Agree Realty Corp S-3ASR, filed May 5, 2023
Agree Realty Corp (ADC)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Maryland (Agree Realty Corporation)
Delaware (Agree Limited Partnership)
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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38-3148187
38-3170055
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
(248) 737-4190
President and Chief Executive Officer
Agree Realty Corporation
70 East Long Lake Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
(248) 737-4190
Donald J. Kunz, Esq.
Emily J. Johns, Esq.
Honigman LLP
2290 First National Building
660 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226-3506
(313) 465-7454 (telephone)
(313) 465-7455 (facsimile)
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Large accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company
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Emerging growth company
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Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated Filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company
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Emerging growth company
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Agree Realty Corporation
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Agree Limited Partnership
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Exact Name of Co-Registrant
as Specified in Its Charter |
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Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Number |
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State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization |
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I.R.S. Employer
Identification No. |
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Agree 117 Mission, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Michigan
|
| | | | 46-1205730 | | |
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Agree 2016, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 81-4636275 | | |
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Agree Central, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 84-3616016 | | |
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Agree Chapel Hill NC, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 84-5168650 | | |
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Agree Columbia SC, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 47-2368090 | | |
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Agree Convenience No. 1, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 84-2733036 | | |
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Agree CW, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 81-2971593 | | |
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Agree DT Jacksonville NC, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 81-2971593 | | |
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Agree Farmington NM, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 82-5273068 | | |
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Agree Grandview Heights OH, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 82-1191574 | | |
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Agree Greenwich CT, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 84-2278475 | | |
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Agree MCW, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 81-4589003 | | |
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Agree Mena AR, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 85-3225745 | | |
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Agree NJ, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 86-1707819 | | |
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Agree Onaway MI, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 82-4433864 | | |
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Agree Orange CT, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 84-2711782 | | |
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Agree Oxford Commons AL, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 82-1140026 | | |
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Agree Paterson NJ, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 26-1868180 | | |
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Agree SB, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 83-0872803 | | |
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Agree Secaucus NJ, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 82-2995927 | | |
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Agree Shelf ES PA, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 84-2631431 | | |
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Agree Shelf PA, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 84-2641390 | | |
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Agree Southfield, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Michigan
|
| | | | 45-3230027 | | |
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Agree St Petersburg, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Florida
|
| | | | 46-0694862 | | |
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Agree Stores, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 81-4625476 | | |
|
Agree TK, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 82-4201979 | | |
|
Lunacorp, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 47-2908669 | | |
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Pachyderm Chattanooga TN, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 83-2989869 | | |
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Pachyderm Marietta GA, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 83-4242603 | | |
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Pachyderm Myrtle Beach SC, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 83-3016339 | | |
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Pachyderm Philadelphia PA, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 83-3037584 | | |
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Pachyderm Properties, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 83-2766795 | | |
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Pachyderm Riverdale GA, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 83-3051205 | | |
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Pachyderm Waite Park MN, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
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| | | | 83-4264620 | | |
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Paint PA, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
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| | | | 26-4521871 | | |
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Mt. Pleasant Shopping Center, L.L.C.
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Michigan
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| | | | 38-6271903 | | |
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Agree Lebanon NH, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 85-0896055 | | |
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Safari Properties II, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 88-0620490 | | |
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DD Hempstead LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
North Carolina
|
| | | | 92-1666046 | | |
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DD Brownsville LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
North Carolina
|
| | | | 92-1666046 | | |
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Agree Tallahassee, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Florida
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| | | | 24-4186121 | | |
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Agree Roseville CA, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
California
|
| | | | 45-3093529 | | |
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Agree Fort Walton Beach, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Florida
|
| | | | 45-3443716 | | |
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Agree Madison AL, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 45-2836875 | | |
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Agree Walker, LLC
|
| | | | 6798 | | | |
Michigan
|
| | | | 45-4127458 | | |
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Agree M-59, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Michigan
|
| | | | 27-4241411 | | |
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Agree Spring Grove, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Illinois
|
| | | | 27-4141085 | | |
