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Years Ended December 31,
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2017
(2)
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2016
(2)
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2015
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2014
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2013
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(1)
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|
0.42
|
|
|
0.94
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|
|
1.41
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|
2.02
|
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|
1.01
|
|
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(1)
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For
purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, fixed charges are calculated by adding (a) interest expensed or capitalized,
(b) amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness and (c) an estimate of interest within the amount we record as real estate rental expense. We estimate
that one third of our real estate rental expense approximates the interest component of our operating leases. Earnings are calculated by (a) adding (i) pretax income or loss from
continuing operations, (ii) income from equity investees and noncontrolling interests, (iii) distributions received from equity investees, (iv) fixed charges and
(v) amortization of capitalized interest and then (b) subtracting interest capitalized.
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(2)
-
For
each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The amounts of the
coverage deficiencies were $71,707,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and $7,493,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON SHARES AND PREFERRED SHARES WE MAY OFFER
The following descriptions, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarize certain
material terms and provisions of our limited liability company interests (which we refer to as common shares) and any preferred shares that we may issue. Because this is a summary, it does not contain
all of the information that may be important to you. Please refer to our Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, or our LLC agreement, and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, or
our bylaws, each of which is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and this summary is qualified entirely thereby.
General
Our LLC agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional securities and rights to buy securities for the consideration
and on the terms and conditions determined by our board of directors without the approval of our shareholders, including the right to issue any number of common shares and preferred shares or class or
series of common or preferred shares. Our board of directors is authorized to set the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other
distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption for each such class or series.
As of March 15, 2018, we had 40,001,282 common shares issued and outstanding. No other class or series of shares of beneficial interest has been established.
We
will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any offering of common shares or preferred shares the specific terms of the offering, including the number of shares
offered, the initial offering price, market price and distribution information.
Common shares
The holders of our common shares are entitled to receive distributions, if any, ratably when, as and if authorized by our board of directors out
of assets legally available therefor, subject to any preferential distribution rights of any newly created class or series of shares. Upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the holders of
common shares are entitled to receive our net assets available after the satisfaction (whether by payment or reasonable provision for payment) of all debts and other liabilities, ratably subject to
the preferential rights of any newly created class or series of shares. Holders of common shares have no preemptive, preferential or other similar rights. Our common shareholders are entitled to one
vote for each share held of record on our books for all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders.
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol "TA." On March 15, 2018, the last reported sale price for our common shares on the Nasdaq was $3.60. The transfer agent
and registrar for our common shares is Equiniti Trust Company (formerly known as Wells Fargo Shareowner Services).
For
additional information about our common shares, including the potential effects that provisions in our LLC agreement and bylaws may have in delaying or preventing a change in
control of us, see "Description of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and of Our LLC Agreement and Bylaws" below.
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Preferred shares
Whenever preferred shares are to be sold pursuant to this prospectus, we will file a prospectus supplement relating to that sale that
will specify:
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the number of shares in the series of preferred shares;
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the designation for the series of preferred shares by number, letter or title that shall distinguish the series from any other series of
preferred shares;
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the dividend rate, if any, and whether dividends on that series of preferred shares will be cumulative, noncumulative or partially cumulative;
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the voting rights of that series of preferred shares, if any;
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any conversion provisions applicable to that series of preferred shares;
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any redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to that series of preferred shares and any restrictions thereon;
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the liquidation preference per share of that series of preferred shares, if any; and
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the terms of any other preferences or rights, if any, applicable to that series of preferred shares.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
References in this "Description of the Debt Securities We May Offer" section to "we," "us," "our" or "TA" mean TravelCenters of
America LLC and not any of its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any
applicable prospectus supplements, describes the material terms and conditions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. This description is incomplete, and while the description
below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We
may issue senior unsecured debt securities under our January 15, 2013 Indenture with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, or the 2013 Indenture, or under one or more
other senior indentures to be entered into with a trustee named in any such senior indenture. We may issue subordinated notes under one or more subordinated indentures, to be entered into with a
trustee to be named in any such
subordinated indenture. The 2013 Indenture and forms of senior indenture and subordinated indenture are attached as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
We use the term "indentures" to refer to the senior indenture(s) and the subordinated indenture(s). The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust
Indenture Act. We use the term "trustee" to refer to either the senior trustee or the subordinated trustee, as applicable.
We
will describe in a prospectus supplement the specific terms of any debt securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. If indicated in a prospectus supplement, the terms of such
debt securities may differ from the terms described below. The following summary of the material provisions of the senior notes, subordinated notes and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in
their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities, including the definitions of certain terms. Except as we may otherwise
indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.
General
If we decide to issue any senior notes or subordinated notes pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe in a prospectus supplement the terms
relating to each series of notes that we may issue, including the following:
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the title;
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whether the notes will be senior or subordinated;
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any limit on the amount that may be issued;
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whether or not we will issue the series of notes in global form and, if so, who the depositary will be;
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the maturity date;
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the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue,
the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
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the place(s) where payments will be payable;
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our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
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the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of notes pursuant to any optional redemption
provisions;
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the date, if any, on which, and the price(s) at which we are obligated to redeem, or at the holder's option to purchase, the series of notes
pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund provisions or otherwise;
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the denominations in which we will issue the series of notes, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;
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any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any event of default or any covenant of TravelCenters of America LLC specified in the
applicable indenture with respect to such series of notes;
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a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations;
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whether or not the notes will be secured or unsecured and the terms of any secured debt; and
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any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities.
The
debt securities may be issued as original issue discount securities. An original issue discount security is a debt security, including any zero-coupon debt security,
which:
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is issued at a price lower than the amount payable upon its stated maturity; and
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provides that upon redemption or acceleration of the maturity, an amount less than the amount payable upon the stated maturity shall become due
and payable.
