NexPoint Real Estate ate Finance (NREF) Risk Analysis

The Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock rank junior to all of our existing and future indebtedness, any classes and series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock as to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and other non-equity claims on us and our assets available to satisfy claims against us, including claims in bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceedings. Our charter currently authorizes the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series, 11,300,000 of which have been classified as Series A Preferred Stock, 17,200,000 of which have been classified as Series B Preferred Stock and 8,000,000 of which have been classified as Series C Preferred Stock. Subject to limitations prescribed by Maryland law and our charter, our Board is authorized to issue, from our authorized but unissued shares of capital stock, preferred stock in such classes or series as our Board may determine and to establish from time to time the number of shares of preferred stock to be included in any such class or series. The issuance of additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock or additional shares of our capital stock ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock as to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, would dilute the interests of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, and the issuance of shares of any class or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock as to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or the incurrence of additional indebtedness could affect our ability to pay dividends on, redeem or pay the liquidation preference on the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. Other than the conversion right afforded to holders of Series A Preferred Stock that may become exercisable in connection with certain changes of control as described in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock and the redemption right afforded to holders of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, none of the provisions relating to the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock contain any terms relating to or limiting our indebtedness or affording the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction, including a merger or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all our assets, that might adversely affect the holders of Series A Preferred Stock Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, so long as the rights of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock are not materially and adversely affected.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, holders of Series A Preferred Stock have the right to convert some or all of their Series A Preferred Stock into our common stock (or equivalent value of alternative consideration). We have a special optional redemption right to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock in the event of a Change of Control, and holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not have the right to convert any shares that we have elected to redeem prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date (as defined in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock). Upon such a conversion, the holders will be limited to a maximum number of shares of our common stock equal to the Share Cap (as defined in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock) multiplied by the number of Series A Preferred Stock converted. If the Common Stock Price (as defined in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock) is less than $7.58 (which is approximately 50% of the per-share closing sale price of our common stock on July 17, 2020), subject to adjustment, each holder will receive a maximum of 3.2982 shares of our common stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock, which may result in a holder receiving value that is less than the liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred Stock. In addition, those features of the Series A Preferred Stock may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making an acquisition proposal for our company or of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our common stock and Series A Preferred Stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-current market price or that stockholders may otherwise believe is in their best interest.

The Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock are not listed on a national exchange. There is no public market for our Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, and one is not guaranteed to develop for either. However, should one develop or should we determine to publicly list our Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, we cannot predict the effect, if any, of future sales of our Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock on the market price, if any, of our Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock. Sales of substantial amounts of Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock or the perception that such sales could occur may adversely affect the prevailing market price, if any, for our Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, respectively.

The Series A Preferred Stock is listed on the NYSE, but there can be no assurance that an active trading market will be maintained on the NYSE. Further, the Series A Preferred Stock may trade at prices lower than the public offering price, and the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock depends on many factors, including, but not limited to: - prevailing interest rates;- the market for similar securities;- general economic and financial market conditions;- our issuance, as well as the issuance by our subsidiaries, of additional preferred equity or debt securities; and - our financial condition, cash flows, liquidity, results of operations, funds from operations and prospects. The trading prices of common and preferred equity securities issued by REITs and other real estate companies historically have been affected by changes in interest rates. One of the factors that may influence the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock is the annual yield from distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock as compared to yields on other financial instruments. An increase in interest rates may lead prospective purchasers of the Series A Preferred Stock to demand a higher annual yield, which could reduce the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock. Future offerings of debt securities or shares of our capital stock, including future offerings of traded or non-traded preferred stock, expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up may adversely affect the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock.

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock have limited voting rights. Our shares of common stock are the only class of our securities that carry full voting rights. Voting rights for holders of Series A Preferred Stock exist primarily with respect to the ability to elect, together with holders of our capital stock having similar voting rights, two additional directors to our Board in the event that six quarterly dividends (whether or not consecutive) payable on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears. With respect to voting on amendments to our charter or articles supplementary relating to the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, respectively, that materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of the respective series of preferred stock or create additional classes or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock as to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Other than the limited circumstances described in each of the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, holders of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights.