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Agree Wilmington, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
North Carolina
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| | | | 27-4097820 | | |
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Agree Dallas Forest Drive, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Texas
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| | | | 45-2831937 | | |
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Agree Marietta, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Georgia
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| | | | 45-2448012 | | |
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Agree Wawa Baltimore, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Maryland
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| | | | 45-2758549 | | |
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Agree Charleston WV, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
Delaware
|
| | | | 92-1187114 | | |
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Agree Absecon Urban Renewal, LLC
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| | | | 6798 | | | |
New Jersey
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Not applicable
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Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Guarantees of Debt Securities of Agree Limited Partnership
| | | | | | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | | | |
| | | | | | 14 | | | |
| | | | | | 19 | | | |
| | | | | | 23 | | | |
| | | | | | 24 | | | |
| | | | | | 32 | | | |
| | | | | | 59 | | | |
| | | | | | 62 | | | |
| | | | | | 62 | | | |
| | EXPERTS | | | | | 63 | | |
| | | | | | 63 | | |
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Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee
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Accountants’ fees and expenses
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| | | $ | ** | | |
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Legal fees and expenses
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| | | $ | ** | | |
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Printing expenses
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| | | $ | ** | | |
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Miscellaneous
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| | | $ | ** | | |
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Total
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| | | $ | ** | | |
| | | | | AGREE REALTY CORPORATION | | |||
| | | | | By: | | |
/s/ JOEL N. AGREE
Name: Joel N. Agree
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ RICHARD AGREE
Richard Agree
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| | Executive Chairman | | |
May 5, 2023
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/s/ JOEL N. AGREE
Joel N. Agree
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer) |
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May 5, 2023
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/s/ PETER COUGHENOUR
Peter Coughenour
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Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer) |
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May 5, 2023
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/s/ STEPHEN BRESLIN
Stephen Breslin
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Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
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May 5, 2023
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/s/ KAREN DEARING
Karen Dearing
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| | Director | | |
May 5, 2023
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/s/ MIKE HOLLMAN
Mike Hollman
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| | Director | | |
May 5, 2023
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/s/ MICHAEL JUDLOWE
Michael Judlowe
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| | Director | | |
May 5, 2023
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/s/ JOHN RAKOLTA
John Rakolta
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| | Director | | |
May 5, 2023
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ MERRIE S. FRANKEL
Merrie S. Frankel
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| | Director | | |
May 5, 2023
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/s/ GREG LEHMKUHL
Greg Lehmkuhl
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| | Director | | |
May 5, 2023
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/s/ JEROME ROSSI
Jerome Rossi
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| | Director | | |
May 5, 2023
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| | | | | AGREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | | |||
| | | | | By: | | |
AGREE REALTY CORPORATION,
its General Partner |
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| | | | | By: | | |
/s/ JOEL N. AGREE
Name: Joel N. Agree
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
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| | | | | By: | | |
/s/ PETER COUGHENOUR
Name: Peter Coughenour
Title: Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
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| | | | | By: | | |
/s/ STEPHEN BRESLIN
Name: Stephen Breslin
Title: Chief Accounting Officer |
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ RICHARD AGREE
Richard Agree
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| | Executive Chairman of the General Partner | | |
May 5, 2023
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/s/ JOEL N. AGREE
Joel N. Agree
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President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director of the General Partner (Principal Executive Officer) |
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May 5, 2023
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/s/ PETER COUGHENOUR
Peter Coughenour
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Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of
the General Partner (Principal Financial Officer) |
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May 5, 2023
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/s/ STEPHEN BRESLIN
Stephen Breslin
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Chief Accounting Officer of
the General Partner (Principal Accounting Officer) |
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May 5, 2023
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ KAREN DEARING
Karen Dearing
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| | Director of the General Partner | | |
May 5, 2023
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/s/ MIKE HOLLMAN
Mike Hollman
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| | Director of the General Partner | | |
May 5, 2023
|
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/s/ MICHAEL JUDLOWE
Michael Judlowe
|
| | Director of the General Partner | | |
May 5, 2023
|
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/s/ JOHN RAKOLTA
John Rakolta
|
| | Director of the General Partner | | |
May 5, 2023
|
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/s/ MERRIE S. FRANKEL
Merrie S. Frankel
|
| | Director of the General Partner | | |
May 5, 2023
|
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/s/ GREG LEHMKUHL
Greg Lehmkuhl
|
| | Director of the General Partner | | |
May 5, 2023
|
|
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/s/ JEROME ROSSI
Jerome Rossi
|
| | Director of the General Partner | | |
May 5, 2023
|
|
Agree 2016, LLC
Agree Central, LLC
Agree Chapel Hill NC, 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 MCW, LLC
Agree Lebanon NH, LLC
Agree Mena AR, LLC
Agree NJ, LLC
Agree Onaway MI, LLC
Agree Orange CT, LLC
Agree Oxford Commons AL, LLC
Agree Paterson NJ, LLC
Agree Portfolio, 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
Lunacorp, 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
Safari Properties II, LLC
DD Hempstead LLC
DD Brownsville LLC
Agree Tallahassee, LLC
Agree Roseville CA, LLC
Agree Fort Walton Beach, LLC
Agree Madison AL, LLC
Agree Walker, LLC
Agree M-59, LLC
Agree Spring Grove, LLC
Agree Wilmington, LLC
Agree Dallas Forest Drive, LLC
Agree Wawa Baltimore, LLC
Agree Charleston WV, LLC
Agree Absecon Urban Renewal, LLC
| | | | | By: | | |
AGREE LIMITED PARNTERSHIP,
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
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Title**
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Date
|
|
| |
/s/ JOEL N. AGREE
Joel N. Agree
|
| | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | | |
May 5, 2023
|
|
| |
/s/ PETER COUGHENOUR
Peter Coughenour
|
| | Chief Financial Officer and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer) | | |