Under
the indentures, we will have the ability, in addition to the ability to issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities previously issued, without the
consent of the holders, to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series, unless such reopening was restricted when the series was created,
in an aggregate principal amount determined by us. All such debt securities including those issued pursuant to such reopening shall vote together as a single class.
Structural subordination
We will be the sole obligor on the debt securities we may offer under this prospectus. We derive all of our revenue and cash flow from our
subsidiaries and our ability to service any debt securities we may offer under this prospectus will be substantially dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and their ability to make cash
available to us. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and will have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due on debt securities we may offer under this
prospectus. As of December 31, 2017, substantially all of our contractual and other obligations and liabilities, other than our outstanding 8.25% Senior Notes due 2028, 8.00% Senior Notes due
2029 and 8.00% Senior Notes due 2030, are obligations of our subsidiaries and thus are structurally senior to our obligations on the debt securities we may offer under this prospectus. None of our
subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities we may offer under this prospectus. As a result, the debt securities we may offer under this prospectus are structurally subordinated to the prior
payment and satisfaction of all of the existing and future debts, liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, and any future subsidiary debt or obligation will have priority over the debt
securities we may offer.
Conversion or exchange rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of notes may be convertible into or exchangeable for
common shares or other securities of ours. Such terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions
pursuant to which the number of shares of common shares or other securities of ours that the holders of such series of notes receive would be subject to adjustment.
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Consolidation, merger or sale
Unless otherwise noted in a prospectus supplement, the indentures do not contain any covenant restricting our ability to merge or consolidate or
sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. Any successor or acquirer of such assets, however, must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the
notes, as appropriate.
Events of default under the indentures
The following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of notes that we may
issue:
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if we fail to pay interest when due and our failure continues for thirty (30) days and the time for payment has not been extended or
deferred;
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if we fail to pay the principal, or premium, if any, when due;
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if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the notes or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to
another series of notes, and our failure continues for ninety (90) days after we receive notice from the trustee or holders of at least ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding notes of that series; and
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if we experience specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
The
supplemental indenture or the form of note for a particular series of notes may include additional events of default or changes to the events of default described above. For any
additional or different events of default applicable to a particular series of notes, see the prospectus supplement relating to such series.
If
an event of default with respect to notes of any series occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding notes of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any,
on the notes due and payable immediately.
The
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to such series and its consequences,
except (i) uncured defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the
indenture; and (ii) certain covenants or provisions which under the terms of the indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding note affected. Any
such waiver shall cure such default or event of default.
Subject
to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or
powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of notes, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes 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
exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the notes of that series, provided that:
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the direction is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture;
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the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by it which is not inconsistent with such direction; and
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subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might
be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.
A
holder of the notes of any series will only have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or another trustee, or to seek other remedies
if:
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the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;
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the holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series have made written
request and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee to institute such proceedings as trustee; and
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the trustee does not institute such proceeding within sixty (60) days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity,
and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series other conflicting directions within such sixty (60) day period.
These
limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of notes if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the notes.
We
will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.
Modification of indentures; waiver
We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to certain matters, including, among other
reasons:
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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in such indenture;
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to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of notes of any series;
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to provide for the assumption, by a successor or the acquirer of all or substantially all of our assets, of our obligations under such
indenture;
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to add to our covenants for the benefit of holders of notes of any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us; and
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to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
In
addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of notes may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of each series that is affected. Certain changes, however, may only be made with the consent of each holder of any outstanding notes affected,
including the following:
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changing the fixed maturity of such series of notes; or
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reducing the principal amount, the rate of interest or any premium payable upon the redemption of any notes; or
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extending the time of payment of interest or any premium payable upon the redemption of any such notes; or
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reducing the percentage in principal amount of notes, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the
consent of whose holders is required for any waiver provided for in the indenture; or
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changing our obligation to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in the indenture; or
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modifying certain provisions of the indenture which require the consent of, or action by, a specified minimum percentage of holders, except to
increase any such percentages or to provide that certain other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of each of the holders of the affected notes.
Form, exchange and transfer
We will issue the notes of any series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures will provide that notes of a series may be issuable in temporary or permanent global form and may be issued as
book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or DTC, or another depository named by us and identified in a prospectus
supplement with respect to that series.
At
the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, notes of any
series will be exchangeable for other notes of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject
to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders may present their notes, duly
endorsed or with the form of transfer duly executed if so required, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for such purpose. Unless otherwise
provided in the notes to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental
charges. The security registrar and any transfer agent, in addition to the security registrar, initially designated by us for any notes will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at
any time designate additional transfer
agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each
place of payment for the notes of each series.
If
the notes of any series are to be redeemed, we will not be required to:
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issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any notes of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen
(15) days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any such notes that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; or
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register the transfer of or exchange any notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such notes
being redeemed in part.
Information concerning the trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only such duties
as are specifically set forth in the indentures. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of
his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures at the request of
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any
holder of notes unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur. The trustee is not required to spend or risk its own money
or otherwise become financially liable while performing its duties unless it reasonably believes that it will be repaid or receive adequate indemnity.
Payment and paying agents
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any notes on any interest payment
date to the person in whose name such notes, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment.
Principal
of and any premium and interest on the notes of a particular series will be payable at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless otherwise indicated
in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest payments may be made by check mailed to the holder. Unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, the corporate trust office of the
trustee in the City of New York will be designated as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to notes of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying
agents initially designated by us for the notes of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the notes of a particular series.
