S-3

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2020

Registration No. 333-      ​

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GREAT AJAX CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Governing Instruments)

Maryland	47-1271842
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)

9400 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Suite 131
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-505-5670

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Lawrence Mendelsohn
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
9400 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Suite 131
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-505-5670

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

Anna T. Pinedo, Esq.
Brian D. Hirshberg, Esq.
Mayer Brown LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
212-506-2500

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of  “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☒ Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of each class of securities to be registered	Amount to be registered(1)		Proposed maximum offering price per unit(2)		Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(2)			Amount of registration fee
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share(3)	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share(3)	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Debt securities(3)	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Warrants(3)	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Units(3)	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​
Total	​	(4 )	​		​	$	150,000,000	​	$	7,111.85

(1)

There are being registered under this registration statement such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units of the Registrant as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $150,000,000. Any securities registered under this registration statement may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered under this registration statement. The proposed maximum initial offering prices per unit will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered under this registration statement. The securities registered also include such indeterminate amounts and numbers of common stock as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units that provide for such conversion or exchange. The amount of each class of securities being registered under this registration statement is not specified pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(2)

The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. Securities registered for sale by the Registrant hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder. A filing fee of $7,111.85 is being paid in connection with the filing of this registration statement. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, the securities registered hereunder include $54,790,857 in aggregate offering price of newly-registered securities and $95,209,143 in aggregate offering price of unsold securities (“Unsold Securities”) previously registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-219923) originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrant, on August 11, 2017 and declared effective on August 22, 2017 (the “Prior Registration Statement”). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, the filing fee of $11,035 relating to the Unsold Securities under the Prior Registration Statement, which was paid under the Prior Registration Statement, will continue to be applied to the Unsold Securities registered pursuant to this registration statement. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the Unsold Securities under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this registration statement.

(3)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, an indeterminate number of additional securities are registered hereunder that may be issued to prevent dilution in connection with a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, or similar event or adjustment. In addition, an indeterminate number of shares of common stock are registered hereunder that may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for any convertible preferred stock or debt securities, or upon exercise of any warrant.

(4)

In no event will the aggregate initial offering price of all securities issued from time to time by the Registrant pursuant to this registration statement exceed $150,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies, foreign currency units or composite currencies, excluding accrued interest, if any, on any debt securities issued under the registration statement.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy these securities be accepted prior to the time the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 5, 2020

PROSPECTUS

$150,000,000

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units

We may from time to time offer, in one or more series or classes, separately or together, and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus, the following securities:

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shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share;

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shares of our preferred stock (which we may issue in one or more classes or series), par value $0.01 per share;

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debt securities;

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warrants to purchase shares of common stock or preferred stock or debt securities; or

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units consisting of two or more of the foregoing.

We refer to the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and units, collectively, as the “securities” in this prospectus. We may offer, issue and sell the securities at an aggregate public offering price that will not exceed $150,000,000.

We will provide the specific terms of any securities we may offer in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement describing the amount of securities being offered and terms of the offering of those securities. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers on a continuous or delayed basis. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any underwriters, dealers and agents, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. The names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of any securities, the specific manner in which they may be offered and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in the prospectus supplement covering the sales of those securities.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “AJX.” On August 4, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $8.84.

To assist us in qualifying as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, among other purposes, ownership of our common stock by any person is generally limited to 9.8% of our outstanding common stock. In addition, our charter contains various other restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our common stock. See “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2, as well as the “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is            , 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	ii
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	ii
OUR COMPANY	1
RISK FACTORS	2
USE OF PROCEEDS	2
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER	2
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK	2
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK	4
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	5
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	11
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	12
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER	12
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS	14
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS	20
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	46
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE	48
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	49
LEGAL MATTERS	50
EXPERTS	50

No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus we may provide you in connection with an offering of securities. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus. This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor does this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. The information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement to this prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein are accurate only as of the date of such document. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, funds from operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process for the delayed offering and sale of securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under the shelf registration process, we may, over time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of  $150,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. As allowed by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. We will not use this prospectus to offer and sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that more fully describes the securities being offered and the terms of the offering. Any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add to, update or supersede other information contained in this prospectus.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” certain information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will update automatically, supplement and/or supersede this information. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. You should read the detailed information regarding our company, our securities and our financial statements and the notes to those statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated herein by reference. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus together with the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein as described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus. In this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Great Ajax,” “we,” “the company,” “our” and “us” refer to the activities of and the assets and liabilities of the business and operations of Great Ajax Corp., and references to “Operating Partnership” refer to Great Ajax Operating Partnership L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “will” and “would” or the negatives of these terms or other comparable terminology.

The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us or are within our control. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider these risks, along with the following factors that could cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements:

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the impact of adverse real estate, mortgage or housing markets and changes in the general economy;

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changes in our business strategy;

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the impact of the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak;

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general volatility of the capital markets;

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the impact of adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes;

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our ability to obtain financing arrangements on favorable terms or at all;

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our ability to implement our business strategy;

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difficulties in identifying re-performing loans, or RPLs, small balance commercial mortgage loans, or SBC loans, and properties to acquire; and the impact of changes to the supply of, value of and the returns on RPLs and SBC loans;

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our ability to compete with our competitors;

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our ability to control our costs;

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the impact of changes in interest rates and the market value of the collateral underlying our RPL and non-performing loan, or NPL, portfolios or of our other real estate assets;

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our ability to convert NPLs into performing loans or to modify or otherwise resolve such loans;

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our ability to convert NPLs to properties that can generate attractive returns either through sale or rental;

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our ability to retain our engagement of Thetis Asset Management LLC, or the Manager;

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the failure of Gregory Funding LLC, or the Servicer, to perform its obligations under the Servicing Agreement;

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our failure to qualify or maintain qualification as a REIT; and

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our failure to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

The forward-looking statements should be read in light of these factors and the factors identified in the “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and information that we file with the SEC from time to time.

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OUR COMPANY

We are a Maryland corporation that is organized and operated in a manner intended to allow us to qualify as a REIT. We primarily target acquisitions of RPLs, which are residential mortgage loans on which at least five of the seven most recent payments have been made, or the most recent payment has been made and accepted pursuant to an agreement, or the full dollar amount, to cover at least five payments has been paid in the last seven months. We also acquire and originate SBC loans. The SBC loans that we target through acquisitions generally have a principal balance of up to $5.0 million and are secured by multi-family residential and commercial mixed use retail/residential properties on which at least five of the seven most recent payments have been made, or the most recent payment has been made and accepted pursuant to an agreement, or the full dollar amount, to cover at least five payments has been paid in the last seven months. We also originate SBC loans that we believe will provide an appropriate risk-adjusted total return. Additionally, we invest in single-family and smaller commercial properties directly either through a foreclosure event of a loan in its mortgage portfolio or through a direct acquisition. We may also target investments in NPLs either directly or with joint venture partners. NPLs are loans on which the most recent three payments have not been made. We may acquire NPLs either directly or with joint venture partners. We own a 19.8% equity interest in the Manager and an 8.0% equity interest in the parent company of the Servicer. GA-TRS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that owns the equity interest in the Manager and the Servicer. We have elected to treat GA-TRS as a taxable REIT subsidiary under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. Our mortgage loans and real properties are serviced by the Servicer, also an affiliated company.

In 2014, we formed Great Ajax Funding LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, to act as the depositor of mortgage loans into securitization trusts and to hold the subordinated securities issued by such trusts and any additional trusts we may form for additional secured borrowings. AJX Mortgage Trust I and AJX Mortgage Trust II are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership formed to hold mortgage loans used as collateral for financings under our repurchase agreements. On February 1, 2015, we formed GAJX Real Estate Corp., as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, to own, maintain, improve and sell certain real estate owned, or REO, properties purchased by us. We have elected to treat GAJX Real Estate Corp. as a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, under the Code.

The Operating Partnership, through interests in certain entities, holds 99.8% of Great Ajax II REIT Inc. which holds an interest in Great Ajax II Depositor LLC which was formed to act as the depositor of mortgage loans into securitization trusts and to hold the subordinated securities issued by such trusts and any additional trusts we may form for additional secured borrowings. We have securitized mortgage loans through a securitization trust and retained subordinated securities from the secured borrowings. This trust is considered to be a variable interest entity, or VIE, and we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of this VIE.

In 2018, we formed Gaea Real Estate Corp., or Gaea, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership. We elected to treat Gaea as a TRS under the Code for 2018, and we elected to treat Gaea as a REIT under the Code in 2019 and thereafter. Also during 2018, we formed Gaea Real Estate Operating Partnership LP, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gaea, to hold investments in commercial real estate assets. We also formed BFLD Holdings LLC, Gaea Commercial Properties LLC, Gaea Commercial Finance LLC and Gaea RE LLC as subsidiaries of Gaea Real Estate Operating Partnership. In 2019, we formed DG Brooklyn Holdings, also a subsidiary of Gaea Real Estate Operating Partnership LP, to hold investments in multi-family properties. On November 22, 2019, Gaea completed a private capital raise in which it raised $66.3 million from the issuance of 4,419,641 shares of its common stock to third parties to allow Gaea to continue to advance its investment strategy. We retained a 23.2% ownership interest in Gaea following the transaction.

We elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 2014. Our qualification as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various complex requirements under the Code relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our distribution levels and the diversity of ownership of our capital stock. We believe that we are organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and that our current intended manner of operation enables us to meet the requirements for taxation as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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Our principal offices are located at 9400 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Suite 131, Beaverton, OR 97005. Our telephone number is 503-505-5670. Our web address is www.greatajax.com. The information on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves substantial risks. Before acquiring securities from us, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the other information contained in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any accompanying prospectus supplement. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. Please also refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to acquire mortgage-related assets having characteristics substantially similar to those comprising our loan portfolio, subject to the availability of appropriate investment opportunities consistent with our objectives.

Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in readily marketable, interest bearing, short-term investment grade securities or money market accounts that are consistent with our intention to qualify as a REIT. Such temporary investments are expected to provide a lower net return than we anticipate achieving from our targeted investments.

Further details regarding the use of the net proceeds from the sale of securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus contains a summary description of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and units that we may offer from time to time. As further described in this prospectus, these summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and other offering material. The accompanying prospectus supplement may update, change or add to the terms and conditions of the securities as described in this prospectus.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following summary description of our common stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Our charter provides that we may issue up to 125,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of June 1, 2020, 22,930,460 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares or the number of shares of any class or series without stockholder approval. Maryland law provides that none of our stockholders is personally liable to our creditors for any of our obligations solely as a result of that stockholder’s status as a stockholder.

Voting Rights of Common Stock

Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on the transfer and ownership of shares of common stock, each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters

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submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors, and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of shares of our stock, the holders of our common stock possess the exclusive voting power. Our directors are elected by plurality. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors or otherwise, which means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, voting as a single class, can elect all of the directors then standing for election.

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, transfer all or substantially all of its assets or engage in a share exchange unless advised by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter, unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation’s charter. Our charter provides for approval by a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter for the matters described in this paragraph, except that the charter requirement for a two-thirds vote to remove directors may be amended only with approval of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast.

Dividends, Liquidation and Other Rights

All shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be duly authorized, fully paid and non- assessable. Holders of our shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when authorized by our board of directors out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends. They also will be entitled to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities. These rights are subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of our stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer of our stock.

Holders of our shares of common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Subject to the restrictions on transfer of capital stock contained in our charter and to the ability of the board of directors to create shares of common stock with differing voting rights, all shares of common stock have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock into other classes or series of classes of our stock (including preferred stock), to establish the number of shares in each class or series and to set the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption for each such class or series. Further, our charter permits our board of directors, without stockholder action, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of our stock with the number of shares of any class or series of stock that we have authority to issue.

Power to Issue Additional Shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock

We believe that the power of our board of directors to issue additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and thereafter to cause us to issue such classified or reclassified shares of stock will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs which might arise. The additional classes or series, as well as our common stock, will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless stockholder action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although our board of directors has no intention at the present time of doing so, it could authorize us to issue a class or series that could, depending upon the terms of such class or series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest.

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

The following summary description of our preferred stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Our charter provides that we may issue up to 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, in one or more series and with rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions that our board of directors may fix or designate without any further vote or action by our stockholders.

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to reclassify any unissued shares of common stock into preferred stock, to classify any unissued shares of preferred stock and to reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of any series of preferred stock previously authorized by our board of directors. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series of preferred stock, our board will be required by Maryland law and our charter to fix the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, our board could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest.

As of June 1, 2020, 2,307,400 shares of Series A preferred stock and 2,892,600 shares of Series B preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Terms

When we issue preferred stock, it will be fully paid and nonassessable. The preferred stock will not have any preemptive rights.

Articles supplementary that will become part of our charter will set forth the specific terms of any new series of preferred stock offered. A prospectus supplement will describe these specific terms, including:

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the title and stated value;

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the number of shares, liquidation preference and offering price;

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the dividend rate, dividend periods and payment dates;

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the date on which dividends begin to accrue or accumulate;

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any auction and remarketing procedures;

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any retirement or sinking fund requirement;

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the price and the terms and conditions of any redemption right;

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any listing on any securities exchange;

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the price and the terms and conditions of any conversion or exchange right;

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any voting rights;

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the relative ranking and preferences as to dividends, liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

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any limitations on issuing any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividends, liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

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any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer; and

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any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions.

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Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer; Change of Control Provisions

As discussed under “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer,” our charter contains restrictions on ownership and transfers of our capital stock. In addition, the articles supplementary designating the terms of each series of preferred stock may also contain additional provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will describe any additional ownership limitation relating to a series of preferred stock.

For a discussion of provisions in our charter that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control, see “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and our Charter and Bylaws.”

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities under one or more trust indentures to be executed by us and a specified trustee. The terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the indenture and those made a part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or the Trust Indenture Act. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

The following description sets forth certain anticipated general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which an accompanying prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by an accompanying prospectus supplement (which terms may be different than those stated below) and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, investors should review both the accompanying prospectus supplement relating thereto and the following description. A form of the indenture (as discussed herein) has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The debt securities will be our direct obligations and may be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The indebtedness represented by subordinated securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our senior debt (as defined in the applicable indenture).

Except as set forth in the applicable indenture and described in an accompanying prospectus supplement relating thereto, the debt securities may be issued without limit as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, secured or unsecured, in each case as established from time to time in or pursuant to authority granted by a resolution of the board of trustees or as established in the applicable indenture. All debt securities of one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series, for issuance of additional debt securities of such series.

The accompanying prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will contain their specific terms, including, without limitation:

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their title and whether they are senior securities or subordinated securities;

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their initial aggregate principal amount and any limit on their aggregate principal amount;

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the percentage of the principal amount at which they will be issued and, if other than 100% of the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity;

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the terms, if any, upon which they may be convertible or exchangeable into our common stock, other securities or other property and the terms and conditions upon which a conversion or exchange will be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and the conversion or exchange period, any adjustments to the foregoing and any requirements relative to the reservation of shares for purposes of conversion or exchange;

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if convertible or exchangeable, any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of the common stock or preferred stock into which they are convertible or exchangeable;

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the date or dates, or the method for determining the date or dates, on which the principal will be payable;

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the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method for determining the rate or rates, at which they will bear interest, if any;

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the date or dates, or the method for determining the date or dates, from which any interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which any interest will be payable, the regular record dates for the interest payment dates, or the method by which the date will be determined and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

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the place or places where the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, will be payable, or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

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the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which they may be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at our option, if we are to have the option;

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our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase them pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which they will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to this obligation;

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if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which they are denominated and in which any payments of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, are payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and the related terms and conditions;

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whether the payments of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units or composite currencies) and the manner in which the amounts will be determined;

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any additions to, modifications of or deletions from their terms with respect to the events of default, to the rights of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable, or to the covenants, in each case as set forth in the indenture;

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any provisions for collateral security for their repayment;

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any provisions relating to guarantees;

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any trustees, depositories, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents;

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whether they will be issued in certificated or book-entry form;

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the date any temporary global security will be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first security of such series to be issued;

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if issued in definitive form only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

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if to be issued upon the exercise of debt warrants, the time, manner and place to be authenticated and delivered;

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the denominations if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

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the applicability, if any, of defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of the applicable indenture;

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whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts as contemplated in the applicable indenture in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem them in lieu of making the payment; and

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any other terms and any deletions from or modifications or additions to the applicable indenture.

The debt securities may provide for less than the entire principal amount thereof to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof. Special federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable to debt securities will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

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The applicable indenture may contain provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us or in the event of a change of control.

Restrictions on ownership and transfer of our common stock and preferred stock are designed to preserve our status as a REIT and, therefore, may act to prevent or hinder a change of control. See “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” in this prospectus. Investors should review the accompanying prospectus supplement for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale

The applicable indenture will provide that we may consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any other person (as defined therein), provided that:

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we are the continuing trust, or the successor person (if other than the Company) formed by or resulting from any consolidation or merger or which has received the transfer of our assets will be organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the applicable debt securities and under the indenture;

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immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the applicable indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, will have occurred and be continuing; and

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an officer’s certificate and legal opinion covering these conditions will be delivered to the trustee.

Covenants

The applicable indenture will contain covenants requiring us to take certain actions and prohibiting us from taking certain actions. The covenants with respect to any series of debt securities will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Each indenture will describe specific “events of default” with respect to a series of debt securities issued under the indenture. These “events of default” are likely to include (with grace and cure periods):

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our failure to pay any installment of interest;

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our failure to pay the principal (or premium, if any) at maturity;

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our failure to make any required sinking fund payment;

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our breach of any other covenant or warranty contained in the applicable indenture (other than a covenant added to the indenture solely for the benefit of a different series of debt securities); and

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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of us or any substantial part of our property.

If an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy described in the indenture occurs, all outstanding debt securities of that series will become due and payable immediately. If any other event of default under any indenture with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the applicable trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities or indexed securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by written notice thereof to us (and to the applicable trustee if given by the holders). However, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of such series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under any indenture, as the case may be) has been made, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series (or of all debt

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securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, as the case may be) may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

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the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree; and

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all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, interest or premium (or specified portion thereof), with respect to debt securities of such series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, as the case may be) have been cured or waived as provided in such indenture.

Each indenture also will provide that the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, as the case may be) may waive any past default with respect to the series and its consequences, except a:

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continuing payment default; or

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covenant default that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby.