May 5, 2023
|
|
| |
/s/ STEPHEN BRESLIN
Stephen Breslin
|
| | Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | | |
May 5, 2023
|
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Exhibit 5.1


May 5, 2023
| Agree Realty Corporation |
| Agree Limited Partnership |
| 70 East Long Lake Road |
| Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304 |
| Re: | Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and Agree Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership of which the Company is the general partner (the "Operating Partnership") – Registration Statement on Form S-3 pertaining to the registration of an unspecified amount and an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price, principal amount or number of: (i) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock"); (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share ("Preferred Stock"); (iii) depositary shares representing shares of Preferred Stock ("Depositary Shares"); (iv) warrants ("Warrants") to purchase shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (as defined herein); (v) debt securities of the Operating Partnership (the "Debt Securities"); and (vi) guarantees by the Company of the Debt Securities (the "Guarantees") |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company in connection with (a) the registration by the Company of shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants and Guarantees (collectively, the "Company Securities") and (b) the registration by the Operating Partnership of the Debt Securities (together with the Company Securities, collectively, the "Securities"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed or to be filed by the Company and the Operating Partnership with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on or about the date hereof. 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, Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on May 3, 2016, Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on February 26, 2019, Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on April 25, 2019, Articles of Amendment filed with the Department on May 7, 2021 and Articles Supplementary filed with the Department on September 13, 2021; |
BALLARD SPAHR LLP
Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
May 5, 2023
Page 2
| (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"); |
| (iii) | certain resolutions (the "Directors' Resolutions") adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors"); |
| (iv) | the Second 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 included therein (the "Prospectus"), in substantially the form filed or to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Act; |
| (vi) | a certificate of one or more officers of the Company, dated as of a recent date (the "Officer's 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 Officer's Certificate; |
| (vii) | 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 |
| (viii) | 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. |
In reaching the opinion 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; the form and content of any Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such documents as executed and delivered; 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; |
BALLARD SPAHR LLP
Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
May 5, 2023
Page 3
| (d) | the Officer's Certificate and all other certificates submitted to us are true and correct both when made and as of the date hereof; |
| (e) | the resolutions to be adopted subsequent to the date hereof, and the actions to be taken subsequent to the date hereof, by the Board of Directors, including, but not limited to, the adoption of all resolutions and the taking of all actions necessary to authorize the issuance and sale (and the execution and delivery, if applicable) of the Company Securities by the Company and the Debt Securities by the Operating Partnership in accordance with the procedures set forth in Paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 below, will occur at duly called meetings at which a quorum of the incumbent directors of the Company is present and acting throughout, or by the unanimous consent of the incumbent directors of the Company given in writing or by electronic transmission, all in accordance with the Charter and Bylaws of the Company and applicable law; |
| (f) | the number of shares of Preferred Stock of each class or series and the number of shares of Common Stock to be offered and sold subsequent to the date hereof as Company Securities under the Registration Statement, together with the number of shares of Preferred Stock of each class or series and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange (or exercise in the case of Warrants) of any Securities offered and sold subsequent to the date hereof, will not, in the aggregate, exceed the number of shares of Preferred Stock of each class or series, and the number of shares of Common Stock, respectively, authorized in the Charter of the Company, less the number of shares of Preferred Stock of each class or series and the number of shares of Common Stock, respectively, authorized and reserved for issuance and issued and outstanding on the date subsequent to the date hereof on which the Securities are authorized, the date subsequent to the date hereof on which the Securities are issued and delivered, the date subsequent to the date hereof on which any Securities are converted into, or exchanged or exercised for, shares of Common Stock or shares of Preferred Stock, respectively, and the date subsequent to the date hereof on which shares of Preferred Stock and shares of Common Stock, respectively, are issued pursuant to the conversion, exchange or exercise of such Securities; |
| (g) | none of the terms of any of the Securities or any agreements related thereto to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance or delivery of any such Securities containing such terms established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of any such Securities or agreements established subsequent to the date hereof will violate any applicable law or will conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, the Charter or Bylaws of the Company, or any instrument or agreement to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or any order or decree of any court, administrative or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; |
BALLARD SPAHR LLP
Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
May 5, 2023
Page 4
| (h) | the form of certificate, receipt or other instrument or document representing the Company Securities approved subsequent to the date hereof will conform in all respects to the requirements applicable under Maryland law; |
| (i) | all Warrants to be offered and sold subsequent to the date hereof will be issued under a valid and legally binding warrant agreement or other similar instrument entered into between the Company and a warrant agent to be named therein, which is enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms and conforms to the description thereof set forth in the Prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to such Warrants; |
| (j) | all Depositary Shares to be offered and sold subsequent to the date hereof will be issued under a valid and legally binding deposit agreement or other similar instrument entered into among the Company, a depositary to be named therein and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts which will evidence the Depositary Shares, which is enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms and conforms to the description thereof set forth in the Prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to such Depositary Shares; |
| (k) | prior to or contemporaneous with the authorization, execution and delivery of any Guarantees or Warrants by the Company to be issued, executed and delivered subsequent to the date hereof, the issuance, execution and delivery of the Debt Securities to which such Guarantees or Warrants relate by the Operating Partnership will have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action on the part of the Operating Partnership, and such Debt Securities will have been duly issued, executed and delivered by, and will be the valid and legally binding obligation of, the Operating Partnership; |
| (l) | the Operating Partnership has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware; |
| (m) | none of the Company Securities to be offered and sold subsequent to the date hereof, and none of the shares of Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock, or any other securities of the Company or the Operating Partnership, issuable upon the conversion or exchange (or exercise in the case of Warrants) of any Securities, will be issued in violation of the provisions of Article Ninth of the Charter of the Company relating to restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of stock of the Company; and |
