EX-1.2 3 tm2412537d3_ex1-2.htm EXHIBIT 1.2

 

展示 1.2

 

执行副本

 

日期:2024年10月24日

 

收件人:Agree Realty Corporation
32301 伍德沃德大道

密歇根州皇家橡树市48073

 

发送人:富国银行,全国协会

30 Hudson Yards

纽约,纽约州10002-2170

 

关于:已注册的远期交易

 

女士们,先生们:

 

这份信函协议的目的是确认 富国银行、全国协会之间达成的交易条款和条件(”经销商”) 并同意 房地产公司 (”交易对手”)在下面指定的交易日期(”交易”)。这个 信函协议构成下述ISDA主协议中提及的 “确认”。

 

2002年ISDA股票衍生品定义中包含的定义和条款(以下简称“2002年ISDA股票衍生品定义”)股票定义根据国际掉期及衍生品协会(International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.)发布的《公平股权掉期及衍生品协会》条款,本确认书已纳入。若权益定义与 本确认书有任何不一致之处,应以本确认书为准。

 

每方特此被告知,并且每一方均承认,另一方已经根据相关交易的条件和条款,参与或者不参与了大量的财务交易,并采取了其他实质性行动。其目的是依赖各方签署本确认书之交易。

 

1.            这个 确认证明交易商与交易对手之间就本交易条款达成了完整且具有约束力的协议 确认相关。本确认书应补充 ISDA 2002,构成 ISDA 的一部分,并受其约束 主协议(”协议”)就好像交易商和交易对手已经以这种形式签订了协议(没有任何协议) 附表除外 (i) 纽约州法律的选举(不考虑除标题以外的纽约州法律选择原则) 《纽约一般义务法》第 5 条第 14 条(”一般义务法”) 作为适用法律 和美元(”美元”) 作为终止货币,以及 (ii) 选择 “交叉违约” 第 5 (a) (vi) 条的规定适用于交易商和对交易商有 “门槛金额” 的交易商和交易对手 交易商股东权益的3%,交易对手的 “门槛金额” 为1亿美元 (包括等值的另一种货币); 提供的 那个 (x) “一词,或者在这时变得有能力 已申报的” 应从其第 (1) 条中删除,(y) “特定债务” 具有规定的含义 在《协议》第 14 节中,但该条款不包括与普通存款有关的债务 交易商的银行业务流程,以及 (z) 应在该第 5 (a) (vi) 条的末尾添加以下措辞: “尽管如此,如果 (X) 违约完全是由行政或业务性质的错误或疏忽造成的;(Y) 有资金支持 一方在到期时付款;以及 (Z) 在该方收到书面通知后的两个当地工作日内付款 未付款的通知;”)。如果该协议的条款与本确认书的条款之间存在任何不一致之处,则此 就本确认书所涉及的交易而言,以确认为准。双方特此同意,其他 除本确认书所涉及的交易外,任何交易均不受本协议的管辖。就股权而言 定义,本交易是股票远期交易。

 

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2.            本确认涉及的特定交易条款如下:

 

通用术语:

 

  交易日: 2024年10月24日
     
  生效日期: 2024年10月28日
     
  出售方: 交易对手方
     
 

对手方。

经销商

     
  股份: 交易对方的普通股,每股面值为0.0001美元(逐笔明细:"ADC")
     
  股份数量:

最初,2,200,000股("初始 股份数量”); 但是,如果年度授予的公平价值超过40万美元,则年度授予的股份数量将自动减少,使年度授予的公平价值在40万美元以下,并且公平价值按公司的财务报表一致确定。年度授权将在授权日期起1年内全部归属于基础股票,或在授权日期后的我们股东年会之前(以先到者为准),但需持续服务到适用归属日期。股份数量应按照下文第7(a)条的规定减少。

 

在每个结算日期,股份 数量应减少相应日期结算的结算股份数量。

     
  到期日: 2025年12月31日(如该日期非交易日,则为下一个交易日)。
     
  初始远期价格: 每股73.0000美元
     
  期货价格:

(a)在 生效日期,初始远期价格;和

 

(b)在随后的每个日历日,(i) 前一日的结算价格, 乘以 (ii) 该日的每日费率之和; 但是,如果年度授予的公平价值超过40万美元,则年度授予的股份数量将自动减少,使年度授予的公平价值在40万美元以下,并且公平价值按公司的财务报表一致确定。年度授权将在授权日期起1年内全部归属于基础股票,或在授权日期后的我们股东年会之前(以先到者为准),但需持续服务到适用归属日期。在每个结算价格减低日期,该日期生效的结算价格应为该日期原先生效的结算价格, 减去 该结算价格减低日期的结算价格减低金额。

 

尽管如前所述,至于交易对手在结算价格减低日期之后将股票交付给此处或在普通现金股息的登记日当天以及与该结算价格减低日期对应的除息日之前(并且,为免疑问,有关股息将支付给这些股票), 计算代理人应根据其确定的范围,合理地判断调整结算价格,以便符合各方的经济目的(考虑交易员在交易中的合理对冲头寸)。

     
  每日费率:

对于任何一天,速率(可能为正或负)等于(i)(a)该日的隔夜银行利率(或者如果隔夜银行利率不再适用,由计算机构在其商业上的合理判断选定的继任利率) 减去 (b)利差 除以 (ii)360。

 

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  隔夜银行利率: 对于任何一天,根据彭博终端“OBFR01 指数 GO”显示的“隔夜银行资金费率”一栏中规定的利率,或其后继页面; 但是,如果年度授予的公平价值超过40万美元,则年度授予的股份数量将自动减少,使年度授予的公平价值在40万美元以下,并且公平价值按公司的财务报表一致确定。年度授权将在授权日期起1年内全部归属于基础股票,或在授权日期后的我们股东年会之前(以先到者为准),但需持续服务到适用归属日期。如果某一天在该页面上没有显示利率,则应使用前一天有显示利率的立即前一天的利率计算该天的利率。
     
  利率点差: 0.75%
     
  预付款:  
     
  变量义务:  
     
  远期价格调整日期: 如附表I所述
     
  未来价格减少金额: 对于每个未来价格减少日期,在附表I中对应该日期的未来价格减少金额。
     
  交易所: 请使用moomoo账号登录查看New York Stock Exchange
     
  相关交易所: 所有交易所

 

  Clearance System: The Depository Trust Company
     
  Market Disruption Event: Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the first sentence in its entirety with the following: “‘Market Disruption Event’ means in respect of a Share or an Index, the occurrence or existence of (i) a Trading Disruption, (ii) an Exchange Disruption, (iii) an Early Closure or (iv) a Regulatory Disruption, in each case that the Calculation Agent determines is material”.
     
