted their respective business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (b) neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has taken any action that would have been prohibited by Section 6.2(a) (Conduct of the Business of CMFT) if taken from and after the date of this Agreement and (c) there has not been any CMFT Material Adverse Effect or any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, with all other events, circumstances, changes, effects, developments, conditions or occurrences, would reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.7    No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (a) as disclosed, reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of CMFT dated as of December 31, 2019 (including the notes thereto), (b) for liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (c) for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2019, neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has any liability or obligation (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above, has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.8    Permits; Compliance with Law.

(a)    Except for the authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances that are the subject of Section 5.11, which are addressed solely in that Section, CMFT and each CMFT Subsidiary is in possession of all Permits necessary for CMFT and each CMFT Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted as of the date hereof (the “CMFT Permits”), and all such CMFT Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the CMFT Permits, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect. CMFT has paid all fees and assessments due and payable, in each case, in connection with all such Permits except where failure to pay would not have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred with respect to any of the CMFT Permits which permits, or after notice or

 

-43-


lapse of time or both would permit, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such CMFT Permits. Neither CMFT nor any of the CMFT Subsidiaries has received any notice indicating, nor to the Knowledge of CMFT, is there any pending applicable petition, objection or other pleading with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction or authority over the operations of CMFT or the CMFT Subsidiaries or the CMFT Properties that impairs the validity of any CMFT Permit or which would reasonably be expected, if accepted or granted, to result in the revocation of any CMFT Permit, except where the impairment or revocation of any such CMFT Permits, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

(b)    Since January 1, 2018, neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has been in conflict with, or in default or violation of, any Law applicable to CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary is bound, (except for compliance with Laws addressed in Section 5.11 and Section 5.13, respectively, which are solely addressed in those Sections), except for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.9    Litigation. There is no material Action to which CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary is a party (either as plaintiff or defendant) pending or, to the Knowledge of CMFT, threatened before any Governmental Authority and, to the Knowledge of CMFT, there is no basis for any such Action. Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by any Order from engaging in or continuing to conduct the business of CMFT or the CMFT Subsidiaries. No Order has been issued in any proceeding to which CMFT or any of the CMFT Subsidiaries is or was a party, or, to the Knowledge of CMFT, in any other proceeding, that enjoins or requires CMFT or any of the CMFT Subsidiaries to take action of any kind with respect to its businesses, assets or properties.

Section 5.10    Properties.

(a)    Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to CMFT or the CMFT Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, CMFT or a CMFT Subsidiary has good, marketable and insurable indefeasible fee simple title or valid leasehold interest to each of the owned CMFT Properties, free and clear of Liens, except for Permitted Liens. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has received written notice of any uncured violation of any Law affecting any portion of any of the CMFT Properties issued by any Governmental Authority and (ii) neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has received written notice to the effect that there is any (A) condemnation or rezoning proceeding that is pending or, to the Knowledge of CMFT, threatened with respect to any of the CMFT Properties or (B) zoning, building or similar Law that is or will be violated by the continued maintenance, operation or use of any buildings or other improvements on any of the CMFT Properties or by the continued maintenance, operation or use of the parking areas associated with the CMFT Properties.

 

-44-


(b)    CMFT has not received written notice of, nor does CMFT have any Knowledge of, any latent defects or adverse physical conditions affecting any of the CMFT Properties or the improvements thereon, except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

(c)    A policy of title insurance has been issued for each CMFT Property insuring, as of the effective date of such insurance policy, (i)(A) fee simple title interest held by CMFT or the applicable CMFT Subsidiary with respect to CMFT Properties that are not subject to ground leases and (B) valid leasehold estate held by CMFT or the applicable CMFT Subsidiary that are subject to ground leases and (ii) to the Knowledge of CMFT, such insurance policies are in full force and effect.

Section 5.11    Environmental Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect: (i) no written notification, demand, request for information, citation, summons, notice of violation or order has been received, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been assessed and no investigation, action, suit or proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of CMFT, is threatened, in each case relating to CMFT or any of the CMFT Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, and relating to or arising out of any Environmental Law or Hazardous Substance; (ii) CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries are, and for the past year, have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws and all applicable Environmental Permits; (iii) CMFT and each of the CMFT Subsidiaries is in possession of all Environmental Permits necessary for CMFT and each CMFT Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted as of the date hereof, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in, full force and effect; (iv) any and all Hazardous Substances disposed of by CMFT and each CMFT Subsidiary since January 1, 2015 were disposed in accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (v) CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries are not subject to any Order, determination or award by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Laws, any Environmental Permit or with respect to any Hazardous Substance; and (vi) there are no liabilities or obligations of CMFT or any of the CMFT Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise arising under or relating to any Environmental Law or any Hazardous Substance, and there is no condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liability or obligation.

Section 5.12    Material Contracts.

(a)    Each Contract required to be filed (or incorporated by reference) as an exhibit to any CMFT SEC Document filed on or after January 1, 2020 pursuant to Item 601(b)(1), (2), (4), (9) or (10) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act has been so filed (or incorporated by reference) (such Contracts, together with those Contracts described in Section 5.12(b), “CMFT Material Contracts”).

(b)    Other than the Contracts described in Section 5.12(a) and except for this Agreement, Section 5.12(b) of the CMFT Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list, as of the date hereof, of each Contract (or the accurate description of principal

 

-45-


terms in case of oral Contracts), including all amendments, supplements and side letters thereto, to which CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound or to which any CMFT Property or other material asset is subject, that:

(i)    obligates CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary to make non-contingent aggregate annual expenditures (other than principal and/or interest payments or the deposit of other reserves with respect to debt obligations) in excess of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) and is not cancelable within ninety (90) days without material penalty to CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary;

(ii)    constitutes (A) an Indebtedness obligation of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary with a principal amount as of the date hereof greater than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) or (B) a Contract (including any so called take-or-pay or keepwell agreements) under which (1) any Person (including CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary) has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary or (2) CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of any Person (other than CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary);

(iii)    provides for the pending purchase or sale, option to purchase or sell or other right to purchase, sell, dispose of or ground lease (by merger, by purchase or sale of assets or stock, by lease or otherwise) (other than any right of first refusal or right of first offer) of (A) any real property (including any CMFT Property or any portion thereof) or (B) any other asset of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary or equity interests of any Person, in the case of (A) and (B), with a purchase or sale price greater than two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000);

(iv)    constitutes a loan to any Person (other than a Wholly Owned CMFT Subsidiary) by CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary, other than any loans made in the ordinary course of business;

(v)    sets forth the operational or economic terms of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company or strategic alliance of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary with a third party;

(vi)    contains restrictions on the ability of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions, other than the CMFT Governing Documents or any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other CMFT Subsidiary;

(vii)    has continuing “earn-out” or other similar contingent purchase price payment obligations, in each case that could result in payments, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000);

(viii)    provides a right of first refusal or right of first offer of any real property (including any CMFT Property or any portion thereof) having annualized straight-line rents as of June 30, 2020 representing greater than 1.0% of CMFT’s rental revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019; or

 

-46-


(ix)    is both (A) not made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) material to CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(c)    Each CMFT Material Contract is legal, valid, binding on and enforceable against CMFT or the CMFT Subsidiary that is a party thereto and, to the Knowledge of CMFT, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, CMFT and each CMFT Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under each CMFT Material Contract and, to the Knowledge of CMFT, each other party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under such CMFT Material Contract. None of CMFT, any CMFT Subsidiary or, to the Knowledge of CMFT, any other party thereto, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any CMFT Material Contract, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a violation, breach or default under any CMFT Material Contract, except where in each case such breach, violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to be material to CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has received written notice of any violation or default under, or currently owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages with respect to, any CMFT Material Contract, except for violations, defaults, fees or damages that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

(d)    Since December 31, 2019, (i) neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has received any written notice of the intention of any party to cancel, terminate, materially change the scope of rights under or fail to renew any CMFT Material Contract, (ii) no party has exercised, or threatened to exercise, any force majeure or similar provision under any CMFT Material Contract and (iii) no party has sought to, or threatened to, withhold or otherwise delay amounts payable to CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary under any CMFT Material Contract as a result of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Measures (whether or not CMFT or such CMFT Subsidiary granted any forgiveness or deferral).

(e)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages to any third party manager or operator.

Section 5.13    Taxes.

(a)    CMFT and each CMFT Subsidiary has timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority all U.S. federal and state income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file such Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns are complete and correct in all material respects. CMFT and

 

-47-


each CMFT Subsidiary has duly paid (or there has been paid on their behalf), or made adequate provisions in accordance with GAAP for, all material Taxes required to be paid by them, whether or not shown on any Tax Return. True and complete copies of all United States federal income Tax Returns that have been filed with the IRS by CMFT and each CMFT Subsidiary with respect to the taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2012 have been made available to CCIT III. No written claim has been proposed by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary do not file Tax Returns that CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction.

(b)    Beginning with CMFT’s taxable year ending on December 31, 2012, (i) CMFT has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements to qualify as a REIT under the Code, (ii) the current and proposed method of operation for CMFT is expected to enable CMFT to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT, and (iii) CMFT has not taken any action that would, or omitted to take any action the omission of which would, reasonably be expected to result in CMFT’s failure to qualify as a REIT, and no challenge to CMFT’s status as a REIT is pending or threatened in writing.

(c)    (i) There are no audits, investigations by any Governmental Authority or other proceedings pending or threatened in writing with regard to any material Taxes or material Tax Returns of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary; (ii) no deficiency for any material Taxes of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary has been claimed, proposed or assessed, in each case, in writing by any Governmental Authority, which deficiency has not yet been settled except for such deficiencies which are being contested in good faith; (iii) neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has waived any statute of limitations with respect to the assessment of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to any material Tax assessment or deficiency for any open tax year; (iv) neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return, other than automatic extensions; and (v) neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has entered into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law).

(d)    Each CMFT Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company and that has not elected to be a Taxable REIT Subsidiary has been, since it became a CMFT Subsidiary, treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a partnership, disregarded entity, or Qualified REIT Subsidiary, as the case may be, and not as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation whose separate existence is respected for United States federal income tax purposes, or a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 7704(a) of the Code. No CMFT Subsidiary is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, other than a corporation that qualifies as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.

(e)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7, nor has it disposed of any such asset during its current taxable year.

 

-48-


(f)    CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries have complied, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any state and foreign Laws) and have duly and timely withheld and, in each case, have paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.

(g)    There are no CMFT Tax Protection Agreements (as hereinafter defined) in force at the date of this Agreement (other than customary Tax indemnification provisions in commercial Contracts not primarily relating to Taxes), and, as of the date of this Agreement, no person has raised in writing, or to the Knowledge of CMFT threatened to raise, a material claim against CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary for any breach of any CMFT Tax Protection Agreements. As used herein, “CMFT Tax Protection Agreements” means any written agreement to which CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (i) any liability to holders of limited partnership interests in a CMFT Subsidiary Partnership (as hereinafter defined) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (ii) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a holder of limited partnership interests or limited liability company interests in a CMFT Subsidiary Partnership, CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary has agreed to (A) maintain a minimum level of debt, continue a particular debt or provide rights to guarantee debt, (B) retain or not dispose of assets, (C) make or refrain from making Tax elections, or (D) only dispose of assets in a particular manner. As used herein, “CMFT Subsidiary Partnership” means a CMFT Subsidiary that is a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

(h)    There are no Tax Liens upon any property or assets of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary except Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

(i)    There are no Tax allocation or sharing agreements or similar arrangements (other than customary Tax indemnification provisions in commercial Contracts not primarily relating to Taxes or any such agreement between or among solely CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries) with respect to or involving CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary, and after the Closing Date neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary shall be bound by any such Tax allocation agreements or similar arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date.

(j)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has requested or received any private letter ruling or other similar written ruling of a Governmental Authority or entered into any written agreement with a Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, and neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary is subject to any such private letter ruling or other similar written ruling of a Governmental Authority.

(k)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any CMFT Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulation Section

 

-49-


1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract (other than customary Tax indemnification provisions in commercial Contracts not primarily relating to Taxes), or otherwise.

(l)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has participated in any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(m)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement.

