(s) REIT Status. The Company, beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 2007, has been organized and operated, and as of the Applicable Time and Closing Date, will continue to be organized and operated, in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the current and proposed method of operation of the Company, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will permit the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2020 and thereafter. No transaction or event has occurred that would cause the Company not to be able to qualify as a REIT for its taxable year ending December 31, 2020 and any subsequent tax year.
(t) Tax Returns. All federal tax returns or valid extensions filed for, and reports required to be filed by the Transaction Entities or any of the Subsidiaries, and in the case of the state, local and foreign tax returns, to the extent material (“Returns”), have been timely filed (to the extent certain Returns were not timely filed, any delay has not had, and is not reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect); all such Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects; and all federal, state, county, local or foreign taxes, charges, fees, levies, fines, penalties or other assessments, including all net income, gross income, sales and use, ad valorem, transfer, gains, profits, excise, franchise, real and personal property, gross receipts, capital stock, disability, employment, payroll, license, estimated, stamp, custom duties, severance or withholding taxes or charges imposed by any Governmental Authority (as defined hereafter) (including any interest and penalties (civil or criminal) on or additions to any such taxes and any expenses incurred in connection with the determination, settlement or litigation of any tax liability), in each case to the extent shown in such Returns (“Taxes”) and due and payable or claimed to be due and payable by any Governmental Authority, have been paid, except for any such Tax that (i) is currently being contested in good faith, (ii) would not have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) is described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. None of the Transaction Entities nor the Subsidiaries have requested any extension of time within which to file any Return, which Return has not since been filed within the extended time (to the extent any such Returns were not filed within the extended time, it has not had, and is not reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect). None of the Transaction Entities nor the Subsidiaries have executed any outstanding waivers or comparable consents regarding the application of the statute of limitations with respect to any Taxes or Returns that have had, or are reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. No audits or other administrative proceedings or court proceedings are presently pending or threatened against the Transaction Entities or any of the Subsidiaries with regard to any Taxes or Returns of the Transaction Entities or any of the Subsidiaries that have had, or are reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Tax Withholding. Each of the Transaction Entities and the Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with the provisions of the Code relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes, including, without limitation, the withholding and reporting requirements under Sections 1441 through 1446, 3401 through 3406, and 6041 and 6049 of the Code, as well as similar provisions under any other laws, and has, within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, withheld and paid over to the proper Governmental Authorities all material amounts required in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third party.
(v) Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. None of the Transaction Entities nor the Subsidiaries (including any predecessor entities) has distributed, or prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities, will distribute, any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities other than the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any other written materials consented to by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 16 hereof.
(w) ERISA. Each of the Transaction Entities and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company or the Operating Partnership would have any liability, other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; none of the Transaction Entities or the Subsidiaries has incurred or expects to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Code, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder, in each case, other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and each “pension plan” for which the Transaction Entities or any of the Subsidiaries would have any liability and that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
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