Each trustee will be required to give notice to the holders of debt securities within a certain number of days of a default under the applicable indenture unless the default has been cured or waived; provided, however, that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default with respect to the series (except a default in the payment of the principal of  (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security of the series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect of any debt security of the series) if specified responsible officers of the trustee consider withholding the notice to be in the interest of the holders.

Each indenture will prohibit the holders of debt securities of any series from instituting any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for any remedy thereunder, except in the case of failure of the applicable trustee, for a certain period of time after the trustee has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an event of default from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, as well as the furnishing of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.

This provision will not prevent any holder of debt securities from instituting a suit to enforce the payment of the principal of  (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities at the respective due dates thereof.

Subject to the indenture, no trustee will be under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under an indenture at the request or direction of any holders of any series of debt securities then outstanding, unless the holders furnish the trustee thereunder reasonable security or indemnity. The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under an indenture, as the case may be) will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. However, a trustee may refuse to follow any direction, which is in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture, which may involve the trustee in personal liability or which may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of debt securities of such series not joining therein.

Within a certain period of time of the close of each fiscal year, we will be required to deliver to each trustee, a certificate, signed by one of several specified officers, stating whether or not the officer has knowledge of any default under the applicable indenture and, if so, specifying each default and the nature and status thereof.

Modification of the Indenture

The indenture will likely provide that it may be modified or amended, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of each series of the outstanding debt securities issued under the indenture affected by the modification or amendment, provided that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each affected holder of the debt securities:

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change the stated maturity date or reduce the amount of the principal of  (or premium, if any) or reduce the rate of interest or change the time for payment of any installment of interest, if any, on the debt securities;

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change the currency of payment of principal of  (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities;

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waive a default or event of default in the payment of principal of  (or premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities (other than as described in the indenture);

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waive a redemption payment, if any, or alter or waive any of the provisions in the indenture with respect to redemption;

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reduce the above-stated percentage of holders of the debt securities necessary to modify or amend the indenture; or

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modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage of the outstanding debt securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults.

A record date may be set for any act of the holders with respect to consenting to any amendment.

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected thereby will have the right to waive our compliance with certain covenants in the indenture. Each indenture will contain provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series to take permitted action. Under certain circumstances, we and the trustee may make modifications and amendments to an indenture without the consent of any holders of outstanding debt securities.

Redemption of Debt Securities

The debt securities may be redeemed at any time at our option, in whole or in part, to protect our status as a REIT. The debt securities may also be subject to optional or mandatory redemption on terms and conditions described in the applicable accompanying prospectus supplement.

Conversion of Debt Securities

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which any debt securities are convertible into our common stock or preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable accompanying prospectus supplement. The terms will include:

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whether the debt securities are convertible into our common stock or preferred stock;

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the conversion price (or the manner of calculating the price);

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the conversion period;

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the events requiring an adjustment to the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion if the debt securities are redeemed; and

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any restrictions on conversion.

Subordination

Upon any distribution to our creditors in a liquidation, dissolution or reorganization, the payment of the principal of and interest on any subordinated securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the applicable indenture to the prior payment in full of all senior securities. No payment of principal or interest will be permitted to be made on subordinated securities at any time if any payment default or any other default which permits accelerations exists. After all senior securities are paid in full and until the subordinated securities are paid in full, holders of subordinated securities will be subrogated to the right of holders of senior securities to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to holders of subordinated securities have been applied to the payment of senior securities. By reason of any subordination, in the event of a distribution of assets upon our insolvency, some of our general creditors may recover more, ratably,

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than holders of subordinated securities. The accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated herein by reference will contain the approximate amount of senior securities outstanding as of the end of our most recent fiscal quarter.

Global Debt Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in global form. The global securities will be deposited with a depositary, or with a nominee for a depositary, identified in the accompanying prospectus supplement. In this case, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series to be represented by the global security or securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for the global security to a nominee of the depositary or by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary or by the depositary or any nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

The specific material terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the applicable accompanying prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for the global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of persons or participants that have accounts with the depositary. The accounts to be credited will be designated by any underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the global security, with respect to interests of participants, or by participants or persons that hold through participants, with respect to interests of persons other than participants. So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture; provided, however, that for purposes of obtaining any consents or directions required to be given by the holders of the debt securities, we, the trustee and our agents will treat a person as the holder of the principal amount of debt securities as specified in a written statement of the depositary. Except as set forth herein or otherwise provided in the accompanying prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security. Neither we, the trustee nor any paying agent for the debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street names” and will be the responsibility of the participants.

If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within the period of time set forth in the indenture, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the global security. In addition, we may at any time, and in our sole discretion, determine not to have any of the debt

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securities of a series represented by one or more global securities and, in that event, will issue debt securities of the series in definitive form in exchange for all of the global security or securities representing the debt securities.

The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in debt securities represented by global securities.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, and may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or attached to, or separate from, such securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement between us and a bank or trust company as warrant agent, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The form of the warrant agreement and the form of the warrant certificate will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not act for or on behalf of warrant holders. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that may be offered under this registration statement. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, where applicable, the following:

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the title of such warrants;

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the aggregate number of such warrants;

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the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;

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the type and number of securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;

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the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such offered security;

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the date, if any, on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

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the price at which each security purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;

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the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

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the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

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any anti-dilution protection;

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a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

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any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exercise and exchange of such warrants.

Warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new warrant certificates of different denominations and warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have

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any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise or to any dividend payments or voting rights as to which holders of the shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise may be entitled.

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, at such exercise price as shall, in each case, be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. After the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, unexercised warrants will be void.

Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants.

Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants are presented for exercise with respect to a warrant certificate, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of one or more of the other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination. Units may also include debt obligations of a third party. These units may be issuable as, and for a specified period of time may be transferable only as, a single security, rather than as the separate constituent securities comprising such units. The statements made in this section relating to the units are summaries only and are not complete. When we issue units, we will provide the specific terms of the units in a prospectus supplement. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

When we issue units, we will provide in a prospectus supplement the following terms of the units being issued when applicable:

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the title of any series of units;

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identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

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the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

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the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

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information with respect to any book-entry procedures;

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a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to an investment in the units; and

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any other material terms of the units and their constituent securities.

RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER

In order to qualify as a REIT under the Code, our shares of capital stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, no more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares of capital stock (after taking into account options to acquire shares of stock) may be owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities). These requirements are not applicable to the first taxable year in which a REIT election is made.

Because our board of directors believes that it is essential for us to qualify as a REIT, the charter, subject to certain exceptions, contains restrictions on the number of shares of our capital stock that a person may own and prohibits certain entities from owning our shares. Our charter provides that, subject to certain exceptions, no person, including a “group” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), may beneficially own, or be deemed to own, by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our common stock or the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our capital

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stock. Our board may, in its sole discretion, waive the ownership limit with respect to a particular stockholder if our board is presented with evidence satisfactory to it that the ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our status as a REIT. In connection with our private placement in July and August 2014, our board waived such limit in connection with the ownership by Flexpoint Great Ajax Holdings LLC (an affiliate of an investment fund managed by Flexpoint Ford LLC, otherwise referred to as “Flexpoint REIT Investor”), investors consisting of an investment fund for which Wellington Management Company LLP is the investment advisor (collectively the “Wellington Investors”) and certain other investors, for up to 20% of our then outstanding common stock plus the percentage of our common stock that such person would be deemed to beneficially own or constructively own as a result of its ownership of an interest in the Manager and the Servicer. Additionally, in connection with our private placement in April 2020, our board waived such limit in connection with the ownership by certain affiliates of Magnetar Capital LLC for up to 20% of our then outstanding common stock.

Our charter also prohibits any person from (a) beneficially owning shares of our capital stock that would result in us being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT, and (b) transferring shares of our capital stock if such transfer would result in our capital stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons. Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial ownership of shares of our capital stock that will or may violate any of the foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership is required to give notice immediately to us and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer on our status as a REIT. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership do not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.

Our charter provides that any transfer that will result in our shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons will be void and that any ownership or transfer of our shares in violation of the other restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph will result in the shares that would result in such violation being automatically transferred to a trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary, and the purported owner or transferee acquiring no rights in such shares. If the transfer to the trust is ineffective for any reason to prevent a violation of these restrictions, the transfer that would have resulted in such violation will be void from the outset and the purported transferee will acquire no rights in such shares.

In addition, our charter documents limit equity participation by “benefit plan investors” so that such participation in any class of our equity securities by such “benefit plan investors” will not be deemed “significant.” For such purposes, the terms “benefit plan investors” and “significant” are determined by reference to certain regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Our charter also provides that to the extent that we incur or our board of directors determines that we will incur any tax pursuant to Section 860E(c) of the Code as the result of any “excess inclusion” income (within the meaning of Section 860E of the Code), which tax is allocable to a stockholder that is a “disqualified organization” (as defined in Section 860E(e)(5) of the Code), our board of directors will cause us to allocate such tax solely to the stock held by such disqualified organization in the manner described by Treasury Regulations, by reducing from one or more distributions to be paid to such stockholder the tax incurred by us pursuant to Section 860E(c) of the Code as a result of such stockholder’s stock ownership.

All certificates representing shares of our capital stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

Every owner of more than 5% (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of all outstanding shares of our capital stock, including shares of common stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, is required to give written notice to us stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class and series of shares of our stock which the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each owner shall provide to us such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of the beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limitations. In addition, each stockholder shall upon demand be required to provide to us such information as we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

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These ownership limitations could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for the common stock or might otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Policy on Poison Pills

We do not have a stockholders “rights plan,” which for this purpose means any arrangement pursuant to which, directly or indirectly, common stock or preferred stock purchase rights may be distributed to stockholders that provide all stockholders, other than persons who meet certain criteria specified in the arrangement, the right to purchase the common stock or preferred stock at less than the prevailing market price of the common stock or preferred stock (sometimes referred to as a “poison pill”). Our board of directors considers it unlikely that such a plan would be considered in the future.

Our board of directors shall seek and obtain stockholder approval before adopting a poison pill; provided, however, that the board may adopt a poison pill if, under the then circumstances, the board, including a majority of its independent members, in its exercise of its fiduciary responsibilities, deems it to be in the best interests of the company’s stockholders to adopt a poison pill without the delay in adoption that would come from the time reasonably anticipated to be necessary to seek stockholder approval.

If a poison pill were to be adopted without prior stockholder approval, the poison pill will either be ratified by stockholders or expire, without being renewed or replaced, within one year.

Stock Exchange Listing

Our shares of common stock are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “AJX.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our shares of common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

The following description of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our charter and bylaws is only a summary. For a complete description, we refer you to the applicable Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws.

Number of Directors; Vacancies

Our charter and bylaws provide that the initial number of directors shall be one and that the number of our directors may only be increased or decreased by a vote of a majority of the members of our board of directors; provided that the number of directors may not be less than the minimum required by Maryland law.

Since the completion of our initial public offering, our board of directors has consisted of seven members.

Upon such time as we are eligible to make an election under Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or the MGCL, subject to the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum.

Except as may be provided with respect to any class or series of our stock, at each annual meeting of our stockholders, each of our directors will be elected by our stockholders to serve until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. A plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors is sufficient to elect a director, and holders of shares of common stock will have no right to cumulative voting in the election of directors. Consequently, at each annual meeting of stockholders, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote will be able to elect all of our directors at any annual meeting.

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Removal of Directors

Our charter provides that a director may be removed only with cause and upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors. Our charter defines cause, for the purpose of removal of directors, to mean, with respect to a director, conviction of a felony or a judgment of a court that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to us through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty. Absent removal of all of our directors, this provision, when coupled with the provision of our charter making an election under Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permitting only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, may preclude stockholders from removing incumbent directors and filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

Business Combinations

Maryland law prohibits “business combinations” between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance, transfer or reclassification of equity securities.

Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:

•

any person or entity who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our stock; or

•

an affiliate or associate of ours who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of our then outstanding voting stock.

A person is not an interested stockholder if our board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, our board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by our board of directors.

After the five-year period, any business combination between us and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

•

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our then outstanding shares of capital stock; and

•

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our voting stock other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or stock held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if our common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its stock.

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are approved by our board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder.

Pursuant to the MGCL, our board of directors has by resolution exempted business combinations between us and any other person from these provisions of the MGCL, provided that the business combination is first approved by our board of directors and, consequently, the five-year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to such business combinations. As a result, any person may be able to enter into business combinations with us in whole or in part at any time. According to resolutions of our board of directors, we are not permitted to opt back in to these provisions without the approval of the holders of a majority of our shares of common stock. If this resolution were repealed or rescinded with approval by a vote of our stockholders, or our board of directors does not otherwise approve a business combination, the business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.

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Control Share Acquisitions

Maryland law provides that “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights unless approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquirer or by officers or directors who are our employees are excluded from the shares entitled to vote on the matter. “Control shares” are voting shares that, if aggregated with all other shares previously acquired by the acquiring person, or in respect of which the acquiring person is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiring person to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

•

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

•

one-third or more but less than a majority; or

•

a majority or more of all voting power.

Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person, of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition of our stock may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, we may present the question at any stockholders’ meeting.

If voting rights are not approved at the stockholders’ meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement required by Maryland law, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, we may redeem any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved, for fair value. Fair value is determined without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares were considered and not approved. Before a control share acquisition has occurred, if voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders’ meeting and the acquiring person is entitled to exercise, or direct the exercise of, a majority or more of all voting power, all stockholders (other than the acquiring person) have the rights of objecting stockholders (including appraisal rights), as provided in Subtitle 2 of Title 3 of the MGCL. The fair value of the shares for purposes of these appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition. The control share acquisition statute does not apply to, among other exceptions, shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if we are a party to the transaction, nor does it apply to acquisitions approved by or exempted by our charter or bylaws.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting any and all acquisitions of our shares of stock from the control shares provisions of Maryland law. We may not opt back in to this provision without the approval of the holders of a majority of our shares of common stock.

Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act

The Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act, or the “MUTA,” permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of its five provisions, which provide that:

•

the corporation’s board of directors will be divided into three classes;

•

the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast by stockholders generally in the election of directors is required to remove a director;

•

the number of directors may be fixed only by vote of the directors;

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•

a vacancy on the board of directors that results from: (i) an increase in the size of the board of directors; or (ii) the death, resignation or removal of a director may be filled only by the remaining directors (even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum) and that directors elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and

•

the request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting is required for stockholders to require the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

A board of directors may implement all or any of those provisions without amending the charter or bylaws and without stockholder approval. The corporation may be prohibited by its charter or by resolution of its board of directors from electing any of the provisions of the statute. Our charter provides that we will not elect to be subject to the provisions of the MUTA pursuant to which our board of directors would be divided into three classes. That prohibition in our charter may not be repealed unless the repeal, or classification of our directors, is approved by our stockholders by a vote of at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast. We are not prohibited from implementing any other provision of the statute. Our charter provides an election by us into certain provisions of the statute in order that, except as may be provided by our board of directors in setting the terms of any class of preferred stock, any vacancies on the board may be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, and a director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the balance of the unexpired term.

Amendment of Charter

Except for amendments to the provisions of our charter relating to the removal of directors and the vote required to amend these provisions (each of which must be advised by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast not less than two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter), our charter generally may be amended only if advised by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Our board of directors has the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws and the vote required to amend such provisions, must be approved by the holders of at least three-fourths of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon (other than shares of our common stock held by our Manager and the Servicer and any shares of our common stock held by our directors and executive officers).

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, but not any provision that limits the liability of directors or officers to the corporation or its stockholders:

•

to the extent that it is proved that the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or

•

to the extent that a judgment adverse to the person is entered based on a finding that the person’s action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action.

Our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Our charter provides that we have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses to, any of our present or former directors or officers or any individual who, while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another entity, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or otherwise. Our bylaws require us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify each present or former director or officer who is made a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service to us.

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Maryland law will permit us to indemnify our present and former directors and officers against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they are made a party by reason of service to us, unless it is established that:

•

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

•

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

•

in the case of a criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

However, if the proceeding was one by or in the right of the corporation, under Maryland law, indemnification may not be made in respect of any proceeding in which the director shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. In addition, a director may not be indemnified in respect of any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director, whether or not involving action in the director’s official capacity, in which the director was adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. Further, a director or officer may not be indemnified for a proceeding brought by that person against us, except (i) for a proceeding brought to enforce indemnification or (ii) if the charter or bylaws, a resolution of the board of directors or an agreement approved by the board of directors to which the corporation is a party expressly provide otherwise, none of which is applicable to us.

Our bylaws and Maryland law will require us, as a condition to advancing expenses in certain circumstances, to obtain:

•

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification; and

•

a written undertaking by him or her to repay the amount reimbursed by us if the requisite standard of conduct is not met.

Operations

We generally will be prohibited from engaging in certain activities, including acquiring or holding any asset or engaging in any activity that would cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

Term and Termination

Our charter provides for us to have a perpetual existence. Pursuant to our charter, and subject to the provisions of any of our classes or series of shares of capital stock then outstanding and the approval by a majority of the entire board of directors, our stockholders, at any meeting thereof, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, may approve a plan of liquidation and dissolution.

Meetings of Stockholders

Under our bylaws, annual meetings of stockholders are to be held upon reasonable notice and not less than 30 days after delivery of our annual report as determined by our board of directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only by a majority of the directors then in office, by the Chairman of our board of directors, our President or our Secretary upon the written request of the holders of common stock entitled to cast not less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting.

Maryland law provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or by unanimous consent in lieu of a meeting (unless the charter permits the consent to be less than unanimous, which our charter does not).

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

Our bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to our board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders at the annual meeting may be made only:

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•

pursuant to our notice of the meeting;

•

by our board of directors; or

•

by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time of the provision of notice and at the time of the meeting who is entitled to vote at the meeting and has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws.

With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of stockholders and nominations of persons for election to our board of directors may be made only:

•

pursuant to our notice of the meeting;

•

by our board of directors; or

•

provided that our board of directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time of the provision of notice and at the time of the meeting who is entitled to vote at the meeting and has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws.

The purpose of requiring stockholders to give advance notice of nominations and other proposals is to afford our board of directors the opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposals and, to the extent considered necessary by our board of directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations regarding the nominations or other proposals. The advance notice procedures also permit a more orderly procedure for conducting our stockholder meetings. Although our bylaws will not give our board of directors the power to disapprove timely stockholder nominations and proposals, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or proposals for other action if the proper procedures are not followed, and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors to our board of directors or to approve its own proposal.