(n)    Merger Sub is and always has been a disregarded entity for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

(o)    CMFT does not own a direct or indirect interest in an entity that is treated as a REIT for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

(p)    CMFT’s dividends paid deduction, within the meaning of Section 561 of the Code, for each taxable year, taking into account any dividends subject to Sections 857(b)(9) or 858 of the Code, has not been less than the sum of (i) CMFT’s REIT taxable income, as defined in Section 857(b)(2) of the Code, determined without regard to any dividends paid deduction for such year and (ii) CMFT’s net capital gain for such year.

(q)    The CMFT Operating Partnership is properly classified as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

Section 5.14    Insurance. All material insurance policies of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries (the “CMFT Insurance Policies”) are in full force and effect and no written notice of cancellation or termination has been received by CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation. Except as, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to be material to CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (a) there is no existing default or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default under any CMFT Insurance Policy, or permit termination or modification thereof, (b) all premiums currently due and payable under all CMFT Insurance Policies have been paid, and (c) CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries have otherwise complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all CMFT Insurance Policies.

Section 5.15    Benefit Plans.

(a)    Other than the CMFT Equity Incentive Plan, CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries do not and are not required to, and have not and have never been required to, maintain, sponsor or contribute to any Benefit Plans. Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has any contract, plan or commitment, whether or not legally binding, to create any Benefit Plan.

 

-50-


(b)    None of CMFT, any CMFT Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has ever maintained, contributed to, or participated in, or otherwise has any obligation or liability in connection with: (i) a “pension plan” under Section 3(2) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code, (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), or (iv) a “multiple employer plan” (as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code).

(c)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has, or has ever had, any employees.

Section 5.16    Related Party Transactions. Except as described in the publicly available CMFT SEC Documents filed with or furnished to the SEC on or after January 1, 2018 and prior to the date hereof, no agreements, arrangements or understandings between CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary (or binding on any of their respective properties or assets), on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other hand (other than those exclusively among CMFT and CMFT Subsidiaries), are in existence that are not, but are required to be, disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Section 5.17    Brokers. Other than Barclays Capital Inc., no broker, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary.

Section 5.18    Takeover Statutes; Appraisal Rights. Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last two (2) years was, an “interested stockholder” of CCIT III as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL. The CMFT Board has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to the Merger the restrictions on business combinations contained in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL. The restrictions on control share acquisitions contained in Subtitle 7 of Title 3 of the MGCL are not applicable to the Merger and no other Takeover Statutes are applicable to this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Pursuant to the CMFT Charter, no dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights are available to the holders of CMFT Common Stock with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 5.19    Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities.

(a)    Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All of the limited liability company membership interests of Merger Sub are owned, directly or indirectly, by CMFT.

(b)    Except for the obligations or liabilities incurred in connection with its organization and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Merger Sub has not, and will not have prior to the Merger Effective Time, incurred, directly or indirectly through any subsidiary, any obligations or liabilities or engaged in any business activities of any type or kind whatsoever or entered into any agreements or arrangements with any Person.

 

-51-


Section 5.20    COVID-19.

(a)    Each of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries has complied with all applicable mandatory public health mandates announced by Governmental Authorities to address COVID 19, including the COVID 19 Measures, in all material respects.

(b)    Neither CMFT nor any CMFT Subsidiary has incurred any Indebtedness or received any funding (regardless of whether constituting Indebtedness), or applied for any such Indebtedness or funding, pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or any other economic relief or stimulus legislation or program, in each case related to COVID-19.

Section 5.21    No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance.

(a)    Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in this Article 5, or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated by this Agreement, neither CMFT, nor any Person on behalf of CMFT, has made any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary, including their respective businesses, operations, assets (including the CMFT Properties), liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, future operating or financial results, estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects), or the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary.

(b)    Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, CMFT and Merger Sub acknowledge and agree with the representation of CCIT III in Section 4.22(a), and hereby acknowledge and confirm that, other than the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 5, or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated by this Agreement, (i) neither CCIT III nor any other Person has made or is making, and (ii) CMFT, Merger Sub and their Representatives are not relying on, any representations or warranties relating to CCIT III whatsoever, express or implied, by operation of law or otherwise, including any implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information furnished or made available to CMFT, Merger Sub or any of their Representatives by CCIT III or its Representatives.

ARTICLE 6

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

Section 6.1    Conduct of Business by CCIT III.

(a)    CCIT III covenants and agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier to occur of the Merger Effective Time and the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1 (the “Interim Period”), except (1) to the extent required by applicable Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by CMFT (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (3) as may be expressly contemplated by this Agreement, or (4) as set forth in Section 6.1(a) of the CCIT III Disclosure

 

-52-


Letter, CCIT III shall, and shall cause each CCIT III Subsidiary to, (i) conduct its business in all material respects in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practice, and (ii) use all reasonable efforts to (A) preserve intact its current business organization, goodwill, ongoing businesses and significant relationships with third parties, (B) maintain the status of CCIT III as a REIT and (C) maintain its material assets and properties in their current condition (normal wear and tear and damage excepted).

(b)    Without limiting the foregoing, CCIT III further covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by applicable Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by CMFT (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (3) as may be expressly contemplated by this Agreement, or (4) as set forth in Section 6.1(b) of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter, CCIT III shall not, and shall not cause or permit any CCIT III Subsidiary to, do any of the following:

(i)    amend or propose to amend the CCIT III Governing Documents or such equivalent organizational or governing documents of any CCIT III Subsidiary, or waive the stock ownership limit or create an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in the CCIT III Charter) under the CCIT III Charter;

(ii)    adjust, split, combine, reclassify or subdivide any shares of stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary;

(iii)    declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other actual, constructive or deemed distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) with respect to shares of capital stock of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or other equity securities or ownership interests in CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or otherwise make any payment to its or their stockholders or other equity holders in their capacity as such, except for (A) the declaration and payment by CCIT III of dividends in an amount less than or equal to an annual rate of five percent (5.0%) of CCIT III’s net asset value as of June 30, 2020, ratably over the calendar year, (B) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to CCIT III by any directly or indirectly Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiary, and (C) distributions by any CCIT III Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by CCIT III, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational documents of such CCIT III Subsidiary; provided, that, notwithstanding the restriction on dividends and other distributions in this Section 6.1(b)(iii), CCIT III and any CCIT III Subsidiary shall be permitted to make distributions, including under Sections 858 or 860 of the Code, reasonably necessary for CCIT III to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code (or applicable state Law) and avoid or reduce the imposition of any entity level income or excise Tax under the Code (or applicable state Law);

(iv)    other than the withholding of shares to satisfy withholding Tax obligations in respect of CCIT III Restricted Share Awards outstanding as of the date of this Agreement in accordance with their terms and the CCIT III Equity Incentive Plan in effect on the date of this Agreement, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests of CCIT III or a CCIT III Subsidiary or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable therefor;

 

-53-


(v)    except for transactions among CCIT III and one or more Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiaries or among one or more Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiaries, issue, sell, pledge, dispose, encumber or grant any shares of CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries’ capital stock or equity interests, or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition, grant, transfer or any Lien against, or otherwise enter into any Contract or understanding with respect to the voting of, any shares of CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries’ capital stock or equity interests, or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any capital stock of CCIT III or any of the capital stock or other equity interests of any CCIT III Subsidiary;

(vi)    acquire or agree to acquire (including by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets), or sell, pledge, lease, assign, transfer, dispose of or effect a deed in lieu of foreclosure with respect to, or permit or suffer to exist the creation of any Lien upon, any material property or assets, except (A) acquisitions by CCIT III or any Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiary of or from an existing Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiary, (B) acquisitions or dispositions in the ordinary course of business for consideration less than ten percent (10.0%) of the equity value of CCIT III per such acquisition or disposition, (C) any disposition of a real property asset for consideration greater than or equal to ninety percent (90%) of the net asset value assigned to such real property asset by the then most recent third party appraisal with respect to such property and (D) leases and Liens in the ordinary course of business;

(vii)    incur, create, assume, refinance, replace or prepay any Indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee such Indebtedness of another Person (other than a Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiary), or issue, sell or amend the terms of any debt securities or rights to acquire any debt securities of CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries, except (A) Indebtedness incurred under CCIT III’s existing credit facility in the ordinary course of business, (B) refinancing of existing Indebtedness (provided, that the terms of such new Indebtedness shall not be materially more onerous on CCIT III compared to the existing Indebtedness and the principal amount of such replacement Indebtedness shall not be materially greater than the Indebtedness it is replacing) and (C) any mortgage Indebtedness in respect of any real property having a loan-to-value ratio not in excess of seventy-five percent (75%);

(viii)    make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (including to any of its officers, directors, Affiliates, agents or consultants), make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons, or enter into any “keep well” or similar agreement to maintain the financial condition of another entity, other than in the ordinary course of business and other than loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any Wholly Owned CCIT III Subsidiary;

 

-54-


(ix)    other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into, renew, modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release, compromise or assign any material rights or claims under, any CCIT III Material Contract (or any Contract that, if existing as of the date hereof, would be a CCIT III Material Contract), in any material respect, other than (A) any termination or renewal in accordance with the terms of any existing CCIT III Material Contract that occurs automatically without any action (other than notice of renewal) by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or (B) as may be reasonably necessary to comply with the terms of this Agreement;

(x)    authorize, make or commit to make any material capital expenditures other than in the ordinary course of business or to address obligations under existing Contracts, or in conjunction with emergency repairs;

(xi)    make any payment, direct or indirect, of any liability of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary before the same comes due in accordance with its terms, other than (A) in the ordinary course of business or (B) in connection with dispositions or refinancings of any Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder;

(xii)    waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material Action, other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that (A) (I) involve only the payment of monetary damages in an amount (less any portion of such payment payable under an existing property-level insurance policy or reserved for such matter by the CCIT III on the most recent balance sheet included in the CCIT III SEC Documents as of the date of this Agreement) no greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) individually or two million dollars ($2,000,000) in the aggregate, (II) do not involve the imposition of injunctive relief against CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary or the Surviving Entity and (III) do not provide for any admission of material liability by CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries, or (B) are made with respect to any Action involving any present, former or purported holder or group of holders of CCIT III Common Stock in accordance with Section 7.6(c);

(xiii)    (A) hire any employee or engage any independent contractor (who is a natural person), (B) grant any new awards under the CCIT III Equity Incentive Plan or amend or modify the terms of any CCIT III Restricted Share Awards outstanding as of the date of this Agreement or (C) become a party to, enter into or otherwise adopt any employment, bonus, severance or retirement Contract or Benefit Plan or other compensation or employee benefits arrangement, except as may be required to comply with applicable Law;

(xiv)    fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP or make any material change to its methods of accounting in effect on January 1, 2020, except as required by a change in GAAP or in applicable Law, or make any change with respect to accounting policies, principles or practices unless required by GAAP;

(xv)    enter into any new line of business;

 

-55-


(xvi)    form any new, or consent to any amendment or modification of the terms of existing, funds, joint ventures or non-traded real estate investment trusts or other pooled investment vehicles;

(xvii)    fail to duly and timely file all material reports and other material documents required to be filed with any Governmental Authority, subject to extensions permitted by Law;

(xviii)    enter into or modify in a manner adverse to CCIT III any CCIT III Tax Protection Agreement; make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes; change a material method of Tax accounting; file or amend any material Tax Return; settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability, audit, claim or assessment; enter into any material closing agreement related to Taxes; knowingly surrender any right to claim any material Tax refund; give or request any waiver of a statute of limitations with respect to any material Tax Return except, in each case, (A) to the extent required by Law or (B) to the extent necessary (x) to preserve CCIT III’s qualification as a REIT under the Code or (y) to qualify or preserve the status of any CCIT III Subsidiary as a disregarded entity or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes or as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xix)    take any action that would, or fail to take any action, the failure of which to be taken would, reasonably be expected to cause CCIT III to fail to qualify as a REIT or any CCIT III Subsidiary to cease to be treated as any of (A) a partnership or disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes or (B) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xx)    adopt a plan of merger, complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such merger, liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or bankruptcy reorganization except in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 6.1(b)(vi) in a manner that would not reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to CCIT III or to prevent or impair the ability of CCIT III to consummate the Merger;

(xxi)    make any payment, loan, distribution or transfer of assets to CCIT III Advisor or its Affiliates (other than CCIT III and any CCIT III Subsidiary) except in such amount and as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the CCIT III Advisory Agreement;

(xxii)    take any action (or fail to take any action) that would make dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights available to the holders of the CCIT III Common Stock with respect to the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(xxiii)    amend or modify the engagement letter with the CCIT III Financial Advisor to increase compensation to the CCIT III Financial Advisor or engage other

 

-56-


financial advisors in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided that CCIT III may engage other financial advisors in the event the CCIT III Special Committee determines in good faith that any such other financial advisor should be engaged due to conflict considerations; or

(xxiv)    authorize, or enter into any Contract or arrangement to do any of the foregoing.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit CCIT III from taking any action, or refraining to take any action, at any time or from time to time (i) if, in the reasonable judgment of the CCIT III Board, such action or inaction is reasonably necessary (A) for CCIT III to avoid or to continue to avoid incurring entity level income or excise Taxes under the Code (or applicable state Law) or to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the Merger Effective Time or (B) to establish or maintain any exemption from or otherwise avoid the imposition of any requirement that CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, including in the case of clause (A), making dividend or any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution payments to stockholders of CCIT III in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise as permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii), or (ii) to take actions in good faith to respond to the actual or anticipated effects of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Measures on CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, including changes in relationships with partners, financing sources, directors, officers, consultants, Affiliates, agents and other business partners.

