EX-4.2 2 ex42-2021xq410xkahr.htm EX-4.2 Document
EXHIBIT 4.2
DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following is a description of American Healthcare REIT, Inc.’s securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of December 31, 2021 and certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), and our charter and bylaws. The description is a summary, does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified by reference to Maryland law and to our charter and bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and are incorporated by reference herein. As used herein, the terms “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to American Healthcare REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation.
Under our charter, we have authority to issue a total of 1,200,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which (i) 1,000,000,000 shares are designated common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and (ii) 200,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. Of the 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock authorized, 200,000,000 shares are classified as Class T common stock and 800,000,000 shares are classified as Class I common stock. In addition, our board of directors may amend our charter from time to time, without stockholder approval, to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue.

Common Stock

Subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock set forth in our charter and except as may otherwise be specified in our charter, the holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters voted on by stockholders, including election of our directors; provided, however, that holders of Class I common stock have exclusive voting rights on any amendment to our charter that would alter only the contract rights of Class I common stock and no holders of any other class or series of stock will be entitled to vote thereon, and holders of Class I common stock have no voting rights on any amendment to our charter that would alter only the contract rights of any other class or series of common stock. Our charter does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of our directors. Therefore, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock can elect our entire board of directors. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding class or series of shares of stock and to the provisions in our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to such distributions as may be authorized from time to time by our board of directors and declared by us out of legally available funds and, upon liquidation, are entitled to receive all assets available for distribution to our stockholders. Our charter also provides that upon the listing of a class of common stock for trading on a national securities exchange or such later date not to exceed 12 months from the date of listing as approved by our board of directors, each share of the class or classes of common stock that are not so listed will automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of shares of the listed class of common stock equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the net asset value allocable to the shares of the applicable non-listed class of common stock and the denominator of which is the net asset value allocable to the shares of the listed class of common stock.

Class T Shares

Each share of our Class T common stock sold in the primary portion of our initial public offering (the “primary offering”) was subject to a selling commission of up to 3.0% of the gross offering proceeds per share and a dealer manager fee of up to 3.0% of the gross offering proceeds per share. To the extent that selling commissions were less than 3.0% of the gross offering proceeds for any shares of Class T common stock sold, such reduction in selling commissions was accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the applicable per share purchase price for purchases of such shares. With respect to the dealer manager fee, our advisor funded up to an amount equal to 2.0% of the gross offering proceeds, which reduced the amount we paid for such fee, and we funded the remaining 1.0% of the gross offering proceeds. To the extent that any reduction in dealer manager fees exceeded the portion of the dealer manager fees funded by our advisor, such excess reduction was accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the applicable per share purchase price for purchases of such shares. In addition, we pay an ongoing stockholder servicing fee to our dealer manager with respect to shares of our Class T common stock sold in our primary offering. The stockholder servicing fee accrues daily in an amount equal to 1/365th of 1.0% of the purchase price per share of our Class T common stock sold in our primary offering, will not exceed an amount equal to 4.0% in the aggregate and is paid quarterly in arrears. By agreement with participating broker-dealers, such stockholder servicing fee may have been reduced or limited. We will cease paying the stockholder servicing fee with respect to the shares of our Class T common stock sold in our primary offering at the earliest of (i) the date at which the aggregate underwriting compensation from all sources equals 10.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock




in our primary offering (i.e., excluding proceeds from sales pursuant to the Company’s Distribution Reinvestment Program (the “DRIP”)); (ii) the fourth anniversary of the last day of the fiscal quarter in which our initial public offering (excluding the DRIP offering) terminates; (iii) the date that such shares are redeemed or are no longer outstanding; or (iv) the occurrence of a merger, listing on a national securities exchange, or an extraordinary transaction. We cannot predict if or when this will occur. Our dealer manager may reallow 100% of the stockholder servicing fee to participating broker-dealers. We do not pay selling commissions, dealer manager fees or stockholder servicing fees on shares of Class T common stock sold pursuant to the DRIP.