  Early Closure: Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.
     
  Regulatory Disruption: Any event that Dealer, based on the advice of counsel, determines makes it reasonably necessary or appropriate with regard to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures that generally apply to transactions of a nature and kind similar to the Transaction for Dealer to refrain from or decrease any market activity in connection with the Transaction.
     
Settlement:  
   
 

Settlement Currency:

USD (all amounts shall be converted to the Settlement Currency in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner by the Calculation Agent)

 

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  Settlement Date:

Any Scheduled Trading Day following the Effective Date and up to and including the Maturity Date that is either:

 

(a)            designated by Counterparty as a “Settlement Date” by a written notice (a “Settlement Notice”) that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements and is delivered to Dealer no less than (i) two Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Maturity Date, if Physical Settlement applies, and (ii) 90 Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Maturity Date, if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies; provided that, if Dealer shall fully unwind its hedge with respect to the portion of the Number of Shares to be settled during an Unwind Period by a date that is more than one Scheduled Trading Day prior to a Settlement Date specified above, Dealer may, by written notice to Counterparty, specify any Scheduled Trading Day prior to such original Settlement Date as the Settlement Date (with prior notice to Counterparty at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to such specified Settlement Date); or

 

(b)            designated by Dealer as a “Settlement Date” pursuant to the “Termination Settlement” provisions of Paragraph 7(f) below;

 

provided that the Maturity Date will be a Settlement Date if on such date the Number of Shares for which a Settlement Date has not already been designated is greater than zero, and provided further that, following the occurrence of at least three consecutive Disrupted Days during an Unwind Period and while such Disrupted Days are continuing, Dealer may designate any subsequent Scheduled Trading Day as the Settlement Date with respect to the portion of the Settlement Shares, if any, for which Dealer has determined an Unwind Purchase Price during such Unwind Period, it being understood that the Unwind Period with respect to the remainder of such Settlement Shares shall, subject to clause (ii) in “Settlement Method Election” below, recommence on the next succeeding Exchange Business Day that is not a Disrupted Day in whole.

 

  Settlement Shares:

(a)            With respect to any Settlement Date other than the Maturity Date, the number of Shares designated as such by Counterparty in the relevant Settlement Notice or designated by Dealer pursuant to the “Termination Settlement” provisions of Paragraph 7(f) below, as applicable; provided that the Settlement Shares so designated shall (i) not exceed the Number of Shares at that time and (ii) in the case of a designation by Counterparty, be at least equal to the lesser of 100,000 and the Number of Shares at that time; and

 

(b)            with respect to the Settlement Date on the Maturity Date, a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares at that time;

 

in each case with the Number of Shares determined taking into account pending Settlement Shares.

 

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  Settlement Method Election:

Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement, or Net Share Settlement, at the election of Counterparty as set forth in a Settlement Notice that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements; provided that Physical Settlement shall apply (i) if no Settlement Method is validly selected, (ii) with respect to any Settlement Shares in respect of which Dealer is unable, in good faith and in its commercially reasonable discretion, to unwind its hedge by the end of the Unwind Period (A) in a manner that, in the reasonable discretion of Dealer, based on advice of counsel and taking into account (x) any unwind period (or equivalent concept) under any outstanding ATM Forward Transactions (as defined below) to which Dealer or its affiliate is a party and (y) any restrictions on Dealer resulting from any Overlap Unwind Period (as defined below), is consistent with the requirements for qualifying for the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 (“Rule 10b-18”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or (B) due to the occurrence of Disrupted Days or to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares on any Exchange Business Day during the Unwind Period, (iii) to any Termination Settlement Date (as defined under “Termination Settlement” in Paragraph 7(f) below) and (iv) if the Maturity Date is a Settlement Date other than as the result of a valid Settlement Notice, in respect of such Settlement Date; provided further that, if Physical Settlement applies under clause (ii) immediately above, Dealer shall provide written notice to Counterparty at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to the applicable Settlement Date.

     
  Settlement Notice Requirements: Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, a Settlement Notice delivered by Counterparty that specifies Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement will not be effective to establish a Settlement Date or require Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement unless Counterparty delivers to Dealer with such Settlement Notice a representation, dated as of the date of such Settlement Notice and signed by Counterparty, (1) in the form set forth in clause (i) under the heading “Additional Representations and Agreements of Counterparty” in Paragraph 7(d)  below and (2) that neither Counterparty nor any of its subsidiaries has applied, and shall not until after the first date on which no portion of the Transaction remains outstanding following any final exercise and settlement, cancellation or early termination of the Transaction, apply, for a loan, loan guarantee, direct loan (as that term is defined in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”)) or other investment, or receive any financial assistance or relief under any program or facility (collectively “Financial Assistance”) that (I) is established under applicable law (whether in existence as of the Trade Date or subsequently enacted, adopted or amended), including without limitation the CARES Act and the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, and (II) (X) requires under applicable law (or any regulation, guidance, interpretation or other pronouncement of a governmental authority with jurisdiction for such program or facility) as a condition of such Financial Assistance, that Counterparty comply with any requirement not to, or otherwise agree, attest, certify or warrant that it has not, as of the date specified in such condition, repurchased, or will not repurchase, any equity security of Issuer, and that it has not, as of the date specified in the condition, made a capital distribution or will make a capital distribution, or (Y) where the terms of the Transaction would cause Counterparty under any circumstances to fail to satisfy any condition for application for or receipt or retention of the Financial Assistance (collectively “Restricted Financial Assistance”), other than any such applications for Restricted Financial Assistance that were (or would be) made (x) determined based on the advice of outside counsel of national standing that the terms of the Transaction would not cause Counterparty to fail to satisfy any condition for application for or receipt or retention of such Financial Assistance based on the terms of the program or facility as of the date of such advice or (y) after delivery to Dealer evidence or other guidance from a governmental authority with jurisdiction for such program or facility that the Transaction is permitted under such program or facility (either by specific reference to the Transaction or by general reference to transactions with the attributes of the Transaction in all relevant respects).