Section 6.2    Conduct of Business by CMFT.

(a)    CMFT covenants and agrees that during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by applicable Law or (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by CCIT III, CMFT and Merger Sub shall, and shall cause each of the other CMFT Subsidiaries to, use all reasonable efforts to maintain the status of CMFT as a REIT.

(b)    CMFT covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by CCIT III (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (3) as may be expressly contemplated by this Agreement or (4) as set forth in Section 6.2(a) of the CMFT Disclosure Letter, CMFT and Merger Sub shall not, and shall not cause or permit any CMFT Subsidiary to, do any of the following:

(i)    amend or propose to amend the CMFT Governing Documents or waive the stock ownership limit or create an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in the CMFT Charter) under the CMFT Charter;

(ii)    adjust, split, combine, reclassify or subdivide any shares of stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary;

(iii)    declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other actual, constructive or deemed distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) with

 

-57-


respect to shares of capital stock of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary or other equity securities or ownership interests in CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary or otherwise make any payment to its or their stockholders or other equity holders in their capacity as such, except for (A) the declaration and payment by CMFT of dividends in an amount less than or equal to annual rate of five percent (5.0%) of CMFT’s net asset value as of June 30, 2020, ratably over the calendar year, (B) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to CMFT by any directly or indirectly Wholly Owned CMFT Subsidiary, and (C) distributions by any CMFT Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by CMFT, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational documents of such CMFT Subsidiary; provided, that, notwithstanding the restriction on dividends and other distributions in this Section 6.2(b)(iii), CMFT and any CMFT Subsidiary shall be permitted to make distributions, including under Sections 858 or 860 of the Code, reasonably necessary for CMFT to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code (or applicable state Law) and avoid or reduce the imposition of any entity level income or excise Tax under the Code (or applicable state Law);

(iv)    other than (A) the withholding of shares to satisfy withholding Tax obligations in respect of restricted shares of CMFT Common Stock granted under the CMFT Equity Incentive Plan and (B) in accordance with the share redemption program of CMFT set forth on Section 6.2(b)(iv) of the CMFT Disclosure Letter, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests of CMFT or a CMFT Subsidiary or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable therefor;

(v)    adopt a plan of merger, complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such merger, liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or bankruptcy reorganization, except any transaction that would not reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to CMFT or to prevent or impair the ability of CMFT or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger;

(vi)    except for the transactions contemplated by the Other Merger Agreements (as the same may be amended from time to time), acquire or agree to acquire (including by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any material properties or material assets, except (A) acquisitions by CMFT or any Wholly Owned CMFT Subsidiary of or from an existing Wholly Owned CMFT Subsidiary and (B) acquisitions in the ordinary course of business for consideration less than ten percent (10.0%) of the equity value of CMFT per such acquisition;

(vii)    incur, create, assume, refinance, replace or prepay any Indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee such Indebtedness of another Person (other than a Wholly Owned CMFT Subsidiary), or issue, sell or amend the terms of any debt securities or rights to acquire any debt securities of CMFT or any of the CMFT Subsidiaries, except (A) Indebtedness incurred under CMFT’s or any CMFT Subsidiary’s existing credit facilities in the ordinary course of business, (B) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business that does not, in the aggregate, exceed two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000), (C) refinancing of existing Indebtedness (provided, that

 

-58-


the terms of such new Indebtedness shall not be materially more onerous on CMFT compared to the existing Indebtedness and the principal amount of such replacement Indebtedness shall not be materially greater than the Indebtedness it is replacing) and (D) any mortgage Indebtedness in respect of any real property having a loan-to-value ratio not in excess of seventy-five percent (75%);

(viii)    fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP or make any material change to its methods of accounting in effect on January 1, 2020, except as required by a change in GAAP or in applicable Law, or make any change with respect to accounting policies, principles or practices unless required by GAAP;

(ix)    enter into any new line of business;

(x)    enter into or modify in a manner adverse to CMFT any CMFT Tax Protection Agreement; make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes; change a material method of Tax accounting; file or amend any material Tax Return, settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability, audit, claim or assessment; enter into any material closing agreement related to Taxes; knowingly surrender any right to claim any material Tax refund, give or request any waiver of a statute of limitations with respect to any material Tax Return except, in each case, (A) to the extent required by Law or (B) to the extent necessary (x) to preserve CMFT’s qualification as a REIT under the Code or (y) to qualify or preserve the status of any CMFT Subsidiary as a disregarded entity or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes or as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xi)    take any action that would, or fail to take any action, the failure of which to be taken would, reasonably be expected to cause CMFT to fail to qualify as a REIT or any CMFT Subsidiary to cease to be treated as any of (A) a partnership or disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes or (B) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be; or

(xii)    authorize, or enter into any Contract or arrangement to do any of the foregoing.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit CMFT from taking any action, or refraining to take any action, at any time or from time to time, if, in the reasonable judgment of the CMFT Board, such action or inaction is reasonably necessary (i) for CMFT to avoid or to continue to avoid incurring entity level income or excise Taxes under the Code (or applicable state Law) or to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the Merger Effective Time, (ii) to establish or maintain any exemption from or otherwise avoid the imposition of any requirement that CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, including in the case of clause (i), making dividend or any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution payments to

 

-59-


stockholders of CMFT in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise as permitted pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(iii) or (iii) to take actions in good faith to respond to the actual or anticipated effects of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Measures on CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary.

Section 6.3    No Control of Other Parties Business. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give (i) CMFT, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary’s operations prior to the Merger Effective Time, or (ii) CCIT III, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary’s operations prior to the Merger Effective Time. Prior to the Merger Effective Time, (i) CCIT III shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and the CCIT III Subsidiaries’ respective operations and (ii) CMFT shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and the CMFT Subsidiaries’ respective operations.

ARTICLE 7

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

Section 7.1    Preparation of the Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approval.

(a)    As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, (i) CCIT III shall complete the preparation (with CMFT’s reasonable cooperation) and cause to be filed with the SEC the Proxy Statement in preliminary form with respect to the Stockholders Meeting and (ii) CMFT shall complete the preparation (with CCIT III’s reasonable cooperation) and cause to be filed with the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Form S-4”), which will include the Proxy Statement, to register under the Securities Act the shares of CMFT Common Stock to be issued in the Merger (the “Registered Securities”); each Party agrees to use its respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause such filings to be made no later than the date that is fifteen (15) Business Days from the date hereof. Each of CCIT III and CMFT shall use its reasonable best efforts to (A) have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after filing, (B) ensure that the Form S-4 complies in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, (C) keep the Form S-4 effective for so long as necessary to complete the Merger and (D) as reasonably requested by CMFT, assist with the preparation of any proxy statement, registration statement or other filing with the SEC in connection with any transaction between CMFT, on the one hand, and Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT II), Inc. and Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc., on the other hand. Each of CCIT III and CMFT shall furnish all information concerning itself, its Affiliates and the holders of its capital stock to the other Party and provide such other assistance as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement and shall provide to their and each other’s counsel such representations as reasonably necessary to render the opinions required to be filed therewith. The Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement shall include all information reasonably requested by such other Party to be included therein. Each of CCIT III and CMFT shall promptly notify the other Party upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or any request

 

-60-


from the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement, and shall, as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof, provide the other Party with copies of all correspondence between it and its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, on the other hand, and all written comments with respect to the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement received from the SEC and advise the other Party of any oral comments with respect to the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement received from the SEC. Each of CCIT III and CMFT shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments from the SEC with respect to the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to filing the Form S-4 (or any amendment or supplement thereto) with the SEC, mailing the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, each of CCIT III and CMFT, as applicable, shall cooperate and provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such document or response (including the proposed final version of such document or response) and shall give due consideration to all reasonable comments provided by the other Party. CMFT shall notify CCIT III, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time of effectiveness of the Form S-4, the issuance of any stop order relating thereto or the suspension of the qualification for offering or sale in any jurisdiction of the Registered Securities, and CMFT shall use its reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated. CMFT shall also use its reasonable best efforts to take any other action required to be taken under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any applicable foreign or state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with the issuance of the Registered Securities, and CCIT III shall furnish all information concerning CCIT III and its stockholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such actions.

(b)    Each of CCIT III, on behalf of itself and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, and CMFT, on behalf of itself and the CMFT Subsidiaries, agrees that none of the information supplied or to be supplied by it or such subsidiaries for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto will, at the time the Form S-4 becomes effective under the Securities Act, at the date of mailing to the stockholders of the CCIT III, at the time of the Stockholders Meeting and at the Merger Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (ii) the Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4 becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (iii) any other document to be filed by CCIT III or CMFT, respectively, will, at the time of its filing with the SEC, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If, at any time prior to the receipt of the Stockholder Approval, any information relating to CMFT or CCIT III, or any of their respective Affiliates, should be discovered by CMFT or CCIT III which, in the reasonable judgment of CMFT or CCIT III, should be set forth in an amendment of, or a supplement to, any of the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement, so that any of such documents would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, as applicable, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the

 

-61-


other Parties, and CMFT and CCIT III shall cooperate in the prompt filing with the SEC of any necessary amendment of, or supplement to, the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement and, to the extent required by Law, in disseminating the information contained in such amendment or supplement to stockholders of CMFT and CCIT III.

(c)    As promptly as practicable after the SEC advises it has no comments or no further comments to the Proxy Statement, CCIT III shall, in accordance with applicable Law and the CCIT III Governing Documents, establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Stockholders Meeting solely for the purpose of obtaining the Stockholder Approval; provided, that such record date shall not be more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the Stockholders Meeting; provided further that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Parties will cooperate in good faith to the extent reasonably possible to coordinate timing of the Stockholders Meeting with the stockholders meetings of Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT II), Inc. and Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc. to be held pursuant to the Other Merger Agreements. CCIT III shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the definitive Proxy Statement to be mailed to CCIT III’s stockholders entitled to vote at the Stockholders Meeting and to hold the Stockholders Meeting as soon as practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act (provided that there are no outstanding SEC comments on the Proxy Statement and the SEC has not otherwise enjoined mailing or use of the Proxy Statement); and provided further that the definitive Proxy Statement shall not be mailed to CCIT III’s stockholders prior to the Go-Shop Period End Time. CCIT III shall, through the CCIT III Special Committee and the CCIT III Board, recommend to its stockholders that they provide the Stockholder Approval, include the CCIT III Special Committee and CCIT III Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement and solicit and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Stockholder Approval, except to the extent that the CCIT III Special Committee and CCIT III Board shall have made an Adverse Recommendation Change as permitted by Section 7.3(c); provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, no Adverse Recommendation Change shall alter the other obligations under Section 7.1 unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Stockholders Meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.1(c), CCIT III shall have the right to make one or more postponements, recesses or adjournments of the Stockholders Meeting (i) if, on a date for which the Stockholders Meeting is scheduled, CCIT III has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares of CCIT III Common Stock to obtain the Stockholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, or (ii) to the extent necessary to ensure that any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement required under applicable Law to be filed with the SEC and/or disseminated to CCIT III’s stockholders is timely filed with the SEC and/or disseminated to CCIT III’s stockholders; provided, however, that the Stockholders Meeting shall not be postponed or adjourned to a date that is (A) in the case of clause (i), more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the Stockholders Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law) and in the case of clause (ii), more than ten (10) Business Days from the previously scheduled date of such meeting, or (B) more than one hundred twenty (120) days from the record date for the Stockholders Meeting; provided, further, the Stockholders Meeting may not be postponed or adjourned on the date the Stockholders Meeting is scheduled if CCIT III shall have received proxies in respect of an aggregate number of shares of CCIT III Common Stock, which have not been withdrawn, such that Stockholder Approval would be obtained at such meeting.