BALLARD SPAHR LLP
Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
May 5, 2023
Page 5
| (n) | none of the Company Securities to be offered and sold subsequent to the date hereof, and none of the shares of Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock, or any other securities of the Company or the Operating Partnership, issuable upon the conversion or exchange (or exercise in the case of Warrants) of any Securities, will be issued and sold to an Interested Stockholder of the Company or an Affiliate thereof, all as defined in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL"), in violation of Section 3-602 of the MGCL. |
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) | Upon due authorization by the Board of Directors of a designated number of shares of Common Stock for issuance at a minimum price or value of consideration to be set by the Board of Directors, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company will have been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock, and when such shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor as set by the Board of Directors, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| (3) | Upon: (a) designation by the Board of Directors of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock to distinguish each such class or series from any other existing class or series of Preferred Stock; (b) setting by the Board of Directors of the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be included in such class or series; (c) establishment by the Board of Directors of the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of such class or series of Preferred Stock; (d) filing by the Company with the Department of articles supplementary setting forth a description of such class or series of Preferred Stock, including the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as set by the Board of Directors and a statement that such class or series of Preferred Stock has been classified by the Board of Directors under the authority contained in the Charter, and the acceptance for record by the Department of such articles supplementary; (e) due authorization by the Board of Directors of a designated number of shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock for issuance at a minimum price or value of consideration to be set by the Board of Directors; and (f) reservation and due authorization by the Board of Directors of any shares of any other class or series of Preferred Stock and/or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such class or series of Preferred Stock in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Paragraph 3 and in Paragraph 2 above, respectively, and/or due authorization of any other securities of the Company or the Operating Partnership issuable upon conversion of such class or series of Preferred Stock in accordance with resolutions to be adopted subsequent to the date hereof, and/or actions to be taken subsequent to the date hereof, by the Board of Directors, at a minimum price or value of consideration to be set by the Board of Directors, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company will have been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of the shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock and when such shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock are issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor as set by the Board of Directors, such shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
BALLARD SPAHR LLP
Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
May 5, 2023
Page 6
| (4) | The Company has the corporate power to enter into warrant agreements, and upon: (a) designation and titling by the Board of Directors of the Warrants; (b) due authorization by the Board of Directors of the form, terms, execution and delivery by the Company of a warrant agreement or other similar instrument relating to the Warrants; (c) setting by the Board of Directors of the number of Warrants to be issued; (d) establishment by the Board of Directors of the terms, conditions and provisions of the Warrants; (e) due authorization by the Board of Directors of the Warrants for issuance at a minimum price or value of consideration to be set by the Board of Directors; and (f) reservation and due authorization by the Board of Directors of the shares of Common Stock and/or the shares of Preferred Stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of such Warrants in accordance with the procedures set forth in Paragraphs 2 and 3 above, respectively, and/or due authorization by the Board of Directors of any Debt Securities issuable upon exercise of such Warrants in accordance with the procedures set forth in Paragraph 6 below, at a minimum price or value of consideration to be set by the Board of Directors, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company will have been taken to authorize the execution, delivery, issuance and sale of the Warrants. |
| (5) | The Company has the corporate power to enter into deposit agreements, and upon completion of the procedures set forth in Paragraph 3 above for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock of any class or series, and due authorization and approval by the Board of Directors of a deposit agreement and the delivery of Depositary Shares pursuant to such deposit agreement, due execution of such deposit agreement on behalf of the Company, and compliance with the conditions established by the Board of Directors for the delivery of the Depositary Shares, such Depositary Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and such Depositary Shares may be delivered by or on behalf of the Company, and the Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
BALLARD SPAHR LLP
Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
May 5, 2023
Page 7
| (6) | Upon: (a) designation and titling by the Board of Directors of the Debt Securities; (b) establishment by the Board of Directors of the terms, conditions and provisions of such Debt Securities; (c) establishment by the Board of Directors of the aggregate principal amount of such Debt Securities and any limit on such aggregate principal amount; (d) due authorization by the Board of Directors of the form, terms, execution and delivery of an indenture or other similar instrument relating to the Debt Securities; (e) due authorization by the Board of Directors of such Debt Securities for issuance at a minimum price or value of consideration to be set by the Board of Directors; and (f) reservation and due authorization by the Board of Directors of the issuance of any shares of Common Stock and/or shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon conversion of, or in exchange for, the Debt Securities in accordance with the procedures set forth in Paragraphs 2 and 3 above, respectively, and/or due authorization by the Board of Directors of any other securities of the Company or the Operating Partnership issuable upon conversion of, or in exchange for, the Debt Securities in accordance with resolutions to be adopted subsequent to the date hereof, and/or actions to be taken subsequent to the date hereof, by the Board of Directors, at a minimum price or value of consideration to be set by the Board of Directors, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, in its capacity as general partner of the Operating Partnership on behalf of the Operating Partnership, will have been taken to authorize such Debt Securities. |
| (7) | The Company has the corporate power to enter into Guarantees, and upon: (i) completion by the Company, in its capacity as general partner of the Operating Partnership on behalf of the Operating Partnership, of the procedures set forth in Paragraph 6 above for authorization of the Debt Securities to which such Guarantees relate; (ii) due authorization and approval by the Board of Directors of the Guarantees relating to such Debt Securities; and (iii) compliance with the conditions established by the Board of Directors for delivery of such Guarantees, such Guarantees will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and may be delivered by or on behalf of the Company. |
The foregoing opinion is 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 with respect to the actions required for the Operating Partnership to authorize, execute, deliver or perform its obligations under any document, instrument or agreement. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is 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.
BALLARD SPAHR LLP
Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
May 5, 2023
Page 8
We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to 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 Securities. We also consent to the identification of our firm as Maryland 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 5.2
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313.465.7000 |
May 5, 2023
Agree Realty Corporation
Agree Limited Partnership
70 E. Long Lake Road
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company” or “Parent”), the subsidiaries listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”, and together with the Parent, the “Guarantors”), and Agree Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”, and together with the Guarantors, the “Opinion Parties”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Opinion Parties with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), for the registration of the Securities (defined below) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
The Registration Statement includes a form of prospectus (the “Prospectus”), which provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Prospectus, as supplemented by one or more Prospectus Supplements, may contemplate the issue and sale of (i) shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”); (ii) one or more series of shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) shares of Preferred Stock represented by depositary shares and evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Shares”), each of which will represent a fractional interest of a share of a particular class or series of Preferred Stock or multiple shares of Preferred Stock; (iv) warrants to purchase Preferred Stock, Common Stock or Debt Securities (as defined below) (the “Warrants”); and (v) one or more series of debt securities of the Operating Partnership (the “Debt Securities”), which may be guaranteed (the “Guarantees”) by the Guarantors.
Any Debt Securities and Guarantees will be issued under one or more indentures or any supplemental indenture thereto in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any required post-effective amendment thereto or incorporated by reference therein (the “Indenture”) relating to the issuance of Debt Securities by the Operating Partnership. The Depositary Shares may be issued under one or more deposit agreements in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any required post-effective amendment thereto or incorporated by reference therein (each, a “Deposit Agreement”) by and between the Company and a financial institution identified therein as the depositary (each, a “Depositary”). The Warrants may be issued under one or more warrant agreements in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any required post-effective amendment thereto or incorporated by reference therein (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and a third party to be identified therein as warrant agent (each, a “Warrant Agent”). The Indenture, the Deposit Agreements and the Warrant Agreements are herein collectively referred to as the “Agreements.” The Debt Securities, Guarantees, Depositary Shares and Warrants are herein collectively referred to as the “Securities.”
In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined and relied upon originals or copies of such records, instruments, certificates, opinions, memoranda and other documents as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of officers of the Opinion Parties and have not independently sought to verify such matters. In rendering the opinions in this opinion letter, we have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures on original documents; the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials; and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the legal effectiveness of such documents.
With respect to our opinions as to the Depositary Shares, we have assumed that any Depositary Shares offered under the Registration Statement will be issued under a valid and legally binding Deposit Agreement or other similar instrument entered into among the Company, a Depositary and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts which will evidence the Depositary Shares, which is enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms and conforms to the description thereof provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and be executed in the forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or any required post-effective amendment thereto or incorporated by reference therein.
With your consent, we have also assumed (i) that each of the Agreements will be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, (ii) that each of the Agreements has been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (iii) that each of the Agreements constitutes or will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto other than the Opinion Parties, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms and (iv) that the status of each of the Agreements as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties will not be affected by any (a) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (b) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (c) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or to make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.
Our opinions herein are expressed solely with respect to (i) the internal laws of the State of New York; (ii) the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended; and (iii) the federal laws of the United States, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or, in the case of Delaware, any other laws, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state. Various matters concerning laws of the State of Maryland are addressed in the opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP, separately provided to you. We express no opinion with respect to those matters, and to the extent elements of those opinions are necessary to the conclusions expressed herein, we have, with your consent, assumed such matters. Our opinions are based on these laws as in effect on the date hereof. We express no opinion as to whether the laws of any jurisdiction are applicable to the subject matter hereof. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal or state antifraud law, rule or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof. It is understood that this opinion letter is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities while the Registration Statement is in effect and only speaks as of the date of this opinion letter.