 

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  Physical Settlement: If Physical Settlement is applicable, then Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer through the Clearance System a number of Shares equal to the Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date, and Dealer shall pay to Counterparty, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Counterparty, an amount equal to the Physical Settlement Amount for such Settlement Date. If, on any Settlement Date, the Shares to be delivered by Counterparty to Dealer hereunder are not so delivered (the “Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date occurs during the period from, and including, such Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to Dealer, then the portion of the Physical Settlement Amount payable by Dealer to Counterparty in respect of the Deferred Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date, multiplied by the number of Deferred Shares.
     
  Physical Settlement Amount: For any Settlement Date for which Physical Settlement is applicable, an amount in cash equal to the product of (a) the Forward Price in effect on the relevant Settlement Date multiplied by (b) the Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date.
     
  Cash Settlement: On any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement applies, if the Cash Settlement Amount is a positive number, Dealer will pay the Cash Settlement Amount to Counterparty. If the Cash Settlement Amount is a negative number, Counterparty will pay the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount to Dealer. Such amounts shall be paid on such Settlement Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

 

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  Cash Settlement Amount:

An amount determined by the Calculation Agent equal to:

 

(a) (i)(A) the weighted average (weighted on the same basis as clause (B)) of the Forward Prices on each day during the applicable Unwind Period (calculated assuming no reduction to the Forward Price for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, which is accounted for in clause (b) below), minus USD 0.02, minus (B) the weighted average price (the “Unwind Purchase Price”) at which Dealer purchases Shares during the Unwind Period to unwind its hedge with respect to the portion of the Number of Shares to be settled during the Unwind Period (including, for the avoidance of doubt, purchases on any Disrupted Day in part), taking into account Shares anticipated to be delivered or received if Net Share Settlement applies, and the restrictions of Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act agreed to hereunder, multiplied by (ii) the Settlement Shares for the relevant Settlement Date; minus

     
    (b)            the product of (i) the Forward Price Reduction Amount for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, and (ii) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date with respect to which Dealer has not unwound its hedge, including the settlement of such unwinds, as of such Forward Price Reduction Date.
     
  Net Share Settlement: On any Settlement Date in respect of which Net Share Settlement applies, if the Cash Settlement Amount is a (i) positive number, Dealer shall deliver a number of Shares to Counterparty equal to the Net Share Settlement Shares, or (ii) negative number, Counterparty shall deliver a number of Shares to Dealer equal to the Net Share Settlement Shares; provided that, if Dealer determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it would be required to deliver Net Share Settlement Shares to Counterparty, Dealer may elect to deliver a portion of such Net Share Settlement Shares on one or more dates prior to the applicable Settlement Date.
     
  Net Share Settlement Shares: With respect to a Settlement Date, the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount divided by the Unwind Purchase Price, with the number of Shares rounded up in the event such calculation results in a fractional number.
     
  Unwind Period: The period from and including the first Exchange Business Day following the date Counterparty validly elects Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of a Settlement Date through the first Scheduled Trading Day preceding such Settlement Date, subject to “Termination Settlement” as described in Paragraph 7(f) below.
     
  Failure to Deliver: Applicable.

 

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  Share Cap: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Confirmation, in no event will Counterparty be required to deliver to Dealer on any Settlement Date, whether pursuant to Physical Settlement, Net Share Settlement or any Private Placement Settlement, a number of Shares in excess of (i) 1.5 times the Initial Number of Shares, subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions minus (ii) the aggregate number of Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer hereunder prior to such Settlement Date.
     
Adjustments:  
   
 

Method of Adjustment:

Calculation Agent Adjustment. Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting clause (iii) thereof, and Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the words “that is within the Issuer’s control” immediately after the word “event”. For the avoidance of doubt, the declaration or payment of a cash dividend will not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event.

     
  Additional Adjustment: If, in Dealer’s commercially reasonable judgment, the actual cost to Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer), on any Scheduled Trading Day, of borrowing a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares to hedge in a commercially reasonable manner its exposure to this Transaction exceeds a weighted average rate equal to 25 basis points per annum, the Calculation Agent shall reduce the Forward Price in order to compensate Dealer for the amount by which such cost exceeded a weighted average rate equal to 25 basis points per annum on such day.
     
Extraordinary Events:  
   
 

Extraordinary Events:

In lieu of the applicable provisions contained in Article 12 of the Equity Definitions, the consequences of any Extraordinary Event (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Insolvency, Delisting, or Change In Law) shall be as specified below under the headings “Acceleration Events” and “Termination Settlement” in Paragraphs 7(e) and 7(f), respectively. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Equity Definitions, no Additional Disruption Event will be applicable except to the extent expressly referenced in Section 7(e)(iv) below. The definition of “Tender Offer” in Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing “10%” with “15%.”