 

-62-


Section 7.2    Access to Information; Confidentiality.

(a)    During the period from the date of this Agreement to and including the Merger Effective Time, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to, subject to applicable Law and the COVID-19 Measures, afford to the other Parties and to their respective Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to all of their respective properties, offices, books and records that the other Party may reasonably request and, during such period, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives to, furnish reasonably promptly to the other Parties a copy of any report, schedule, registration statement or other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws as the other Party may reasonably request. In connection with such reasonable access to information, each of the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause its respective Representatives to participate in meetings and telephone conferences with the other Parties and their Representatives prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement, prior to the Stockholders Meeting, respectively, and at such other times as may be reasonably requested. No investigation under this Section 7.2(a) or otherwise shall affect any of the representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement or any condition to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Parties shall be required by this Section 7.2(a) to provide the other Parties or their respective Representatives with access to or to disclose information (A) that is subject to the terms of a confidentiality agreement with a third party entered into prior to the date of this Agreement or entered into after the date of this Agreement in the ordinary course of business in accordance with this Agreement (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts (without payment of any consideration, fees or expenses) to obtain the required consent of such third party to such access or disclosure), (B) of a sensitive or personal nature that would reasonably be expected to expose CCIT III or CMFT to the risk of liability, (C) the disclosure of which would violate any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Representatives (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable disclosure not in violation of any Law or duty), (D) that is subject to any attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to allow for such access or disclosure to the maximum extent that does not result in a loss of any such attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege, including by means of entry into a customary joint defense agreement that would alleviate the loss of such privilege) or (E) for the purpose of allowing Parties or their respective Representatives to collect samples of soil, air, water, groundwater or building materials. The Parties will use their reasonable best efforts to minimize any disruption to the businesses of the other Parties and any of their respective subsidiaries that may result from the requests for access, data and information hereunder.

(b)    Each Party will hold, and will cause its respective Representatives and Affiliates to hold, any nonpublic information, including any information exchanged pursuant to this Section 7.2, in confidence to the extent required by and in accordance with, and will otherwise comply with, the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect pursuant to the terms thereof notwithstanding the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the termination thereof.

 

-63-


Section 7.3    Go Shop; No Solicitation; Superior Proposals.

(a)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement but subject to Section 7.3(f) and Section 7.3(g), during the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and continuing until 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on October 7, 2020 (the “Go Shop Period End Time”), CCIT III, the CCIT III Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives may and shall have the right to, directly or indirectly: (i) initiate, solicit, encourage or facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal, offer or other action that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, including by way of (A) contacting third parties, (B) broadly disseminating public disclosure (other than confidential information) or (C) providing access to the properties, offices, assets, books, records and personnel of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries and furnishing non-public information pursuant to (but only pursuant to) one or more Acceptable NDAs; provided, however, that CCIT III shall prior to, or concurrently with the time such access or non-public information is provided, provide such access and make available such non-public information to CMFT to the extent it has not already done so; (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with any Person relating to, or in furtherance of, such inquiries, proposals, offers or other actions or to obtain, an Acquisition Proposal; (iii) refrain from enforcing any standstill agreement or similar obligation to CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries; and (iv) disclose to the stockholders of CCIT III any information required to be disclosed under applicable Law; provided, however, that in the case of this clause (iv), to the extent any such disclosure addresses the approval, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the CCIT III Special Committee or the CCIT III Board with respect to this Agreement or an Acquisition Proposal, such disclosure shall be deemed to be an Adverse Recommendation Change if not accompanied by an express public affirmation of the CCIT III Board Recommendation. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Go Shop Bidder” shall mean any Person (including its controlled Affiliates and Representatives) that submits a written proposal or offer regarding an Acquisition Proposal prior to the Go Shop Period End Time that has not been withdrawn and that the CCIT III Special Committee determines, in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, prior to the Go Shop Period End Time (or in the case of any Acquisition Proposal received less than three (3) Business Days before the date of the Go Shop Period End Time, not later than three (3) Business Days after the receipt of such Acquisition Proposal), has resulted in, or would be reasonably expected to result in, a Superior Proposal (as defined below); provided, that a Go Shop Bidder shall cease to be a Go Shop Bidder if (1) the negotiations between CCIT III and such Go Shop Bidder with respect to the Acquisition Proposal that resulted in such Go Shop Bidder becoming a Go Shop Bidder shall have been terminated, (2) the Acquisition Proposal submitted by such Go Shop Bidder prior to the Go Shop Period End Time is withdrawn, terminated or modified in a manner such that, in the CCIT III Special Committee’s good faith determination, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, the Acquisition Proposal as modified no longer constitutes, or would no longer reasonably be expected to lead to, a Superior Proposal, or (3) such Go Shop Bidder otherwise ceases to be actively pursuing efforts to acquire CCIT III. No later than twenty-four (24) hours after the Go Shop Period End Time (or after a bidder is determined to be

 

-64-


a Go Shop Bidder if such determination occurs after the Go Shop Period End Time), CCIT III shall notify CMFT in writing (I) if any Go Shop Bidders remain at such time, (II) of the identity of such Go Shop Bidder(s) and (III) of the material terms and conditions of the most recent Acquisition Proposal received from such Go Shop Bidder(s) (and shall include with such notice (x) copies of any written Acquisition Proposal, including any proposed transaction agreement and any related transaction documents and financing commitments, if any and (y) a written summary of the material terms of any related Acquisition Proposal not made in writing (including any material terms proposed orally or supplementally)), and thereafter shall promptly (and in any event no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the occurrence of such developments, discussions or negotiations or receipt of materials) (1) keep CMFT reasonably informed of all material developments, discussions and negotiations concerning any such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry and (2) provide CMFT with any written supplements or written additions to any written Acquisition Proposal, including any revisions to any proposed transaction agreement and any related transaction documents and financing commitments, if any.

(b)    Except as expressly permitted by this Section 7.3, and except with respect to a Go Shop Bidder, from and after the Go Shop Period End Time, CCIT III shall not, and shall cause each of the CCIT III Subsidiaries and shall direct each of its and their respective directors, officers, Affiliates and Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, facilitate or knowingly encourage any inquiries, proposals or offers for, or engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential or nonpublic information or data to, or have any discussions with, any Person relating to, any inquiry, proposal, offer or other action that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) enter into or engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with any Person regarding or otherwise in furtherance of, or furnish to any Person other than CMFT or its Representatives, any information in connection with or for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating any inquiry, proposal, offer or other action that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, or to otherwise obtain, an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) release any Person from or fail to enforce any confidentiality agreement, standstill agreement or similar obligation (provided that CCIT III shall be permitted to waive or to not enforce any provision of any confidentiality agreement, standstill agreement or similar obligation to permit a Person to make a confidential Acquisition Proposal directly to the CCIT III Special Committee if the CCIT III Special Committee determines in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel that any such failure to waive or to not enforce would be inconsistent with the CCIT III directors’ duties or standard of conduct under Maryland Law), (iv) enter into any Contract contemplating or otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal (other than an Acceptable NDA), or (v) take any action to exempt any Person from any Takeover Statute or similar restrictive provision of the CCIT III Charter, the CCIT III Bylaws or organizational documents or agreements of any CCIT III Subsidiary. In furtherance of the foregoing and except with respect to a Go Shop Bidder and as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.3, CCIT III shall, and shall cause each CCIT III Subsidiary and each Representative of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries to, immediately cease any discussions, negotiations or communications with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal and shall immediately terminate all physical and electronic data room access previously granted to any such Person and use reasonable efforts to cause such Person to return or destroy all non-public information concerning CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries to the extent permitted pursuant to any

 

-65-


confidentiality agreement with such Person and promptly terminate all physical and electronic data room access granted to such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, from and after the Go Shop Period End Time and until the receipt of Stockholder Approval, CCIT III, the CCIT III Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives may continue to take any of the actions described in Section 7.3(a) with respect to any proposals or offers regarding any Acquisition Proposal submitted by a Go Shop Bidder on or before the Go Shop Period End Time or with respect to any amended or modified proposal or offer with respect to any such Acquisition Proposal submitted by a Go Shop Bidder after the Go Shop Period End Time that, in accordance with Section 7.3(d), CCIT III discloses to CMFT (and provides copies to CMFT of) if the CCIT III Special Committee has determined in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel and outside financial advisors that such Acquisition Proposal (as may be amended or modified) is or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal. The Parties acknowledge that (a) CMFT has entered into or intends to enter into merger agreements with each of Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc. and Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT II), Inc., pursuant to which Cole Credit Property Trust V., Inc. and Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT II), Inc. shall be merged with and into an affiliate of CMFT (the “Other Merger Agreements”) and (b) nothing in this Section 7.3(b) shall be construed to restrict the ability of CCIT III and its directors, officers, Affiliates and Representatives to participate in discussions with Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT II), Inc. and Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc. and their respective Representatives relating to the Other Merger Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, at any time after the Go Shop Period End Time and prior to the time, but not after, Stockholder Approval is obtained, CCIT III and its Representatives may, in response to an unsolicited, bona fide written Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a material breach of this Section 7.3, (x) contact such Person to clarify the terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal and (y)(i) provide information in response to a request therefor by the Person who made such written Acquisition Proposal, provided that (A) such information is provided pursuant to (and only pursuant to) one or more Acceptable NDAs, and (B) CCIT III, prior to or concurrently with the time such information is provided, provides such information to CMFT, and (ii) engage or participate in any discussions or negotiations with the Person who made such written Acquisition Proposal, if and only to the extent that, in each such case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, the CCIT III Special Committee has either determined that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal or determined in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel and outside financial advisors that such Acquisition Proposal could reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal.

(d)    From and after the Go Shop Period End Time, CCIT III will promptly (and in any event no later than twenty-four (24) hours after receipt thereof) notify CMFT in writing if (i) any Acquisition Proposal is received by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary, (ii) any request for information relating to CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary is received by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary from any Person who informs CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary that it is considering making or has made an Acquisition Proposal or (iii) any discussions or negotiations are sought to be initiated with CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary regarding any Acquisition Proposal, and shall, in any such notice to CMFT, indicate the identity of the Person making, and the material terms and conditions of, such Acquisition Proposal,

 

-66-


request or inquiry (and shall include with such notice (A) copies of any written Acquisition Proposal, including any proposed transaction agreement and any related transaction documents and financing commitments, if any, and (B) a written summary of the material terms of any related Acquisition Proposal not made in writing (including any material terms proposed orally or supplementally)), and thereafter shall promptly (and in any event no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the occurrence of such developments, discussions or negotiations or receipt of materials) (I) keep CMFT reasonably informed of all material developments, discussions and negotiations concerning any such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry and (II) provide CMFT with any written supplements or written additions to any written Acquisition Proposal, including any revisions to any proposed transaction agreement and any related transaction documents and financing commitments, if any. Neither CCIT III nor any CCIT III Subsidiary will enter into any agreement with any Person subsequent to the date of this Agreement that prohibits CCIT III from providing any information to CMFT in accordance with this Section 7.3.

(e)    Except as expressly provided in Section 7.3(f), Section 7.3(g) and Section 9.1(c)(ii), neither the CCIT III Board, nor any committee thereof, nor any group of directors, formally or informally, shall: (i) change, withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify or publicly propose or announce or authorize or resolve to, or announce its intention to change, withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify, in each case in a manner adverse to CMFT, the CCIT III Board Recommendation, (ii) authorize, approve, endorse, declare advisable, adopt or recommend or propose to publicly authorize, approve, endorse, declare advisable, adopt or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, (iii) authorize, cause or permit CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary to enter into any Alternative Acquisition Agreement, or (iv) fail to make the CCIT III Board Recommendation or to include the CCIT III Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement (any event described in clause (i), (ii) or this clause (iv), an “Adverse Recommendation Change”).