No Approval Rights

In certain extraordinary transactions, Maryland law provides to dissenting stockholders the right to demand and receive the fair value of their shares, subject to certain procedures and requirements set forth in the statute. Those rights are commonly referred to as appraisal rights. Except with respect to appraisal rights arising in connection with Maryland’s control share acquisition statute discussed above, as permitted by Maryland law, our charter provides that stockholders will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights unless our board of directors determines that such rights apply to a subsequently occurring transaction in connection with which stockholders would otherwise be entitled to appraisal rights under Maryland law.

Possible Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws

The business combination provision and control share acquisition provisions of Maryland law (if the applicable provision in our bylaws is rescinded), the provisions of our charter on the removal of directors and the restrictions on the transfer of shares of our stock, and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a transaction or a change in the control that might involve a premium price for holders of the shares of common stock or might otherwise be in their best interest.

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations a prospective stockholder of our common stock may consider relevant. The material U.S. federal income tax considerations related to our other securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Because this section is a summary, it does not address all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to particular stockholders in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of stockholders that are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:

•

insurance companies;

•

tax-exempt organizations, tax-deferred and tax-advantaged accounts;

•

financial institutions or broker-dealers;

•

dealers in securities or currencies;

•

non-U.S. individuals and non-U.S. corporations (except to the extent discussed in “—  Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders” or “—  Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” below);

•

U.S. expatriates;

•

persons who mark-to-market our shares of common stock;

•

subchapter S corporations;

•

U.S. stockholders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

•

regulated investment companies and REITs, and their investors;

•

trusts and estates (except to the extent discussed herein);

•

persons who receive our shares of common stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation;

•

persons holding our shares of common stock as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment;

•

persons subject to special rules under Section 451(b) of the Code;

•

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code;

•

persons holding our shares of common stock through a partnership or similar pass-through entity; and

•

persons holding a 10% or more (by vote or value) beneficial interest in our shares of common stock.

This summary assumes that stockholders hold our shares of common stock as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which generally means as property held for investment.

The statements in this section are not intended to be, and should not be construed as, tax advice. The statements in this section are based on the Code, current, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, and court decisions. The reference to IRS interpretations and practices includes the IRS practices and policies endorsed in private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except with respect to the taxpayer that receives the ruling. In each case, these sources are relied upon as they exist on the date of this discussion. Future legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions could change current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law on which the information in this section is based. Any such change could apply retroactively. We have not received any rulings from the IRS concerning our intention to qualify as a REIT, but we have received a private letter ruling from the IRS that allows us to exclude our proportionate share of gross income from the Manager if we held our interest in the Manager through our Operating Partnership. Although we have received such a ruling, we continue to hold our interest in the Manager through Thetis TRS instead of through our Operating Partnership. Accordingly, even if there is no change in the applicable law, no assurance can be provided that the statements made in the following discussion, which do not bind the IRS or the courts, will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if so challenged.

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WE URGE YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISER REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND SALE OF OUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND OF OUR ELECTION TO BE TAXED AS A REIT. SPECIFICALLY, YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISER REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, SALE AND ELECTION, AND REGARDING POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS.

Taxation of Our Company

We elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code commencing with our short taxable year ended December 31, 2014. We believe that, commencing with our short taxable year ended December 31, 2014, we have been organized and have operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the U.S. federal income tax laws, and we intend to continue to operate in such a manner, but no assurances can be given that we will operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT. This section discusses the laws governing the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders. These laws are highly technical and complex.

In connection with this filing, Mayer Brown LLP will render an opinion that, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2014, we were organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and our current and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for our taxable year ending December 31, 2020 and subsequent taxable years. Investors should be aware that Mayer Brown LLP’s opinion is based upon customary assumptions, will be conditioned upon certain representations made by us as to factual matters, including representations regarding the nature of our assets and the conduct of our business, is not binding upon the IRS, or any court and speaks as of the date issued. In addition, Mayer Brown LLP’s opinion will be based on existing U.S. federal income tax law governing qualification as a REIT, which is subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Moreover, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual results, certain qualification tests set forth in the U.S. federal income tax laws. Those qualification tests involve the percentage of income that we earn from specified sources, the percentage of our assets that falls within specified categories, the diversity of our capital stock ownership, and the percentage of our earnings that we distribute. Mayer Brown LLP will not review our compliance with those tests on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operations for any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements. Our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification tests will depend upon our analysis of the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which will not be susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals. Our compliance with the REIT income and quarterly asset requirements also depends upon our ability to successfully manage the composition of our income and assets on an ongoing basis (which, based on the types of assets we will own, could fluctuate rapidly, significantly and unpredictably). In addition, we will be required to make estimates of or otherwise determine the value of real property that is collateral for our mortgage loan assets. There can be no assurance that the IRS would not challenge our valuations or valuation estimates of this collateral.

If we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our REIT taxable income that we currently distribute to our stockholders, but taxable income generated by any domestic TRS, such as Thetis TRS, will be subject to regular corporate income tax. However, we will be subject to U.S. federal tax in the following circumstances:

•

We will pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to stockholders during, or within a specified time period after, the calendar year in which the income is earned.

•

We will pay income tax at the highest corporate rate on:

•

net income from the sale or other disposition of property acquired through foreclosure, or foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, and

•

other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property.

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•

We will pay a 100% tax on net income earned from sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

•

If we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as described below under “— Gross Income Tests,” but nonetheless continue to qualify as a REIT because we meet other requirements, we will be subject to a 100% tax on:

•

the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, multiplied, in either case, by

•

a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

•

If we fail to satisfy the asset tests (other than a de minimis failure of the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test, as described below under “—  Asset Tests”), as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we dispose of the assets or otherwise comply with such asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify such failure and we file a schedule with the IRS describing the assets that caused such failure, we will pay a tax equal to the greater of  $50,000 or the product of the highest U.S. federal corporate tax rate and the net income from the non-qualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy such asset tests.

•

If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, and the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will be required to pay a penalty of  $50,000 for each such failure.

•

We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet recordkeeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REIT’s stockholders, as described below in “—  Requirements for Qualification.”

•

If we fail to distribute during a calendar year at least the sum of: (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from earlier periods, we will pay a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amount we actually distributed, plus any retained amounts on which income tax has been paid at the corporate level.

•

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net long-term capital gain. In that case, a U.S. stockholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain (to the extent that we make a timely designation of such gain to the stockholder) and would receive a credit or refund for its proportionate share of the tax we paid.

•

We will be subject to a 100% excise tax on transactions between us and a TRS that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis including “redetermined TRS service income.” Redetermined TRS service income generally represents gross income of a taxable REIT subsidiary that is understated and attributable to services provided to us or on our behalf.

•

The earnings of our TRSs and any other TRS that we may form will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax.

•

If we acquire any asset from a C corporation, or a corporation that generally is subject to full corporate- level tax, in a merger or other transaction in which we acquire a basis in the asset that is determined by reference either to the C corporation’s basis in the asset or to another asset, we will pay tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable if we recognize gain on the sale or disposition of the asset during the 5-year period after we acquire the asset. The amount of gain on which we will pay tax is the lesser of:

•

the amount of gain that we recognize at the time of the sale or disposition, and

•

the amount of gain that we would have recognized if we had sold the asset at the time we acquired it, assuming that the C corporation will not elect, in lieu of this treatment, to be subject to an immediate tax when the asset is acquired.

•

If we derive “excess inclusion income” from an interest in certain mortgage loan securitization structures (i.e., from a taxable mortgage pool, or TMP, or a residual interest in a real estate mortgage

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investment conduit, or REMIC), we could be subject to corporate level U.S. federal income tax to the extent that such income is allocable to specified types of tax-exempt stockholders known as “disqualified organizations” that are not subject to unrelated business income tax. To the extent that we own a REMIC residual interest or a TMP through a TRS, we will not be subject to this tax directly, but all of the income from the investment will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the TRS level. See “—  Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income” below.

In addition, notwithstanding our qualification as a REIT, we may also have to pay certain state and local income taxes, because not all states and localities treat REITs in the same manner that they are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Moreover, as further described below, any domestic TRS in which we may own an interest will be subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income tax on its taxable income. In addition, we may be subject to a variety of taxes other than U.S. federal income tax, including state and local franchise, property and other taxes and foreign taxes. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.

Requirements for Qualification

A REIT is a corporation, trust, or association that meets each of the following requirements:

1.

It is managed by one or more trustees or directors.

2.

Its beneficial ownership is evidenced by transferable shares or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest.

3.

It would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for the REIT provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws.

4.

It is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws.

5.

At least 100 persons are beneficial owners (determined without reference to any rules of attribution) of its shares or ownership certificates.

6.

Not more than 50% in value of its outstanding shares or ownership certificates is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals, which the U.S. federal income tax laws define to include certain entities, during the last half of any taxable year.

7.

It elects to be taxed as a REIT, or has made such election for a previous taxable year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements that must be met to elect and maintain REIT qualification.

8.

It meets certain other qualification tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the distribution of its income.

9.

It uses the calendar year as its taxable year.

10.

It has no earnings and profits from any non-REIT taxable year at the close of any taxable year.

We must meet requirements 1 through 4 and 9 during our entire taxable year and must meet requirement 5 during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than twelve months. Requirements 5 and 6 apply to us beginning with our 2015 taxable year. If we comply with all the requirements for ascertaining the ownership of our outstanding shares in a taxable year and have no reason to know that we violated requirement 6, we will be deemed to have satisfied requirement 6 for that taxable year. For purposes of determining share ownership under requirement 6, an “individual” generally includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes. An “individual” generally does not include a trust that is a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust under the U.S. federal income tax laws, however, and beneficiaries of such a trust will be treated as holding our shares in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of requirement 6.

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We believe that we have issued shares with sufficient diversity of ownership to satisfy requirements 5 and 6. In addition, our charter restricts the ownership and transfer of our shares so that we should continue to satisfy these requirements. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy these share ownership requirements. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, our qualification as a REIT may terminate. The provisions of our charter restricting the ownership and transfer of the shares are described in “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

To monitor compliance with the share ownership requirements, we generally will be required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our shares pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons required to include our dividends in their gross income). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record-keeping requirements. If you fail or refuse to comply with the demands, you will be required by Treasury Regulations to submit a statement with your tax return disclosing your actual ownership of our shares and other information. In addition, we must satisfy all relevant filing and other administrative requirements that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status. We intend to comply with these requirements.

Qualified REIT Subsidiaries

A corporation that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” is not treated as a corporation separate from its parent REIT. All assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary are treated as assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the REIT. A qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a TRS, all of the shares of which is owned, directly or through one or more qualified REIT subsidiaries or disregarded entities, by the REIT. Thus, in applying the requirements described herein, any qualified REIT subsidiary that we own will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of such subsidiary will be treated as our assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit.

Other Disregarded Entities and Partnerships

An unincorporated domestic entity, such as a limited liability company, that has a single owner generally is not treated as an entity separate from its parent for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An unincorporated domestic entity with two or more owners generally is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership that has other partners, the REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the partnership for purposes of the applicable REIT qualification tests. For purposes of the 10% value test (see “—  Asset Tests”), our proportionate share is based on our proportionate interest in the equity interests and certain debt securities issued by the partnership. For all of the other asset and income tests, our proportionate share is based on our proportionate interest in the capital interests in the partnership. Our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities, and items of income of any partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we acquire an interest, directly or indirectly, will be treated as our assets and gross income for purposes of applying the various REIT qualification requirements. In the event that a disregarded subsidiary of ours ceases to be wholly-owned - for example, if any equity interest in the subsidiary is acquired by a person other than us or another disregarded subsidiary of ours - the subsidiary’s separate existence would no longer be disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Instead, the subsidiary would have multiple owners and would be treated as either a partnership or a taxable corporation. Such an event could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income requirements applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the total value or total voting power of the outstanding securities of another corporation. See “—  Asset Tests” and “—  Gross Income Tests.”

Ownership of Subsidiary REITs

Our Operating Partnership currently owns an indirect 99.8% interest in Great Ajax II REIT, Inc. and may own 100% of the common stock in one or more of our subsidiaries that will elect to be taxed as REITs,

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which we refer to as “Subsidiary REITs.” We may use the Subsidiary REITs for various purposes, including to execute non-REMIC securitization transactions that are treated as TMPs, as described in “—  Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.”

Any Subsidiary REIT will be subject to the various REIT qualification requirements and other limitations described that apply to us. We believe that Great Ajax II REIT, Inc. and any other Subsidiary REIT that we may own an interest in will be organized and will operate in a manner to permit it to qualify for taxation as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes from and after the effective date of its REIT election. However, if any Subsidiary REIT were to fail to qualify as a REIT, then (i) the Subsidiary REIT would become subject to regular corporate income tax as described in “—  Failure to Qualify,” and (ii) our ownership of shares of common stock in the Subsidiary REIT would not be a qualifying real estate asset for purposes of the 75% asset test and would become subject to the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test, and the 10% value test generally applicable to our ownership in corporations other than REITs, qualified REIT subsidiaries and TRSs. See “—  Asset Tests.” If a Subsidiary REIT were to fail to qualify as a REIT, it is possible that we would not meet the 10% vote test, 10% value test and the 5% asset test with respect to our indirect interest in such entity, in which event we would fail to qualify as a REIT unless we could avail ourselves of certain relief provisions, as described in “—  Asset Tests.”

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries

A REIT is permitted to own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. A TRS is a fully taxable corporation that may earn income that would not be qualifying income if earned directly by the parent REIT. The subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. A corporation with respect to which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the outstanding securities will automatically be treated as a TRS. However, an entity will not qualify as a TRS if it directly or indirectly operates or manages a lodging or health care facility or, generally, provides to another person, under a franchise, license or otherwise, rights to any brand name under which any lodging facility or health care facility is operated. We generally may not own more than 10%, as measured by voting power or value, of the securities of a corporation that is not a qualified REIT subsidiary or a REIT unless we and such corporation elect to treat such corporation as a TRS. Overall, no more than 20% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more TRSs.

The separate existence of a TRS or other taxable corporation, unlike a disregarded subsidiary as discussed above, is not ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a domestic TRS would generally be subject to corporate income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash flow generated by us and our subsidiaries in the aggregate and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

A REIT is not treated as holding the assets of a TRS or other taxable subsidiary corporation or as receiving any income that the subsidiary earns. Rather, the stock issued by the subsidiary is an asset in the hands of the REIT, and the REIT generally recognizes as income the dividends, if any, that it receives from the subsidiary. This treatment can affect the gross income and asset test calculations that apply to the REIT, as described below.

Because a parent REIT does not include the assets and income of such subsidiary corporations in determining the parent REIT’s compliance with the REIT requirements, such entities may be used by the parent REIT to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude it from doing directly or through pass-through subsidiaries or render commercially unfeasible (for example, activities that give rise to certain categories of income such as non-qualifying hedging income or inventory sales).

Certain restrictions imposed on TRSs are intended to ensure that such entities will be subject to appropriate levels of U.S. federal income taxation. If amounts are paid to a REIT or deducted by a TRS due to transactions between a REIT, its tenants and/or a TRS, that exceed the amount that would be paid to or deducted by a party in an arm’s-length transaction, the REIT generally will be subject to an excise tax equal to 100% of such excess. Similarly, if amounts are paid to a TRS for services provided to or on behalf of its parent REIT and such amounts are less than the amount that would be paid to a party in an arm’s-length transaction, the REIT generally will be subject to an excise tax equal to 100% of such deficiency. We intend that all of our transactions with Thetis TRS, GAJX Real Estate LLC and any other TRS that

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we may form will be conducted on an arm’s-length basis, but there can be no assurance that we will be successful in this regard.

We have elected to treat certain of our subsidiaries, including Thetis TRS and GAJX Real Estate LLC as TRSs and we may form or invest in additional domestic or foreign TRSs in the future. We have received a private letter ruling from the IRS that allows us to exclude our proportionate share of gross income from the Manager if we held our interest in the Manager through our Operating Partnership. Although we received such a ruling, we continue to hold our interest in the Manager through Thetis TRS instead of through our Operating Partnership. Thetis TRS owns a 19.8% equity interest in our Manager. We may also use a TRS, including GAJX Real Estate LLC, to market and sell distressed mortgage loans and property acquired upon foreclosure of those loans, and may modify loans through a TRS. We intend to market and sell mortgage loans and the related foreclosed property through a TRS when the sale of those assets directly by us or our Operating Partnership may be subject to the 100% prohibited transactions tax. See “— Gross Income Tests - Prohibited Transactions.” We anticipate that our marketing and sales of loans and the related foreclosed property will generally be conducted through a TRS.

It is possible that such TRS will be treated as a dealer for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In that case, such TRS will generally mark all the loans it holds on the last day of each taxable year, if any, to their market value, and will recognize ordinary income or loss on such loans with respect to such taxable year as if they had been sold for that value on that day. If we significantly modify mortgage loans in a TRS and determine that such TRS qualifies as a trader, but not a dealer, for tax purposes, such TRS may elect to be subject to similar “mark-to-market” rules that apply to electing traders.

A TRS may also provide services with respect to our properties to the extent we determine that having a TRS provide those services will assist us in complying with the gross income tests applicable to REITs. See “—  Gross Income Tests - Rents From Real Property.”

Under legislation commonly known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “TCJA”), for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the deduction of net interest expense is limited for all businesses; provided that certain businesses, including real estate businesses, may elect not to be subject to such limitations and instead to depreciate their real property related assets over longer depreciable lives. To the extent that our TRSs or any other TRS we form has interest expense that exceeds its interest income, the net interest expense limitation could potentially apply to such TRS.

To the extent that our TRSs or any other TRS that we may form pays any taxes, they will have less cash available for distribution to us. If dividends are paid by domestic TRSs to us, then the dividends we designate and pay to our stockholders who are taxed at individual rates, up to the amount of dividends that we receive from such entities, generally will be eligible to be taxed at the reduced 20% maximum U.S. federal rate applicable to qualified dividend income. See “—  Taxation of U.S. Holders - Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders on Distributions on Shares.”

Gross Income Tests

We must satisfy two gross income tests annually to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of defined types of income that we derive, directly or indirectly, from investments relating to real property or mortgage loans on real property or qualified temporary investment income. Qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test generally includes:

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rents from real property;

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interest on debt secured by a mortgage on real property or on interests in real property, and interest on debt secured by mortgages on both real and personal property if the fair market value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all such property;

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dividends or other distributions on, and gain from the sale of, shares in other REITs;

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gain from the sale of real property or mortgage loans;

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income and gain derived from foreclosure property (as described below);

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•

income derived from a REMIC in proportion to the real estate assets held by the REMIC, unless at least 95% of the REMIC’s assets are real estate assets, in which case all of the income derived from the REMIC; and

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income derived from the temporary investment of new capital that is attributable to the issuance of our shares or a public offering of our debt with a maturity date of at least five years and that we receive during the one-year period beginning on the date on which we received such new capital.