On the basis of the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the qualifications herein stated, it is our opinion that:
| 1. | When (i) a Prospectus Supplement and any related offering material with respect to Guarantees have been filed with the Commission and become effective in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) the specific terms of the Guarantees of a particular Debt Security and such Debt Security have been duly established in accordance with the Indenture, (iii) all necessary corporate or limited liability company action, as applicable, has been taken by the Guarantors to approve the creation, the terms and the issuance of the Guarantees and the consideration to be received therefor and all necessary limited partnership action has been taken by the Operating Partnership to approve the creation, the terms and the issuance of such Debt Securities, (iv) the Guarantees have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Indenture and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto, the related Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement(s), and by such corporate or limited liability company action, as applicable, do not violate any applicable law, do not result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon any of the Guarantors, are in conformity with the organizational documents of each of the Guarantors, and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over any of the Guarantors, (v) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture and as described in the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto, the related Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement(s), and by such limited partnership action, do not violate any applicable law, do not result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Operating Partnership, are in conformity with the organizational documents of the Operating Partnership, and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Operating Partnership, and (vi) notes, certificates or other evidence of the related Debt Securities have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the Operating Partnership and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment therefor in accordance with such limited partnership action and the Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the Registration Statement, and in accordance with any applicable valid and legally binding purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, or Warrant Agreement and any related Warrant, as applicable, then such Guarantees will be binding obligations of each applicable Guarantor. |
| 2. | When (i) a Prospectus Supplement and any related offering material with respect to Depositary Shares have been filed with the Commission and become effective in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) all necessary corporate action has been taken by the Company to approve the creation, the terms and the issuance of Depositary Shares and the consideration to be received therefor, (iii) the terms of the Depositary Shares and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Deposit Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto, the related Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement(s), and by such corporate action, and (iv) the Depositary Shares have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such Deposit Agreement and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto, the related Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement(s), and by such corporate action, and in accordance with any applicable valid and legally binding purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, as applicable, do not violate any applicable law, do not result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, are in conformity with the organizational documents of the Company, and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company (assuming the underlying Preferred Stock has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, validly issued and deposited with the Depositary), then such Depositary Shares will be binding obligations of the Company. |
| 3. | When (i) a Prospectus Supplement and any related offering material with respect to Warrants have been filed with the Commission and become effective in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) all necessary corporate action has been taken by the Company to approve the creation, the terms and the issuance of the Warrants and the underlying securities and all necessary limited partnership action has been taken by the Operating Partnership to approve the creation, the terms and the issuance of any underlying Debt Securities and any related Indenture, the terms of the offering of the Warrants and related matters, including the consideration to be received therefor, if any, and for the underlying securities, and, if applicable, to authorize the form, terms, execution and delivery of a Warrant Agreement or Warrant Agreements (including a form of certificate evidencing the Warrants, if applicable) relating to the Warrants, (iii) the Warrant Agreement or Warrant Agreements, if applicable, relating to the Warrants have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the warrant agent, if any, appointed by the Company, (iv) the Warrants have been issued under a valid and legally binding Warrant Agreement, or agreements relating to the Warrants that conforms to the applicable corporate action authorizing them and the description thereof provided in a Prospectus Supplement and any related offering material and do not violate any applicable law, do not result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, are in conformity with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (v) the terms of any underlying Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture and as described in the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto, the related Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement(s), and by such limited partnership action, do not violate any applicable law, do not result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Operating Partnership, are in conformity with the organizational documents of the Operating Partnership, and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Operating Partnership, and (vi) the Warrants or certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned and registered, if applicable, issued and delivered to the purchasers thereof in accordance with such corporate action and the Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the Registration Statement and in accordance with the appropriate Warrant Agreement and any applicable valid and legally binding purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, as applicable, and such corporate action, in exchange for payment of the consideration for such Warrants, if any, provided for in such agreement, such Warrants will be binding obligations of the Company. |
| 4. | When (i) a Prospectus Supplement and any related offering materials with respect to Debt Securities have been filed with the Commission and become effective in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) all necessary limited partnership action has been taken by the Operating Partnership to approve the creation, the terms and the issuance of such Debt Securities and the consideration to be received therefor in accordance with the Indenture, (iii) the Indenture is qualified under the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (iv) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture and as described in the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto, the related Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement(s), and by such limited partnership action, do not violate any applicable law, do not result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Operating Partnership, are in conformity with the organizational documents of the Operating Partnership, and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Operating Partnership, and (v) notes, certificates or other evidence of the Debt Securities have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the Operating Partnership and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment therefor in accordance with such limited partnership action and the Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the Registration Statement, and in accordance with any applicable valid and legally binding purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, or Warrant Agreement and any related Warrant, as applicable, then such Debt Securities will be binding obligations of the Operating Partnership. For purposes of rendering the opinions set forth in this paragraph 4 and in paragraph 1, we have assumed that immediately prior to the issuance of any Debt Securities, the Indenture and any applicable supplemental indenture will be in full force and effect, with no unwaived Events of Default or breaches thereunder and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms. |
In giving the opinions set forth above, with respect to each Security opined on in this opinion letter we have assumed that (i) at or prior to the time of the delivery of such Security, the authorization of such Security will not have been modified or rescinded, and there will not have occurred any change in law affecting such Security, including its validity or enforceability and (ii) none of the terms of any such Security to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance and delivery of such Security nor the compliance by the applicable Opinion Party, with the terms of such Security, will violate any applicable law or will result in a violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the applicable Opinion Party or any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the applicable Opinion Party.
Our opinions set forth above are subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and voidable transaction laws), (ii) any specialized laws not included in opinion letters of this kind, such as tax, antitrust, pension, employee benefit, environmental, intellectual property, bank regulatory, insurance, labor, regulatory and licensing, anti-money laundering and health and safety laws, (iii) 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 (iv) the application of principles of public policy.
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 any Opinion Party of any statutory or constitutional rights, defenses or remedies, (iii) terms which excuse any person or entity from liability for, or require any Opinion Party 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, late charges, monetary penalty, make-whole premiums or other form of liquidated damages, if the payment of such premium, interest rate, fee, late charge, monetary penalty, make-whole premium 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, (v) provisions providing that the terms of agreement may not be waived or modified except in writing, (vi) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (vii) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (viii) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (ix) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (x) proxies, powers and trusts, (x) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, or (xi) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement. 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 |
Schedule A
Safari Properties II, LLC
Lunacorp, LLC
DD Hempstead LLC
DD Brownsville LLC
Agree Tallahassee, LLC
Agree Roseville CA, LLC
Agree Fort Walton Beach, LLC
Agree Madison AL, LLC
Agree Walker, LLC
Agree M-59, LLC
Agree Spring Grove, LLC
Agree Wilmington, LLC
Agree Dallas Forest Drive, LLC
Agree Marietta, LLC
Agree Wawa Baltimore, LLC
Agree Charleston WV, LLC
Agree 117 Mission, LLC
Agree 2016, LLC
Agree Central, LLC
Agree Chapel Hill NC, 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 Mena AR, LLC
Agree NJ, LLC
Agree Onaway MI, LLC
Agree Orange CT, LLC
Agree Oxford Commons AL, LLC
Agree Paterson NJ, LLC
Agree Portfolio, 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
Agree Absecon Urban Renewal, LLC
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Exhibit 8.1 Office 313.465.7000 www.honigman.com |
May 5, 2023
|
Agree Realty Corporation 70 East Long Lake Road Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304 |
| Re: | Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Agree Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 5, 2023, of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 ASR (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to which the Company may offer, from time to time, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, depositary shares, guarantees of debt securities of the Operating Partnership, warrants, or any combination of the foregoing, and pursuant to which the Operating Partnership may offer, from time to time, debt securities. This opinion letter, regarding certain U.S. federal income tax matters, is being delivered to the Company pursuant to the Company’s request.
We have also acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation of the section captioned “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Base Prospectus (as defined below).
In rendering the opinions stated below, we have examined and, with your consent, relied upon the following documents:
| (i) | the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended; |
| (ii) | the Registration Statement and the base prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement (“Base Prospectus”); |
| (iii) | the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Operating Partnership, as amended to the date hereof; |
| (iv) | a letter of even date to us from Stephen Breslin, Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, containing certain written representations and covenants of the Company (“Certificate of Representations”); |
| Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506 |

May 5, 2023
Page 2
| (v) | the tax opinion issued by Hunton & Williams LLP, dated November 27, 2013 (the “Prior REIT Opinion”), regarding the Company’s qualification as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “REIT”); and |
| (vi) | such other records, certificates and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of rendering the opinions set forth herein. |
In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed, with your consent and without independent investigation, that:
| (i) | each of the documents referred to above has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered; is authentic, if an original, or is accurate, if a copy; has not been amended; and the signatures on each original document are genuine; |
| (ii) | where any such document required execution by a person, the person who executed the document had proper authority and capacity; |
| (iii) | all representations, covenants and statements set forth in such documents are and will be true and correct; |
| (iv) | where any such document imposes obligations on a person or entity, such obligations have been or will be performed or satisfied in accordance with their terms; |
| (v) | the Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland; |
| (vi) | the Company has the requisite corporate power and authority, under Maryland law, to own and lease the properties owned and leased by it and to carry on its business as is now being conducted by it; |
| (vii) | during its taxable year ending December 31, 2023, and future taxable years, the Company will operate in a manner that will make the representations and covenants contained in the Certificate of Representations true for such years, without regard to any qualifications as to knowledge or belief; |
| (viii) | the Company will not make any amendments to its organizational documents after the date of this opinion that would adversely affect the Company’s qualification as a REIT for any taxable year; and |
| Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506 |

May 5, 2023
Page 3
| (ix) | no action will be taken by the Company after the date hereof that would have the effect of altering the facts upon which the opinions set forth below are based. |
We have not independently verified all of the representations, covenants, facts or assumptions set forth in such documents or any other documents. We consequently have assumed that the information presented in such documents or otherwise furnished to us accurately and completely describes all facts stated therein. In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have assumed the correctness of the Prior REIT Opinion with respect to all periods prior to January 1, 2013. We also have relied upon the correctness, without regard to any qualification as to knowledge or belief, of the factual representations and covenants contained in the Certificate of Representations and the factual matters discussed in the Base Prospectus that relate to the Company’s status as a REIT. Where the factual representations and covenants in the Certificate of Representations involve terms defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury regulations thereunder (the “Regulations”), published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (the “Service”), or other relevant authority, we have reviewed with the individual making such representations the relevant provisions of the Code, the applicable Regulations, the published rulings of the Service, and other relevant authority. We are not aware of any facts that are inconsistent with the representations and covenants contained in the Certificate of Representations. Our opinions are based on the Code, the applicable Regulations, judicial decisions, the published rulings of the Service, and other relevant authority as in effect on the date hereof. It should be noted, however, that the Code, Regulations, judicial decisions, and administrative interpretations are subject to change at any time and, in some circumstances, with retroactive effect. We can give no assurance, therefore, that legislative enactments, administrative changes or court decisions may not be forthcoming that would modify or supersede the opinions stated herein. In addition, there can be no assurance that positions contrary to our opinions will not be taken by the Service, or that a court considering the issues will not hold contrary to such opinions. The Service has not issued Regulations or administrative interpretations with respect to various provisions of the Code relating to REIT qualification. No assurance can be given that the law will not change in a way that will prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT.
Moreover, the opinions set forth below represent our conclusions based upon the documents, facts, assumptions, representations and covenants referred to above. Any material amendments to such documents or changes in any significant facts after the date hereof, or inaccuracy of such assumptions, representations or covenants, could affect the opinions stated herein.
We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal income tax laws of the United States of America to the extent specifically referred to herein.
| Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506 |

May 5, 2023
Page 4
Based on the documents and assumptions set forth above, the representations and covenants set forth in the Certificate of Representations, and the factual matters discussed in the Base Prospectus under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” (which are incorporated herein by reference), we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | since the commencement of the Company’s taxable year that began January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2022, the Company has qualified to be taxed as a REIT under the Code and its current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code. The Company’s qualification as a REIT under the Code will depend upon the Company’s ability to meet, through actual operating results, the applicable asset composition, source of income, stockholder diversification, distribution and other requirements of the Code and Regulations necessary for REIT qualification; and |
| 2. | the description of the law and the legal conclusions contained in the Base Prospectus under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” is correct in all material respects. |
We will not review on a continuing basis the Company’s compliance with the documents or assumptions set forth above, or the representations set forth in the Certificate of Representations. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. Although we have made such inquiries and performed such investigations as we have deemed necessary to fulfill our professional responsibilities as counsel, we have not undertaken an independent investigation of all the facts referred to in this opinion letter or the Certificate of Representations. In particular, we note that the Company has engaged in transactions in connection with which we have not provided legal advice and which we may not have reviewed.
The foregoing opinions are limited to the U.S. federal income tax matters addressed herein, and no other opinions are rendered with respect to other U.S. federal tax matters or to any issues arising under the tax laws of any other country, or any state or locality. We undertake no obligation to update the opinions expressed herein after the date of this opinion letter.
Other than as expressly stated above, we express no opinion as to any other U.S. federal income tax issue or matter relating to the Company. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes of matters stated, represented, covenanted, or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in applicable law.
| Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506 |

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Page 5
This opinion is being issued to you in connection with the Registration Statement and may not be used or relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose without our express written consent. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name therein. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, nor do we thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “experts” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Honigman LLP | |
| Honigman LLP |
| Honigman LLP • 2290 First National Building • 660 Woodward Avenue • Detroit, Michigan 48226-3506 |
Exhibit 23.1
![]() |
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our reports dated February 14, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting of Agree Realty Corporation included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned reports in this Registration Statement, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts”.
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 5, 2023
Exhibit 25.1
securities and exchange commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
Statement of Eligibility Under
The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of a
Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of
a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) ¨
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
91-1821036
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
|
800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
James Kowalski
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
535 Griswold Street, Suite 550
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 234-4716
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Agree Limited Partnership
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 38-3170055 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
70 East Long Lake Road Bloomfield Hills, MI |
48304 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Notes
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
| Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
| a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
| b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
| Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
| Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee's knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
| Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
| 1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. |
| 2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 3. | A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 3. |
| 5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 5. |
| 7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of December 31, 2022, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 6. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Detroit, State of Michigan on the 5th of May, 2023.
| By: | /s/ James Kowalski | |
| James Kowalski | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 1
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:
FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person's most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director's term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
- 1 -
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association's stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
- 2 -
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association's management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
- 3 -
| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association's activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association's board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
- 4 -
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
| /s/ Jeffrey T. Grubb | |
| Jeffrey T. Grubb | |
| /s/ Robert D. Sznewajs | |
| Robert D. Sznewajs | |
| /s/ Dwight V. Board | |
| Dwight V. Board | |
| /s/ P. K. Chatterjee | |
| P. K. Chatterjee | |
| /s/ Robert Lane | |
| Robert Lane |
Exhibit 2

Exhibit 3
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.
Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.
Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.
Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.
Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board's responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.
Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).
The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and
(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.
Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.
Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.
Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.
Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.
Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.
Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.
Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person's shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
ARTICLE VI
Corporate Seal
Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.
Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.
Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.
Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.
Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).
Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
ARTICLE IX
Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment
Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.
***
(February 8, 2021)
Exhibit 5
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: May 5, 2023
| By: | /s/ James Kowalski | |
| James Kowalski | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 6
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
as of 12/31/2022
($000’s)
| 12/31/2022 | ||||
| Assets | ||||
| Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions | $ | 741,758 | ||
| Securities | 4,322 | |||
| Federal Funds | 0 | |||
| Loans & Lease Financing Receivables | 0 | |||
| Fixed Assets | 2,186 | |||
| Intangible Assets | 581,108 | |||
| Other Assets | 163,734 | |||
| Total Assets | $ | 1,493,108 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Deposits | $ | 0 | ||
| Fed Funds | 0 | |||
| Treasury Demand Notes | 0 | |||
| Trading Liabilities | 0 | |||
| Other Borrowed Money | 0 | |||
| Acceptances | 0 | |||
| Subordinated Notes and Debentures | 0 | |||
| Other Liabilities | 107,167 | |||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 107,167 | ||
| Equity | ||||
| Common and Preferred Stock | 200 | |||
| Surplus | 1,171,635 | |||
| Undivided Profits | 214,106 | |||
| Minority Interest in Subsidiaries | 0 | |||
| Total Equity Capital | $ | 1,385,941 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital | $ | 1,493,108 | ||