(f)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, subject to compliance with the provisions of this Section 7.3(f), if CCIT III receives an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not from a Go Shop Bidder), which Acquisition Proposal did not result from a material breach of this Section 7.3 and is not withdrawn, and the CCIT III Special Committee determines that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal and, after consultation with outside legal counsel and its financial advisor, that failure to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change in connection with such Superior Proposal or that failure to terminate this Agreement to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement for such Superior Proposal would be inconsistent with the CCIT III directors’ duties or standard of conduct under Maryland Law, then, provided that Stockholder Approval has not yet been obtained, the CCIT III Board (based on the recommendation of the CCIT III Special Committee) may (x) effect an Adverse Recommendation Change and/or (y) enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement relating to or implementing the Superior Proposal and terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.1(c)(ii); provided, that, in the case of each of clause (x) and (y), the CCIT III Board may not take action contemplated by this Section 7.3(f) unless:

(i)    CCIT III has notified CMFT in writing that the CCIT III Board intends to take such action at least four (4) Business Days in advance of effecting an Adverse Recommendation Change and/or entering into an Alternative Acquisition

 

-67-


Agreement, which notice shall specify in reasonable detail the reasons for such action, describe the material terms of the Superior Proposal and attach the most current version of such agreements (including any amendments, supplements or modifications) between CCIT III and the party making such Superior Proposal (a “CCIT III Change Notice”); and

(ii)    during the four (4) Business Day period following CMFT’s receipt of a CCIT III Change Notice, CCIT III shall, and shall direct its outside financial and outside legal advisors to, negotiate in good faith with CMFT (to the extent CMFT wishes to negotiate) to make adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement such that the Superior Proposal ceases to constitute (in the good faith determination of the CCIT III Special Committee, after consultation with outside legal counsel and outside financial advisors) a Superior Proposal; provided, that any amendment, supplement or modification to any Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed a new Acquisition Proposal and CCIT III may not enter into any agreement relating to the Superior Proposal pursuant this Section 7.3(f) or make an Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant to this Section 7.3(f) or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) unless CCIT III has complied with the requirements of this Section 7.3(f) with respect to such new Acquisition Proposal including sending an additional CCIT III Change Notice (except that the new negotiation period under this Section 7.3(f)(ii) shall be three (3) Business Days instead of four (4) Business Days). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.3(f)(ii), neither CMFT’s acceptance nor rejection of CCIT III’s offer to negotiate pursuant to this Section 7.3(f)(ii) shall have any bearing on CMFT’s right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(ii) herein.

(g)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, at any time after the date of this Agreement and before Stockholder Approval is obtained, the CCIT III Special Committee and the CCIT III Board may, if the CCIT III Special Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the duties or standard of conduct of the directors under Maryland Law, make an Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an Intervening Event; provided, that, prior to making such Adverse Recommendation Change, CCIT III shall have complied with clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.3(f).

(h)    Nothing in this Section 7.3 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prevent the CCIT III Special Committee, the CCIT III Board or CCIT III, directly or indirectly, from (i) taking and disclosing to the stockholders of the CCIT III a position with respect to an Acquisition Proposal as contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, (ii) making any required disclosure to the stockholders of CCIT III under applicable Law, including Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A or (iii) making any disclosure to the stockholders of CCIT III if the CCIT III Board determines in good faith after consultation with its outside legal counsel (and based on the recommendation of the CCIT III Special Committee) that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the duties or standard of conduct of the CCIT III directors under Maryland Law; provided, however, that to the extent any such disclosure addresses the approval, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the CCIT III Special Committee or the CCIT III Board with respect to this Agreement or an Acquisition Proposal, such disclosure shall

 

-68-


be deemed to be an Adverse Recommendation Change if not accompanied by an express public affirmation of the CCIT III Board Recommendation; provided, further, that a “stop, look and listen” or similar communication of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act shall not be deemed to be an Adverse Recommendation Change.

(i)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, none of CCIT III, any CCIT III Subsidiary or their respective Affiliates or Representatives shall reimburse or agree to reimburse the fees or expenses of any Person (including any Go Shop Bidder or its Representatives) in connection with an Acquisition Proposal (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with any Acceptable NDA but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with any acquisition agreement or merger with respect to a Superior Proposal entered into pursuant to this Section 7.3 and resulting in termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)).

(j)    CCIT III agrees that in the event any Representative of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary takes any action that, if taken by CCIT III would constitute a violation of this Section 7.3, and such action was taken at the direction or with the prior consent of the CCIT III Special Committee, then CCIT III shall be deemed to be in violation of this Section 7.3 for all purposes of this Agreement.

(k)    For purposes of this Agreement:

(i)    “Acquisition Proposal” means any bona fide proposal or offer from any Person (other than CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiaries) made after the date of this Agreement, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, relating to any (A) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the consolidated assets of CCIT III, (B) sale or other disposition, by merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar transaction, of any assets of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiaries that are significant subsidiaries representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the consolidated assets of CCIT III, (C) issue, sale or other disposition by CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiaries of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the votes associated with the outstanding shares of CCIT III Common Stock, (D) tender offer or exchange offer in which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) shall acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the votes associated with the outstanding shares of CCIT III Common Stock, or (E) recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other similar type of transaction with respect to CCIT III in which a third party shall acquire beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding shares of CCIT III Common Stock; provided, however, that the term “Acquisition Proposal” shall not include (I) the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or

 

-69-


(II) any merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction solely among CCIT III and one or more of the CCIT III Subsidiaries or solely among the CCIT III Subsidiaries.

(ii)    “Intervening Event” means, with respect to CCIT III, a change in circumstances or development that materially affects the business, assets or operations of CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that was not known to or reasonably foreseeable by the CCIT III Board prior to the execution of this Agreement, which change in circumstances or development becomes known to the CCIT III Board prior to Stockholder Approval being obtained; provided, however, that in no event shall the following events, circumstances or changes in circumstances constitute an Intervening Event: (i) the receipt, existence or terms of an Acquisition Proposal or any matter relating thereto or consequence thereof, (ii) any effect arising out of or related to the COVID-19 pandemic or COVID-19 Measures and (iii) any effect arising out of the announcement or pendency of, or any actions required to be taken pursuant to, this Agreement.

(iii)    “Superior Proposal” means a written Acquisition Proposal (except for purposes of this definition, the references in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” to “twenty percent (20%)” shall be replaced with “fifty percent (50%)”) that the CCIT III Board (based on the recommendation of the CCIT III Special Committee) determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its outside legal and financial advisors, and after taking into account (A) all of the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal and this Agreement (as it may be proposed to be amended by CMFT) and (B) the feasibility and certainty of consummation of such Acquisition Proposal on the terms proposed (taking into account such legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such Acquisition Proposal and conditions to consummation thereof as the CCIT III Special Committee determines in good faith to be material to such analysis)), to be more favorable from a financial point of view to the stockholders of CCIT III (in their capacities as stockholders) than the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (as it may be proposed to be amended by CMFT) pursuant to Section 7.3(f)(ii).

Section 7.4    Public Announcements. Except with respect to any Adverse Recommendation Change or any action taken pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 7.1 or Section 7.3, so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Parties shall consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements or filings with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and none of the Parties shall issue any such press release or make any such public statement or filing prior to obtaining the other Parties’ consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), provided, that a Party may, without obtaining the other Parties’ consent, issue such press release or make such public statement or filing as may be required by Law if it is not possible to consult with the other Party before doing so. The Parties have agreed upon the form of a joint press release announcing the Merger and the execution of this Agreement, and shall make such joint press release no later than one (1) Business Day following the date on which this Agreement is executed.

 

-70-


Section 7.5    Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings.

(a)    Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, CMFT shall and shall cause each CMFT Subsidiary and each of their respective Affiliates to, and CCIT III shall and shall cause each CCIT III Subsidiary and each of their respective Affiliates to, use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other Parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law or pursuant to any Contract to consummate and make effective, as promptly as practicable, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) taking all actions necessary to cause the conditions to Closing set forth in Article 8 to be satisfied, (ii) preparing and filing any applications, notices, registrations and requests as may be required or advisable to be filed with or submitted to any Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) obtaining all necessary or advisable actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental Authorities or other Persons necessary in connection with the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the making of all necessary or advisable registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Authorities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary or advisable to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Authority or other Persons necessary in connection with the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) subject to Section 7.6(c), defending any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Governmental Authority vacated or reversed, the avoidance of each and every impediment under any antitrust, merger control, competition or trade regulation Law that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Merger so as to enable the Closing to occur as soon as reasonably possible, and (v) executing and delivering any additional instruments reasonably necessary or advisable to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement; provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Party will have any obligation (A) to propose, negotiate, commit to or effect, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture or other disposition of any assets or businesses of such Party, any of its subsidiaries (including subsidiaries of CMFT after the Closing) or their Affiliates or (B) otherwise to take or commit to take any actions that would limit the freedom of such Party, its subsidiaries (including subsidiaries of CMFT after the Closing) or their Affiliates with respect to, or their ability to retain, one or more of their businesses, product lines or assets; provided, further, that CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries shall not take any of the actions referred to in the proceeding proviso (or agree to take such actions) without CMFT’s prior written consent and CMFT can compel CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries to take any of the actions referred to in the proceeding proviso (or agree to take such actions) if such actions are only effective after the Merger Effective Time.

(b)    In connection with and without limiting the foregoing Section 7.5(a), each of the Parties shall give (or shall cause their respective Affiliates to give) any notices to third parties, and each of the Parties shall use, and cause each of their respective Affiliates to use, its

 

-71-


reasonable best efforts to obtain any third party consents that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the Parties will, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, furnish to the other Parties such necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other Parties may request in connection with the preparation of any required applications, notices, registrations and requests as may be required or advisable to be filed with any Governmental Authority and will cooperate in responding to any inquiry from a Governmental Authority, including promptly informing the other Party of such inquiry, consulting in advance before making any presentations or submissions to a Governmental Authority, and supplying each other with copies of all material correspondence, filings or communications between such Party and any Governmental Authority with respect to this Agreement. CMFT shall have the right to direct all matters with any Governmental Authority in connection with this Agreement in a manner consistent with its obligations hereunder; provided that, to the extent reasonably practicable, the Parties or their Representatives shall have the right to review in advance and each of the Parties will consult the other Parties on, all the information relating to the other Parties and each of their Affiliates that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any Governmental Authority in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that confidential competitively sensitive business information may be redacted from such exchanges. To the extent reasonably practicable, no Party shall, nor shall any Party permit its respective Representatives to, participate independently in any meeting or engage in any substantive conversation with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filing, investigation or other inquiry without giving the other Parties prior notice of such meeting or conversation and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, without giving the other Parties the opportunity to attend or participate (whether by telephone or in person) in any such meeting with such Governmental Authority.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in connection with obtaining any approval or consent from any Person (other than any Governmental Authority) with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, none of the Parties or any of their respective Representatives shall be obligated to pay or commit to pay to such Person whose approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any accommodation or commitment or incur any liability or other obligation to such Person. Subject to the immediately foregoing sentence, the Parties shall cooperate with respect to reasonable accommodations that may be requested or appropriate to obtain such consents.

Section 7.6    Notification of Certain Matters; Transaction Litigation.

(a)    CMFT, Merger Sub and their respective Representatives shall give prompt notice to CCIT III, and CCIT III and its Representatives shall give prompt notice to CMFT and Merger Sub, of any notice or other communication received by such Party from any Governmental Authority in connection with this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

-72-


(b)    CMFT, Merger Sub and their respective Representatives shall give prompt notice to CCIT III, and CCIT III and its Representatives shall give prompt notice to CMFT and Merger Sub, if (i) any representation or warranty made by it contained in this Agreement becomes untrue or inaccurate such that it would be reasonable to expect that the applicable closing conditions would be incapable of being satisfied by the Outside Date or (ii) it fails to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the Parties or the conditions to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the failure by CMFT, Merger Sub, CCIT III or their respective Representatives to provide such prompt notice under this Section 7.6(b) shall not constitute a breach of covenant for purposes of Section 8.2(b), Section 8.3(a), Section 9.1(c)(i), or Section 9.1(d)(i).

