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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

______________

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 17, 2020 (August 12, 2020)

 

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

1-12928

(Commission file number)

38-3148187

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

   

70 E. Long Lake Road

Bloomfield Hills, MI

(Address of principal executive offices)

48304

(Zip code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (248) 737-4190

 

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
¨  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
¨  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
¨  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.0001 par value ADC New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

  

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in Item 2.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance  Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

On August 17, 2020, Agree Limited Partnership (the “Issuer”), a Delaware limited partnership and subsidiary of Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Parent Guarantor”), completed an underwritten public offering of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.900% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”).

 

The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantee”) by the Parent Guarantor and certain wholly owned subsidiaries of the Issuer that guarantee the Issuer’s debt or the debt of any other guarantor (the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and, together with the Parent Guarantor, the “Guarantors”). The terms of the Notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of August 17, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), by and among the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by an officer’s certificate, dated as of August 17, 2020, by and among the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee (the “Indenture Officer’s Certificate” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture contains various restrictive covenants, including limitations on the ability of the Guarantors and the Issuer to incur additional indebtedness and requirements to maintain a pool of unencumbered assets. Copies of the Base Indenture, the Indenture Officer’s Certificate, the form of Note and the form of Guarantee, the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “8-K”).

 

The purchase price paid by the underwriters for the Notes was 99.277% of the principal amount thereof. The Notes are the Issuer’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Issuer’s other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The Notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to: (i) all of the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s existing and future mortgage indebtedness and other secured indebtedness (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness); (ii) all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured of the Issuer’s subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors and of any entity accounted for under the equity method of accounting; and (iii) all preferred equity not owned by the Issuer, if any, in its subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors and in any entity accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The Notes bear interest at 2.900% per annum. Interest is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning April 1, 2021, until the Notes’ maturity date of October 1, 2030.

 

Prior to July 1, 2030, the Notes will be redeemable in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the Issuer’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

· an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; and
· a make-whole premium as defined in and calculated in accordance with the Indenture;

plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the redemption date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any of the Notes are redeemed on or after July 1, 2030 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes), the redemption price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to, but not including, the redemption date.

 

Certain events are considered events of default, which may result in the accelerated maturity of the Notes, including:

· default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest under the Notes;
· default in the payment of the principal amount or premium, if any, due with respect to the Notes, when the same becomes due and payable;
· failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor to comply with any of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s respective other agreements in the Notes or the Indenture with respect to the Notes upon receipt by the Issuer of notice of such default by the Trustee or by holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and the Issuer’s failure to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within 60 days after the Issuer receives such notice;

 

 

 

 

· failure to pay any debt (other than non-recourse debt) (a) of the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary (as defined in the Indenture) or any entity of which the Issuer is the general partner or managing member, and (b) in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable grace period, which debt is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within 60 days after written notice to the Issuer from the Trustee (or to the Issuer and the Trustee from holders of at least 25% in outstanding principal amount of the Notes);
· certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary or all or substantially all of their respective property; and
· the Guarantee of any Guarantor is not (or is claimed by any Guarantor in writing to the Trustee not to be) in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of the Indenture) with respect to the Notes.

 

The description of the Indenture in this 8-K is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Indenture.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On August 12, 2020, the Issuer and the Guarantors entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters listed on Schedule I attached thereto (the “Underwriters”), relating to the underwritten public offering of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

 

The offering closed on August 17, 2020 and resulted in net proceeds to the Parent Guarantor of approximately $346.7 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and the estimated offering expenses payable by the Issuer. The Notes were offered pursuant to (i) the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-238729) which became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 27, 2020, as amended by the post-effective amendment filed with the Commission on August 12, 2020, (ii) the base prospectus dated May 27, 2020 and (iii) the prospectus supplement dated August 12, 2020, which was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 1.1 to this 8-K and is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The summary of the Underwriting Agreement set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 1.1. In connection with the filing of the prospectus supplement, an opinion of the Issuer’s and Guarantors’ counsel regarding the validity of the Notes and related Guarantee is filed with this 8-K as Exhibit 5.1, an opinion of Parent Guarantor’s counsel regarding certain Maryland law issues is filed with this 8-K as Exhibit 5.2, and an opinion of counsel to Agree St Petersburg, LLC, a Subsidiary Guarantor, regarding certain Florida law issues is filed with this 8-K as Exhibit 5.3.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)        Exhibits

 

Exhibit Description

 

1.1 Underwriting Agreement, dated August 12, 2020, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
4.1 Indenture, dated as of August 17, 2020, among the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee.
4.2 Indenture Officer’s Certificate, dated as of August 17, 2020, among the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee.
4.3 Form of Global Note for 2.900% Notes due 2030 (included in Exhibit 4.2).
4.4 Form of Guarantee by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee (included in Exhibit 4.2)
5.1 Opinion of Honigman LLP as to the validity of the Notes and the Guarantee.
5.2 Opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP regarding Maryland law issues.
5.3 Opinion of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP regarding Florida law issues.
23.1 Consent of Honigman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2 Consent of Ballard Spahr LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
23.3 Consent of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP (included in Exhibit 5.3).
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  AGREE REALTY CORPORATION
   
Date: August 17, 2020 By: /s/ Clayton R. Thelen
    Clayton R. Thelen
    Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

 

$350,000,000 2.900% Notes due 2030

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

August 12, 2020

 

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

 

As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Agree Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Issuer”), Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Parent”), and each subsidiary of the Parent listed on Schedule III hereto as being a Subsidiary Guarantor (such subsidiaries, collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and together with the Parent, each a “Guarantor” and collectively the “Guarantors”), confirm their agreement with each of the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter hereinafter substituted as provided in Section 11 hereof), for whom Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives (in such capacity, if and as applicable, the “Representatives”) with respect to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 2.900% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”), to be issued pursuant to an indenture (as amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”), to be dated August 17, 2020, among the Issuer, the Parent, in its capacity as a Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and guaranteed by the Guarantors. The respective amount of the Notes to be purchased by the several Underwriters is set forth opposite their names on Schedule I hereto.

 

 

 

 

1.                  Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Issuer and the Parent have prepared and filed on May 27, 2020 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Act”), a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-238729) under the Act (“Registration Statement 333-238729”), including a combined prospectus contained therein (the “Basic Prospectus”), relating to the issuance and sale of certain debt securities to be issued by the Issuer, including the Notes, and guarantees of debt securities of the Issuer by the Parent (the “Parent Guarantee”), and the Issuer and the Guarantors have prepared and filed on August 12, 2020 with the Commission an amendment to Registration Statement 333-238729 (the “Registration Statement Amendment”) to register the guarantees of the Subsidiary Guarantors (the “Subsidiary Guarantees” and together with the Parent Guarantee, the “Guarantees”). The Issuer has filed with, or transmitted for filing to, or shall promptly hereafter file with or transmit for filing to, the Commission a supplement to the prospectus included in such registration statement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) specifically relating to the Notes and the plan of distribution thereof pursuant to Rule 424. Each of Registration Statement 333-238729 and the Registration Statement Amendment was automatically effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Act. Except where the context otherwise requires, Registration Statement 333-238729, on each date and time that such registration statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto, including without limitation, the Registration Statement Amendment, became or becomes effective (each, an “Effective Date”), including all exhibits filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such amended registration statement by virtue of Rule 430B (the “Rule 430B Information”), collectively, are herein called the “Registration Statement,” and the Basic Prospectus, as supplemented by the final Prospectus Supplement, in the form first used by the Issuer in connection with confirmation of sales of the Notes, is herein called the “Prospectus”; and the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each preliminary form of the Prospectus Supplement used in connection with the offering of the Notes that omitted Rule 430B Information, including the related Basic Prospectus in the form first filed by the Issuer and the Parent pursuant to Rule 424(b). The Basic Prospectus together with the Preliminary Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, immediately prior to the Applicable Time is hereafter called the “Pricing Prospectus,” and any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433) relating to the Notes is hereafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.” The “Applicable Time” shall mean 2:55  p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 12, 2020 or such other time as agreed by the Issuer and the Representatives. The Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, listed in Schedule II hereto or that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package is hereafter collectively called the “Disclosure Package.” Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act (the “Incorporated Documents”), as of each Effective Date or the Applicable Time or the date of the Prospectus, as the case may be (it being understood that the several specific references in this Agreement to documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are for clarifying purposes only and are not meant to limit the inclusiveness of any other definition herein). For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).

 

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included,” “stated” or “described” in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing after the Applicable Time of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

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2.                  Agreement to Sell and Purchase.

 

(a)            On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Issuer agrees to issue and sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Issuer, at a purchase price of 99.277% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from August 17, 2020 to the Closing Date, the principal amount of Notes set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule I hereto.

 

3.                  Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the Underwriters propose to offer the Notes for sale to the public as soon after this Agreement has become effective as in their judgment is advisable and initially to offer the Notes upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

 

The Underwriters represent and agree that, unless they have or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Issuer, the Underwriters have not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405, a “Free Writing Prospectus”) required to be filed by the Issuer with the Commission or retained by the Issuer under Rule 433; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of any Free Writing Prospectuses listed in Schedule II hereto and any electronic road show.

 

4.                  Delivery of the Notes and Payment Therefor. Delivery of and payment for the Notes shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on August 17, 2020, or at such time on such later date not more than five (5) Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by mutual written agreement of the Representatives and the Issuer (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Notes being herein called the “Closing Date”) (or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than the third Business Day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Issuer may agree in writing). Delivery of the Notes shall be made against payment by the Underwriters of the purchase price thereof, to or upon the order of the Issuer by wire transfer payable in immediately available funds to an account specified by the Issuer. The Notes will be delivered to the Representatives through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The Notes shall be global notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. The interests of beneficial owners of the Notes will be represented by book entries on the records of DTC and participating members thereof. The number and denominations of definitive notes so delivered shall be as specified by DTC. The definitive notes for the Notes will be made available for inspection by the Representatives at the offices of Honigman LLP, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day before the Closing Date, or such other date, time and place as the Representatives and the Issuer may agree.

 

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5.                  Agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantors. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree with each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a)            If, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it is necessary for a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to be declared effective before the offering of the Notes may commence, each of the Issuer and the Guarantors will use its best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to become effective as soon as possible and will advise the Representatives promptly and, if requested by the Representatives, will confirm such advice in writing, immediately after such post-effective amendment has become effective.

 

(b)            If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would (x) include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading or (y) conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Issuer and the Guarantors will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement, omission or conflicting information; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

 

(c)            The Issuer and the Guarantors will advise the Representatives promptly and, if requested by the Representatives, will confirm such advice in writing: (i) of any review, issuance of comments or request by the Commission or its staff on or for an amendment of or a supplement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or for additional information regarding the Issuer, the Guarantors, their respective affiliates or any filings with the Commission, whether or not such filings are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the suspension of qualification of the Notes for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose or any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Act relating to the Registration Statement or Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Notes; (iii) of the receipt by the Issuer or any Guarantor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and (iv) within the period of time referred to in the first sentence in subsection (f) below, of any change in the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s condition (financial or other), business, prospects, properties, net worth or results of operations, or of the happening of any event, which results in any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) being untrue or which requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) in order to state a material fact required by the Act to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or of the necessity to amend or supplement the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) to comply with the Act or any other law. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Issuer and the Guarantors will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible time.

 

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(d)            On request, the Issuer and the Guarantors will furnish to the Representatives and counsel to the Underwriters, without charge: (i) one (1) signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and all exhibits to the Registration Statement; (ii) such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, but without exhibits, as the Representatives may request; (iii) such number of copies of the Incorporated Documents, without exhibits, as the Representatives may request; and (iv) one (1) copy of the exhibits to the Incorporated Documents.

 

(e)            Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor will file any amendment to the Registration Statement or make any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or, prior to the end of the period of time referred to in the first sentence in subsection (f) below, file any document which upon filing becomes an Incorporated Document, of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised or to which, after the Representatives shall have received a copy of the document proposed to be filed, the Representatives shall reasonably object; and no such further document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors will give the Representatives notice of its intention to make any other filing pursuant to the Exchange Act from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing.

 

(f)             After the execution and delivery of this Agreement and thereafter from time to time for such period as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a)) in connection with sales by the Underwriters or any dealer (including circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), each of the Issuer and the Guarantors will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Issuer or the Guarantors with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and will expeditiously deliver to the Underwriters and each dealer, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as each Underwriter may request. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors consents to the use of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or blue sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Notes are offered by the Underwriters and by all dealers to whom Notes may be sold, both in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes and for such period of time thereafter as the Prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a)) in connection with sales by the Underwriters or any dealers. If during such period of time: (i) any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Issuer and the Guarantors, or in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus as supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; or (ii) if it is necessary to supplement the Prospectus or amend the Registration Statement (or to file under the Exchange Act any document which, upon filing, would become an Incorporated Document) in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or any other law, the Issuer and the Guarantors will promptly notify the Representatives of such event and forthwith prepare and, subject to the provisions of paragraph (e) above, file with the Commission an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto (or to such document), and will expeditiously furnish to the Underwriters and dealers a reasonable number of copies thereof. In the event that the Issuer and the Representatives agree that the Prospectus should be amended or supplemented, the Issuer, if requested by the Representatives, will promptly issue a press release announcing or disclosing the matters to be covered by the proposed amendment or supplement.

 

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(g)            Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors will: (i) cooperate with the Underwriters and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Notes for offering and sale by the Underwriters and by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may designate; (ii) maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Notes; and (iii) file such consents to service of process or other documents necessary or appropriate in order to effect such registration or qualification; provided that in no event shall the Issuer or any Guarantor be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Notes, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(h)            Unless the Issuer or the Guarantors have or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, each of the Issuer and the Guarantors has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed by the Issuer or the Guarantors with the Commission or retained by the Issuer or the Guarantors under Rule 433; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses listed in Schedule II hereto and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Issuer and the Guarantors is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

 

(i)              The Issuer and the Guarantors will make generally available to its security holders and to the Underwriters as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) months after the end of the Parent’s current fiscal quarter, a consolidated earnings statement of the Parent, which need not be audited, covering a 12-month period, which consolidated earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

 

(j)              During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date occurring three (3) years hereafter, the Issuer and the Guarantors will furnish to the Underwriters: (i) as soon as available, if requested, a copy of each report of the Parent mailed to stockholders or filed with the Commission that is not publicly available on EDGAR or the Parent’s website; and (ii) from time to time such other information concerning the Issuer or the Guarantors as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

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(k)             The Issuer and the Guarantors shall reimburse the Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred by the Underwriters in connection herewith if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to any provisions hereof or if this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives because of any inability, failure or refusal on the part of the Issuer or the Guarantors to comply with the terms or fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement.

 

(l)              The Issuer will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds.”

 

(m)           If Rule 430A, 430B or 430C is employed, the Issuer will timely file the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) and will advise the Representatives of the time and manner of such filing.

 

(n)             Neither the Issuer nor any affiliate of the Issuer has taken, nor will the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuer to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.

 

(o)            The Parent will use its best efforts to continue to qualify as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, the “Code”), so long as its Board of Directors deems it in the best interest of the Parent’s stockholders to remain so qualified.

 

(p)            Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors will use all reasonable best efforts to do or perform all things required to be done or performed by the Issuer and the Guarantors prior to the Closing Date to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(q)            Neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors will , without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Issuer or the Guarantors or any affiliate of the Issuer or the Guarantors, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position (within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act), on any debt securities or guarantees thereon (other than the Notes and the Guarantees); or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, until after the Closing Date.

 

(r)             Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

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(s)             The Issuer and the Guarantors will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 within the time period required by such rule. The Issuer will retain, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433(g).

 

6.                  Representations and Warranties of the Issuer and the Guarantors. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and covenant to each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a)            The Basic Prospectus and each Preliminary Prospectus, if any, included as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment or supplement thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424, complied when so filed in all material respects with the provisions of the Act.

 

(b)            No order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Act, and the Preliminary Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, did not, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty contained in this Section 6(a) does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Preliminary Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters Content (as defined below).

 

(c)               (i) At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Issuer or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Notes in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Act, and (iv) as of the Applicable Time, the Parent was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405).

 

(d)            The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405) and the Notes and the Guarantees have been and remain eligible for registration by the Issuer and the Guarantors on such automatic shelf registration statement. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Issuer or any Guarantor or related to the offering of the Notes has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Issuer and the Guarantors, threatened by the Commission; the Registration Statement, as of the date hereof, and any post-effective amendment thereto, as of its applicable effective date, and at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 430B, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”), and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor has received from the Commission any notice objecting to the use of the shelf registration statement form. On the date that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or will become effective and on the Closing Date, the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act. The Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The representation and warranty contained in this Section 6(d) does not apply to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters Content.

 

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(e)            (i) The Disclosure Package, and (ii) each electronic road show, if any, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, did not at the Applicable Time and will not on the Closing Date contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters Content.

 

(f)             (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Issuer or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Notes and (ii) as of the Applicable Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Parent was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Parent be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

 

(g)            Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any Incorporated Document and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with the Underwriters Content.

 

(h)            The Incorporated Documents heretofore filed, when they were filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. No such document when it was filed (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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(i)              (i) The Notes have been duly and validly authorized and, when executed and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on the Closing Date, will be validly issued pursuant to the Indenture, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and (ii) each Guarantee has been duly and validly authorized and will on the Closing Date constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the applicable Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(j)              Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities, including securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities, registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Issuer under the Act (other than those that have been waived).

 

(k)            The Parent is a corporation and the Issuer is a limited partnership, each of which is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation, with full corporate or partnership power, as applicable, and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and each is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure to so register or qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), prospects, earnings, business, properties, net worth or results of operations of the Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(l)              Each Subsidiary Guarantor and each of the other subsidiaries of the Parent (other than the Issuer) is a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or trust, as applicable, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation, as set forth on Schedule III hereto, except where the failure to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, with full corporate, limited liability company, partnership or trust power, as applicable, and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and each is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure to so register or qualify or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(m)            Neither the Parent, nor the Issuer nor any of their subsidiaries does any business in Cuba.

 

(n)            Other than as set forth on Schedule III hereto, neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor has any subsidiary or subsidiaries and does not control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or other business association. The issued shares of capital stock of each of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries (including the equity interests of the Issuer) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned legally and beneficially by such Guarantor free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus.