     
Non-Reliance: Applicable
     
Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities: Applicable
     
Additional Acknowledgments: Applicable

 

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Transfer: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Agreement, Dealer may assign, transfer and set over all rights, title and interest, powers, privileges and remedies of Dealer under this Transaction, in whole or in part, to (A) an affiliate of Dealer wholly owned by, wholly owning, or under 100% common control with, Dealer, whose obligations hereunder are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Dealer, or (B) an affiliate of Dealer, directly or indirectly wholly owned by, directly or indirectly wholly owning, or under 100% direct or indirect common control with, Dealer, with a long-term issuer rating equal to or better than the credit rating of Dealer at the time of transfer without the consent of Counterparty; provided that (i) at the time of such assignment or transfer, Counterparty would not, as a result of such assignment or transfer, reasonably be expected (A) to be required to pay (including a payment in kind) to such transferee or assignee an amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax greater than the amount Counterparty would have been required to pay to Dealer in the absence of such assignment or transfer or (B) to receive a payment (including a payment in kind) from such transferee or assignee an amount less than the amount Counterparty would have been entitled to receive in the absence of such assignment or transfer, (ii) Dealer shall have caused the assignee or transferee to make such Payee Tax Representations and to provide such tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by Counterparty to permit Counterparty to determine that the transfer complies with the requirements of clause (i) in this paragraph, (iii) any assignee or transferee would be eligible to provide a U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8ECI with respect to any payments or deliveries under the Agreement, and (iv) such assignment or transfer would not at the time, as a result of such transfer or assignment, reasonably be expected to require Counterparty to take any additional action or incur any additional obligation, cost or expense to ensure the continued fulfillment of Counterparty’s representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein, in each case as to such assignee or transferee.
     
3.          Calculation Agent:

Dealer, whose judgments, determinations and calculations shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner; provided that, following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of the type described in Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the sole Defaulting Party, if the Calculation Agent fails to timely make any calculation, adjustment or determination required to be made by the Calculation Agent hereunder or to perform any obligation of the Calculation Agent hereunder and such failure continues for five Exchange Business Days following notice to the Calculation Agent by Counterparty of such failure, Counterparty shall have the right to designate a nationally recognized third-party dealer in over-the- counter corporate equity derivatives to act, during the period commencing on the date such Event of Default occurred and ending on the Early Termination Date with respect to such Event of Default, as the Calculation Agent. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a request by Counterparty, the Calculation Agent shall promptly (but in any event within three Scheduled Trading Days) provide to Counterparty by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Counterparty in such request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation (including any assumptions used in making such determination or calculation), it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary or confidential models or other proprietary or confidential information used by it for such determination or calculation.

 

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4.         Account Details:

 

(a) Account for delivery of Shares to Dealer:

 

 

To be furnished

   
(b) Account for delivery of Shares to Counterparty:

To be furnished

   
(c) Account for payments to Counterparty: To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date
   
(d) Account for payments to Dealer: To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date
   

5.         Offices:

 

The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is: Inapplicable, Counterparty is not a Multibranch Party

 

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: Charlotte, NC.

 

6.         Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:

 

(a) Address for notices or communications to Counterparty:

 

Agree Realty Corporation
32301 Woodward Avenue

Royal Oak, Michigan 48073
Attn: Secretary

Telephone: (248) 737-4190

Facsimile: (248) 737-9110

 

With a copy to:

 

Donald J. Kunz
Honigman LLP
660 Woodward Avenue
2290 First National Building
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Email: dkunz@honigman.com

 

(b) Address for notices or communications to Dealer:

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, all notices to Dealer in connection with the Transaction are effective only upon receipt of email message to CorporateDerivativeNotifications@wellsfargo.com For the avoidance of doubt, any notice or other communication delivered by electronic messaging system, e-mail or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be “in writing.” For the further avoidance of doubt, a notice or other communication under Section 5 or 6 of the Agreement may be given by e-mail.

 

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7.Other Provisions:

 

(a)            Conditions to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Confirmation on the Effective Date shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Dealer of the following conditions: (i) the condition that the representations and warranties of Counterparty contained in the Underwriting Agreement, dated October 24, 2024 among Counterparty, Agree Limited Partnership, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (as agent for Citibank, N.A.) and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (as agent for Wells Fargo Bank, National Association) as the forward sellers, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as representatives of the several Underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”) and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Counterparty are true and correct on the Effective Date as if made as of the Effective Date, (ii) the condition that Counterparty has performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Underwriting Agreement on or prior to the Effective Date, (iii) all of the conditions set forth or referenced in Section 8 of the Underwriting Agreement, (iv) the Underwriting Agreement remains in effect and has not terminated pursuant to Section 10 of the Underwriting Agreement, and (v) the condition that, as determined by Dealer in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner, neither of the following has occurred (A) Dealer or its affiliate is unable to borrow and deliver for sale a number of Shares equal to the Initial Number of Shares, or (B) in Dealer’s commercially reasonable judgment either it is impracticable to do so or Dealer or its affiliate would incur a stock loan cost of more than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum to do so (in either of which events this Confirmation shall be effective but the Initial Number of Shares for this Transaction shall be the number of Shares Dealer is required to deliver in accordance with Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement).

 

(b)            Interpretive Letter. Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that this Transaction is being entered into in accordance with the October 9, 2003 interpretive letter from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the “Interpretive Letter”) and agrees to take all actions, and to omit to take any actions, reasonably requested by Dealer for this Transaction to comply with the Interpretive Letter. Without limiting the foregoing, Counterparty agrees that neither it nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Regulation M (“Regulation M”) promulgated under the Exchange Act) will, directly or indirectly, bid for, purchase or attempt to induce any person to bid for or purchase, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Shares during any “restricted period” as such term is defined in Regulation M. In addition, Counterparty represents that it is eligible to conduct a primary offering of Shares on Form S-3, the offering contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement complies with Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Shares are “actively traded” as defined in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M.

 

(c)Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Shares.

 

(i)             Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that, in respect of any Shares delivered to Dealer hereunder, such Shares shall be newly issued (unless mutually agreed otherwise by the parties) and, upon such delivery, duly and validly authorized, issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free of any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights and shall, upon such issuance, be accepted for listing or quotation on the Exchange.