(c)    CMFT, Merger Sub and their respective Representatives shall give prompt notice to CCIT III, and CCIT III and its Representatives shall give prompt notice to CMFT and Merger Sub, of any Action commenced or, to such Party’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving such Party or any CMFT Subsidiary or CCIT III Subsidiary, respectively, or any of their respective directors, officers or partners that relates to this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. CCIT III and its Representatives shall give CMFT the opportunity to reasonably participate in the defense and settlement of any Action against CCIT III or its directors, officers or partners relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall consider in good faith CMFT’s advice with respect to such Action, and no settlement in respect of any such Action shall be agreed to without CMFT’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). CMFT and its Representatives shall give CCIT III the opportunity to reasonably participate in the defense and settlement of any Action against CMFT or its directors, officers or partners relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall consider in good faith CCIT III’s advice with respect to such Action, and no settlement in respect of any such Action shall be agreed to without CCIT III’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

Section 7.7    Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance.

(a)    From the Merger Effective Time until the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Merger Effective Time, CMFT shall (and shall cause the Surviving Entity to), to the fullest extent CCIT III would be permitted to do so under applicable Law and the CCIT III Governing Documents, (i) indemnify, defend and hold harmless each current and former manager, director, officer, partner, member, trustee, employee and agent of CCIT III or any of the CCIT III Subsidiaries or other individuals with rights to indemnification or exculpation pursuant to the CCIT III Governing Documents or any indemnification agreements of CCIT III or CCIT III Subsidiaries (such agreements, the “Additional Indemnification Agreements”) (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) against and from any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any Action to the extent such Action arises out of or pertains to (A) any action or omission or alleged action or omission in such Indemnified Party’s capacity as a manager, director, officer, partner, member, trustee, employee or agent of CCIT III or any of the CCIT III

 

-73-


Subsidiaries (whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Merger Effective Time) or (B) this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger (whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Merger Effective Time), and (ii) pay in advance of the final disposition of any such Action the costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees that are subject to indemnification hereunder), without the requirement of any bond or other security, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Law, but subject to CMFT’s or the Surviving Entity’s receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, CMFT or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, (x) shall not settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment or otherwise seek termination with respect to any Action against or of any Indemnified Party for which indemnification may be sought under this Section 7.7 without the Indemnified Party’s prior written consent (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such Action that is subject to indemnification by CMFT and the Surviving Entity under this Section 7.7, (y) shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and (z) shall not have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine in a final and non-appealable order that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable Law. Without limiting the foregoing, and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, each of CMFT and the Surviving Entity agree that during the period commencing as of the Merger Effective Time and ending on the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Merger Effective Time, all rights to indemnification and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Merger Effective Time, and advancement of expenses now existing in favor of any Indemnified Party as provided in the CCIT III Governing Documents and Additional Indemnification Agreements shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

(b)    Prior to the Merger Effective Time, CMFT shall, or shall cause the Surviving Entity to, obtain and fully pay the premium for “tail” insurance policies for the extension of (or the substantial equivalent of) the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of the existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies of CCIT III for a claims reporting or discovery period of six (6) years from and after the Merger Effective Time, on prepaid and non-cancellable terms, for an aggregate cost not in excess of three times the current annual premiums for such insurance. CMFT and the Surviving Entity shall not take any action to terminate or modify the terms of the extended reporting period coverage.

(c)    For a period of six (6) years following the Merger Effective Time, the organizational documents of CMFT and any applicable CMFT Subsidiary shall contain provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions and rights to advancement of expenses relating thereto existing in favor of any Indemnified Party than those included in the CCIT III Governing Documents or any similar organizational documents or agreements of any CMFT Subsidiary. No such provision shall be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six (6) years following the Merger Effective Time in any manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of individuals

 

-74-


who, at or prior to the Merger Effective Time, were Indemnified Parties, unless such modification shall be required by applicable Law and then only to the minimum extent required by applicable Law.

(d)    If CMFT or the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges with or into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation, partnership or other entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) liquidates, dissolves or winds-up, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of CMFT or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, assume the obligations set forth in this Section 7.7.

(e)    The provisions of this Section 7.7 are intended to be for the express benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives, shall be binding on all successors and assigns of CMFT, CCIT III and the Surviving Entity and shall not be amended in a manner that is adverse to the Indemnified Party (including his or her successors, assigns and heirs) without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (including such successors, assigns and heirs) affected thereby. The exculpation and indemnification provided for by this Section 7.7 shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which an Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to applicable Law, Contract or otherwise. CMFT shall cause the Surviving Entity to pay all reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by any Indemnified Party in enforcing the obligations provided in this Section 7.7.

Section 7.8    Dividends.

(a)    In the event that a distribution with respect to the shares of CCIT III Common Stock permitted under the terms of this Agreement has a record date prior to the Merger Effective Time and has not been paid prior to the Closing Date, such distribution shall be paid to the holders of such shares of CCIT III Common Stock on the Closing Date immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time. In the event that a distribution with respect to the shares of CMFT Common Stock permitted under the terms of this Agreement has a record date prior to the Merger Effective Time and has not been paid prior to the Closing Date, such distribution shall be paid to the holders of such shares of CMFT Common Stock on the Closing Date immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time. CCIT III shall coordinate with CMFT on the declaration, setting of record dates and payment dates of dividends on CCIT III Common Stock so that holders of CCIT III Common Stock (i) do not receive dividends on both CCIT III Common Stock and CMFT Common Stock received in the Merger in respect of a single distribution period or fail to receive a dividend on either CCIT III Common Stock or CMFT Common Stock received in the Merger in respect of a single distribution period or (ii) do not receive both a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.2(b)(iii) on CMFT Common Stock and a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.1(b)(iii) on CCIT III Common Stock received in the Merger or fail to receive either a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.2(b)(iii) on CMFT Common Stock or a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.1(b)(iii) on CCIT III Common Stock received in the Merger.

 

-75-


(b)    In the event that either CCIT III or CMFT shall declare or pay any dividend or other distribution that is expressly permitted pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 6.1(b)(iii) or Section 6.2(b)(iii), respectively, it shall notify the other Party at least twenty (20) days prior to the Closing Date, and such other Party shall be entitled to declare a dividend per share payable (i) in the case of CCIT III, to holders of CCIT III Common Stock, in an amount per share of CCIT III Common Stock equal to the product of (A) the dividend declared by CMFT with respect to each share of CMFT Common Stock by (B) the Exchange Ratio, and (ii) in the case of CMFT, to holders of CMFT Common Stock, in an amount per share of CMFT Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the dividend declared by CCIT III with respect to each share of CCIT III Common Stock by (B) the Exchange Ratio. The record date and time and payment date and time for any dividend payable pursuant to this Section 7.8(b) shall be prior to the Closing Date.

Section 7.9    Takeover Statutes. The Parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts (a) to take all action necessary so that no Takeover Statute becomes applicable to the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (b) if any such Takeover Statute becomes applicable to any of the foregoing, to take all action necessary so that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to eliminate or minimize the effect of such Takeover Statute or the restrictions in the CMFT Charter or the CCIT III Charter on the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 7.10    Tax Matters.

(a)    Each of CMFT and CCIT III shall use its reasonable best efforts (before and, as applicable, after the Merger Effective Time) to cause the Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, including by executing and delivering the tax representation letters referred to herein and, unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state or local Law), reporting consistently for all federal, state, and local income Tax or other purposes. Neither CMFT nor CCIT III shall take any action that would, or fail to take any action the failure of which would, reasonably be expected to cause the Merger to fail to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(b)    CMFT shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain or cause to be provided the opinions referred to in Section 8.2(f) and Section 8.3(e), (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain opinions of counsel consistent with the opinions of counsel referred to in Section 8.2(f) and Section 8.3(e), but dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4, to the extent required for the Form S-4 to be declared effective by the SEC, and (iii) deliver to each of REIT Opinion Counsel and Transaction Opinion Counsel, or other tax counsel to CMFT delivering the opinions referred to herein, a tax representation letter, dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4 and the Closing Date, as applicable, and signed by an officer of CMFT and CMFT Operating Partnership, in form and substance mutually agreeable to CCIT III and CMFT (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), containing representations of CMFT and CMFT Operating Partnership reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such counsel to render the applicable tax opinions described in clause (ii) of this Section 7.10(b) and the tax

 

-76-


opinions described in Section 8.2(f) and Section 8.3(e). The tax representations letters described in clause (iii) above shall also be provided to CCIT III, and for purposes of the opinion required by Section 8.3(f), CCIT III may rely on the representation letter provided pursuant to this Section 7.10(b) in connection with making the representations in the tax representation letter provided to Transaction Opinion Counsel for the purposes of the opinion to be issued pursuant to Section 8.3(f).

(c)    CCIT III shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain or cause to be provided the opinions referred to in Section 8.2(e) and Section 8.3(f), (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain opinions of counsel consistent with the opinions of counsel referred to in Section 8.2(e) and Section 8.3(f), but dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4, to the extent required for the Form S-4 to be declared effective by the SEC, and (iii) deliver to each of REIT Opinion Counsel and Transaction Opinion Counsel, or other tax counsel to CCIT III delivering the opinions referred to herein, a tax representation letter, dated as of the effective date of the Form S-4 and the Closing Date, as applicable, and signed by an officer of CCIT III and CCIT III Operating Partnership, in form and substance mutually agreeable to CCIT III and CMFT (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), containing representations of CCIT III and CCIT III Operating Partnership reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such counsel to render the applicable tax opinions described in clause (ii) of this Section 7.10(c) and the tax opinions described in Section 8.2(e) and Section 8.3(f). The tax representations letters described in clause (iii) above shall also be provided to CMFT, and for purposes of the opinion required by Section 8.2(f), CMFT may rely on the representation letter provided pursuant to this Section 7.10(c) in connection with making the representations in the tax representation letter provided to Transaction Opinion Counsel for the purposes of the opinion to be issued pursuant to Section 8.2(f).

(d)    CMFT and CCIT III shall reasonably cooperate in the preparation, execution and filing of all returns, questionnaires, applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer or gains, sales, use, transfer, value added, stock transfer or stamp taxes, any transfer, recording, registration and other fees and any similar taxes that become payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together with any related interest, penalties or additions to such taxes, “Transfer Taxes”), and shall reasonably cooperate in attempting to minimize the amount of Transfer Taxes. These taxes shall be the obligations of CMFT and the CMFT Subsidiaries without deduction or withholding from or to the Merger Consideration.

(e)    With respect to the taxable year of CCIT III ending with the Merger Effective Time, CCIT III shall take all necessary actions, including declaring and paying dividends sufficient to satisfy its requirement under Section 857(a)(1), to cause CCIT III to qualify as a REIT for its shortened taxable year ending with the Merger Effective Time.

Section 7.11    Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Merger Effective Time, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) CCIT III shall take all such steps as may be necessary or appropriate to cause any dispositions of CCIT III Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to CCIT III Common Stock) resulting from the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each individual who will be subject to the reporting

 

-77-


requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to CCIT III immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and (b) CMFT shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any acquisitions of the CMFT Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to the CMFT Common Stock) resulting from the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each individual who may become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to CMFT to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Section 7.12    Financing Cooperation. CCIT III shall, and shall cause its Representatives to use its and their respective commercially reasonable efforts to promptly take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper and advisable to cooperate with all reasonable requests of CMFT in connection with any amendment, refinancing or replacement of the existing credit facilities of CMFT or any CMFT Subsidiary or of the existing credit facility of CCIT III or of any other debt facility or instrument of CCIT III or any CCIT III Subsidiary as may be sought by CMFT, in its sole and absolute discretion. CCIT III shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, refrain from taking, directly or indirectly, any action that would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of CMFT to effect such amendment, refinancing or replacement. Following a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(a), (b) (so long as CCIT III would have been entitled to terminate thereunder) or (c)(i), CMFT shall promptly reimburse CCIT III for all out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred in connection with fulfilling its obligations pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7.12.

