q
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
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q
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
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10.1
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Ground
Lease Agreement
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10.1
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Ground
Lease Agreement
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a.
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Lessee
agrees that it will at all times abide by all applicable laws and rules of
the Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas (or other applicable state)
Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas (or other applicable state)
Department of Agriculture and any other public agency concerning the
Premises and its use, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals, fuel
and/or oil. Lessee further agrees to abide by the
manufacturer’s direction in regards to its use, storage and disposal of
all pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals (if such chemicals are
being stored on the Premises).
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b.
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Should
Lessee fail to keep the Premises clean and free of hazards, Lessor may,
after thirty (30) days written notice, arrange for the clean up of the
littered or hazardous area. Such clean up shall be charged to
Lessee and shall be due and payable within ten (10) days of receipt of
Lessor’s notice. Lessee shall not use nor permit the use of the
Premises in any manner that will tend to create waste or a
nuisance.
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a.
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Lessor
shall deliver the Premises to Lessee clean and free of debris (“Broom
Clean”) on the Effective Date. Lessee shall notify Lessor
within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of any issues or items of
non-compliance related to this matter and failure to do so will be
Lessee’s acknowledgement that Lessor has effectively complied with this
section and that such Premises are clean and free of
debris.
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b.
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Except
as otherwise provided in this Lease, Lessee hereby accepts the Premises in
the “as is” condition existing on the Lease Commencement Date, subject to
all applicable zoning, municipal, county and state laws, ordinances and
regulations governing and regulating the use of the Premises, and any
covenants or restrictions of record, and accepts this Lease subject
thereto and to all matters disclosed thereby and by any exhibits attached
hereto.
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a.
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Lessee
shall not, without Lessor's prior written consent, make any alterations,
improvements, additions, or Utility Installations (as defined hereafter)
in, on or about the Premises, except for nonstructural alterations not
exceeding $50,000.00 in cumulative costs during the Lease Term and any
Renewal Term(s). In any event, whether or not in excess of $50,000.00 in
cumulative cost, Lessee shall make no change or alteration to the exterior
of the building(s) comprising the Improvements without Lessor's prior
written consent. As used in this paragraph, the term “Utility
Installation” shall mean air lines, power panels, electrical distribution
systems, lighting fixtures, space heaters, air conditioning, plumbing, and
fencing. Lessor may require that Lessee remove any or all of said
alterations, improvements, additions or Utility Installations at the
expiration of the Lease Term or any Renewal Term(s), and restore the
Premises to their prior condition. Should Lessee make any alterations,
improvements, additions or Utility Installations without the prior written
approval of Lessor, Lessor may require that Lessee remove any or all of
the same.
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b.
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Any
alterations, improvements, additions or Utility Installations in, on, or
about the Premises that Lessee shall desire to make and which requires the
consent of the Lessor shall be presented to Lessor in written form, with
proposed detailed plans and specifications. If Lessor shall give its
written consent, the consent shall be deemed conditioned upon Lessee
acquiring all applicable permits to do so from appropriate governmental
agencies, the furnishing of a copy thereof to Lessor prior to the
commencement of the work and the compliance by Lessee of all conditions of
said permit in a prompt and expeditious
manner.
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c.
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Lessee
shall pay, when due, all claims for labor or materials furnished or
alleged to have been furnished to or for Lessee at or for use in the
Premises, which claims are or may be secured by any mechanics' or
materialmen's liens against the Premises or any interest therein. Lessee
shall give Lessor not less than ten (10) days' notice prior to the
commencement of any work in the Premises, and Lessor shall have the right
to post notices of nonresponsibility in or on the Premises as provided by
law. If Lessee shall, in good faith, contest the validity of any such
lien, claim or demand, then Lessee shall, at its sole expense defend
itself and Lessor against the same and shall pay and satisfy any such
adverse judgment that may be rendered thereon before the enforcement
thereof against the Lessor or the Premises, upon the condition that if
Lessor shall require, Lessee shall furnish to Lessor a surety bond
satisfactory to Lessor in an amount equal to such contested lien claim or
demand indemnifying Lessor against liability for the same and holding the
Premises free from the effect of such lien or claim. In addition, Lessor
may require Lessee to pay Lessor's reasonable attorneys' fees and costs in
participating in such action if Lessor shall decide it is in its best
interest to do so.
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d.
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Unless
Lessor requires their removal, as set forth in Paragraph 8.a. of this
Lease, all alterations, improvements, additions and Utility Installations
(whether or not such Utility Installations constitute trade fixtures of
Lessee), which may be made on the Premises, shall become the property of
Lessor and remain upon and be surrendered with the Premises at the
expiration of the term. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph,
Lessee's machinery and equipment, other than that which is affixed to the
Premises so that it can be removed without material damage to the
Premises, shall remain the property of Lessee and may be removed by Lessee
subject to the provisions of Paragraph 8.a. of this
Lease.
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a.
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Terminate
Lessee's right to possession of the Premises by any lawful means, in which
case this Lease shall terminate and Lessee shall immediately surrender
possession of the Premises to Lessor. In such event Lessor shall be
entitled to recover from Lessee all damages incurred by Lessor by reason
of Lessee's default including, but not limited to, the cost of recovering
possession of the Premises; expenses of reletting, including necessary
renovation and alteration of the Premises, and reasonable attorneys' fees;
the worth at the time of award by the court having jurisdiction thereof of
the amount by which the unpaid rent for the balance of the term after the
time of such award exceeds the amount of such rental loss for the same
period that Lessee proves could be reasonably
avoided.
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b.
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Maintain
Lessee's right to possession in which case this Lease shall continue in
effect whether or not Lessee shall have abandoned the Premises. In such
event Lessor shall be entitled to enforce all of Lessor's rights and
remedies under this Lease, including the right to recover the rent as it
becomes due hereunder.
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c.
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Pursue
any other right or remedy now or hereafter available to Lessor under the
laws or judicial decisions of the State of Texas. Unpaid installments of
Monthly Rent and other unpaid monetary obligations of Lessee under the
terms of this Lease shall bear interest from the date due at the maximum
rate then allowable by law.
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a.
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Lessee
and Lessor shall at any time and from time to time upon not less than ten
(10) days' prior written notice from the other party, execute, acknowledge
and deliver to the requesting party a statement written on Lessor's
estoppel certificate form reasonably acceptable to Lessor and Lessee (i)
certifying that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or,
if modified, stating the nature of such modification and certifying that
this Lease, as so modified, is in full force and effect) and the date to
which the rent and other charges are paid in advance, if any, and (ii)
acknowledging that there are not, to the knowledge of the party being
requested to deliver the statement, any uncured defaults on the part of
requesting party, or specifying such defaults if any are claimed. Any such
statement may be conclusively relied upon by any prospective purchaser or
encumbrancer of the Premises, or any prospective assignee or sub
Lessee.
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b.
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If
Lessor desires to finance, refinance, or sell the Premises, or any part
thereof, Lessee hereby agrees to deliver to any lender or purchaser
designated by Lessor such financial statements of Lessee as may be
reasonably required by such lender or purchaser. Such statements shall
include the past three (3) years' financial statements of Lessee. All such
financial statements shall be received by Lessor and such lender or
purchaser in confidence and shall be used only for the purposes herein set
forth.
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a.
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This
Lease, at Lessor's option, shall be subordinate to any ground lease,
mortgage, deed of trust, or any other hypothecation or security now or
hereafter placed upon the real property of which the Premises are a part
and to any and all advances made on the security thereof and to all
renewals, modifications, consolidations, replacements and extensions
thereof. Notwithstanding such subordination, Lessee's right to quiet
possession of the Premises shall not be disturbed if Lessee is not in
default and so long as Lessee shall pay the rent and observe and perform
all of the provisions of this Lease, unless this Lease is otherwise
terminated pursuant to its terms. If any mortgagee, trustee or ground
lessor shall elect to have this Lease prior to the lien of its mortgage,
deed of trust or ground lease, and shall give written notice thereof to
Lessee, this Lease shall be deemed prior to such mortgage, deed of trust,
or ground lease, whether this Lease is dated prior or subsequent to the
date of said mortgage, deed of trust, or ground lease, or the date of
recording thereof.
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b.
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Lessee
agrees to execute any reasonable documents required to effectuate an
attornment, a subordination or to make this Lease prior to the lien of any
mortgage, deed of trust or ground lease, as the case may
be.
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a.
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The
term “Hazardous Material” shall mean include, but shall not be limited to
(i) any material, substance or waste which is or hereafter shall be
listed, regulated or defined by Applicable Law to be hazardous, acutely
hazardous, extremely hazardous, radioactive toxic, or dangerous; (ii)
asbestos or asbestos-containing materials; (iii) polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs); (iv) radon gas; (v) laboratory wastes; (vi) experimental products,
including genetically engineered microbes; and (vii) petroleum, natural
gas, or other petroleum product.