 

(ii)            Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) will hedge its exposure to this Transaction by selling Shares borrowed from third party securities lenders or other Shares pursuant to a registration statement, and that, pursuant to the terms of the Interpretive Letter, the Shares (up to the Initial Number of Shares) delivered, pledged or loaned by Counterparty to Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) in connection with this Transaction may be used by Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) to return to securities lenders without further registration or other restrictions under the Securities Act, in the hands of those securities lenders, irrespective of whether such securities loan is effected by Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer. Accordingly, subject to Section 7(g) below, Counterparty agrees that the Shares that it delivers, pledges or loans to Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) on or prior to the final Settlement Date will not bear a restrictive legend and that such Shares will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System.

 

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(iii)          Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that it has reserved and will keep available at all times, free from preemptive or similar rights and free from any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance, authorized but unissued Shares at least equal to the Share Cap, solely for the purpose of settlement under this Transaction.

 

(iv)          Unless the provisions set forth below under “Private Placement Procedures” are applicable, Dealer agrees to use any Shares delivered by Counterparty hereunder on any Settlement Date to return to securities lenders to close out open securities loans created by Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer in the course of Dealer’s or such affiliate’s hedging activities related to Dealer’s exposure under this Transaction.

 

(v)           In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of this Transaction, Dealer shall use its reasonable efforts, based on the advice of counsel and taking into account (x) any unwind period (or equivalent concept) under any outstanding ATM Forward Transactions to which Dealer or its affiliate is a party and (y) any restrictions on Dealer resulting from any Overlap Unwind Period (as defined below), to conduct its activities, or cause its affiliates to conduct their activities, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, as if such provisions were applicable to such purchases.

 

(d)            Additional Representations and Agreements of Counterparty. Counterparty represents, warrants and agrees as follows:

 

(i)             Counterparty represents to Dealer on the Trade Date and on any date that Counterparty notifies Dealer that Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies to this Transaction, that (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, (B) each of its filings under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other applicable securities laws that are required to be filed have been filed and that, as of the date of this representation, when considered as a whole (with the more recent such filings deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such filings), there is no misstatement of material fact contained therein or omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (C) Counterparty is not entering into this Confirmation nor making any election hereunder to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act. In addition to any other requirement set forth herein, Counterparty agrees not to designate, or to appropriately rescind or modify a prior designation of, any Settlement Date if it is notified by Dealer that, in the reasonable determination of Dealer, based on the advice of counsel, such settlement or Dealer’s related market activity in respect of such date would result in a violation of any applicable federal or state law or regulation, including the U.S. federal securities laws.

 

(ii)            It is the intent of Dealer and Counterparty that following any election of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement by Counterparty, the purchase of Shares by Dealer during any Unwind Period comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-l(c)(l)(i)(B) of the Exchange Act and that this Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-l(c). Counterparty acknowledges that (i) during any Unwind Period, Counterparty shall not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any influence over how, when or whether to effect purchases of Shares by Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) in connection with this Confirmation and (ii) Counterparty is entering into the Agreement and this Confirmation in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with federal securities laws including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

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(iii)           Counterparty shall, at least one day prior to the first day of any Unwind Period, notify Dealer of the total number of Shares purchased in Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks pursuant to the once-a- week block exception contained in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) by or for Counterparty or any of its affiliated purchasers during each of the four calendar weeks preceding the first day of the Unwind Period and during the calendar week in which the first day of the Unwind Period occurs (“Rule 10b-18 purchase”, “blocks” and “affiliated purchaser” each being used as defined in Rule 10b-18).

 

(iv)           During any Unwind Period, Counterparty shall (i) notify Dealer prior to the opening of trading in the Shares on any day on which Counterparty makes, or Counterparty reasonably expects in advance of the opening to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any merger, acquisition, or similar transaction involving a recapitalization relating to Counterparty (other than any such transaction in which the consideration consists solely of cash and there is no valuation period), (ii) promptly notify Dealer following any such announcement that such announcement has been made and (iii) promptly deliver to Dealer following the making of any such announcement information indicating (A) Counterparty’s average daily Rule 10b-18 purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months preceding the date of the announcement of such transaction and (B) Counterparty’s block purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) effected pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of Rule 10b-18 during the three full calendar months preceding the date of the announcement of such transaction. In addition, Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders.

 

(v)            Neither Counterparty nor any of its affiliated purchasers (within the meaning of Rule 10b-- 18 under the Exchange Act) shall take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, any direct purchases by Counterparty or any of its affiliates, or any purchases by a party to a derivative transaction with Counterparty or any of its affiliates), either under this Confirmation, under another agreement with Dealer or another party or otherwise, that might reasonably be expected to cause any purchases of Shares by Dealer or any of its affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement (or equivalent concept) of this Transaction or any outstanding ATM Forward Transactions to which Dealer or its affiliate is a party not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 determined as if all such foregoing purchases were made by Counterparty.

 

(vi)           Counterparty will not engage in any “distribution” (as defined in Regulation M), other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exception set forth in Rules 101(b)(10) or 102(b)(7) of Regulation M, that would cause a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M) to occur during any Unwind Period.

 

(vii)          Counterparty is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(viii)        Counterparty is not insolvent, nor will Counterparty be rendered insolvent as a result of this Transaction or its performance of the terms hereof.

 

(ix)           Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of this Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

 

(x)            Counterparty understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

 

(xi)           To Counterparty’s actual knowledge, no federal, state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares, other than Sections 13 and 16 under the Exchange Act and Article Ninth of Counterparty’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended and supplemented (the “Charter”).

 

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(xii)          No filing with, or approval, authorization, consent, license, registration, qualification, order or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the execution, delivery and performance by Counterparty of this Confirmation and the consummation of this Transaction (including, without limitation, the issuance and delivery of Shares on any Settlement Date) except (i) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act and (ii) as may be required to be obtained under state securities laws.

 

(xiii)         Counterparty (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business affairs as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of entering into this Transaction; (ii) has consulted with its own legal, financial, accounting and tax advisors in connection with this Transaction; and (iii) is entering into this Transaction for a bona fide business purpose.

 

(xiv)         Counterparty is, and shall during the terms of the Transactions maintain its status as, a real estate investment trust under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

(xv)          Counterparty will, by the next succeeding Scheduled Trading Day, notify Dealer upon obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default, a Potential Event of Default or a Potential Adjustment Event.