Section 7.13    Other Merger Agreements. The Parties acknowledge that (a) CMFT has entered into or intends to enter into the Other Merger Agreements and (b) the Other Merger Agreements contain closing conditions substantially similar to the nature of those of Section 8.2(c) and Section 8.3(c) herein. Notwithstanding anything in the Other Merger Agreements to the contrary, CMFT may not waive, without CCIT III’s written consent, the conditions of the Other Merger Agreements referred to in the foregoing clause (b). In addition, in the event that CMFT amends the CCIT II Merger Agreement or CCPT V Merger Agreement to include cash consideration as part of the merger consideration payable thereunder, CMFT agrees to enter into an amendment to this Agreement to revise the form of Merger Consideration such that the Merger Consideration shall consist of cash and shares of CMFT Common Stock in the same proportion as cash and shares of CMFT Common Stock bear to the overall merger consideration in the CCIT II Merger Agreement or CCPT V Merger Agreement, as applicable, as so amended.

Section 7.14    CMFT Board of Directors. The CMFT Board shall take or cause to be taken such action as may be necessary, in each case, to be effective as of the Merger Effective Time to cause those “Independent Directors” (as such term is defined in the CCIT III Charter) serving as members of the CCIT III Board who do not otherwise serve on the CMFT Board to be elected to the CMFT Board effective as of the Merger Effective Time to serve, together with the then members of the CMFT Board and any members of the CCIT II Board of Directors or the CCPT V Board of Directors appointed to the CMFT Board pursuant to corresponding provisions of the Other Merger Agreements, until the next annual meeting of stockholders of CMFT. In connection with such next annual meeting of stockholders of CMFT, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of CMFT shall recommend to the CMFT Board five (5) to seven (7) independent directors for election to the CMFT Board at such annual meeting of stockholders after consultation with the Chairman of the Board of CMFT.

 

-78-


ARTICLE 8

CONDITIONS

Section 8.1    Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of the Parties to effect the Merger and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by each of the Parties at or prior to the Merger Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a)    Authorizations. All consents, authorizations, orders or approvals of each Governmental Authority necessary for the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement set forth in Section 8.1(a) of the CCIT III Disclosure Letter and Section 8.1(a) of the CMFT Disclosure Letter shall have been obtained and any applicable waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired or been terminated.

(b)    Stockholder Approval; Charter Amendment. The Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable Law, the CCIT III Charter and the CCIT III Bylaws. The Charter Amendment shall have become effective pursuant to the MGCL.

(c)    No Injunctions or Restraints. No Order issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction prohibiting consummation of the Merger shall be in effect, and no Law shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Authority that, in any case, prohibits, restrains, enjoins or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d)    Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have been declared effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued by the SEC and remain in effect and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated by the SEC that have not been withdrawn.

Section 8.2    Conditions to Obligations of CMFT and Merger Sub. The obligations of CMFT and Merger Sub to effect the Merger and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by CMFT, at or prior to the Merger Effective Time, of the following additional conditions:

(a)    Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of CCIT III set forth in the Fundamental Representations (except the first sentence of Section 4.1(a) (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries) and Section 4.4(a) (Capital Structure)) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the Merger Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 4.1(a) (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries) and Section 4.4(a) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis

 

-79-


respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Effective Time as though made as of the Merger Effective Time, (iii) the representation and warranty of CCIT III set forth in Section 4.6(c) (Absence of Certain Changes and Events) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the Merger Effective Time, and (iv) each of the other representations and warranties of CCIT III contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the Merger Effective Time, except where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or CCIT III Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein), individually or in the aggregate, does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct in accordance with clauses (i) through (iv) only on and as of such date.

(b)    Performance of Covenants and Obligations of CCIT III. CCIT III shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants, required to be performed by it under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing.

(c)    Absence of Material Adverse Change. Since the date of this Agreement, no event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence shall exist or have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to constitute, a CCIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(d)    Delivery of Certificate. CCIT III shall have delivered to CMFT a certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by its chief executive officer and chief financial officer on behalf of CCIT III, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a), Section 8.2(b) and Section 8.2(c) have been satisfied.

(e)    REIT Opinion. CMFT shall have received a written opinion of REIT Opinion Counsel or other counsel to CCIT III reasonably satisfactory to CMFT, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to CMFT, to the effect that, commencing with CCIT III’s taxable year that ended on December 31, 2017, CCIT III has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and its prior, current and proposed ownership, organization and method of operation have enabled and will enable CCIT III to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code through the Merger Effective Time, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications and based on customary representations contained in an officer’s certificate executed by CCIT III and CCIT III Operating Partnership.

(f)    Section 368 Opinion. CMFT shall have received a written opinion of Transaction Opinion Counsel, or other tax counsel to CMFT, dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to CMFT, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely upon the tax representation letters described in Section 7.10.

 

-80-


Section 8.3    Conditions to Obligations of CCIT III. The obligations of CCIT III to effect the Merger and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by CCIT III at or prior to the Merger Effective Time, of the following additional conditions:

(a)    Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of CMFT and Merger Sub set forth in the Fundamental Representations (except the first sentence of Section 5.1(a) (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries) and Section 5.4(a) (Capital Structure)), shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the Merger Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 5.1(a) (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries) and Section 5.4(a) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Effective Time as though made as of the Merger Effective Time, (iii) the representation and warranty set forth in Section 5.6(c) (Absence of Certain Changes or Events) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the Merger Effective Time, and (iv) each of the other representations and warranties of CMFT and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the Merger Effective Time, except where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or CMFT Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein), individually or in the aggregate, does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a CMFT Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct in accordance with clauses (i) through (iv) only on and as of such date.

(b)    Performance of Covenants and Obligations of CMFT and Merger Sub. CMFT and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants, required to be performed by them under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing.

(c)    Absence of Material Adverse Change. Since the date of this Agreement, no event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence shall exist or have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to constitute, a CMFT Material Adverse Effect.

(d)     Delivery of Certificate. CMFT shall have delivered to CCIT III a certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by its chief executive officer and chief financial officer on behalf of CMFT certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a), Section 8.3(b) and Section 8.3(c) have been satisfied.

(e)    REIT Opinion. CCIT III shall have received a written opinion of REIT Opinion Counsel, or other counsel to CMFT reasonably satisfactory to CCIT III, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to CCIT III, to the effect that,

 

-81-


commencing with CMFT’s taxable year that ended on December 31, 2012, CMFT has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and its prior, current and proposed ownership, organization and method of operation have enabled and will enable CMFT to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications and based on customary representations contained in an officer’s certificate executed by CMFT and CMFT Operating Partnership.

(f)    Section 368 Opinion. CCIT III shall have received a written opinion of Transaction Opinion Counsel, or other tax counsel to CCIT III, dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to CCIT III, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely upon the tax representation letters described in Section 7.10.

ARTICLE 9

TERMINATION, FEES AND EXPENSES, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1    Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Merger Effective Time, notwithstanding receipt of the Stockholder Approval (except as otherwise specified in this Section 9.1):

(a)    by mutual written consent of each of CMFT and CCIT III;

(b)    by either CMFT or by CCIT III:

(i)    if the Merger shall not have occurred on or before 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on May 30, 2021 (the “Outside Date”); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any Party if the failure of such Party (or, in the case of CMFT, Merger Sub) to perform or comply in all material respects with the obligations, covenants or agreements of such Party set forth in this Agreement shall have been the primary cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Merger to be consummated by the Outside Date;

(ii)    if any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order permanently restraining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to a Party if the issuance of such final, non-appealable Order was primarily due to the failure of such Party (or, in the case of CMFT, Merger Sub) to perform or comply in all material respects with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under this Agreement; or

 

-82-


(iii)    if the Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at the Stockholders Meeting (unless such meeting has been adjourned or postponed, in which case at the final adjournment or postponement thereof); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(iii) shall not be available to a Party if the failure to receive the Stockholder Approval was primarily due to the failure of a Party to perform or comply in all material respects with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under this Agreement;

(c)    by CCIT III:

(i)    if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform or comply with any obligation, covenant or agreement on the part of CMFT or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement has occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.3 not to be satisfied (a “CMFT Terminating Breach”), which breach or failure to perform or comply cannot be cured, or, if capable of cure, has not been cured by the earlier of twenty (20) days following written notice thereof from CCIT III to CMFT and two (2) Business Days before the Outside Date; provided, however, that CCIT III shall not have such right to terminate this Agreement if a CCIT III Terminating Breach shall have occurred and be continuing at the time CCIT III delivers notice of its election to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c)(i);

(ii)    at any time before Stockholder Approval is obtained, in order to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.3; provided, however, that CCIT III shall have complied with Section 7.3 and shall have paid or shall concurrently pay to CMFT in full the Termination Payment if such amount is payable in accordance with Section 9.3(b);

(iii)    if CMFT amends the CCPT V Merger Agreement to (A) increase the exchange ratio set forth therein to 2.733 shares (or more) of CMFT Common Stock for each share of Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc.; or

(iv)    if CMFT amends the CCIT II Merger Agreement to (A) increase the exchange ratio set forth therein to 1.562 shares (or more) of CMFT Common Stock for each share of Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc.

(d)    by CMFT:

(i)    if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform or comply with any obligation, covenant or agreement on the part of CCIT III set forth in this Agreement has occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 not to be satisfied (a “CCIT III Terminating Breach”), which breach or failure to perform or comply cannot be cured, or if capable of cure, has not been cured by the earlier of twenty (20) days following written notice thereof from CMFT to CCIT III and two (2) Business Days before the Outside Date; provided, however, that CMFT shall not have such right to terminate this Agreement if a CMFT Terminating Breach shall have occurred and be continuing at the time CMFT delivers notice of its election to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(d)(i); or

 

-83-


(ii)    if, at any time prior to the receipt of the Stockholder Approval, (A) the CCIT III Board has made an Adverse Recommendation Change, (B) a tender offer or exchange offer for any shares of CCIT III Common Stock that constitutes an Acquisition Proposal is commenced and the CCIT III Board fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by the stockholders of CCIT III and to publicly reaffirm the CCIT III Board Recommendation within ten (10) Business Days of being requested to do so by CMFT or (C) CCIT III shall have breached or failed to comply in any material respect with any of its obligations under Section 7.3.

Section 9.2    Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Parties, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.2, specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of CMFT, Merger Sub or CCIT III, except that the Confidentiality Agreement and the provisions of Section 4.22 (No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance), Section 5.21 (No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance), this Section 9.2, Section 9.3 (Fees and Expenses) and Article 10 (General Provisions) shall survive the termination of this Agreement; provided, that no such termination shall relieve any Party from any liability or damages resulting from any intentional and willful material breach (or failure to perform) that is the consequence of an act or omission by a Party with the actual knowledge that the taking of such act (or failure to act) would cause a breach of this Agreement.

Section 9.3    Fees and Expenses.

(a)    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.3, all Expenses shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated; provided that the Parties will share equally any Form S-4 filing fees as may be required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b)    In the event that this Agreement is terminated:

(i)    by CCIT III or CMFT pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i) or Section 9.1(b)(iii) and, (A) prior to the Stockholders Meeting, an Acquisition Proposal with respect to CCIT III has been publicly announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to CCIT III’s stockholders or any Person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make such an Acquisition Proposal (and such Acquisition Proposal or intention shall not have been publicly withdrawn on a bona fide basis without qualification at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Outside Date (with respect to a termination pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i)) or the Stockholders Meeting (with respect to a termination pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(iii))) and (B) within twelve (12) months after the date of such termination, (I) a transaction in respect of an Acquisition Proposal with respect to CCIT III is consummated, (II) CCIT III enters into a definitive agreement in respect of an Acquisition Proposal and such Acquisition Proposal is actually

 

-84-


consummated thereafter, or (III) CCIT III recommends to stockholders of CCIT III or fails to recommend against an Acquisition Proposal structured as a tender offer or exchange offer and such Acquisition Proposal is actually consummated thereafter (with, for all purposes of clauses (I), (II), and (III) of this Section 9.3(b)(i), all percentages included in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” increased to 50%), then CCIT III shall pay to CMFT (1) the Termination Payment and (2) up to one hundred thirty thousand dollars ($130,000) as reimbursement for CMFT’s Expenses;

(ii)    by CCIT III pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii), then CCIT III shall pay to CMFT (A) an amount equal to the Termination Payment (provided that, if such termination occurs no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Go Shop Period End Time (or, in the event of timely delivery of a CCIT III Change Notice, the negotiation period contemplated by Section 7.3(f)(ii)), then no Termination Payment will be payable by CCIT III) and (B) up to one hundred thirty thousand dollars ($130,000) as reimbursement for CMFT’s Expenses;

(iii)    by CMFT pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(ii), then CCIT III shall pay to CMFT (A) the Termination Payment (provided that, if such termination occurs no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Go Shop Period End Time (or, in the event of timely delivery of a CCIT III Change Notice, the negotiation period contemplated by Section 7.3(f)(ii)), then no Termination Payment will be payable by CCIT III) and (B) up to one hundred thirty thousand dollars ($130,000) as reimbursement for CMFT’s Expenses;

(iv)    by CCIT III pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(i), then CMFT shall pay to CCIT III an amount up to seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) as reimbursement for CCIT III’s Expenses; or

(v)    by CMFT pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(i), then CCIT III shall pay to CCIT III an amount up to one hundred thirty thousand dollars ($130,000) as reimbursement for CMFT’s Expenses.