The holders of shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock have rights and preferences generally senior to those of the holders of our common stock. The existence of these senior rights and preferences may have a negative effect on the value of shares of our common stock. These rights are more fully set forth in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock and in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock, and include, but are not limited to: (i) the right to receive a liquidation preference, prior to any distribution of our assets to the holders of our common stock; and (ii) for the Series A Preferred Stock, the right to convert into shares of our common stock upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock), which conversion terms may be adjusted as set forth therein. In addition, the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock rank senior to our common stock with respect to priority of such dividend payments, which may limit our ability to make distributions to holders of our common stock. Holders of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock also have the right to request we redeem their shares at any time, and we may elect to pay any such redemption price in shares of our common stock, which would be dilutive to existing holders of shares of our common stock.

We cannot predict the effect, if any, of future sales of our common stock, or the availability of shares for future sales, on the market price of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock or the perception that such sales could occur may adversely affect the prevailing market price for our common stock. We may issue additional shares in future public offerings or private placements to make new investments or for other purposes. We are not required to offer any such shares to stockholders on a preemptive basis. Therefore, it may not be possible for stockholders to participate in such future share issuances, which may dilute such stockholders' interests in us.

In the future, we may issue debt or equity securities or incur other financial obligations, including stock dividends and shares that may be issued in exchange for common stock. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and other loans and preferred stock will receive a distribution of our available assets before common stockholders. We are not required to offer any such additional debt or equity securities to stockholders on a preemptive basis. Therefore, additional common stock issuances, directly or through convertible or exchangeable securities (including common stock and convertible preferred stock), warrants or options, will dilute the holdings of our existing common stockholders and such issuances or the perception of such issuances may reduce the market price of shares of our common stock. Any convertible preferred stock would have, and any series or class of our preferred stock would likely have, a preference on distribution payments, periodically or upon liquidation, which could eliminate or otherwise limit our ability to make distributions to common stockholders. Holders of shares of our common stock do not have preemptive rights to any shares we issue in the future. Our charter authorizes us to issue 600,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 500,000,000 shares are shares of common stock and 100,000,000 shares are shares of preferred stock, of which 11,300,000 shares have been classified as our Series A Preferred Stock, 17,200,000 shares have been classified as shares of our Series B Preferred Stock and 8,000,000 shares have been classified as shares of our Series C Preferred Stock. Our Board may increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock without stockholder approval. In the future, our Board may elect to (1) sell additional shares in future public offerings; (2) issue equity interests in private offerings; (3) issue shares of our common stock under a long-term incentive plan to our non-employee directors or to employees of our Manager or its affiliates; (4) issue shares to our Manager, its successors or assigns, in payment of an outstanding fee obligation or as consideration in a related-party transaction; or (5) issue shares of our common stock in connection with a redemption of OP Units. To the extent we issue additional equity interests in the future, the percentage ownership interest held by holders of shares of our common stock will be diluted. Further, depending upon the terms of such transactions, most notably the offering price per share, holders of shares of our common stock may also experience a dilution in the book value of their investment in us.

If sufficient cash is not available for distribution from our operations, we may have to fund distributions on our common stock from working capital, borrow to provide funds for such distributions, reduce the amount of such distributions, or issue stock dividends. To the extent we borrow to fund distributions, our future interest costs would increase, thereby reducing our earnings and cash available for distribution from what they otherwise would have been. If cash available for distribution generated by our assets is less than we expect, our inability to make the expected distributions could result in a decrease in the market price of our common stock. All distributions on our common stock will be made at the discretion of our Board and will be based upon, among other factors, our historical and projected results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and liquidity, maintenance of our REIT qualification and other tax considerations, and other expense obligations, debt covenants, contractual prohibitions or other limitations and applicable law and such other matters as our Board may deem relevant from time to time. We may not be able to make distributions in the future, and our inability to make distributions, or to make distributions at expected levels, could result in a decrease in the market price of our common stock.

Our Sponsor is the ultimate parent of our Manager and may be deemed to beneficially own approximately 12.0% of our outstanding voting securities as of December 31, 2025. James Dondero is the sole member of the general partner of our Sponsor. As a result of this relationship, Mr. Dondero has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to shares beneficially owned by our Sponsor. In addition, Mr. Dondero has relationships with certain other holders of our common stock which may result in Mr. Dondero being deemed to have aggregate beneficial ownership of approximately 10,034,278 shares (or 54.0% of our common stock) and shared voting and dispositive power over approximately 9,681,562 shares (or 52.1% of our common stock) as of December 31, 2025. The concentration of our share ownership may limit your ability to influence corporate matters. Mr. Dondero and his affiliates may exert substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our charter and approval of major corporate transactions, including the decision to enter into any corporate transaction. Such concentration of voting power could have the effect of delaying, deterring, or preventing a change of control or other business combination, which could, in turn, have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over the then-prevailing market price for their common stock. Moreover, the interests of this concentration of ownership may not always coincide with our interests or the interests of other stockholders, and accordingly, they could cause us to enter into transactions or agreements that we would not otherwise consider. In addition, sales of significant amounts of shares beneficially held by our Sponsor or other holders of our common stock with whom Mr. Dondero has relationships, or the prospect of these sales, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. This concentrated stock ownership may discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over our stock price.

Subject to certain exceptions, distributions received from us will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent such distributions are out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such dividends paid to a non-U.S. stockholder ordinarily will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, unless the distributions are treated as "effectively connected" with the conduct by the non-U.S. stockholder of a U.S. trade or business. Pursuant to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 ("FIRPTA"), capital gain distributions attributable to sales or exchanges of "U.S. real property interests" ("USRPIs"), generally will be taxed to a non-U.S. stockholder as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. However, a capital gain dividend will not be treated as effectively connected income if (1) the distribution is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States and (2) the non-U.S. stockholder does not own more than 10% of the class of our stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date the distribution is received. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale or exchange of our capital stock generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless such stock constitutes a USRPI under FIRPTA. Our capital stock will not constitute a USRPI so long as we are a "domestically-controlled" REIT. A REIT is "domestically controlled" if less than 50% of the REIT's stock, by value, has been owned directly or indirectly by persons who are not qualifying U.S. persons during a continuous five-year period ending on the date of disposition or, if shorter, during the entire period of the REIT's existence. We cannot assure you that we will qualify as a "domestically controlled" REIT. If we were to fail to so qualify, gain realized by foreign investors on a sale of shares of our stock would be subject to FIRPTA tax, unless the shares of our stock were traded on an established securities market and the foreign investor did not at any time during a specified testing period directly or indirectly own more than 10% of the value of our outstanding capital stock.

We may own assets located in, or transact business in, numerous jurisdictions, and may be required to file tax returns in some or all of those jurisdictions. Our state, local or foreign tax treatment and that of our stockholders may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax treatment discussed above. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and effect of state and local income and other tax laws on an investment in our stock.

Our charter provides that our Board may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without the approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT. If we cease to be a REIT, we will not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid to stockholders in computing our taxable income and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates and state and local taxes, which may have adverse consequences on our total return to our stockholders.

In order to qualify as a REIT, five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code, may not own, directly or indirectly or constructively, more than 50% in value of our issued and outstanding shares of stock at any time during the last half of each taxable year, other than the first year for which a REIT election is made. Attribution rules in the Code determine if any individual or entity actually or constructively owns shares of our capital stock under this requirement. Additionally, at least 100 persons must beneficially own shares of our capital stock during at least 335 days of a taxable year for each taxable year, other than the first year for which a REIT election is made. To help ensure that we meet these tests, among other purposes, our charter includes restrictions on the acquisition and ownership of shares of our capital stock. To assist us in complying with the limitations on the concentration of ownership of a REIT imposed by the Code, among other purposes, our charter, including the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, prohibits, with certain exceptions, any stockholder from beneficially or constructively owning, applying certain attribution rules under the Code, more than 6.2% by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or 6.2% by value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our capital stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. Our Board may, in its sole discretion, subject to such conditions as it may determine and the receipt of certain representations and undertakings, waive the 6.2% ownership limit with respect to a particular stockholder if such ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our qualification as a REIT. Our Board granted James Dondero and his affiliates a waiver allowing them to collectively own up to 65% of our outstanding shares of common stock and 65% of our outstanding capital stock, has granted waivers to others and may grant additional waivers in the future. Our charter also prohibits any person from, among other things, beneficially or constructively owning shares of our capital stock that would result in our being "closely held" under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT or a "domestically controlled qualified investment entity" within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code. Our charter provides that any ownership or purported transfer of our capital stock in violation of the foregoing restrictions will result in the shares so owned or transferred being automatically transferred to a charitable trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary, and the purported owner or transferee acquiring no rights in such shares. If a transfer of shares of our capital stock would result in our capital stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons or the transfer to a charitable trust would be ineffective for any reason to prevent a violation of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our capital stock, the transfer resulting in such violation will be void ab initio. These ownership limits may prevent a third party from acquiring control of us if our Board does not grant an exemption from the ownership limits, even if our stockholders believe such change of control is in their best interest. Waivers with respect to the ownership limits may be subject to certain initial and ongoing conditions designed to preserve our status as a REIT. These restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply, however, if our Board determines that it is no longer in our best interest to qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions is no longer required in order for us to qualify as a REIT. These ownership limits could also delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our securities or otherwise be in the best interest of the stockholders.

Certain provisions of the MGCL may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from acquiring us or of impeding a change of control under circumstances that otherwise could provide our stockholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of such shares. Under the MGCL, certain "business combinations" (including a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or, in certain circumstances, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland corporation and an "interested stockholder" (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of our outstanding shares of voting stock or an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation), or an affiliate of any such interested stockholder, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which such interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Thereafter any such business combination must be generally recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least (a) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation and (b) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation, other than shares held by the interested stockholder who will (or whose affiliate will) be a party to the business combination or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by our Board prior to the time that someone becomes an interested stockholder or comply with certain fair price requirements set forth in the MGCL. The MGCL provides that holders of "control shares" of our Company acquired in a "control share acquisition" (defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of issued and outstanding "control shares", subject to certain exceptions) have no voting rights with respect to such shares except to the extent approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding all interested shares (defined as shares of the corporation that any of the following persons is entitled to exercise, or direct the exercise of, the voting power in the election of directors: an acquiring person, an officer of the corporation or an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation). "Control shares" are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock owned by the acquirer, or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: - one-tenth or more but less than one-third;- one-third or more but less than a majority; or - a majority or more of all voting power. Control shares do not include shares that the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval, shares acquired directly from the corporation or shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation. Pursuant to the Maryland Business Combination Act, our Board has by resolution exempted from the provisions of the Maryland Business Combination Act all business combinations (1) between our Manager or its respective affiliates and us and (2) between any other person and us, provided that such business combination is first approved by our Board (including a majority of our directors who are not affiliates or associates of such person). Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act any and all acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. There can be no assurance that these exemptions or resolutions will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future. Additionally, Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors, without stockholder approval and regardless of what is currently provided in its charter or bylaws, to implement any or all of the following takeover defenses: - a classified board;- a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;- a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the board of directors;- a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors in office and (if the board is classified) for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and - a majority requirement for the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders. Our charter provides that, at such time as we are able to make a Subtitle 8 election, vacancies on the Board may be filled only by the remaining directors and that directors elected by the Board to fill vacancies will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already, subject to the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, (a) vest in our Board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships, (b) require a vacancy on our Board to be filled only by the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum and (c) require, unless called by our chairman of our Board, our chief executive officer, our president or our Board, the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast at such a meeting to call a special meeting. If we made an election to be subject to the provisions of Subtitle 8 relating to a classified board, our Board would automatically be classified into three classes with staggered terms of office of three years each. In such instance, the classification and staggered terms of office of the directors would make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of our Board since at least two annual meetings of stockholders, instead of one, generally would be required to effect a change in the majority of the directors.

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the state of Maryland, or, if all such state courts do not have subject matter jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL, or any successor provision thereof, (b) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (c) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or to the stockholders of the Company, (d) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, the charter or the bylaws, (e) any action or proceeding to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the charter or the bylaws of the Company (including any right, obligation, or remedy thereunder), (f) any action or proceeding as to which the MGCL confers jurisdiction on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or (g) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court's having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants, except that the foregoing does not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. The choice of forum provision could limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which could discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we could incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.

Maryland law provides that a director has no liability in the capacity as a director if he or she performs his or her duties in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in our best interest and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. As permitted by the MGCL, our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from: - actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or - a final judgment based upon a finding of active and deliberate dishonesty by the director or officer that was material to the cause of action adjudicated. In addition, our charter and our bylaws require us to indemnify our directors and officers for actions taken by them in those capacities and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to pay or reimburse their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. As a result, we and our stockholders may have more limited rights against our directors and officers than might otherwise exist under common law. Accordingly, in the event that actions taken by any of our directors or officers are immune or exculpated from, or indemnified against, liability but which impede our performance, our stockholders' ability to recover damages from that director or officer will be limited.

Our Board may classify or reclassify any unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock and establish the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of any such stock. Thus, our Board could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have priority as to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation over the rights of the holders of our other stock. The issuance of such preferred stock could also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price to holders of our stock.

Under the Management Agreement, our Manager or its affiliates are entitled to fees based on our "Equity." Because performance is only one aspect of our Manager's compensation (as a component of "Equity"), our Manager's interests are not wholly aligned with those of our stockholders. In that regard, our Manager could be motivated to recommend riskier or more speculative investments that would entitle our Manager to a higher fee. For example, because asset management fees payable to our Manager are based in part on the amount of equity raised, our Manager may have an incentive to raise additional equity capital in order to increase its fees.

We may make adjustments to our target portfolio based on real estate market conditions and investment opportunities, and we may change our targeted investments and investment guidelines at any time without the consent of our stockholders. Any such change could result in our making investments that are different from, and possibly riskier than, the investments described in this Annual Report. These policies may change over time. A change in our targeted investments or investment guidelines, which may occur without notice to you or without your consent, may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, default risk and real estate market fluctuations, all of which could adversely affect the value of our securities and our ability to make distributions to you. We intend to disclose any changes in our investment policies in our next required periodic report.

Our Manager maintains a contractual as opposed to a fiduciary relationship with us. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, our Manager and its affiliates and their respective partners, members, officers, directors, employees and agents will not be liable to us (including but not limited to (1) any act or omission in connection with the conduct of our business that is determined in good faith to be in or not opposed to our best interest, (2) any act or omission based on the suggestions of certain professional advisors, (3) any act or omission by us, or (4) any mistake, negligence, misconduct or bad faith of certain brokers or other agents), unless any act or omission constitutes bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties. We have also agreed to indemnify our Manager and its affiliates and their respective partners, members, officers, directors, employees and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses that are incurred and arise out of or in connection with our business or investments, or the performance by the indemnitee of its responsibilities under the Management Agreement, provided that the conduct at issue did not constitute bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties. As a result, we could experience poor performance or losses for which our Manager would not be liable. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, our Manager will indemnify and hold us harmless from all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromises and settlements, as fines and penalties and legal or other costs and expenses of investigating or defending against any claim or alleged claim, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, that are incurred by reason of our Manager's bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties; provided, however, that our Manager will not be held responsible for any action of our Board in following or declining to follow any written advice or written recommendation given by our Manager. However, the aggregate maximum amount that our Manager may be liable to us pursuant to the Management Agreement will, to the extent not prohibited by law, never exceed the amount of the management fees received by our Manager under the Management Agreement prior to the date that the acts or omissions giving rise to a claim for indemnification or liability have occurred. In addition, our Manager will not be liable for special, exemplary, punitive, indirect, or consequential loss, or damage of any kind whatsoever, including without limitation lost profits. The limitations described in the preceding two sentences will not apply, however, to the extent such damages are determined in a final binding non-appealable court or arbitration proceeding to result from the bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of our Manager's duties.

The Management Agreement may be terminated by (a) us, upon a cause event (as defined in the Management Agreement), on 30 days' written notice, (b) either party, without cause, upon the expiration of the then-current term with at least 180 days' written notice to the other party prior to the expiration of such term, (c) our Manager, upon 30 days' written notice if we materially breach the agreement and such breach continues for 30 days before we are given such notice or (d) automatically in the event of an Advisers Act Assignment unless we provide written consent. If the Management Agreement is terminated and no suitable replacement is found, we may not be able to execute our business plan. In addition, the coordination of our internal management and investment activities is likely to suffer if we are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a single institution or group of executives having the expertise possessed by our Manager and its affiliates. Even if we are able to retain comparable management, the integration of such management and its lack of familiarity with our investment objectives may result in additional costs and time delays that may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, we may incur certain costs in connection with a termination or non-renewal of the Management Agreement, including a termination fee equal to three times the Manager's Annual Fee (unless the Management Agreement is terminated as a result of a cause event or an Advisers Act Assignment).