Second, in general, at least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test (except for income derived from the temporary investment of new capital), other types of interest and dividends, gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities or any combination of these.

Certain income items do not qualify for either gross income test. Other types of income are excluded from both the numerator and the denominator in one or both of the gross income tests. For example, gross income from the sale of property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, income and gain from “hedging transactions,” as defined in “—  Hedging Transactions,” and gross income attributable to cancellation of indebtedness, or “COD,” income will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. In addition, certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests. See “—  Foreign Currency Gain.” For purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, we are treated as receiving our proportionate share of our Operating Partnership’s gross income. We will monitor the amount of our non-qualifying income and will seek to manage our investment portfolio to comply at all time with the gross income tests. The following paragraphs discuss the specific application of the gross income tests to us.

Dividends

Our share of any dividends received from any corporation (including dividends from our TRSs and any other TRS that we may form, but excluding any REIT) in which we own an equity interest will qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Our share of any dividends received from any other REIT in which we own an equity interest, if any, will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests.

Interest

The term “interest,” as defined for purposes of both gross income tests, generally excludes any amount that is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, interest generally includes the following:

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an amount that is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales; and

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an amount that is based on the income or profits of a debtor, as long as the debtor derives substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt from leasing substantially all of its interest in the property, and only to the extent that the amounts received by the debtor would be qualifying “rents from real property” if received directly by a REIT.

If a loan contains a provision that entitles a REIT to a percentage of the borrower’s gain upon the sale of the real property securing the loan or a percentage of the appreciation in the property’s value as of a specific date, income attributable to that loan provision will be treated as gain from the sale of the property securing the loan, which generally is qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests, provided that the property is not inventory or dealer property in the hands of the borrower or the REIT.

Interest on debt secured by a mortgage on real property or on interests in real property, including, for this purpose, market discount, original issue discount, discount points, prepayment penalties, loan assumption fees, and late payment charges that are not compensation for services, generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. However, if the loan is secured by real property and other property and the highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan as of  (i) the date the REIT agreed to originate or acquire the loan or

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(ii) as discussed below, in the event of a “significant modification,” the date we modified the loan, a portion of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. The portion of the interest income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test will be equal to the portion of the principal amount of the loan that is not secured by real property - that is, the amount by which the loan balance exceeds the applicable value of the real estate that secures the loan.

We generally acquire re-performing and non-performing mortgage loans. Our mortgage loans are secured by a first lien on real property. Interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, including, for this purpose, prepayment penalties, loan assumption fees and late payment charges that are not compensation for services, generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulation (referred to as the “interest apportionment regulation”), if we receive interest income with respect to a mortgage loan that is secured by both real property and other property, and the highest principal amount of the loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property on the date that we acquired the mortgage loan, the interest income will be apportioned between the real property and the other collateral, and our income from the arrangement will qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test only to the extent that the interest is allocable to the real property. Even if a mortgage loan is not secured by real property, or is undersecured, the income that it generates may nonetheless qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test. In Revenue Procedure 2014-51, the IRS interpreted the “principal amount” of the loan for purposes of that test to be the face amount of the loan, despite the Code’s requirement that taxpayers treat any market discount (discussed below) as interest rather than principal. In the case of mortgage loans secured by both real and personal property, if the fair market value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all property securing the loan, then the personal property securing the loan will be treated as real property for purposes of determining whether the mortgage interest income is qualifying for purposes of the 75% gross income test.

We generally acquire re-performing and non-performing mortgage loans for substantially less than their face amount. However, we believe that all of the mortgage loans that we acquire are secured only by real property and no other property value is taken into account in our underwriting and pricing. Accordingly, we believe that the interest apportionment rules and Revenue Procedure 2014-51 (to the extent it addresses interest apportionment) will not apply to our mortgage loans. Nevertheless, if the IRS were to assert successfully that our mortgage loans were secured by other property, then depending upon the value of the real property securing our mortgage loans and their face amount, and the sources of our gross income generally, we might not be able to satisfy the 75% income test.

Under the Code, if the terms of a loan are modified in a manner constituting a “significant modification,” such modification triggers a deemed exchange of the original loan for the modified loan. IRS Revenue Procedure 2014-51 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which we will not be required to redetermine the fair market value of the real property securing a loan for purposes of the gross income and asset tests in connection with a loan modification that is: (i) occasioned by a borrower default; or (ii) made at a time when we reasonably believe that the modification to the loan will substantially reduce a significant risk of default on the original loan. If we modify our mortgage loans in the future, no assurance can be provided that all of our loan modifications will qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2014-51. To the extent we significantly modify a mortgage loan in a manner that does not qualify for that safe harbor, we will be required to redetermine the value of the real property securing the loan at the time it was significantly modified. If the fair market value of the real property securing a loan has decreased, a portion of the interest income from the loan would not be qualifying income for the 75% gross income test and a portion of the value of the loan would not be a qualifying asset for purposes of the 75% asset test.

Hedging Transactions

From time to time, we may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Except to the extent provided by Treasury Regulations, income and gain from “hedging transactions” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. A “hedging transaction” includes any transaction entered

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into in the normal course of our trade or business primarily to manage the risk of interest rate changes, price changes, or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets, or liability hedge. A “hedging transaction” also includes any transaction entered into primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test (or any property which generates such income or gain). To the extent we enter into transactions to mitigate the risk of hedging transactions where the hedged asset has been extinguished or disposed of, such transaction may also constitute a “hedging transaction.” We are required to clearly identify any such hedging transaction before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into and satisfy other identification requirements. To the extent that we hedge for other purposes, or to the extent that a portion of the hedged assets are not treated as “real estate assets” (as described below under “—  Asset Tests”) or we enter into derivative transactions that are not liability hedges or we fail to satisfy the identification requirements with respect to a hedging transaction, the income from those transactions will likely be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT, but we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so. We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities through a TRS or other corporate entity, the income from which may be subject to U.S. federal income tax, rather than by participating in the arrangements directly or through pass- through subsidiaries.

Fee Income

We may earn income from fees in certain circumstances. Fee income generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests if it is received in consideration for entering into an agreement to make a loan secured by real property and the fees are not determined by income and profits. Other fees, including certain amounts received in connection with mortgage servicing rights (which we do not currently intend to acquire on a standalone basis), generally are not qualifying income for purposes of either gross income test. Any fees earned by a TRS, like other income earned by a TRS, will not be included in the REIT’s gross income for purposes of the gross income tests.

Foreign Currency Gain

Certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests. “Real estate foreign exchange gain” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Real estate foreign exchange gain generally includes foreign currency gain attributable to any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, foreign currency gain attributable to the acquisition or ownership of  (or becoming or being the obligor under) obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interest in real property and certain foreign currency gain attributable to certain “qualified business units” of a REIT. “Passive foreign exchange gain” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. Passive foreign exchange gain generally includes real estate foreign exchange gain as described above, and also includes foreign currency gain attributable to any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test and foreign currency gain attributable to the acquisition or ownership of  (or becoming or being the obligor under) obligations. These exclusions for real estate foreign exchange gain and passive foreign exchange gain do not apply to foreign currency gain derived from dealing, or engaging in substantial and regular trading, in securities. Such gain is treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

Rents from Real Property

We acquired interests in real property as part of our initial portfolio and may acquire additional real property or an interest therein in the future. Rents we receive from our interests in real property will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if the following conditions are met:

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First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. An amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded, however, from rents from real property solely by reason of being based on fixed percentages of receipts or sales.

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•

Second, rents we receive from a “related party tenant” will not qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income tests unless the tenant is a TRS, at least 90% of the property is leased to unrelated tenants, the rent paid by the TRS is substantially comparable to the rent paid by the unrelated tenants for comparable space and the rent is not attributable to an increase in rent due to a modification of a lease with a “controlled TRS” (i.e., a TRS in which we own directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting power or value of the stock). A tenant is a related party tenant if the REIT, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the REIT, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the tenant.

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Third, if rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to the personal property will not qualify as rents from real property.

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Fourth, we generally must not operate or manage our real property or furnish or render services to our tenants, other than through an “independent contractor” who is adequately compensated and from whom we do not derive revenue. We may, however, provide services directly to tenants if the services are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not considered to be provided for the tenants’ convenience. In addition, we may provide a minimal amount of  “non-customary” services to the tenants of a property, other than through an independent contractor, as long as our income from the services does not exceed 1% of our income from the related property. Furthermore, we may own up to 100% of the stock of a TRS, which may provide customary and non-customary services to tenants without tainting our rental income from the related properties.

If a portion of the rent that we receive from a property does not qualify as “rents from real property” because the rent attributable to personal property exceeds 15% of the total rent for a taxable year, the portion of the rent that is attributable to personal property will not be qualifying income for purposes of either the 75% or 95% gross income test. Thus, if such rent attributable to personal property, plus any other income that is non-qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, during a taxable year exceeds 5% of our gross income during the year, we would lose our REIT qualification. Further, the rent from a particular property does not qualify as “rents from real property” if  (i) the rent is considered based on the income or profits of the tenant, (ii) the tenant either is a related party tenant or fails to qualify for the exceptions to the related party tenant rule for qualifying taxable REIT subsidiaries or (iii) we furnish non-customary services to the tenants of the property, or manage or operate the property, other than through a qualifying independent contractor or a taxable REIT subsidiary.

Our Operating Partnership and/or its subsidiaries will generally lease our REO properties to tenants that are individuals. Our REO property leases will typically have a term of at least one year and require the tenant to pay fixed rent. We may also lease portions of our mixed-use properties, if any, to tenants that are entities. We intend to structure any such leases so that the rent will qualify as “rents from real property,” and do not intend to own more than 10% of any tenant of a mixed-use property. We do not anticipate leasing significant amounts of personal property pursuant to any of our leases. Moreover, we do not intend to perform any services other than customary ones for our tenants, unless such services are provided through independent contractors or a TRS. Accordingly, we believe that our leases generally produce rent that qualifies as “rents from real property” for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

In addition to the rent, the tenants may be required to pay certain additional charges. To the extent that such additional charges represent reimbursements of amounts that we are obligated to pay to third parties such charges generally will qualify as “rents from real property.” To the extent such additional charges represent penalties for nonpayment or late payment of such amounts, such charges should qualify as “rents from real property.” However, to the extent that late charges do not qualify as “rents from real property,” they instead will be treated as interest that qualifies for the 95% gross income test.

Prohibited Transactions

A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income (including foreign currency gain) derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Any such income will be excluded from the

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application of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Whether a REIT holds an asset “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” depends on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including those related to a particular asset. We believe that none of our assets will be held primarily for sale to customers and that a sale of any of our assets will not be in the ordinary course of our business. No assurance, however, can be given that the IRS will not successfully assert a contrary position, in which case we would be subject to the prohibited transaction tax on the sale of those assets. To avoid the 100% prohibited transaction tax on the sale of dealer property by a REIT, we intend to dispose of any asset that may be treated as held “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” by contributing or selling the asset to a TRS prior to marketing the asset for sale.

Foreclosure Property

We will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any income (including foreign currency gain) from foreclosure property, other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, less expenses directly connected with the production of that income. Gross income from foreclosure property will qualify, however, under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Foreclosure property is any real property, including interests in real property, and any personal property incident to such real property:

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that is acquired by a REIT as the result of the REIT having bid on such property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced such property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a default or default was imminent on a lease of such property or on indebtedness that such property secured;

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for which the related loan or lease was acquired by the REIT at a time when the default was not imminent or anticipated; and

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for which the REIT makes a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property.

A REIT will not be considered, however, to have foreclosed on a property where the REIT takes control of the property as a mortgagee-in-possession and cannot receive any profit or sustain any loss except as a creditor of the mortgagor. Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of the third taxable year following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, or longer if an extension is granted by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. This grace period terminates and foreclosure property ceases to be foreclosure property on the first day:

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on which a lease is entered into for the property that, by its terms, will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test (disregarding income from foreclosure property), or any amount is received or accrued, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a lease entered into on or after such day that will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test (disregarding income from foreclosure property);

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on which any construction takes place on the property, other than completion of a building or any other improvement, where more than 10% of the construction was completed before default became imminent; or

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which is more than 90 days after the day on which the REIT acquired the property and the property is used in a trade or business that is conducted by the REIT, other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT itself does not derive or receive any income.

To the extent we foreclose or enter into a deed-in-lieu arrangement on any distressed mortgage loan that we acquire, we may not be able to make a foreclosure property election with respect to such property because we may be treated as having acquired the loan at a time when default on such loan was imminent or anticipated. If we anticipate selling a property shortly after foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, we expect that we will contribute or sell the property to a TRS, which will market and sell the property. See “—  Taxable REIT Subsidiaries” and “—  Gross Income Tests - Prohibited Transactions.”

Failure to Satisfy Gross Income Tests

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the gross income tests for any taxable year, we nevertheless may qualify as a REIT for that year if we are entitled to qualify for relief under certain provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws. Those relief provisions generally will be available if:

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our failure to meet those tests is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect; and

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following such failure for any taxable year, a schedule of the sources of our income is filed with the IRS in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury.

We cannot with certainty predict whether any failure to meet these tests will qualify for the relief provisions. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances involving us, we will not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above in “—  Taxation of Our Company,” even if the relief provisions apply, we would incur a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, multiplied, in either case, by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

Asset Tests

To qualify as a REIT, we also must satisfy the following asset tests at the end of each quarter of each taxable year.

First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must consist of (the “75% asset test”):

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cash or cash items, including certain receivables and investments in money market funds;

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government securities;

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interests in real property, including leaseholds and options to acquire real property and leaseholds, personal property to the extent such personal property is leased in connection with real property and rents attributable to such personal property are treated as “rents from real property” as a result of such rents not exceeding 15% of the total rent attributable to personal property and real property under such lease;

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interests in mortgage loans secured by real property or by interests in real property;

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stock in other REITs;

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personal property securing a mortgage secured by both real property and personal property if the fair market value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all such property;

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personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property for which the rent attributable to personal property is not greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease;

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investments in stock or debt instruments during the one-year period following our receipt of new capital that we raise through equity offerings or public offerings of debt with at least a five-year term;

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regular or residual interests in a REMIC. However, if less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC consist of assets that are qualifying real estate-related assets under the U.S. federal income tax laws, determined as if we held such assets, we will be treated as holding directly our proportionate share of the assets of such REMIC; and

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debt instruments of  “publicly offered REITs.”.

Second, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class, the value of our interest in any one issuer’s securities (other than any TRS we may own) may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets (the “5% asset test”).

Third, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class, we may not own more than 10% of the total voting power or 10% of the total value of any one issuer’s outstanding securities, or the 10% vote test and the 10% value test, respectively.

Fourth, no more than 20% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more TRSs.

Fifth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities, other than those in the 75% asset test (the “25% securities test”).

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Sixth, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by debt instruments of “publicly offered REITs” that are not secured by real property or interests in real property.

For purposes of these asset tests, we are treated as holding our proportionate share of our Operating Partnership’s assets. For purposes of the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test and the 10% value test, the term “securities” does not include stock in another REIT, equity or debt securities of a qualified REIT subsidiary or TRS, mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities, or MBS, that constitute real estate assets, or equity interests in a partnership. For purposes of the 10% value test, the term “securities” does not include:

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“straight debt” securities, which is defined as a written unconditional promise to pay on demand or on a specified date a sum certain in money if  (i) the debt is not convertible, directly or indirectly, into stock, and (ii) the interest rate and interest payment dates are not contingent on profits, the borrower’s discretion, or similar factors. “Straight debt” securities do not include any securities issued by a partnership or a corporation in which we or any “controlled TRS” hold non-”straight” debt securities that have an aggregate value of more than 1% of the issuer’s outstanding securities. However, “straight debt” securities include debt subject to the following contingencies:

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a contingency relating to the time of payment of interest or principal, as long as either (i) there is no change to the effective yield of the debt obligation, other than a change to the annual yield that does not exceed the greater of 0.25% or 5% of the annual yield, or (ii) neither the aggregate issue price nor the aggregate face amount of the issuer’s debt obligations held by us exceeds $1 million and no more than twelve months of unaccrued interest on the debt obligations can be required to be prepaid; and

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a contingency relating to the time or amount of payment upon a default or prepayment of a debt obligation, as long as the contingency is consistent with customary commercial practice;

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any loan to an individual or an estate;

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any “section 467 rental agreement,” other than an agreement with a related party tenant;

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any obligation to pay “rents from real property;”

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certain securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of  (or payments made by) a non-governmental entity;

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any security (including debt securities) issued by another REIT;

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any debt instrument of an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we are a partner to the extent of our proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by that partnership; or

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any debt instrument of an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes not described in the preceding bullet points if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income, excluding income from prohibited transactions, is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test described above in “—  Gross Income Tests.”

For purposes of the 10% value test, our proportionate share of the assets of a partnership is our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership, without regard to the securities described in the last two bullet points above.

As discussed above under “—  Gross Income Tests,” we intend to acquire re-performing and non-performing mortgage loans for substantially less than their face amount. Under the applicable Treasury Regulation (referred to as the “loan apportionment regulation”), if a mortgage loan is secured by real property and other property and the highest principal amount of the loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan as of  (i) the date we agreed to acquire or originate the mortgage loan or (ii) in the event of a significant modification, the date we modified the loan, then a portion of the interest income from such a loan will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. Although the law is not entirely clear, a portion of the mortgage loan will also likely be a non-qualifying asset for purposes of the 75% asset test. Revenue Procedure 2014-51 provides a safe harbor under which the IRS has stated that it will not challenge a REIT’s treatment of a mortgage loan as being, in part, a qualifying real

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estate asset in an amount equal to the lesser of  (i) the fair market value of the mortgage loan on the date of the relevant quarterly REIT asset testing date or (ii) the greater of  (x) the fair market value of the real property securing the loan on the date of the relevant quarterly REIT asset testing date or (y) the fair market value of the real property securing the loan determined as of the date the REIT committed to acquire the loan. Under the safe harbor, when the current value of a mortgage loan exceeds both the current fair market value of the real property that secures the loan and the fair market value of the real property that secures the loan, determined as of the date we committed to acquire or originate the loan, a portion of the mortgage loan will be treated as a nonqualifying asset. We do not anticipate that the value of our distressed mortgage loans will exceed the current value of the real property securing the loans.