Class I Shares

Each share of our Class I common stock sold in our primary offering was not subject to up-front selling commissions or a stockholder servicing fee, but was subject to a dealer manager fee. Prior to March 1, 2017, shares of Class I common stock were subject to a dealer manager fee of up to 3.0% of the gross offering proceeds in our primary offering, of which an amount equal to 2.0% of the gross offering proceeds was funded by our advisor and 1.0% of the gross offering proceeds was funded by us. Effective March 1, 2017, shares of Class I common stock were subject to a dealer manager fee of up to an amount equal to 1.5% of the gross offering proceeds in our primary offering, all of which was funded by our advisor.
Our charter also contains a provision permitting our board of directors, without any action by our stockholders, to classify or reclassify any unissued common stock into one or more classes or series of stock by setting or changing the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of any new class or series of shares of stock.
DST Systems, Inc. acts as our registrar and as the transfer agent for our shares.
Preferred Stock

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to designate and issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock without stockholder approval, and to establish the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of each class or series of preferred stock so issued.

Meetings and Special Voting Requirements
Special meetings of stockholders may be called by the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president and the board of directors and must also be called by our secretary to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting. The presence either in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting will constitute a quorum. Generally, the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast is necessary to take stockholder action, except as described in the next paragraph and except that a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect a director.
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge with another entity, convert into another entity, sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business unless approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation’s charter. Our charter provides that these matters (other than certain amendments to the provisions of our charter related to the removal of directors and the vote required for certain amendments) may be approved by stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Stockholders are not entitled to exercise any of the rights of an objecting stockholder provided for in Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL unless our board of directors determines that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of the determination in connection with which stockholders would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights. Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock, any director may be removed from office at any time, but only by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.






Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer
In order for us to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the federal tax laws, we must meet several requirements concerning the ownership of our outstanding capital stock. Specifically, no more than 49.9% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals, as defined in the federal income tax laws to include specified private foundations, employee benefit plans and trusts, and charitable trusts, during the last half of any taxable year beginning with the second taxable year in which we qualified as a REIT. In addition, the outstanding shares of stock must be owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a 12-month taxable year or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year beginning with the second taxable year in which we qualified as a REIT. We may prohibit certain acquisitions and transfers of shares of our stock so as to ensure our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). However, we cannot assure you that this prohibition will be effective.
Our charter contains a limitation on ownership that prohibits any individual or entity from directly acquiring beneficial ownership of more than 9.9% in value of our then outstanding shares of capital stock (which includes common stock and any preferred stock we may issue) or more than 9.9% in value or number, whichever is more restrictive, of our then outstanding shares of common stock.
Any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void and the proposed transferee will acquire no rights in such stock. Any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in violation of the ownership limits discussed above or in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise failing to maintain our qualification as a REIT, will cause the number of shares of our stock causing the violation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) to be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the proposed transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares of our stock. If the transfer to the trust would not be effective for any reason to prevent any of the foregoing, the transfer of that number of shares that otherwise would cause a person to violate any of the restrictions described above will be null and void and the proposed transferee will acquire no rights in such shares of our stock. The automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the transfer. We will designate a trustee of the trust that will not be affiliated with us. We will also name one or more charitable organizations as a beneficiary of the trust. Shares-in-trust will remain issued and outstanding shares of stock and will be entitled to the same rights and privileges as all other shares of the same class or series of stock. The trustee will receive all distributions on the shares-in-trust and will hold such distributions in trust for the benefit of the beneficiary. The trustee will vote all shares-in-trust during the period they are held in trust and, subject to Maryland law, will have the authority (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by the proposed transferee prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and (ii) to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast the vote.
Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee of the trust will sell the shares-in-trust to a qualified person selected by the trustee and distribute to the applicable prohibited owner an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the sales proceeds received by the trust for such shares-in-trust or (2) (A) if the prohibited owner was a transferee for value, the price paid by the prohibited owner for such shares-in-trust or (B) if the prohibited owner was not a transferee or was a transferee but did not give value for the shares-in-trust, the fair market value of such shares-in-trust on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in trust. The trustee may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which have been paid to the prohibited owner and are owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. Any amount received by the trustee in excess of the amount to be paid to the prohibited owner will be distributed to the beneficiary of the trust.
If, prior to our discovery that shares have been transferred to the trustee, such shares are sold by the prohibited owner, then such shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and, to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that the prohibited owner was entitled to receive, such excess must be paid to the trustee upon demand. In addition, all shares-in-trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (1) the price per share in the transaction that created such shares-in-trust (or, in the case of devise, gift, or other event other than a transfer for value, the market price of such shares of stock at the time of such devise, gift, or other event) and (2) the market price on the date we, or our designee, accepts such offer. We will have the right to accept the offer until the trustee has sold the shares. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner. We may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which have been paid to the




