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Form SC 13D/A CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIO Filed by: REALTY INVESTMENT CO INC

June 16, 2015 10:48 AM EDT

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 3)*

 

 

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

169905-10-6

(CUSIP Number)

Christine A. Shreve - 240-295-1600

8171 Maple Lawn Blvd, Suite 375, Fulton, MD 20759

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

June 11, 2015

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

 

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b) (3) or (4), check the following box.  ¨

 

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

 


13D

 

CUSIP No. 169905-10-6 Page 2 of 5

 

  1 

Name of reporting person

 

Realty Investment Company, Inc.

  2

Check the appropriate box if a member of a group*

(a)  ¨        (b)  ¨

 

  3

SEC use only

 

  4

Source of funds

 

    00

  5

Check Box if disclosure of legal proceeding is required pursuant to Items 2(c) or 2(e)    ¨

 

  6

Citizenship or place of organization

 

    State of Maryland

Number of

shares

beneficially

owned by

each

reporting

person

with:

 

  7 

Sole voting

 

    6,821,574

  8

Shared voting power

 

    0

  9

Sole dispositive power

 

    6,821,574

10

Shared dispositive power

 

    0

11

Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person

 

    6,821,574

12

Check Box if the aggregate amount in Row (11) excludes certain shares

 

13

Percent of class represented by amount in Row (11)

 

    11.85%

14

Type of reporting person

 

    CO


13D

 

CUSIP No. 169905-10-6 Page 3 of 5

 

Item 1. Security and Issuer

 

  (a) Name of Issuer:

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

 

  (b) Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:

1 Choice Circle, Suite 400

Rockville, MD 20850

 

  (c) Title and Class of Securities:

Common Stock

 

Item 2. Identity and Background

 

  (a) Name:

Realty Investment Company, Inc. (“Company”)

 

  (b) Business Address:

8171 Maple Lawn Boulevard, Suite 375

Fulton, MD 20759

 

  (c) Present Principal Employment:

The Company is engaged in asset management, accounting and administrative services and management and other investment activities

 

  (d) Record of Convictions:

During the last five years, the Reporting Person has not been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors.)

 

  (e) Record of Civil Proceedings:

During the last five years, the Reporting Person was not a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating such activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

 

  (f) Citizenship:

N/A

 

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

The disclosure in Item 6 below is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction

The disclosure in Item 6 below is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer

 

  (a) Amount and percentage beneficially owned:

Reporting Person:

6,821,574 shares

 

  (b) Number of shares as to which such person has:

 

(i) Sole Voting Power 6,821,574
(ii) Shared Voting Power 0
(iii) Sole Dispositive Power 6,821,574
(iv) Shared Dispositive Power 0

 

  (c) A schedule of transactions effected in the last sixty days is as follows:

N/A


13D

 

CUSIP No. 169905-10-6 Page 4 of 5

 

  (d) Ownership of more than five percent on behalf of Another Person:

N/A

 

  (e) Ownership of Less than Five Percent:

N/A

 

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer

As previously reported, on June 29, 2006, the Reporting Person entered into a Revolving Credit Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with Wachovia Bank, NA (“Wachovia” or “Lender”) for up to $50 million. In connection with the Loan Agreement, the Reporting Person pledged to deliver as security such value of shares of the Issuer as shall equal 50% of the value of the loan amount outstanding at any time. The Loan Agreement contains default and similar provisions that are standard for such agreements. The Lender may not exercise voting or dispositive powers over the pledged shares prior to an event of default under the Loan Agreement. Subsequent modifications to the Loan Agreement reflected the assumption of the Loan Agreement by Wells Fargo Bank, NA, successor by merger to Wachovia; various extensions of the maturity dates through December 1, 2014; and a reduction in the total amount available under the Loan Agreement to $5 million. On June 11, 2015, the Reporting Person renewed the Loan Agreement through May 31, 2016. There is no balance currently outstanding under the Loan Agreement.

 

Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Stock Pledge Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Person on July 10, 2006, and incorporated herein by reference)

Exhibit 2 – Eighth Loan Modification Agreement dated June 11, 2015


13D

 

CUSIP No. 169905-10-6 Page 5 of 5

 

Signature

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: June 16, 2015

 

/s/ Realty Investment Company, Inc.

Realty Investment Company, Inc.
BY:

/s/ Christine A. Shreve

Christine A. Shreve, President

Exhibit 1

STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

THIS STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made this 29th day of June, 2006, by and between REALTY INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Pledgor” or the “Borrower”), and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (the “Pledgee” or the “Bank”).

RECITALS

The Bank and the Borrower have entered into a Loan. Agreement dated the date hereof (which Loan Agreement, as it may from time to time be extended, amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, is herein called the “Loan Agreement”), pursuant to which the Bank has agreed to make available to the Borrower a Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to which the Bank will from time to time make advances (collectively, the “Advances”) to the Borrower in the principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000,00 at any one time outstanding. The Borrower’s obligation to repay the principal of the Advances, with interest, is evidenced by the Borrower’s Revolving Credit Note of even date herewith made payable to the Bank (which Revolving Credit Note, as it may from time to time be extended, amended, restated, supplemented, substituted or otherwise modified, is herein called the “Note”). To induce the Bank to enter into the Loan Agreement and make the Revolving Credit Facility available to the Borrower, and as security for all of the Obligations (hereinafter defined), the Pledgor has agreed to grant to the Bank a continuing security interest in and to the Collateral (hereafter defined) pursuant to this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and. sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Pledgor and the Bank agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

SECTION 1.1. Definitions. All capitalized terms which are not specifically defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Loan Agreement. In addition, the terms defined in the Preamble and Recitals hereto shall have the respective meanings specified therein, and the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Collateral” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

“Collateral Amount” means $100,000,000.00.

“Default” has the meaning set forth in Article V.


“Enforcement Costs” means any and all funds, costs, expenses and charges of any nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) advanced, paid or incurred by or on behalf of the Bank under or in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement, including, without limitation, (a) the compliance with any covenant, warranty, representation or agreement of the Borrower made in or pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Financing Documents, (b) the collection or enforcement of any of the Obligations, this Agreement and any of the other Financing Documents, and (c) the exercise, preservation, maintenance, protection, operation, management, collection, sale or other disposition of, or realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral, the Security Interest and the rights and remedies of the Bank hereunder, under the other Financing Documents, under applicable law and otherwise.

“Event of Default” means an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, could or would constitute a Default under the provisions of this Agreement.

“Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, assignment, encumbrance, judgment, lien, claim or charge of any kind in, on, of or in respect of, any asset or property or any rights to any asset or property, including, without limitation, (a) any interest: of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to any such asset or property, and (b) the filing of, or any agreement to give, any financing statement relating to any such asset or property under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction.

“Person” means and includes an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a joint venture, a trust, an unincorporated association, a government or political subdivision or agency thereof, or any other entity.

“Pledged Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 and shall include the Additional Pledged Stock.

“Security Interests” means the security interests and other Liens in the Collateral granted hereunder.

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date hereof in the State of Maryland.

SECTION 1.2. Rules of Construction. Unless otherwise defined herein and unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein which are defined by the UCC shall have the same meanings assigned to them by the UCC unless and to the extent varied by this Agreement. The words “hereof”, “herein”, and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and section, subsection, schedule, and exhibit references are references to sections or subsections of, or schedules or exhibits to, as the case may be, this Agreement unless otherwise specified. As used herein, the singular number shall include the plural, the plural the singular, and the use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall include all genders, as the context may require.

 

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ARTICLE II

THE COLLATERAL

SECTION 2.1. The Pledge. To secure the full and punctual payment of the Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, and to secure the performance of this Agreement and the other Financing Documents, the Pledgor hereby transfers, pledges, assigns, sets over, delivers and grants to the Bank a continuing lien and security interest in and to all of the following property of the Pledgor, both now owned and existing and hereafter created, acquired and arising relating solely to the Pledged Stock (all being collectively referred to as the “Collateral”) and all right, title and interest of the Pledgor in and to the Collateral:

(a) Pledged Stock, Etc. (i) all of the shares of the common stock of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (“Choice Hotels”) listed on Exhibit A attached hereto and any additional shares of the capital stock of Choice Hotels delivered by the Pledgor to the Bank in the future pursuant to the Loan Agreement (which additional shares of stock shall be deemed to be added to Exhibit A at the time of delivery of such additional stock to the Bank) (collectively, the “Pledged Stock”), (ii) any certificates representing or evidencing the Pledged Stock, (iii) any and all other property which may be delivered to or held by the Bank pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in addition to or in substitution for the Pledged Stock, (iv) subject to Section 2.5 below, all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, income, profits, instruments, securities and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon conversion of the Pledged Stock, and (v) subject to Section 2.5 below, any and all voting and other rights, powers and privileges accruing or incidental to an owner of the Pledged Stock and the other property referred to in subclauses (i) through (iv); and

(b) Proceeds. All cash and non-cash proceeds and products of the Collateral described in clause (a) above.

SECTION 2.2. Security Interests Security Only. The Security Interests are granted as security only and shall not subject the Bank to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation or liability of the Pledgor with respect to any of the Collateral or any transaction in connection therewith.

SECTION 2.3. Delivery, Etc.

(a) The Pledgor shall deliver or promptly cause to be delivered to the Bank:

(i) all certificates representing or evidencing the Pledged Stock which shall be accompanied by undated and irrevocable stock powers duly executed in blank by the Pledgor and a Regulation U purpose statement duly executed by the Pledgor relating to the initial Advance; and

(ii) all other property, instruments and papers comprising, representing or evidencing the Collateral or any part thereof accompanied by proper instruments of assignment or endorsement duly executed by the Pledgor.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Financing Document, the Pledgor may from time to time at the Pledgor’s option exchange the certificates or instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Stock for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations; provided, however, that any such exchange shall be for equivalent value, shall be reasonably acceptable to the Bank, and shall not result in the replacement or exchange of non-Rule 144 stock for Rule 144 stock. The Pledgee acknowledges and agrees that if the market value of the Pledged Stock at any time exceeds the Collateral Amount, the Pledgor may from time to time at the Pledgor’s option (but not more than once every calendar quarter) exchange the certificates or instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Stock for certificates or instruments of a smaller aggregate denomination such that the Pledgee shall not hold and be in possession of Pledged Stock with a market value in excess of the Collateral Amount, The Pledgee shall have Security Interests in the Pledged Stock and no other stock of Choice Hotels or other stock, partnership interest or other ownership interest in any entity owned by the Pledgor. The Pledgee shall, from time to time, at no expense to the Pledgee, execute, deliver and acknowledge any statement, assignment, instrument, paper, agreement or other document reasonably requested by the Pledgor to acknowledge or evidence any of the foregoing in this Section 2.3(b).

SECTION 2.4. Record Owner of Collateral. So long as the Pledgor remains the record owner of all or any part of the Collateral, the Pledgor will promptly, upon request of the Bank, give to the Bank copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Collateral registered in the name of the Pledgor.

SECTION 2.5. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest; etc.

(a) Unless and until a Default shall have occurred and is continuing:

(i) The Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and other rights, powers and privileges accruing to an owner of the Pledged Stock or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Documents; and

(ii) The Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, cash, income, profits, instruments, securities, and other property from time to time paid or distributed on the Pledged Stock, unless any such instruments or securities are issued in connection with a stock split or replacement of the Pledged Stock, in which case such instruments or securities shall be delivered to the Pledgee.

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, all rights of the Pledgor to receive any dividends, cash, income, profits, instruments, securities and other property which the Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a) (ii) of this Section 2.5 shall cease, and the Bank shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain any such dividends, cash, income, profits, instruments, securities and other property. All dividends, cash, income, profits, instruments, securities and other property which are received by the Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this Section 2.5 shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Bank, shall be segregated from other property or funds of the Pledgor and shall be

 

4


forthwith delivered to the Bank in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement which the Pledgor agrees to make). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Bank pursuant to the provisions of this subparagraph (b) shall be retained by the Bank in an interest-bearing account to be established by the Bank upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied to the Obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 hereof. Any interest accrued on such account shall be the property of the Pledgor and shall be applied to the Obligations in accordance with this Agreement.

(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, all rights of the Pledgor to exercise the voting and other rights, powers and privileges which it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a) (i) of this Section 2.5 shall cease, and the Bank shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and other rights, powers and privileges.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Pledgor represents and warrants to the Bank that the following statements are true, correct and complete:

SECTION 3.1. Title and Authority. The Pledgor is the owner of the Collateral and has good and marketable title to the Collateral free and clear of any Liens. The Pledgor has full power and authority to grant the Security Interests to the Bank in the Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement without the consent or approval of any Person other than any consent or approval which has been obtained.

SECTION 3.2. Pledged Stock. All shares of stock included in the Pledged Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are subject to no options to purchase or similar rights of any Person. The Pledgor is not and will not become a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement other than this Agreement, which restricts in any manner the rights of any present or future holder of any of the Pledged Stock.

SECTION 3.3. Acquisition of Pledged Stock. All shares of the Pledged Stock owned by the Pledgor on the date hereof were acquired by Pledgor more than two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement.

SECTION 3.4. Validity, Perfection and Priority of Security Interest. By virtue of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and upon delivery to the Bank of the Collateral (or certificates, instruments or other papers representing or evidencing the Collateral) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Bank will have a valid and perfected Lien on the Collateral subject to no prior or other Liens. No registration, recordation or filing with any governmental body, agency or official is required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or necessary for the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or for the perfection of the Security Interests, except for any filings which may be required to be made with

 

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the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Maryland Division of Securities of the Office of the Attorney General or compliance with any other relevant blue sky securities laws prior to the sale of the stock after the occurrence of a Default.

SECTION 3.5. Additional Representations. This Agreement does not constitute a prohibited transfer under any law, statute, regulation or ordinance, including the Securities Act of 1933; there is no provision of any existing mortgage, indenture, contract, subscription agreement or other agreement binding on the Pledgor or affecting its property which would conflict or in any way prevent the execution, delivery or carrying-out of the terms of this Agreement; and the Pledgor has delivered to the Bank any and all certificates evidencing the Collateral, together with any necessary powers or endorsements.

SECTION 3.6. Survival. All representations and warranties contained in or made under or in connection with this Agreement (a) shall survive the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and (b) shall be true, correct and complete at all times during which any of the Obligations (or commitments therefor) are outstanding with the same effect as if such representations and warranties had been made at such times.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS OF PLEDGOR AND BANK

SECTION 4.1. Title, Liens and Taxes. The Pledgor shall, at its cost and expense, take any and all actions necessary to defend its title to the Collateral against all Persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Bank in the Collateral and the priority (or intended priority) thereof, against any adverse Lien of any nature whatsoever. Except to the extent contested in good faith, the Pledgor will pay all taxes and assessments levied or placed on the Collateral prior to the date when any interest or penalty would accrue for the nonpayment thereof.

SECTION 4.2. Further Assurances. The Pledgor shall, from time to time, at its expense, execute, deliver, acknowledge and cause to be duly filed, recorded or registered any statement, assignment, endorsement, instrument, paper, agreement or other document and take any other action that from time to time may be necessary or desirable, or that the Bank may reasonably request, in order to create, preserve, continue, perfect, confirm or validate the Security Interests or to enable the Bank to obtain the full benefits of this Agreement or to exercise and enforce any of its rights, powers and remedies hereunder. The Pledgor shall pay all costs of, and incidental to, the filing, recording or registration of any such document as well as any recordation, transfer or other tax required to be paid in connection with any such filing, recordation or registration. The Pledgor hereby covenants to save harmless and indemnify the Bank from and against any liability resulting from the failure to pay any required documentary stamps, recordation and transfer taxes and recording costs incurred by the Bank in connection with this Agreement which covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other Obligations.

SECTION 4.3. Sale of Collateral and Reserved Shares. Without the prior written consent of the Bank, the Pledgor will not sell, lease, assign, transfer, dispose of, pledge or grant or permit a Lien to exist on, the Collateral except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement and the Loan Agreement.

 

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SECTION 4.4. Other Documents. The Pledgor authorizes the Bank to file financing statements covering the Collateral. The Pledgor agrees to pay all taxes, fees and costs (including attorneys’ fees) paid or incurred by the Bank in connection with the preparation, filing or recordation thereof. The Pledgor shall not file any amendments, correction statements, or termination statements concerning the Collateral without the prior written consent of the Bank.

SECTION 4.5. Care of Collateral. The Pledgor shall have all risk of loss of the Collateral. The Bank shall have no liability or duty, either before or after the occurrence of an Event of Default, on account of loss of or damage to, or to collect or enforce any of its rights against, the Collateral, to collect any income accruing on the Collateral, or to preserve rights against other parties. If the Bank actually receives any notices requiring action with respect to the Collateral, the Bank shall take reasonable steps to forward such notices to the Pledgor. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Pledgor is responsible for responding to notices concerning the Collateral, voting the Collateral, and exercising rights and options, calls and conversions of the Collateral. The Bank’s sole responsibility is to take such action as is reasonably requested by the Pledgor in writing, however, the Bank is not responsible to take any action that, except as set forth in Section 2.3(b) above, in the Bank’s sole judgment, would affect the value of the Collateral as security for the Obligations adversely. While the Bank is not required to take certain actions, if action is needed, in the Bank’s sole discretion, to preserve and maintain the Collateral, the Pledgor authorizes the Bank to take such action, but the Bank is not obligated to do so.

SECTION 4.6. Replacement of Lost, Damaged or Destroyed Stock Certificate. Notwithstanding Section 4.5 above, the Bank agrees that, if any certificates evidencing or representing the Pledged Stock are lost, damaged or destroyed while in the Bank’s possession, custody or control, the Bank shall be responsible for replacing any such certificates and for the cost of doing so, and the Pledgor shall reasonably cooperate with the Bank in connection with any such replacement.

ARTICLE V

DEFAULT

The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a default under the provisions of this Agreement, and the term “Default” shall mean, whenever it is used in this Agreement, any one or more of the following events:

SECTION 5.1. Perform, etc. Certain Provisions of this Agreement. The failure of the Pledgor to perform, observe or comply with any of the provisions of Section 4.3 of this Agreement;

SECTION 5.2. Perform, etc. Other Provisions of This Agreement. The failure of the Pledgor to perform, observe or comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement other than

 

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those covered by Section 5.1 above, and such failure is not cured to the satisfaction of the Bank within a period of thirty (30) days after the date of written notice thereof by the Bank to the Pledgor; or

SECTION 5.3. Default under Other Financing Documents. If a “Default” (as defined and described therein) occurs and is continuing under the provisions of the Loan Agreement or any of the other Financing Documents (other than this Agreement) which is not cured within applicable cure or grace periods, if any.

ARTICLE VI

RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.1. Rights and Remedies of the Bank. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default (after the expiration of any applicable cure periods), the Bank may, without notice or demand other than expressly provided for under the provisions of this Agreement, exercise in any jurisdiction in which enforcement hereof is sought, the following rights and remedies, in addition to the rights and remedies available to the Bank under the other provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Documents, the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC and all other rights and remedies available to the Bank under applicable law, all such rights and remedies being cumulative and enforceable alternatively, successively or concurrently:

(a) Upon notice as hereinafter set forth, the Bank may sell so much of the Collateral as shall be reasonably necessary to satisfy the Obligations, at public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Bank shall deem, appropriate, and at such price or prices satisfactory to the Bank. The Bank shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it reasonably advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers of any of the Collateral to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Bank shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of the Pledgor, and the Pledgor hereby waives all rights of redemption, stay, valuation and appraisal which the Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

The Bank shall give the Pledgor 10 days prior written notice (which the Pledgor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-504(3) of the UCC) of the Bank’s intention to make any sale or other disposition of Collateral. The Bank agrees that, before the expiration of the ten (10) day notice period, the Pledgor may deliver to the Pledgee substitute Collateral of equivalent value acceptable to the Pledgee in its sole and reasonable discretion, which the Pledgee may sell in the same time frame as the replaced Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or

 

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exchange and, in the case of a private sale or other disposition, shall state the date after which such sale or other disposition may be made. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Bank may fix and state in the notice of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Bank may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Bank shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Bank may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Bank until the sale price is paid in full by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Bank shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. At any public sale made pursuant to this Section 6.1, the Bank may bid for or purchase, free from any right of redemption, stay or appraisal on the part of the Pledgor (all of such rights being also hereby waived and released by the Pledgor), the Collateral offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then due and payable to the Bank from the Pledgor as a credit against the purchase price, and the Bank may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability to the Pledgor therefor.

The Pledgor acknowledges that compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Blue Sky or other state securities laws or similar laws now or hereafter existing analogous in purpose or effect) might very strictly limit or restrict the course of conduct of the Bank if the Bank were to attempt to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral which is comprised of securities, and might also limit or restrict the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee of any such securities could sell or dispose of the same. The Pledgor further acknowledges that under applicable laws, the Bank may be held to have certain general duties and obligations to the Pledgor, as pledgor of the Collateral, to make some reasonable effort toward obtaining a fair price for the Collateral even though the obligations of the Pledgor may be discharged or reduced by the proceeds of sale at a lesser price. The Pledgor understands and agrees that a sale by the Bank shall not be deemed to be commercially unreasonable solely on the grounds that the Bank shall accept the first offer received or does not approach more than one possible purchaser provided that the Bank attempts in good faith to obtain a fair price and the Bank’s actions are in accordance with reasonable commercial standards. Without limiting their generality, the foregoing provisions would apply if, for example, the Bank were to place all or any part of such securities for private placement by an investment banking firm, or if such investment banking firm purchased all or any part of such securities for its own account, or if the Bank placed all or any part of such securities privately with a purchaser or purchasers.

The Pledgor recognizes that the Bank may be unable to effect a public sale of all or a part of the Collateral by reason by certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws, but may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other

 

9


things, to acquire all or a part of the Collateral for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. The Pledgor agrees that any private sale so made may be at prices and on other terms less favorable to the seller than if such Collateral were sold at public sale, and that the Bank has no obligation to delay the sale of such Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit registration of the Collateral for public sale under any securities laws. The Pledgor agrees that a private sale or sales made under the foregoing circumstances shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonably manner. If any consent, approval or authorization of any federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, agency, or authority should be necessary to effectuate any sale or other disposition of the Collateral, or any partial sale or other disposition of the Collateral, the Pledgor will execute all such applications and other instruments as may be required in connection with obtaining any such consent, approval or authorization, and will otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the same.

(b) If it shall be reasonably necessary to do so, the Bank may, as an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver.

(c) In conjunction with any sale of all or any part of the Collateral which is comprised of securities, the Pledgor (i) will, at any time and from time to time, upon the request of the Bank (to the extent reasonably necessary to enable the Bank to exercise its remedies hereunder), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the issuer of such securities to take such action and prepare, distribute and/or file such documents and papers, as are required or advisable in the opinion of the Bank and/or its counsel to permit the sale of such securities whether at public sale, private sale or otherwise, (ii) will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the issuer of such securities to qualify, file or register, any of such securities under federal and state securities laws and regulations (including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and state Blue Sky or other securities laws) as may be requested by the Bank, and to cause the issuer of such securities to keep effective all such qualifications, filings or registrations, (iii) agrees to hold harmless, indemnify and defend the Bank from and against all loss, liability, expenses, costs, fees, disbursements (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of the Bank’s legal counsel) and claims which may be incurred insofar as such loss, liability, expense or claim arises out of or is based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any notification or offering circular, or arises out of or is based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements in any thereof not misleading but except to the extent that any such loss, liability, expense or claim may have been caused by any untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished in writing to the Pledgor or the issuer of such securities by the Bank or any underwriter expressly for use therein, (iv) will bear all costs and expenses of carrying out its obligations under this subsection which shall be a part of the Enforcement Costs and the Obligations secured hereby, and (v) acknowledges that there is no adequate remedy at law for the failure by the Pledgor to comply with the provisions of this subsection and that such failure would not be adequately compensable in damages, and

 

10


therefore agrees that its agreements contained in this subsection may be specifically enforced. By signing the execution of this Agreement, the Pledgor has not waived any rights which it may have as the owner of the Pledged Stock to pursue any remedies which it may have against the issuer of the Pledged Stock for (among other things) the failure of the issuer to provide, accurate form, the information and/or documentation described in this subparagraph (c). In addition, after payment in full of all of the Obligations, the Pledgor will be subrogated to all of the rights to which the Bank may have against such issuer with respect to a failure to provide such information and/or documentation.

SECTION 6.2. Application. The proceeds of collection, sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral coming into the Bank’s possession may be applied by the Bank as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

SECTION 6.3. No Waiver, Etc. No failure or delay by the Bank to insist upon the strict performance of any term, condition, covenant or agreement of this Agreement or of the other Financing Documents, or to exercise any right, power or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof, shall constitute a waiver of any such term, condition, covenant or agreement or of any such breach, or preclude the Bank from exercising any such right, power or remedy at any later time or times. By accepting payment after the due date of any amount payable under this Agreement or under any of the other Financing Documents, the Bank shall not be deemed to waive the right either to require prompt payment when due of all other amounts payable under this Agreement or under any of the other Financing Documents, or to declare a Default for failure to effect such prompt payment of any such other amount; provided, however, that if any such late payment is made to the representative of the Bank identified in Section 7.3 hereof, the Bank shall immediately notify the Pledgor after acceptance of any such late payment, if the acceptance of such late payment does not constitute a waiver of the Default for failure to make prompt payment of such amount. The payment by the Pledgor or any other Person and the acceptance by the Bank of any other amount due and payable under the provisions of this Agreement or the other Financing Documents at any time during which a Default exists shall not in any way or manner be construed as a waiver of such Default by the Bank or preclude the Bank from exercising any right, power or remedy consequent upon such Default; provided, however, that if any such payment is made to the representative of the Bank identified in Section 7.3 hereof, the Bank shall immediately notify the Pledgor after acceptance of any such payment, if the acceptance of such payment does not constitute a waiver of the existing Default.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 7.1. Course of Dealing; Amendment. No course of dealing between the Bank and the Pledgor shall be effective to amend, modify or change any provision of this Agreement or the other Financing Documents. The Bank shall have the right at all times to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Documents in strict accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof, notwithstanding any conduct or custom on the part of the Bank in refraining from so doing at any time or times. The failure of the Bank at any time or times to enforce its rights under such provisions, strictly in accordance with the same, shall not be

 

11


construed as having created a custom in any way or manner contrary to specific provisions of this Agreement or the other Financing Documents or as having in any way or manner modified or waived the same. This Agreement may not be amended, modified, or changed in any respect except by an agreement, in writing, signed by the Bank and the Pledgor.

SECTION 7.2. Waiver of Default. The Bank may, at any time and from time to time, execute and deliver to the Pledgor a written instrument waiving, on such terms and conditions as the Bank may specify in such written instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or any Event of Default or Default and its consequences, provided, that any such waiver shall be for such period and subject to such conditions as shall be specified in any such instrument. In the case of any such waiver, the Pledgor and the Bank shall be restored to their former positions prior to such Event of Default or Default and shall have the same rights as they had hereunder. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default or Default, or impair any right consequent thereto and shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

SECTION 7.3. Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the parties to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given or made when delivered by hand, or three days after the same are deposited in the mail, postage prepaid by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or, in the case of facsimile transmission, when properly transmitted, addressed as follows or to such other address as may be hereafter designated in writing by one party to the other:

 

Pledgor: Realty Investment Company, Inc.
10770 Columbia Pike, Suite 100
Silver Spring, Maryland 20901
Attention: Sherry L. Hurley, President
Facsimile No.: 301-592-1306
Bank: Wachovia Bank, National Association
1753 Pinnacle Drive
McLean, Virginia 22102
Attention: Monica Sevila, Senior Vice President
Facsimile No.: 703-760-6300

except in cases where it is expressly herein provided that such notice, request or demand is not effective until received by the party to whom it is addressed.

SECTION 7.4. Performance for Pledgor. The Pledgor hereby appoints the Bank the attorney-in-fact of the Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument which the Bank may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Bank shall have the right, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, with full power of substitution either in the Bank’s name or in the name of the Pledgor, (a) to ask for, demand, sue for, collect, receive, receipt and give acquittance for any and all moneys due or to become due and under and by

 

12


virtue of any Collateral, (b) to endorse checks, drafts, orders and other instruments for the payment of money payable to the Pledgor representing any interest, dividend or other distribution payable in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof or on account thereof, (c) to give full discharge for all or any part of the Collateral, (d) to settle, compromise, prosecute or defend any action, claim or proceeding with respect to all or any part of the Collateral, (e) to sell, assign, endorse, pledge, transfer and make any agreement respecting such portion of the Collateral as shall be reasonably necessary to satisfy the Obligations, or (f) otherwise deal with all or any part of the Collateral as though the Bank were the absolute owner thereof; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Bank to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Bank, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby, and no action taken by the Bank or omitted to be taken with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof shall give rise to any defense, counterclaim or offset in favor of the Pledgor or to any claim or action against the Bank: provided, however, that the Bank shall be responsible to the Pledgor for any loss incurred as a result of the Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 7.5. Enforcement Costs. The Pledgor shall pay to the Bank within ten (10) days after written demand all Enforcement Costs together with interest thereon from the date advanced until paid in full at a per annum rate of interest equal at all times to the Default Rate (as defined in the Loan Agreement). Enforcement Costs together with interest thereon shall be included in the Obligations secured hereby.

SECTION 7.6. Severability. The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any of the other provisions of this Agreement which shall remain effective.

SECTION 7.7. Survival. Ail representations, warranties and covenants contained among the provisions of this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and all other Financing Documents.

SECTION 7.8. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Pledgor and the Bank and their respective personal representatives, successors and assigns, except that the Pledgor shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Bank and the Bank’s right to assign its rights hereunder shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Loan Agreement.

SECTION 7.9. Continuing Agreement; Absolute Pledge. Etc. This Agreement and the Security Interests shall be continuing and binding on the Pledgor regardless of how long before or after the date hereof any of the Obligations were or are incurred. This Agreement and the Security Interests shall terminate when all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and no commitments therefor are outstanding, at which time the Bank will reassign and deliver to the Pledgor, against receipt, such of the Collateral as is still held by the Bank (if any) and not sold or otherwise applied by the Bank pursuant to the terms hereof. Any such reassignment shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Bank at the expense of the Pledgor, provided, however, that the Bank shall be responsible to the Pledgor for any loss incurred as a result of the Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

13


The obligations and liabilities of the Pledgor hereunder shall in no way be affected, limited, impaired, modified or released by, subject to or conditioned upon, and may be enforced against the Pledgor irrespective of (a) any attempt, pursuit, enforcement or exhaustion of any rights and remedies the Bank may at any time have to collect any or all of the Obligations (whether pursuant to any of the Financing Documents or otherwise) from any maker, endorser, surety or guarantor of, or pledgor of collateral and security for, all or any part of the Obligations (each such other maker, endorser, surety, guarantor or pledgor an “Obligor” and collectively “Obligors”), and/or by any resort or recourse to or against any collateral and security for all or any part of the Obligations, or (b) any counter-claim, recoupment, setoff, reduction or defense based on any claim the Pledgor may now or hereafter have against any Obligor.

The Pledgor hereby waives (a) demand for observance, performance or enforcement of, or notice of default under, any of the provisions of this Agreement or any of the Financing Documents, and all other demands and notices otherwise required by law which the Pledgor may lawfully waive, except for any notice expressly provided for herein or in any other Financing Document, (b) any right or claim to cause a marshaling of the assets of the Pledgor or any Obligor, and (c) any defense at law or in equity based on the adequacy or value of the consideration for this Agreement.

SECTION 7.10. Applicable Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Maryland, both in interpretation and performance.

SECTION 7.11. Duplicate Originals and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of duplicate originals or counterparts, each of such duplicate originals or counterparts shall be deemed to be an original and all taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 7.12. Exhibits and Schedules. Any exhibits and schedules attached to this Agreement are an integral part hereof and are hereby incorporated herein and included in the term “this Agreement”.

SECTION 7.13. Headings. Article and Section headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only, shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose and shall not be deemed to affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

SECTION 7.14. Termination. Upon and after the date that the Obligations have been paid in full and the Pledgee has no further commitment to make advances under any of the Financing Documents (the “Termination Date”), this Agreement and the other Financing Documents shall automatically terminate and the Pledgor shall have no further obligations or liabilities to the Pledgee under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Documents. Within five (5) days after the Termination Date, the Pledgee shall return the Pledged Stock and any

 

14


other Collateral to the Pledgor. On or after the Termination Date, the Pledgee shall execute and deliver to the Pledgor at no cost to the Pledgee, such releases or other evidence of termination as may be requested by the Pledgor in order to effect or evidence more fully the matters covered by this Section 7.14 and the Pledgor is authorized to file a UCC-3 Amendment (Termination) to evidence the foregoing.

SECTION 7.15. Re-Pledge of Collateral. The Bank will not re-pledge the Pledged Stock as collateral for any obligation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement under their respective seals as of the day and year first written above.

 

WITNESS/ATTEST: REALTY INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.
LOGO By:  LOGO (SEAL)

 

      

 

 
Sherry L. Hurley, President
WITNESS/ATTEST: WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
LOGO By: LOGO (SEAL)

 

      

 

 
Barbara K. Angel, Senior Vice President

 

15


STATE OF MARYLAND, COUNTY OF Montgomery TO WIT:

I HEREBY CERTIFY, that on this 29th day of June, 2006, before me, a Notary Public of said State, personally appeared Sherry L. Hurley, who acknowledged herself to be President of Realty Investment Company, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of Maryland, known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that she executed the same for the purposes therein contained as the duly authorized President of the corporation by signing the name of the corporation by herself as its President.

WITNESS my hand and Notarial Seal.

 

LOGO LOGO
  

 

Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 2/1/2009

STATE OF MARYLAND, COUNTY OF Montgomery TO WIT:

I HEREBY CERTIFY, that on this 29th day of June, 2006, before me, a Notary Public of said State, personally appeared Barbara K. Angel, who acknowledged herself to be Senior Vice President of Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association, known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that she executed the same for the purposes therein contained as the duly authorized Senior Vice President of Wachovia Bank, National Association by signing the name of the bank by herself as Vice President.

WITNESS my hand and Notarial Seal.

 

LOGO

 

Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 2/1/2009

 

LOGO

 

16


EXHIBIT A

 

Issuer Pledged Stock

   Type of Stock    No. of
Shares
     Certificate
No.
   CUSIP

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      500,000       CHI 1042    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      500,000       CHI 1043    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      250,000       CHI 1045    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      100,000       CHI 1046    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      100,000       CHI 1047    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      50,000       CHI 1048    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      100,000       CHI 2691    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      100,000       CHI 2692    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      100,000       CHI 2693    169905 10 6

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

   Common      100,000       CHI 2694    169905 10 6

 

17

Exhibit 2

EIGHTH LOAN MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

This EIGHTH LOAN MODIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Modification”) is dated as of June 11, 2015, and is by and between WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., a national banking association, successor by merger to WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (the “Bank”), and REALTY INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC. (the “Borrower”).

RECITALS

A. Pursuant to a Loan Agreement dated June 29, 2006 by and between the Borrower and the Bank (as amended from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”), the Bank agreed to make available to the Borrower a revolving credit facility in the maximum principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding (as increased or decreased from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Facility” or the “Loan”).

B. The Borrower’s obligation to repay the Loan is evidenced by a Revolving Credit Note dated June 29, 2006 in the original principal amount of $50,000,000.00 (as amended, the “Original Revolving Credit Note”).

C. Pursuant to a Stock Pledge Agreement dated June 29, 2006 by the Borrower in favor of the Bank (as amended from time to time, the “Pledge Agreement”), the Borrower’s obligations in connection with the Loan are secured by a first priority security interest in the Borrower’s Pledged Stock (as defined in the Pledge Agreement) and all cash and non-cash proceeds and products thereof (collectively, the “Collateral”).

D. Pursuant to a First Loan Modification Agreement dated July 27, 2007 (the “First Modification”), the Bank, among other things, (a) agreed to reduce the maximum principal amount of the Loan to $5,000,000, (b) agreed to amend the permissible uses of proceeds of advances of the Loan, (c) agreed to extend the maturity of the Loan, and (d) consented to the Borrower’s transfer of a portion of the Pledged Stock to an account maintained by the Borrower at Morgan Stanley & Company Inc. (“Morgan Stanley”). The Bank’s security interest in the transferred Pledged Stock was perfected pursuant to a Notice of Pledge and Security dated July 27, 2007 by and among the Borrower, Morgan Stanley and the Bank.

E. Pursuant to a Second Loan Modification Agreement dated September, 2008 (the “Second Modification”), the Bank, among other things, (a) extended the Revolving Credit Expiration Date to September 30, 2009, and (b) modified the provisions of the Loan Agreement governing the payment of interest.

F. Pursuant to a Third Loan Modification Agreement dated September 30, 2009 (the “Third Modification”), the Bank, among other things, (a) extended the Revolving Credit Expiration Date to September 30, 2010, (b) modified the provisions of the Loan Agreement governing the payment of interest, and (c) modified the definition of “Pledged Collateral”.

G. Pursuant to a Fourth Loan Modification Agreement effective as September 30, 2010 (the “Fourth Modification”), the Bank extended the Revolving Credit Expiration Date to September 30, 2011.

H. Pursuant to a Fifth Loan Modification Agreement effective as September 30, 2011 (the “Fifth Modification”), the Bank extended the Revolving Credit Expiration Date to September 30, 2012.


I. Pursuant to an extension letter dated as of September 30, 2012, the Bank extended the Revolving Credit Expiration Date to November 30, 2012.

J. Pursuant to a Sixth Loan Modification Agreement effective as of November 30, 2012 (the “Sixth Modification”), the Bank extended the Revolving Credit Expiration Date to November 30, 2013.

K. Pursuant to a Seventh Modification Agreement dated as of November 26, 2013 (the “Seventh Modification”), the Bank further extended the Revolving Credit Expiration date to December 1, 2014 and agreed to modify certain provisions of the Loan Agreement regarding financial reporting requirements.

L. The Bank’s obligation to make Advances Under the Revolving Credit Facility expired on December 1, 2014. The Borrower has requested that the Bank (a) reinstate the Borrower’s ability to draw under the Revolving Credit Facility and extend the maturity thereof, and (b) modify certain provisions of the Loan Agreement regarding financial reporting requirements. The Bank has agreed to the Borrower’s request, subject to and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

AGREEMENTS

Section 1. Recitals. The parties acknowledge the accuracy of the Recitals and incorporate the Recitals into this Modification.

Section 2. Amendments and Modifications to Original Revolving Credit Note: Reinstatement of Revolving Credit Facility.

(a) The Original Revolving Credit Note matured on December 1, 2014, and the Bank hereby agrees to reinstate the Borrower’s right to borrow under the Loan and extend the maturity thereof. Effective as of the date of this Modification, the Revolving Credit Facility, as reinstated and extended hereunder, shall be evidenced by an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note of even date herewith pursuant to which the repaid Original Revolving Credit Note shall be replaced and restated in its entirety (the “Revolving Credit Note”). All references in the Financing Documents to the “Revolving Credit Note” or the “Note” shall hereafter mean such Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented, extended or otherwise modified.

(b) The parties hereto agree and confirm that (i) the Revolving Credit Facility, as reinstated and extended hereunder, continues to be guaranteed and secured pursuant to the Financing Documents; (ii) the term “Obligations” as used in the Financing Documents includes the obligations of the Borrower in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility, as reinstated and extended hereby; and (iii) any Financing Document that would otherwise be deemed to be terminated, is hereby reinstated. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower reconfirms its obligations and regrants to the Bank a security interest in and to the Collateral, pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement (as amended), and the Borrower and the Bank hereby acknowledge and confirm that the reinstated Pledge Agreement shall stay in effect until all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and Bank has no further commitment to make Advances.

Section 3. Modification of the Loan Agreement.

(a) The second sentence in Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

As used herein, the term “Revolving Credit Expiration Date” means June 30, 2016 or such later date as to which the parties may agree pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

2


(b) Section 4.2 of the Loan Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“4.2. Financial Statements and Other Reports. Maintain at all times a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with sound business practices, and deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Bank (a) as soon as available but in no event more than one hundred fifty (150) days after the end of each of the Borrower’s fiscal years, the annual balance sheet of the Borrower as of the end of such fiscal year, and statements of profits, losses and cash flows of the Borrower for such fiscal year, prepared by the chief financial officer (or other similar officer) of the Borrower and in form and content satisfactory to the Bank; (b) within fifteen (15) days after the filing by the Borrower of its federal income tax returns for a given year, but in no event later than October 31st of each year if the Borrower has filed for an income tax filing extension, true and accurate signed copies of any such federal income tax returns, including all schedules thereto, and, in addition, provided that the Borrower has filed for an income tax filing extension, within thirty (30) days after such filing by the Borrower, a true and accurate signed copy of IRS Form 7004 ‘Application for Automatic 6-Month Extension of Time to File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns; and (c) promptly upon request of the Bank such other information, reports or documents respecting the business, properties, operation or financial condition of the Borrower as the Bank may at any time and from time to time reasonably request.”

Section 4. Closing Conditions. No agreement of the Bank as set forth in this Modification or any other document executed contemporaneously with this Modification shall be effective or binding on the Bank until:

A. The Bank shall have received this Modification and the Revolving Credit Note, duly executed and delivered by an authorized officer of the Borrower; and

B. The Bank shall have received payment by the Borrower of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including actual attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Bank in connection with the Loan and this Modification and any previous modifications.

Section 5. Other Terms. Except as specifically modified herein, all other terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, the Revolving Credit Note, the Pledge Agreement, and all other documents evidencing, securing, guaranteeing or otherwise documenting the terms and provisions of the Borrower’s debt to the Bank (collectively, the “Financing Documents”) remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed. The modifications contained herein shall not constitute a novation of the Borrower’s obligations under the Financing Documents.

Section 6. Representations. The Borrower represents, warrants and agrees that (i) there are no claims, defenses or setoffs with respect to any indebtedness of the Borrower to the Bank or with respect to the collection or enforcement of any of the same; (ii) to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, information and belief, no Event of Default (as defined in the Loan Agreement) has occurred and is continuing; and (iii) the Bank has made no representations or commitments, oral or written, or undertaken any obligations other than as expressly set forth in this Modification.

 

3


Section 7. Release. To induce the Bank to enter into this Modification, the Borrower releases, remises, acquits and forever discharges the Bank and each of its employees, agents, directors, officers, attorneys, successors and assigns, from any and all matters or claims, actions, causes of action, suits, debts, agreements, and demands whatsoever whether known or unknown, in law or in equity, or otherwise which the Borrower ever had, now has, or shall have against the Bank or any of the parties described above by reason of any act, cause, matter or thing whatsoever existing or done from the beginning of time to the date of this Modification.

Section 8. Amendments. No amendment of this Modification and no waiver of any one or more of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless set forth in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

Section 9. Binding Nature. This Modification shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

Section 10. Choice of Law. This Modification shall be governed by, and enforced pursuant to, the internal laws of the State of Maryland.

Section 11. Further Assurances and Corrective Instruments. The Borrower shall execute, acknowledge and deliver, from time to time, such supplements hereto and such further instruments and documents as the Bank may require in its discretion to evidence any obligation of the Borrower to the Bank, to facilitate the carrying out of the intentions of the parties to this Modification, or to perfect the Collateral.

Section 12. Interpretation. Each party acknowledges (i) that it has participated in the negotiation of this Modification, and that no provision of this Modification shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have structured, dictated or drafted such provision; (ii) that it has had the opportunity to review, analyze, and discuss this Modification, and the underlying factual matters relevant to this Modification, for a sufficient period of time before the execution and delivery hereof; (iii) that ail of the terms of this Modification were negotiated at arm’s length; (iv) that this Modification was prepared and executed without fraud, duress, undue influence, or coercion of any kind exerted by any of the parties upon the others; (v) that the execution and delivery of this Modification is the free and voluntary act of each party, and (vi) that, even though the Borrower did not employ counsel in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Modification and related documents, the Borrower was given ample opportunity to obtain counsel and chose not to do so.

Section 13. Counterparts. This Modification may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower and the Bank have executed this Modification with the specific intention of creating a document under seal as of the date and year first above stated.

 

WITNESS REALTY INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.
/s/ Mary C. Acker By: /s/ Christine A. Shreve (SEAL)

 

     

 

 
Mary C. Acker Name: Christine A. Shreve
Title:
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
/s/ Elena Shipina By: /s/ Barbara K. Angel (SEAL)

 

     

 

 
Elena Shipina Barbara K. Angel, Senior Vice President

 

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