(c)    Termination Payment. The Parties agree and acknowledge that in no event shall CCIT III be required to pay the applicable Termination Payment on more than one occasion. Payment of the Termination Payment and reimbursement of Expenses, as applicable, shall be made by wire transfer of same day funds to the account or accounts designated by CMFT or CCIT III, as applicable, (i) in the case of any amount payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(i), immediately prior to or concurrently with the earlier of (A) the execution of definitive documentation providing for any transaction contemplated by an Acquisition Proposal, and (B) the consummation of any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) immediately prior to or concurrently with termination in the case of any amount payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(ii) or if such day is not a Business Day, no later than the immediately following Business Day; and (iii) as promptly as reasonably practicable after termination (and, in any event, within two (2) Business Days thereof), in the case of any amount payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(iii), Section 9.3(b)(iv) or Section 9.3(b)(v).

 

-85-


(d)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Termination Payment becomes payable and is paid hereunder, then such payment (together with any Expenses or other amounts payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b) or Section 9.3(e)) shall be CMFT’s and its Affiliates’ sole and exclusive remedy as liquidated damages for any and all losses or damages of any nature against CCIT III and the CCIT III Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives in respect of this Agreement, any agreement executed in connection herewith, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

(e)    Each of the Parties acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 9.3 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that without these agreements, the other Parties would not enter into this Agreement. In the event that CCIT III shall fail to pay the applicable Termination Payment when due, CCIT III shall reimburse CMFT for all reasonable costs and expenses actually incurred or accrued by CMFT (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with the collection under and enforcement of this Section 9.3. Further, if one Party to this Agreement (the “Termination Payor”) fails to timely pay any amount due to the other Party (the “Termination Payee”) pursuant to Section 9.3(b) and, in order to obtain the payment, the Termination Payee commences an Action that results in a judgment against the Termination Payor for the payment set forth in this Section 9.3, the Termination Payor shall pay to the Termination Payee its reasonable and documented costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) in connection with such Action, together with interest on such amount at a rate per annum equal to the prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made through the date of payment.

(f)    If the Termination Payor becomes obligated to pay a fee under this Section 9.3, then, if requested by the Termination Payee, the Termination Payor shall deposit into escrow an amount in cash equal to the applicable Termination Payment with an escrow agent selected by the Termination Payee, after reasonable consultation with the Termination Payor, and pursuant to a written escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) reflecting the terms set forth in this Section 9.3(f) and otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Termination Payor and the escrow agent. The payment or deposit into escrow of the applicable Termination Payment shall be made by the Termination Payor in accordance with the timing set forth in Section 9.3(c) or, at the Termination Payee’s reasonable request, promptly after receipt of notice from the Termination Payee that the Escrow Agreement has been executed by the parties thereto. The Escrow Agreement shall provide that the Termination Payment in escrow or the applicable portion thereof shall be released to the Termination Payee on an annual basis based upon the delivery by the Termination Payee to the escrow agent of any one (or a combination) of the following:

(i)    a letter from the Termination Payee’s independent certified public accountants indicating the maximum amount that can be paid by the escrow agent to the Termination Payee without causing the Termination Payee to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code for the applicable taxable year of the Termination Payee determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute income described in Sections 856(c)(2)(A)-(I) or 856(c)(3)(A)-(I) of the Code (such income, “Qualifying REIT Income”), in which case the escrow agent shall release to the Termination Payee such maximum amount stated in the accountant’s letter;

 

-86-


(ii)    a letter from the Termination Payee’s counsel indicating that the Termination Payee received a private letter ruling from the IRS holding that the receipt by the Termination Payee of the applicable Termination Payment would either constitute Qualifying REIT Income or would be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, in which case the escrow agent shall release to the Termination Payee the remainder of the applicable Termination Payment; or

(iii)    a letter from the Termination Payee’s counsel indicating that the Termination Payee has received a tax opinion from the Termination Payee ’s outside counsel or accountant, respectively, to the effect that the receipt by the Termination Payee of the applicable Termination Payment should either constitute Qualifying REIT Income or should be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Section 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, in which case the escrow agent shall release to the Termination Payee the remainder of the applicable Termination Payment.

If the Termination Payee is CCIT III, the Escrow Agreement shall further provide that, at the end of the third calendar year beginning after the date on which the Termination Payor’s obligation to pay the Termination Payment arose (or earlier if directed by the Termination Payee), any remaining amount then being held in escrow by the escrow agent shall be disbursed to the Termination Payor and, in the event the Termination Payment has not by then been paid in full, such unpaid portion shall never be due. The Parties agree to cooperate in good faith to amend this Section 9.3(f) at the reasonable request of the Termination Payee in order to (A) maximize the portion of the applicable Termination Payment that may be distributed to the Termination Payee hereunder without causing the Termination Payee to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, (B) improve the Termination Payee’s chances of securing the favorable private letter ruling from the IRS described in this Section 9.3(f) or (C) assist the Termination Payee in obtaining the favorable tax opinion from its outside counsel or accountant described in this Section 9.3(f). The Escrow Agreement shall provide that the Termination Payee shall bear all costs and expenses under the Escrow Agreement. The Termination Payor shall not be a party to the Escrow Agreement and shall not bear any liability, cost or expense resulting directly or indirectly from the Escrow Agreement (other than any Taxes imposed on the Termination Payor in connection therewith).

ARTICLE 10

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 10.1    Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties and Certain Covenants. None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Merger Effective Time. The covenants to be performed prior to or at the Closing shall terminate at the Closing. This Section 10.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the Parties that by its terms contemplates performance after the Merger Effective Time or the full force and effect of Article 1, this Article 10 or the definitions of capitalized terms not substantively defined in Article 1.

 

-87-


Section 10.2    Notices. All notices, requests, claims, consents, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received on or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York City time, if delivered personally, sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties or sent by facsimile or e-mail of a portable document form (pdf) attachment (providing confirmation of transmission (other than by automatic response)) at the following addresses or facsimile numbers (or at such other address or facsimile number for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

(a)    if to CCIT III to:

Special Committee of the Board of Directors

c/o Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT III), Inc.

2398 East Camelback Road, 4th Floor

Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Attn: Stephen O. Evans

E-mail: [***]

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

100 Light Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Attn: J.W. Thompson Webb and Emily A. Higgs

E-mail: twebb@milesstockbridge.com and ehiggs@milesstockbridge.com

(b)    if to CMFT or Merger Sub to:

Special Committee of the Board of Directors

c/o CIM Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc.

2398 East Camelback Road, 4th Floor

Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Attn: T. Patrick Duncan

E-mail: [***]

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

1888 Century Park East, 21st Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attn: Patrick S. Brown

E-mail: brownp@sullcrom.com

Venable LLP

750 East Pratt Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Attn: Sharon A. Kroupa

E-Mail: skroupa@venable.com

 

-88-


Section 10.3    Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced under any present or future Law, or public policy, (a) such term or other provision shall be fully separable, (b) this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, and (c) all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable term or other provision or by its severance herefrom so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

Section 10.4    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall be deemed one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered (electronically by email or facsimile) to the other Parties. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document form (pdf), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.

Section 10.5    Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including the Exhibit, Schedules, the CMFT Disclosure Letter and the CCIT III Disclosure Letter) and the Confidentiality Agreement (a) constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and (b) except for the provisions of Section 7.7 (Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance), which, from and after the Merger Effective Time, shall be for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties, are not intended to confer upon any Person other than the Parties hereto any rights or remedies. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the Parties and any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the Parties in accordance with Section 10.6 without notice or liability to any other Person. Consequently, Persons other than the Parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.

Section 10.6    Amendment; Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Merger Effective Time, the Parties may, to the extent permitted under applicable Law and except as otherwise set forth herein, (a) amend any provision of this Agreement, (b) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Parties, (c) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained in this Agreement

 

-89-


or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (d) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any such amendment of this Agreement shall be valid only if specifically set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of all Parties. Any such grant by a Party of an extension or waiver in respect of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid only if specifically set forth in an instrument in writing by such Party. The failure of any Party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those rights. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in Section 9.3 (Fees and Expenses).

Section 10.7    Governing Law; Venue.

(a)    This Agreement, and all claims or causes of actions (whether at Law, in contract or in tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or related to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles (whether the State of Maryland or any other jurisdiction that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland).

(b)    All disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Maryland state or federal court. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any such Maryland state or federal court for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party, (ii) agrees not to commence any such Action except in such courts, (iii) agrees that any claim in respect of any Action may be heard and determined in any such Maryland state or federal court, (iv) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such Action, (v) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such dispute and (vi) agrees, with respect to any Action filed in a Maryland state court, to jointly request an assignment to the Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program. Each of the Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.2. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

Section 10.8    Assignment. Except as may be required to satisfy the obligations contemplated by Section 7.7 (Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance), neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns, and any attempted or purported assignment or delegation in violation of this Section 10.8 shall be null and void.

 

-90-


Section 10.9    Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that, prior to the effective time of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article 9, each Party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such Party is entitled at Law or in equity. In the event that any Action should be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no Party shall allege, and each Party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law. To the extent any Party brings an Action to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement (other than an Action to specifically enforce any provision that survives termination of this Agreement) when expressly available to such Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Outside Date shall automatically be extended to (a) the twentieth (20th) Business Day following the resolution of such Action, or (b) such other time period established by the court presiding over such Action.

Section 10.10    Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY and UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, ANY INSTRUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT DELIVERED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY (a) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (b) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER AND THAT IT MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (c) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.10.

Section 10.11    Authorship. The Parties agree that the terms and language of this Agreement are the result of negotiations between the Parties and their respective advisors and, as a result, there shall be no presumption that any ambiguities in this Agreement shall be resolved against any Party. Any controversy over construction of this Agreement shall be decided without regard to events of authorship or negotiation.

 

-91-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective duly authorized officers, all as of the date first written above.

 

CIM REAL ESTATE FINANCE TRUST, INC.

By:  

/s/ Richard S. Ressler

Name:  

Richard S. Ressler

Title:  

President and Chief Executive Officer

THOR III MERGER SUB, LLC
By:   CIM Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc., its sole member

 

By:  

/s/ Richard S. Ressler

Name:  

Richard S. Ressler

Title:  

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

(Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger)


COLE OFFICE & INDUSTRIAL REIT (CCIT III), INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathan D. DeBacker

Name:  

Nathan D. DeBacker

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

(Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger)


EXHIBIT A

CHARTER AMENDMENT


COLE OFFICE & INDUSTRIAL REIT (CCIT III), INC.

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT III), Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

FIRST: The charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) is hereby amended by deleting the definitions of “Roll-Up Entity” and “Roll-Up Transaction” in Article IV of the Charter in their entirety.

SECOND: The Charter is hereby further amended by deleting the existing Article XIII of the Charter in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof a new Article XIII as follows:

The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any Shares. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on Stockholders, Directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation. Except for those amendments permitted to be made without Stockholder approval under Maryland law or by specific provision in the Charter, any amendment to the Charter shall be valid only if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter, including without limitation, (a) any amendment which would adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Stockholders and (b) any amendment to Sections 7.2, 7.5 and 7.11 of Article VII, Article IX, Article X and Article XII hereof and this Article XIII (or any other amendment of the Charter that would have the effect of amending such sections).

THIRD: The Charter is hereby further amended by deleting the existing Article XIV of the Charter in its entirety.

FOURTH: The foregoing amendments have been duly advised by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.

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

-signature page follows-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its                      and attested to by its                      on this      day of                 , 2020.

 

ATTEST:

 

     COLE OFFICE & INDUSTRIAL REIT (CCIT III), INC.

By:

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

   

Name:

 

Title:

   

Title: