As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 20, 2024
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ELME COMMUNITIES
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| MARYLAND | 53-0261100 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
7550 WISCONSIN AVE
SUITE 900
BETHESDA, MD 20814
(202) 774-3200
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
W. Drew Hammond
7550 WISCONSIN AVE
SUITE 900
BETHESDA, MD 20814
(202) 774-3200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
THE COMMISSION IS REQUESTED TO SEND COPIES OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:
PAUL D. MANCA, ESQ.
ELIZABETH L. BANKS, ESQ.
HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP
555 THIRTEENTH STREET, NW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004
(202) 637-5821
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: FROM TIME TO TIME AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS REGISTRANT DETERMINES BASED ON MARKET CONDITIONS AND OTHER FACTORS.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
PROSPECTUS
COMMON SHARES
PREFERRED SHARES
DEPOSITARY SHARES
COMMON SHARE WARRANTS AND RIGHTS
DEBT SECURITIES
Elme Communities, a Maryland real estate investment trust, may offer, from time to time, one or more series or classes, separately or together, and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus, the following securities:
| • | common shares of beneficial interest, |
| • | preferred shares of beneficial interest, |
| • | depositary shares representing our preferred shares, |
| • | warrants to purchase common shares, |
| • | rights to purchase common shares, and |
| • | unsecured senior or subordinate debt securities. |
Our common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, warrants, rights, and debt securities are referred to herein collectively as the “securities.” We may offer the securities in any combination, separately, together or as units with other offered securities, in one or more separate series or classes and in amounts, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms and conditions that may apply to the securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms and conditions of any securities being offered, the net proceeds that we expect to receive from the sale of such securities and the specific manner in which such securities may be offered will be provided in prospectus supplements to this prospectus. The applicable prospectus supplement will also contain information, where applicable, about U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. It is important that you read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of the securities.
We may sell the offered securities in one or more ways: directly to investors, through agents designated from time to time by them or us, or to or through underwriters or dealers in a single offering or on a continuous or delayed basis. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement with, between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an accompanying prospectus supplement. For more detailed information, see “Plan of Distribution” on page 36. No securities may be sold without delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those securities.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “ELME”. On February 16, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the NYSE was $14.11 per share. Our principal executive offices are located at 7550 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 900, Bethesda, MD 20814 and our telephone number is (202) 774-3200.
You should carefully read this entire prospectus, the documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest in any of these securities.
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before buying our securities, you should refer to the risk factors included in our periodic reports and in other information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus, as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, before making a decision to invest in our securities. See “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Where to Find Additional Information” in this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is February 20, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer and is not meant to provide a complete description of each security. As a result, each time we offer securities, to the extent required, a prospectus supplement will be provided, and it will be attached to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described below under the headings “Where to Find Additional Information,” “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and any additional information you may need before making an investment decision.
You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent there are any inconsistencies between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should rely only on the information provided or information to which we have referred you, including any information incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of these securities is not permitted. You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any free writing prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement prepared by us or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
You should read carefully the entire prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, which we have referred you to in “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” on page 39 of this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Information incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Statements contained or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement as to the content of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or such prospectus supplement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. Any information in such subsequent filings and any applicable prospectus supplement that is inconsistent with this prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus or any earlier prospectus supplement.
This prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents that we incorporate by reference herein contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act”, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act”). Documents we subsequently file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and incorporate by reference will also contain forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Future events and actual results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial or otherwise, may differ materially from the results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial or otherwise, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Some of the statements contained in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and you should not rely on them as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements depend on assumptions, data or methods which may be incorrect or imprecise, and we may not be able to realize them. We do not guarantee that any
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transactions and events described in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “predicts,” “expects,” “potential,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “strategy,” “intends,” “estimates” or “anticipates” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.
The forward-looking statements contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: (a) the risks associated with ownership of real estate in general and our real estate assets in particular; (b) the economic health of the areas in which our properties are located, particularly with respect to the greater Washington, DC metro and Sunbelt regions; (c) risks associated with our ability to execute on our strategies, including new strategies with respect to our operations and our portfolio, including the acquisition of apartment homes in the Sunbelt markets and our ability to realize any anticipated operational benefits from our internalization of community management functions; (d) the risk of failure to enter into and/or complete acquisitions and dispositions; (e) changes in the composition of our portfolio; (f) reductions in or actual or threatened changes to the timing of federal government spending; (g) the economic health of our residents; (h) the impact from macroeconomic factors (including inflation, increases in interest rates, potential economic slowdowns or recessions and geopolitical conflicts); (i) risks related to our ability to control our expenses if revenues decrease; (j) compliance with applicable laws and corporate social responsibility goals, including those concerning the environment and access by persons with disabilities; (k) risks related to not having adequate insurance to cover potential losses; (l) changes in the market value of securities; (m) terrorist attacks or actions and/or cyber-attacks; (n) whether we will succeed in the day-to-day property management and leasing activities that we have previously outsourced; (o) the availability and terms of financing and capital and the general volatility of securities markets; (p) the risks related to our organizational structure and limitations of share ownership; (q) failure to qualify and maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and the risks of changes in laws affecting REITs; and (r) other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including our 2023 Form 10-K filed on February 16, 2024.
While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact our future results, performance or transactions, see the “Risk Factors” section in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by our subsequent filings.
Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves risks. You should carefully consider any specific risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement and under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act. You should consider carefully those risk factors together with all of the other information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, before you decide to purchase our securities. The occurrence of any of the events described could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make cash distributions to our shareholders, which could cause you to lose all or a significant part of your investment in our securities. Some statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.”
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Elme Communities is a self-administered equity REIT successor to a trust organized in 1960. Our business primarily consists of the ownership of apartment communities in the greater Washington, DC metro and Sunbelt regions. As of December 31, 2023, we owned 28 apartment communities and one office property.
Our mission is to elevate the value living experience and create a place our residents are proud to call home by continuously focusing on service, efficiency, and innovation. We are focused on creating shareholder value by providing quality, affordably priced housing to a deep, solid, and growing base of mid-market demand. Our research indicates that affordability is a pressing rental issue at multiple price points across the mid-market rent spectrum. We believe that rents can be consistently grown if a portfolio’s price point does not compete directly with new product price points and wages for mid-market renters are growing. Furthermore, as the cost of homeownership continues to rise above affordable levels for median income earners, we expect to benefit from sustained demand for quality, affordably priced rental housing.
We acquire, develop, and renovate apartment communities that align with our research-led investment strategy, which is focused on the following:
| • | targeting markets that have economies with diverse, innovative industries that drive outsized job creation, wage growth and in-migration, which we believe will benefit from these trends in the years to come; |
| • | targeting middle-income renters who make up the largest share of apartment demand in each of our current and target markets but for whom new apartment supply and the cost of owning a home is unaffordable; |
| • | executing value-add renovations that are tailored to each submarket, target renter group and individual community to provide an improved yet affordable living experience while enhancing shareholder value; and |
| • | targeting investment opportunities that provide the potential for significant appreciation in value and that have operating upside through community management strategies. |
While we have historically focused our investments in the greater Washington, DC metro region, we expanded our footprint to the Atlanta metro region in 2021. Atlanta offers a range of diverse, innovative industries which we believe are poised to benefit from substantial job creation, rising wages, and continued migration in the coming years. As of December 31, 2023, we have acquired six apartment communities in the Atlanta metro region and we remain optimistic about the near and longer-term demand drivers in the Atlanta metro region. As of December 31, 2023, we owned approximately 9,400 residential apartment homes in the Washington, DC metro and Sunbelt regions. We also owned approximately 300,000 square feet of commercial space in the Washington, DC metro region.
Our principal offices are located at 7550 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 900, Bethesda, MD 20814. Our telephone number there is (202) 774-3200. We maintain a website at www.elmecommunities.com. The information contained on or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into, and you must not consider the information to be a part of, this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
Additional information about us is included in documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Where to Find Additional Information” on page 38 of this prospectus and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” on page 39 of this prospectus. All references to “Elme Communities,” “we,” “our” and “us” in this prospectus means Elme Communities, a Maryland real estate investment trust, and all entities owned or controlled by us except where it is clear that the term means only Elme Communities.
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Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus used to offer specific securities, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of offered securities under this prospectus for general business purposes, including, without limitation, working capital, the acquisition, renovation, expansion, improvement, development or redevelopment of income-producing properties or the repayment of debt. We may also use the net proceeds to acquire another REIT or other company that invests in income producing properties, although we do not have a specific plan to do so. Until we use the net proceeds for the purposes described above, we may invest them in short-term income producing investments, such as commercial paper, government securities or money market funds that invest in government securities and/or commercial paper.
The following is a summary of provisions of Elme Communities’ shares of beneficial interest as of the date of this prospectus. This summary does not completely describe Elme Communities’ shares of beneficial interest. For a complete description of Elme Communities’ shares of beneficial interest, we refer you to Elme Communities’ declaration of trust and bylaws, each as amended and each of which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Where to Find Additional Information.”
General
Elme Communities’ declaration of trust provides that it is authorized to issue up to 160,000,000 shares of beneficial interest (which we refer to in this prospectus as shares) consisting of 150,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, which are referred to in this prospectus as Elme Communities’ “common shares,” and 10,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, which are referred to in this prospectus as Elme Communities’ “preferred shares.” As of February 16, 2024, there were 87,867,059 common shares outstanding and no preferred shares outstanding.
Elme Communities’ declaration of trust, as permitted by the Maryland statute governing real estate investment trusts formed under the laws of that state, which we refer to as the “Maryland REIT Law”, contains a provision that permits our board of trustees, without shareholder approval, to amend the declaration of trust to increase the aggregate number of authorized common shares. The authorized common shares and undesignated prefe
rred shares are generally available for future issuance without further action by Elme Communities’ shareholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which Elme Communities’ securities may be listed or traded.
The Maryland REIT Law and Elme Communities’ declaration of trust and bylaws, provide that none of its shareholders will be personally liable, by reason of such shareholder’s status as a shareholder, for any of its obligations. Elme Communities’ declaration of trust and bylaws further provide that it will indemnify any shareholder or former shareholder against any claim or liability to which such shareholder may become subject by reason of being or having been a shareholder, and that Elme Communities shall reimburse each shareholder for reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to which the shareholder has been made or threatened to be made a party by reason of such status.
Elme Communities’ declaration of trust provides that, subject to the provisions of any class or series of preferred shares then outstanding and to the mandatory provisions of applicable law, its shareholders are entitled to vote only on the following matters:
| • | election or removal of trustees; |
| • | amendment of the declaration of trust (except as otherwise provided in the declaration of trust, including an amendment to increase the number of authorized common shares); |
| • | Elme Communities’ termination; |
| • | Elme Communities’ merger or consolidation with another entity, or the sale of all or substantially all of Elme Communities’ property; |
| • | amendment of the bylaws; and |
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| • | such other matters with respect to which the board of trustees has adopted a resolution declaring that a proposed action is advisable and directing that the matter be submitted to the shareholders for approval or ratification. |
Except with respect to these matters, no action taken by Elme Communities’ shareholders at any meeting binds the board of trustees.
Authorization and Issuance
All common shares offered by this prospectus will be duly authorized, and, when issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Voting Rights of Holders of Common Shares
Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of beneficial interest, each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of trustees, and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of beneficial interest, the holders of common shares will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees, which means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding common shares, voting for and against the election of trustees can elect all of the trustees then standing for election. In the future, Elme Communities may issue one or more classes or series of preferred shares that vote together with the common shares as a single class or have other voting rights that differ from the voting rights of the holders of common shares.
Dividends, Liquidation and Other Rights
Holders of our common shares will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if authorized by our board of trustees, as declared by Elme Communities, out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends. They also will be entitled to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Elme Communities’ affairs, after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities. These rights will be subject to the preferential rights, if any, of holders of any other class or series of our shares and to the provisions of our declaration of trust relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our shares.
Holders of our common shares have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights and will have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any Elme Communities securities. Subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares contained in our declaration of trust, all common shares will have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.
Power to Classify and Reclassify Preferred Shares and Issue Additional Common Shares or Preferred Shares
Our declaration of trust authorizes our board of trustees to classify any unissued preferred shares from time to time into one or more classes or series of preferred shares. Prior to issuance of preferred shares of each class or series, the board of trustees is required by the Maryland REIT Law and our declaration of trust to set for such class or series, subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares and subject to the express terms of any class or series of shares then outstanding, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each such class or series. As a result, our board of trustees could authorize the issuance of preferred shares that have priority over the common shares with respect to dividends and rights upon liquidation and with other terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of common shares or otherwise might be in their best interest. No preferred shares are presently outstanding.
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To permit us increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise, our declaration of trust allows us to issue additional common shares and to classify unissued preferred shares and thereafter to issue the classified shares without shareholder approval, unless shareholder approval is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although we have no present intention of doing so, we could issue a class or series of shares that could delay, deter or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of common shares or might otherwise be in their best interests.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the common shares is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
Exchange Listing
Elme Communities’ common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ELME.”
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
The following description of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our declaration of trust and bylaws is only a summary. For a complete description, we refer you to the applicable Maryland law, our declaration of trust and bylaws.
Number of Trustees; Vacancies
Our declaration of trust provides that the number of trustees on our board of trustees will be fixed exclusively by our board of trustees pursuant to our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that our board of trustees will consist of not less than the minimum required by the Maryland REIT Law and not more than eleven trustees. Our declaration of trust and bylaws provide that, except as otherwise provided in the terms of any class or series of our shares, any vacancy, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of trustees, may be filled by a vote of a majority of the remaining trustees, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum, unless the vacancy occurring through removal has already been filled by the shareholders, and any trustee elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the trusteeship in which such vacancy occurred. All members of the board of trustees are elected annually.
Removal of Trustees
Our declaration of trust provides that, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of our shares to elect or remove one or more trustees, a trustee may be removed from office only with cause and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the shares then outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of trustees.
Business Combinations
Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, as applicable to Maryland REITs, certain “business combinations” (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland REIT and any person who beneficially owns ten percent or more of the voting power of the REIT’s shares (defined in the MGCL as an interested shareholder) or an affiliate of an interested shareholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder. Thereafter, any such business combination must generally be recommended by the board of trustees of such REIT and approved by the affirmative vote of at least (a) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of beneficial interest of the REIT and (b) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares of the REIT other than shares held by the interested shareholder and the affiliates and associates of the interested shareholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected, unless, among other conditions, the REIT’s common shareholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares.
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These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by the board of trustees of the REIT prior to the time that the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder. A person is not an interested shareholder under the statute if the board of trustees approved in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested shareholder. The board of trustees may provide that its approval is subject to compliance with any terms and conditions determined by the board.
We have not elected to opt-out of the business combination statute as is permitted by Maryland law. Consequently, the business combination statute may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making an acquisition proposal for us or of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us under circumstances that otherwise could provide our shareholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-current market price or that our shareholders may otherwise believe is in their best interests.
Control Share Acquisitions
The MGCL, as applicable to Maryland REITs, provides that a holder of “control shares” of a Maryland REIT acquired in a “control share acquisition” has no voting rights with respect to such shares except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares of beneficial interest owned by the acquiror, by officers or by trustees who are employees of the REIT. “Control shares” are outstanding voting shares of beneficial interest which, if aggregated with all other such shares of beneficial interest previously acquired 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 trustees within one of the following ranges of voting power: (a) one-tenth or more but less than one-third, (b) one-third or more but less than a majority, or (c) a majority or more of all voting power. Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval. 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, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses), may compel the board of trustees of the REIT to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. If no request for a meeting is made, the REIT may itself present the question at any shareholders 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, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the REIT may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or, if a meeting of shareholders is held at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved, as of the date of the meeting. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other shareholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such 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 (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the REIT is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the declaration of trust or bylaws of the REIT.
Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of Elme Communities’ shares of beneficial interest. There can be no assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future, and may be amended or eliminated with retroactive effect.
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Unsolicited Takeovers
Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL, as applicable to Maryland REITs, permits a Maryland real estate investment trust with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent trustees to elect to be subject, by provision in its declaration of trust or bylaws or a resolution of its board of trustees and notwithstanding any contrary provision in its declaration of trust or bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:
| • | a classified board; |
| • | a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a trustees; |
| • | a requirement that the number of trustees be fixed only by vote of the trustees; |
| • | a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining trustees then in office (even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum) and for the remainder of the full term of the class of trustees in which the vacancy occurred; and |
| • | a majority requirement for the calling of a shareholder-requested special meeting of shareholders. |
Through provisions in the declaration of trust and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL, Elme Communities already requires, the request of holders of a majority of outstanding shares to call a special meeting of shareholders, unless such special meeting is called by the chairperson of Elme Communities’ board of trustees, the president, the chief executive officer, or the board of trustees. The board of trustees of Elme Communities has the power, under Maryland law and without shareholder approval, to re-classify its board of trustees pursuant to the provisions of Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL or elect to be subject to any of the other provisions described above.
Merger, Amendment of Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
Under the Maryland REIT Law, a Maryland REIT generally cannot dissolve, amend its declaration of trust or merge with, or convert into, another entity unless recommended by the board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders holding 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 the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, is set forth in the REIT’s declaration of trust. Under our declaration of trust, we cannot dissolve, merge with another entity, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or amend our declaration of trust without the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our board of trustees may amend the declaration of trust, without any action by the shareholders, (a) to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or the Maryland REIT Law, (b) in any respect in which the charter of a corporation may be amended in accordance with Section 2-605 of the MGCL (e.g., to change the name of Elme Communities or the par value of any class or series of our shares) and (c) as otherwise provided by the Maryland REIT Law or in the declaration of trust.
Our bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of our board of trustees or by our shareholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
Maryland law permits a Maryland REIT to include in its declaration of trust a provision eliminating the liability of its trustees and officers to the REIT and its shareholders 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 declaration of trust contains such a provision which eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
Our declaration of trust authorizes us, and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any present or former shareholder, trustee or officer of Elme Communities who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding or (b) any individual who, while a trustee or officer of Elme Communities and at the request of Elme Communities, serves or has served as a trustee, director, officer, member, manager or partner of another REIT, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his status
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as a present or former shareholder, trustee or officer of Elme Communities. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by our declaration of trust and bylaws vest immediately upon election of a trustee or officer. Our declaration of trust and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of Elme Communities in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of Elme Communities or a predecessor of Elme Communities.
The Maryland REIT Law permits a Maryland REIT to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees and officers to the same extent as permitted by the MGCL for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. 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 by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received, unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our trustees and executive officers that provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
Term and Termination
Our declaration of trust provides for us to have a perpetual existence. Pursuant to our declaration of trust, and subject to the provisions of any class or series of our shares of beneficial interest then outstanding, after approval by a majority of the entire board of trustees, our shareholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, may approve the dissolution of Elme Communities.
Meetings of Shareholders
Under our bylaws, annual meetings of shareholders are to be held each year on the date and at the time and place as determined by our board of trustees. Special meetings of shareholders may be called only by our board of trustees, the chairman of our board of trustees, our president or our chief executive officer, or by the secretary of Elme Communities to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of shareholders upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting. Our bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting (a) if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the shareholders or (b) if the action is advised, and submitted to the shareholders for approval, by the board of trustees and a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of shareholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of shareholders is delivered to Elme Communities in accordance with the Maryland REIT Law.
Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business
Our bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders, nominations of individuals for election to our board of trustees and the proposal of other business to be considered by shareholders at the annual meeting may be made (a) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (b) by our board of trustees or (c) by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the shareholder and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws.
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With respect to special meetings of shareholders, only the business specified in our notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of shareholders. Nominations of individuals for election to our board of trustees may be made only (a) by our board of trustees, (b) by a shareholder that has requested that a special meeting be called for the purpose of electing trustees in compliance with our bylaws and that has supplied the information required by our bylaws about each individual whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a trustee or (c) provided that our board of trustees has determined that trustees shall be elected at such meeting, by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the shareholder and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws.
A shareholder’s notice must contain certain information specified by our bylaws about the shareholder, any shareholder associated person and any proposed business or nominee for election as a trustee, including information about the economic interest of the shareholder, any shareholder associated person and any proposed nominee in us. The purpose of requiring shareholders to give advance notice of nominations and other proposals is to afford our board of trustees the opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposals and, to the extent considered necessary by our board of trustees, to inform shareholders and make recommendations regarding the nominations or other proposals. The advance notice procedures also permit a more orderly procedure for conducting our shareholder meetings. Although our bylaws do not give our board of trustees the power to disapprove timely shareholder nominations and proposals, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of trustees or proposals for other action if the proper procedures are not followed, and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of trustees to our board of trustees or to approve its own proposal.
Possible Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
The business combination provisions of the MGCL, the control share acquisition provisions of the MGCL (if the applicable provision in our bylaws is modified or rescinded), the unsolicited takeover provisions of the MGCL, the limitations on removal of trustees, the restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our shares of beneficial interest and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a transaction or a change in the control that might involve a premium price for holders of the shares of beneficial interest or might otherwise be in their best interest.
Restrictions on Ownership
Holders of common shares will be subject to the ownership restrictions of the declaration of trust. See “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES
The following description sets forth certain general terms of the preferred shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate. This description and the description contained in any prospectus supplement are not complete and are in all respects subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to our declaration of trust, the applicable articles supplementary that describes the terms of the related class or series of preferred shares, and our bylaws, each of which we will make available upon request.
General
Our declaration of trust provides that we may issue up to 10,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value of $.01 per share. Our declaration of trust authorizes our board of trustees to classify any unissued preferred shares from time to time into one or more classes or series of preferred shares. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of trustees is required by the Maryland REIT Law and our declaration of trust to set for each such class or series, subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares and subject to the express terms of any class or series of shares then outstanding, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each such class or series.
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The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of any series of preferred shares will be fixed by articles supplementary relating to the series. We will describe the specific terms of the particular series of preferred shares in the prospectus supplement relating to that series, which terms will include:
| (1) | the designation and par value of the preferred shares; |
| (2) | the voting rights, if any, of the preferred shares; |
| (3) | the number of preferred shares offered, the liquidation preference per preferred share and the offering price of the preferred shares; |
| (4) | the distribution rate(s), period(s) and payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to the preferred shares; |
| (5) | whether distributions will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date(s) from which distributions on the preferred shares will accumulate; |
| (6) | the procedures for any auction and remarketing for the preferred shares, if applicable; |
| (7) | the provision for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred shares; |
| (8) | the provision for, and any restriction on, redemption, if applicable, of the preferred shares; |
| (9) | the provision for, and any restriction on, repurchase, if applicable, of the preferred shares; |
| (10) | the terms and provisions, if applicable, upon which the preferred shares will be convertible into our common shares, including the conversion price (or manner or calculation thereof) and conversion period; |
| (11) | the terms under which the rights of the preferred shares may be modified, if applicable; |
| (12) | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred shares as to distribution rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; |
| (13) | any limitation on issuance of any other series of preferred shares, including any series of preferred shares ranking senior to or on parity with the series of preferred shares as to distribution rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; |
| (14) | any listing of the preferred shares on any securities exchange; |
| (15) | if appropriate, a discussion of any additional material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred shares; |
| (16) | information with respect to the transfer agent, paying agent and registrar for the preferred shares, and any book-entry procedures, if applicable; |
| (17) | in addition to those restrictions described below, any other restrictions on the actual and constructive ownership and restrictions on transfer of the preferred shares, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve our status as a REIT; and |
| (18) | any other specific terms, additional rights, preferences, privileges or restrictions of the preferred shares. |
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
See “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Elme Communities will select the transfer agent and registrar for a series of preferred shares, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The registrar for preferred shares will send notices to shareholders of any meetings at which holders of preferred shares have the right to vote on any matter.
Restrictions on Ownership
Holders of preferred shares will be subject to the ownership restrictions of the declaration of trust. See “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest of a preferred share of a particular series, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Preferred shares of each series represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement among us, the depositary named therein and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts. Subject to the terms of the applicable deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the fractional interest of a preferred share of a particular series represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipt, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred shares represented by such depositary shares (including distribution, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights).
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement. Immediately following the issuance and delivery of the preferred shares by us to a preferred share depositary, we will cause such preferred shares depositary to issue, on our behalf, the depositary receipts. Copies of the applicable form of deposit agreement and depositary receipt may be obtained from us upon request, and the statements made hereunder relating to the deposit agreement and the depositary receipts to be issued thereunder are summaries of certain provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable deposit agreement and related depositary receipts.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The preferred share depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the preferred shares to the record holders of depositary receipts evidencing the related depositary shares in proportion to the number of such depositary receipts owned by such holders, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the preferred shares depositary.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the preferred shares depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts entitled thereto, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the preferred shares depositary, unless the preferred shares depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the preferred shares depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
No distribution will be made in respect of any depositary share to the extent that it represents any preferred shares converted into other securities.
Withdrawal of Preferred Shares
Upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the applicable preferred shares depositary (unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption or converted into other securities), the holders thereof will be entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon such holder’s order, of the number of whole or fractional preferred shares and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts. Holders of depositary receipts will be entitled to receive whole or fractional preferred shares on the basis of the proportion of preferred shares represented by each depositary share as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, but holders of such preferred shares will not thereafter be entitled to receive depositary shares therefor. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the shares to be withdrawn, the preferred shares depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing such excess number of depositary shares.
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Redemption of Depositary Shares
Whenever we redeem preferred shares held by the preferred shares depositary, the preferred shares depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing preferred shares so redeemed, provided we shall have paid in full to the preferred shares depositary the redemption price of the preferred shares to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the corresponding proportion of the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable with respect to the preferred shares. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional depositary shares) or by any other equitable method determined by us that will not result in a violation of the ownership restrictions in our declaration of trust. See “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
From and after the date fixed for redemption, all dividends in respect of the preferred shares so called for redemption will cease to accrue, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares so called for redemption will cease, except the right to receive any moneys payable upon such redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of such depositary receipts were entitled upon such redemption and surrender thereof to the preferred shares depositary.
Voting of the Preferred Shares
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the applicable preferred shares are entitled to vote, the preferred shares depositary will mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares which represent such preferred shares. Each record holder of depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred shares) will be entitled to instruct the preferred shares depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred shares represented by such holder’s depositary shares. Generally, the preferred shares depositary will vote the amount of preferred shares represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the preferred shares depositary in order to enable the preferred shares depositary to do so. The preferred shares depositary will abstain from voting the amount of preferred shares represented by such depositary shares to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts evidencing such depositary shares. The preferred shares depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote, or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from negligence or willful misconduct of the preferred shares depositary.
Liquidation Preference
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each depositary receipt will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each preferred share represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipt, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Conversion of Preferred Shares
The depositary shares, as such, are not convertible into common shares or any of our other securities or property. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of depositary shares, the depositary receipts may be surrendered by holders thereof to the preferred shares depositary with written instructions to the preferred shares depositary to instruct us to cause conversion of the preferred shares represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts into whole common shares or other preferred shares, and we have agreed that upon receipt of such instructions and any amounts payable in respect thereof, we will cause the conversion thereof utilizing the same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred shares to effect such conversion. If the depositary shares evidenced by a depositary receipt are to be converted in part only, a new depositary receipt or receipts will be issued for any depositary shares not to be converted. No fractional common shares will be issued upon conversion, and if such conversion would result in a fractional share being issued, an amount will be paid in cash by us equal to the value of the fractional interest based upon the closing price of the common shares on the last business day prior to the conversion.
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Amendment and Termination of Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares which represent the preferred shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the preferred shares depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary receipts or that would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the related preferred shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the existing holders of at least two-thirds of the applicable depositary shares evidenced by the applicable depositary receipts then outstanding. No amendment shall impair the right, subject to certain exceptions in the deposit agreement, of any holder of depositary receipts to surrender any depositary receipt with instructions to deliver to the holder the related preferred shares and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with law. Every holder of an outstanding depositary receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended thereby.
The deposit agreement may be terminated by us upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to the preferred shares depositary if (a) such termination is necessary to preserve our status as a REIT or (b) a majority of each series of preferred shares affected by such termination consents to such termination, whereupon the preferred shares depositary shall deliver or make available to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of the depositary receipts held by such holder, such number of whole or fractional preferred shares as are represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts together with any other property held by the preferred shares depositary with respect to such depositary receipts. We will agree that if the deposit agreement is terminated to preserve our status as a REIT, then we will use our best efforts to list the preferred shares issued upon surrender of the related depositary shares on a national securities exchange. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if (a) all outstanding depositary shares shall have been redeemed, (b) there shall have been a final distribution in respect of the related preferred shares in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and such distribution shall have been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares representing such preferred shares or (c) each related preferred share shall have been converted into our securities not so represented by depositary shares.
Charges of Preferred Shares Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the deposit agreement. In addition, we will pay the fees and expenses of the preferred shares depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement. However, holders of depositary receipts will pay the fees and expenses of the preferred shares depositary for any duties requested by such holders to be performed which are outside of those expressly provided for in the deposit agreement.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The preferred shares depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the preferred shares depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor preferred shares depositary. A successor preferred shares depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and that meets certain capital and surplus requirements.
Miscellaneous
The preferred shares depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts any reports and communications from us which are received by the preferred shares depositary with respect to the related preferred shares.
Neither we nor the preferred shares depositary will be liable if it is prevented from or delayed in, by law or any circumstances beyond its control, performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of us and the preferred shares depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performing their duties thereunder in good faith and without negligence (in the case of any action or inaction in the voting of preferred shares represented
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by the depositary shares), gross negligence or willful misconduct, and we and the preferred shares depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary receipts, depositary shares or preferred shares represented thereby unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the preferred shares depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred shares represented thereby for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give such information, and on documents believed in good faith to be genuine and signed by a proper party.
In the event the preferred shares depositary shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any holders of depositary receipts, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand, the preferred shares depositary shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from us.
Restrictions on Ownership
Holders of depositary receipts will be subject to the ownership restrictions of the declaration of trust. See “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARE WARRANTS
General
We may issue common share warrants for the purchase of common shares. We may issue common share warrants separately or together with any other offered securities offered by means of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Common share warrants may be attached to or separate from the other offered securities. Each series of common share warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent identified therein or in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ours in connection with the common share warrants of a series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of common share warrants.
Any prospectus supplement relating to common share warrants will describe the terms of the common share warrants, including, where applicable, the following:
| (1) | the title of the common share warrants; |
| (2) | the aggregate number of the common share warrants; |
| (3) | the price or prices at which the common share warrants will be issued; |
| (4) | the currencies in which the price or prices of such common share warrants may be payable; |
| (5) | the designation, number and terms of the common shares purchasable upon exercise of the common share warrants; |
| (6) | the designation and terms of any other offered securities with which the common share warrants are issued and the number of such common share warrants issued with each offered security; |
| (7) | the date, if applicable, on and after which the common share warrants and the related common shares will be separately transferable; |
| (8) | the price or prices at which and currency or currencies at which the common shares purchasable upon exercise of the common share warrants may be purchased; |
| (9) | the date on which the right to exercise the common share warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| (10) | the minimum and maximum amount of the common share warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| (11) | information with respect to any book-entry procedures, if any; |
| (12) | a discussion of material federal income tax considerations; and |
| (13) | any other material terms of the common share warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to their exchange and exercise. |
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We may issue rights to our shareholders for the purchase of common shares. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of rights. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The rights agreement and the rights certificates relating to each series of rights will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the rights to be issued, including the following, where applicable:
| (1) | the date for determining the shareholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| (2) | the aggregate number of common shares purchasable upon exercise of such rights and the exercise price; |
| (3) | the aggregate number of rights being issued; |
| (4) | the date, if any, on and after which such rights may be transferable separately; |
| (5) | the date on which the right to exercise such rights shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| (6) | a discussion of material federal income tax considerations; and |
| (7) | any other terms of such rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of such rights. |
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER
In order to qualify as a REIT under the Code, our shares must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares (after taking into account any options to acquire shares) may be owned, directly or indirectly, or through attribution, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities or organizations) during the last half of a taxable year (commonly referred to as the “closely held test”).
Our declaration of trust contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our shares of beneficial interest that are intended to, among other purposes, assist us in complying with these requirements. Our declaration of trust provides that, subject to the exceptions described below, no person may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of our outstanding shares, referred to as the “Aggregate Share Ownership Limit,” or more than 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of our outstanding common shares, referred to as the “Common Share Ownership Limit.” The Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Common Share Ownership Limit are referred to collectively as the “Ownership Limits.”
The declaration of trust further prohibits (a) any person from beneficially or constructively owning shares that would result in us being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to beneficial or constructive ownership that would result in us owning (actually or constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by us (either directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships or limited liability companies) from such tenant would cause us to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code) and (b) any person from transferring shares if such transfer would result in shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons. Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of shares that will or may violate any of the foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership, or any person who would have owned shares that resulted in a transfer of shares to the charitable trust (as described below), is required to give notice immediately to us or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, provide us at least 15 days prior notice, and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer, if any, on our status as a REIT.
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The board of trustees, in its sole discretion, may exempt a proposed transferee from the Ownership Limits, which transferee is referred to in this prospectus as an “Excepted Holder.” However, the board of trustees may not grant such an exemption to any person if such exemption would result in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise would result in us failing to qualify as a REIT. Also, in order to be considered by the board of trustees as an Excepted Holder, a person must not own, directly or indirectly, an interest in one of our tenants (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by us) that would cause us to own, directly or indirectly, more than a 9.8% interest in such a tenant. This restriction is designed to ensure that rents from a tenant will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income tests applicable to REITs under the Code. The person seeking an exemption must represent to the satisfaction of the board of trustees that it will not violate the two foregoing restrictions. The person also must agree that any violation or attempted violation of any of the foregoing restrictions will result in the automatic transfer of the shares causing such violation to the charitable trust. The board of trustees may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the board of trustees, in its sole discretion, in order to determine or ensure our status as a REIT. The board of trustees may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such an exemption.
The board of trustees may from time to time increase or decrease the Ownership Limits, unless, after giving effect to such decrease or increase, we would be “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT. A reduced ownership limit will not apply to any person or entity whose percentage ownership of our common shares or our shares of all classes and series, as applicable, is, at the effective time of such reduction, in excess of such decreased ownership limit until such time as such person’s or entity’s percentage ownership of our common shares or our shares of all classes and series, as applicable, equals or falls below the decreased ownership limit, but any further acquisition of our common shares or shares of all classes or series, as applicable, will violate the decreased ownership limit.
Pursuant to the declaration of trust, if any transfer of shares would result in shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons, such transfer will be null and void ab initio and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in such shares. In addition, if any transfer of shares occurs which, if effective, would result in any person beneficially or constructively owning shares in excess or in violation of the other transfer or ownership limitations described above (a “Prohibited Owner”), then that number of shares the beneficial or constructive ownership of which otherwise would cause such person to violate such limitations (rounded up to the nearest whole share) will be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries (the “Charitable Beneficiary”), and the Prohibited Owner will not acquire any rights in such shares. Such automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of such violative transfer. Shares held in the charitable trust will be issued and outstanding shares. The Prohibited Owner will not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in the charitable trust, will have no rights to dividends or other distributions and will not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the charitable trust. The trustee of the charitable trust (the “Charitable Trustee”) will have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares held in the charitable trust, which rights will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee will be paid by the recipient of such dividend or other distribution to the Charitable Trustee upon demand, and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the Charitable Trustee. Any dividend or other distribution so paid to the Charitable Trustee will be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that such shares have been transferred to the charitable trust, the Charitable Trustee will have the authority (at the Charitable Trustee’s sole discretion) (a) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to our discovery that such shares have been transferred to the charitable trust and (b) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Charitable Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible trust action, then the Charitable Trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote.
Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares have been transferred to the charitable trust, the Charitable Trustee must sell the shares held in the charitable trust to a person, designated by the Charitable Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in the declaration of trust. Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the Charitable Trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as follows. The
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Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (a) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the charitable trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price (as defined in our declaration of trust) of such shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the charitable trust and (b) the price per share received by the Charitable Trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the charitable trust. Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner will be paid immediately to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to our discovery that shares have been transferred to the charitable trust, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (a) such shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the charitable trust and (b) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to the aforementioned requirement, such excess will be paid to the Charitable Trustee upon demand.
In addition, shares held in the charitable 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 (a) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the charitable trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (b) the Market Price on the date that we, or our designee, accepts such offer. We will have the right to accept such offer until the Charitable Trustee has sold the shares held in the charitable trust. Upon such a sale to us, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the Charitable Trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.
All certificates evidencing our shares will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.
Every actual owner of more than 5% (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of all classes or series of shares, including common shares (which may not necessarily be the shareholder of record), will be required to give written notice to us within 30 days after the end of each taxable year stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class and series of shares that the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner must provide to us such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Ownership Limits. In addition, each shareholder will, upon demand, be required to provide to us such information as we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if the board of trustees determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.
The ownership limitations contained in the declaration of trust could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might involve a premium price for our shares of beneficial interest or otherwise be in the best interest of our shareholders.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
Elme Communities may issue senior debt securities in one or more series under a senior indenture to be entered into between Elme Communities and a commercial bank we will select to act as senior indenture trustee. Elme Communities may issue subordinated debt securities in one or more series under a subordinated indenture between Elme Communities and a commercial bank we will select to act as subordinated indenture trustee. We use the term indenture trustee to refer to the senior indenture trustee or subordinated indenture trustee, as appropriate. We refer to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture together as the indentures and individually as an indenture. The form of the senior indenture and the form of the subordinated indenture are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indentures will be available for inspection at the corporate trust offices of the senior indenture trustee and the subordinated indenture trustee and as described below under “Where to Find Additional Information.” The indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
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We describe below some of the terms of the debt securities and some of the provisions of the indentures. We will describe in a prospectus supplement the specific terms of the debt securities and the extent to which the provisions described below apply. The descriptions in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement are not complete and may not contain all of the information that may be important to you, and they are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the indentures, any supplemental indentures and the debt securities, which provisions, including defined terms, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. To obtain further information, you should refer to the provisions of the indentures, any supplemental indentures and the debt securities. If any particular terms of such debt securities described in a prospectus supplement are inconsistent with any of the terms of the debt securities generally described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this prospectus. Capitalized terms used in this summary but not defined have the meaning specified in the indentures.
General
The debt securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of Elme Communities. The senior debt securities will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of Elme Communities. Payments on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the prior payment in full of Elme Communities’ senior debt, as described in this section under “Subordination.” Each indenture provides that Elme Communities may issue debt securities without limit as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, in each case as established from time to time in, or under authority granted by, a resolution of Elme Communities’ board of trustees or as established in one or more supplemental indentures. Elme Communities may issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities previously issued. Debt securities of one series may be issued at different times and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series, for issuances of additional debt securities of that series.