 

(o)            There are no legal or governmental actions, suits, inquiries, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer or any Guarantor, threatened, against the Issuer, any Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries, or to which the Issuer, any Guarantor or any properties of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is subject, that (A) are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus but are not described as required; (B) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (C) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto). There are no statutes, regulations, off-balance sheet transactions, contingencies or agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments or documents of a character that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated Document that are not described, filed or incorporated as required by the Act or the Exchange Act (and the Pricing Prospectus contains or incorporates by reference in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters contained in the Prospectus). The statements in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus under the heading “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” fairly summarize the matters therein described.

 

(p)            None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is: (A) in violation of (i) its respective articles of incorporation, partnership agreement, operating agreement or by-laws (or analogous governing instruments), (ii) any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries, except in the case of clause (ii), which violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) any decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Issuer, the Guarantors or their subsidiaries; or (B) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in default in any material respect in the performance of any obligation, agreement, condition or covenant (financial or otherwise) contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any Material Agreement (as defined below), indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer, Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries or any of their respective properties may be bound, and, to the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s knowledge, no such default is expected. All agreements, contracts or other arrangements that are material to the Issuer and the Guarantors are set forth on Schedule IV of this Agreement (the “Material Agreements”).

 

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(q)            (A) As of the date of this Agreement, the Parent owns either directly or indirectly through its subsidiaries, 954 properties (the “Properties”). To the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, none of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is in violation of any municipal, state or federal law, rule or regulation concerning any of their Properties, which violation would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (B) to the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, each of the Properties complies with all applicable zoning laws, ordinances and regulations in all material respects and, if and to the extent there is a failure to comply, such failure does not materially impair the value of any of such Properties and will not result in a forfeiture or reversion of title thereof; (C) none of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries has received from any governmental authority any written notice of any condemnation of, or zoning change affecting any of, the Properties, and neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor knows of any such condemnation or zoning change which is threatened and which if consummated would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (D) the leases under which the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries leases the Properties as lessor (the “Leases”) are in full force and effect and have been entered into in the ordinary course of business of such entity, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (E) the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries has complied with its respective obligations under the Leases in all material respects and the Guarantors do not know of any default by any other party to the Leases which, alone or together with other such defaults, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (F) all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims or restrictions on or affecting the assets (including the Properties) of the Guarantors and their subsidiaries that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are disclosed therein.

 

(r)             Neither the issuance and sale of the Notes, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Issuer or the Guarantors, nor the consummation by the Issuer or the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus): (A) requires any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, agency or official (except such as may be required for the registration of the Notes under the Act and compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of various jurisdictions), or conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the articles of incorporation or by-laws (or analogous governing documents) of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries; or (B) (i) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantors or any properties of the Issuer or the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries may be bound, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) violates or will violate any statute, law, regulation or filing or judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the Issuer, any Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries or any properties of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries, or (iii) will result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Issuer, any Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries may be bound, or to which any property or assets of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is subject.

 

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(s)             To the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, Grant Thornton LLP, who has certified or shall certify the financial statements and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), is and was, as of the date of this Agreement and during the periods covered by the financial statements on which Grant Thornton LLP reported, an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Parent as required by the Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).

 

(t)              The historical financial statements, together with related schedules and notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position of the Parent and its subsidiaries on the basis stated in the Registration Statement and the Incorporated Documents at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply. Such statements and related schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein. The other historical financial and statistical information and data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) are accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements, included or incorporated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and the books and records of the Parent and its subsidiaries. The financial statements of the businesses or properties acquired or proposed to be acquired, if any, included in, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein, have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis and otherwise have been prepared in accordance with the applicable financial statement requirements of Rule 3-05 or Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X with respect to real estate operations acquired or to be acquired. Any pro forma financial statements and other pro forma financial information included, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Any pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act. The Issuer and the Guarantors have filed with the Commission all financial statements, together with related schedules and notes, required to be filed pursuant to Regulation S-X under the Act. Any disclosures contained or incorporated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Act, to the extent applicable. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance in all material respects with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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(u)            (i) The Issuer has the partnership power to issue, sell and deliver the Notes as provided herein; the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under, this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Issuer, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Issuer and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity and to the extent that rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws; (ii) the Guarantors have the corporate or limited liability company power, as applicable, to issue and deliver the Guarantees as provided herein; the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Guarantors of their respective obligations under, this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the respective Guarantors, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantors and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity and to the extent that rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.

 

(v)            Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), subsequent to the respective dates as of which such information is given in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), (A) none of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation (financial or other), direct or contingent, or entered into any transaction (including any off-balance sheet activities or transactions), not in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the Parent and its subsidiaries, as a whole; (B) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, or partnership interests, as the case may be, or material increase in the short-term debt or long-term debt (including any off-balance sheet activities or transactions), of any of the Issuer or the Guarantors or the occurrence of or any development which may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) except for regular quarterly dividends on the Common Stock in amounts per share that are consistent with the past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Parent on any class of its capital stock.

 

(w)          The Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all property (real and personal) described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by each of them (including the Properties), free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances that would materially and adversely affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or presently contemplated to be made thereof by them as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except such as are described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or in any document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and each property described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being held under lease by the Issuer or the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is held by such entity under a valid, subsisting and enforceable lease.

 

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(x)            The “significant subsidiaries” of the Parent as defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the Act are set forth in Schedule III hereto (the “Significant Subsidiaries”).

 

(y)            None of the Issuer or the Guarantors has distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (x) the Closing Date and (y) completion of the distribution of the Notes, will distribute, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes other than the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. None of the Issuer or the Guarantors has , directly or indirectly: (i) taken any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuer to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes; or (ii) since the filing of the Registration Statement (A) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Notes or (B) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Issuer.

 

(z)            The Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries possess all certificates, permits, licenses, franchises and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (the “permits”) as are necessary to own their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, where such failure to possess could have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all of their respective material obligations with respect to such permits, and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or which would result in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such permit, subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(aa)         The Parent has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Parent in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the Parent’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure; and the Parent maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and which includes policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Parent, including its consolidated subsidiaries, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures of the Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with the authorization of management, (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisitions, use or dispositions of assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance that the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures have been evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of the period covered by the Company’s most recently filed periodic report on Form 10-Q or 10-K, as the case may be, which precedes the date of the Prospectus and were effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Based on the most recent evaluation of its internal control over financial reporting, the Parent was not aware of (i) any material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Parent’s internal control over financial reporting. There has been no change in the Parent’s internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Parent’s internal control over financial reporting, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(bb)         There is and has been no failure on the part of the Parent or any of the Parent’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including, without limitation, Section 402 related to loans to insiders and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

 

(cc)          To the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, none of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries nor any employee or agent of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries has made any payment of funds of the Issuer or the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

 

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(dd)         None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Issuer and the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and the Issuer, the Guarantors, their subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Issuer and the Guarantors, their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

(ee)          The operations of the Issuer, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer or the Guarantors, threatened.

 

(ff)           None of the Issuer, the Guarantors, or any of their subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Issuer or the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or  representative of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the subject or target of any  sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Issuer or any Guarantor located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions; and none of the Issuer and the Guarantors will directly or indirectly use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of  Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

(gg)         No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Issuer or the Guarantors and/or any of their subsidiaries or, to the Issuer’s or Guarantors’ knowledge, any of the Issuer’s or the Guarantors’ or their subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, exists, is threatened or imminent that could result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, no labor problem or dispute with the Issuer’s or the Guarantors’ or their subsidiaries’ tenants exists, is threatened or imminent that could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(hh)         Each of the Issuer, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries has timely filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed, which returns are complete and correct, or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure to so file timely would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) and has paid all material taxes required to be paid by it and any material other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith. The Parent has made appropriate provisions in the Parent’s financial statements that are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement (or otherwise described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the Issuer, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries has not been finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)            No holder of any security of the Issuer or any Guarantor has any right to require registration of the Notes or any other security of the Issuer or any Guarantor because of the filing of the Registration Statement or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which right has not been waived in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(jj)            The Issuer, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries own or possess all patents, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and rights described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by them or necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses. Neither the Issuer nor any of the Guarantors is aware of any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Issuer, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries with respect to the foregoing that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(kk)          None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is now, and after sale of the Notes to be sold by the Issuer hereunder and the application of the net proceeds from such sale as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” will be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(ll)            To the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, the Issuer, the Guarantors, their subsidiaries, the Properties and the operations conducted thereon comply and heretofore have complied with all applicable Environmental Laws, and no expenditures are required to maintain or achieve such compliance, except as disclosed in environmental site assessment reports obtained by the Issuer or the Guarantors on or before the date hereof in connection with the purchase of any of the Properties or in a written summary maintained by the Issuer or the Guarantors of the status of ongoing environmental projects at the Properties, each of which have been directly provided to the Underwriters or their counsel (collectively, the “Environmental Reports”) and except for those circumstances that have not had or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(mm)        None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries has at any time and, to the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, no other party has at any time, handled, buried, stored, retained, refined, transported, processed, manufactured, generated, produced, spilled, allowed to seep, leak, escape or leach, or be pumped, poured, emitted, emptied, discharged, injected, dumped, transferred or otherwise disposed of or dealt with, Hazardous Materials (as defined below) on, to, under or from the Properties, except as disclosed in Environmental Reports, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except for those circumstances that have not had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries intends to use the Properties or any subsequently acquired properties for the purpose of handling, burying, storing, retaining, refining, transporting, processing, manufacturing, generating, producing, spilling, seeping, leaking, escaping, leaching, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, dumping, transferring or otherwise disposing of or dealing with Hazardous Materials; provided, however, the tenants of the Issuer and the Guarantors may use Properties for their intended purpose, which may involve the handling, storing and transporting of Hazardous Materials.

 

To the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, no seepage, leak, escape, leach, discharge, injection, release, emission, spill, pumping, pouring, emptying or dumping of Hazardous Materials into any surface water, groundwater, soil, air or other media on or adjacent to the Properties has occurred, is occurring or is reasonably expected to occur, except as is disclosed in the Environmental Reports or the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except for those circumstances that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries has received written notice from any Governmental Authority or other person of, or has knowledge of, any occurrence or circumstance which, with notice, passage of time, or failure to act, would give rise to any claim against the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries under or pursuant to any Environmental Law or under common law pertaining to Hazardous Materials on or originating from the existing Properties or any act or omission of any party with respect to the existing Properties, except as disclosed in the Environmental Reports, or the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except for those circumstances that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

To the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, none of the Properties is included or proposed for inclusion on any federal, state, or local lists of sites which require or might require environmental cleanup, including, but not limited to, the National Priorities List or CERCLIS List issued pursuant to CERCLA (as defined below) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or any analogous state list, except as is disclosed in the Environmental Reports or the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except for those circumstances that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

In the ordinary course of its business, the Parent periodically reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Parent and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Parent has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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As used herein, “Hazardous Material” shall include, without limitation, any flammable explosives, radioactive materials, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous or toxic substances, or related materials, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”), petroleum products and by-products and substances defined or listed as “hazardous substances,” “toxic substances,” “hazardous waste,” or “hazardous materials” in any Federal, state or local Environmental Law.

 

As used herein, “Environmental Law” shall mean all laws, common law duties, regulations or ordinances (including any orders or agreements) of any Federal, state or local governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over any of the Properties (a “Governmental Authority”) that are designed or intended to protect the public health and the environment or to regulate the handling of Hazardous Materials, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.) (“CERCLA”), the Hazardous Material Transportation Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.), and the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.), and any and all analogous state or local laws.

 

(nn)         Commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1994, the Parent has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and the Parent’s current and proposed method of operations as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2020 and thereafter. No transaction or other event has occurred, and none of the Issuer, the Guarantors, or any of their subsidiaries has taken any action, that would reasonably be expected to cause the Parent not to be able to qualify as a REIT for its taxable year ending December 31, 2020 or future taxable years.

 

(oo)         The Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged and the value of their properties. All policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect. The Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects and there are no claims by the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and the Company does not have any reason to believe that the Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries will not be able to renew its respective existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue their respective businesses at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(pp)         The Issuer, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries have title insurance on each of the Properties owned in fee simple in amounts at least equal to the cost of acquisition of such property; with respect to an uninsured loss on any of the Properties, the title insurance shortfall would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(qq)         Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or pursuant to the terms of the indebtedness described therein), no subsidiary of the Issuer or any Guarantor is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Issuer or any Guarantor, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Issuer or any Guarantor any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Issuer or any Guarantor, or, except for subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors and that own properties encumbered by mortgage debt as of the date hereof, from transferring any of such subsidiary’s assets or property to the Issuer or any Guarantor, or any other subsidiary of the Issuer or any Guarantor.

 

(rr)           There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Issuer of the Notes.

 

(ss)          Each of the Issuer, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each “plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and such regulations and published interpretations) in which employees of the Issuer, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries are eligible to participate. Each such plan is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and such regulations and published interpretations. None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries has incurred any unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for the payment of premiums in the ordinary course) or to any such plan under Title IV of ERISA.

 

(tt)           The Parent’s authorized capitalization is as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(uu)         The Notes will rank on a parity with all unsecured indebtedness of the Issuer (other than subordinated indebtedness of the Issuer) that is outstanding on the date hereof or that may be incurred hereafter, and senior to all subordinated indebtedness of the Issuer that is outstanding on the date hereof or that may be incurred hereafter.

 

(vv)         The statistical and market related data included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources the Issuer and the Guarantors believe to be reliable and accurate as of the respective dates of such documents, and the Issuer and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent required.

 

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(ww)        Each of the independent directors (or independent director nominees, once appointed, if applicable) named in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and Prospectus satisfies the independence standards established by NYSE and, with respect to members of the Company’s audit committee, the enhanced independence standards contained in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act.

 

(xx)           None of the Issuer nor the Guarantors is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the rules and the Exchange Act and does not, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control or have any other association with (within the meaning of Article I of the Bylaws of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) any member firm of FINRA. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Issuer or the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the directors, officers or stockholders of the Issuer or the Guarantors, on the other hand, which is required by the rules of FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, which is not so described.

 

(yy)         Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) none of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries has any material lending or similar relationship with any Underwriter or any bank or other lending institution affiliated with any Underwriter; and (ii) the Issuer does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes by the Issuer hereunder to reduce or retire the balance of any loan or credit facility extended by any affiliate of any Underwriter.

 

(zz)           To the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ knowledge, with such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: there has been no security breach, incident, or other compromise of the Issuer’s, the Guarantors’ or any of their subsidiaries’ information computer systems, networks, and databases (including, without limitation, the personal data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers and vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by the Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries, (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”); neither the Issuer, the Guarantors nor any of their subsidiaries have been notified of, or have knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach, incident or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data; the Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries have implemented appropriate physical, technological and administrative controls designed to maintain and protect the integrity, confidentiality and availability of their IT Systems and Data, taking into account the nature, sensitivity and use of such IT Systems and Data, or as required by applicable regulatory standards in all respects; and the Issuer, the Guarantors and each of their subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes, applicable judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries and internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

 

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7.             Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)            The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls the Underwriters, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or in any amendment thereof (including the Rule 430B Information), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading; (ii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of material fact included in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereof) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Issuer and the Guarantors will not be liable in any such case arising in connection with this Section 7 to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters Content. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability, which the Issuer and the Guarantors may otherwise have.

 

(b)            Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and each of its directors, the Guarantors and each of the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Issuer or such Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Issuer and the Guarantors to the Underwriters, but only with reference to the Underwriters Content.

 

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(c)            Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party: (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties, except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if: (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall in writing authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. In no event will the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees, costs or expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (y) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)            In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party for any reason, the Issuer and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and by the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Notes; provided, however, that in no case shall the Underwriters be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Notes purchased by the Underwriters hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Issuer and the Guarantors and the Underwriters shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Issuer and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things: (i) whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Issuer or a Guarantor, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other; (ii) the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge; (iii) access to information; and (iv) the opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters, and each person who controls the Issuer or a Guarantor within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Issuer or a Guarantor who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Issuer or a Guarantor shall have the same rights to contribution as the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d). The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Notes set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I hereto and not joint.

 

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8.             Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Notes hereunder are subject to the following conditions:

 

(a)            (i) The Prospectus and any supplement thereto have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reference to Rule 424(b)(8)); and any material required to be filed by the Issuer or the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 433(d) shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433 and (ii) any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

 

(b)            Subsequent to the Applicable Time, or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereto), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment thereof), there shall not have occurred any event or development relating to or involving the Issuer and the Guarantors and their subsidiaries or any officer or director of the Issuer or the Guarantors and their subsidiaries which makes any statement made in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus untrue or which, in the opinion of the Issuer and its counsel or the Representatives and counsel to the Underwriters, requires the making of any addition to or change in the Disclosure Package in order to state a material fact required by the Act or any other law to be stated therein, or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, if amending or supplementing the Disclosure Package to reflect such event or development would, in the opinion of the Representatives, adversely affect the market for the Notes.

 

(c)            The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Honigman LLP, counsel for the Issuer and the Guarantors other than Agree St Petersburg, LLC, dated as of such date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect set forth on Exhibit A.

 

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(d)            The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated as of such date and addressed to the Representatives with respect to such matters as the Representatives may request.

 

(e)            The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date (i) an opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP, Maryland counsel for the Parent, to the effect set forth on Exhibit B and (ii) an opinion of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, Florida counsel for Agree St Petersburg, LLC, to the effect set forth on Exhibit C, each dated as of such date and addressed to the Representatives.