prohibited owner and are owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. We may pay the amount of such reduction to the trustee for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary.
Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire shares of our stock in violation of the foregoing restrictions or who owns shares of our stock that were transferred to any such trust is required to give immediate written notice to us of such event or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, at least 15 days’ prior written notice. Such person shall provide to us such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such transfer on our status as a REIT.
The foregoing restrictions continue to apply until our board of directors determines it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the foregoing restrictions is no longer required for REIT qualification.
Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, may exempt a person (prospectively or retroactively) from the limitation on ownership of more than 9.9% in value of our then outstanding shares of capital stock (which includes common stock and any preferred stock we may issue) or more than 9.9% in value or number, whichever is more restrictive, of our then outstanding shares of common stock. However, the board of directors may not exempt any person whose ownership of our outstanding stock would result in our being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise would result in our failure to maintain our qualification as a REIT. In order to be considered by our board of directors for exemption, a person also must not own, directly or indirectly, an interest in our tenant (or a tenant of any entity which we own or control) that would cause us to own, directly or indirectly, more than a 9.9% interest in the tenant. The person seeking an exemption must represent to the satisfaction of our board of directors that it will not violate these two restrictions. The person also must agree that any violation or attempted violation of these restrictions will result in the automatic transfer of the shares of stock causing the violation to the trust.
Any stockholder of record who owns more than 5.0% (or such lower level as required by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder) of the outstanding shares of our stock during any taxable year, within 30 days after the end of such taxable year, will be asked to deliver a statement or affidavit setting forth the name and address of such record owner, the number of shares of our stock actually owned by such stockholder, and such information regarding the beneficial ownership of the shares of our stock as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such actual or beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limit.
Business Combinations
Under the MGCL, business combinations between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited 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 or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
Any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10.0% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock; or
An affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10.0% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation.A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which such person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the 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 the board of directors.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
80.0% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and
two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares of stock held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.




These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares of our common stock in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares of our common stock.
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution providing that any business combination between us and any other person is exempted from this statute, provided that such business combination is first approved by our board of directors. This resolution, however, may be altered or repealed in whole or in part at any time.
Control Share Acquisitions
The MGCL provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of stockholders entitled to cast two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares of stock owned by the acquiror, by officers or by employees who are directors of the corporation are excluded from shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror 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 of stock the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval or shares acquired directly from the corporation. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition 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 of stock. 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, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders’ meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares of stock are considered and not approved or, if no such meeting is held, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders’ meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares of stock as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.
The control share acquisition statute does not apply (1) to shares of stock acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction, or (2) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.
Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions of shares of our stock by any person. This bylaw provision may be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.
Subtitle 8
Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL 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 five
provisions:
a classified board of directors;




a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;
a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors;
a requirement that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and
a majority requirement for the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders.
In our charter, we have elected that vacancies on our board of directors be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we require the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors in order to remove a director, vest in our board of directors the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships and require the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders in order to call a special meeting to act on such matter. We have not elected to be subject to any of the other provisions of Subtitle 8.
Vacancies on Board of Directors; Removal of Directors
Any vacancy created by the death, resignation, removal, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity of a director or an increase in the number of directors may be filled only by a vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.
Any director may resign at any time and may be removed with or without cause by our stockholders upon the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. The notice of any special meeting called for the purpose of the proposed removal shall indicate that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to determine if the director shall be removed.

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business
Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to the board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by our stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of our board of directors or (3) by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by our board of directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, at the time of giving the advance notice required by the bylaws and at the time of the meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual nominated or on such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors at a special meeting may be made only (1) by or at the direction of our board of directors or (2) provided that the meeting has been called for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by our board of directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, at the time of giving the advance notice required by the bylaws and at the time of the meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual nominated and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.

Limited Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Others
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 established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision that eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
The MGCL requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, 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. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred 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 the following can be established:
an act or omission of the director or officer was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding, and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;
the director or officer received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or
with respect to any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his or her act or omission was unlawful.
A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by the corporation or in its right, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses. The MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon receipt of 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 or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
Our charter requires us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or any individual who, while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, manager, member or trustee and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Our charter also permits us to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of our company in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of our company or a predecessor of our company.
We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers that provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Exclusive Forum For Certain Litigation

Our bylaws provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any internal corporate claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL (other than any action arising under federal securities laws), including, without limitation, (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our directors or officers or other employees to us or to our stockholders or (iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors or officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, our charter or our bylaws, or (b) any other action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors or officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. None of the foregoing actions, claims or proceedings may be brought in any court sitting outside the State of Maryland we consent in writing to such court.