 

(xvi)         Counterparty (i) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, (ii) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing and (iii) has total assets of at least USD 50 million as of the date hereof.

 

(e)Acceleration Events. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Acceleration Event”:

 

(i)             Stock Borrow Event. In the commercially reasonable judgment of Dealer (A) Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) is not able to hedge in a commercially reasonable manner its exposure under this Transaction because insufficient Shares are made available for borrowing by securities lenders or (B) Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) would incur a cost to borrow (or to maintain a borrow of) Shares to hedge in a commercially reasonable manner its exposure under this Transaction that is greater than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum (each, a “Stock Borrow Event”);

 

(ii)            Dividends and Other Distributions. On any day occurring after the Trade Date, Counterparty declares a distribution, issue or dividend to existing holders of the Shares of (A) any cash dividend (other than an Extraordinary Dividend) to the extent all cash dividends having an ex-dividend date during the period from, and including, any Forward Price Reduction Date (with the Trade Date being a Forward Price Reduction Date for purposes of this paragraph (ii) only) to, but excluding, the next subsequent Forward Price Reduction Date exceeds, on a per Share basis, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite the first date of any such period on Schedule I, (B) any Extraordinary Dividend, (C) any share capital or other securities of another issuer acquired or owned (directly or indirectly) by Counterparty as a result of a spin-off or other similar transaction or (D) any other type of securities (other than Shares), rights or warrants or other assets, in any case for payment (cash or other consideration) at less than the prevailing market price, as determined in a commercially reasonable manner by Dealer; “Extraordinary Dividend” means any dividend or distribution (that is not an ordinary cash dividend) declared by the Issuer with respect to the Shares that, in the commercially reasonable determination of Dealer, is (1) a dividend or distribution declared on the Shares at a time at which the Issuer has not previously declared or paid dividends or distributions on such Shares for the prior four quarterly periods, (2) a payment or distribution by the Issuer to holders of Shares that the Issuer announces will be an “extraordinary” or “special” dividend or distribution, (3) a payment by the Issuer to holders of Shares out of the Issuer’s capital and surplus or (4) any other “special” dividend or distribution on the Shares that is, by its terms or declared intent, outside the normal course of operations or normal dividend policies or practices of the Issuer;

 

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(iii)           ISDA Termination. Either Dealer or Counterparty has the right to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement;

 

(iv)           Other ISDA Events. The announcement of any event that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting or the occurrence of any Hedging Disruption or Change in Law; provided that, in case of a Delisting, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it will also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); provided further that (i) the definition of “Change in Law” provided in Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “or announcement or statement of the formal or informal interpretation” and (B) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by Dealer on the Trade Date” and (ii) any determination as to whether (A) the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any tax law) or (B) the promulgation of or any change in or announcement or statement of the formal or informal interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in each case, constitutes a “Change in Law” shall be made without regard to Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (the “WSTAA”) or any similar provision in any legislation enacted on or after the Trade Date; or

 

(v)            Ownership Event. In the good faith judgment of Dealer, on any day, the Share Amount for such day exceeds the Post-Effective Limit for such day (if any applies) (an “Ownership Event”). For purposes of this clause (v), the “Share Amount” as of any day is the number of Shares that Dealer and any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer (Dealer or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any law, rule, regulation or regulatory order (other than any obligations under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) or Counterparty constituent document that for any reason is, or after the Trade Date becomes, applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Provisions”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership of under the Applicable Provisions, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion. The “Post-Effective Limit” means (x) the minimum number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval from any person or entity) of a Dealer Person, or would result in an adverse effect on a Dealer Person, under the Applicable Provisions, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion, minus (y) 1.0% of the number of Shares outstanding.

 

(f)            Termination Settlement. Upon the occurrence of any Acceleration Event, Dealer shall have the right to designate, upon at least one Scheduled Trading Day’s notice, any Scheduled Trading Day following such occurrence to be a Settlement Date hereunder (a “Termination Settlement Date”) to which Physical Settlement shall apply, and to select the number of Settlement Shares relating to such Termination Settlement Date; provided that (i) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of an Ownership Event, the number of Settlement Shares so designated by Dealer shall not exceed the number of Shares necessary to reduce the Share Amount to reasonably below the Post-Effective Limit, and (ii) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of a Stock Borrow Event, the number of Settlement Shares so designated by Dealer shall not exceed the number of Shares as to which such Stock Borrow Event exists. If, upon designation of a Termination Settlement Date by Dealer pursuant to the preceding sentence, Counterparty fails to deliver the Settlement Shares relating to such Termination Settlement Date when due or otherwise fails to perform obligations within its control in respect of this Transaction, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Counterparty and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. If an Acceleration Event occurs during an Unwind Period relating to a number of Settlement Shares to which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies, then on the Termination Settlement Date relating to such Acceleration Event, notwithstanding any election to the contrary by Counterparty, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement shall apply to the portion of the Settlement Shares relating to such Unwind Period as to which Dealer has unwound its hedge and Physical Settlement shall apply in respect of (x) the remainder (if any) of such Settlement Shares and (y) the Settlement Shares designated by Dealer in respect of such Termination Settlement Date. If an Acceleration Event occurs after Counterparty has designated a Settlement Date to which Physical Settlement applies but before the relevant Settlement Shares have been delivered to Dealer, then Dealer shall have the right to cancel such Settlement Date and designate a Termination Settlement Date in respect of such Shares pursuant to the first sentence hereof.

 

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(g)           Private Placement Procedures. If Counterparty is unable to comply with the provisions of Section 7(c)(ii) above because of a change in law or a change in the policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, or Dealer otherwise determines that in its reasonable opinion any Shares to be delivered to Dealer by Counterparty may not be freely returned by Dealer or its affiliates to securities lenders as described under such sub- paragraph (ii) or otherwise constitute “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, then delivery of any such Shares (the “Restricted Shares”) shall be effected as provided below, unless waived by Dealer.