 

(f)             The Representatives shall have received letters addressed to the Underwriters and dated as of the date hereof and the Closing Date from Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, substantially in the form heretofore approved by the Representatives; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(g)            (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Issuer or the Guarantors, shall be contemplated by the Commission at or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) there shall not have been any change in the capital stock of the Issuer and the Guarantors nor any material increase in the short-term or long-term debt (including any off-balance sheet activities or transactions) of the Issuer and the Guarantors and their subsidiaries (other than in the ordinary course of business) from that set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); (iii) there shall not have been, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), except as may otherwise be stated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Material Adverse Effect; (iv) the Issuer and the Guarantors and their subsidiaries shall not have any liabilities or obligations (financial or other), direct or contingent (whether or not in the ordinary course of business), that are material to the Issuer or the Guarantors or their subsidiaries, other than those reflected in the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and (v) all the representations and warranties of the Issuer and the Guarantors contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct at and as of the Applicable Time and on and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time or on and as of such date, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, and signed by either the chief executive officer or chief operating officer and the chief financial officer or similar officer of the Parent on behalf of the Parent, the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor (or such other officers as are acceptable to the Representatives), to the effect set forth in this Section 8(g) and in Section 8(h) hereof.

 

(h)            The Company shall not have failed at or prior to the Closing Date to have performed or complied with any of its agreements herein contained and required to be performed or complied with by it hereunder, at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(i)             The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the date hereof and the Closing Date, signed by the chief financial officer or similar officer of the Parent on behalf of the Parent, the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, certifying to the accuracy of certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(j)             Subsequent to the Applicable Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Issuer’s or the Parent’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

 

(k)            The Issuer and the Guarantors shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives shall have reasonably requested.

 

Any certificate or document signed by any officer of the Parent on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor and delivered to the Representatives, or to counsel for the Underwriters, shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, to the Underwriters as to the statements made therein.

 

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 8 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters and their counsel, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled by the Representatives at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Issuer in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

 

With respect to the Closing Date, the documents required to be delivered by this Section 8 shall be delivered at the offices of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Attention: David C. Wright, counsel for the Underwriters, at Riverfront Plaza, East Tower, 951 Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 on or prior to such date.

 

9.             Expenses. The Issuer agrees to pay the following costs and expenses and all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Issuer and the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction, and filing with the Commission of the registration statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, if any, the Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Incorporated Documents, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Notes, including any stamp or other taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Notes; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, the preliminary and supplemental blue sky memoranda and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Notes; (v) the registration or qualification of the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states as provided in Section 5(g) hereof (including the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters relating to the preparation, printing or reproduction, and delivery of the preliminary and supplemental blue sky memoranda and such registration and qualification); (vi) the filing fees and the fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; (vii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of representatives of Issuer and the Guarantors in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Notes; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ accountants and counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Issuer and the Guarantors.

 

27

 

 

10.           Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, without liability on the part of the Underwriters to the Issuer or the Guarantors, by notice to the Issuer, if, prior to the Closing Date: (i) there shall have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, prospects, properties, net worth, or results of operations of the Issuer or the Parent and their subsidiaries, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as specifically addressed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), the effect of which, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, is so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Notes as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendments thereto), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto); (ii) there shall have occurred any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Issuer or the Parent by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Issuer or the Parent (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) trading in the Parent’s common stock or outstanding preferred stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the NYSE or trading in securities generally on the NYSE or the Nasdaq Stock Market shall have been suspended or materially limited; (iv) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been declared by either federal or state authorities; (v) the Issuer or the Parent or any of their subsidiaries shall have sustained a substantial loss by fire, flood, accident or other calamity which renders it impracticable, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, to consummate the sale of the Notes and the delivery of the Notes by the Underwriters at the initial public offering price; or (vi) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other international or domestic calamity, crisis or change in political, financial or economic conditions, the effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to commence or continue the offering as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendments thereto), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto). Notice of such termination may be given to the Issuer by electronic transmission or by telephone and shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

 

28

 

 

11.          Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Date to purchase the Notes that it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Notes”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Notes in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24 -period, then:

 

(a)            if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Notes does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

 

(b)            if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Notes exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased on such date, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

 

No action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

 

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either (i) the Representatives or (ii) the Issuer shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 11.

 

12.           Information Furnished by the Underwriters. The Issuer hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Issuer expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are (a) the names of the Underwriters appearing in the table immediately below the first paragraph, (b) the second and third sentences of the fourth paragraph, (c) the second sentence of the fifth paragraph and (d) the first, second and third sentences of the sixth paragraph, in each case under the heading “Underwriting” in such documents (collectively, the “Underwriters Content”).

 

13.           Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Notes. The provisions of Sections 5(k), 7 and 9 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

29

 

 

14.           Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)            each of the Underwriters has been retained solely to act as an underwriter in connection with the sale of the Notes and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Issuer and the Guarantors and the Underwriters has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the process leading thereto, irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or any of them is advising the Issuer and the Guarantors on other matters;

 

(b)            the price of the Notes set forth in this Agreement was established by the Issuer following discussions and arm’s-length negotiations with the Underwriters, and the Issuer is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(c)            it has been advised that the Underwriters and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Issuer and the Guarantors and that no Underwriter has an obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Issuer and the Guarantors by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

 

(d)            it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Underwriters for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

 

15.           Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or sent by electronic transmission to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Facsimile: (646) 291-1469, Attention: General Counsel; Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Transaction Management, Email: tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com; or, if sent to the Issuer, will be mailed, delivered, telefaxed or sent by electronic transmission to the office of the Issuer at 70 E. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield, Michigan 48304 (facsimile: 248-737-9110), Attention: Clayton Thelen, Email: cthelen@agreerealty.com.

 

16.           Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

(a)              In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

(b)             In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

30

 

 

 

For purposes of this Section 16: (A) a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (B) “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (C) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (D) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

17.              Successors. This Agreement has been made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Issuer, the Guarantors, their directors and officers, and the other controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof and their respective successors and assigns, to the extent provided herein. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. Neither the term “successor” nor the term “successors and assigns” as used in this Agreement shall include a purchaser from the Underwriters of any of the Notes in his status as such purchaser.

 

18.              Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

19.              Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

20.              Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

21.              Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

22.              Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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23.              Research Analyst Independence. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Issuer or any Guarantor and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Issuer or any Guarantor may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Issuer or a Guarantor by Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors acknowledges that each Underwriter is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the Issuer or any Guarantor and any other companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

24.              Duties. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create a partnership, joint venture or agency relationship between the parties. The parties hereto undertake to perform such duties and obligations only as expressly set forth herein. Such duties and obligations of the parties hereto with respect to the Notes shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Agreement, and the parties hereto shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Notes as are specifically set forth in this Agreement. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors acknowledges that the Underwriters disclaim any implied duties (including any fiduciary duty), covenants or obligations arising from the Underwriters’ performance of their duties and obligations expressly set forth herein.

 

25.              Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated:

 

Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

 

Rule 158,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 173,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 430A,” “Rule 430B,” “Rule 430C,” “Rule 433” and “Rule 436” refer to such rules under the Act.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

32

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us this letter, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Issuer, each Guarantor and the Underwriters.

 

 

    Very truly yours,
     
  AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
         
  By: AGREE REALTY CORPORATION, its General Partner
     
  By: /s/ Joel N. Agree
  Name: Joel N. Agree
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  AGREE REALTY CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Joel N. Agree
  Name: Joel N. Agree
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]

 

33

 

 

  AGREE 117 MISSION, LLC
  AGREE 2016, LLC
  AGREE CENTRAL, LLC
  AGREE COLUMBIA SC, LLC
  AGREE CONVENIENCE NO. 1, LLC
  AGREE CW, LLC
  AGREE DT JACKSONVILLE NC, LLC
  AGREE FARMINGTON NM, LLC
  AGREE GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS OH, LLC
  AGREE GREENWICH CT, LLC
  AGREE LEBANON NH, LLC
  AGREE MCW, LLC
  AGREE ONAWAY MI, LLC
  AGREE ORANGE CT, LLC
  AGREE OXFORD COMMONS AL, LLC
  AGREE SB, LLC
  AGREE SECAUCUS NJ, LLC
  AGREE SHELF ES PA, LLC
  AGREE SHELF PA, LLC
  AGREE SOUTHFIELD, LLC
  AGREE ST PETERSBURG, LLC
  AGREE STORES, LLC
  AGREE TK, LLC
  MT. PLEASANT SHOPPING CENTER, L.L.C.
  PACHYDERM CHATTANOOGA TN, LLC
  PACHYDERM MARIETTA GA, LLC
  PACHYDERM MYRTLE BEACH SC, LLC
  PACHYDERM PHILADELPHIA PA, LLC
  PACHYDERM PROPERTIES, LLC
  PACHYDERM RIVERDALE GA, LLC
  PACHYDERM WAITE PARK MN, LLC
  PAINT PA, LLC
   
  By: AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, its Sole Member
   
  By: AGREE REALTY CORPORATION, its General Partner
   
  By: /s/ Joel N. Agree
  Name: Joel N. Agree
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]

 

34

 

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:

 

For themselves and as Representatives of the

several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto.

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

 

By: /s/ Adam D. Bordner  

Name: Adam D. Bordner

Title: Director

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

By: /s/ Carolyn Hurley  

Name: Carolyn Hurley

Title: Director

 

[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]

 

35

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Name of Underwriter   Principal Amount
of Notes to be
Purchased
 
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.   $ 105,000,000  
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC   $ 105,000,000  
Jefferies LLC   $ 35,000,000  
Capital One Securities, Inc.   $ 13,125,000  
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC   $ 13,125,000  
Mizuho Securities USA LLC   $ 13,125,000  
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.   $ 13,125,000  
Regions Securities LLC   $ 13,125,000  
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated   $ 13,125,000  
Truist Securities, Inc.   $ 13,125,000  
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.   $ 13,125,000  
Total   $ 350,000,000  

 

Schedule I-1

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES INCLUDED IN THE DISCLOSURE PACKAGE

 

 

(i)               Final Term Sheet, attached as Schedule II-A hereto

 

(ii)              Electronic Roadshow Presentation

 

 

Schedule II-1

 

 

SCHEDULE II-A

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-238729
Relating to Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
Dated August 12, 2020 to Prospectus Dated May 27, 2020

 

 

Agree Limited Partnership

 

$350,000,000 2.900% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”)

 

August 12, 2020

 

Pricing Term Sheet

 

Issuer: Agree Limited Partnership
Guarantors: Agree Realty Corporation, the sole general partner of Agree Limited Partnership, and certain of Agree Limited Partnership’s existing and future subsidiaries
Security Title: 2.900% Notes due 2030
Expected Ratings (Moody’s / S&P)*: Baa2 (Stable) / BBB (Stable)
Aggregate Principal Amount: $350,000,000
Stated Maturity Date: October 1, 2030
Public Offering Price: 99.927% of the principal amount
Coupon (Interest Rate): 2.900% per annum
Yield to Maturity: 2.908%
Benchmark Treasury: UST 0.625% due May 15, 2030
Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield: 99-22 / 0.658%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury: +225 basis points
Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2021
Optional Redemption:

·      Prior to July 1, 2030 (three months prior to the Stated Maturity Date of the Notes), “make-whole” call at T+35 basis points (calculated as though the actual Stated Maturity Date of the Notes was July 1, 2030)

 

·      On or after July 1, 2030 (three months prior to the Stated Maturity Date of the Notes), par call

 

CUSIP / ISIN: 008513 AA1 / US008513AA19
Trade Date: August 12, 2020
Settlement Date: August 17, 2020 (T+3); under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to that trade expressly agree otherwise.  Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes before the second business day prior to the Settlement Date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially will settle on a delayed basis, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement, and should consult their own advisors with respect to these matters.

 

Schedule II-A-1

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers:

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Jefferies LLC

 

Co-Managers:

Capital One Securities, Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Regions Securities LLC

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

Truist Securities, Inc.

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

 

*       Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

 

The Issuer has filed a registration statement and a prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and the related preliminary prospectus supplement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the underwriters can arrange to send you the prospectus and related preliminary prospectus supplement if you request it by calling Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-800-831-9146 or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at 1-800-645-3751. This information does not purport to be a complete description of these securities or the offering. Please refer to the preliminary prospectus supplement for a complete description of the securities. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

 

Any disclaimer or other notice that may appear below is not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimer or notice was automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent by Bloomberg or another email system.

 

Schedule II-A-2

 

 

SCHEDULE III

 

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES AND JOINT VENTURES

 

The name of each entity that is a Subsidiary Guarantor appears in bold font with an asterisk:

 

Name Jurisdiction of Organization Foreign Qualification
2355 Jackson Avenue, LLC Michigan  
ACCP Maryland, LLC Delaware  
ADC Express, LLC Michigan  
Agree 117 Mission, LLC* Michigan  
Agree 2016, LLC* Delaware Alabama                                                     
  Florida                                                     
  Georgia                                                     
  Michigan
  North Carolina                                              
  South Carolina                                              
  Tennessee                                                   
  Texas                                                       
Agree Apopka FL. LLC Delaware                                                     Florida
Agree Baton Rouge LA LLC Louisiana                                                     
Agree Beecher, LLC Michigan  
AGREE BELTON MO LLC Delaware                                                     Missouri                                                    
  Michigan
Agree Bristol & Fenton Project, LLC Michigan  

Agree Central, LLC*

Delaware          Arkansas                                                    
  Illinois                                                    

Indiana                                                     
Iowa                                                        
Michigan                                                    
Minnesota                                                   
  Ohio                                                        
  Oklahoma                                                    
  Pennsylvania
  South Dakota
  Wisconsin            
Agree - Columbia Crossing Project, LLC Michigan  
Agree Columbia SC, LLC* Delaware                                                     South Carolina                                              
Agree Construction Management, LLC Delaware                                                   California
Agree Convenience No. 1, LLC* Delaware                                                     Illinois                                                    
  Kansas
  Missouri                                                    
  New York                                                    
  Texas
  Ohio

 

Schedule III-1

 

 

Name Jurisdiction of Organization Foreign Qualification
    West Virginia     
Agree Corunna, LLC Michigan  
Agree CW, LLC* Delaware     Kentucky    
Michigan
  Texas 
Agree Dallas Forest Drive, LLC Texas   
Agree Development, LLC Delaware      
Agree DT Jacksonville NC, LLC* Delaware     North Carolina    
Agree Farmington NM, LLC* Delaware     New Mexico  
Agree Fort Walton Beach, LLC Florida       
Agree Fort Worth TX, LLC Delaware     Texas
Agree Grandview Heights OH, LLC* Delaware     Ohio
AGREE GREENWICH CT, LLC* Delaware  Connecticut
Agree Lebanon NH, LLC* Delaware     New Hampshire     
Agree Lejune Springfield IL, LLC Illinois      

Agree Limited Partnership

Delaware     Alabama     
Arizona     
Arkansas    
California  
Colorado    
Connecticut 
Florida     
Georgia     
Illinois    
Indiana     
Iowa  
Kansas
Kentucky    
Louisiana   
Maryland    
Michigan    
Minnesota   
Mississippi 
Missouri    
Montana     
Nebraska    
Nevada
New Hampshire     
New Jersey  
New Mexico  
New York    
North Carolina    
North Dakota
Ohio  
Oklahoma    

 

Schedule III-2

 

 

Name Jurisdiction of Organization Foreign Qualification
    Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina    
South Dakota
Tennessee   
Texas 
Utah  
Virginia    
Washington  
West Virginia     
Wisconsin   
Agree Littleton CO LLC Delaware Colorado    
Agree M-59 LLC Michigan  
Agree Madison AL, LLC Michigan      Alabama
Agree Marietta, LLC Georgia       
Agree MCW, LLC* Delaware     Iowa  
 
  New Mexico  
Agree Onaway MI, LLC* Delaware     Michigan
Agree Orange CT, LLC* Delaware  Connecticut
Agree Oxford Commons AL, LLC* Delaware      Alabama
Agree Plainfield LLC Michigan Indiana
AGREE PORT ST. JOHN, LLC Delaware     Florida     
Agree Rancho Cordova I, LLC California    
Agree Realty Services, LLC Delaware     Michigan
    Georgia     
Agree Roseville CA, LLC California    
Agree SB, LLC* Delaware     Alabama     
  Indiana     
  Kentucky    
  Ohio
  Georgia
  North Carolina    
  Tennessee   
  Texas 
Agree Secaucus NJ, LLC* Delaware     New Jersey  
Agree Shelf ES PA, LLC* Delaware     Pennsylvania  
Agree Shelf PA, LLC* Delaware     Pennsylvania  
Agree Southfield LLC* Michigan  
Agree Spring Grove, LLC Illinois      
Agree St. Augustine Shores, LLC Delaware     Florida     
Agree St Petersburg, LLC* Florida       

Agree Stores, LLC*

 

 

Delaware Alabama
Arizona 
California    
Colorado     

 

Schedule III-3

 

 

Name Jurisdiction of Organization Foreign Qualification
    Connecticut 
Florida     
Georgia     
Illinois    
Indiana     
Kansas
Kentucky    
Louisiana   
Maryland    
Massachusetts     
Michigan    
Minnesota   
Missouri    
Nevada
New Hampshire     
New Jersey  
New York    
North Carolina    
Ohio  
Pennsylvania
South Carolina    
Tennessee   
Texas 
Virginia    
West Virginia     
Wisconsin
Agree Tallahassee, LLC Florida       
Agree TK, LLC* Delaware     Illinois    
Agree Upland CA, LLC Delaware     California  
Agree Walker, LLC Michigan  
Agree Wallingford CT, LLC Delaware Connecticut 
Agree Wawa Baltimore, LLC Maryland      
Agree Wichita Falls TX LLC Texas   
Agree Wilmington, LLC North Carolina      
AMCP Germantown, LLC Delaware  
Ann Arbor Store No 1, LLC Delaware  
Boynton Beach Store No. 150, LLC Delaware  
DD 71, LLC Delaware      

Lawrence Store No. 203 L.L.C.

 

Delaware     Kansas
Lunacorp, LLC Delaware     Virginia
Mt. Pleasant Shopping Center LLC* Michigan  

Nesor Realty Ventures LLC

(J&B One LLC)

Florida  
Oklahoma City Store No. 151, LLC Delaware  
Omaha Store No. 166, LLC Delaware  
Pachyderm Chattanooga TN, LLC* Delaware     Tennessee   

 

Schedule III-4

 

 

Name Jurisdiction of Organization Foreign Qualification
Pachyderm Chicago IL, LLC Delaware                                                     Domestic Representation (Limited Liability Company)
Pachyderm Marietta GA, LLC* Delaware                                                     Georgia                                                     
Pachyderm Myrtle Beach SC, LLC* Delaware                                                     South Carolina                                              
Pachyderm Philadelphia PA, LLC* Delaware                                                     Pennsylvania       

Pachyderm Properties, LLC*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware Alabama                                                     
Arkansas                                                    
Colorado                                                    
Connecticut                                                 
Florida                                                     
Georgia                                                     
Illinois                                                    
Indiana                                                     
Kentucky                                                    
Louisiana                                                   
Maryland                                                    
Massachusetts                                               
Minnesota                                                   
Mississippi                                                 
Missouri                                                    
New Hampshire                                               
New Jersey                                                  
New York                                                    
North Carolina                                              
Ohio                                                        
Oklahoma                                                    
Rhode Island                                                
South Carolina                                              
Tennessee                                                   
Texas                                                       
Virginia                                                    
Washington                                                  
Wisconsin                                                   
Pachyderm Properties II, LLC Delaware                                                      
Pachyderm Riverdale GA, LLC* Delaware                                                     Georgia                                                     
Pachyderm Waite Park MN, LLC* Delaware                                                     Minnesota                                                   
Paint PA, LLC* Delaware                                                     Pennsylvania                                                
 
Phoenix Drive, LLC Delaware  

 

Joint Ventures

None

 

Schedule III-5

 

 

SCHEDULE IV

 

MATERIAL AGREEMENTS

 

1. Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 8, 1994 by and among the Agree Realty Corporation, Richard Agree, Edward Rosenberg and Joel Weiner

 

2. First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Agree Limited Partnership, dated as of April 22, 1994, as amended, by and among the Agree Realty Corporation, Richard Agree, Edward Rosenberg and Joel Weiner

 

3. Second Amendment to First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Agree Limited Partnership, dated as of March 20, 2013

 

4. First Amendment and Joinder, dated December 15, 2016, to the Term Loan Agreement dated July 1, 2016, among Agree Limited Partnership, Capital One and the other lenders party thereto

 

5. Amended Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 2014, by and between the Company and Richard Agree

 

6. Amended Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 2014, by and between the Company and Joey Agree

 

7. Letter Agreement of Employment dated April 5, 2010 between Agree Limited Partnership and Laith Hermiz

 

8. Employment Agreement, dated October 20, 2017, between Agree Realty Corporation and Clayton R. Thelen

 

9. Agree Realty Corporation Profit Sharing Plan

 

10. Agree Realty Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

11. Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under the Agree Realty Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

12. Form of Performance Share Award Agreement under the Agree Realty Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

13. Form of Performance Unit Award Notice under the Agree Realty Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

14. Agree Realty Corporation 2017 Executive Incentive Plan, dated February 16, 2017

 

15. Note Purchase Agreement, by Agree Limited Partnership dated May 28, 2015

 

16. Note Purchase Agreement, dated July 28, 2016, by and among Agree Realty Corporation, Agree Limited Partnership, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and Advantus Capital Management, Inc.

 

Schedule IV-1

 

 

17. Term Loan Agreement dated July 1, 2016, among Agree Limited Partnership, Capital One, National Association and the other lenders party thereto

 

18. Second Amendment to Term Loan Agreement dated November 2, 2018, among Agree Limited Partnership, Capital One, National Association, and the other lenders party thereto

 

19. Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2017, among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation and the purchasers named therein

 

20. Uncommitted Master Note Facility, dated as of August 3, 2017, among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Associate of America (“TIAA”) and each TIAA Affiliate (as defined therein)

 

21. First Supplement to Uncommitted Master Note Facility, dated as of September 26, 2018, among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation and TIAA

 

22. Uncommitted Master Note Facility, dated as of August 3, 2017, among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation and AIG Asset Management (U.S.), LLC (“AIG”) and each AIG Affiliate (as defined therein)

 

23. First Supplement to Uncommitted Master Note Facility, dated as of September 26, 2018, among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation, AIG and the institutional investors named therein

 

24. Increase Agreement, dated July 18, 2018 among Agree Limited Partnership, as the Borrower, the Company, as the parent, PNC Bank, National Association and the other lender parties thereto

 

25. Form of Revolving Note under the Increase Agreement dated July 18, 2018

 

26. Term Loan Agreement, dated December 27, 2018, by and among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation, PNC Bank, National Association and the other lenders party thereto

 

27. Guaranty, dated as of December 27, 2018, by and among Agree Realty Corporation and each of the subsidiaries of Agree Limited Partnership party thereto

 

28. Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2014, by and between the Company and Richard Agree

 

29. Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2019, among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation and the purchasers named therein.

 

30. First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated May 6, 2019, by and among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation, PNC Bank, National Association and the other lenders party thereto.

 

31. Second Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2019, by and among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation, PNC Bank, National Association and the other lenders party thereto

 

Schedule IV-2

 

 

32. Third Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated May 6, 2019, by and among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation, Capital One, National Association and the other lenders party thereto

 

33. Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated December 5, 2019, among the Company, the Borrower, PNC Bank and the other lenders party thereto.

 

34. Fourth Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated December 5, 2019, among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation, Capital One, National Association and the other lenders party thereto.

 

35. Second Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated December 5, 2019, among Agree Limited Partnership, Agree Realty Corporation, PNC Bank, National Association and the other lenders party thereto.

 

36. Summary of Material Terms of Compensation Arrangement with Danielle M. Spehar (effective December 7, 2019).

 

37. Agree Realty Corporation 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

38. Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under Agree Realty Corporation 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

39. Form of Performance Unit Agreement under the Agree Realty Corporation 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

Schedule IV-3

 

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF OPINION OF HONIGMAN LLP

 

Exhibit A-1

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF OPINION OF BALLARD SPAHR LLP

 

Exhibit B-1

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF OPINION OF LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP

 

Exhibit C-1

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
as Company,

 

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION,
as Guarantor,

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of August 17, 2020

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page 

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
Section 1.1.            Definitions 1
Section 1.2.            Other Definitions 5
Section 1.3.            Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act 6
Section 1.4.            Rules of Construction 6
ARTICLE II. THE SECURITIES 6
Section 2.1.            Issuable in Series 6
Section 2.2.            Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities 7
Section 2.3.            Execution and Authentication 9
Section 2.4.            Registrar and Paying Agent 10
Section 2.5.            Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 11
Section 2.6.            Securityholder Lists 11
Section 2.7.            Transfer and Exchange 11
Section 2.8.            Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 12
Section 2.9.            Outstanding Securities 13
Section 2.10.          When Securities Disregarded 13
Section 2.11.          Temporary Securities 13
Section 2.12.          Cancellation 14
Section 2.13.          Defaulted Interest 14
Section 2.14.          Global Securities 14
Section 2.15.          CUSIP Numbers 16
ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION 16
Section 3.1.            Notice to Trustee 16
Section 3.2.            Selection of Securities to be Redeemed 17
Section 3.3.            Notice of Redemption 17
Section 3.4.            Effect of Notice of Redemption 18
Section 3.5.            Deposit of Redemption Price 18
Section 3.6.            Securities Redeemed in Part 19
ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS 19
Section 4.1.            Payment of Principal and Interest 19
Section 4.2.            SEC Reports 19
Section 4.3.            Compliance Certificate 20
Section 4.4.            Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 20
Section 4.5.            Existence 20
ARTICLE V. SUCCESSORS 21
Section 5.1.            Company and General Partner May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms 21

 

i

 

 

Section 5.2.            Successor Person Substituted 23
ARTICLE VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 23
Section 6.1.            Events of Default 23
Section 6.2.            Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 25
Section 6.3.            Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 26
Section 6.4.            Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 26
Section 6.5.            Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 27
Section 6.6.            Application of Money Collected 27
Section 6.7.            Limitation on Suits 28
Section 6.8.            Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest 28
Section 6.9.            Restoration of Rights and Remedies 29
Section 6.10.          Rights and Remedies Cumulative 29
Section 6.11.          Delay or Omission Not Waiver 29
Section 6.12.          Control by Holders 29
Section 6.13.          Waiver of Past Defaults 30
Section 6.14.          Undertaking for Costs 30
ARTICLE VII. TRUSTEE 30
Section 7.1.            Duties of Trustee 30
Section 7.2.            Rights of Trustee 32
Section 7.3.            Individual Rights of Trustee 33
Section 7.4.            Trustee’s Disclaimer 33
Section 7.5.            Notice of Defaults 34
Section 7.6.            Reports by Trustee to Holders 34
Section 7.7.            Compensation and Indemnity 34
Section 7.8.            Replacement of Trustee 35
Section 7.9.            Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. 36
Section 7.10.          Eligibility; Disqualification 36
Section 7.11.          Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 36
ARTICLE VIII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE 37
Section 8.1.            Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 37
Section 8.2.            Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification 38
Section 8.3.            Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series 38
Section 8.4.            Covenant Defeasance 40
Section 8.5.            Repayment to Company 41
Section 8.6.            Reinstatement 41
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS 41
Section 9.1.            Without Consent of Holders 41
Section 9.2.            With Consent of Holders 42
Section 9.3.            Limitations 43
Section 9.4.            Compliance with Trust Indenture Act 44
Section 9.5.            Revocation and Effect of Consents 44

 

ii

 

 

Section 9.6.            Notation on or Exchange of Securities 44
Section 9.7.            Trustee Protected 44
ARTICLE X. GUARANTEES 45
Section 10.1.          Guarantee 45
Section 10.2.          Limitation of Guarantee 46
Section 10.3.          Execution and Delivery of Guarantee 47
Section 10.4.          Release of Guarantee 47
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS 48
Section 11.1.         Trust Indenture Act Controls 48
Section 11.2.          Notices 48
Section 11.3.          Communication by Holders with Other Holders 49
Section 11.4.          Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 49
Section 11.5.          Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 50
Section 11.6.          Rules by Trustee and Agents 50
Section 11.7.          Legal Holidays 50
Section 11.8.          No Recourse Against Others 50
Section 11.9.          Counterparts 51
Section 11.10.        Governing Law 51
Section 11.11.        No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 51
Section 11.12.        Successors 51
Section 11.13.        Severability 51
Section 11.14.        Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 51
Section 11.15.        Force Majeure 51
Section 11.16.        USA PATRIOT Act 52
Section 11.17.        Jury Waiver 52
ARTICLE XII. SINKING FUNDS 52
Section 12.1.          Applicability of Article 52
Section 12.2.          Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 53
Section 12.3.          Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 53
ARTICLE XIII. MEETINGS OF SECURITYHOLDERS OF SECURITIES 53
Section 13.1.          Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called 53
Section 13.2.          Calling of a Meeting of Securityholders 54
Section 13.3.          Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings 54
Section 13.4.          Quorum; Action 54
Section 13.5.          Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings 55
Section 13.6.          Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings 56

 

iii

 

 

AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Indenture, dated as of ___________, 2020

 

§ 310(a)(1)   7.10
(a)(2)   7.10
(a)(3)   Not Applicable
(a)(4)   Not Applicable
(a)(5)   7.10
(b)   7.10
§ 311(a)   7.11
(b)   7.11
(c)   Not Applicable
§ 312(a)   2.6
(b)   11.3
(c)   11.3
§ 313(a)   7.6
(b)(1)   7.6
(b)(2)   7.6
(c)(1)   7.6
(d)   7.6
§ 314(a)   4.2, 11.5
(b)   Not Applicable
(c)(1)   11.4
(c)(2)   11.4
(c)(3)   Not Applicable
(d)   Not Applicable
(e)   11.5
(f)   Not Applicable
§ 315(a)   7.1
(b)   7.5
(c)   7.1
(d)   7.1
(e)   6.14
§ 316(a)   2.10
(a)(1)(A)   6.12
(a)(1)(B)   6.13
(b)   6.8
§ 317(a)(1)   6.3
(a)(2)   6.4
(b)   2.5
§ 318(a)   11.1

 

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.

 

iv

 

 

 

Indenture dated as of August 17, 2020 among Agree Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation operating as a real estate investment trust (the “General Partner”), as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association (the “Trustee”).

 

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.1.                   Definitions.

 

Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.

 

Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.

 

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the General Partner.

 

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any Series of the Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any committee, officer or employee of the General Partner, authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors, as evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a Legal Holiday in The City of New York (or in connection with any payment, the place of payment) on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.

 

 

 

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

 

Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be principally administered.

 

CUSIP number” means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a security by Standard & Poor’s, CUSIP Service Bureau.

 

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.

 

EDGAR” means the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

2

 

 

“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of determination.

 

General Partner” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

 

Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

 

Guarantee” means the full and unconditional guarantee, if any, by a Guarantor of the Company’s obligations with respect to a Series of Securities pursuant to the terms set forth in this Indenture.

 

Guaranteed Series of Securities” means a Series of Securities, the obligations of the Company with respect to which are guaranteed by a Guarantor.

 

Guarantor” initially means the General Partner and shall include any Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Guarantor with respect to a particular Series of Securities pursuant to a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, and, subject to the provisions of Article 5 hereof, shall include their respective successors and assigns.

 

Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.2.

 

interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after a Maturity Date, means interest payable after the Maturity Date.

 

Material Subsidiary” means one or more Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, having assets equal to or greater than $50,000,000 in value calculated in accordance with GAAP.

 

Maturity Date” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, or call for redemption.

 

3

 

 

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and any Vice President of the General Partner.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. If agreeable to the Trustee in its sole discretion, the counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the General Partner.

 

person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.

 

Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having responsibility for administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.

 

Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors” means, as of any date, all Subsidiaries of the General Partner that guarantee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and any Series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and “Subsidiary Guarantor” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture, the Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate, such Subsidiary shall cease to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

4

 

 

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.

 

Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.

 

Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act” means the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act as adopted by any state with jurisdiction over the Company or any Guarantor and any successor legislation.

 

Uniform Voidable Transactions Act” means the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act as adopted by any state with jurisdiction over the Company or any Guarantor and any successor legislation.

 

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into Law October 26, 2001)).

 

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

Section 1.2.                   Other Definitions.

 

TERM DEFINED IN
SECTION
DTC 2.14
Event of Default 6.1
Legal Holiday 11.7
mandatory sinking fund payment 12.1
Notice Agent 2.4
optional sinking fund payment 12.1
Paying Agent 2.4
Registrar 2.4
Successor Person 5.1

 

5

 

 

Section 1.3.                   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

indenture securities” means the Securities.

 

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and each Guarantor, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

 

Section 1.4.                   Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)               a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(b)               an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(c)               or” is not exclusive;

 

(d)               words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(e)               provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

 

(f)                the phrase “in writing” as used herein shall be deemed to include portable document format attachments and other electronic means of transmission, unless otherwise indicated (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com).

 

ARTICLE II.
THE SECURITIES

 

Section 2.1.                   Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

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Section 2.2.                   Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.

 

At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.23) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate:

 

2.2.1.          the title (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series except to the extent that additional securities of an existing Series are being issued);

 

2.2.2.          the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;

 

2.2.3.          any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);

 

2.2.4.          the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

 

2.2.5.          the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any,

 

2.2.6.          the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

2.2.7.          if such interest will be payable other than in cash, including by issuance of additional securities of the same Series or will accrue and increase the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Securities of the Series;

 

2.2.8.          the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

 

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2.2.9.          if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

2.2.10.        the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

2.2.11.        the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;

 

2.2.12.        if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the minimum denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;

 

2.2.13.        the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities, and in such case, the Depositary for such Series;

 

2.2.14.        if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Stated Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;

 

2.2.15.        the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;

 

2.2.16.        any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;

 

2.2.17.        any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;

 

2.2.18.        any interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series;

 

2.2.19.        the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of such Series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price, the conversion or exchange period, the securities or other property into which the Securities will be convertible, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at the option of the Holders thereof or at the option of the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange if such Series of Securities are redeemed;

 

2.2.20.        whether the Securities of such Series will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if applicable, the subordination terms thereof;

 

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2.2.21.        any Guarantor of the Securities of such Series pursuant to Article X in addition to the General Partner, and the form and terms of the Guarantees (including provisions relating to seniority or subordination of such Guarantees and the release of the Guarantors), if any, of any payment or other obligations on such Securities and any additions or changes to this Indenture to permit or facilitate guarantees of such Securities;

 

2.2.22.        any addition to or change in the provisions related to satisfaction and discharge or covenant defeasance or legal defeasance in Article VIII;

 

2.2.23.        whether the Securities of such Series are to be issued as Discount Securities and the amount of discount with which such Securities may be issued; and

 

2.2.24.         any other terms of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series), including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that Series.

 

All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate referred to above.

 

Section 2.3.                   Execution and Authentication.

 

An Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual, facsimile, electronic or portable document format signature. Any Guarantee on the Securities shall be executed on behalf of the applicable Guarantor by an Officer or by the Company as the sole member of such Guarantor by manual, facsimile, electronic or portable document format signature in the name and on behalf of such Guarantor.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual, facsimile, electronic or portable document format signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

The aggregate outstanding principal amount of Securities of any Series at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.

 

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Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officer’s Certificate complying with Section 11.4 (which may be the same Officer’s Certificate as provided under clause (a) hereof), and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 11.4.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith determines that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Trustee to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Section 2.4.                   Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered (“Notice Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands; provided, however, that any appointment of the Trustee as the Notice Agent shall exclude the appointment of the Trustee or any office of the Trustee as an agent to receive the service of legal process on the Company. The Company may change any Registrar or Paying Agent of a Series without notice to any Holder.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional notice agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional notice agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Notice Agent” includes any additional notice agent. The Company or any of its Affiliates may serve as Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

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The Company hereby appoints the Trustee to act as the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.

 

Section 2.5.                   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any Default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such Default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.

 

Section 2.6.                   Securityholder Lists.

 

The Registrar shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and Registrar at least 10 days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.

 

Section 2.7.                   Transfer and Exchange.

 

Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment by the applicable Securityholders of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).

 

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Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days immediately preceding the sending of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is sent, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange of Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.

 

Section 2.8.                   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity bond as may be required by each of them to hold itself and any of its agents harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If, after the delivery of such replacement Security, a bona fide purchaser of the original Security in lieu of which such replacement Security was issued presents for payment or registration such original Security, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover such replacement Security from the person to whom it was delivered or any person taking therefrom, except a bona fide purchaser, and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company, the Trustee and the Agent shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

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Section 2.9.                   Outstanding Securities.

 

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Subject to the foregoing and to Section 2.10, in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given or concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder (including, without limitation, determinations pursuant to Articles VI and IX hereof), only Securities outstanding at the time of such determination shall be considered in any such determination.

 

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Stated Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay all amounts payable in respect of such Securities on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

 

The Company or an Affiliate may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security (but see Section 2.10 below).

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Stated Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

Section 2.10.                 When Securities Disregarded.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company, any other obligor on the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.11.                 Temporary Securities.

 

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order in accordance with the procedures in Section 2.3. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and Stated Maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.

 

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Section 2.12.                 Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act and the Trustee) and deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Company upon written request of the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.13.                 Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the special record date, the Company shall send to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.

 

Section 2.14.                 Global Securities.

 

2.14.1.        Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

 

2.14.2.        Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.

 

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Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.

 

Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent) or (b) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Security shall be required to be reflected in a book-entry.

 

2.14.3.        Legends. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITARY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.”

 

In addition, if and so long as the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) is the Depositary, each Global Security registered in the name of DTC or its nominee shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

 

2.14.4.        Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

 

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2.14.5.              Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.

 

2.14.6.              Consents, Declaration and Directions. The Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary or by the applicable procedures of such Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture and neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any liability or responsibility for any action or inaction of the Depositary or any clearinghouse.

 

Section 2.15.               CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

 

ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.1.                   Notice to Trustee.

 

The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities (identified by CUSIP) to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 15 days before the redemption date, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

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Section 3.2.                   Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Securities of the Series to be redeemed will be selected as follows: (a) if the Securities are in the form of Global Securities, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, (b) if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed, or (c) if not otherwise provided for under clause (a) or (b) in the manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, including by lot, pro rata or other method, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements, subject, in the case of Global Securities, to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Securities to be redeemed shall be selected from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. Portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000 may be selected for redemption. Securities of the Series and portions of them selected for redemption shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.11, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and the authorized integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption. Notices of redemption may be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent to the extent so indicated for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2; otherwise, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Subject to the satisfaction of any conditions precedent to such redemption (to the extent so indicated for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2), Securities called for redemption become irrevocably due on the date fixed for redemption at the applicable redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. On and after the redemption date, unless the Company defaults in paying the applicable redemption price, interest ceases to accrue or accrete on Securities or portions of them called for redemption. If a redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent (to the extent so indicated for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2), the redemption date may be delayed by the Company until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion) by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. In such case, references herein to “redemption date” mean the original redemption date or the redemption date so delayed.

 

Section 3.3.                   Notice of Redemption.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall send or cause to be sent by first-class mail or electronically, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.

 

The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a)               the redemption date;

 

(b)               the redemption price, including interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the redemption date;

 

(c)               the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

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(d)               if any Securities are being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date and upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Security shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Security;

 

(e)               that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(f)                any conditions precedent to such redemption and, if the Company elects to do so, that the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion);

 

(g)               that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date unless the Company defaults in the deposit of the redemption price;

 

(h)               the CUSIP number, if any; and

 

(i)                 any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense.

 

Section 3.4.                   Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is sent as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Except as otherwise provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

Section 3.5.                   Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date, other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption that have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall as promptly as practicable return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Securities to be redeemed. If such money is then held by the Company in trust and is not required for such purpose it shall be discharged from such trust.

 

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If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Securities or the portions of the Securities called for redemption. If a Security is redeemed on or after a regular record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the person in whose name such Security was registered at the close of business on such regular record date and the redemption price shall not include accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to, but not including, the redemption date. If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities.

 

Section 3.6.                   Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

 

ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1.                   Payment of Principal and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of each Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 4.2.                   SEC Reports.

 

To the extent any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company and the General Partner shall deliver to the Trustee for each Series within 15 days of the date the Company or the General Partner is required to file the same with the SEC copies of the annual reports, quarterly reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company or the General Partner is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company and the General Partner also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a). If the Company or the General Partner is not subject to the requirements of such Section 13 or 15(d), the Company or the General Partner shall nevertheless continue to (1) file such reports and other documents with the SEC (unless the SEC will not accept such filings) on or prior to the respective dates by which the Company or the General Partner, would have been required so to file such documents if it were so subject, and (2) file with the Trustee for each Series copies of such reports and other documents; provided if the SEC will not accept such filings for any reason, the Company will make the reports referred to in the preceding paragraph available on its website within the required timeframe that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC. Reports, information and documents filed with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee and the Holders as of the time of such filing via EDGAR for purposes of this Section 4.2. The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed via EDGAR.

 

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The Company and the General Partner shall also file with the Trustee for each Series, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the TIA at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the SEC. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.2 are for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall nave no liability or responsibility for the filing, timeliness or content of any such report.

 

Section 4.3.                   Compliance Certificate.

 

To the extent any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the Company and the General Partner during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers in their duties as Officers of the General Partner and to the best knowledge of such Officers, such review did not disclose that a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which the Officer has knowledge and the steps to be taken to cure such Defaults or Events of Default). The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the delivery of, timeliness or content of any such Officer’s Certificate.

 

Section 4.4.                   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Company and the General Partner covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company and the General Partner (to the extent they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenant that they will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.5.                   Existence.

 

Subject to Article V hereof, each of the Company and the Guarantors will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company or the Board of Directors, as applicable, shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable.

 

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ARTICLE V.
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.1.                   Company and General Partner May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, neither the Company nor the General Partner shall consolidate or merge with or into, any other person, or convey, sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its respective properties and assets to any person unless:

 

(a)               the person formed by such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or the General Partner, as applicable) or the person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or the General Partner, as applicable, shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction (the “Successor Person”) and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture in customary and commercially reasonable form, executed and delivered to the Trustee, (1) in the case of a Successor Person to the Company, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the Securities of any Series and the performance or observance of every covenant of the Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed by the Company or (2) in the case of a Successor Person to the General Partner, all of the obligations of the General Partner under the Guarantee of the General Partner and the performance or observance of every covenant of the Indenture on the part of the General Partner to be performed or observed by the General Partner; and

 

(b)               immediately after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(c)               the Company or the General Partner, as applicable, shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture, if any, comply with this Section 5.1 and that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction and the supplemental indenture in respect thereto have been complied with.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, neither the Company nor the General Partner will permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate or merge with into, any other person, or convey, sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its respective properties and assets to any person unless the following conditions are met:

 

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(d)               such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if not such Subsidiary Guarantor) formed by or resulting from any consolidation or merger or which shall have received the transfer of assets shall be domiciled in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, under the Series of Securities or its guarantee, as applicable; provided, that the foregoing requirement will not apply in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor (x) that has been disposed of in its entirety to another person (other than to the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner), whether through a merger, consolidation or sale of Capital Stock or has sold, leased or conveyed all or substantially all of its assets or (y) that, as a result of the disposition of all or a portion of its Capital Stock, ceases to be a Subsidiary;

 

(e)               immediately after giving effect on a pro forma basis to the transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(f)                an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture, if any, comply with this Section 5.1 and that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction and the supplemental indenture in respect thereto have been complied with shall be delivered to the Trustee.

 

In the event of any transaction described in and complying with the conditions listed in the immediately preceding paragraph in which such Subsidiary Guarantor is not the continuing entity, the Successor Person formed or remaining shall succeed, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of such Subsidiary Guarantor, and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be discharged from its obligations under the Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate with, merge into or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties to the Company or to any other Guarantor. Neither an Officer’s Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith if the Company or another Guarantor is the surviving entity.

 

This “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” covenant will not apply to:

 

· a merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the General Partner, the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors; or

 

· a merger between the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries, respectively, and the General Partner or such Subsidiary incorporated or formed solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the General Partner or such Subsidiary in another state of the United States.

 

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Section 5.2.          Successor Person Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, with or merger of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, into, any other person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, to any other person in accordance with Section 5.1, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, with respect to each Series of Securities then outstanding under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Successor Person had been named therein as the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, and thereafter the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, will be automatically released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, as the case may be, and may liquidated and dissolve.

 

ARTICLE VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.1.                   Events of Default.

 

Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

 

(a)               default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the 30th day of such period); or

 

(b)               default in the payment of principal, premium if any, of any Security of that Series at the Maturity Date; or

 

(c)               default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty by the Company, the General Partner, or in the case of any Guaranteed Series of Securities only, any Guarantor of such Guaranteed Series of Securities, in this Indenture (other than defaults pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b) above or pursuant to a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 consecutive days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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(d)               the Company, the General Partner or any Material Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i)                commences a voluntary case,

 

(ii)               consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(iii)              consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(iv)              makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

 

(v)               generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or

 

(e)               a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i)                is for relief against the Company, the General Partner or any Material Subsidiary in an involuntary case,

 

(ii)               appoints a Custodian of the Company, the General Partner or any Material Subsidiary for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(iii)              orders the liquidation of the Company, the General Partner or any Material Subsidiary

 

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;  or

 

(f)                the Guarantee of any Guarantor required to guarantee the Securities ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture) or such Guarantor denies or disaffirms in writing its obligations under the Indenture or its Guarantee; or

 

(g)               any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.

 

The Company will provide the Trustee written of notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of Securityholders of that Series.

 

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Section 6.2.                   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

(a)       If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of acceleration, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders) specifying the Event of Default, and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

(b)       At any time after the principal of the Securities of that Series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series then outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(i)                   the Company or the General Partner has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that Series and the principal of (and premium, if any) any and all Securities of that Series that shall have become due otherwise than solely as a result of acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that Series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and

 

(ii)                  any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such Series, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal (or specified portion thereof), premium, if any, and interest on Securities of that Series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.13. No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

 

(c)       In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that Series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, the General Partner, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the General Partner and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

 

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(d)       No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.3.                   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

(a)               default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 60 days, or

 

(b)               default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Stated Maturity thereof, or

 

(c)               default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, if any, when and as due by the terms of a Security,

 

then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the compensation, reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 6.4.                   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

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(a)               to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the compensation, reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(b)               to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,

 

and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the compensation, reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.5.                   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the compensation, reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 6.6.                   Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee or any Agent under Section 7.7; and

 

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Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

 

Third: To the Company or for any Guaranteed Series of Securities, the Guarantor of such Series or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall otherwise direct.

 

Section 6.7.                   Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

(a)               such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;

 

(b)               the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(c)               such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Trustee in compliance with such request;

 

(d)               the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(e)               no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series;

 

it being understood, intended and expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Security with every other Holder and the Trustee that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders of the applicable Series.

 

Section 6.8.                   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Security on the Maturity Date of such Security, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 6.9.                 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 6.10.               Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 6.11.               Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee, any Agent or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 6.12.               Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall 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 Securities of such Series, provided that:

 

(a)               such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

(b)               the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction,

 

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(c)               subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability, and

 

(d)               prior to taking any action as directed under this Section 6.12, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnity and security satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

Section 6.13.               Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series, by written notice to the Trustee and the Company, waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default (a) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration) and (b) in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security affected thereby.. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.14.               Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Maturity Date of such Security, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).

 

ARTICLE VII.
TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.1.                   Duties of Trustee.

 

(a)               If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

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(b)               Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i)                 The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

 

(ii)                In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the form requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c)               The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i)                 This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.

 

(ii)                The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

 

(iii)               The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.12 hereof.

 

(d)               Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

(e)               The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power.

 

(f)                The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(g)               No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if adequate indemnity against such risk is not assured to the Trustee in its satisfaction.

 

(h)               Each Agent and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections and immunities as are set forth in Article VII with respect to the Trustee.

 

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Section 7.2.                   Rights of Trustee.

 

(a)               The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

(b)               Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

 

(c)               The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.

 

(d)               The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

 

(e)               The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in reliance thereon.

 

(f)                The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(g)               The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

(h)               The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is actually received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.

 

(i)                 In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.

 

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(j)                 The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or duty to do so.

 

(k)               Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity, or otherwise, for the obligations evidenced by the Securities.

 

(l)                 The Trustee shall have no obligation to undertake any calculation hereunder or have any liability for any calculation performed in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

(m)               The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

(n)               The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder.

 

(o)               The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

Section 7.3.                   Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

Section 7.4.                   Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.

 

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and its receipt of such reports shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of the covenants under the Indenture, any Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture or the Series of Securities (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, compliance with any such covenants as aforesaid or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the SEC or EDGAR or any website under the Indenture, or participate in any conference calls.

 

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The Company will provide a schedule of any calculations required hereunder or under any supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate, including calculations of any amounts to be paid under the Indenture or the Series of Securities to the Trustee. The Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee has no duty or responsibility to monitor or ensure compliance with any of the covenants described herein by the Company or any Guarantor.

 

Section 7.5.                   Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer, the Trustee shall send to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of such Default or Event of Default within 90 days after a Responsible Officer has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of Securityholders of that Series.

 

Section 7.6.                   Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

Within 60 days after each anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall deliver to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such anniversary date, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.

 

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed (or delisted as the case may be) on any national securities exchange.

 

Section 7.7.                   Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Company and each Guarantor shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including for the cost of defending itself) against any cost, expense or liability, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity, although the failure to so notify shall not negate any indemnification obligation hereunder. The Company or the applicable Guarantor shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel in each applicable jurisdiction and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

 

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The Company and any Guarantor need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order.

 

To secure the Company’s and each Guarantor’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

Section 7.8.                   Replacement of Trustee.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

 

The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company at least 30 days prior. The Company may, upon 30-day notice, remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:

 

(a)               the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

(b)              the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(c)               a Custodian takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d)               the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

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If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the expense of the Company in the case of a petition by the Trustee), the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it for actions taken or omitted to be taken in accordance with its rights, powers and duties under this Indenture prior to such replacement. The resigning or removed Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.9.                   Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee, subject to Section 7.10.

 

Section 7.10.               Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 7.11.               Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.1.                   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Order be discharged with respect to the Securities of any Series and cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of such Series (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and of the Company and the Guarantor (for any Guaranteed Series of Securities) with respect to such Series of Securities, when

 

(a)               either:

 

(i)                 all Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(ii)                all such Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

 

(1)               have become due and payable by reason of sending a notice of redemption or otherwise, or

 

(2)               will become due and payable at their maturity within one year, or

 

(3)               have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or

 

(4)               are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;

 

and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount of money or U.S. Government Obligations, which amount shall be sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest are due;

 

(b)               the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(c)               the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

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Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.

 

Section 8.2.                   Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

 

(a)               Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4.

 

(b)               The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

 

(c)               The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Order any U.S. Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

 

Section 8.3.                   Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.

 

Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the Company and the Guarantor of such Series of Securities shall be deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities of such Series and all Guarantees (if any) of such Series shall be discharged and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, execute instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(a)               the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;

 

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(b)               the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 7.7, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and

 

(c)               the rights, powers, trusts and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith;

 

provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(d)               the Company shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest and such sinking fund payments are due;

 

(e)               such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(f)                no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(g)               the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(h)               the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

 

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(i)                 the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

Section 8.4.                   Covenant Defeasance.

 

Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, or 4.5, and 5.1 and, unless otherwise specified therein, any additional covenants specified in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a Board Resolutions, supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.18 and designated as an Event of Default shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities will be unaffected thereby; provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a)               with reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest are due;

 

(b)               such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(c)               no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(d)               the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm, subject to customary exclusions, that the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, covenant defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, covenant defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

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(e)               The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

 

(f)                The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

Section 8.5.                   Repayment to Company.

 

Subject to applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.

 

Section 8.6.                   Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Agent is unable to apply any monies or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with the provisions of this Article, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred until such time as the Trustee or Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Securities following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

Section 9.1.                   Without Consent of Holders.

 

The Company, the General Partner and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental to the Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder for one or more of the following purposes:

 

9.1.1.      to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture; provided that this action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Securityholders in any material respect;

 

9.1.2.      to evidence a successor to the Company as obligor or any Guarantor as guarantor under the Indenture with respect to the Securities;

 

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9.1.3.      to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Securities then outstanding;

 

9.1.4.      to provide for the issuance of additional Securities in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture;

 

9.1.5.      to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the Indenture by more than one trustee;

 

9.1.6.      to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA;

 

9.1.7.      to reflect the release of any Guarantor, as guarantor, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture;

 

9.1.8.      to secure the Securities;

 

9.1.9.      to add guarantors with respect to the Securities;

 

9.1.10.    to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; and

 

9.1.11.    to conform the text of the Indenture, any guarantee or the Securities to any provision of the “Description of Notes” in any offering document filed with the SEC to the extent that such provision in this “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, such Guarantee or the Securities (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate).

 

Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, authorizing the execution of any supplemental indenture, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the General Partner in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company, the General Partner and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of any Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

 

Section 9.2.                   With Consent of Holders.

 

The Company, the Guarantor (in the case of a Guaranteed Series of Securities) and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

Section 9.3.                   Limitations.

 

Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:

 

(a)               reduce the principal amount of the Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b)               reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on the Securities;

 

(c)               reduce the principal of, or premium, if any, on, or change the fixed maturity of, the Securities;

 

(d)               waive an Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, if any, the Securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(e)               make the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities payable in currency other than that stated in the Securities;

 

(f)                make any change to certain provisions of the Indenture relating to, among other things, the right of Holders of the Securities to receive payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, and interest on, if any, the Securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers of past default or amendments;

 

(g)               waive a redemption payment with respect to the Securities; provided that such redemption is not made at the Company’s option; or

 

(h)               release any Guarantor as a guarantor of the Securities other than as provided in this Indenture or modify the guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

 

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Section 9.4.                   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

Section 9.5.                   Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.

 

Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

 

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the second immediately preceding paragraph, those persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or take any such action, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

 

Section 9.6.                   Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

 

The Company or the Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.3 new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.

 

Section 9.7.                   Trustee Protected.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures upon delivery of such an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel or both, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture. Each Opinion of Counsel provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture shall also provide that the supplemental indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company (and any Guarantor) in accordance with its terms.

 

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ARTICLE X.
GUARANTEES

 

This Article X shall apply only to a Series of Securities that is indicated in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 as having a Guarantee and only for so long as, and to the extent of, such Guarantee.

 

Section 10.1.               Guarantee.

 

(a)               Subject to the other provisions of this Article X, the Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that it receives substantial benefits from the Company and the Guarantor is providing the Guarantee for good and valuable consideration, including, without limitation, such substantial benefits, and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Guaranteed Series of Securities (which Security has been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee), and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Guaranteed Series of Securities, or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

(1)               the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Guaranteed Series of Securities will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Guaranteed Series of Securities, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders of Guaranteed Series of Securities, or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof;

 

(2)               in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Guaranteed Series of Securities or any of such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise; and

 

(3)               in case there shall be more than one Guarantor under any Guaranteed Series of Securities, the obligations of the Guarantors shall be joint and several.

 

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantor will be obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

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(b)               To the extent permitted under applicable law, the obligations of the Guarantor under the Guaranteed Series of Securities are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Series of Securities or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Guaranteed Series of Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that the Guaranteed Series of Securities will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Guaranteed Series of Securities and this Indenture.

 

(c)               If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantor or any Custodian acting in relation to any of the Company or the Guarantor, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, the Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

(d)               The Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. The Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent permitted under applicable law, as between the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders of Guaranteed Series of Securities and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes hereof, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI hereof, such obligations (regardless of whether due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of the Guarantees.

 

Section 10.2.               Limitation of Guarantee.

 

The Guarantor, and by its acceptance of a Guaranteed Series of Securities, each Holder thereof, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of the Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law (including pursuant to Sections 547 through and including Section 533 of the Bankruptcy Law), the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, to the extent permitted under applicable law, the Holders and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of the Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of the Guarantor in respect of the obligations of the Guarantor under this Article X, result in the obligations of the Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

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The Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees, to the extent permitted under applicable law, that in the event of the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, the Guarantor shall not file (or join in any filing of), or otherwise seek to participate in the filing of, any motion or request seeking to stay or to prohibit (even temporarily) execution on the Guarantee and hereby waives and agrees not to take the benefit of any such stay of execution, whether under Section 362 or 105 of the Bankruptcy Law or otherwise.

 

Section 10.3.               Execution and Delivery of Guarantee.

 

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.1 hereof, the Guarantor hereby agrees that a Guarantee in such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantor by an Officer of the Guarantor on each Guaranteed Series of Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.1 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to execute a Guarantee with respect to any Guaranteed Series of Securities.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on such Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Security as to which such Guarantee relates, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

 

The delivery of any Guaranteed Series of Securities by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Guarantee of such Guaranteed Series of Securities set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantor.

 

Section 10.4.               Release of Guarantee.

 

Any Guarantee other than the Guarantee of the General Partner shall be automatically and unconditionally released (without the requirement of any further action by the Trustee): (i) upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of a majority of the total voting power of the Capital Stock or other interests of such Guarantor (other than to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company); (ii) upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the property of such Guarantor (other than to any Affiliate of the Company); or (iii) if at any time when no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Series of Securities, such Guarantor no longer guarantees (or which guarantee is being simultaneously released or will be immediately released after the release of the Guarantor) any other debt of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. A Guarantee also shall be released with respect to a Guaranteed Series of Securities as provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2. Any Guarantee, with respect to a Guaranteed Series of Securities, also will be released if the Company exercises its legal defeasance or its covenant defeasance option with respect to such Series as set forth in Article VIII, or if the Company’s obligations under this Indenture with respect to such Series are discharged as set forth in Section 8.4. The Company will give written notice as promptly as practicable to the Trustee of the automatic release of any Guarantee pursuant to this Section 10.4. At the Company’s request, the Trustee will execute and deliver any documents, instructions or instruments evidencing such release upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which the Trustee will be fully protected in relying upon) stating that such documents, instructions or instruments are permitted or authorized by this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE XI.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.1.               Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

 

Section 11.2.               Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Company, the General Partner or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company, the General Partner or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing (including facsimile and .pdf transmissions) and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), email or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

if to the Company or the General Partner:

 

Agree Limited Partnership

c/o Agree Realty Corporation

70 East Long Lake Road

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48034

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: (248) 419-6335

Facsimile: (248) 737-9110

Email: cthelen@agreerealty.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Honigman LLP

39400 Woodward Avenue, Suite 101

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Attention: Lowell D. Salesin

Telephone: (248) 566-8540

Facsimile: (248) 566-8541

Email: lsalesin@honigman.com

 

if to the Trustee:

 

U.S. Bank National Association

Attention: Global Corporate Trust

535 Griswold Street, Suite 550

Detroit, MI 48226

Telephone: (313) 234-4716

Facsimile: (313) 963-9428

Email: james.kowalski@usbank.com

 

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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

BODMAN PLC
6th Floor at Ford Field
1901 St. Antoine Street
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Attention: Jessica Davis

Telephone: 313-393-7587

Facsimile:

Email: jdavis@bodmanlaw.com

 

The Company, the General Partner or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be sent electronically or by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Failure to send a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.

 

If a notice or communication is sent or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.

 

If the Company or the Guarantor sends a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.

 

Section 11.3.               Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

Section 11.4.               Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee (and the Trustee will be fully protected in relying upon):

 

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(a)               an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(b)               an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Section 11.5.               Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

 

(a)               a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b)               a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(c)               a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(d)               a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 11.6.               Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 11.7.               Legal Holidays.

 

Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2., a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

Section 11.8.               No Recourse Against Others.

 

A director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager or stockholder (past, present or future, as such, of the Company or any Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor or any successor to the Company or such Guarantor under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

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Section 11.9.               Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by manual, facsimile, electronic or portable document format signature shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes.

 

Section 11.10.           Governing Law.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 11.11.           No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 11.12.           Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company and the Guarantor in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

Section 11.13.           Severability.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 11.14.           Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, reconciliation and the table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 11.15.           Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

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Section 11.16.           USA PATRIOT Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

Section 11.17.           Jury Waiver.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY, ANY GUARANTOR, THE SECURITYHOLDERS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

ARTICLE XII.
SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 12.1.               Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series if so provided by the terms of such Securities pursuant to Section 2.2 and except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.

 

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Section 12.2.               Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 12.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.

 

Section 12.3.               Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 12.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2) before each such sinking fund payment date the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date will be selected in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and the Company shall send or cause to be sent a notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in and in accordance with Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.

 

ARTICLE XIII.
MEETINGS OF SECURITYHOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 13.1.               Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

 

A meeting of Securityholders of any Series of Securities may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Section 13.1 to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act provided by the Indenture to be made, given or taken by Securityholders of such Series.

 

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Section 13.2.               Calling of a Meeting of Securityholders.

 

(a)               The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders of any Series for any purpose specified in Section 13.1, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Securityholders of any Series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 11.2, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(b)               In case at any time the Company, the General Partner or the Securityholders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Securityholders of such Series for any purpose specified in Section 13.1, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of or made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company, the General Partner, if applicable, or the Securityholders of such Series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (a) of this Section 13.2.

 

Section 13.3.               Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders, a person shall be (a) a Securityholder of one or more outstanding Securities of such Series, or (b) a person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Securityholder or Securityholders of one or more outstanding Securities of such Series by such Securityholder or Securityholders; provided, that none of the Company, any other obligor upon the Series of Securities or any Affiliate of the Company shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders or be counted for purposes of determining a quorum at any such meeting in respect of any Series of Securities owned by such persons. The only persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders of any Series shall be the persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel, any representatives of the Guarantors and their counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

Section 13.4.               Quorum; Action.

 

The persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders of such Series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at the meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the Securityholders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series, the persons holding or representing the specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 13.2, except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

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Except as provided in Section 9.3, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Securityholders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; provided, however, that any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which the Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Securityholders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Securityholders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series. Any such resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Securityholders of a Series duly held in accordance with this Section 13.4 shall be binding on all the Securityholders of such Series, whether or not such Securityholders were present or represented at the meeting.

 

Section 13.5.               Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

 

(a)               Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders of a Series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such Series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate.

 

(b)               The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 13.2(b), in which case the Company, the General Partner or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Series of Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

(c)               At any meeting, each Securityholder of Securities of such Series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities held or represented by the Securityholder; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Securityholder of such Series or proxy.

 

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(d)               Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to Section 13.2 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Section 13.6.               Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Securityholders of a Series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Securityholders of such Series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the outstanding Series of Securities held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders of such Series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 13.2 and, if applicable, Section 13.4. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and the General Partner, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
  a Delaware limited partnership
     
  By: AGREE REALTY CORPORATION,
    Its sole general partner
     
  By: /s/ Joel N. Agree
    Name:  Joel N. Agree
    Its: President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  AGREE REALTY CORPORATION,
  a Maryland corporation
     
  By: /s/ Joel N. Agree
    Name: Joel N. Agree
    Its: President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ James Kowalski
    Name: James Kowalski
    Its: Vice President

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned, Joel N. Agree, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGREE REALTY CORPORATION (the “General Partner”), a Maryland corporation operating as a real estate investment trust, hereby certifies, on behalf of the General Partner in its own capacity and as sole general partner of AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), pursuant to Sections 2.1, 2.2 and 11.5 of the Indenture, dated as of August 17, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), by and among the Company, the General Partner, as a guarantor, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and the other parties thereto, as follows:

 

1. The undersigned has read Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Base Indenture and such other sections of the Base Indenture and other documents and has made such other inquiries as he has deemed necessary to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the covenants and conditions precedent provided for in the Base Indenture relating to the issuance of the Company’s 2.900% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) have been complied with.

 

2. In the opinion of the undersigned, the covenants and conditions precedent provided for in the Base Indenture relating to the issuance of the Notes have been complied with.

 

3. The forms of the Notes and the guarantee of the Notes by the General Partner, the Subsidiary Guarantors and any future guarantor, and the terms of the Notes, as set forth in Exhibit A attached to Annex A hereto have been duly established pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Base Indenture and comply with the Base Indenture, and this Officer’s Certificate is delivered in accordance with Sections 2.3 and 11.4 of the Base Indenture and complies with the requirements of such Sections.

 

[SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this certificate to be duly executed as of this 17 day of August, 2020.

 

  AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
  a Delaware limited partnership
       
  By:   AGREE REALTY CORPORATION,
    Its sole general partner
       
  By: /s/ Joel N. Agree
    Name:   Joel N. Agree
    Its: President and Chief Executive Officer
       
  AGREE REALTY CORPORATION,
  a Maryland corporation
       
  By: /s/ Joel N. Agree
    Name: Joel N. Agree
    Its: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature page to Officer’s Certificate to Indenture]

 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

Pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Indenture, dated as of August 17, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), among AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), AGREE REALTY CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation operating as a real estate investment trust, (the “General Partner”) as a guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), the terms of the Notes to be issued pursuant to the Base Indenture are as set forth below. The Base Indenture together with, and as amended and supplemented by, the Officer’s Certificate (the “Series Officer’s Certificate”), dated as of August 17, 2020, establishing the terms of the Notes and of which this Annex A forms a part, is referred to herein as the “Indenture”. Certain defined terms are set forth in paragraph 17 hereof. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Series Officer’s Certificate shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture.

 

1.    Title. One series of Securities is hereby established under the Base Indenture and shall be known and designated as the “2.900% Notes due 2030”.

 

2.    Aggregate Principal Amount. The Notes shall be limited in initial aggregate principal amount to $350,000,000, except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6 of the Base Indenture. The Company may in the future, without the consent of Holders, issue additional Notes (“Additional Notes”) on the identical terms as the Notes being offered hereby other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price and date of first payment of interest thereon. The Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture would be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided, however, that if such Additional Notes will not be fungible with the applicable previously outstanding Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number.

 

3.      Issue Price. The Notes will be issued at a price equal to 99.927% of the principal amount thereof.

 

4.      Maturity. The date on which the principal of the Notes is payable is October 1, 2030 (the “Stated Maturity Date”).

 

5.      Rate of Interest; Interest Payment Date; Regular Record Dates. The Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 2.900% per year. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Notes shall accrue from August 17, 2020, and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on April 1, 2021, to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered in the security register at the close of business on the immediately preceding March 15 or September 15, as the case may be (a “Regular Record Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly made available for payment (or from and including the date of issue, if no interest has been paid or duly made available for payment with respect to the Notes) to, but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date, the Stated Maturity Date or date of earlier redemption (the Stated Maturity Date, the date of acceleration, or the date of earlier redemption referred to collectively herein as the “Maturity Date”), as the case may be. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment will be made on the next Business Day as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment until the next Business Day.

 

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6.      Place of Payment. Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, on the Notes shall be payable, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Payment of principal of, premium, if any, on a definitive Note may be made only against surrender of the Note to the Company’s paying agent. The Company may make interest payments (1) by wire transfer of funds to the person at an account maintained within the United States, or (2) if no wire transfer is provided, the Company may make interest payments by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as that address appears in the applicable register for those Notes. However, while any Notes are represented by a registered Global Security, payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes may be made by wire transfer to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. Any interest not so punctually paid or duly made available for payment shall be paid in accordance with the form of Note as set forth on Exhibit A.

 

7.      No Sinking Fund. The Notes are not mandatorily redeemable and are not entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund or any analogous provisions.

 

8.      Optional Redemption. The Company may redeem all or part of the Notes at any time at its option as set forth in the form of Note as set forth on Exhibit A and in Article III of the Base Indenture. 

 

9.      Registered Securities. The Notes shall be issued only as registered Securities, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The Notes shall be issuable as registered Global Securities in book-entry form.

 

10.    Registrar; Paying Agent; Depositary. The Trustee shall initially serve as the registrar and the paying agent for the Notes. The Depository Trust Company shall initially serve as the Depositary for the registered Global Security representing the Notes.

 

11.    Amount Payable Upon Acceleration. 100% of the principal of and accrued interest, if any, on the Notes shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Indenture.

 

12.    Ranking Security. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equally with other senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company that is not subordinated to the Notes.

 

13.    Payment Currency-Election. The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall not be payable in a currency other than Dollars.

 

14.    Payment Currency-Index. The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall not be determined with reference to an index based on a coin or currency.

 

15.    Notes in Definitive Form. Section 2.14 of the Base Indenture will govern the transferability of the Notes in definitive form.

 

16.    Events of Default. There shall be no deletions from, modifications or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.1 of the Base Indenture, except, with respect to the Notes, clause (g) of Section 6.1 of the Base Indenture shall be deemed deleted in its entirety and the following shall be added as clause (g) of the Base Indenture: “failure to pay any Debt (other than Non-Recourse Debt) (a) of the Company, the General Partner, or any Material Subsidiary or any entity in which we are the general partner or managing member, and (b) in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable grace period, which Debt is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within 60 days after written notice to the Company from the Trustee (or to the Company and the Trustee from Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes).”

 

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17.    Covenants. There shall be the following additions, replacements, amendments and supplements, as the case may be, to the covenants of the Company set forth in Article IV of the Base Indenture solely with respect to the Notes:

 

(a)    Limitation on Incurrence of Total Debt. This paragraph (a) will be an addition to Article IV of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes. The General Partner will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Debt of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP is greater than 60% of the sum of (without duplication) (1) the Total Assets of the General Partner as of the end of the latest fiscal quarter covered in the General Partner’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if such filing is not required under the Exchange Act, furnished to the Trustee) prior to the incurrence of such additional Debt, and (2) the aggregate purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the aggregate amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), in each case by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such fiscal quarter, including the proceeds obtained from the incurrence of such additional Debt.

 

(b)    Debt Service Test. This paragraph (b) will be an addition to Article IV of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes. The General Partner will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to the Annual Service Charge for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date on which such additional Debt is to be incurred is less than 1.5 to 1.0, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom, and calculated on the assumptions that: (1) such Debt and any other Debt incurred by the General Partner or its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period and the application of the proceeds therefrom (including to refinance other Debt since the first day of such four-quarter period) had occurred as of the first day of such period, (2) the repayment or retirement of any other Debt (other than Debt repaid or retired with the proceeds of any other Debt, which repayment or retirement shall be calculated pursuant to clause (1) and not this clause) by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period had been repaid or retired as of the first day of such period (except that, in making such computation, the amount of Debt under any revolving credit facility, line of credit or similar facility shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Debt during such period), (3) in the case of Acquired Debt or Debt incurred by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any acquisition since the first day of such four-quarter period, the related acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such four-quarter period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in such pro forma calculation, and (4) in the case of any acquisition or disposition by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets since the first day of such four-quarter period, including, without limitation, by merger, stock purchase or sale, or asset purchase or sale, such acquisition or disposition had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition and any related repayment of Debt being included in such pro forma calculation. If the Debt giving rise to the need to make the foregoing calculation or any other Debt incurred after the first day of the relevant four-quarter period bears interest at a floating rate (to the extent such Debt has been hedged to bear interest at a fixed rate, only the portion of such Debt, if any, that has not been so hedged), then, for purposes of calculating the Annual Service Charge, the interest rate on such Debt shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the average interest rate that would have been in effect during the entire such period had been the applicable rate for the entire such period.

 

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(c)    Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets. This paragraph (c) will be an addition to Article IV of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes. The General Partner and its Subsidiaries will maintain at all times Total Unencumbered Assets of not less than 150% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Unsecured Debt of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d)    Limitation on Incurrence of Secured Debt. This paragraph (d) will be an addition to Article IV of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes. The General Partner will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Secured Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Secured Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Secured Debt of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP is greater than 40% of the sum of (without duplication) (1) the Total Assets of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the latest fiscal quarter covered in the General Partner’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, furnished to the Trustee) prior to the incurrence of such additional Debt, and (2) the aggregate purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the aggregate amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such fiscal quarter, including the proceeds obtained from the incurrence of such additional Debt.

 

For purposes of the covenant described in clauses (a)-(d) Debt shall be deemed to be “incurred” by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries whenever the General Partner or such Subsidiary shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof. Furthermore, nothing in clauses (a)-(d) shall prevent the incurrence of Debt by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries between or among the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(e)    Future Subsidiary Guarantors. This paragraph (e) will be an addition to Article IV of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes. Each Subsidiary of the General Partner that guarantees (now or in the future) other Debt of the Company or of any Guarantor shall immediately be and become, automatically and without the execution or delivery of any instrument or other action by any person, jointly and severally with any other Guarantors of the Notes, a Guarantor of the Notes and shall be subject to and bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Indenture applicable to a Guarantor of the Notes; provided that the General Partner shall cause any such Guarantor to within thirty calendar days (i) execute and deliver to the Trustee a guarantee in the form of guarantee attached to the Notes (the “Guarantee”) to acknowledge such guarantee in accordance with Article X of the Indenture, and (ii) deliver to the Trustee, in addition to any other documents to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.4 of the Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (x) the execution of such Guarantee is authorized or permitted by the Indenture, and (y) such Guarantee has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid binding obligation of such entity, enforceable against such entity in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions.

 

(f)    Maintenance of Properties. This paragraph (f) will be an addition to Article IV of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes. Each of the General Partner and the Company shall cause its material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary of the Company to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order, normal wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted, and supplied with all necessary equipment and will require it to cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements to those properties, as in its judgment may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection with those properties may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be prevented from (1) removing permanently any property that has been condemned or suffered casualty loss, (2) discontinuing any maintenance or operation of any property if, in Company’s reasonable judgment, such removal is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes or (3) selling or otherwise disposing of these properties for value in the ordinary course of business.

 

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(g)    Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. This paragraph (g) will be an addition to Article IV of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes. The General Partner and the Company shall pay or discharge (or, if applicable, cause to be transferred to bond or other security) or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed on each of the General Partner, the Company and its Subsidiaries or upon the income, profits or property of each of the General Partner, the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, that General Partner and the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge (or transfer to bond or other security) or cause to be paid or discharged any material tax, assessment or charge, (a) the applicability or validity of which it is contesting in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which it has established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP or (b) where the failure to effect such payment is not, in the General Partner or the Company’s reasonable judgment, adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

(h)    Insurance. This paragraph (h) will be in addition to Article IV of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes. The General Partner and the Company shall, and shall cause the Subsidiaries to, keep in force upon all of its properties and operations policies of insurance with financially sound and reputable carriers in such amounts and covering all risks as shall be customary in the industry, in accordance with prevailing market conditions and availability.

 

(i)    Certain Definitions. As used herein (and to the extent any such definitions conflict with definitions included in the Base Indenture, the definitions included here shall control with respect to the Notes):

 

Acquired Debt” means Debt of a person (i) existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such person, in each case, other than Debt incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such person becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Debt shall be deemed to be incurred on the date of the related acquisition of assets from any person or the date the acquired person becomes a Subsidiary.

 

Annual Service Charge” for any period means, without duplication, amount that is payable for interest expense on, and the amortization during such period of any original issue discount of, the General Partner’s and its Subsidiaries’ Debt in such period.

 

Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service” for any period means Earnings from Operations of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries plus amounts which have been deducted, and minus amounts which have been added, for the following (without duplication):

 

(1) interest expense on Debt of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries,

 

(2) provision for taxes of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries based on income,

 

(3) amortization of debt discount, premium and other deferred financing charges,

 

(4) provision for gains and losses and depreciation and amortization,

 

(5) the effect of any noncash charge resulting from a change in accounting principles in determining Earnings from Operations for such period,

 

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(6) gains and losses resulting from the extinguishment of debt, and

 

(7) all other non-cash charges.

 

Debt” of the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries means any indebtedness of the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries, excluding any accrued expense or trade payable, whether or not contingent, in respect of:

 

(1) borrowed money evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments,

 

(2) indebtedness secured by any Lien existing on property owned by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries, but only to the extent of the lesser of (x) the amount of indebtedness so secured and (y) the fair market value of the property subject to such Lien existing on property owned by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries,

 

(3) the reimbursement obligations, contingent or otherwise, in connection with any letters of credit actually issued and called or amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, or all conditional sale obligations or obligations under any title retention agreement, or

 

(4) any lease of property by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries as lessee that is reflected on the General Partner’s consolidated balance sheet and classified as a finance lease in accordance with GAAP,

 

and to the extent, in the case of items of indebtedness under clauses (1) and (3) immediately above, that any such items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability on the General Partner’s consolidated balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise (other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business), Debt of another person (other than the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries); provided, however, that the term “Debt” shall not include Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantees of the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries until such time as they become primary obligations of, and payments are due and required to be made thereunder by, the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Earnings from Operations” for any period means net income excluding gains and losses on sales of investments, net, as reflected in the financial statements of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, lien, charge, encumbrance, trust deed, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, security agreement, pledge, security interest, security agreement or other encumbrance of any kind.

 

Non-Recourse Debt” means Debt of a joint venture or Subsidiary of the General Partner (or an entity in which the Company is a general partner or managing member) that is directly or indirectly secured by real estate assets or other real estate-related assets (including Capital Stock) of such joint venture or Subsidiary (or an entity in which the Company is a general partner or managing member that is the borrower) and is non-recourse to the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to a Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantee and other than with respect to the joint venture or Subsidiary of the General Partner (or entity in which the Company is the general partner or managing member that is the borrower); provided further that, if any such Debt is partially recourse to the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to a Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantee and other than with respect to the joint venture or Subsidiary of the General Partner (or entity in which the Company is the general partner or managing member) that is the borrower) and therefore does not meet the criteria set forth above, only the portion of such Debt that does meet the criteria set forth above shall constitute “Non-Recourse Debt.”

 

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Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantees” means customary completion or budget guarantees, indemnities or other customary guarantees provided to lenders (including by means of separate indemnification agreements, carve-out guarantees or pledges of the equity interests in the borrower ) under such Non-Recourse Debt in the ordinary course of business of the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries in financing transactions that are directly or indirectly secured by real estate assets or other real estate-related assets (including Capital Stock) of a joint venture or Subsidiary of the General Partner (or an entity in which the Company is the general partner or managing member), in each case that is the borrower in such financing, but is non-recourse to the General Partner or any of its other Subsidiaries, except for such completion or budget guarantees, indemnities or other guarantees (including by means of separate indemnification agreements or carve-out guarantees or pledges of the equity interests in the borrower) as are consistent with customary industry practice (such as environmental indemnities and recourse triggers based on violation of transfer restrictions and other customary exceptions to non-recourse liability).

 

Secured Debt” means Debt secured by a Lien on any property or assets of the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors” means, as of any date, all Subsidiaries of the General Partner, if any, that guarantee the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes in accordance with the provisions of this Annex A and the Indenture, and “Subsidiary Guarantor” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its guarantee in accordance with paragraph 18 of this Annex A and Article X of the Base Indenture, such Subsidiary shall cease to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Total Assets” means, as of any date, the sum of (i) Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and (ii) all of the General Partner’s and its Subsidiaries’ other assets, but excluding accounts receivables, right of use assets relating to operating leases and non-real estate intangibles, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Unencumbered Assets” means the sum of the General Partner’s and its Subsidiaries’ Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and the value determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP of all of the General Partner’s and its Subsidiaries’ other assets, other than accounts receivables, right of use assets relating to operating leases and non-real estate intangibles, in each case not subject to any Lien of any kind for borrowed money; provided, however, that “Total Unencumbered Assets” does not include investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, unconsolidated limited partnerships, unconsolidated limited liability companies and other unconsolidated entities.

 

Undepreciated Real Estate Assets” as of any date means the cost (original cost plus capital improvements) of real estate assets and related intangibles of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries on such date, before depreciation and amortization charges determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Unsecured Debt” means Debt of the types described in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof that is not secured by any Lien upon any of the properties of the General Partner or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

A-7

 

 

18.    Guarantee. The Notes are guaranteed by the Guarantors as provided in Article X of the Indenture. The General Partner and the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule I are hereby designated as “Guarantors” under the Indenture with respect to the Notes on the original issue date. Each other Subsidiary of the General Partner shall become a Guarantor of the Notes as provided in the Indenture and paragraph 17(e) of this Annex A. Each Guarantor’s guarantee of the Notes shall be in the form of the Guarantee, is an unsecured obligation of such Guarantor and ranks equally with other unsecured indebtedness of such Guarantor that is not subordinated to its Guarantee of the Notes. Other than in accordance with Section 10.4 of the Base Indenture, the General Partner shall not be released from its Guarantee of the Notes so long as any Notes remain outstanding.

 

(a)       Any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released: (i) upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of a majority of the total voting power of the Capital Stock or other interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor (other than to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company); or (ii) upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the property of such Subsidiary Guarantor (other than to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company); or (iii) if at any time when no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes, such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer guarantees (or which guarantee is being simultaneously released or will be immediately released after the release of the Subsidiary Guarantor) any other Debt of the Company or of any Guarantor.

 

(b)       The Guarantees also will be automatically released if the Company exercises its legal defeasance or its covenant defeasance option with respect to the Notes as set forth in Article VIII of the Base Indenture, or if the Company’s obligations under the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes are discharged as set forth in Section 8.4 thereof.

 

19.    Conversion and Exchange. The Notes shall not be convertible into or exchangeable into any other security.

 

20.    Satisfaction and Discharge; Covenant Defeasance. Article VIII of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes. In addition to the other sections of the Indenture subject to the covenant defeasance provisions set forth in Article VIII of the Base Indenture, the covenants set forth in paragraph 17 of this Annex A shall be subject to the covenant defeasance provisions set forth in Article VIII of the Base Indenture.

 

21.    Discount Securities. The Notes are not Discount Securities.

 

22.    Modification, Amendment and Waiver. The terms and provisions of the Notes may be modified, amended, supplemented or waived as set forth in the Indenture.

 

23.    Other Terms. The Notes shall have the other terms, and the Notes shall be substantially in the form set forth in, Exhibit A. In case of any conflict between this Annex A and the Notes, the form of the Notes shall control. In the case of any conflict between, on the one hand, this Annex A and/or the Notes, and on the other hand, the Base Indenture, this Annex A and/or the Notes shall control.

 

A-8

 

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF NOTE

 

FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE

 

FORM OF GUARANTEE

 

A-9

 

   

[FORM OF NOTE]

 

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITARY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

UNLESS THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY GLOBAL NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

______% Notes due _____

CUSIP No. ____________

ISIN No. ______________

No. [ ]     $[ ]

 

AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership (hereinafter referred to as “Issuer,” which term includes any successor thereof under the Indenture (as defined on the reverse hereof)), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] ($[ ]) on _______________ (the “Stated Maturity Date” with respect to the principal of this Note), unless previously redeemed on any call for redemption in accordance with the provisions set forth on the reverse hereof (the Stated Maturity Date, the date on which the principal becomes due following acceleration or any call for redemption is referred herein as the “Maturity Date” with respect to principal repayable or repurchased on such date) and to pay interest thereon semi-annually in arrears on ________ and ________ of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on _______________, at the rate of _____% per annum, until payment of said principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on this Note payable on an Interest Payment Date will accrue from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly made available for payment, or from and including _______________ if no interest has been paid or duly made available for payment, to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. Interest on this Note will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

  A-1  

 

 

The interest so payable and punctually paid or duly made available for payment on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Holder in which name this Note is registered in the security register at the close of business on the “Regular Record Date” for such payment, which shall be the ________ and ________, as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (regardless of whether such day is a Business Day (as defined below)). Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly made available for payment shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and shall be paid to the person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on a subsequent special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest (which shall be not more than 5 Business Days prior to the date of the payment of such defaulted interest) established by notice given by mail by or on behalf of the Issuer to the Holders of the Notes not less than 15 calendar days preceding such subsequent special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

 

The principal of, and premium, if any, with respect to, this Note payable on the Maturity Date will be paid against presentation and surrender of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or other office or agency of the Issuer maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. The Issuer hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (as defined on the reverse hereof) as the office to be maintained by it where Notes may be presented for payment, registration of transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes or the Indenture may be served.

 

If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment required to be made on such date will, instead, be made on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as if it were made on the date such payment was due, and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. “Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, supplemental indenture to the Indenture or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Base Indenture, any day except Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York (or in connection with any payment, the place of payment) on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of this Note will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts (i) in the case of payments on the Maturity Date, in immediately available funds, and (ii) in the case of payments of interest on an Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date, (a) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States of America, or (b) if no wire transfer is provided, by check mailed to the Holder entitled thereto at the applicable address appearing in the security register; provided, however, that so long as Cede & Co. is the Holder of this Note, payments of interest on an Interest Payment Date may be made in immediately available funds.

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Note shall not be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or the Guarantee or be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been executed by manual signature by the Trustee.

 

  A-2  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed, manually, electronically or by facsimile by an authorized signatory.

 

Date: _______________      
       
  AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
       
  By: AGREE REALTY CORPORATION, its sole general partner
       
  By:                  
    Name:               
    Title:  

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein, referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
     
  By:  
    Authorized Signatory

 

  A-3  

 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 


_____% Notes due _____

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Issuer (hereinafter called the “Securities”) of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of _______________, duly executed and delivered by the Issuer, AGREE REALTY CORPORATION (the “General Partner”), to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture with respect to the series of Securities of which this Note is a part), together with the Officer’s Certificate amending and supplementing the Base Indenture and establishing the terms of the Notes (collectively with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, and all modifications and amendments and indentures supplemental thereto relating to the Notes, made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties, and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Issuer, the Guarantor(s) and the Holders of the Notes and the terms upon which the Notes are authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of a series of Securities designated as the _____% Notes due _____ (collectively, the “Notes”) of the Issuer, limited (except as permitted under the Indenture) in aggregate principal amount to $_______________.

 

Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor(s).

 

Optional Redemption. Prior to ___________ (the “Par Call Date”), the Issuer may redeem the Notes at any time at its option in whole or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, and (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the Notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the applicable redemption date), assuming that the Notes matured and that accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes was payable on the Par Call Date, discounted to such redemption date on a semi-annual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Treasury Rate plus ___ basis points (determined on the third Business Day preceding the date the notice of redemption is given) from the respective dates on which such principal and interest would have been payable if such redemption had not been made (the “make-whole premium”), plus, in the case of both clauses (a) and (b) above, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed to but excluding such redemption date.

 

On and after the Par Call Date, the Issuer may redeem the Notes at any time in whole or from time to time in part at its option at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed to the applicable redemption date.

 

As used herein (and to the extent any such definitions conflict with definitions included in the Base Indenture, the definitions included here shall control with respect to the Notes):

 

Comparable Treasury Issuemeans the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming that the Notes matured on the applicable Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming, that the Notes matured on the applicable Par Call Date).

 

  A-4  

 

 

Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date for the Notes:

 

(a)       if five or more Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained for such redemption date, the average of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or

 

(b)       if fewer than five but more than one such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained for such call for redemption, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or 

 

(c)       if only one such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is obtained for such call for redemption, that Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation.

 

Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that appointed by the Issuer to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer” means, (1) each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and their respective successors and (2) three other firms that are primary U.S. Government securities dealers (each a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) which the Issuer will specify from time to time; provided, however, that if any of them ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Issuer will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average as determined by the Issuer of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Issuer by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

 

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date: (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing or available in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15” or any successor publication which is published at least weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or in each case any companion online data resource published at least weekly by the Federal Reserve) and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; provided that, if no maturity is within three months before or after the Par Call Date, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month; or (2) if such release (or any successor publication or release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the date the notice of redemption is given. In the case of a satisfaction and discharge, such rates shall be determined as of the date of the deposit with the Trustee.

 

Notice of redemption will be mailed or sent by electronic transmission (or in the case of the Global Note, given pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depository Trust Company) at least 15 but not more than 60 calendar days before the redemption date to each Holder of record of the Notes to be redeemed at its last registered address and the Trustee (if the notice is to be delivered by the Issuer). The notice of redemption for the Notes will state, among other things, the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price and the place or places that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of Notes to be redeemed. Unless the Issuer defaults in payment of the redemption price, interest, if any, will cease to accrue on any Notes that have been called for redemption at the redemption date, on and after the redemption date (unless the Issuer defaults in payment of the redemption price) such Notes shall cease to be entitled to any benefit or security under the Indenture and the Holders of such Notes shall have no right in respect of such Notes except the right to receive the redemption price thereof.

 

  A-5  

 

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at the option of the Issuer, the Trustee will select, in a manner it deems fair and appropriate, subject to the customary procedures of DTC (or relevant depositary), the Notes to be redeemed (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof).

 

In the event of any redemption of the Notes, the Issuer will not be required to:

 

· issue or register the transfer of any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of the Notes for redemption and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Notes to be so redeemed, or
· register the transfer of any Note so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

This Note is not mandatorily redeemable and is not entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund or any analogous provisions.

 

Miscellaneous. In case an Event of Default with respect to this Note shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal hereof may be (and, in certain cases, shall be) declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and the rights of the Holders of the Securities under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of Securities of each series (voting as separate classes) issued under the Indenture at the time outstanding and affected thereby. Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture permit the Holders of a majority in the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Securities of any series, in certain instances, to waive, on behalf of all of the Holders of Securities of such series, certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and other Notes issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof, or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, with respect to, and interest on, this Note in the manner, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance and discharge and for defeasance at any time of certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to the Notes upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

  A-6  

 

 

This Note is issuable only in definitive registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. This Note may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations at the office or agency of the Issuer in The City of New York, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided herein and in the Indenture, but without the payment of any charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Issuer shall not pay Additional Amounts on this Note held by a person that is not a U.S. person in respect of taxes or similar charges withheld or deducted.

 

The Issuer, the Guarantor(s) or the Trustee and any authorized agent of the Issuer, the Guarantor(s) or the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the Holder and absolute owner of this Note (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon), for the purpose of receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal of, or premium, if any, with respect to, or subject to the provisions on the face hereof, interest on, this Note and for all other purposes, and none of the Issuer, the Guarantor(s) or the Trustee or any authorized agent of the Issuer, the Guarantor(s) or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE.

 

  A-7  

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto:
 
 
Please insert social security number or other identifying number of assignee:
 
 
Please print or type name and address (including zip code) of assignee:
 
 
 
 
 
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                  attorney to transfer said Note of AGREE Limited Partnership (the “Issuer”) on the books of the Issuer, with full power of substitution in the premises.
 
 
Dated: _________
 
Signature Guaranteed
 
 
NOTICE: Signature must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15.
 
 
NOTICE: The signature to this Assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

  A-8  

 

 

FORM OF GUARANTEE

 

The guarantor listed below (hereinafter referred to as the “Guarantor,” which term includes any successors or assigns under an Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of _______________, duly executed and delivered by AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Issuer”), AGREE REALTY CORPORATION (the “General Partner”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), together with the Officer’s Certificate dated as of __________, amending and supplementing the Base Indenture and establishing the terms of the Notes (defined below) (collectively with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) hereby agrees to, irrevocably and unconditionally, jointly and severally with any other Guarantors of the Notes, guarantee on a senior unsecured basis (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the [_]% Notes due 20[_] (the “Notes”) of the Issuer, whether at Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and interest on any interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuer, to the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) of the Notes or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms set forth in Article X of the Indenture, and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of the Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to this Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article X of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to such Indenture for the precise terms of this Guarantee. The Guarantor acknowledges that it has received and reviewed a copy of the Indenture and all other documents it deems necessary to review in order to enter into this Guarantee, and acknowledges and agrees to perform all obligations and duties required of a Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture.

  

The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever.

 

This is a continuing Guarantee and shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding upon the Guarantor and its successors and assigns until full and final payment of all of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and Indenture or until legally discharged in accordance with the terms regarding release set forth in Article X of the Indenture and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder of the Notes or the Trustee, the rights and privileges herein conferred upon that party shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions hereof. This is a Guarantee of payment and performance and not of collectability.

 

This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Note upon which this Guarantee is noted shall have been signed, in the name and on behalf of the Trustee under the Indenture, manually or by facsimile or other electronic imaging means by one of the authorized officers of the Trustee under the Indenture or as otherwise permitted under the Indenture.

 

The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be limited to the extent necessary to insure that it does not constitute a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.

 

THE TERMS OF ARTICLE X OF THE INDENTURE ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. Capitalized terms used herein have the same meanings given in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated.

 

  A-9  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed, manually, electronically or by facsimile by an authorized signatory.

 

Date: _______________      
       
  [NAME OF GUARANTOR]
       
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

  A-10  

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL SECURITY

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Security for an interest in another Global Security or for a definitive registered Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Security or definitive registered Note for an interest in this Global Security, have been made:

 

Date of
Exchange
  Amount of
Decrease in
Principal Amount
of This Global
Security
  Amount of
Increase in
Principal
Amount of This
Global Security
  Principal Amount of
This Global Security
Following Such
Decrease (or
Increase)
  Signature of
Authorized
Signatory of
Trustee or 
Custodian
 
                   
                   
                   

 

  A-11  

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

August 17, 2020

 

Agree Realty Corporation

Agree Limited Partnership

70 E. Long Lake Road

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304

 

 

 

Re:       Registration of 2.900% Senior Notes Due 2030 of Agree Limited Partnership

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Agree Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Issuer”) in connection with the issuance and sale of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 2.900% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-238729), as amended by the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), which became effective upon filing with the Commission, with the Notes to be guaranteed (the “Guarantees”) by Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland Corporation (the “Parent”), and the parties listed on Schedule I attached hereto (together with the Parent, collectively, the “Guarantors”).

 

In our capacity as counsel to the Issuer, we have examined originals or copies of (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) an indenture, dated as of August 17, 2020, among the Issuer, Parent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Officer’s Certificate delivered by the Issuer and the Parent on August 17, 2020 (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), (iii) the underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated August 12, 2020, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, and (iv) such other corporate and other records and documents we considered appropriate. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.

 

The law covered by the opinions expressed in this opinion letter is limited to the following Law (as applicable and as defined in paragraph F below): (i) the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware RULPA”) and the federal Law of the United States, (ii) the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (together with the Delaware RULPA, “Applicable Delaware Law”), (iii) the internal Law of the State of Michigan and (iv) the internal Law of the State of New York, in each case as in effect on the date of this opinion letter, and we do not express any opinion concerning any other laws. We are not admitted to practice in the State of Delaware and, with respect to the opinions set forth below, insofar as they relate to any Delaware law, we (a) have limited our review, with your permission, to standard compilations available to us of the Applicable Delaware Law, which we have assumed to be accurate and complete, and (b) have not reviewed case law.

 

Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 17, 2020

Page 2

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. The Notes and the Guarantees have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership, corporate or limited liability company action, as applicable, on the part of the Issuer and each Guarantor listed on Schedule I as being organized or incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware or State of Michigan.

 

2. When authenticated, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Indenture and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will be the legally valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws) and by general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

3. When the Guarantees are executed and the Notes are executed, issued, authenticated and delivered, all in accordance with the Indenture and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantees will be the legally valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws) and by general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

  

With respect to the foregoing opinions, we have assumed as true the matters set forth in the opinions of Ballard Spahr LLP and Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, each dated the date hereof, a copy of each of which has been delivered to you by such other counsel.

 

Our opinions set forth above are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance and voidable transaction laws), general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law and limitations regarding the availability of indemnification and contribution where such indemnification or contribution may be limited by applicable law or the application of principles of public policy.

 

Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 17, 2020

Page 3

 

We express no opinion as to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of (i) provisions that relate to choice of law, forum selection or submission to jurisdiction (including, without limitation, any express or implied waiver of any objection to venue in any court or of any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), (ii) waivers by the Issuer or Guarantor of any statutory or constitutional rights or remedies, (iii) terms which excuse any person or entity from liability for, or require the Issuer or Guarantor to indemnify such person or entity against, such person’s or entity’s negligence or willful misconduct, (iv) obligations to pay any prepayment premium, default interest rate, early termination fee or other form of liquidated damages, if the payment of such premium, interest rate, fee or damages may be construed as unreasonable in relation to actual damages or disproportionate to actual damages suffered as a result of such prepayment, default or termination, usury and other interest-related restrictions, or (v) provisions providing that the terms of agreement may not be waived or modified except in writing.

 

Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 17, 2020

Page 4

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Agree Realty Corporation and Agree Limited Partnership being filed on the date hereof, and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus supplement, dated August 12, 2020, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2020. In giving such consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Honigman LLP
   
  Honigman LLP

  

DJK/GSW/EBJY/NHB/MSB/JHC

 

Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506

 

 

 

 

Schedule I

 

Subsidiary Guarantors

 

Delaware Guarantors

 

1. Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation

 

2. Agree 2016, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

3. Agree Central, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

4. Agree Columbia SC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

5. Agree Convenience No. 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

6. Agree CW, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

7. Agree DT Jacksonville NC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

8. Agree Farmington NM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

9. Agree Grandview Heights OH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

10. Agree Greenwich CT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

11. Agree Lebanon NH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

12. Agree MCW, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

13. Agree Onaway MI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

14. Agree Orange CT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

15. Agree Oxford Commons AL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

16. Agree SB, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

17. Agree Secaucus NJ, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

18. Agree Shelf ES PA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

19. Agree Shelf PA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

20. Agree Stores, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

21. Agree TK, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

22. Pachyderm Chattanooga TN, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

23. Pachyderm Marietta GA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

24. Pachyderm Myrtle Beach SC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

25. Pachyderm Philadelphia PA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

26. Pachyderm Properties, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

27. Pachyderm Riverdale GA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

28. Pachyderm Waite Park MN, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

29. Paint PA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

Michigan Guarantors

 

30. Agree 117 Mission, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company

 

31. Agree Plainfield LLC, a Michigan limited liability company

 

32. Agree Southfield, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company

 

33. Mt. Pleasant Shopping Center, L.L.C., a Michigan limited liability company

  

Florida Guarantor

 

34. Agree St Petersburg, LLC, a Florida limited liability company

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.2

 

 

 

 

August 17, 2020

 

Agree Realty Corporation

Agree Limited Partnership

70 East Long Lake Rd.

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304

 

Re: Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the "Company") -- Issuance and sale of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.900% Notes due 2030 (the "Notes") by Agree Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership of which the Company acts as the general partner (the "Operating Partnership"), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-333-238729) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on May 27, 2020, as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed with the Commission on August 12, 2020 (the "Registration Statement")

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company in connection with the registration of the Notes by the Operating Partnership and the guarantee of the Notes by the Company, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), pursuant to the Registration Statement. You have requested our opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.

 

In our capacity as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company and for the purposes of this opinion, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (collectively, the "Documents"):

 

(i)                   the corporate charter of the Company (the "Charter") represented by Articles of Incorporation filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "Department") on December 15, 1993, Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on April 7, 1994, two Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on December 8, 2008, Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on September 21, 2012, Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on May 8, 2013, two Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on July 31, 2013, Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on May 5, 2015 and Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on May 3, 2016, Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on February 26, 2019 and Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on April 25, 2019;

 

(ii)                  the Bylaws of the Company adopted as of November 8, 2006, as amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, adopted as of May 8, 2013, as amended by the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, adopted as of February 26, 2019 (the "Bylaws");

 

     

 

 

BALLARD SPAHR LLP

Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
August 17, 2020

Page 2

 

(iii)             resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, on or as of May 5, 2020, August 7, 2020 and August 12, 2020 (together, the "Directors' Resolutions");

 

(iv)             the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as amended (the "Partnership Agreement");

 

(v)              the Registration Statement and the related form of prospectus and prospectus supplement included therein, in substantially the form filed with the Commission pursuant to the Act;

 

(vi)             a copy of the fully executed Indenture, dated as of August 17, 2020 (the "Base Indenture"), by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and U.S. Bank, National Association (the "Trustee"), as amended and supplemented by the Officer's Certificate, dated as of August 17, 2020, executed by an officer of the Company, on behalf of the Company in its own capacity and as sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, pursuant to Sections 2.1, 2.2 and 11.5 of the Base Indenture and establishing the form and terms of the Notes (the "Indenture Officer's Certificate", and together with the Base Indenture, the "Indenture");

 

(vii)            a copy of the fully executed global note, dated as of August 17, 2020 (the "Global Note"), registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company's nominee Cede & Co., representing the Notes;

 

(viii)           a copy of the fully executed guarantee, dated as of August 17, 2020 (the "Guarantee"), made by the Company for the benefit of the holders of the Notes and annexed to the Global Note;

 

(ix)             a certificate of Joey Agree, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Clayton R. Thelen, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, dated as of a recent date (the "Officers' Certificate"), to the effect that, among other things, the Charter, the Bylaws, the Directors' Resolutions and the Partnership Agreement are true, correct and complete, have not been rescinded or modified and are in full force and effect on the date of the Officers' Certificate, and certifying as to the form, approval, execution and delivery of the Indenture, the Global Note and the Guarantee;

 

(x)              a status certificate of the Department, dated as of a recent date, to the effect that the Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is duly authorized to transact business in the State of Maryland; and

 

(xi)             such other laws, records, documents, certificates, opinions and instruments as we have deemed necessary to render this opinion, subject to the limitations, assumptions and qualifications noted below.

 

     

 

 

BALLARD SPAHR LLP

Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
August 17, 2020

Page 3

 

In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the following:

 

(a)            each person executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so;

 

(b)            each natural person executing any of the Documents is legally competent to do so;

 

(c)            any of the Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic; any of the Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents; all signatures on all of the Documents are genuine; all public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete; all statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete; there has been no modification of, or amendment to, any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents by action or omission of the parties or otherwise;

 

(d)            the Officers' Certificate and all other certificates submitted to us are true and correct both when made and as of the date hereof;

 

(e)            the Company has not, and is not required to be, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

(f)             the Notes will be issued under, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture; and

 

(g)            the Notes will be issued in book-entry form, represented by the Global Note, and will be authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Indenture.

 

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date of this letter:

 

1.              The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

2.              The Company has the corporate power to create the obligation evidenced by the Guarantee.

 

3.              The issuance of the Notes, the guarantee of the Notes by the Company, and the execution and delivery of the Global Note and the Guarantee, pursuant to the Indenture and the Registration Statement, in each case by the Company in its own capacity and, in its capacity as general partner of the Operating Partnership, on behalf of the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. The Global Note and the Guarantee have been duly executed and delivered by the Company in its own capacity and, in its capacity as general partner of the Operating Partnership, on behalf of the Operating Partnership, as the case may be.

 

     

 

 

BALLARD SPAHR LLP

Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
August 17, 2020

Page 4

 

The foregoing opinions are limited to the substantive laws of the State of Maryland, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers or the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and we express no opinion with respect to the limited partnership actions required for the Operating Partnership to authorize, execute or deliver any document. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinions are expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter.

 

This opinion letter is issued as of the date hereof and is necessarily limited to laws now in effect and facts and circumstances presently existing and brought to our attention. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion letter if any applicable laws change after the date hereof, or if we become aware of any facts or circumstances that now exist or that occur or arise in the future and may change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.

 

We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Notes and the Guarantee, which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and further consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the applications to securities commissioners for the various states of the United States for registration of the Notes and the Guarantee. We also consent to the identification of our firm as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company in the section of the Registration Statement entitled "Legal Matters". In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Ballard Spahr LLP

 

     

 

 

Exhibit 5.3

 

 

 

August 17, 2020 

PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL

 

Agree Limited Partnership

Agree Realty Corporation

70 E. Long Lake Road

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304 

 

Re: The  issuance and sale of up to $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of debt securities of Agree Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Issuer”) in one or more series or tranches (the “Notes”) and in one or more public offerings pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-238729) (as amended, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about May 27, 2020, as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed with the Commission on or about August 12, 2020  (the “Offering”).

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as local Florida counsel to Agree St Petersburg, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (“Guarantor”), in connection with the Offering.  Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2020, by and among the Issuer, Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Parent”), Guarantor, the other subsidiary guarantors party thereto (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), the Representatives (as defined therein) and any other parties thereto (the “Underwriting Agreement”), the Underwriters (as defined therein) have severally agreed to purchase from the Issuer an $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.900% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”).  The Notes will be issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 17, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Parent, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by an officer’s certificate to be dated on or about August 17, 2020, establishing the Notes (collectively, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”).

  

 

ARIZONA • CALIFORNIA • COLORADO • CONNECTICUT • DELAWARE • FLORIDA • GEORGIA • ILLINOIS • INDIANA • KANSAS • KENTUCKY LOUISIANA • MARYLAND • MASSACHUSETTS • MINNESOTA • MISSOURI • NEVADA • NEW JERSEY • NEW MEXICO • NEW YORK • NORTH CAROLINA OHIO • OREGON • PENNSYLVANIA • RHODE ISLAND • TEXAS • UTAH • VIRGINIA • WASHINGTON • WASHINGTON D.C. • WEST VIRGINIA

 

 

 

 

 

Agree Limited Partnership
August 17, 2020
Page 2

 

As local Florida special counsel and for purposes of our opinions set forth below, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein, including:

 

(a)               the Underwriting Agreement;

 

(b)               the Indenture;

 

(c)               the Guarantee dated as of the date hereof executed by Guarantor, the Parent and the other Subsidiary Guarantors that guarantees the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes (the “Guarantee”);

 

(d)               a copy of the Articles of Organization of Guarantor, filed with the Florida Department of State on the date hereof, and the Operating Agreement of Guarantor as presently in effect as certified by an officer of Guarantor as of the date hereof (collectively, the “Guarantor Organizational Documents”);

 

(e)               a certificate from the Florida Department of State, as to the incorporation and active status of Guarantor under the laws of the State of Florida, as of July 31, 2020  (the “Guarantor Status Certificate”);

 

(f)                the Officer’s Certificate of Parent, in its capacity as the general partner of the sole member of the Guarantor, dated as of the date hereof (the “Officer’s Certificate”) certifying as to the effectiveness of the Guarantor Organizational Documents as of the date hereof, and the certificates and other documents and instruments being delivered by and certifying as to other factual matters; and

 

(g)               The Opinion Certificate of Guarantor dated as of August 17, 2020 (“Opinion Certificate”).

 

In preparing this letter, we have assumed and have not verified (i) the legal competency of all individual signers of documents, (ii) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents that we have examined, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and (iv) the conformity to the authentic originals of all documents supplied to us as certified, PDF or fax copies. In conducting our examination of executed documents or documents to be executed, we have assumed that all parties thereto, other than the Guarantor, had or will have the power, corporate or otherwise, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder. We have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or otherwise, and the due execution and delivery by all parties thereto, other than the Guarantor, of such documents and that, to the extent such documents purport to constitute agreements, such documents constitute valid and binding obligations of all parties thereto.  As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we have not independently established and verified, we have relied, with your permission, upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of Guarantor and the Opinion Certificate of Guarantor dated as of the date hereof.

 

 

LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP

www.lewisbrisbois.com

 

 

 

 

Agree Limited Partnership
August 17, 2020
Page 3

 

We express no opinion with respect to the effectiveness of any law other than the laws of the State of Florida and the federal laws of the United States.

 

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.  Guarantor is a limited liability company, validly existing under the laws of the State of Florida.

 

2.  Guarantor has the limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver the Guarantee and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of the Guarantee by Guarantor have been duly authorized.

 

3. Guarantor has duly executed and delivered the Guarantee.

 

This opinion is provided as legal opinion only, not a guarantee or warranty of the matters discussed herein. We are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion may be inferred as to other matters. This opinion is based upon the current statute, rules, regulations and judicial decisions and is rendered as of the date hereof. We disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change in the foregoing sources of law or subsequent law or changes in facts or circumstances which might affect any matters or the opinion set forth herein.

 

In giving our Opinion set forth in opinion paragraph 3 above with respect to the due execution of the Guarantee, we have relied solely upon the Officer’s Certificate referred to above with respect to the identity and signatures of the signatories.

 

Except to the extent expressly noted to the contrary in this opinion letter, we express no opinion as to the following matters, or the effect, if any, that they may have on the opinions expressed herein:

 

(a)        federal securities laws and regulations administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission, state “blue sky” laws and regulations, the Investment Company Act, the Trust Indenture Act, and laws and regulations relating to commodity (and other) futures and indices and other similar instruments;

 

(b)        the statutes and ordinances, the administrative decisions, and the rules and regulations of counties, cities, towns, municipalities and special political subdivisions (whether created or enabled through legislative action at the federal, state or regional level), and judicial decisions to the extent that they deal with any of the foregoing;

 

(c)        fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance laws; and

 

(d)        pension and employee benefit laws and regulations.

 

 

LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP

www.lewisbrisbois.com

 

 

 

 

Agree Limited Partnership
August 17, 2020
Page 4

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Parent’s Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into the Registration   Statement, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and to the use of our name therein and in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.”

 

  Very Truly Yours,
   
  /s/ Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
   
  Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP

 

 

LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP

www.lewisbrisbois.com