Please read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of the particular series being offered thereby for the specific terms of such debt securities, including, where applicable:
| • | the title of the series of debt securities and whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated; |
| • | the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the series and any limit thereon; |
| • | whether such debt securities are to be issuable in global form or as registered securities; |
| • | the date or dates on which Elme Communities will pay the principal of and premium, if any, on debt securities of the series, or the method used to determine such date or dates; |
| • | the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which debt securities of the series will bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such rate or rates; |
| • | the basis used to calculate interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
| • | the date or dates, if any, from which interest on the debt securities of the series will accrue, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such date or dates; |
| • | the date or dates, if any, on which the interest on the debt securities of the series will be payable and the record dates for any such payment of interest; |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which Elme Communities is required to, or may, at its option, redeem debt securities of the series; |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which Elme Communities will be required to repurchase debt securities of the series at the option of the holders of debt securities of the series; |
| • | the terms of any sinking fund or analogous provision; |
| • | if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration if other than the full principal amount; |
| • | the authorized denominations in which debt securities of the series will be issued, if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
| • | the place or places where (1) amounts due on the debt securities of the series will be payable, (2) the debt securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, (3) the debt securities of the series may be surrendered for conversion or exchange or at maturity or otherwise and (4) notices or demands to or upon Elme Communities in respect of the debt securities of the series or the indenture may be served, if different than the corporate trust office of the trustee; |
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| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities will be convertible into and/or exchangeable for equity or other securities or property of Elme Communities or any other Person; |
| • | if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies in which purchases of, and payments on, the debt securities of the series must be made, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for any purpose, and the ability, if any, of Elme Communities or the holders of debt securities of the series to elect for payments to be made in any other currency or currencies and the terms and conditions upon which such election may be made; |
| • | whether the amount of payments on the debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula, or other method or methods (any of those debt securities being referred to as “indexed securities”) and the manner used to determine those amounts; |
| • | any addition to, modification of, or deletion of, any covenant or Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the series or any guarantee; |
| • | whether the securities will be secured and, if so, the collateral and the extent to which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such securities will be secured; |
| • | if the securities will not be subject to any provision relating to satisfaction and discharge, defeasance or covenant defeasance; |
| • | the covenants subject to covenant defeasance; |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which debt securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants; |
| • | the identity of the depositary for the global debt securities; |
| • | the circumstances under which Elme Communities or any guarantor will pay Additional Amounts on the debt securities of a series in respect of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge and whether Elme Communities will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than pay the Additional Amounts; |
| • | if there is more than one trustee, the identity of the trustee that has any obligations, duties and remedies with respect to the debt securities and, if not the trustee, the identity of each security registrar, paying agent or authenticating agent with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | whether the securities of the series will be guaranteed by a guarantor and, if so, the terms of any guarantee of the debt securities and the identity of any guarantor or guarantors of the debt securities and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors; |
| • | if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of the debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any date; |
| • | whether the debt securities will not be issued in a transaction registered under the Securities Act and any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities of such series; |
| • | the exchanges, if any, on which the debt securities of the series may be listed; |
| • | the price or prices at which the debt securities of the series will be sold; |
| • | if debt securities issuable in global form are to be issuable in definitive form only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the forms and terms of such certificates documents or conditions; |
| • | the Person to whom any interest on any registered security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name such security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such payment and the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary global security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the indenture; |
| • | any additional covenants subject to waiver by the act of the holders of debt securities pursuant to the indenture; |
| • | any change in the right of the trustee or the right of the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable; and |
| • | any other terms of debt securities of the series and any deletions from or modifications or additions to the indenture in respect of such securities. |
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As used in this prospectus, references to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of a series include Additional Amounts, if any, payable on the debt securities of such series in that context.
Elme Communities may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any original issue discount security, the amount payable to the holder upon acceleration will be determined in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Important federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Other than to the extent provided with respect to the debt securities of a particular series and described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures will not contain any provisions that would limit the ability of Elme Communities to incur indebtedness or to substantially reduce or eliminate Elme Communities’ consolidated assets, which may have a material adverse effect on the ability of Elme Communities to service its indebtedness (including the debt securities) or that would afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of:
| (1) | a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving Elme Communities’ management, or any affiliate of any of those parties, |
| (2) | a change of control, or |
| (3) | a reorganization, restructuring, merger, or similar transaction involving Elme Communities or its affiliates. |
Registration, Transfer, Payment and Paying Agent
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be payable and may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange at an office of Elme Communities or an agent of Elme Communities in the continental United States. Elme Communities, at its option, may make payments of interest on any interest payment date on any debt security that is not a global debt security by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to receive that payment or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States.
Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date with respect to the debt securities of any series will forthwith cease to be payable to the holders of those debt securities on the applicable regular record date and may either be paid to the persons in whose names those debt securities are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of the interest not punctually paid or duly provided for to be fixed by the trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the holders of those debt securities not less than 10 days prior to the special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as completely described in the indenture.
Subject to certain limitations imposed on debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of those debt securities at the designated place or places. In addition, subject to certain limitations imposed upon debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange thereof at the designated place or places if duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, redemption or repayment of debt securities, but Elme Communities may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with certain of those transactions.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Elme Communities will not be required to:
| • | issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities of that series of like tenor and terms to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of that selection; |
| • | register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion of any debt security, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part; or |
| • | issue, register the transfer of or exchange a debt security which has been surrendered for repurchase at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of the debt security not to be repurchased. |
Outstanding Debt Securities
In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver under the indenture:
| • | the principal amount of an original issue discount security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for these purposes shall be that portion of the principal amount of the original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the original issue discount security as of the date of the determination, |
| • | the principal amount of any indexed security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for these purposes shall be the principal amount of the indexed security determined on the date of its original issuance, unless otherwise provided in the indenture, |
| • | the principal amount of a debt security denominated in a foreign currency shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of its original issuance, of the principal amount of the debt security, and |
| • | a debt security owned by Elme Communities or any obligor on the debt security or any affiliate of Elme Communities or such other obligor shall be deemed not to be outstanding. |
Redemption and Repurchase
The debt securities of any series may be redeemable at Elme Communities’ option or may be subject to mandatory redemption by Elme Communities as required by a sinking fund or otherwise. In addition, the debt securities of any series may be subject to repurchase by Elme Communities at the option of the holders. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions regarding any optional or mandatory redemption or option to repurchase the debt securities of the related series.
Covenants
Existence
Except as described under the section below entitled “Merger, Consolidation or Sale,” each of Elme Communities and any guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, and rights (by charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, that neither Elme Communities nor any guarantor shall be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Trustees (or any duly authorized committee of that Board of Trustees), as applicable, shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of Elme Communities or any guarantor, as applicable.
Maintenance of Properties
Elme Communities will cause all of its material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (normal wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of Elme Communities may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that Elme Communities will not be prevented from (1) removing permanently any property that has been condemned or suffered a casualty loss, if it is in its best interests, (2) discontinuing maintenance or operation of any property if, in its reasonable judgment, doing so is in its best interest, or (3) selling or otherwise disposing for value its properties in the ordinary course of business.
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Insurance
Elme Communities will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep in force upon all of its and each of its Subsidiaries’ insurable properties and operations insurance policies carried with responsible companies in such amounts and covering all such risks as is customary in the industry in which Elme Communities and its Subsidiaries do business in accordance with prevailing market conditions and availability.
Payment of Taxes and Other Claims
Elme Communities will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of Elme Communities or any Subsidiary, and (2) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies, which, if unpaid, might by law become a material lien upon the property of Elme Communities or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that Elme Communities shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim the amount, applicability or validity of which is being contested in good faith.
Provision of Financial Information
For so long as any notes are outstanding, if we are subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, we will deliver to the trustee the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provision, within 15 days after the date that we file the same with the SEC. If we are not subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, and for so long as any notes are outstanding, we will deliver to the trustee the quarterly and annual financial statements and accompanying Item 303 of Regulation S-K (“management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations”) disclosure that would be required to be contained in annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q required to be filed with the SEC if we were subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, within 15 days of the filing date that would be applicable to us at that time pursuant to applicable SEC rules and regulations.
Reports and other documents filed by Elme Communities with the SEC and publicly available via the EDGAR system or on our website will be deemed to be delivered to the trustee as of the time such filing is publicly available via EDGAR or on our website for purposes of this covenant; provided, however, that the trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed or are publicly available via EDGAR or on our website. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the trustee is for informational purposes only and the trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including its compliance with any of its covenants relating to the notes (as to which the trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an officer’s certificate).
Additional Covenants
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe any additional material covenants of Elme Communities relating to such series of debt securities.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each of the following is an Event of Default with respect to any series of debt securities issued under either indenture:
| (1) | default for thirty (30) days in the payment of any installment of interest or Additional Amounts payable with respect to such interest under the debt securities of that series; |
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| (2) | default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on or, any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on the debt securities of that series, when the same becomes due and payable or default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment with respect to the debt securities of that series when due; |
| (3) | Elme Communities fails to comply with any of its other agreements contained in the debt securities or the indenture (other than an agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere specifically dealt with in the indenture or which has expressly been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series) upon receipt by Elme Communities of notice of such default by the trustee or receipt by Elme Communities and the trustee of written notice of such default by holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding and Elme Communities fails to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within ninety (90) days after Elme Communities receives such notice; |
| (4) | failure to pay any recourse indebtedness for monies borrowed by Elme Communities in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $75 million at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable notice and grace period, which recourse indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within sixty (60) days after written notice of such failure to Elme Communities from the trustee (or to Elme Communities and the trustee from holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series); and |
| (5) | specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to Elme Communities, any guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary. |
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary or group of Subsidiaries that meets either of the following conditions:
| • | Elme Communities and its other Subsidiaries investments in and advances to the Subsidiary exceed 10% of the total assets of Elme Communities’ and its Subsidiaries’ total assets consolidated (determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which an annual or quarterly report has been furnished to holders of the debt securities or filed with the SEC; or |
| • | Elme Communities’ and its other Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of the Subsidiary exceeds 10% of Elme Communities’ and its Subsidiaries total assets consolidated (determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which an annual or quarterly report has been furnished to holders of the debt securities or filed with the SEC. |
No Event of Default with respect to any particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The trustee is required to give notice to holders of the debt securities of the applicable series within 90 days after the trustee has actual knowledge (as such knowledge is described in the indenture) of a default relating to such debt securities; provided, however, that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of such series of any default, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment, if and for so long as the trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of the notice is in the interest of the holders; and provided further that in the case of an Event of Default as described in (3) above, the Trustee will not give notice to the holders until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) above occurs, then the principal of, and premium, if any, on all the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series and unpaid interest, if any, accrued thereon shall automatically become immediately due and payable. If any other Event of Default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may declare the principal of, and premium, if any, on, or if debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of that series of debt securities, and unpaid interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately. However, upon specified conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may rescind and annul any such declaration of acceleration and its consequences if:
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| • | Elme Communities has paid or deposited with the trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay all required payments as specified in the indenture, including payments of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to the debt securities of such series, and specified compensation, expenses, disbursement and advances of the trustee; and |
| • | all Events of Default with respect to the debt securities of such series, other than the non-payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to the debt securities of such series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. |
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may waive any past default with respect to the debt securities of such series and its consequences, except:
| • | a continuing default in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any debt security of such series; |
| • | in the case of any debt securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for common equity or other securities or property, a continuing default in any such conversion or exchange; or |
| • | a continuing default in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected. |
Each indenture provides that no holders of debt securities of any series may institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to such indenture or such series of debt securities, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy thereunder, except in the case of failure of the trustee, for 60 days, to act after it has received written notice of an Event of Default with respect to such series from a holder of a debt security of such series, a written request to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default from the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, as well as an offer of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, and no inconsistent direction has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Notwithstanding any other provision of either indenture, each holder of a debt security will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, and any Additional Amounts on that debt security on the respective due dates for those payments, and in the case of any debt security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, to convert or exchange as the case may be, such debt security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of those payments and any such right to convert or exchange, and this right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act requiring the trustee, during the continuance of an Event of Default under the applicable indenture, to act with the requisite standard of care, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities of any series unless those holders have offered the trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee, provided that the direction would not conflict with any rule or law or with the applicable indenture or with any series of debt securities or involve the Trustee in personal liability, such direction would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of debt securities of that series (or the debt securities of any other series) not joining in such action, and the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
Within 120 calendar days after the close of each fiscal year, Elme Communities must deliver to the applicable trustee an officer’s certificate stating whether or not such certifying officer has knowledge of any default under the applicable indenture and, if so, specifying each such default and the nature and status thereof. Elme Communities must also deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate within 30 days of becoming aware of a default under the indenture.
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Modifications, Waivers and Meetings
Each indenture permits Elme Communities and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series issued under the applicable indenture and affected by a modification or amendment (voting as separate classes), to modify or amend any of the provisions of the applicable indenture or of the debt securities of the applicable series or the rights of the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series under the applicable indenture.
However, no modification or amendment shall, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
| • | change the stated maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, any debt securities; or |
| • | reduce the principal of or any premium on any debt securities or reduce the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest on or the redemption or repurchase price of any debt securities, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect to any debt securities or related guarantee or change Elme Communities’ or any guarantor’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts; or |
| • | reduce the amount of principal of any original issue discount securities that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity of any debt security or the amount thereof provable in the event of bankruptcy; or |
| • | adversely affect any right of repayment or repurchase at the option of any holder; or |
| • | change any place where, or the currency in which, the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any debt security or guarantee is payable; or |
| • | impair the holder’s right to institute suit to enforce the payment of any debt securities or guarantee on or after their stated maturity (or, in the case of redemption on or after the redemption date, or on or after the date for a repayment or repurchase); or |
| • | reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series whose holders must consent to any modification or amendment or any waiver of compliance with specific provisions of the applicable indenture or specified defaults under the applicable indenture and their consequences; or |
| • | reduce the requirements for a quorum or voting at a meeting of holders of the applicable debt securities; or |
| • | modify the sections of the applicable indenture setting forth the provisions of such indenture that may not be amended without the consent of holders, or providing for the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or provide that certain other provisions of such indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of holder of each outstanding debt security of such series; or |
| • | release a guarantor from any of the obligations under a guarantee except as permitted under the applicable indenture; or |
| • | make any change that adversely affects the right, if any, to convert or exchange any debt security for common equity or other securities or property; or |
| • | in the case of any debt security which is convertible into or exchangeable for common equity or other securities or property, impair the right to institute suit to enforce the right to convert or exchange such debt security in accordance with its terms. |
Each indenture also contains provisions permitting Elme Communities and any guarantor, as applicable, and the trustee, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities, to modify or amend the applicable indenture, among other things:
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| • | to evidence a successor to Elme Communities or any guarantor, if applicable, as under the indenture, or successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of Elme Communities or any guarantor; or |
| • | to add to the covenants of Elme Communities or any guarantor for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon Elme Communities or any guarantor in the indenture; or |
| • | to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any debt securities or any guarantee, provided any such action does not adversely affect the interest of the holders of debt securities of any series; or |
| • | to add to the Events of Default in a manner that benefits the holders of all or any series of debt securities issued under the indenture; or |
| • | to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series, and the form of the guarantee of debt securities of any series (provided that any such deletions, additions and changes shall not be applicable to any other series of debt securities then outstanding); or |
| • | to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or |
| • | to provide for any guarantee of the holders of debt securities of a series, to secure the debt securities or to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any guarantee of or lien securing the debt securities which such release, termination or discharge is permitted by the indenture; or |
| • | to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee; or |
| • | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; or |
| • | to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of debt securities or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the indenture of any holder in any material respect; or |
| • | to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities; provided, that the action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities in any material respect; or |
| • | to provide for the issuance of additional debt securities, subject to the limitations established in the indenture; or |
| • | to comply with the rules of any applicable depository or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the debt securities may be listed or traded; or |
| • | to add to or change any provisions of the indenture to such extent as is necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form; or |
| • | to amend or supplement any provision contained in the indenture, in any supplemental indenture or in any debt securities, provided that the amendment or supplement (i) does not (a) apply to any outstanding debt securities issued before the date of the amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefits of that provision, or (b) modify the rights of holders of any such debt securities with respect to such provision, or (ii) becomes effective only when no security described in clause (i)(a) is outstanding; or |
| • | in the case of any series of debt securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for common shares or other securities or property, to safeguard or provide for the conversion or exchange rights of such debt securities in the event of any reclassification or change of outstanding common shares or any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or combination of Elme Communities with or into another person or any sale, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or other conveyance of all or substantially all of Elme Communities’ assets to any other person or similar transactions, if expressly required by the terms of such debt securities; or |
| • | to provide for reduction in the minimum denominations of the debt securities; or |
| • | to conform the terms of the indenture or the debt securities of a series, as applicable, to the description thereof contained in any prospectus, prospectus supplement or other offering document relating to the offer and sale of such debt securities. |
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive Elme Communities’ compliance with some of the restrictive provisions of the applicable indenture, which may include covenants, if any, which are specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of debt
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securities of that series, waive any past default under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series and its consequences, except a default which is continuing (a) in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the debt securities of that series, (b) with respect to the conversion or exchange of a series of debt securities convertible or exchangeable into common equity of Elme Communities, or (c) in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series.
Each indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of a series of debt securities. A meeting may be called at any time by the trustee, and also, upon Elme Communities’ or any guarantor’s request, or the request of holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series. Notice of a meeting must be given in accordance with the provisions of the indenture. Except for any consent which must be given by the holder of each outstanding debt security affected in the manner described above, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum, as described below, is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series. However, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action which may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, other than a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of that specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities of any series duly held in accordance with the indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series, subject to exceptions; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at that meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of a supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding or representing that specified supermajority percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series will constitute a quorum.
Merger, Consolidation and Sale
We may merge or consolidate with or into, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our property and assets to, any other entity, provided that the following conditions are met:
| • | we are the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than us) formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger or which shall have received such sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of property and assets shall be domiciled in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume by supplemental indenture payment of the principal of and interest on all of the debt securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions in the applicable indenture; |
| • | immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and |
| • | either we or the successor Person, in either case, shall have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture complies with the applicable indenture and that all conditions precedent provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with. |
In the event of any transaction described in and complying with the conditions listed in the immediately preceding paragraphs in which we are not the continuing entity, the successor person formed or remaining shall succeed, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of ours, and (except in the case of a lease) we shall be discharged from our obligations under the debt securities and the applicable indenture.
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Subordination
Any subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated indenture will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of Elme Communities’ Senior Debt (including all debt securities issued under the senior indenture) whether existing at the date of the subordinated indenture or subsequently incurred. Upon any payment or distribution of Elme Communities’ assets to creditors upon any:
| • | liquidation; |
| • | dissolution; |
| • | winding-up; |
| • | receivership; |
| • | reorganization; |
| • | assignment for the benefit of creditors; |
| • | marshaling of assets and liabilities; |
| • | bankruptcy; |
| • | insolvency; or |
| • | debt restructuring or similar proceedings in connection with any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding, |
the holders of Senior Debt (as defined below) will first be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Senior Debt before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities.
Upon the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt securities, the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding at the time of the acceleration will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due thereon, including any amounts due upon acceleration, before the holders of subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities.
No payments on account of principal, or any premium or interest, in respect of the subordinated debt securities may be made if:
| • | there has occurred and is continuing a default in any payment with respect to Senior Debt; or |
| • | there has occurred and is continuing an event of default with respect to any Senior Debt resulting in the acceleration of, or permitting the holder or holders thereof to accelerate, the maturity thereof. |
“Senior Debt” as defined in the subordinated indenture means the principal of and interest on, or substantially similar payments to be made by Elme Communities regarding the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the subordinated indenture or subsequently incurred, created or assumed:
| (1) | debt of Elme Communities for money borrowed or represented by purchase-money obligations; |
| (2) | debt of Elme Communities evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds, or other securities issued under the provisions of an indenture, fiscal agency agreement or other instrument; |
| (3) | obligations of Elme Communities as lessee under leases of property either made as part of any sale and leaseback transaction to which Elme Communities is a party or otherwise; |
| (4) | debt of partnerships and joint ventures that is included in Elme Communities’ consolidated financial statements; |
| (5) | debt, obligations and liabilities of others as to which Elme Communities is liable contingently or otherwise to pay or advance money or property or as guarantor, endorser or otherwise or which Elme Communities has agreed to purchase or otherwise acquire; and |
| (6) | any binding commitment of Elme Communities to fund any real estate investment or to fund any investment in any entity making the real estate investment; |
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In each case other than:
| • | any debt, obligation or liability referred to in the preceding clauses as to which the instrument creating or evidencing the debt, obligation or liability, provides that the debt, obligation or liability is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities or ranks equally with the subordinated debt securities; |
| • | any debt, obligation or liability that is subordinated to debt of Elme Communities, to substantially the same extent as or to a greater extent than the subordinated debt securities are subordinated; and |
| • | the subordinated debt securities. |
At December 31, 2023, Senior Debt aggregated approximately $679.3 million in principal amount. The subordinated indenture does not restrict the creation of additional Senior Debt.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Satisfaction and Discharge
Upon Elme Communities’ direction, the applicable indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of any series specified by Elme Communities, subject to the survival of specified provisions of such indenture, including (unless the accompanying prospectus supplement provides otherwise) Elme Communities’ obligation to repurchase such debt securities at the option of the holders thereof, if applicable, and Elme Communities’, or any guarantor’s, if applicable, obligation to pay Additional Amounts in respect of such debt securities to the extent described below, when:
| • | either |
| (A) | all outstanding debt securities of that series have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation, subject to exceptions, or |
| (B) | all debt securities of that series have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and Elme Communities has deposited with the trustee, in trust, funds in the currency in which the debt securities of that series are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series, including the principal thereof and, premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon, and, to the extent that (x) the debt securities of that series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of any Additional Amounts which are or will be payable is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by Elme Communities, in the exercise of its sole discretion, those Additional Amounts, to the date of such deposit, if the debt securities of that series have become due and payable, or to the maturity or redemption date of the debt securities of that series, as the case may be; |
and, in either case
| • | Elme Communities has paid all other sums payable under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series (including amounts payable to the trustee); and |
| • | the trustee has received an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series have been satisfied. |
If the debt securities of any series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, Elme Communities or any guarantor, as applicable, will remain obligated, following the deposit described above, to pay Additional Amounts on those debt securities to the extent that they exceed the amount deposited in respect of those Additional Amounts as described above.
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Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Elme Communities may elect with respect to the debt securities of the particular series either:
| • | to defease and discharge itself and any guarantor from any and all obligations with respect to those debt securities (“legal defeasance”), except for, among other things: |
| (A) | the obligation to pay Additional Amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of specified events of taxation, assessment, or governmental charge with respect to payments on those debt securities to the extent that those Additional Amounts exceed the amount deposited in respect of those amounts as provided below; |
| (B) | the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of those debt securities; |
| (C) | the obligation to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen debt securities; |
| (D) | the obligation to maintain an office or agent of Elme Communities in the continental United States, in respect of those debt securities; |
| (E) | the rights of holders of such outstanding debt securities to receive payments from moneys held in trust when such payments are due; |
| (F) | the obligation, if applicable, to repurchase those debt securities at the option of the holders thereof; and |
| (G) | the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee; or |
| • | to be released from its obligations and the obligations of any guarantor with respect to those debt securities under (A) certain covenants in the indenture related to the preservation of the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of Elme Communities, maintenance of insurance and payment of material taxes and (B) if applicable, other covenants as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, and any omission to comply with those obligations shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default with respect to those debt securities (“covenant defeasance”), |
in either case upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust for that purpose, of an amount in the currency in which those debt securities are payable at maturity or, if applicable, upon redemption, and/or government obligations (as defined in the indenture) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and any premium and any interest on, and, to the extent that (x) those debt securities provide for the payment of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of the Additional Amounts which are or will be payable is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by Elme Communities, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, the Additional Amounts with respect to, those debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments on those debt securities, on the due dates for those payments. If the cash and government obligations deposited are sufficient to pay the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series on a particular redemption date, Elme Communities shall have given the trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem those debt securities on that date.
The legal defeasance or covenant defeasance described above shall only be effective if, among other things:
| • | it shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which Elme Communities is a party or is bound; |
| • | in the case of legal defeasance, Elme Communities shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of independent counsel acceptable to the trustee confirming that: |
| (A) | Elme Communities has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or |
| (B) | since the date of the indenture, there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law, |
in either case to the effect that, and based on this ruling or change the opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the legal defeasance had not occurred;
| • | in the case of covenant defeasance, Elme Communities shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the covenant defeasance had not occurred; |
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| • | no Event of Default or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the applicable series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit into trust; |
| • | solely in the case of legal defeasance, no Event of Default arising from specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to Elme Communities or any guarantor or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become such an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of the deposit into trust; and |
| • | Elme Communities shall have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and legal opinion to the effect that all conditions precedent to the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been satisfied. |
In the event Elme Communities effects covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series and those debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default other than an Event of Default with respect to the covenants as to which covenant defeasance has been effected, which covenants would no longer be applicable to the debt securities of that series after covenant defeasance, the amount of monies and/or government obligations deposited with the trustee to effect covenant defeasance may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of any acceleration resulting from that Event of Default. However, Elme Communities would remain liable to make payment of those amounts due at the time of acceleration.
The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting or restricting legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities of a particular series.
Concerning the Trustee
Each indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the applicable indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust or trusts separate and apart from the trust or trusts administered by any other trustee under the indenture. Unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only with respect to the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery (including authentication and delivery on original issuance of the debt securities) of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee with respect to that series at an office designated by the trustee.
We may maintain corporate trust relationships in the ordinary course of business with the trustee. The trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the applicable indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities, unless offered indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it by the holder against the losses, damages, costs, expense and liabilities which might be incurred thereby.
Under the Trust Indenture Act, each indenture is deemed to contain limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become a creditor of Elme Communities, to obtain payment of claims in some cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions with Elme Communities. If it acquires any conflicting interest under the Trust Indenture Act relating to any of its duties with respect to the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as Trustee.
Governing Law
Each indenture, the debt securities and any related guarantees will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401.
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Notices
All notices to holders of debt securities shall be validly given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or delivered electronically pursuant to the applicable procedures of the depositary, to them at their respective addresses in the register maintained by the trustee.
The debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities (“Global Notes”) that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. The Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to DTC, to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for definitive debt securities in registered certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) except in the limited circumstances described below. See “Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes.” Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in certificated form. Investors may elect to hold their interest in the Global Notes through either DTC, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”) or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) if they are participants in these systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in these systems. Clearstream and Euroclear in turn will hold interests in such Global Notes as Participants on the books of DTC.
Depository Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream is provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. Elme Communities takes no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urges investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised Elme Communities that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between the Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.
DTC has also advised Elme Communities that, pursuant to procedures established by it:
| • | upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of the Participants designated by the underwriters with portions of the principal amount of the Global Notes; and |
| • | ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of these interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interest in the Global Notes). |
Investors in the Global Notes who are Participants may hold their interests therein directly through DTC. Investors in the Global Notes who are not Participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) which are Participants. All interests in a Global Note, including those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of the Participants, which in turn act on behalf of the Indirect Participants, the ability of a person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.
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Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global Notes will not have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of debt securities in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or “holders” thereof under the indenture governing the debt securities for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under the indenture governing the debt securities. Under the terms of each indenture, Elme Communities and the trustee will treat the persons in whose names the debt securities, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners of the debt securities for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither Elme Communities, the trustee nor any agent of them has or will have any responsibility or liability for:
| • | any aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or |
| • | any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants. |
DTC has advised Elme Communities that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the debt securities (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of debt securities will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or us. Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of the Participants or the Indirect Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the debt securities, and we and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers between the Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds and transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between the Participants, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note from DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.
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DTC has advised Elme Communities that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of debt securities only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the debt securities and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the debt securities as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the debt securities, DTC reserves the right to exchange the debt securities for legended debt securities in certificated form, and to distribute such debt securities to its Participants.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in Global Notes among the Participants, they are under no obligation to perform those procedures, and may discontinue or change those procedures at any time. None of the Company, the Trustee or any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream or their respective Participants or Indirect Participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
A Global Note is exchangeable for a Certificated Note if:
| • | DTC (a) notifies Elme Communities that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the applicable Global Notes or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, Elme Communities fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after it receives such notice or of its becoming aware of such cessation; |
| • | Elme Communities, at its option and subject to DTC’s procedures, notifies the trustee in writing that Elme Communities elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated Notes; or |
| • | upon request from DTC if there has occurred and is continuing a default or Event of Default with respect to the debt securities. |
In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given to the trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the indenture. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of DTC (in accordance with its customary procedures).
Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes
Certificated Notes, if any, may be exchanged for beneficial interests in Global Notes.
Same Day Settlement and Payment
The underwriters will settle the debt securities in immediately available funds. Elme Communities will make payments in respect of the debt securities represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC or its nominee. Elme Communities will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, with respect to Certificated Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders of the Certificated Notes or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address. The debt securities represented by the Global Notes are expected to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such debt securities will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. Elme Communities expects that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has advised Elme Communities that cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.
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Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we may sell the offered securities to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them, or we may sell the offered securities to investors directly or through agents, which agents may be affiliated with us. We may sell securities directly to investors on our own behalf in those jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so. Direct sales to investors may be accomplished through subscription offerings or through subscription rights distributed to our shareholders. In connection with subscription offerings or the distribution of subscription rights to shareholders, if all of the underlying offered securities are not subscribed for, we may sell such unsubscribed offered securities to third parties directly or through agents and, in addition, whether or not all of the underlying offered securities are subscribed for, we may concurrently offer additional offered securities to third parties directly or through agents, which agents may be affiliated with us. Any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the offered securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the offered securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices at the time of sale, such as an “at the market offering,” or at negotiated prices, any of which may represent a discount from the prevailing market price. We also may, from time to time, authorize underwriters or dealers acting as our agents to offer and sell the offered securities upon the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of offered securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of offered securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell offered securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
Our common shares may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions: (a) block transactions (which may involve cross transactions) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of such shares as agent, but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by any such broker-dealer as principal, and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; (c) a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable New York Stock Exchange or other stock exchange, quotation system or over-the-counter market rules; (d) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which any such broker-dealer solicits purchasers; (e) sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for such shares; (f) sales through forward delivery contracts; (g) sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers; and (h) sale through any other method permitted by law. We may also effect a distribution of the securities pursuant to this prospectus through the issuance of derivative securities, including without limitation, warrants, forward delivery contracts and the writing of options.
We may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we may: (i) enter into transactions with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof in connection with which such broker-dealer or affiliate will engage in short sales of securities offered pursuant to this prospectus, in which case such broker-dealer or affiliate may use securities issued pursuant to this prospectus to close out its short positions; (ii) sell securities short and redeliver such shares to close out our short positions; (iii) enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver securities to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will then resell or transfer securities under this prospectus; or (iv) loan or pledge securities to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus.
Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of offered securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the offered securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the offered securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act.
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Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Any such indemnification agreements will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase any of the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such securities, if any are purchased.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or dealers acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase offered securities from us at the public offering price set forth in such prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in such prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate principal amount of offered securities sold pursuant to contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions but will in all cases be subject to our approval.
Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except the purchase by an institution of the offered securities covered by its contracts shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject, and if the offered securities are being sold to underwriters, we shall have sold to such underwriters the total principal amount of the offered securities less the principal amount of the securities covered by contracts. Some of the underwriters and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with and perform services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility with regard to the validity or performance of these delayed delivery contracts.
In connection with the offering of the securities hereby, certain underwriters, and selling group members and their respective affiliates may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the applicable securities. Such transactions may include stabilization transactions effected in accordance with Rule 104 of Regulation M promulgated by the SEC pursuant to which such persons may bid for or purchase securities for the purpose of stabilizing their market price. The underwriters in an offering of securities may also create a “short position” for their account by selling more securities in connection with the offering than they are committed to purchase from us. In such case, the underwriters could cover all or a portion of such short position by either purchasing securities in the open market following completion of the offering of such securities or by exercising any over-allotment option granted to them by us. In addition, the managing underwriter may impose “penalty bids” under contractual arrangements with other underwriters, which means that they can reclaim from an underwriter (or any selling group member participating in the offering) for the account of the other underwriters, the selling concession with respect to securities that are distributed in the offering but subsequently purchased for the account of the underwriters in the open market. Any of the transactions described in this paragraph or comparable transactions that are described in any accompanying prospectus supplement may result in the maintenance of the price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. None of such transactions described in this paragraph or in an accompanying prospectus supplement are required to be taken by any underwriters and, if they are undertaken, may be discontinued at any time.
We may sell the securities in exchange in whole or in part for consideration other than cash. This consideration may consist of services or products, whether tangible or intangible, and including services or products we may use in our business; outstanding debt or equity securities of Elme Communities or one or more of its subsidiaries; debt or equity securities or assets of other companies, including in connection with investments, joint ventures or other strategic transactions, or acquisitions; release of claims or settlement of disputes; and satisfaction of obligations, including obligations to make payments to distributors or other suppliers and payment of interest on outstanding obligations. We may sell the securities as part of a transaction in which outstanding debt or equity securities of Elme Communities or one or more of our subsidiaries are surrendered, converted, exercised, canceled or transferred.
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Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ELME.” Any new securities that issue, other than common shares, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange, quotation system or over-the-counter market. Any underwriters or agents to or through which securities are sold by us may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and any of them may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or trading market for any securities sold by us.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
A summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences to you as a prospective holder of our securities is set forth in Item 9B of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2024, and incorporated by reference in and supplemented by this prospectus. As discussed under the caption “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” we will incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until we have sold all of the securities to which this prospectus relates or the offering is otherwise terminated. We expect that future SEC filings under the Exchange Act will include summaries of material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will supersede and replace entirely all earlier such summaries.
The summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences incorporated by reference is for general information only and does not constitute tax advice. It does not reflect every possible tax outcome or consequence that could result from the acquisition, holding, and disposition of our common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares and debt securities, as well as our warrants and rights that we may issue. In addition, it does not reflect state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences that may apply to you based on your particular circumstances and residence. We advise you to consult your own tax advisors to determine the tax consequences particular to your situation, including any applicable state, local or non-U.S. income and other tax consequences that may result from your ownership of the securities.
The validity of the offered securities by means of this prospectus and certain tax matters are being passed upon for Elme Communities by Hogan Lovells US LLP, Washington, D.C.
The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Elme Communities incorporated by reference in Elme Communities’ Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the effectiveness of Elme Communities’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedules are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, schedules and amendments filed with the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities that may be offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, but does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the securities that may be offered by this prospectus, reference is made to the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to in this prospectus are not necessarily complete and, where that contract or other document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement in this prospectus is qualified in all respects by the exhibit to which the reference relates.
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We maintain a website at www.elmecommunities.com. We make our SEC filings available on our website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
SEC rules allow us to incorporate information by reference into this prospectus some information that is contained in other documents we file with the SEC. This means that we may disclose important information by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC that contain the information, including documents that we file after the date of this prospectus. The information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained herein or by information contained in documents filed with or furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have been previously filed with the SEC:
| (1) | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023; |
| (2) | Our definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 6, 2023 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022); and |
| (3) | The description of our common shares included in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (SEC File No. 001-06622), filed with the SEC on December 4, 1998 under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act as supplemented by the description contained in Exhibit 4.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the description contained in this prospectus. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file after the date of this prospectus with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until we have sold all of the securities to which this prospectus relates or the offering is otherwise terminated; provided, however that we are not incorporating any information furnished under either Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K.
Information in this prospectus may add to, update or change information in a previously filed document incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In that case, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of those documents. Information in a document filed after the date of this prospectus may add to, update or change information in this prospectus or in a previously filed document incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In that case, you should rely on the information in the later filed document.
You may request a copy of these filings and any amendments thereto and any other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus at no cost, by writing or telephoning us. Those copies will not include exhibits to those documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents or unless you specifically request them. Please direct your request to: Investor Relations, Elme Communities, 7550 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 900, Bethesda, MD 20814, (202) 774-3200.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| ITEM 14. | OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION |
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered.
SEC Registration Fee | $ | * | ||
Accountant’s Fees and Expenses | * | * | ||
Legal Fees and Expenses | * | * | ||
Printing Expenses | * | * | ||
Miscellaneous | * | * | ||
|
| |||
TOTAL | $ | * | ||
|
|
| * | In accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. |
| ** | The calculation of these fees and expenses is dependent on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and, accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated aggregate amount of expenses payable in respect of any offering of securities. |
| ITEM 15. | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
Maryland law permits a Maryland REIT to include in its declaration of trust a provision eliminating the liability of its trustees and officers to the REIT and its shareholders 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 declaration of trust contains such a provision which eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
The Maryland REIT Law permits a Maryland REIT to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees and officers to the same extent as permitted by the MGCL for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. 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 by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received, unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
Our declaration of trust authorizes us, and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any present or former shareholder, trustee or officer of the registrant who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding or (b) any individual who, while a trustee or officer of the registrant and at the request of the registrant, serves or has served as a trustee, director, officer, member, manager, trustee, employee, partner or agent of another REIT,
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corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his status as a present or former shareholder, trustee or officer of the registrant. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by our declaration of trust and bylaws vest immediately upon election of a trustee or officer. Our declaration of trust and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of the registrant in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of the registrant or a predecessor of the registrant.
In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our trustees and executive officers that provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
The Maryland REIT Law may permit indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. The board of trustees has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act is contrary to public policy and is therefore unenforceable, absent a decision to the contrary by a court of appropriate jurisdiction.
| ITEM 16. | EXHIBITS |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Form | File Number | Exhibit | Filing Date | Filed Herewith | ||||||||||||||||
| 1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Shares* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.2 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Preferred Shares* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.3 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Depository Shares* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.4 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Share Warrants * | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.5 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Rights to purchase Common Shares* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.6 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities** | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.1 | Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust of Elme Communities, as amended | 10-K | 001-06622 | 3.1 | 2/17/2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Elme Communities, as amended | 8-K | 001-06622 | 3.1 | 9/20/2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3.3 | Articles Supplementary setting forth the designations of a series of Preferred Shares* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.1 | Form of Senior Debt Securities Indenture | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.2 | Form of Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.3 | Form of Senior Debt Securities** | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4 | Form of Senior Debt Securities** | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.5 | Form of Common Share Warrant Agreement* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.6 | Form of Deposit Agreement for Depositary Shares* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.7 | Form of Rights Agreement* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.1 | Opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP as to the legality of the shares to be registered | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 8.1 | Opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP regarding certain tax matters | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 23.1 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 23.2 | Consent of Hogan Lovells US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 23.3 | Consent of Hogan Lovells US LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1) | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Power of Attorney (included on signature page) | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 25.1 | Statement of eligibility and qualification on Form T-1 of Senior Debt Securities Indenture trustee** | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 25.2 | Statement of eligibility and qualification on Form T-1 of Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture trustee** | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 107 | Filing Fee Table | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * | To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the offered securities. |
| ** | To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the offered debt securities. |
| ITEM 17. | UNDERTAKINGS |
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as applicable, in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in this registration statement; and
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(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in this registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is a part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into this registration statement or prospectus that is a part of this registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in this registration statement or prospectus that was part of this registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Bethesda, Maryland, on February 20, 2024.
| ELME COMMUNITIES | ||
| By: | /s/ Paul T. McDermott | |
| Paul T. McDermott | ||
| Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Steven M. Freishtat and W. Drew Hammond, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, to any related Rule 462(b) registration statement and to any other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to file the same, with all exhibits to the registration statement and other documents in connection with the registration statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, and grants to the attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifies and confirms all that the attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Paul T. McDermott Paul T. McDermott | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | February 20, 2024 | ||
/s/ Jennifer S. Banner Jennifer S. Banner | Trustee | February 20, 2024 | ||
/s/ Benjamin S. Butcher Benjamin S. Butcher | Lead Independent Trustee | February 20, 2024 | ||
/s/ Susan Carras Susan Carras | Trustee | February 20, 2024 | ||
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/s/ Ellen M. Goitia Ellen M. Goitia | Trustee | February 20, 2024 | ||
/s/ Thomas H. Nolan, Jr. Thomas H. Nolan, Jr. | Trustee | February 20, 2024 | ||
/s/ Anthony L. Winns Anthony L. Winns | Trustee | February 20, 2024 | ||
/s/ Steven M. Freishtat Steven M. Freishtat | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | February 20, 2024 | ||
/s/ W. Drew Hammond W. Drew Hammond | Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) | February 20, 2024 | ||
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