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b.
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The
term “Applicable Law” shall include federal, state and local statutes,
regulations, rules, ordinances, and all other governmental
requirements.
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a.
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Lessee
shall comply with Applicable Law in all respects, including, but not
limited to, (i) acquisition of and compliance with all permits, licenses,
orders, requirements, approvals, plans and authorizations which are or may
become necessary for conduct of Lessee's operations on the Premises; (ii)
compliance with all regulatory requirements relating to such operations or
the substances and equipment used therein or the emissions, emanations and
wastes generated thereby; and (iii) reporting, investigation, and
remediation of, or other response to the exposure or potential exposure,
of any person to, or the emission, discharge or other release of any
Hazardous Material into the Premises or the
environment.
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b.
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Lessee
shall promptly respond to and remedy (by removal and proper disposal or
such other methods as shall be reasonably required) to the satisfaction of
applicable governmental agencies any release or discharge of any Hazardous
Material connected with Lessee's operation or Lessee's presence on the
Premises. All such action shall be done in Lessee's name, and at Lessee's
sole cost and expense. For purposes of this paragraph (b), the term
“respond” shall include, but not be limited to, the investigation of
environmental conditions, the preparation of feasibility reports or
remedial plans, and the performance of any cleanup, remediation,
containment, maintenance, monitoring or restoration work. Any such actions
shall be performed in a good, safe, workmanlike manner and shall minimize
any impact on the businesses or operations conducted at the Premises. In
its discretion, Lessor may, but shall not be required to, enter the
Premises personally or through its agents, consultants or contractors and
perform all or any part of the response activity or remedial action which
it feels is reasonably necessary to comply with the terms of this Lease,
and shall be reimbursed for its costs thereof and for any liabilities
resulting therefrom.
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c.
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Lessee
will promptly notify Lessor of Lessee's receipt of any notice, request,
demand, inquiry or order, whether oral or written, from any government
agency or any other individual or entity relating in any way to the
presence or possible presence of any Hazardous Material on, in, under or
near the Premises or the Lessee's compliance with, or failure to comply
with, Applicable Law. Receipt of such notice shall not be deemed to create
any obligation on the part of Lessor to defend or otherwise respond to any
such notification.
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d.
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Promptly
upon discovery thereof, Lessee will notify Lessor of the discovery of any
release, discharge, or emission of any Hazardous Material or of the
existence of any other condition or occurrence which may constitute or
pose a significant presence or potential hazard to human health and safety
or to the environment, whether or not such event or discovery necessitates
any report to any other person or government
agency.
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a.
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Permit
any vehicle on the Premises to emit exhaust which is in violation of any
Applicable Law;
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b.
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Create,
or permit to be created, any sound pressure level which will interfere
with the quiet enjoyment of any real property adjacent to the Premises, or
which will create a nuisance or violate any Applicable
Law;
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c.
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Transmit,
receive, or permit to be transmitted or received, any electromagnetic,
microwave or other radiation which is harmful or hazardous to any person
or property in, on or about the Premises, or anywhere else, or which
interferes with the operation of any electrical, electronic, telephonic or
other equipment wherever located, whether on the Premises or anywhere
else;
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d.
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Create,
or permit to be created, any ground or building vibration that is
discernible outside the Premises;
and
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e.
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Produce,
or permit to be produced, any intense glare, light or heat except within
an enclosed or screened area and then only in such manner that the glare,
light or heat shall not be discernible outside the
Premises.
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a.
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Refuse
Disposal. Lessee shall not keep any trash, garbage, waste or other refuse
on the Premises except in sanitary containers and shall regularly and
frequently remove and dispose of the same from the Premises. Lessee shall
keep all incinerators, containers or other equipment used for storage or
disposal of such matter in a clean and sanitary condition, and shall
promptly dispose of all other
waste.
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b.
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Sewage
Disposal. Lessee shall properly dispose of all sanitary sewage and shall
not use the sewage disposal system (i) for the disposal of anything except
sanitary sewage, or (ii) in excess of the lesser of the amount allowed by
the sewage treatment works, or permitted by any governmental entity.
Lessee shall keep the sewage disposal system free of all obstructions and
in good operating condition.
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