We may in the future enter into repurchase agreements under which we nominally sell certain of our assets to a counterparty and simultaneously entered into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets in exchange for a purchase price that reflects a financing charge. Based on positions the IRS has taken in analogous situations, we believe that these transactions would be treated as secured debt and that we would be treated for REIT asset and income test purposes as the owner of the assets that would be the subject of such agreements notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own our assets subject to sale and repurchase agreements during the term of such agreements, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.

Derivative instruments generally are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test. Thus, interest rate swaps, futures contracts, and other similar instruments that are used in “hedging transactions” as defined in “—  Hedging Transactions,” are non-qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test.

As discussed above, we may invest opportunistically in other types of mortgage-related assets. To the extent we invest in such assets, we intend to do so in a manner that will enable us to satisfy each of the asset tests described above. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to satisfy the asset tests described above.

We will monitor the status of our assets for purposes of the various asset tests and seek to manage our portfolio to comply at all times with such tests. No assurance, however, can be given that we will continue to be successful in this effort. In this regard, to determine our compliance with these requirements, we will have to value our investment in our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests. Although we seek to be prudent in making these estimates, no assurances can be given that the IRS might not disagree with these determinations and assert that a different value is applicable, in which case we might not satisfy the 75% asset test and the other asset tests and, thus, would fail to qualify as a REIT.

If we fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, we will not lose our REIT qualification so long as:

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we satisfied the asset tests at the end of the preceding calendar quarter; and

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the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset test requirements arose from changes in the market values of our assets and was not wholly or partly caused by the acquisition of one or more non-qualifying assets.

If we did not satisfy the condition described in the second item, above, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose.

If we violate the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test described above at the end of any calendar quarter, we will not lose our REIT qualification if  (i) the failure is de minimis (up to the lesser of 1% of the total value of our assets or $10 million) and (ii) we dispose of assets or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identified such failure. In the event of a more than de minimis failure of any of the asset tests, as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will not lose our REIT qualification if we (i) dispose of assets or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identified such failure, (ii) file a schedule with the IRS describing the assets that caused such failure in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and (iii) pay a tax equal to the greater

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of  $50,000 or the product of the highest U.S. federal corporate tax rate and the net income from the non-qualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset tests. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances involving us, we will fail to qualify as a REIT.

We believe that the assets that we may hold will satisfy the foregoing asset test requirements. We will monitor the status of our assets and our future acquisition of assets to ensure that we comply with those requirements, but we cannot assure you that we will be successful in this effort. No independent appraisals will be obtained to support our estimates of and conclusions as to the value of our assets and securities, or in many cases, the real estate collateral for the mortgage loans that support our assets. Moreover, the values of some assets may not be susceptible to a precise determination. As a result, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not contend that our ownership of securities and other assets violates one or more of the asset tests applicable to REITs.

Distribution Requirements

Each taxable year, we must distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends and deemed distributions of retained capital gain, to our stockholders in an aggregate amount at least equal to:

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the sum of

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90% of our “REIT taxable income,” computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain, and

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90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property,

minus

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the sum of certain items of non-cash income.

We must make such distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if either (i) we declare the distribution before we timely file our U.S. federal income tax return for the year and pay the distribution on or before the first regular dividend payment date after such declaration or (ii) we declare the distribution in October, November or December of the taxable year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified day in any such month, and we actually pay the dividend before the end of January of the following year. The distributions under clause (i) are taxable to the stockholders in the year in which paid, and the distributions in clause (ii) are treated as paid on December 31 of the prior taxable year. In both instances, these distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement.

We will pay U.S. federal income tax on taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to stockholders. Furthermore, if we fail to distribute during a calendar year, or by the end of January following the calendar year in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, at least the sum of:

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85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year,

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95% of our REIT capital gain income for such year, and

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any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts we actually distribute.

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on the net long term capital gain we recognize in a taxable year. See “—  Taxation of U.S. Holders - Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders on Distributions on Shares.” If we so elect, we will be treated as having distributed any such retained amount for purposes of the REIT distribution requirements and the 4% nondeductible excise tax described above.

We intend to make timely distributions in the future sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax.

It is possible that, from time to time, we may experience timing differences between the actual receipt of cash, including distributions from our subsidiaries, and actual payment of deductible expenses and the

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inclusion of that income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at our REIT taxable income. Possible examples of those timing differences include the following:

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If we sell property at a loss to a related party, including a TRS, such loss may be suspended until the TRS disposes of the property to an unrelated buyer.

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Because we may deduct capital losses only to the extent of our capital gains, we may have taxable income that exceeds our economic income.

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We will recognize taxable income in advance of the related cash flow with respect to our investments that are deemed to have original issue discount. We generally must accrue original issue discount based on a constant yield method that takes into account projected prepayments but that defers taking into account credit losses until they are actually incurred.

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If we acquire distressed mortgage loans and significantly modify those loans, we would recognize gain, without the receipt of any cash, on the resulting deemed exchange equal to the difference between the adjusted issue price of the modified loan (which will generally be the face amount of the modified loan) and our adjusted tax basis in the original loan. Because we intend to acquire distressed mortgage loans at a significant discount, our adjusted tax basis in a distressed mortgage loan typically will be significantly lower than the adjusted issue price of the modified loan, which would result in our recognizing “phantom” income if we significantly modify the loan. We intend to significantly modify our distressed mortgage loans only on an opportunistic or selective basis.

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We expect to foreclose on a portion of our non-performing mortgage loans, and we may engage in foreclosures or other transactions that result in the conversion of such loans to real property. Such transactions could also give rise to taxable income without a corresponding receipt of cash.

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We may acquire investments that are treated as having “market discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, because the investments are debt instruments that we acquire for an amount less than their principal amount. We do not intend to elect to recognize market discount currently. Under the market discount rules, we may be required to treat portions of gains on sale of market discount bonds as ordinary income and may be required to include some amounts of principal payments received on market discount bonds as ordinary income. The recognition of market discount upon receipt of principal payments results in an acceleration of the recognition of taxable income to periods prior to the receipt of the related economic income. Further, to the extent that such an investment does not fully amortize according to its terms, we may never receive the economic income attributable to previously recognized market discount.

Although several types of non-cash income are excluded in determining the annual distribution requirement, we will incur corporate income tax and/or the 4% nondeductible excise tax with respect to those non-cash income items if we do not distribute those items on a current basis. As a result of the foregoing, we may have less cash than is necessary to distribute all of our taxable income and thereby avoid corporate income tax and the excise tax imposed on certain undistributed income. In such a situation, we may need to borrow funds, sell assets or make taxable distributions of our shares or debt securities.

We may satisfy the 90% distribution test with taxable distributions of our shares or debt securities. The IRS has issued a revenue procedure authorizing publicly offered REITs to treat certain distributions that are paid partly in cash and partly in shares as dividends that would satisfy the REIT annual distribution requirement and qualify for the dividends paid deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Under certain circumstances, we may be able to correct a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our stockholders in a later year. We may include such deficiency dividends in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Although we may be able to avoid income tax on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, we will be required to pay interest and may be required to pay a penalty to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction we take for deficiency dividends.

Recordkeeping Requirements

We must maintain certain records in order to qualify as a REIT. In addition, to avoid a monetary penalty, we must request, on an annual basis, information from our stockholders designed to disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding shares. We intend to comply with these requirements.

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Failure to Qualify

If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, we could avoid disqualification if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of  $50,000 for each such failure. In addition, there are relief provisions for a failure of the gross income tests and asset tests, as described in “—  Gross Income Tests” and “—  Asset Tests.”

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and no relief provision applies, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. In calculating our taxable income in a year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT, we would not be able to deduct amounts paid out to stockholders. In fact, we would not be required to distribute any amounts to stockholders in that year. In such event, to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to stockholders would be taxable as ordinary income.

Subject to certain limitations of the U.S. federal income tax laws, corporate stockholders might be eligible for the dividends received deduction and stockholders taxed at individual rates might be eligible for the reduced U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% on such dividends. Unless we qualified for relief under specific statutory provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to qualify as a REIT. We cannot predict whether in all circumstances we would qualify for such statutory relief.

Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income

An entity, or a portion of an entity, may be classified as a TMP under the Code if  (i) substantially all of its assets consist of debt obligations or interests in debt obligations, (ii) more than 50% of those debt obligations are real estate mortgages or interests in real estate mortgages as of specified testing dates, (iii) the entity has issued debt obligations (liabilities) that have two or more maturities, and (iv) the payments required to be made by the entity on its debt obligations (liabilities) “bear a relationship” to the payments to be received by the entity on the debt obligations that it holds as assets. Under Treasury Regulations, if less than 80% of the assets of an entity (or a portion of an entity) consist of debt obligations, these debt obligations are considered not to comprise “substantially all” of its assets, and therefore the entity would not be treated as a TMP. Our future financing and securitization arrangements may give rise to TMPs, with the consequences as described below.

Where an entity, or a portion of an entity, is classified as a TMP, it is generally treated as a taxable corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT, or a portion of a REIT, or a disregarded subsidiary of a REIT, that is a TMP, however, special rules apply. We may enter into transactions that could result in us or a portion of our assets being treated as a TMP for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Specifically, we may securitize our assets and such securitizations may result in us owning interests in a TMP. If we do not own 100% of the equity in our Operating Partnership, we would be precluded from holding equity interests in such a securitization through our Operating Partnership. Accordingly, we would likely enter into such transactions through a Subsidiary REIT owned by our Operating Partnership and will be precluded from selling to outside investors equity interests in such securitizations or from selling any debt securities issued in connection with such securitizations that might be considered to be equity interests for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If a REIT owns, directly or indirectly through one or more qualified REIT subsidiaries or other entities that are disregarded as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes 100% of the equity interests in the TMP, the TMP will be a qualified REIT subsidiary and, therefore, ignored as an entity separate from the REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and would not generally affect the tax qualification of the REIT. Rather, the consequences of the TMP classification would generally, except as described below, be limited to the REIT’s stockholders.

The U.S. Treasury has not yet issued regulations to govern the treatment of stockholders of a REIT, a portion of which is a TMP, as described below. A portion of the REIT’s income from the TMP arrangement, which might be non-cash accrued income, however, will be treated as “excess inclusion income.”

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The REIT’s excess inclusion income, including any excess inclusion income from a residual interest in a REMIC, would be allocated among its stockholders. A stockholder’s share of excess inclusion income (i) would not be allowed to be offset by any net operating losses otherwise available to the stockholder, (ii) would be subject to tax as unrelated business taxable income in the hands of most types of stockholders that are otherwise generally exempt from U.S. federal income tax, and (iii) would result in the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding at the maximum rate (30%), without reduction under any otherwise applicable income tax treaty, to the extent allocable to most types of foreign stockholders. See “—  Taxation of U.S. Holders” and “—  Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders.” Under IRS guidance, to the extent that excess inclusion income is allocated from a TMP to a tax-exempt stockholder of a REIT that is not subject to unrelated business income tax (such as government entities), the REIT will be subject to tax on this income at the highest applicable corporate tax rate. In that case, the REIT could reduce distributions to such stockholder by the amount of such tax paid by the REIT attributable to such stockholder’s ownership. Treasury Regulations provide that such a reduction in distributions would not give rise to a preferential dividend that could adversely affect the REIT’s compliance with its distribution requirements. See “—  Distribution Requirements.” Our charter contemplates that any tax imposed on us in these circumstances may to the extent feasible reduce distributions to the stockholder whose status caused that tax to be imposed, or we may bear such tax as a general corporate expense.

The manner in which excess inclusion income is calculated is not clear under current law. As required by IRS guidance, we intend to make such determinations based on what we believe to be a reasonable method. However, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge our method of making any such determinations. If the IRS were to disagree with any such determinations made or with the method used by us, the amount of any excess inclusion income required to be taken into account by one or more stockholders (as described above) could be significantly increased. Tax-exempt investors, foreign investors and taxpayers with net operating losses should carefully consider the tax consequences described above, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

Taxation of Our Operating Partnership

Our Operating Partnership currently is disregarded as a separate entity for tax purposes because it is wholly owned by Great Ajax Corp. We may issue interests in our Operating Partnership in the future to third party partners, at which time our Operating Partnership will be treated as a partnership for tax purposes.

Under the Code, a partnership generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax, but is required to file a partnership tax information return each year. In general, the character of each partner’s share of each item of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit, and tax preference is determined at the partnership level. Each partner is then allocated a distributive share of such items in accordance with the partnership agreement and is required to take such items into account in determining such partner’s income. Each partner includes such amount in income for any taxable year of the partnership ending within or with the taxable year of the partner, without regard to whether the partner has received or will receive any cash distributions from the partnership. Cash distributions, if any, from a partnership to a partner generally are not taxable unless and to the extent they exceed the partner’s basis in its partnership interest immediately before the distribution. Any amounts in excess of such tax basis will generally be treated as a sale or exchange of such partner’s interest in the partnership.

As noted above, for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests, we are treated as receiving or holding our proportionate share of our Operating Partnership’s income and assets, respectively. We control, and intend to continue to control, our Operating Partnership and intend to operate it consistently with the requirements for our qualification as a REIT.

We may issue equity compensation to employees in the form of interests in our Operating Partnership that provide for capital gain treatment to the employees but do not generate a corresponding deduction for our Operating Partnership.

The discussion above assumes that our Operating Partnership is treated as a “partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at such time as it is no longer disregarded as a separate entity for tax purposes. Generally, a domestic unincorporated entity with two or more partners is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless it affirmatively elects to be treated as a corporation. However, certain

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“publicly traded partnerships” are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We intend to comply with one or more exceptions to treatment of our Operating Partnership as a corporation under the publicly traded partnership rules. Failure to qualify for such an exception would prevent us from qualifying as a REIT.

Taxation of U.S. Holders

The term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our shares of common stock that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:

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a citizen or resident of the United States;

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a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any of its States or the District of Columbia;

•

an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

•

any trust if  (i) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person.

If a partnership, entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our shares of common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our shares of common stock, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our shares of common stock by the partnership.

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders on Distributions on Shares

As long as we qualify as a REIT, a taxable U.S. holder must generally take into account as ordinary income distributions made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that we do not designate as capital gain dividends or retained long-term capital gain. In addition, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, U.S. holders that are individuals, trusts and estates generally will be entitled to up to a 20% pass-through deduction with respect to that ordinary dividend income for purposes of determining their U.S. federal income tax (but not for purposes of the 3.8% Medicare tax), provided that certain holding period requirements have been met. Corporate U.S. holders are not entitled to the pass-through deduction or the dividends-received deduction with respect to our distributions. A noncorporate U.S. holder’s ability to claim the deduction equal to 20% of qualifying dividends received may be limited by the U.S. holder’s particular circumstances. In addition, for any noncorporate U.S. holder that claims a deduction in respect of qualifying dividends, the maximum threshold for the accuracy-related penalty with respect to substantial understatements of income tax could be reduced from 10% to 5%.

The maximum tax rate for qualified dividend income received by taxpayers taxed at individual rates is 20%. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends paid to U.S. holders taxed at individual rates by domestic C corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations. Because we are not generally subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our REIT taxable income distributed to our stockholders (see “—  Taxation of Our Company” above), our dividends generally will not be eligible for the 20% rate on qualified dividend income.

As a result, subject to the discussion above concerning the 20% pass-through deduction, our ordinary REIT dividends will be taxed at the higher tax rate applicable to ordinary income. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the highest marginal individual income tax rate on ordinary income is 37%. However, the 20% tax rate for qualified dividend income will apply to our ordinary REIT dividends (i) attributable to dividends received by us from certain non-REIT corporations (e.g., dividends from any domestic TRSs), (ii) to the extent attributable to income upon which we have paid corporate income tax (e.g., to the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our taxable income) and (iii) attributable to income in the prior taxable year from the sales of  “built-in gain” property acquired by us from C corporations in carryover basis transactions (less the amount of corporate tax on such income). In general, to qualify for the reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income, a U.S. holder must hold our

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shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the date on which our shares of common stock become ex-dividend. Individuals, trusts and estates whose income exceeds certain thresholds are also subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on dividends received from us.

A U.S. holder generally will take into account distributions that we properly designate as capital gain dividends as long-term capital gain, to the extent that they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which the U.S. holder has held our shares of common stock. Dividends designated as capital gain dividends may not exceed our dividends paid for the taxable year, including dividends paid the following year that are treated as paid in the current year. A corporate U.S. holder may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on the net long-term capital gain that we recognize in a taxable year. In that case, to the extent we designate such amount on a timely notice to such stockholder, a U.S. holder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain. The U.S. holder would receive a credit or refund for its proportionate share of the tax we paid. The U.S. holder would increase the basis in its shares of common stock by the amount of its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain, minus its share of the tax we paid.

A U.S. holder will not incur tax on a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the distribution does not exceed the adjusted basis of the U.S. holder’s shares of common stock. Instead, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares of common stock. A U.S. holder will recognize a distribution in excess of both our current and accumulated earnings and profits and the U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in his or her shares of common stock as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the shares of common stock have been held for one year or less, assuming the shares of common stock are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. holder. In addition, if we declare a distribution in October, November or December of any year that is payable to a U.S. holder of record on a specified date in any such month, such distribution shall be treated as both paid by us and received by the U.S. holder on December 31 of such year, provided that we actually pay the distribution during January of the following calendar year, as described in “—  Distribution Requirements.”

Stockholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses. Instead, these losses are generally carried over by us for potential offset against our future income.

Taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of our shares of common stock will not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, a U.S. holder generally will not be able to apply any “passive activity losses,” such as losses from certain types of limited partnerships in which such U.S. holder is a limited partner, against such income. In addition, taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of our shares of common stock generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations. We will notify stockholders after the close of our taxable year as to the portions of the distributions attributable to that year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital and capital gain.