 

(i)             If Counterparty delivers the Restricted Shares pursuant to this clause (i) (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then delivery of Restricted Shares by Counterparty shall be effected in accordance with private placement procedures customary for private placements of equity securities of substantially similar size with respect to such Restricted Shares reasonably acceptable to Dealer; provided that Counterparty may not elect a Private Placement Settlement if, on the date of its election, it has taken, or caused to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act for the sale by Counterparty to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Restricted Shares or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(1) or Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Restricted Shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer), and if Counterparty fails to deliver the Restricted Shares when due or otherwise fails to perform obligations within its control in respect of a Private Placement Settlement, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Counterparty and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. The Private Placement Settlement of such Restricted Shares shall include customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Dealer, due diligence rights (for Dealer or any designated buyer of the Restricted Shares by Dealer), opinions and certificates, and such other documentation as is customary for private placement agreements of equity securities of a substantially similar size, all reasonably acceptable to Dealer. In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall, in its good faith discretion, adjust the amount of Restricted Shares to be delivered to Dealer hereunder in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Restricted Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Dealer and may only be saleable by Dealer at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Restricted Shares. Notwithstanding the Agreement or this Confirmation, the date of delivery of such Restricted Shares shall be the Clearance System Business Day following notice by Dealer to Counterparty of the number of Restricted Shares to be delivered pursuant to this clause (i). For the avoidance of doubt, delivery of Restricted Shares shall be due as set forth in the previous sentence and not be due on the date that would otherwise be applicable.

 

(ii)            If Counterparty delivers any Restricted Shares in respect of this Transaction, Counterparty agrees that (A) such Shares may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and (B) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed, Counterparty shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for the Shares to remove, any legends referring to any transfer restrictions from such Shares upon delivery by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer) to Counterparty or such transfer agent of any seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer or its affiliates in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer).

 

(h)           Indemnity. Counterparty agrees to indemnify Dealer and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such affiliate or person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint and several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to any breach of any covenant or representation made by Counterparty in this Confirmation or the Agreement and will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable legal fees and reasonable expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim or any action or proceeding arising therefrom (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), except to the extent determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Dealer’s gross negligence, fraud, bad faith and/or willful misconduct or from a breach of any representation or covenant of Dealer contained in this Confirmation or the Agreement. The foregoing provisions shall survive any termination or completion of the Transaction.

 

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(i)            Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF COUNTERPARTY AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

 

(j)            Governing Law/Jurisdiction. This Confirmation and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Confirmation shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without reference to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with all matters relating hereto and waive any objection to the laying of venue in, and any claim of inconvenient forum with respect to, these courts.

 

(k)           Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty only to the extent of any such performance.

 

(l)            Insolvency Filing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement or in the Equity Definitions, upon any Insolvency Filing or other proceeding under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in respect of the Issuer, this Transaction shall automatically terminate on the date thereof without further liability of either party to this Confirmation to the other party (except for any liability in respect of any breach of representation or covenant by a party under this Confirmation prior to the date of such Insolvency Filing or other proceeding), it being understood that this Transaction is a contract for the issuance of Shares by the Issuer.

 

(m)          Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, each of Dealer and Counterparty and each of their employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

 

(n)           Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery, with respect to some or all of the relevant Settlement Shares, if Dealer determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

 

(o)           Counterparty Share Repurchases. Counterparty agrees not to repurchase, directly or indirectly, any Shares if, immediately following such purchase, the Outstanding Share Percentage would be equal to or greater than 9.8%. The “Outstanding Share Percentage” as of any day is the fraction (1) the numerator of which is the aggregate “Number of Shares” (or equivalent concept) for this Transaction and all outstanding ATM Forward Transactions to which Dealer or its affiliate is a party and (2) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

 

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(p)           Limit on Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, Dealer shall not have the right to acquire Shares hereunder and Dealer shall not be entitled to take delivery of any Shares hereunder (in each case, whether in connection with the purchase of Shares on any Settlement Date or any Termination Settlement Date, any Private Placement Settlement or otherwise) to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such receipt of any Shares hereunder, (i) the Share Amount would exceed the Post-Effective Limit, (ii) Dealer and each person subject to aggregation of Shares with Dealer under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated thereunder, including any “group” of which Dealer or its affiliates is a part, (the “Dealer Group”) would directly or indirectly beneficially own (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated thereunder) in excess of 4.0% of the then outstanding Shares (the “Threshold Number of Shares”), (iii) such acquisition would result in a violation of any restriction on ownership and transfers set forth in Article Ninth of Counterparty’s Charter (the “Counterparty Stock Ownership Restriction”) or (iv) Dealer would hold 5% or more of the number of Shares of Counterparty’s outstanding common stock or 5% or more of Counterparty’s outstanding voting power (the “Exchange Limit”). Any purported delivery hereunder shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such delivery, (A) the Share Amount would exceed the Post-Effective Limit, (B) the Dealer Group would directly or indirectly so beneficially own in excess of the Threshold Number of Shares, (C) such delivery would result in a violation of the Counterparty Stock Ownership Restriction or (D) Dealer would directly or indirectly hold in excess of the Exchange Limit. If any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, Counterparty’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Counterparty shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Scheduled Trading Day after, Dealer gives notice to Counterparty that, after such delivery, (w) the Share Amount would not exceed the Post-Effective Limit, (x) the Dealer Group would not directly or indirectly so beneficially own in excess of the Threshold Number of Shares, (y) such delivery would not result in a violation of the Counterparty Stock Ownership Restriction, as applicable or (z) Dealer would not directly or indirectly hold in excess of the Exchange Limit.

 

In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Confirmation to the contrary, if any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of the immediately preceding paragraph, Dealer shall be permitted to make any payment due in respect of such Shares to Counterparty in two or more tranches that correspond in amount to the number of Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph.

 

(q)           Commodity Exchange Act. Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1a(18) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”), the Agreement and this Transaction are subject to individual negotiation by the parties and have not been executed or traded on a “trading facility” as defined in Section 1a(51) of the CEA.