All
money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any notes which remains unclaimed at the end of two (2) years
after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Global Debt Securities
We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more registered global securities that we will deposit
with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or
more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global
security or securities.
Unless
and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a
whole:
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by the depositary for such registered global security to its nominee;
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by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or
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by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.
The
prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of such series represented by
a registered global security. We currently anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities:
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ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for the
registered global security, those persons being referred to as "participants," or persons that may hold interests through participants;
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upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry
registration and transfer system, the participants' accounts with the
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The
laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons
to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So
long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the registered global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be,
will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of
beneficial interests in a registered global security:
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will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;
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will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in the definitive form; and
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will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the applicable indenture.
Accordingly,
each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person
is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture.
We
understand that under currently existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to
give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under an indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial
interests to give or take the action, and those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions
of beneficial owners holding through them.
We
will make payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or
its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. Neither we nor any trustee or any other agent of us or a trustee will be
responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
We
expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in
respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global
security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices
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will
govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of
customers in bearer form or registered in "street name." We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.
No
registered global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and no transfer of a registered global security in whole or in part may be registered,
in the name of any person other than the depositary for such registered global security, unless (i) such depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such
registered global security or has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and we fail to appoint an eligible successor
depositary within ninety (90) days, (ii) an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to such debt securities or (iii) circumstances, if any, exist in
addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for that purpose in an applicable prospectus supplement. In any such case, the affected registered global security may be exchanged in
whole or in part for debt securities in definitive form and the applicable trustee will register any such debt securities in such name or names as such depositary directs.
We
currently anticipate that certain registered global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, and will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the
nominee of DTC. DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, 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 holds securities that its participants, or direct participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among direct participants
of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between direct participants' accounts. This eliminates the need for
physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed
Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both
U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or
indirectly.
The
rules applicable to DTC and its direct participants are on file with the SEC. The information in this paragraph concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system has been obtained from
sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. In the event registered global securities are deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary other than
DTC, we will describe additional or differing terms of the depositary arrangements in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that particular series of debt securities.
We
may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global securities, referred to as "bearer global securities." We currently anticipate that we will deposit
these bearer global securities with a common depositary for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or with a nominee for the depositary
identified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security will describe the specific
terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global
security, with respect to the portion of the series represented by a bearer global security.
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Neither
we nor any trustee assumes any responsibility for the performance by DTC or any other depositary or its participants of their respective obligations, including obligations that
they have under the rules and procedures that govern their operations.
Governing law
The indentures and the notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent the
Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
Subordination of subordinated notes
Any subordinated notes will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the
extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated notes that we may issue. The subordinated indenture also does not limit us from
issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS WE MAY OFFER
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the
material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally
to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement,
the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and
will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, or to an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other document
to be filed under the Exchange Act.
We
may issue warrants, including warrants to purchase common shares, preferred shares or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with
common shares,
preferred shares and debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from the securities.
We
will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under warrant agreements. We may enter into a warrant agreement with a warrant agent as detailed in
the prospectus supplement relating to warrants being offered. We will indicate the name and address and other information regarding the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating
to a particular series of warrants.
If
we decide to issue warrants pursuant to this prospectus, we will specify in a prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including, if applicable, the
following:
-
-
the title of the warrants;
-
-
the aggregate number of warrants offered;
-
-
the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
-
-
the currencies in which the price or prices of the warrants may be payable;
-
-
the designation, amount and terms of the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
-
-
the designation and terms of the other offered securities, if any, with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued
with each security;
-
-
if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately
transferable;
-
-
the price or prices at which and currency or currencies in which the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be
purchased;
-
-
the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall expire;
-
-
the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;
-
-
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
-
-
a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
-
-
any other material terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.
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Before
exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have voting rights or other rights as a shareholder of TravelCenters of America LLC.
Exercise of warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price
that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants up to the close of
business on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders
of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the
required amount in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the
warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise
price for warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW,
OUR LLC AGREEMENT AND OUR BYLAWS
The following description summarizes certain terms of our LLC agreement and our bylaws, but is not complete. Please refer to
our LLC agreement and bylaws, each of which is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Organization
We were formed in October 2006 under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, or the Delaware LLC Act, and will remain in existence
until we are dissolved in accordance with our LLC agreement. Pursuant to our LLC agreement, our board of directors adopted bylaws on November 7, 2008, as amended and restated on
January 25, 2010, as further amended and restated on February 21, 2013, and as further amended and restated on September 7, 2016.
Purposes
Under our LLC agreement, we are permitted to engage in any lawful business, purpose or activity that a limited liability company formed
under Delaware law may lawfully conduct. Our board of directors is authorized to perform all acts it deems necessary or appropriate to conduct our business.
Duties, authority and limited liability of our directors and officers
Our LLC agreement and bylaws provide that our business shall be managed under the direction of our board of directors, which shall have
the power to appoint our officers. Our LLC agreement further provides that, except as otherwise specifically stated in our LLC agreement, our bylaws or in Delaware law, the authority,
powers, functions and duties of our board of directors and officers generally shall be identical to the authority, powers, functions and duties of a board of directors
and officers of a corporation organized for profit under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL.
Our LLC
agreement provides that, except as provided therein, the fiduciary duties and obligations owed to our Company and to our shareholders by our directors and officers shall
be the same as the respective duties and obligations owed by directors and officers of a corporation organized under the DGCL to their corporation and stockholders, respectively. However,
notwithstanding any duty (including any fiduciary duty) that might otherwise exist in law or in equity, our LLC agreement and bylaws specifically permit our directors and their affiliates to
engage in other business interests and activities, including those that compete with us, provided that none of our confidential information may be used. Also, business opportunities that become
available to our directors or their affiliates need not first be presented to us. In addition, our LLC agreement eliminates the personal liability of each member of our board of directors to us
and our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director;
provided
,
however
,
that the foregoing shall not eliminate the liability of a director (i) for any breach of such director's duty of loyalty to us or our shareholders as that duty is modified by our LLC
agreement, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or (iii) for any transaction from which such director
derived an improper personal benefit.
In
addition, our bylaws provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, our board of directors or our shareholders may ratify and make binding on us any past action or inaction by
us or our officers to the extent that our board of directors or our shareholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, under our bylaws, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
past action or inaction questioned in any shareholder's derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interests of a
director, officer or shareholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting, or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by our
board of directors or by our shareholders
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and,
if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon us and our
shareholders and shall bar any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.
Agreement to be bound by our LLC agreement and bylaws and disputes by shareholders
By acquiring a common share in us, you will be admitted as a member of our Company (which we call a "shareholder") and will be bound by the
terms of our LLC agreement and bylaws. Pursuant to our LLC agreement, each shareholder and each person who acquires a share from a shareholder grants each of our Chief Executive Officer,
President and Secretary (and, in the event of dissolution, any liquidator appointed pursuant to our LLC agreement) the power to execute and file documents necessary or appropriate for our
engaging in any lawful business and exercising all powers and privileges permitted under the Delaware LLC Act and the authority to execute any duly adopted amendments to our LLC
agreement. Our LLC agreement and our bylaws provide for arbitration of certain disputes, claims and controversies, including that any action brought against us or any director, officer, manager
(including The RMR Group LLC and The RMR Group Inc. or their successors), agent or employee of ours, by a shareholder, including derivative and class actions, shall, on the demand of any
party to such dispute, be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the procedures set forth in our bylaws. Under our LLC agreement, these arbitration provisions do not apply to
any request for a declaratory judgment or similar action regarding the meaning, interpretation or validity of any provision of our LLC agreement or our bylaws, and such request shall be heard
and determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. In addition, our LLC agreement provides that in the event a dispute involves both a question of the meaning, interpretation or validity of
any provision of our LLC agreement or our bylaws and any other matter in dispute, the arbitration of such other matter in dispute, if dependent upon a determination of the meaning,
interpretation or validity of any provision of our LLC agreement or our bylaws, shall be stayed until a final, non-appealable judgement regarding such meaning, interpretation or validity has
been rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Conduct of business
Our LLC agreement and bylaws provide that our day to day business shall be conducted by or under the direction of our board of directors
and such officers with such titles and duties as our board of directors may from time to time appoint. Our board of directors is authorized to amend or modify our bylaws, which such bylaws contain
provisions that govern our activities. Our board of directors is also authorized to appoint committees, each of which shall have at least one director.
Capital contributions
Shareholders are not obligated to make capital contributions to us.
Shareholder liability and agreements
Limited liability in jurisdictions in which we do business.
Although limitations on the liability of shareholders for the
obligations of a limited
liability company have not been clearly established in some jurisdictions, we will operate in a manner that our board of directors considers reasonably appropriate to preserve the limited liability of
our shareholders.
Liability for breach of our LLC agreement or bylaws.
Under our LLC agreement and bylaws, each of our shareholders has
agreed to
indemnify us and any of our subsidiaries or affiliates, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against losses arising from such shareholder's breach of or failure to fully comply with any covenant,
condition or provision of our LLC agreement or bylaws. Such indemnification includes, without limitation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnification
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against
losses arising from any action by or against us or our subsidiaries or affiliates in which the shareholder is not the prevailing party.
Actions requiring regulatory compliance implicating us.
Under our bylaws, if any shareholder, whether acting individually or in
concert with a group,
as determined by our board of directors, by virtue of the shareholder's ownership interest in us or actions taken by the shareholder affecting us, triggers the application of any requirement or
regulation of any federal, state, municipal or other governmental or regulatory body on us or any of our subsidiaries (as defined in our bylaws) or any of our or our subsidiaries' businesses, assets
or operations, including, without limitation, any obligations to make or obtain any governmental actions, consents or approvals, then such shareholder is required to promptly take all actions
necessary and fully cooperate with us to ensure that such requirements or regulations are satisfied without restricting, imposing additional obligations on or in any way limiting our or our
subsidiaries' businesses, assets, operations or prospects. If the shareholder fails or is otherwise unable
to promptly take such actions so as to cause satisfaction of such requirements or regulations, then under our bylaws, the shareholder shall promptly divest a sufficient number of our shares necessary
to cause the application of such requirement or regulation to not apply to us or any of our subsidiaries. If the shareholder fails to cause such satisfaction or divest itself of such sufficient number
of our shares by not later than the tenth (10
th
) day after triggering such requirement or regulation, then any of our shares beneficially owned by such shareholder at and in excess of
the level triggering the application of such requirement or regulation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more
charitable beneficiaries designated by us and any actions triggering the application of such a requirement or regulation may be deemed by us to be of no force or effect. Additionally, if a shareholder
who triggers the application of any regulation or requirement fails to satisfy the requirements or regulations or to take curative actions within ten (10) days of triggering such requirements
or regulations, our board of directors is authorized to take, to the fullest extent permitted, all actions which the board of directors deems appropriate to require compliance or to preserve the value
of our assets; and we may charge the offending shareholder for our costs and expenses as well as any damages which we may incur.
As
an example and not as a limitation, as of the date of this prospectus and as a result of our involvement in gaming operations at some of our travel centers operated through certain of
our subsidiaries, we and such subsidiaries, which we refer to as our licensed subsidiaries, are currently subject to gaming regulations in Illinois, Louisiana, Montana and Nevada. Requirements under
gaming regulations vary by jurisdiction but typically include, among other things:
-
-
findings of suitability by the relevant gaming authorities with respect to, or licensure of, certain of our and our licensed subsidiaries'
officers, directors and key employees and certain individuals having a material relationship with us or our licensed subsidiaries;
-
-
findings of suitability by the relevant gaming authorities with respect to certain of our security holders and restrictions on ownership of
certain of our securities;
-
-
prior approval in certain circumstances by the relevant gaming authorities of offerings of our securities;
-
-
prior approval by the relevant gaming authorities of changes in control of us; and
-
-
specified reporting requirements.
As
an example and not as a limitation, as of the date of this prospectus, we hold a controlling interest in gaming businesses in Louisiana and Nevada. Louisiana law provides that any
person who owns five percent (5%) or more of a gaming business in Louisiana (directly or indirectly) shall provide detailed personal history and financial information and be found suitable by the
Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Under certain circumstances, an "institutional investor," as defined under Louisiana gaming law, may be presumed suitable or qualified upon submitting documentation
sufficient to
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establish
qualifications as an institutional investor as provided under Louisiana gaming law. Nevada gaming law provides that any person who beneficially owns more than five percent (5%) of any class
of our voting securities must report such ownership to the Nevada Gaming Commission and any person who beneficially owns more than ten percent (10%) of any class of our voting securities must apply
for, be investigated by, and obtain relevant approvals and findings of suitability from the Nevada Gaming Commission. Under certain circumstances, an "institutional investor," as defined under Nevada
gaming law, which acquires not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of any class of our voting securities may apply to the Nevada Gaming Commission for a waiver of such finding of suitability if such
institutional investor holds the voting securities for investment purposes only. Further, upon request of the Nevada Gaming Commission, any person holding any of our securities may be required to
apply to the Nevada Gaming Commission for a determination of suitability. If a person who is required or requested to file for a determination of suitability with respect to our Company refuses to
provide us with information required to be submitted to the applicable gaming regulatory authority, or if the Louisiana Gaming Control Board or the Nevada Gaming Commission, as applicable, declines to
approve such person's holding of our securities, then, in either event, our bylaws provide that our securities held by such person may be deemed to be securities in excess of our 9.8% ownership
limitation (described below under the sub-heading "Restrictions on share ownership and transfers") and subject to the provisions of Article VIII of our LLC agreement.
As
a further example and not as a limitation, as of the date of this prospectus, we hold a controlling ownership position in a company formed and licensed as an insurance company in the
State of Indiana. The laws of the State of Indiana have certain regulatory requirements for any person who seeks to control (as defined under Indiana law) a company which itself controls an insurance
company domiciled in the State of Indiana, including by exercising proxies representing ten percent (10%) or more of the company's voting securities. Accordingly, our bylaws provide that if a
shareholder seeks to exercise proxies for a matter to be voted upon at a meeting of our shareholders without having obtained any applicable approvals from the Indiana insurance regulatory authorities,
such proxies
representing ten percent (10%) or more of our voting securities will, subject to certain provisions of our bylaws addressing quorum requirements, be void and of no further force or effect.
Compliance with law.
Under our bylaws, shareholders are required to comply with all applicable requirements of federal and state
laws, rules and
regulations in connection with a shareholder's ownership interest in us, as well as all other laws which apply to us or any of our subsidiaries or any of our or our subsidiaries' businesses, assets or
operations and which require action or inaction on the part of a shareholder.
Representations, warranties and covenants made to governmental or regulatory bodies.
Under our bylaws, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any
representation, warranty or covenant made by a shareholder with any governmental or regulatory body in connection with the shareholder's interest in us or any of our subsidiaries is deemed to be
simultaneously made to, for the benefit of and enforceable by, us and any of our subsidiaries, as applicable.
Unlawful distributions.
We do not currently intend to make any distributions to our shareholders. However, a shareholder who
knowingly receives a
distribution made in violation of the Delaware LLC Act is liable to return such distribution for three (3) years from the date of the distribution if an action to recover the
distribution from the shareholder is commenced prior to the end of the three (3) year period and an adjudication of liability against the shareholder is made. Under the Delaware LLC Act,
we generally cannot make a distribution that would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets.
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Shareholder voting rights
Generally, our board of directors has broad powers to conduct our business and manage our affairs without shareholder approval or voting.
Whenever shareholder approval is required for any action either by the terms of our LLC agreement or by applicable law, the general rule under
our LLC agreement is that, unless otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of each class and series of shares with voting power outstanding, voting as a
single class, will be required;
provided
,
however
, if our board of directors approves in advance a
particular action, only a majority of the votes cast shall be required. In an uncontested election, the election of directors requires a plurality vote of the votes cast. In a contested election, the
election of directors requires a majority vote of the then outstanding common shares. Our board has the power to revise these requirements as may be allowed by law, our LLC agreement or our
bylaws.
Issuance of additional securities
Regardless of any rights of our common shareholders that are described in this prospectus, the registration statement of which it is a part or
the information incorporated therein, the rights, preferences and privileges of our common shares and common shareholders are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of
shares of any new class or series, whether common or preferred, that our board of directors may designate and issue in the future.
We
believe that the ability of our board of directors to issue one or more classes or series of shares with specified preferences will provide us with flexibility in structuring possible
future financings and acquisitions, and in meeting other business needs that may arise. All shares are available for issuance without action by our shareholders, unless such action is required by
applicable law or the rules of the principal stock exchange on which our securities may be listed. Nonetheless, the unrestricted ability of our board to issue additional shares, classes and series of
shares may have adverse consequences to existing shareholders. Please also see "Anti-takeover provisions."
Restrictions on share ownership and transfers
Our LLC agreement provides that no person or group of persons acting together may own, directly or indirectly, including through
application of Section 318(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) thereof, more than 9.8% of the number or value of any class
or series of our outstanding shares. Any person who acquires or attempts to acquire ownership of our shares that will or may violate this 9.8% ownership limitation must give notice to us and provide
us with any other information that we may request. The ownership limitations in our LLC agreement are effective against all of our shareholders. Our board of directors may grant an exemption
from the ownership limitation if it is satisfied that the shareholder's ownership is in our best interests and would not cause a default under the terms of any contract to which we are a party or
would reasonably expect to become a party, provided that any duties of our board of directors, including fiduciary duties, to the shareholder requesting the exemption shall not apply, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, to such determination. In addition, our board of directors may from
time to time increase or decrease our ownership limitations, provided that any decrease may be made only prospectively as to subsequent holders (other than a decrease as a result of a retroactive
change in existing law, in which case such change shall be effective immediately).
If
a person attempts a transfer of our shares in violation of our ownership limitations, then that number of shares which would cause the violation will be automatically transferred to a
trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries designated by us. In general, the prohibited owner will not acquire any rights in the shares held in trust, will not benefit
economically from ownership of the shares held in trust, will have no rights to distributions and will not possess any rights
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to
vote the shares held in trust. This automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the violative transfer.
Additionally,
our bylaws impose certain restrictions on the transfer of our shares in order to help us preserve the tax treatment of our net operating losses and other tax benefits.
These restrictions generally provide that transfers of our shares to a person, entity or group which is then, or would become as a result of such transfer, an owner of five percent (5%) or more of our
outstanding shares (i) would be void in total, for transferees then already owning five percent (5%) or more of our shares and (ii) would be void to the extent the transfer would so
result in such level of ownership by the proposed transferee, for other transferees. Furthermore, the restrictions generally provide that the shares sought to be transferred in violation of these
provisions shall be automatically transferred to a charitable trust in accordance with the provisions of our LLC agreement. The prohibited transfer threshold was set at five percent (5%)
because transfers at or above that level could result in limitations on our ability to use our net operating losses and other tax benefits to reduce our future taxable income, as provided under the
Code and related tax rules. Shareholders owning five percent (5%) or more of our outstanding shares as of November 9, 2009, would not have their shares owned at and above the five percent (5%)
ownership threshold transferred to a charitable trust or otherwise divested solely as a result of the adoption of these restrictions. Additionally, these restrictions will not apply if the transferor
or the transferee obtains the written approval of our board of directors, which such approval may be conditionally given.
Every
owner of more than five percent (5%) of any class or series of our shares is required to give written notice to us within thirty (30) days after our request and after the
end of each taxable year stating the name and address of the owner, the number of shares of each class and series of our shares which the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in
which those shares are held. In addition, upon our request, each owner of more than five percent (5%) of any class or series of our shares is required to provide us with any additional information
that we may request in order to assist us in ensuring compliance with the foregoing share ownership limitations. Furthermore, as a condition to the registration of the transfer of any of our shares in
our share register, any person who is a beneficial, legal or record holder of shares, and any proposed transferee, must provide such information
as may be requested by us from time to time in order to determine compliance with the aforementioned restrictions or the status of our tax benefits.
The
restrictions described above will not preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of any securities exchange through which our shares are traded.
Our LLC agreement and our bylaws provide, however, that the fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs will not negate the effect of any of the foregoing limitations and any transferee
in these kinds of transactions is subject to all of the provisions and limitations described above.
These
ownership limitations could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a takeover or other transaction in which our common shareholders might receive a premium for their
shares over the then prevailing market price or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest. For more detail concerning these share ownership limitations, please see
our LLC agreement and our bylaws, each of which is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Election and removal of members of our board of directors
As of the date of this prospectus, our board of directors currently consists of five directors. Our LLC agreement and bylaws provide that
our board of directors establishes the number of our directors. However, there may not be less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) directors, unless the directors then in office
unanimously determine to change the permitted number of directors. In the event of a vacancy on our board, whether occurring due to an increase in size of our board of directors
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or by the death, resignation or removal of any director, a majority of the remaining directors will fill the vacancy and the director elected to fill the vacancy will serve for the remainder of the
full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred or is created.
Our LLC
agreement divides our board of directors into three classes, or groups. The term of the directors in Group II will expire in 2018; the term of the director in Group III
will expire in 2019; and the term of the director in Group I will expire in 2020. Shareholders elect directors of each group for three (3) year terms upon the expiration of their current terms.
Shareholders elect only one group of directors each year. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors.
We
believe that classification of the board of directors helps to ensure continuity of our business strategies and policies. However, the classified board provision could have the effect
of making the replacement of incumbent directors more time consuming and difficult. At least two (2) annual meetings of shareholders will generally be required to effect a change of a majority
of our directors. Also, because our board of directors may increase the number of directors and set the classification of the expanded board, it may take more than two (2) years to change a
majority of our directors.
Our LLC
agreement and bylaws provide that a director may be removed only for cause (as defined in our LLC agreement and bylaws) by the unanimous vote of the other directors
then in office. In addition, our LLC agreement and bylaws provide that our entire board of directors (but not less than our entire board of directors) may be removed only for cause by the
affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding shares of each class and series of our shares with voting power, voting together as a single class.
The
provisions described in this section and any other provisions relating to the rights of a class or series of our shares may be subject to the rights of any class or series of shares
that the board of directors may authorize from time to time.
Amendment of our LLC agreement
General.
Amendments to our LLC agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of our board of directors. In the
event that applicable
law requires that amendments may be proposed by our shareholders, the ownership percentage of shareholders required to propose an amendment shall be the ownership percentage specified by law, or, if
shareholders are permitted by law to propose amendments but no required ownership percentage is set, then shareholders holding at least twenty-five percent (25%) of our outstanding shares shall be
required. Amendments proposed by our board of directors which require a vote of our shareholders may be adopted by a plurality of shares voting, unless applicable law requires a greater number.
Amendments proposed by shareholders, if any, which are not approved by our board of directors shall require the affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of each class and series of outstanding
shares, voting together as a single class unless applicable law requires a lesser vote.
No shareholder approval.
Our board of directors generally may make amendments to our LLC agreement without the approval of
our shareholders as
follows:
-
-
to change our name, the location of our principal place of our business, our registered agent or our registered office;
-
-
to effect the admission, substitution or removal of shareholders in accordance with our LLC agreement and the Delaware LLC Act;
-
-
to make any change which our board of directors reasonably determines is customarily of the type contained in the bylaws of a corporation
organized under the DGCL;
-
-
to create, dissolve, merge, consolidate or convert us or any of our subsidiaries or to convey any or all of our assets, if the principal
purpose of such action as determined by our board of
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directors
is to effect a change in the legal form of our business, including, but not limited to, to change the form of our existence to a corporation, limited partnership, or trust or other legal
entity or to change the jurisdiction under whose laws we are organized;
-
-
to make an amendment that our board of directors determines to be necessary or appropriate for the authorization or issuance of additional
securities or rights to acquire securities;
-
-
to change our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes; and
-
-
to make any amendment expressly permitted in our LLC agreement to be made by our board of directors acting without shareholder or member
approval.
In
addition, our board of directors may make amendments to our LLC agreement without the approval of our shareholders if our board of directors determines that those
amendments:
-
-
do not adversely affect our shareholders (including any particular class or series of shares as compared to other classes or series of shares)
in any material respect except that such limitation shall not apply to any change that our board of directors determines to be in the best interest of our shareholders as a whole and regardless of
whether or not such provision is adverse to any class or series of our shares or particular shareholder or group of shareholders;
-
-
are necessary or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or
regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute;
-
-
are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of our shares or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any
securities exchange on which our shares are or will be listed for trading, compliance with any of which our board of directors deems to be in our and our shareholders' best interests;
-
-
are necessary or appropriate to implement a defensive shareholder rights plan, similar to a shareholder rights plan or "poison pill" for
corporations; and
-
-
are required to effect the intent of the provisions of our LLC agreement, are otherwise contemplated by our LLC agreement or are
required to correct any mistake or ambiguity in our LLC agreement, as determined by our board of directors.
Amendment of our bylaws
Our bylaws may be amended or repealed or new or additional bylaws may be adopted only with the vote or written consent of a majority of our
board of directors.
Merger, sale or other disposition of assets
Except with respect to any transaction having as its principal purpose the changing of our legal form of existence and/or jurisdiction of
organization (as described above), any merger, combination or consolidation of us into another entity may only be effected by an agreement approved by our board of directors and by our shareholders;
provided
,
however
, our board of directors without shareholder approval may mortgage, sell and leaseback,
pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in some, all or substantially all of our assets and permit the sale upon foreclosure or other realization of such an encumbrance. If applicable law
permits the foregoing action without board approval, the shareholder vote required shall be seventy-five percent (75%) of each class and series of outstanding shares voting together as a single class,
at the time of the vote, unless applicable law requires a lesser amount; but any such transaction which is approved by our board may be approved by a majority of votes cast by shareholders of each
class and series, voting together as a single class, unless applicable law requires a different vote.
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Our LLC
agreement provides that our shareholders are not entitled to dissenters' rights of appraisal in the event of a merger, consolidation or conversion involving TA, a sale of
all or substantially all of our assets or any other transaction or event.
Termination and dissolution
We were formed as a perpetual entity to continue in existence until dissolved pursuant to the terms of our LLC agreement. We will
dissolve upon: (i) the election of our board of directors to dissolve us which action is approved by our shareholders; (ii) the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or
substantially all of our assets and properties unless otherwise determined by our board of directors; (iii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of us; or (iv) the reduction of
the number of our shareholders to zero. The shareholder vote required to approve our board of directors' decision to dissolve our Company shall be a majority of the votes cast of our voting shares,
voting together as a single class, unless a greater amount or separate class voting is required by applicable law. Shareholders shall have no right to dissolve our Company except as provided for in
our LLC agreement.
Shareholder meetings, proxies and quorums
Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting only by a unanimous written consent of
the shareholders entitled to vote on the matter.
Our LLC
agreement and bylaws require that a meeting of shareholders, called by our board of directors, be held annually. The chairman of our board of directors, if any, or a
majority of our entire board of directors may call a special meeting of our shareholders. Shareholders may cause a special meeting of shareholders to be held only if applicable law or applicable rules
of the principal exchange on which our common shares are listed so require, and then the percentage of shareholders required to cause a special meeting of shareholders shall be the maximum percentage
specified by applicable law or stock exchange rule. If applicable law or stock exchange rule requires such an action but does not specify a maximum percentage, the percentage shall be specified from
time to time by our board of
directors,
provided
,
however
, that such percentage shall not be higher than seventy-five percent (75%).
If the shareholders have the right to call a special meeting, upon written request by the requisite number of shareholders in accordance with the procedures contained in our LLC agreement and
bylaws, our secretary shall call such a meeting.
Shareholders
may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. Only shareholders of record may vote. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the class or classes or
series for which a meeting has been called represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum unless any action by the shareholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the
shares, in which case the quorum for approval of that action shall be the greater percentage. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of shareholders, the chairperson of the meeting may adjourn the
meeting from time to time without us being required to set a new record date or provide any additional notice of such meeting, other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken.
Anti-takeover provisions
The following provisions, among others, of our LLC agreement and bylaws may delay or prevent a change of control of
us:
-
-
separate prohibitions on the ownership of five percent (5%) or more of our shares or in excess of 9.8% of any class or type of our equity
securities by any person or group;
-
-
the regulatory compliance and disclosure requirements set forth in our bylaws, including provisions that require the divestment of our shares
by a shareholder in the event that such shareholder, by virtue of such shareholder's ownership interest in us or actions taken by the
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shareholder
affecting us, triggers the application of any requirement or regulation of any federal, state, municipal or other governmental or regulatory body on us or any of our subsidiaries or any of
our or our subsidiaries' businesses, assets or operations and such shareholder fails or is otherwise unable to promptly take such actions so as to cause satisfaction of such requirements or
regulations without imposing additional obligations on or in any way limiting our or our subsidiaries' businesses, assets, operations or prospects;
-
-
a provision in our LLC agreement to the effect that, with respect to any "Business Combination" (as such term is defined in
Section 203 of the DGCL), the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL shall be applied with respect to us as though we were a Delaware corporation, our shareholders were stockholders of
such corporation and our board of directors was the board of directors of such corporation;
-
-
the ability of our board of directors, without a shareholders' vote, to issue additional common shares and other series or classes of shares
with rights which may be established at the time of issuance;
-
-
the classification of our board of directors and the election of each class for three (3) year staggered terms;
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-
the qualifications required of any individual nominated for or elected to be a director that are set forth in our bylaws;
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-
the requirement, given our ownership of Affiliates Insurance Company, or AIC, which makes us an insurance holding company under applicable
state law, that anyone who intends to solicit proxies for a person to serve as one of our directors or for another proposal of business may be required to receive pre-clearance from Indiana insurance
regulators;
-
-
requirements that any person nominated to be a director comply with clearance and pre-clearance requirements of state laws applicable to our
business including clearance and pre-clearance by Nevada and Louisiana gaming authorities and Indiana insurance regulators;
-
-
the requirement that an individual director may only be removed for cause and then only by unanimous vote of the other directors, the
requirement of a seventy-five percent (75%) shareholders' vote and cause requirements to remove our entire board of directors and the inability of shareholders to remove any single director without
removing our entire board of directors;
-
-
the requirement of a seventy-five percent (75%) shareholders' vote to approve certain transactions, such as a merger or a sale of substantially
all our assets, unless those transactions are approved by our board of directors and then only if law allows such action without board approval;
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-
the ability of our directors to expand our board and to fill vacancies on our board;
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-
shareholder voting rights and standards which require larger majorities for approval of actions which are not approved by our directors than
for actions which are approved by our directors;
-
-
the requirement that amendments to our LLC agreement may only be proposed by or with the consent of our board of directors;
-
-
the authority of our board of directors, and not our shareholders, to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws;
-
-
the limitations on the ability of our shareholders to call a special meeting of shareholders, nominate directors or make shareholder proposals
and the inability of our shareholders to act by written consent unless unanimous; and
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-
-
the informational, share ownership and other advance notice requirements for shareholder nominations for our directors and for shareholder
proposals and restrictions which may prevent the presentation of such nominations or proposals in our proxy statements.
These
requirements may prevent you from realizing a takeover premium for any of our shares which you own.
In
addition, our leases with Hospitality Properties Trust, or HPT, may prevent the merger of us into another entity, the acquisition by any person or group of beneficial ownership of
9.8% or more of the voting shares or the power to direct the management and policies of us or any of our subsidiary tenants or guarantors; the sale of a material part of the assets of us or any such
tenant or guarantor; or the cessation of certain continuing directors constituting a majority of the board of directors of us or any such tenant or guarantor; in each case without the consent of HPT.
Our rent deferral agreement with HPT has change of control covenants so that amounts deferred will immediately be payable to HPT in the event we experience a change of control while deferred rent is
unpaid. More specifically, events of default under our rent deferral agreement include any event of default under our leases with HPT, the election of any director to our board of directors who was
not nominated or appointed by the then members of our board of directors or the adoption by our shareholders of any proposal (other than a
precatory proposal) not recommended for adoption by the then members of the board of directors. Any default by us under our rent deferral agreement will also constitute an event of default under our
existing lease agreements with HPT. Our shareholders agreement with respect to AIC, our business management agreement with The RMR Group LLC, or RMR, and our credit facility also contain change
of control provisions, as described below.
Liability of shareholders for breach of restrictions on ownership
Our leases with HPT, our business management agreement with RMR, our credit facility and our shareholders agreement with respect to AIC each
provide that our rights and benefits under those agreements may be terminated in the event that anyone acquires more than 9.8% of our shares or we experience some other change in control, as defined
in those agreements, without the consent of HPT, RMR or the lenders under our credit facility, respectively, and that AIC and the other shareholders of AIC may have rights to acquire our interests in
AIC if such an acquisition occurs or if we experience some other change of control. If a breach of the 9.8% ownership limitation results in a lease or credit facility default, a loss of the benefits
of our business management agreement or a loss of our ownership interests in AIC, the shareholder or shareholders causing the breach may be liable to us and may be liable to our other shareholders for
damages. Additionally, any shareholder who knowingly violates the bylaw provisions pertaining to five percent (5%) ownership may be liable to us for damages suffered as a result of such violation,
including but not limited to damages resulting from a reduction in, or elimination of, our ability or right to utilize our tax benefits. These damages may be in addition to the loss of beneficial
ownership and voting rights of the shares owned by the breaching shareholder or shareholders, as described above, and these damages may be material.
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