We may recognize taxable income in excess of our economic income, known as phantom income, in the first years that we hold certain investments, and experience an offsetting excess of economic income over our taxable income in later years. As a result, U.S. holders at times may be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on distributions that economically represent a return of capital rather than a dividend. These distributions would be offset in later years by distributions representing economic income that would be treated as returns of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Taking into account the time value of money, this acceleration of U.S. federal income tax liabilities may reduce a U.S. holder’s after-tax return on his or her investment to an amount less than the after-tax return on an investment with an identical before-tax rate of return that did not generate phantom income. For example, if an investor with a 30% tax rate purchases a taxable bond with an annual interest rate of 10% on its face value, the investor’s before-tax return on the investment would be 10% and the investor’s after-tax return would be 7%. However, if the same investor purchased our common stock at a time when the before-tax rate of return was 10%, the investor’s after-tax rate of return on such shares of common stock might be somewhat less than 7% as a result of our phantom income. In general, as the ratio of our phantom income to our total income increases, the after-tax rate of return received by a taxable U.S. holder will decrease.

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If excess inclusion income from a TMP or REMIC residual interest is allocated to any U.S. holder, that income will be taxable in the hands of the U.S. holder and would not be offset by any net operating losses of the U.S. holder that would otherwise be available. See “—  Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.”

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders on the Disposition of Shares

In general, a U.S. holder must treat any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of our shares of common stock as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder has held such shares of common stock for more than one year and otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss. In general, a U.S. holder will realize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the sum of the fair market value of any property and the amount of cash received in such disposition and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis. A holder’s adjusted tax basis generally will equal the U.S. holder’s acquisition cost, increased by the excess of net capital gains deemed distributed to the U.S. holder (discussed above) less tax deemed paid by such U.S. holder on such gains and reduced by any returns of capital. However, a U.S. holder must treat any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of common stock held by such holder for six months or less as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends and any other actual or deemed distributions from us that such U.S. holder treats as long term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss that a U.S. holder realizes upon a taxable disposition of our shares of common stock may be disallowed if the U.S. holder purchases our shares of common stock (or substantially similar shares of common stock) within 30 days before or after the disposition.

Capital Gains and Losses

A taxpayer generally must hold a capital asset for more than one year for gain or loss derived from its sale or exchange to be treated as long-term capital gain or loss. The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain applicable to U.S. holders taxed at individual rates is 20% for sales and exchanges of assets held for more than one year. The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain from the sale or exchange of  “section 1250 property,” or depreciable real property, is 25%, which applies to the lesser of the total amount of the gains or the accumulated depreciation on the Section 1250 property. Individuals, trusts and estates whose income exceeds certain thresholds are also subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on gain from the sale of our shares of common stock.

With respect to distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends and any retained capital gain that we are deemed to distribute, we will designate whether such a distribution is taxable to U.S. holders taxed at individual rates at a 20% or 25% rate. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the maximum tax rate for U.S. holders taxed at individual rates is 37%. Thus, the tax rate differential between capital gain and ordinary income for those taxpayers may be significant. In addition, the characterization of income as capital gain or ordinary income may affect the deductibility of capital losses, including capital losses recognized upon the disposition of our shares. A non-corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses not offset by capital gains against its ordinary income only up to a maximum annual amount of  $3,000. A non-corporate taxpayer may carry forward unused capital losses indefinitely. A corporate taxpayer must pay tax on its net capital gain at ordinary corporate rates. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses only to the extent of capital gains, with unused losses being carried back three years and forward five years.

Information Reporting Requirements and Withholding

We or the applicable withholding agent will report to U.S. holders and to the IRS the amount and the tax character of distributions we pay during each calendar year, and the amount of tax we withhold, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, a U.S. holder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to distributions unless such holder:

•

is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact; or

•

provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

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A U.S. holder who does not provide the applicable withholding agent with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the U.S. holder’s income tax liability. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability if certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding to them and the availability of, and procedure for obtaining an exemption from, backup withholding. In addition, the applicable withholding agent may be required to withhold a portion of distributions to any U.S. holders who fail to certify their U.S. status.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

The term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our shares of common stock that is not a U.S. holder or a partnership (or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes). The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign holders are complex. This section is only a summary of such rules. We urge non-U.S. holders to consult their tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state and local income tax laws on ownership of our shares of common stock, including any reporting requirements.

For most non-U.S. holders, investment in a REIT that invests principally in mortgage loans and MBS is not the most tax-efficient way to invest in such assets. That is because receiving distributions of income derived from such assets in the form of REIT dividends subjects most non-U.S. holders to withholding taxes that direct investment in those asset classes, and the direct receipt of interest and principal payments with respect to them, would not.

A non-U.S. holder that receives a distribution from us that is not attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of  “United States real property interests,” as defined below, and that we do not designate as a capital gain dividend or retained capital gain will recognize ordinary income to the extent that we pay the distribution out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. A withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution ordinarily will apply unless an applicable tax treaty reduces or eliminates the tax. Reduced treaty rates are not available to the extent that income is attributable to our excess inclusion income allocable to the non-U.S. holder. See “—  Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” If a distribution is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the distribution will not incur the 30% withholding tax, but the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the distribution at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. holders are taxed on distributions and also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a corporate non-U.S. holder. In general, non-U.S. holders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of our shares of common stock. It is expected that the applicable withholding agent will withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any distribution that we do not designate as a capital gain distribution or retained capital gain and is paid to a non-U.S. holder unless either:

•

a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. holder files with the applicable withholding agent an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate, or

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the non-U.S. holder files with the applicable withholding agent an IRS Form W-8ECI claiming that the distribution is effectively connected income.

Capital gain dividends received or deemed received by a non-U.S. holder from us that are not attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of  “United States real property interests,” as defined below, are generally not subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, unless either (1) the non-U.S. holder’s investment in our shares of common stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. holder (in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. holders with respect to such gain) or (2) the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the U.S. (in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s net capital gain for the year).

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A non-U.S. holder will not incur tax on a distribution on the shares of common stock in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the excess portion of the distribution does not exceed the adjusted tax basis of its shares of common stock. Instead, the excess portion of the distribution will reduce such non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis of its shares of common stock. A non-U.S. holder will be subject to tax on a distribution that exceeds both our current and accumulated earnings and profits and the adjusted basis of its shares of common stock, if the non-U.S. holder otherwise would be subject to tax on gain from the sale or disposition of its shares of common stock, as described below. Because we generally cannot determine at the time we make a distribution whether the distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, it is expected that the applicable withholding agent normally will withhold tax on the entire amount of any distribution at the same rate applicable to withholding on a dividend. However, a non-U.S. holder may obtain a refund of amounts that the applicable withholding agent withheld if we later determine that a distribution in fact exceeded our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, a non-U.S. holder may incur tax on distributions that are attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of  “United States real property interests” under special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws known as “FIRPTA.” The term “United States real property interests” includes interests in real property and shares in corporations at least 50% of whose assets consist of interests in real property. The term “United States real property interests” generally does not include mortgage loans or MBS. Under the FIRPTA rules, a non-U.S. holder is taxed on distributions attributable to gain from sales of United States real property interests as if the gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business of the non-U.S. holder. A non-U.S. holder thus would be taxed on such a distribution at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. holders, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of a nonresident alien individual. A non-U.S. corporate holder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax on such a distribution. Unless a non-U.S. holder qualifies for the exception described in the next paragraph, or is a qualified shareholder or a qualified foreign pension fund (both as defined below), the applicable withholding agent must withhold 21% of any such distribution that we could designate as a capital gain dividend. A non-U.S. holder may receive a credit against such holder’s tax liability for the amount withheld.

Capital gain distributions on our shares of common stock that are attributable to our sale of real property will be treated as ordinary dividends, rather than as gain from the sale of a United States real property interest, if  (i) our shares of common stock are “regularly traded” on an established securities market in the United States and (ii) the non-U.S. holder does not own more than 10% of our shares of common stock during the one-year period preceding the distribution date. As a result, non-U.S. holders generally would be subject to withholding tax on such capital gain distributions in the same manner as they are subject to withholding tax on ordinary dividends. We believe that our common stock is treated as being regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States. If our common stock is not regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States or the non-U.S. holder owned more than 10% of our common stock at any time during the one-year period prior to the distribution, capital gain distributions that are attributable to our sale of real property would be subject to tax under FIRPTA. Moreover, if a non-U.S. holder disposes of our common stock during the 30-day period preceding a dividend payment, and such non-U.S. holder (or a person related to such non-U.S. holder) acquires or enters into a contract or option to acquire our common stock within 61 days of the 1st day of the 30 day period described above, and any portion of such dividend payment would, but for the disposition, be treated as a United States real property interest capital gain to such non-U.S. holder, then such non-U.S. holder will be treated as having United States real property interest capital gain in an amount that, but for the disposition, would have been treated as United States real property interest capital gain.

In addition, distributions to certain non-U.S. publicly traded shareholders that meet certain record-keeping and other requirements (“qualified shareholders”) are exempt from FIRPTA, except to the extent owners of such qualified shareholders that are not also qualified shareholders own, actually or constructively, more than 10% of our common stock. Furthermore, distributions to “qualified foreign pension funds” or entities all of the interests of which are held by “qualified foreign pension funds” are exempt from FIRPTA. Distributions received by a “qualified foreign pension fund” that are exempt from FIRPTA withholding may still be subject to regular U.S. withholding tax. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.

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A non-U.S. holder generally will not incur tax under FIRPTA with respect to gain realized upon a disposition of our shares of common stock as long as we are not a United States real property holding corporation during a specified testing period. If at least 50% of a REIT’s assets are United States real property interests, then the REIT will be a United States real property holding corporation. We may be a United States real property holding corporation based on our investment strategy. In that case, gains from the sale of our shares of common stock by a non-U.S. holder could be subject to a FIRPTA tax. However, a non-U.S. holder generally would not incur tax under FIRPTA on gain from the sale of our shares of common stock if we were a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT in which, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its shares are held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. persons. For purposes of determining whether a REIT is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” a person who at all applicable times holds less than 5% of a class of stock that is “regularly traded” is treated as a U.S. person unless the REIT has actual knowledge that such person is not a U.S. person.

If our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, an additional exception to the tax under FIRPTA will be available with respect to our common stock, even if we do not qualify as a domestically controlled qualified investment entity at the time the non-U.S. holder sells our common stock. Under that exception, the gain from such a sale by such a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to tax under FIRPTA if  (i) our common stock is treated as being regularly traded under applicable Treasury Regulations on an established securities market and (ii) the non-U.S. holder owned, actually or constructively, 10% or less of our common stock at all times during a specified testing period. As noted above, we believe that our common stock is treated as being regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States. If the gain on the sale of our common stock were taxed under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. holder would be taxed on that gain in the same manner as U.S. holders, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals.

In addition, dispositions of our common stock by qualified shareholders are exempt from FIRPTA, except to the extent owners of such qualified shareholders that are not also qualified shareholders own, actually or constructively, more than 10% of our common stock. An actual or deemed disposition of our common stock by such shareholders may also be treated as a dividend. Furthermore, dispositions of our capital stock by “qualified foreign pension funds” or entities all of the interests of which are held by “qualified foreign pension funds” are exempt from FIRPTA. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.

Backup withholding will generally not apply to payments of dividends made by us or our paying agents, in their capacities as such, to a non-U.S. holder provided that the non-U.S. holder furnishes to the applicable withholding agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status, such as providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or certain other requirements are met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if the applicable withholding agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person that is not an exempt recipient. Payments of the net proceeds from a disposition or a redemption effected outside the United States by a non-U.S. holder made by or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, information reporting (but not backup withholding) generally will apply to such a payment if the broker has certain connections with the U.S. unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is a non-U.S. holder and specified conditions are met or an exemption is otherwise established. Payment of the net proceeds from a disposition by a non-U.S. holder of shares of common stock made by or through the U.S. office of a broker is generally subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the non-U.S. holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability if certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS. Non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding to them and the availability of, and procedure for obtaining an exemption from, backup withholding.

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Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of REITs may be modified, possibly with retroactive effect, by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time. The REIT rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department, which may result in statutory changes as well as revisions to regulations and interpretations. Additionally, several of the tax considerations described herein are currently under review and are subject to change. Prospective stockholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the effect of potential changes to the U.S. federal tax laws on an investment in our shares of common stock.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source payments, including interest (and original issue discount), dividends, other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, or Withholdable Payments, if paid to a foreign financial institution (including amounts paid to a foreign financial institution on behalf of a stockholder), unless such institution enters into an agreement with Treasury to collect and provide to Treasury certain information regarding U.S. financial account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution or otherwise complies with FATCA. FATCA also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on Withholdable Payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity. Under certain circumstances, a stockholder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

Under proposed Treasury Regulations on which taxpayers may rely, FATCA withholding does not apply to gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our shares. If we determine withholding is appropriate with respect to a Withholdable Payment, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate, and we will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our common stock.

State, Local and Foreign Taxes

We and/or our subsidiaries and common stockholders may be subject to taxation by various states, localities or foreign jurisdictions, including those in which we, our subsidiaries, or our common stockholders transact business, own property or reside. We or our subsidiaries may own properties located in numerous jurisdictions and may be required to file tax returns in some or all of those jurisdictions. The state, local and foreign tax treatment of us and our common stockholders may differ from the U.S. federal income tax treatment of us and our common stockholders described above. Consequently, common stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and effect of state, local and foreign income and other tax laws upon an investment in our shares of common stock.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, at the market offerings, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers.

We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

•

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

•

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

•

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

•

at negotiated prices.

Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriter to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriter will be obligated to purchase all of the applicable securities if any are purchased. If a dealer is used in a sale, we may sell the securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

We or our agents may solicit offers to purchase securities from time to time. Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation (in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions) from us or from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profits on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any such underwriter or agent, and we will describe any compensation paid to them, in the related prospectus supplement.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements with us to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

If stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain specified institutions or other persons to purchase securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Institutions with whom these contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of these contracts. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities shall not be prohibited at the time of delivery under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.

The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of our securities. Any underwriter may make a market in these securities. However, no underwriter will be obligated to do so, and any underwriter may discontinue any market making at any time, without prior notice.

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, until the distribution of the securities is completed, SEC rules may limit the ability of any underwriters and selling group members to bid for and purchase the

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securities. As an exception to these rules, representatives of any underwriters are permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. If the underwriters create a short position in the applicable securities in connection with any offering (in other words, if they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement) the representatives of the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing securities in the open market. The representatives of the underwriters may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of any over-allotment option we may grant to the underwriters, as described in the prospectus supplement. The representatives of the underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on certain underwriters and selling group members. This means that if the representatives purchase securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters’ short position or to stabilize the price of the securities, they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those shares as part of the offering.

In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of those purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resales of the securities. The transactions described above may have the effect of causing the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the representatives of the underwriters may discontinue any of the transactions at any time. In addition, the representatives of any underwriters may determine not to engage in those transactions or that those transactions, once commenced, may be discontinued without notice.

Certain of the underwriters or agents and their associates may engage in transactions with and perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.

In no event will the commission or discount received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, member or independent broker-dealer participating in a distribution of securities exceed 8% of the aggregate principal amount of the offering of securities in which that FINRA member or independent broker-dealer participates.

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important business, financial and other information to you by referring you to other documents separately filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference the following documents or information filed with the SEC:

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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 4, 2020;

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our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and March 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on August 4, 2020 and May 6, 2020, respectively;

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our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020, March 3, 2020 (except with respect to item 7.01 therein), March 24, 2020, April 6, 2020, April 7, 2020, May 5, 2020 (except with respect to item 7.01 therein), May 8, 2020 and June 3, 2020;

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our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020 (but only with respect to information required by Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019); and

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the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2015.

We are also incorporating by reference additional documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act: (i) after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement and (ii) after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed above or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.

We will provide copies of all documents incorporated into this prospectus by reference, without charge, upon oral request to our Secretary at the number listed below or in writing by first class mail to the address listed below.

Lauren DeMasi
Great Ajax Corp.
9400 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Suite 131
Beaverton, Oregon 97005
503-505-5670

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that we file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, we maintain a website that contains information about us at www.great-ajax.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and does not form a part of, this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or any other report or document we file with or furnish to the SEC.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3, of which this prospectus is a part, including exhibits, schedules and amendments filed with, or incorporated by reference into, the registration statement, under the Securities Act with respect to the securities registered hereby. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information with respect to our company and the securities registered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement, including the exhibits to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are not necessarily complete and, where such contract or other document is an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement is qualified in all respects by the exhibit to which the reference relates. The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is available to you on the SEC’s website.

49

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the common stock and certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Mayer Brown LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Our consolidated financial statements and schedule appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, have been audited by Moss Adams LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

50

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units

PROSPECTUS

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered. All of the amounts shown are estimates:

SEC registration fee	$	7,111.85
FINRA filing fees	​	*
Printing expenses	​	*
Legal fees and expenses	​	*
Accounting fees and expenses	​	*
Miscellaneous expenses	​	*
Total	​	*

*

These fees and expenses are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision which eliminates our directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Maryland law requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that: (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, if the proceeding was one by or in the right of the corporation, under Maryland law, indemnification may not be made in respect of any proceeding in which the director shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, and in addition, a director may not be indemnified in respect of any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director, whether or not involving action in the director’s official capacity, in which the director was adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of  (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

Our charter authorizes us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to obligate ourselves and our bylaws obligate us, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who,

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while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that individual may become subject or which that individual may incur by reason of his or her service in any of the foregoing capacities and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. Our charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of our company in any of the capacities described above and any employees or agents of our company or a predecessor of our company.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors whereby we indemnify such executive officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law against all expenses and liabilities, subject to limited exceptions. These indemnification agreements also provide that upon an application for indemnity by an executive officer or director to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, such court may order us to indemnify such executive officer or director.

In addition, our directors and officers are indemnified for specified liabilities and expenses pursuant to the limited partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership.

Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, officer or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 16.

Index to Exhibits.

The list of exhibits following the signature page of this registration statement is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 17.

Undertakings.

(a)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i)

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities

II-3

offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

(d)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Beaverton, Oregon on August 5, 2020.

GREAT AJAX CORP.

By:

/s/ Lawrence Mendelsohn

Lawrence Mendelsohn
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, each of the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Lawrence Mendelsohn, Russell Schaub and Mary Doyle his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement and any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in- fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name	Capacity	Date
/s/ Lawrence Mendelsohn Lawrence Mendelsohn	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)	August 5, 2020
/s/ Mary Doyle Mary Doyle	Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)	August 5, 2020
/s/ Russell Schaub Russell Schaub	President and Director	August 5, 2020
/s/ Steven L. Begleiter Steven L. Begleiter	Director	August 5, 2020
/s/ John C. Condas John C. Condas	Director	August 5, 2020
/s/ Paul Friedman Paul Friedman	Director	August 5, 2020
/s/ Jonathan Bradford Handley, Jr. Jonathan Bradford Handley, Jr.	Director	August 5, 2020
/s/ J. Kirk Ogren, Jr. J. Kirk Ogren, Jr.	Director	August 5, 2020

II-5

Exhibit No.	Description
1.1*	Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1	Articles of Amendment and Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
3.2	Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment and Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2020.
3.3	Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment and Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020.
3.4	Articles of Amendment to the Articles Supplementary, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020.
3.5	Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
4.1	Indenture made and entered into as of April 19, 2017 by and among the registrant and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB as Trustee, incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-209513).
4.2	First Supplemental Indenture to the Base Indenture made and entered into as of April 25, 2017 by and among the registrant and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB as Trustee, incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-209513).
4.3	Form of 7.25% Convertible Senior Note, incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-209513).
4.4	Form of Series A Warrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020.
4.5	Form of Series B Warrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020.
4.6	Form of Indenture.
4.7*	Form of Debt Security.
4.8*	Form of Warrant Agreement.
4.9*	Form of Warrant.
4.10*	Form of Unit Agreement.
5.1	Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP.
8.1	Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP regarding certain tax matters.
10.1	Agreement of Limited Partnership of Great Ajax Operating Partnership LP, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
10.2	Servicing Agreement dated as of July 8, 2014 by and among Gregory Funding LLC and the registrant and its affiliates Great Ajax Operating Partnership L.P. and Little Ajax II LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).

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Exhibit No.	Description
10.3	Form of Indemnification Agreement between registrant and each of its directors and officers, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
10.4	Assignment Agreement made as of July 8, 2014, by and between the entities identified on Exhibit A thereto and the registrant with respect to Little Ajax II LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
10.5	2014 Director Equity Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
10.6	2016 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 7, 2016. (File No. 333-00787).
10.7	Form of Restricted Stock Award, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
10.8	Registration Rights Agreement made and entered into as of July 8, 2014, by and among the registrant and FBR Capital Markets & Co., as the initial purchaser/placement agent, or FBR, for the benefit of FBR and certain purchasers of the registrant’s common stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
10.9	Trademark License Agreement dated as of July 8, 2014 between the registrant and Aspen Yo, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on September 23, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
10.10	Registration Rights Agreement made and entered into as of December 16 2014, by and among the registrant and certain purchasers of the registrant’s common stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 confidentially submitted to the SEC on December 29, 2014 (File No. 333-00787).
10.11	Employment Agreement with Mary Doyle, Great Ajax Corp. Chief Financial Officer, dated March 4, 2019, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
10.12	Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated April 28, 2020, by and among Great Ajax Corporation, Great Ajax Operating Partnership, LP and Thetis Asset Management LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
10.13	Registration Rights Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 6, 2020.
10.14	Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 7, 2020, by and among Great Ajax Corp., Great Ajax Operating Partnership LP, Thetis Asset Management LLC and the Purchasers named therein, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020.
21.1	List of subsidiaries, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
23.1	Consent of Moss Adams LLP.
23.2	Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

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Exhibit No.	Description
23.3	Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).
24.1	Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this registration statement).
25.1	Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on April 19, 2017.
25.2**	Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Indenture.

*

To be filed by amendment.

**

To be filed separately in accordance with Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the appropriate rules and regulations thereunder.

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EX-4.6

Exhibit 4.6

FORM OF INDENTURE

Great Ajax Corp.

INDENTURE

Dated as of _______, 20[ __ ]

[_______________]

Trustee

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

Trust Indenture Act Section	Indenture Section
310(a)(1)	7.1
(a)(2)	7.1
(a)(3)	N.A.
(a)(4)	N.A.
(a)(5)	7.1
(b)	7.1
(c)	N.A.
311(a)	7.11
(b)	7.11
(c)	N.A.
312(a)	2.06
(b)	12.03
(c)	12.03
313(a)	7.06
(b)(2)	7.06; 7.07
(c)	7.06; 12.02
(d)	7.06
314(a)	4.03;12.02; 12.05
(c)(1)	12.04
(c)(2)	12.04
(c)(3)	N.A.
(e)	12.05
(f)	N.A.
315(a)	7.01
(b)	7.05,12.02
(c)	7.01
(d)	7.01
(e)	6.11
316(a) (last sentence)	2.09
(a)(1)(A)	6.05
(a)(1)(B)	6.04
(a)(2)	N.A.
(b)	6.07
(c)	2.13
317(a)(1)	6.08
(a)(2)	6.09
(b)	2.05
318(a)	12.01
(b)	N.A.
(c)	12.01

N.A.            means not applicable.

* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

Table of Contents

Page

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE			1
	Section 1.01	Definitions	1
	Section 1.02	Other Definitions	4
	Section 1.03	Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act	5
	Section 1.04	Rules of Construction	5
ARTICLE 2 THE SECURITIES			5
	Section 2.01	Issuable in Series	5
	Section 2.02	Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities	6
	Section 2.03	Execution and Authentication	8
	Section 2.04	Registrar and Paying Agent	9
	Section 2.05	Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust	9
	Section 2.06	Holder Lists	9
	Section 2.07	Transfer and Exchange	9
	Section 2.08	Replacement Securities	9
	Section 2.09	Outstanding Securities	9
	Section 2.10	Treasury Securities	10
	Section 2.11	Temporary Securities	10
	Section 2.12	Cancellation	10
	Section 2.13	Defaulted Interest	10
	Section 2.14	Global Securities	11
	Section 2.15	CUSIP Numbers	11
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT			12
	Section 3.01	Notices to Trustee	12
	Section 3.02	Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed or Purchased	12
	Section 3.03	Notice of Redemption	12
	Section 3.04	Effect of Notice of Redemption	13
	Section 3.05	Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price	13
	Section 3.06	Securities Redeemed or Purchased in Part	13
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS			14
	Section 4.01	Payment of Securities	14
	Section 4.02	Maintenance of Office or Agency	14
	Section 4.03	Reports	14
	Section 4.04	Compliance Certificate	15
	Section 4.05	Taxes	15
	Section 4.06	Stay, Extension and Usury Laws	15
	Section 4.07	Corporate Existence	15

i

Table of Contents

(continued)

Page

ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS			16
	Section 5.01	Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets	16
	Section 5.02	Successor Person Substituted	16
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES			16
	Section 6.01	Events of Default	16
	Section 6.02	Acceleration	17
	Section 6.03	Other Remedies	18
	Section 6.04	Waiver of Past Defaults	18
	Section 6.05	Control by Majority	18
	Section 6.06	Limitation on Suits	18
	Section 6.07	Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment	18
	Section 6.08	Collection Suit by Trustee	19
	Section 6.09	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	19
	Section 6.10	Priorities	19
	Section 6.11	Undertaking for Costs	19
ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE			20
	Section 7.01	Duties of Trustee	20
	Section 7.02	Rights of Trustee	20
	Section 7.03	Individual Rights of Trustee	21
	Section 7.04	Trustee’s Disclaimer	21
	Section 7.05	Notice of Defaults	21
	Section 7.06	Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Securities	21
	Section 7.07	Compensation and Indemnity	22
	Section 7.08	Replacement of Trustee	22
	Section 7.09	Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.	23
	Section 7.10	Eligibility; Disqualification	23
	Section 7.11	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company	23
ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE			23
	Section 8.01	Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	23
	Section 8.02	Legal Defeasance and Discharge	23
	Section 8.03	Covenant Defeasance	24
	Section 8.04	Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance	24
	Section 8.05	Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions	25
	Section 8.06	Repayment to Company	25
	Section 8.07	Reinstatement	26

ii

Table of Contents

(continued)

Page

ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER			26
	Section 9.01	Without Consent of Holders of Securities	26
	Section 9.02	With Consent of Holders of Securities	27
	Section 9.03	Compliance with Trust Indenture Act	28
	Section 9.04	Revocation and Effect of Consents	28
	Section 9.05	Notation on or Exchange of Securities	28
	Section 9.06	Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.	28
ARTICLE 10 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE			28
	Section 10.01	Satisfaction and Discharge	28
	Section 10.02	Application of Trust Money	29
ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS			30
	Section 11.01	Trust Indenture Act Controls	30
	Section 11.02	Notices	30
	Section 11.03	Communication by Holders of Securities with Other Holders of Securities	31
	Section 11.04	Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent	31
	Section 11.05	Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion	31
	Section 11.06	Rules by Trustee and Agents	31
	Section 11.07	No Personal Liability of Trustees, Officers, Employees and Stockholders	31
	Section 11.08	Governing Law	31
	Section 11.09	No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements	32
	Section 11.10	Successors	32
	Section 11.11	Severability	32
	Section 11.12	Counterpart Originals	32
	Section 11.13	Table of Contents, Headings, etc.	32

iii

INDENTURE dated as of [_______], 20[__] among Great Ajax Corp., a Maryland real estate investment trust, and [_______], as trustee.

The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of the Securities issued under this Indenture:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01      Definitions. “Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

“Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.

“Authentication Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

“Capital Stock” means:

(1)            in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(2)            in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3)            in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4)            any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

“Company” means Great Ajax Corp., a Maryland real estate investment trust, and any and all successors thereto.

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 11.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.02 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Securities, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

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“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.

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

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession as amended and/or modified from time to time.

“Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.02 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

“Government Securities” means securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities), and additionally, in respect of any Series of Securities denominated in other than United States dollars, securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government in whose currencies such Series of Securities are denominated (which in the case of the Euro shall be deemed to include any government whose functional currency is the Euro).

“Guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

“Guarantors” means any Person Guaranteeing any Obligation under the Securities.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1)            interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

(2)            other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; and

(3)            other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1)            in respect of borrowed money;

(2)            evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof (other than reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in (1), (2) (other than letters of credit), (3), (4), (5) or (6)) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit);

(3)            in respect of banker’s acceptances; or

(4)            representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.

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The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

(1)            the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

(2)            the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and

(3)            with respect to Hedging Obligations, the amount of Indebtedness required to be recorded as a liability in accordance with GAAP.

“Indenture” means this instrument as amended and supplemented from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.02; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more Series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular Series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 2.02, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other Series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

“interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Sections 12.04 and 12.05 hereof.

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Sections 12.04 and 12.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

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“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

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

“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 hereof.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1–02 of Regulation S–X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1)            any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

(2)            any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of or within any Series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to the Securities of that Series.

“U.S. Legal Tender” means such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

Section 1.02      Other Definitions

Term	Defined in Section
“Covenant Defeasance”	8.03
“Event of Default”	6.01
“Legal Defeasance”	8.02
“Paying Agent”	2.04
“Registrar”	2.04

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Section 1.03      Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“indenture securities” means the Securities;

“indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Security;

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

“obligor” on the Securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.04      Rules of Construction

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)            a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(2)            an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(3)            “or” is not exclusive;

(4)            words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(5)            “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

(6)            provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

(7)            references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

ARTICLE 2

THE SECURITIES

Section 2.01      Issuable in Series

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. All Series of Securities shall be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, provided that Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters as provided by the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution.

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Section 2.02            Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities

At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.02(a) and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.02(b) through 2.02(v)) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:

(a)             the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);

(b)             the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;

(c)             any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 3.06 or 9.05);

(d)             the date or dates or the method by which such date or dates will be determined on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

(e)             the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates, at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months;

(f)              the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

(g)             if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

(h)             the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(i)              the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;

(j)              if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;

(k)             the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;

(l)              if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;

(m)            if other than United States dollars, the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series;

(n)             if other than United States dollars, the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;

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(o)             if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;

(p)             the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

(q)             the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;

(r)              the provisions, if any, relating to any guarantees of the Securities of the Series;

(s)             any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02;

(t)              any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;

(u)             any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01, but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series);

(v)             any trustees, depositories, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;

(w)            the date as of which any temporary Global Security representing Outstanding Securities of or within the Series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the Series to be issued;

(x)             the applicability, if any, of Sections 8.02 and/or 8.03 to the Securities of or within the Series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article VIII;

(y)             if the Securities of such Series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such Series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(z)              if the Securities of or within the Series are to be issued upon the exercise of debt warrants, the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

(aa)           whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts on the Securities of or within the Series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);

(bb)           the obligation, if any, of the Company to permit the Securities of such Series to be converted into or exchanged for common stock of the Company or other Securities or property of the Company and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected (including, without limitation, the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period, any adjustment of the applicable conversion or exchange price or rate and any requirements relative to the reservation of such shares for purposes of conversion or exchange); and

(cc)           if convertible or exchangeable, any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of the Securities or property into which such Securities are convertible or exchangeable.

All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuances of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate.

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Section 2.03            Execution and Authentication

An Officer must sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time a Security is authenticated, the Security will nevertheless be valid.

A Security will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities of a Series for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate described in Section 2.02 with respect to such Series upon receipt by the Trustee of an Authentication Order. Such Authentication Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate described in Section 2.02 with respect to such Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02, except as provided in Section 2.08.

Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.02) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 11.04 and stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the authentication and delivery of Securities of such Series have been complied with, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 11.04 and stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the authentication and delivery of Securities of such Series have been complied with.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

Section 2.04            Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company will maintain with respect to each Series of Securities at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.02 an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar will keep a register of the Securities of such Series and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

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The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.

Section 2.05            Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

The Company will require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Securities for which it is acting as Paying Agent, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require the Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders of any Series of Securities for which it acts as Paying Agent all money held by it as Paying Agent for such Series. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for each Series of Securities.

Section 2.06            Holder Lists

The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of each Series of Securities and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

Section 2.07            Transfer and Exchange. Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 or 9.05).

Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.

Section 2.08            Replacement Securities

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, the Company will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Security of the same Series if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an affidavit of loss and indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Security.

Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Securities of the same Series duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.09            Outstanding Securities

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.09 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.10 hereof, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

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If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.

If the principal amount of any Security is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.

Section 2.10            Treasury Securities

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities of such Series owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities of such Series that the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

Section 2.11            Temporary Securities

Until certificates representing Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities will be substantially in the form of certificated Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. After preparation of such definitive Securities, the temporary Securities will be exchangeable for such definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities.

Holders of temporary Securities will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 2.12            Cancellation

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Securities will be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.13            Defaulted Interest

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities of a Series, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders of the Securities of such Series on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in such Series of Securities and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such Series and the date of the proposed payment. The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders of Securities of such Series a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

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Section 2.14            Global Securities

(a)             Terms of Securities. The Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate described in Section 2.02 with respect to a Series shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

(b)             Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.07 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Indenture for Securities of the Series with respect to which such Global Security was issued registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days of such event, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.

Except as provided in this Section 2.14(b), a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.

(c)             Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.”

(d)             Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

(e)             Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.

(f)             Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14(e), the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.

Section 2.15            CUSIP Numbers

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

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ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01            Notices to Trustee

The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities or in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate described in Section 2.02 with respect to such Series. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth:

(1)            the term of the applicable Series of Securities pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

(2)            the redemption date;

(3)            the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed; and

(4)            the redemption price.

Section 3.02            Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed or Purchased

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers’ Certificate, if less than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Securities of such Series for redemption or purchase as follows:

(1)            if the Securities of such Series are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Securities of such Series are listed; or

(2)            if the Securities of such Series are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (based on amounts tendered), by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the Securities of a Series to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Securities of such Series not previously called for redemption or purchase.

The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Security selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Securities and portions of Securities selected will be in amounts of the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that Series or integral multiples thereof; except that if all of the Series of Securities of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of such Securities held by such Holder, even if not an integral multiple of the minimum authorized denomination, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption or purchase.

Section 3.03            Notice of Redemption

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of such Securities and this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 11 of this Indenture.

The notice will identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and will state:

(1)            the redemption date;

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(2)            the redemption price;

(3)            if any Security of the Series is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Security;

(4)            the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(5)            that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(6)            that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(7)            the Section of the Securities of the Series and/or Section of this Indenture applicable to such Series pursuant to which the Securities of the Series called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(8)            that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities of the Series.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04            Effect of Notice of Redemption

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Securities of a Series called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

Section 3.05            Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price

Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the relevant redemption or purchase date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Securities to be redeemed or purchased.

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or the portions of Securities called for redemption or purchase. If a Security is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Security called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06            Securities Redeemed or Purchased in Part

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Security of the same Series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Security surrendered.

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ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01            Payment of Securities

The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on each Series of Securities on the dates and in the manner provided for the Securities of such Series by the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of such Series. Principal, premium, if any, and interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds in U.S. Legal Tender and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. If the Company or Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, the Company shall, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the due date, segregate and hold in trust U.S. Legal Tender sufficient to make payments of principal, premium and interest due on such date.

Unless otherwise indicated for a Series of Securities in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate described in Section 2.02, the Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal, and on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on each Series of Securities to the extent lawful. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments hereunder.

Section 4.02            Maintenance of Office or Agency

The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee, being [_______], located at [_______], or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Securities of each Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of Securities of each Series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of each Series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.04 hereof.

Section 4.03            Reports.

(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as Securities of any Series are outstanding, the Company will file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:

(1)            all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such forms, and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

(2)            all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

If the SEC will not accept a filing referred to above, then the Company will furnish such information and reports to the Trustee and Holders within 15 days of the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, and make such information available to prospective investors upon request. The Company will at all times comply with TIA § 314(a).

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(b)             The Trustee shall not be under a duty to review or evaluate any report or information delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.03 for the purposes of making such reports available to it and to the Holders of Securities of any Series who may request such information. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee as may be required under this Section 4.03 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 4.04            Compliance Certificate

(a)             The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge after due inquiry the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to his or her knowledge after due inquiry no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of any Series is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

(b)             So long as any of the Securities of any Series are outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, promptly upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05            Taxes

The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities of any Series.

Section 4.06            Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07            Corporate Existence

Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

(1)            its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and

(2)            the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities of any Series.

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ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01      Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any Person (a “Successor Person”), and may not permit any Person to merge into, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, the Company, unless:

(1)            the Successor Person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture and

(2)            immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

Section 5.02      Successor Person Substituted

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the Successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities except in the case of a sale of all of the Company’s assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01      Events of Default

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, subject to any modifications, deletions or additions relating to any Series of Securities, as provided in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate for such Series:

(1)            the Company defaults for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, any Security of that Series;

(2)            the Company defaults in the payment when due (at Maturity) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any Security of that Series;

(3)            the Company fails to observe or perform any other covenant, representation, warranty or other agreement in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series) or the Securities of that Series for 60 consecutive days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of Securities of that Series of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of such Securities then outstanding voting as a single class;

(4)            a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default:

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(A)            is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or

(B)            results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $25.0 million or more;

(5)            the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

(A)            commences a voluntary case,

(B)            consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

(C)            consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

(D)            makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

(E)            generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

(6)            a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A)            is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(B)            appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

(C)            orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(7)            any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.02(s).

Section 6.02      Acceleration

In the case of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Securities of such Series shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may declare all the Securities of such Series to be due and payable immediately.

Upon any such declaration, the Securities of such Series shall become due and payable immediately. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders of Securities of such Series rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default with respect to Securities of such Series (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

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Section 6.03      Other Remedies

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such Series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities of such Series or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities of such Series or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Security of any Series in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such Series shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in such Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.04      Waiver of Past Defaults

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of a Series by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such Series waive an existing Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities of such Series (including in connection with any offer to purchase); provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05      Control by Majority

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of a Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it with respect to the Securities of such Series. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Securities of such Series or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee shall be entitled to take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction or this Indenture.

Section 6.06      Limitation on Suits

A Holder of a Security of any Series may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of that Series only if:

(1)            such Holder of a Security of that Series has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to Securities of that Series;

(2)            the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3)            such Holder of a Security of that Series or Holders of Securities of that Series offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4)            the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

(5)            during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that Series do not give the Trustee a written direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder of a Security may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Security of the same Series or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Security of the same Series.

Section 6.07      Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security of any Series to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on a Security of that Series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security of that Series (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

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Section 6.08      Collection Suit by Trustee

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Securities of that Series and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09      Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Securities of any Series allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of any Series), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of any Series or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10      Priorities

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

Second: to Holders of Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected for amounts due and unpaid on such Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal, premium, if any and interest, respectively; and

Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Securities pursuant to this Section 6.10.

Section 6.11      Undertaking for Costs

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Security pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series.

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ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01      Duties of Trustee

(a)            If an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b)            Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities:

(1)            the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2)            in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(c)            The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1)            this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

(2)            the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(3)            the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

(d)            Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e)            No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders of a Series of Securities, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f)            The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 7.02      Rights of Trustee

(a)            The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b)            Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c)            The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

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(d)            The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e)            Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

(f)            The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of a Series of Securities unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(g)            The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Series Securities governed by this Indenture with respect to which such Default or Event of Default relates.

(h)            The rights, privileges, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee hereunder, including without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed by the Trustee consistent with the terms of this Indenture to act hereunder.

(i)            Any permissive right or authority granted to the Trustee shall not be construed as a mandatory duty.

Section 7.03      Individual Rights of Trustee

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities of any Series and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest, as described in the TIA, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as Trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

Section 7.04      Trustee’s Disclaimer

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities of any Series, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities of any Series or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Securities of any Series or any other document in connection with the sale of the Securities of any Series or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05      Notice of Defaults

If a Default or Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities of such Series occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Securities of such Series a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on a Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such Series.

Section 7.06      Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Securities

(a)            Within 60 days after each [_______] beginning with the [_______] following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Securities of any Series remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Holders of the Securities of such Series a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

(b)            A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Securities of any Series will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of such Series are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.

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Section 7.07      Compensation and Indemnity

(a)            The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the Company and Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

(b)            The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

(c)            The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(d)            To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Securities of each Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities of a Series. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(e)            When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

(f)            The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

Section 7.08      Replacement of Trustee

(a)            A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

(b)            The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of a Series may remove the Trustee with respect to such Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series if:

(1)            the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(2)            the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(3)            a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4)            the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(c)            If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason with respect to the Securities of one or more Series, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such Series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series). Within one year after a successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of a Series may appoint a successor Trustee with respect to such Series to replace the successor Trustee for such Series appointed by the Company.

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(d)            If a successor Trustee for a Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee for such Series resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such Series.

(e)            If the Trustee for a Series, after written request by any Holder of Securities of such Series who has been a Holder of Securities of such Series for at least six months, fails with respect to such Series to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee for such Series and the appointment of a successor Trustee for such Series.

(f)            A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Holders of each Series of Securities for which it acts as Trustee. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 7.09      Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10      Eligibility; Disqualification

There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11      Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01      Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

If, pursuant to Section 2.02, provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of or within a Series under Section 8.02 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a Series under Section 8.03 to be applicable to the Securities of a Series, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.02 with respect to the Securities of such Series), shall be applicable to the Securities of such Series, and the Company may, at the option of the Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Securities of such Series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02      Legal Defeasance and Discharge

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities of a Series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied with respect to the Securities of such Series (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities of such Series, which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under the Securities of such Series and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

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(1)            the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities of such Series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

(2)            the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities of such Series under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;

(3)            the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and

(4)            this Article 8.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 with respect to Securities of a Series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof with respect to Securities of such Series.

Section 8.03      Covenant Defeasance

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.3 and 4.4, as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series of Securities, with respect to the outstanding Securities of a Series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such Series shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders of Securities of such Series (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that the Securities of such Series will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such Series, the Company may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such Series under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01 (3) through 6.01(5) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04      Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:

(1)            the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of a Series, cash in such currency, currencies or currency units in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities of such Series are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

(2)            in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

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(A)            the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(B)            since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3)            in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4)            no Default or Event of Default with respect to Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default with respect to Securities of such Series resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(5)            such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) with respect to such Securities to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(6)            the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Securities of such Series over the other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others; and

(7)            the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 8.05      Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Securities of a Series will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of the Securities of such Series of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of an outstanding Series of Securities.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06      Repayment to Company. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Series of Securities and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of Security of such Series will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

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Section 8.07      Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or other currency or non- callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and each applicable Series of Securities will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Series of Securities following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Series of Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01      Without Consent of Holders of Securities. Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or any Series of Securities without the consent of any Holder of Securities:

(1)            to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or a Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company or such Guarantor herein, in the Securities contained; provided that such succession is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture and applicable law;

(2)            to add to the covenants of the Company or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of all or any Series of Securities (and, if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all Series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such Series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor;

(3)            to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any Series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all Series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such Series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those Series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default;

(4)            to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of any Series in any material respect;

(5)            to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture or any Guarantee in respect of any Series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination shall (i) neither (A) apply to any Security of any Series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision, nor (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision; or (ii) become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding;

(6)            to secure the Securities of any Series;

(7)            to establish the form or terms of Securities of any Series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.02, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property of the Company;

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(8)            to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add or change any of the provisions of the Indenture or any Guarantee as shall be reasonable and necessary solely to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; provided that such succession is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture and applicable law;

(9)            to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

(10)          to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder of any Series of Securities;

(11)          to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to the Holders of each Series of Securities by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article 5 hereof;

(12)          to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of each Series of Securities or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder of any Series of Securities; or

(13)          to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02      With Consent of Holders of Securities. Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Securities of an affected Series with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such affected Series then outstanding, voting as a separate class, (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Securities of each affected Series). Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default with respect to a Series of Securities (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of such Series, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of such Series may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Securities of such Series). Section 2.09 hereof shall determine which Securities are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Securities of each required Series as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

It is not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities of any Series under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Securities of each Series affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any Series then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture with respect to such Series or such Series of Securities. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

27

(1)            reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2)            reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Securities;

(3)            reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Security;

(4)            waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(5)            make any Security payable in currency other than that stated in the Securities;

(6)            make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Securities to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Securities;

(7)            waive a redemption payment, if any, with respect to any Securities or change any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any Securities; or

(8)            make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.

Section 9.03      Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities will be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.04      Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder of a Security or subsequent Holder of a Security may revoke the consent as to its Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

Section 9.05      Notation on or Exchange of Securities. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Security thereafter authenticated. If the Company so determines, the Company in exchange for all Securities of a Series may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Securities of such Series that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Security will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06      Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Trustees approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

ARTICLE 10

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 10.01      Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of a Series issued hereunder, when:

(1)            either:

28

(a)            all Securities of such Series that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Securities that have been replaced or paid and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b)            all Securities of such Series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of such Series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Securities of such Series not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

(2)            no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound;

(3)            the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(4)            the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Securities of such Series at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to all Securities of any Series under this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section with respect to a Series of Securities, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 8.06 will survive with respect to such Series of Securities. In addition, nothing in this Section 10.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

Section 10.02      Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 10.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 10.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of such Series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed or assessed against the Trustee with respect to the money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.01 hereof.

29

ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01      Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), the imposed duties will control.

Section 11.02      Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company:

Great Ajax Corp.
9400 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Suite 131
Beaverton, Oregon 97005
Fax No.: (503) 226-4699
Telephone No.: (503) 444-5014
Attention: Lauren DeMasi

With a copy to:

Mayer Brown LLP 

1221 Avenue of the Americas 

New York, New York 10020 

Fax No.: (212) 849-5767 

Telephone No.: (212) 506-2275 

Attention: Anna T. Pinedo

If to the Trustee:

[_____________]
[_____________]
[_____________]
Fax No.: [_____________]
Telephone No.: [_____________]
Attention: [_____________]

The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication will also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders of a Series of Securities, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent for such Series of Securities at the same time.

30

Section 11.03      Communication by Holders of Securities with Other Holders of Securities

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 11.04      Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1)            an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(2)            an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 11.05      Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and must include:

(1)            a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(2)            a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3)            a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

(4)            a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

In giving an Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely as to factual matters on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

Section 11.06      Rules by Trustee and Agents

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 11.07      No Personal Liability of Trustees, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No past, present or future trustee, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, this Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Section 11.08      Governing Law

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

31

Section 11.09      No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 11.10      Successors

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors.

Section 11.11      Severability

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 11.12      Counterpart Originals

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

Section 11.13      Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

32

	SIGNATURES
Dated as of [________], 20[__]
	COMPANY
	Great ajax corp.
	By:
	Name:
	Title:
	TRUSTEE:
	[______________]
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

33

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

	Mayer Brown LLP 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020-1001 United States of America T: +1 212 506 2500 F: +1 212 262 1910 mayerbrown.com
August 5, 2020
Great Ajax Corp. 9400 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Suite 131 Beaverton, Oregon 97005

Re: Great Ajax Corp. – Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Great Ajax Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the offering from time to time, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable), of up to $150,000,000 aggregate amount of any or all of the following securities: (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”); (iv) warrants of the Company (the “Warrants”); and (v) units consisting of two or more securities of the Company described in clauses (i) through (iv) above, or any combination thereof (the “Units,” and together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities and Warrants, the “Securities”). The Securities being registered under the Registration Statement will be offered by the Company on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

The Debt Securities are to be issued from time to time pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and an institution to be identified therein, as trustee (the “Trustee”) in the form filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement and as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

The Warrants may be issued from time to time pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company and one or more institutions, as warrant agents (each, a “Warrant Agent”), each to be identified in the applicable Warrant Agreement.

The Units may be issued from time to time pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company and one or more institutions, as unit agents (each, a “Unit Agent”), each to be identified in the applicable Unit Agreement.

Mayer Brown is a global services provider comprising an association of legal practices that are separate entities including
Mayer Brown LLP (Illinois, USA), Mayer Brown International LLP (England), Mayer Brown (a Hong Kong partnership)
and Tauil & Chequer Advogados (a Brazilian partnership).

Great Ajax Corp.
August 5, 2020

Page 2 

In connection with this opinion, we have examined such corporate records, documents, instruments, certificates of public officials and of the Company and such questions of law as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of rendering the opinions set forth herein. We also have examined the Registration Statement.

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all items submitted to us as originals and the conformity with originals of all items submitted to us as copies.

The opinions hereinafter expressed are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:

(i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination;

(ii) limitations imposed by general principles of equity upon the availability of equitable remedies or the enforcement of provisions of any Securities, and the effect of judicial decisions which have held that certain provisions are unenforceable where their enforcement would violate the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, or would be commercially unreasonable, or where their breach is not material; and

(iii) our opinion is based upon current statutes, rules, regulations, cases and official interpretive opinions, and it covers certain items that are not directly or definitively addressed by such authorities.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that:

1.       When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and upon the proper filing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation of Articles Supplementary and any and all required filings relating to the Common Stock and when the necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against payment therefor (in excess of par value thereof) or upon conversion or exercise of any security offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Security”), in accordance with the terms of such Offered Security or the instrument governing such Offered Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), for the consideration approved by the Board (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock), such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.

Great Ajax Corp.
August 5, 2020

Page 3 

2.       When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and upon designation of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of any series of Preferred Stock by the Board and the proper filing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation of Articles Supplementary and any and all required filings relating to such series of Preferred Stock, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company will have been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Preferred Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against payment therefor (in excess of par value thereof), such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

3.       When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and when the terms of the Debt Securities to be issued under the applicable Indenture and their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and when the Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to the authority granted in the resolutions of the Board, the Debt Securities will be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the applicable Indenture.

4.       When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and when the terms of the Warrant Agreements under which the Warrants of the Company are to be issued have been duly established and the Warrant Agreements have been duly executed and delivered and when the terms of such Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Warrant Agreement and when such Warrants have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to the authority granted in the resolutions of the Board and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company.

5.        When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and when the terms of the Unit Agreements under which the Units of the Company are to be issued have been duly established and the Unit Agreements have been duly executed and delivered and when the terms of such Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Unit Agreement and when such Units have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable Unit Agreement and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to the authority granted in the resolutions of the Board and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, such Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company.

Great Ajax Corp.
August 5, 2020

Page 4 

In rendering the opinions expressed above, we have further assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective and comply with all applicable laws; (ii) the Registration Statement will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement; (iii) the terms of the Securities will conform, where applicable, to the respective forms thereof filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and the terms of all Securities will conform in all material respects to the respective descriptions thereof in the Prospectus which is part of the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”); (iv) the Securities will be sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; and (v) certificates, if required, representing the Securities will be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by any applicable agreement, duly authenticated and countersigned.

It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of Securities while the Registration Statement is in effect.

Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, that no opinion should be inferred as to any other matter. We are opining herein as to the Maryland General Corporation Law as in effect on the date hereof, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws, statutes, rules or regulations. This opinion is based upon currently existing laws, statutes, rules, regulations and judicial decisions, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change in any of these sources of law or subsequent legal or factual developments which might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Mayer Brown LLP

EX-8.1

Exhibit 8.1

 

	Mayer Brown LLP
	1221 Avenue of the Americas
	New York, NY 10020-1001
August 5, 2020	Main Tel +1 212 506 2500
	Main Fax +1 212 262 1910
	www.mayerbrown.com

Great Ajax Corp.
9400 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Suite 131
Beaverton, OR 97005 

Re: Great Ajax Corp.—Status as a Real Estate Investment Trust;  Information in Prospectus under Heading Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Great Ajax Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the offering from time to time, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable), of up to $150,000,000 aggregate amount of any or all of the following securities: (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share; (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; (iii) debt securities of the Company; (iv) warrants of the Company; and (v) units consisting of two or more securities of the Company described in clauses (i) through (iv) above, or any combination thereof. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Registration Statement.

You have requested our opinion as to certain federal income tax matters regarding the Company. Although you may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the federal tax treatment and federal tax structure of the Company and all materials of any kind that were provided to you by us relating to such tax treatment and tax structure, you may not authorize any other person or entity to rely on this opinion, or otherwise make this opinion available for the benefit of any other person or entity, without our prior written consent.

In our capacity as counsel to the Company and for purposes of rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the following, with your consent: (i) the Registration Statement and (ii) a certificate executed by duly appointed officers of the Company (the “Officer’s Certificate”) setting forth certain factual representations, dated August 5, 2020. We have also relied on the conclusion reached in the private letter ruling, dated February 9, 2016, that the Company received from the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, we have examined and relied upon such other documents as we have considered relevant to our analysis. In our examination of such documents, we have assumed the authenticity of original documents, the accuracy of copies, the genuineness of signatures, and the legal capacity of signatories. We have also assumed that all parties to such documents have acted, and will act, in accordance with the terms of such documents.

Our opinion is based on (a) our understanding of the facts as represented to us in the Officer’s Certificate and (b) the assumption that (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have valid legal existences under the laws of the states in which they were formed and have operated in accordance with the laws of such states, (ii) the Company is operated, and will continue to be operated, in the manner described in the Officer’s Certificate, (iii) the facts contained in the Registration Statement are true and complete in all material respects, (iv) all representations of fact contained in the Officer’s Certificate are true and complete and (v) any representation of fact in the Officer’s Certificate that is made “to the knowledge of” or similarly qualified is correct without such qualification. While we have made such inquiries and investigations as we have deemed necessary, we have not undertaken an independent inquiry into or verification of all such facts either in the course of our representation of the Company or for the purpose of rendering this opinion. While we have reviewed all representations made to us to determine their reasonableness, and nothing has come to our attention that would cause us to question the accuracy of such representations, there is no assurance that they are or will ultimately prove to be accurate.

We note that the tax consequences addressed herein depend upon the actual occurrence of events in the future, which events may or may not be consistent with any representations made to us for purposes of this opinion. In particular, the qualification and taxation of the Company as a “real estate investment trust” (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes depends upon the Company’s ability to meet on a continuing basis certain distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership, and the various qualification tests imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To the extent that the facts differ from those represented to or assumed by us herein, our opinion should not be relied upon.

Our opinion herein is based on existing law as contained in the Code, final and temporary Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and court decisions as of the date hereof. The provisions of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, IRS administrative pronouncements and case law upon which this opinion is based could be changed at any time, perhaps with retroactive effect. In addition, some of the issues under existing law that could significantly affect our opinion have not yet been authoritatively addressed by the IRS or the courts, and our opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts. Hence, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge, or that the courts will agree with, our conclusions.

Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing and the following paragraph below, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof:

1.       The Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and its current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for its taxable year ending December 31, 2020 and future years.

2.       We have reviewed the statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and, insofar as such statements pertain to matters of law or legal conclusions, they are correct in all material respects.

This opinion is furnished to you solely for use in connection with the Registration Statement. The foregoing opinion is limited to the federal income tax matters addressed herein, and no other opinion is rendered with respect to other federal tax matters or to any issues arising under the tax laws of any other country, or any state or locality. This opinion letter is solely for the information and use of the addressees in connection with the transactions described above and it speaks only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update this opinion, or to ascertain after the date hereof whether circumstances occurring after such date may affect the conclusions set forth herein. This opinion letter may not be distributed, quoted in whole or in part or relied upon for any purpose by any other person, or otherwise reproduced in any document, or filed with any governmental agency without our express prior written consent.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Mayer Brown LLP

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Great Ajax Corp. of our report dated March 4, 2020, relating to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Great Ajax Corp. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”), and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of the Company, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Great Ajax Corp. for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Moss Adams LLP

Portland, Oregon

August 5, 2020