 

(r)            Bankruptcy Status. Subject to Paragraph 7(l) above, Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to Dealer rights with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby that are senior to the claims of Counterparty’s common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Counterparty; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Confirmation and the Agreement; and provided, further, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transaction other than this Transaction.

 

(s)           No Collateral or Setoff. Notwithstanding Section 6(f) or any other provision of the Agreement or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, the obligations of Counterparty hereunder are not secured by any collateral. Obligations in respect of this Transaction shall not be set off against any other obligations of the parties, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and no other obligations of the parties shall be set off against obligations in respect of this Transaction, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right of setoff.

 

(t)Tax Matters.

 

(i)For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement:

 

(A)Dealer makes the following representations:

 

(1)It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

(2)It is a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii).

 

(B)Counterparty makes the following representations:

 

(1)It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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(2)It is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State of Maryland, and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(J).

 

(ii)Withholding Tax imposed on payments to non-US counterparties under the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. “Indemnifiable Tax”, as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement, shall not include any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, a FATCA Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.

 

(iii)871(m) Protocol. The parties agree that the definitions and provisions contained in the ISDA 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol, as published by ISDA and as may be amended, supplemented, replaced or superseded from time to time (the “871(m) Protocol”) shall apply to the Agreement as if the parties had adhered to the 871(m) Protocol as of the effective date of the Agreement.

 

(iv)Tax documentation. For the purposes of Sections 4(a)(i) and 4(a)(ii) of the Agreement, Counterparty shall provide to Dealer, and Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty, a valid and duly executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or any successor thereto, (i) on or before the date of execution of this Confirmation; (ii) promptly upon reasonable demand by the other party; and (iii) promptly upon learning that any such tax form previously provided has become invalid, obsolete, or incorrect. Additionally, Counterparty or Dealer shall, promptly upon reasonable request by the other party, provide such other tax forms and documents reasonably requested by the other party.

 

(v)Change of Account. Section 2(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended by the addition of the following after the word “delivery” in the first line thereof: “to another account in the same legal and tax jurisdiction”.

 

(u)            Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010. The parties hereby agree that none of (i) Section 739 of the WSTAA, (ii) any similar legal certainty provision included in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (iii) the enactment of the WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, (iv) any requirement under the WSTAA or (v) any amendment made by the WSTAA shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s right to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased cost, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, any right arising from any Acceleration Event).

 

(v)            Other Forward Transactions. Counterparty agrees that it shall not cause to occur, or permit to exist, an Unwind Period hereunder at any time there is an (1) “Unwind Period” (or equivalent concept) relating to any other issuer forward sale or similar transaction (including, without limitation, any “Transaction” under (and as defined under) any master confirmation for registered forward transactions) (an “ATM Forward Transaction”) with any financial institution other than Dealer (an “Other Forward Transaction”) that is not an Other October 2024 Forward or an Additional October 2024 Forward (each as defined below), (2) any “Forward Hedge Selling Period” (or equivalent concept) under any ATM Forward Transaction or (3) any other period in which Counterparty directly or indirectly issues and sells Shares pursuant to an underwriting agreement (or similar agreement including, without limitation, any equity distribution agreement). Dealer acknowledges, however, that Counterparty has entered into substantially identical forward transactions for the Shares on the date hereof (as amended from time to time, the “Other October 2024 Forwards”) with Citibank, N.A., and that Counterparty may enter into substantially identical forward transactions for the Shares in connection herewith (as amended from time to time, the “Additional October 2024 Forwards”) with Citibank, N.A.. Dealer and Counterparty agree that if Counterparty designates a “Settlement Date” with respect to any Other October 2024 Forward or Additional October 2024 Forward for which “Cash Settlement” or “Net Share Settlement” is applicable and one or both of the resulting “Unwind Periods” for such Other October 2024 Forward or Additional October 2024 Forward coincides for any period of time with an Unwind Period for this Transaction (the “Overlap Unwind Period”), Counterparty shall notify Dealer at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to the commencement of such Overlap Unwind Period of the first Scheduled Trading Day and the length of such Overlap Unwind Period, and Dealer shall be permitted to purchase Shares to unwind its hedge in respect of this Transaction only on every second Scheduled Trading Day, commencing on the first day of such Overlap Unwind Period.

 

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8.US QFC Stay Rules. The parties agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof all parties have adhered to the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement and this Master Confirmation, and for such purposes the Agreement and this Master Confirmation shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the same status as Regulated Entity and/or Adhering Party as applicable to it under the Protocol; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement and this Master Confirmation and each party shall be deemed to have the status of “Covered Entity” or “Counterparty Entity” (or other similar term) as applicable to it under the Bilateral Agreement; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement and this Master Confirmation, and for such purposes the Agreement and this Master Confirmation shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” Wells Fargo Bank, National Association shall be deemed “Covered Entities” and Agree Realty Corporation shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of the Agreement and this Master Confirmation, all parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this section. In the event of any inconsistencies between the Agreement and this Master Confirmation and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC Stay Terms”), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this section without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this section, references to “the Agreement and this Master Confirmation” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other.

 

QFC Stay Rules” means the regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. 252.2, 252.81–8, 12 C.F.R. 382.1-7 and 12 C.F.R. 47.1-8, which, subject to limited exceptions, require an express recognition of the stay-and-transfer powers of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Orderly Liquidation Authority under Title II of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the override of default rights related directly or indirectly to the entry of an affiliate into certain insolvency proceedings and any restrictions on the transfer of any covered affiliate credit enhancements.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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Please confirm your agreement to be bound by the terms stated herein by executing the copy of this Confirmation enclosed for that purpose and returning it to us.

 

  Yours sincerely,
     
  WELLS FARGO, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
   
  By: /s/ Cathleen Burke
    Name: Cathleen Burke
    Title: Designated Signer

 

 

 

 

Confirmed as of the date first above written:  
     
AGREE REALTY CORPORATION  
     
By: /s/ Joel N. Agree  
Name: Joel N. Agree  
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer